Advent Ghosts 2023

In the spirit of the Victorian tradition of telling spooky Christmas stories, Loren Eaton’s Advent Ghosts challenges participants to write a Christmas themed scary drabble (a story of 100 words). 

Usually all the stories are posted on a Saturday before Christmas, but this year is a little different with a full week of stories from the 16th to the 22nd of December.

Click here to check out Loren’s site, where he has links to all the participants stories.

Now, without further ado, my story…

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Bed Fellows

Andrew angrily closed the thick bedroom curtains, shutting out the gaudy Christmas lights from the other houses on the terrace. He could still hear his neighbors’ merriment through the thin walls.  

“I hate people.”

He got into bed and pulled the covers over his head. An older man swaddled in layers of coats and newspaper coalesced next to him, accompanied by the foul odor of boiled cabbage. 

“Get out of my bed,” the ghost said. 

Fear caused Andrew’s heart to rupture. The ghost laughed. 

“It took them five years to find me. I wonder how long before anyone misses you.”