“The Woman Behind the Curtain”
Melisa, a 34-year-old woman who is elegant, serious, and preoccupied with her work, finds herself in the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptic floats in the air as Melisa settles into the hospital bed, her eyes fixed on her phone screen. Work emails, updates, and endless tasks pile up in her digital world. Despite her kidney problems that brought her to the hospital, Melisa couldn’t stop immersing herself in work. It was the only thing that mattered, the only constant in her life that she could control.
Melisa remained sitting in the hospital bed, occasionally writhing in pain but not paying much attention to it. The day passed uneventfully, with nurses coming in and out to administer medication and check her vital signs. Melisa noticed that the bed next to hers was separated by a curtain; everything was silent. She assumed the other patient was asleep and didn’t think much of it—after all, Melisa was focused on finishing her work. However, Melisa, being so hostile, asked a nurse,
“Can I have a private room for the night? I don’t like sharing; I can pay for it,” she said, her gaze fixed on the curtain.
Just as the nurse was about to respond, a patient in the adjacent room suffered a cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, the doctor abandoned the conversation and rushed to the neighboring patient’s aid, with her heart racing and her sense of urgency at its peak.
Melisa sighed exasperatedly, shot an annoyed glance, and returned to her work with a slight roll of her eyes.
As the afternoon faded, the room grew quieter, and shadows lengthened. The nurses dimmed the lights and made their final rounds. The on-duty doctor entered with the last dose of antibiotics, reminding Melisa to rest. With an indifferent nod, she accepted, though her mind remained occupied with pending matters.
When she finally turned off her phone and placed it on the bedside table, the room fell into an unsettling silence. She closed her eyes, trying to force herself to sleep, but anxiety gnawed at her. That’s when she heard it—a low, guttural moan from the other side of the curtain.
Melisa’s eyes flew open, her breath catching in her throat. She lay still, straining to listen, convinced it was just her imagination. But the sounds grew louder, more desperate—cries of pain mingled with muffled sobs. The bed on the other side of the curtain creaked as if the person were writhing in agony.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to speak. “Are you okay?” she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling.
“You should call the doctor.”
A heavy silence followed, as if the very air had been sucked out of the room. Melisa held her breath, waiting for a response, but none came. She shook her head, trying to dismiss the unease. Maybe the person was too weak to respond. Or maybe, she thought, help had already been summoned. Her rational mind wanted to dismiss it, but something gnawed at her subconscious—a persistent feeling that something was deeply wrong.
She turned, pulling the thin hospital blanket up to her chin, trying to ignore the unsettling noises. Eventually, sleep overcame her, but it was restless, fragmented by disturbing dreams she couldn’t quite recall.
A few hours later, Melisa jolted awake to a sound that chilled her blood—violent retching followed by the unmistakable sound of someone vomiting. Again, she heard cries of pain and desperation from behind the curtain. Melisa sat up quickly, her heart racing as the reality of the situation sank in.
Panic overcame her as she called out again, this time with more urgency.
“Can I help you? What do you need? I’ll call the nurse.”
A weak, sorrowful, and raspy voice responded,
“No… I just need my daughter to be here with me, but she hasn’t wanted to visit.”
The response plunged the room into absolute silence. Melisa didn’t know what to say. The old, fragile voice was filled with profound sadness. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her as she stared at the curtain, her eyes widening at the sight of a shadowy figure sitting on the neighboring bed. The dim hallway light cast the silhouette of an elderly woman with disheveled hair, hunched as if in suffering.
Melisa couldn’t tear her gaze away from the shadow. It was like something out of a nightmare. She could feel the weight of the woman’s gaze upon her, though she couldn’t see her face.
Then, the room was filled with another sound—footsteps echoing in the dark hallway, growing ever closer. The rhythmic tapping of shoes on the floor made her heart race. She turned toward the door, expecting to see someone enter, but the entrance remained empty. The footsteps stopped just outside her room, but no one appeared.
A cold sweat covered her forehead as she turned her head back to the curtain. The shadowy figure was now standing, its faint outline barely visible in the dim light. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as if something invisible was pressing down on her.
