Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

The cursed book lay open on the crypt floor, its pages turning on their own, ink shifting like writhing shadows. Mira and Draven barely had time to react before the air grew heavy, thick with a presence neither of them could see.

Elias Grimm stepped back, a knowing smirk fading from his face. "Oh, that's bad."

The crypt walls shook, dust raining from the ceiling as a deep, unnatural whisper crawled through the air.

"I see you."

Mira's breath caught. She recognized that voice.

The Hollow Man.

Draven raised his shotgun. "Tell me that's just the book messing with us."

Elias's golden eyes flickered in the dim light. "Nope. You just rang a bell no one should ever ring."

The shadows stretched, pooling unnaturally beneath them, twisting into long, bony fingers. A hunched figure began to rise from the darkness, its faceless head tilting in slow, jerky movements.

The Hollow Man had found them.

Mira grabbed Draven's arm. "Run."

Draven didn't argue. They bolted down the crypt corridor, Mira clutching the book tightly. Behind them, the Hollow Man moved without sound, his elongated limbs twisting unnaturally as he glided after them.

The torches on the walls flickered, their flames swallowed by the encroaching dark. Elias ran beside them, his usual smirk replaced by something close to real fear.

"We need an exit—now!" Draven barked.

Elias muttered something under his breath, snapping his fingers. A door rippled into existence at the end of the corridor.

Draven didn't question it. He kicked it open, and they stumbled into a ruined cathedral, moonlight streaming through shattered stained glass. The cold wind howled, carrying the whispers of the dead.

Mira turned, heart pounding. The Hollow Man stood in the doorway, his featureless face watching. The air around him was wrong, the very fabric of reality warping in his presence.

Elias exhaled. "Alright. No more running."

Mira glared at him. "You have a plan?"

Elias pulled a silver flask from his coat and took a long sip. "Nope."

Draven rolled his eyes. "Fantastic."

The Hollow Man moved, his long fingers stretching toward them. The walls of the cathedral trembled as dark veins crawled along the stone.

Mira felt the book pulse in her hands. An urge filled her mind—speak the name.

She didn't know why. She just knew.

So she did.

"Silas Lockwood."

A sudden gust of wind exploded outward, forcing the Hollow Man to reel back. For the first time, it hesitated.

Then the shadows parted—and a man stepped forward from the darkness.

A long coat. A revolver at his hip. Eyes that had seen too much.

Silas Lockwood.

He smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Well now. Looks like I walked into something interesting."

The Hollow Man hissed.

And the cathedral collapsed into chaos.