Twisted Tales of Terror

17. Talking To Dead

Jessica always knew she was different from the other kids. From a young age, she was able to see and communicate with the dead. It terrified her parents, who tried to shield her from the truth of her abilities, but Jessica couldn't ignore the voices and visions that haunted her every waking moment.

As she got older, Jessica tried to suppress her abilities, believing that it would make her more "normal" and accepted by her peers. She focused on her studies, excelling in science and mathematics, and eventually went on to become a successful engineer.

But no matter how much she tried to deny it, the spirits continued to reach out to her, their voices growing louder and more insistent with each passing day.

One evening, while walking home from work, Jessica heard a voice calling out to her. It was a woman's voice, soft and trembling, and it sent shivers down her spine.

"Jessica," the voice whispered. "Please help me."

Jessica stopped in her tracks, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked around, but there was no one there.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice shaking.

"It's me," the voice replied. "I'm trapped. Please, you have to help me."

Jessica's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Was this a hallucination? A trick of her mind? Or was it something more?

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the voice.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Find me," the voice replied. "I'm in the old abandoned house on the edge of town. Please, hurry."

Jessica knew the house the voice was referring to. It had been abandoned for years, ever since a family was murdered there in a gruesome and unsolved crime.

But despite her fear, Jessica knew she couldn't ignore the voice's plea for help. She took a deep breath and made her way to the old house, her heart pounding in her chest with each step.

As she approached the house, she saw that the front door was slightly ajar. She hesitated for a moment, but then pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The house was dark and musty, the air thick with the stench of decay. Jessica could barely see, but she made her way through the darkness, following the voice's guidance.

And then, she saw her.

A woman, lying on the ground, her body twisted and contorted in pain. Her eyes were open, but she wasn't moving, and Jessica knew immediately that she was dead.

Tears filled Jessica's eyes as she looked at the woman's body. She didn't know who she was or how she had died, but she knew that she had to help her.

"Please," she whispered. "What can I do?"

And then, the woman's eyes flickered, and she spoke.

"Find the key," she said. "It's in the basement. It will unlock the door to the other side."

Jessica didn't know what the woman meant, but she knew that she had to find the key. She made her way to the basement, her heart racing as she descended the stairs.

The basement was dark and cold, and Jessica could barely see. But then, she saw it. A glint of metal, shining in the darkness.

She approached the metal object, her heart pounding in her chest. It was a key, old and rusted, but still intact.

With trembling hands, Jessica took the key and made her way back to the woman's body. She inserted the key into a lock that she had not noticed before and turned it.

And then, everything went black.

When Jessica opened her eyes, she found herself in a strange, dark place. She couldn't see anything, but she could feel a cold wind blowing against her skin, and she could hear strange whispers all around her.

"Where am I?" she called out, her voice echoing through the darkness.

No one answered, but Jessica could feel a presence nearby. It was the woman she had found in the abandoned house, and she was close.

Jessica stumbled through the darkness, guided only by her instincts. And then, she saw a faint light in the distance.

She made her way towards the light, her heart pounding in her chest. And as she got closer, she saw that it was a doorway.

The woman's voice spoke to her once again.

"Unlock the door," she said. "And set me free."

Jessica approached the door and inserted the key into the lock. She turned it, and the door creaked open.

And then, she saw the woman.

But she wasn't just a woman. She was a ghost, her body translucent and shimmering in the dim light.

The ghost turned to Jessica and spoke.

"Thank you," she said. "You've set me free."

And then, she vanished, leaving Jessica alone in the darkness.

Jessica never forgot that experience. She continued to see and communicate with the dead, but now, she no longer feared them.

She realized that her abilities were a gift, a way to help those who had passed on find peace and closure. And she knew that she would spend the rest of her life using her gifts to help others, no matter how terrifying the journey might be.