Melisa reached for the bedside lamp, her hand trembling as she searched for the switch, but the light wouldn’t work. She repeatedly pressed the switch, but it remained unresponsive. Melisa turned her gaze gently towards the curtain, and the elderly woman was standing in front of her, arms stiff and a complete silence.
A chill ran down Melisa’s spine as the two women in the room remained motionless, though their faces were unseen, they knew they were looking at each other. The only sounds in the room were the beeping of hospital machines, but then the elderly woman behind the curtain began to cough uncontrollably. The coughing fit became so intense that Melisa was sure the woman would choke to death.
Her eyes widened in horror as the shadow reappeared, this time falling to its knees, convulsing with each painful cough. The curtain still obscured the woman’s face, but Melisa could see the outline of her frail, trembling body. Melisa acted quickly, pressing the emergency button without hesitation, but no one came. She became increasingly frightened as the elderly woman continued to cough on the floor.
Paralyzed by fear, she watched as the woman’s coughing subsided into weak, gasping breaths. The room fell into an unnatural silence, broken only by Melisa’s own ragged breathing. She felt as if she were suffocating under the weight of the darkness, her mind spinning as she tried to understand what was happening.
The shadowy figure remained on its knees, hunched as if defeated. Melisa’s heart ached with a strange mixture of pity and terror. Mysteriously, the elderly woman began to laugh hysterically. Her laughter was chilling. The elderly woman started crawling under her own bed, continuing to laugh as she crawled around. Without hesitation, Melisa turned her back and covered herself with the sheets, keeping her eyes alert but preferring not to look behind her. However, curiosity got the better of her, and this time she saw the shadow of the elderly woman on the bed. She noticed that the gown was up, and the elderly woman began to urinate and defecate on her own bed, making a horrifying straining noise.
The elderly woman slowly turned her head towards Melisa and suddenly said with a weak, raspy voice, “Why isn’t she coming? I just want to see her… before I go.”
The elderly woman began to cry as Melisa watched through the curtain as the woman took her own feces and threw it on the floor.
Melisa’s throat closed up as a wave of fear and despair washed over her.
“Why doesn’t my daughter come? I need her,” cried the elderly woman with a voice full of such sadness and longing that it was unbearable.
Melisa preferred to lie back down, turning away and curling up to try to sleep and forget everything she had witnessed. The silence returned to the room; the cries, moans, and laughter had disappeared.
Melisa fell back asleep, but soon she began to feel a pressure on her chest. She quickly opened her eyes and felt a hand touching her hair while hearing a terrifying laugh beside her. She tried to move, but her body wouldn’t respond. She was terrified, continuing to feel a hand brushing her hair and arms, and the laughter was still beside her. Melisa managed to move one of her feet, and suddenly the elderly woman crouched and crawled quickly beneath the curtain with a mocking laugh.
Melisa noticed a strange smell near her, touched her hair, and found traces of the elderly woman’s feces. Melisa panicked and ran to the bathroom to vomit. The light didn’t work; everything was dark. Melisa couldn’t see clearly but tried to wash her hair with a bit of soap that was in the bathroom.
Melisa was afraid to leave the bathroom, but it was too dark, so she went out into the hospital hallway. There was no one; everything was in total darkness. Melisa gathered her courage and headed towards her bed to find her cell phone. She searched and searched but couldn’t find it. She looked towards the elderly woman’s bed, and there she was, sitting on the bed. Melisa felt the gaze fixed on her and decided to return to the bathroom, even though she couldn’t see anything, and closed the door. There, she huddled and cried, trembling with fear.
There was a knock on the bathroom door, knock, knock.
The terrifying laugh returned.
“I need the bathroom,” said the elderly woman.
“Leave me alone, stay away from me!” Melisa screamed, crying.
Melisa heard the elderly woman move away, crying with very soft footsteps.
Melisa continued crying and trembling with fear.
“I JUST WANT MY DAUGHTER TO COME SEE ME!” screamed the elderly woman from inside the bathroom with Melisa.
The elderly woman’s scream sounded otherworldly. Melisa curled up into a fetal position, screaming and crying.
“Shh, shh, shh,” the elderly woman said with a sinister and mocking tone.
Melisa panicked and couldn’t stop crying.
“Go to bed and sleep,” the elderly woman told Melisa.
