The unwelcome guests - a ghost story

The following story is fiction and submitted by Morgan County resident, Jayden J. Tomlinson.

In the heart of Morgan, Utah, a town steeped in dark history and hidden secrets, there was a quaint, century-old bed-and-breakfast known as "The Whispering Pines Inn." With its creaky wooden floors, antique furnishings, and dimly lit corridors, the inn exuded an old-world charm that drew visitors seeking solace from the chaos of modern life.

On a chilling autumn evening, a trio of friends—Lena, Mark, and Sarah—decided to spend a weekend at the inn. The Whispering Pines Inn had always intrigued them with its tales of ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena. Excitement mingled with apprehension as they checked into their rooms, each adorned with ornate wallpaper and heavy drapes.

As the sun dipped below the jagged mountains, the inn's cozy atmosphere took on an eerie quality. The whispering pines outside seemed to echo with unseen voices, and shadows danced on the walls as if they had a life of their own.

On the first night, while gathered in the inn's dimly lit parlor, they decided to try something unusual. Armed with candles and an old Ouija board they had brought along, they attempted to contact the spirits rumored to haunt the inn.

The candle flames flickered wildly as they began their séance, and the atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. Lena's fingers trembled as they moved the planchette, spelling out words in response to their questions.

"Is there anyone here with us?" Mark asked.

The planchette slowly slid to "Yes."

Sarah gulped audibly, her eyes fixed on the board. "What do you want from us?"

The planchette moved again, spelling out a chilling message: "Leave."

Unease washed over them, but they pressed on, demanding more answers. Suddenly, the candles extinguished simultaneously, plunging the room into inky darkness. Panic gripped them as they fumbled for their flashlights.

When the lights finally flickered to life, the room had changed. The once cozy parlor had transformed into a nightmarish tableau. The walls bled with grotesque murals, depicting scenes of unspeakable horror. The antique furniture contorted into grotesque shapes, and the air was heavy with the stench of decay.

Terror seized them as they realized they were no longer alone. Shadowy figures with hollow eyes and outstretched hands loomed in every corner of the room, their ghastly whispers filling the air. Lena, Mark, and Sarah screamed in unison, their voices drowned out by the cacophony of malevolent murmurs.

One of the figures, a spectral woman with long, tangled hair, glided toward them. Her eyes bore into their souls, and her spectral fingers reached out to touch their trembling forms. Mark's heart pounded as he stumbled backward, unable to tear his gaze away from the apparition's ethereal, bone-chilling beauty.

The room seemed to pulse with dread as they realized they had unleashed something beyond their understanding. In their desperation, they made a final plea to the Ouija board, begging for release from this nightmare.

The planchette darted across the board, spelling out a single word: "Run."

With their hearts in their throats, they bolted from the parlor, leaving the haunted inn behind. The Whispering Pines Inn returned to its quaint facade, but the terror of that night would forever haunt Lena, Mark, and Sarah.

Morgan, Utah, held more than its fair share of secrets, and the Whispering Pines Inn was just one chapter in the town's dark and enigmatic history—a chapter best left unexplored. λ