The abandoned city

short srory horror

At first, I thought the letter had been delivered by mistake. The handwriting wasn’t familiar, even though it bore my name. Then I saw the return address, and my hands began to shake. It was from a town that had been abandoned for more than twenty years, ever since that night which still haunts my memory—the night of the city’s horror.

When I first received the letter, I didn’t understand what it was about. It informed me about a transfer of my job location. I work at a post office, and my job requires me to travel frequently.

But I never imagined that this next journey would become the most significant one of my life.

Last week, my boss called me to his desk and said:
• “Boris, you’re going to get a very good new posting next week. You’ll officially receive the location and salary revision in a letter, and this time, a good hike has been approved.”
• “I’m glad to hear that.”

I waited, and today the letter arrived. I opened it and saw the new job contract—it was for the post office in the abandoned city. The salary hike was impressive. Well, I am a single man with no family, and I chose this transferable job to visit different places. You could say it’s my hobby. But I never expected an opportunity to visit such a creepy place.

Two days after receiving the letter, I began my journey. A car arranged by my office picked me up and drove me to the destination. The driver was very friendly, so I asked him:
• “Where are you from, mister?”
• “I live about five kilometers from the town. But why are you going to the abandoned town? People are afraid to go there.”
• “And why is that?”

The driver lowered his voice, looked at me with a serious expression, and said:
• “This town was very busy before the chaos began. A dark curse fell upon it. One night, a large meteor-like object fell in the woods beside the town. Everyone heard the blast, followed by a small earthquake. The next morning, people went to the woods and found a massive stone with several holes—it had fallen from the sky. For the next two days, nothing happened. But on the third night, strange sounds were heard. The following morning, the body of a beggar was found in the town—brutally mutilated, with the eyes ripped out.”

• “Day by day, more bodies were found each morning, all in the same condition—eyes plucked out and bodies violently mutilated. People stopped going out after dark. Soon, people began disappearing from their homes, and later their bodies were found in the streets in the same state.”

• “The town slowly lost its population until almost everyone was gone. No one knows exactly what happened.”

• “Why are you going there? I suggest you don’t go, sir.”

The driver stopped, and I replied:
• “I have a job at the post office. Don’t worry about me, my friend.”

We stopped at the entrance of the town. The driver refused to go any further. I said goodbye and entered the city.

It was noon, and the whole place was deserted. Buildings, shops—everything was closed. I didn’t know where the post office was, so I tried to find someone. The driver had mentioned that a few people still lived there. I walked through the town, dust gathering on my shoes.

Until dusk, I found no one. After darkness fell, I noticed a light inside a house. I followed it and found a caravan. I knocked, and a very old man opened the door. I explained why I had come and asked about the post office. He said:
• “You are new here, and it is already dark. Stay in my caravan tonight. It’s dangerous to go outside. I have some food. Tomorrow morning, you can go to the post office.”

• “I heard everyone has left. Why are you still here?”
• “I grew up in this town. My family is gone. I want to stay here until my death. The creature seems to have no interest in me.”
• “What creature?”
• “The one that came from the sky and killed everyone. I have seen it. It is tall and incredibly fast. It hunts in the dark.”

I didn’t say anything more. Mystery seemed to surround the entire town.

The next morning, I reached the post office and knocked. A tall, short man (oddly built) opened the door. I gave him the letter. He read it, welcomed me inside, showed me my room, and said he would prepare my meals. He also warned me not to go outside after dark.

I settled into my room. It wasn’t big, but it was enough. I checked for pending work—there was very little.

So I decided to explore the town. After lunch, I went out. My assistant reminded me to return before dusk. I walked along the empty roads, imagining how lively the town must once have been—and how many people had died here.

Eventually, I found myself near the woods—the same woods mentioned by the driver and the old man.

The afternoon light was fading. The trees looked ancient, as if they held dark secrets and were warning me not to enter. Then I heard a sharp whistling sound from within. It felt like something was calling me.

I hesitated, but curiosity pulled me in.

Inside, it was dark—the thick leaves blocked the sunlight. A chilling cold surrounded me. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. In that moment, I felt something watching me. I quickly returned.

By the time I got back, it was already dusk. My assistant said:
• “Why are you still outside? I told you not to go out after dusk.”
• “I was just wandering.”
• “Please don’t do it again. Your dinner is ready.”

There was no electricity, so I lit a candle and wrote in my journal.

That night, I had a strange dream. I saw a tall, thin figure calling me with a whistling sound. Its head was much smaller than its body. As it came closer, I screamed and woke up sweating.

The next morning, I decided to investigate the woods again. I found a large hole in the ground surrounded by dead trees. A strange green liquid covered the soil. I collected a sample and later sent it to a lab in the nearest city.

That night, I dreamed again. A shadow whispered in my mind: “Burn the ground, kill the beast.” Many voices repeated the same phrase.

The next day, I researched the town’s history and met Jerome—the only survivor. He told me how he had seen the creature: tall, thin, with long limbs, fox-like ears, and no eyes. He believed lightning had scared it away.

That gave me an idea—the creature might be vulnerable to light.

The following day, I returned to the woods and built a platform in a tree to observe the area at night.

At dusk, I saw something terrifying: a glowing stone rose from the hole, opened like a door, and a tall creature emerged and vanished into the woods.

I realized it was some kind of portal.

I made a plan.

I ordered TNT and a gun. After preparing everything, I planted the explosives around the hole.

That night, when the creature emerged again, I detonated the explosives. The stone shattered, and green liquid spilled everywhere.

At dawn, the creature returned, whistling violently near the destroyed portal. I aimed and shot it.

After that… everything disappeared. The creature, the liquid—gone.

For the next six months, nothing unusual happened. The town was silent, but safe.

Eventually, I received another transfer and left the town.

But I will never forget that place—or the truth that no one would believe.

And I still keep that letter… as a reminder.