This time her voice sounded sweet and gentle.
Melisa was in shock and just got up and lay down on her cot.
It was so dark that Melisa could never see the elderly woman’s face, but she felt a kiss on her head as the elderly woman began to sing a lullaby and walked slowly to her own bed.
The elderly woman’s breathing grew weaker and more labored, each breath sounding like it could be the last. The room seemed colder, the air thick with the presence of something otherworldly. Melisa reached her breaking point when she realized that the elderly woman was dying—right there, on the other side of the curtain, just a few meters away.
The woman spoke again, her voice barely a whisper. “Didn’t she come to see me?”
And with a final sigh, the elderly woman’s presence faded as Melisa remained huddled, trying to comprehend everything that had happened. She fell asleep and was awakened by the nurses with more medication.
“The woman in the other bed died last night,” Melisa told the nurses, still in shock.
The nurse looked at Melisa nervously and walked to the other bed.
“There is no one here, Miss. You were alone all night,” the nurse said to Melisa.
Melisa panicked and looked at the nurse, saying, “I heard her. She was agonizing right here in that bed,” pointing to the curtain.
“It’s impossible, Miss. You were alone all night,” said the nurse as she drew back the curtain and showed that the bed was immaculate and empty.
Melisa panicked and began to scream.
“I need help here, in room 06!” the nurse shouted.
Melisa stopped screaming when she heard the room number.
She walked to the door and looked at the number 06.
“My mother died in this room,” Melisa whispered.
Melisa’s heart skipped a beat as she realized. The woman behind the curtain was her mother. Melisa was the daughter the woman had been waiting for but never came to see.
The thought paralyzed her with a terror she had never felt before. This woman was not just a stranger—she was connected to Melisa in a way that defied explanation. A wave of nausea overwhelmed her as she understood the truth. The woman’s suffering, her longing, her desperation—all were because of Melisa. The woman behind the curtain just wanted to see her daughter one last time.
…………..
You can read The Monster Inside Mother>
About the author
‘Its Name Was Mormo’ Review: Fear-filled Hearts & Close Encounters
In Mark Bower’s staggering handmade visionary tale, his first movie has drawn the attention of nine international film distributors. A Haunting Tale Mark Bower's handmade visionary performance, "Its Name Was Mormo," is a haunting exploration of fear and the supernatural, capturing audiences with its raw and immersive storytelling which delves into the realm of psyche horror, evoking a sense of dread that lingers long after the camera battery dies. Plot and Atmosphere Set in a desolate, rural town, Its Name Was Mormo > follows the unsettling experiences of a family who encounter an evil entity known as Mormo. The film masterfully builds tension through its eerie landscapes, unsettling silence, and the palpable fear of its characters. Bower’s attention to detail in creating a chilling atmosphere is evident, as each scene is infused with an impending sense of doom. The narrative is […]
Superscared Editorial June 28, 2024
“The Legend of the Alley – Midnight’s Revenge” Horror Stories
"The Legend of the Alley – Midnight’s Revenge" Horror Tales My name is Daniel, and to be honest, I never believed in ghosts or urban legends. However, what happened to me in that small Colombian town at midnight on a Wednesday changed my perspective radically. I will never forget that night, an experience that, to this day, makes me question what I thought I knew about reality. It was a rainy summer night in the tiny town where I was staying. The place, with its dark alleys and dilapidated houses, seemed straight out of a Gothic novel. The rain fell persistently, creating puddles on the ground and generating a constant sound of drops hitting the pavement. I was walking down a narrow alley, my head bowed under the hood of my coat, trying to avoid getting wet more than necessary. […]
Superscared Editorial August 15, 2024
“The Woman Behind the Curtain” Horror Stories
"The Woman Behind the Curtain" Melisa, a 34-year-old woman who is elegant, serious, and preoccupied with her work, finds herself in the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptic floats in the air as Melisa settles into the hospital bed, her eyes fixed on her phone screen. Work emails, updates, and endless tasks pile up in her digital world. Despite her kidney problems that brought her to the hospital, Melisa couldn’t stop immersing herself in work. It was the only thing that mattered, the only constant in her life that she could control. Melisa remained sitting in the hospital bed, occasionally writhing in pain but not paying much attention to it. The day passed uneventfully, with nurses coming in and out to administer medication and check her vital signs. Melisa noticed that the bed next to hers was separated by a […]
Superscared Editorial August 15, 2024
”Evil Dead: The Game” – Two New ‘Halloween’ Video Games in Development from ‘Evil Dead’
‘Evil Dead: The Game’ - Spooky Surprises Ahead: ‘Evil Dead: The Game’ Creators Crafting Two New Halloween Video Games Michael Myers is gearing up for a grand return to video games. IGN has unveiled exciting news that Boss Team Games, the studio renowned for Evil Dead: The Game, is working on not one but two new video games based on John Carpenter’s seminal slasher film, Halloween. The news is even more thrilling given that Carpenter himself is involved in at least one of these projects. While precise details about the games remain limited, it has been confirmed that both titles are being developed in close collaboration with the producers behind the Halloween franchise. Notably, one of the games will be powered by the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5, promising a visually immersive and high-fidelity experience that will bring the terror of […]
Superscared Editorial August 14, 2024
‘’Hell Hole’’ Review – A Gritty Creature Feature with Dark Humor
“Hell Hole” A Thrilling Fusion of Heavy Metal, Creature Feature Excitement, and Sharp-Witted Humor The Adams Family—comprising father John Adams, mother Tobey Poser, and their daughters—has become synonymous with a distinct punk rock, DIY filmmaking ethos. Their previous works, including The Deeper You Dig, Hellbender, and last year’s Where the Devil Roams, showcase their knack for blending creativity with a raw, hands-on approach. Their latest project, Hell Hole, continues this tradition with an inventive homage to classic creature features. It’s not just the gory monster effects that make this film stand out; it’s the Adams Family's ability to push creative boundaries, infusing the film with a playful, heavy metal vibe and a healthy dose of dark humor. ''Hell Hole'' begins in an unusual setting: Serbian territory in 1814. French soldiers, battling for Napoleon Bonaparte and led by a character played […]
Superscared Editorial August 12, 2024
”The Bench” A Scottish Horror Film: The 17-Year Odyssey to Release
''The Bench'' - From Idea to Cult Classic: The 17-Year Saga of a Scottish Horror Film ''The Bench'' A Scottish horror film that has been in the making for nearly 17 years has finally emerged from its protracted journey. The Bench is a suspenseful slasher film revolving around a group of friends who, while staying at a remote cabin in Renfrewshire, encounter a series of terrifying events as they mysteriously disappear one by one. Although the concept seemed promising, the film’s production faced numerous hurdles, from Scotland's erratic weather to financial shortages that brought progress to a halt. Sean Wilkie, the film's writer and director, spoke candidly to BBC Scotland News about the emotional rollercoaster of seeing The Bench finally come to fruition. A Coatbridge native, Wilkie transitioned from short films to this full-length horror venture, drawing inspiration from horror […]
Superscared Editorial August 10, 2024
“Hold Your Breath” – New Horror Flick Landing on Hulu This October
“Hold Your Breath” A Spine-Chilling Dive into Fear and Suspense Searchlight Pictures has unveiled a series of haunting first-look images from their highly anticipated horror-thriller, Hold Your Breath. This spine-chilling film is set to make its exclusive debut on Hulu on October 3, 2024, just in time to inject a dose of terror into the Halloween festivities. Check our article "Its Name Was Mormo" The Influence of Found Footage in Horror > Starring the formidable Sarah Paulson, Hold Your Breath features an exceptional ensemble cast including Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Amiah Miller, and Annaleigh Ashford. With the directorial expertise of Karrie Crouse and William Joines, the film is poised to captivate and disturb audiences with its gripping narrative. The film’s setting is as ominous as its plot: 1930s Oklahoma, a landscape ravaged by relentless dust storms and an atmosphere thick with dread. […]
Superscared Editorial August 9, 2024
Related
“The Legend of the Alley – Midnight’s Revenge” Horror Stories
"The Legend of the Alley – Midnight’s Revenge" Horror Tales My name is Daniel, and to be honest, I never believed in ghosts or urban legends. However, what happened to me in that small Colombian town at midnight on a Wednesday changed my perspective radically. I will never forget that night, an experience that, to this day, makes me question what I thought I knew about reality. It was a rainy summer night in the tiny town where I was staying. The place, with its dark alleys and dilapidated houses, seemed straight out of a Gothic novel. The rain fell persistently, creating puddles on the ground and generating a constant sound of drops hitting the pavement. I was walking down a narrow alley, my head bowed under the hood of my coat, trying to avoid getting wet more than necessary. […]
Superscared Editorial August 15, 2024
The Entity in the Woods
Elias Harper’s encounter with the entity in the woods was nothing short of otherworldly. It happened one evening as he wandered aimlessly through the dense forest behind his home, a place he had roamed countless times before. The night was still, the kind of quiet that makes you acutely aware of your own heartbeat. But then, without warning, he felt it—a cold, invisible presence. It was as if claws were raking across his skin, leaving a gnawing emptiness in their wake. The sensation was both physical and metaphysical as if something profound and intangible was ripping away his sense of purpose. The entity in the woods When Elias stumbled back to his house, the sensation lingered, an unsettling aftertaste of something he couldn’t quite grasp. He dismissed it as an overactive imagination. The next few weeks were marked by an […]
Idexpose August 15, 2024
The Monster Inside Mother
The Monster Inside Mother The House of Fading Light There was a time when our house glowed with warmth. It was more than just a physical warmth from the heat that once flowed through the veins of our home, from the radiators that stood proudly in each room. It was a warmth born of life, love, and laughter. That time had long since faded, like the light in my mother’s eyes. I was seven when I first noticed the change. It was the year after my father left, leaving behind a void that no one wanted to acknowledge. My mother, Evelyn, once vibrant and full of life, began to withdraw into herself. The vibrant red of her lipstick faded as did the joy she once brought into our lives. Annie, my older sister, stepped up in ways that no child […]
Idexpose August 15, 2024
The Missing Children of Ettrick
The Missing Children of Ettrick The Tome I never thought much of the paranormal. Not in the way ghost hunters on television or conspiracy theorists might. It wasn't that I didn't believe; it was more that the supernatural belonged in a realm that had no place in my everyday existence. At least, that was the case until the summer of 2019, when I stumbled upon the ancient tome in the library of the University of St. Andrews. The St. Andrews Library is a place of quiet grandeur, its walls lined with centuries of accumulated knowledge. The weight of history hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the scent of old paper and polished wood. I was there under the guise of researching a paper on Scottish folklore, but the truth was, I was bored. I needed something more than dry […]
Idexpose August 15, 2024
Pet Sematary – Book Review
Pet Sematary by Stephen King – A Fresh Look I found Pet Sematary to be an utterly captivating read this time around. Stephen King's exploration of grief, loss, and the boundaries of life and death pulled me in from the very first page. The way he weaves the supernatural elements with deep psychological tension kept me on edge throughout. Each twist and turn felt both inevitable and shocking, and the unsettling atmosphere he creates lingered long after I finished the book. It's a testament to King's mastery of horror that this story, which I thought I knew well, still managed to surprise and deeply affect me. The story begins with Louis Creed and his family relocating from Chicago to the small town of Ludlow, Maine. Louis is immediately apprehensive about the busy highway near their new home, especially with his […]
Superscared Editorial August 9, 2024
OD is the upcoming horror game from Hideo Kojima exclusive to Xbox.
Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, continues to intrigue the gaming world with his upcoming project, OD, a collaboration with Xbox Game Studios that promises to redefine horror gaming. Since establishing his independent studio, Kojima Productions, Kojima has been a beacon of innovation in gaming, blending cinematic storytelling with cutting-edge technology. While OD remains shrouded in mystery, tantalizing details have emerged. Set against the backdrop of Xbox's cloud technology, Kojima envisions OD as not just a game but a transformative experience, pushing the boundaries of immersion and fear. The involvement of acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele underscores Kojima's ambition to merge gaming with cinematic narrative, promising a narrative depth rarely seen in the medium. OD's teaser trailer, unveiled at the prestigious Game Awards, introduced a star-studded cast including Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier, […]
Superscared Editorial July 15, 2024