Haunted Dreams - By Kaylinn

Written By: Kaylinn

Category: Short story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the profound short story "Haunted Dreams," Kaylinn delves into the depths of trauma and the enduring spirit of survival. Presented as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this narrative captures the heart-wrenching journey of a young girl caught in the turmoil of domestic strife. The competition seeks to unearth stories that resonate with universal themes, and Kaylinn's submission stands out for its emotional depth and compelling storytelling.

About the Work

"Haunted Dreams" is a gripping exploration of the lasting impact of domestic violence. With stark and vivid imagery, Kaylinn crafts a haunting narrative that portrays the protagonist's struggle with her past traumas. The story's mood oscillates between fear and resolve, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps readers engaged. Through poignant and unsettling details, the work invites reflection on the cycles of violence and the resilience needed to overcome them.

Haunted dreams

Original Submission by Kaylinn

Anyas father had always been a cold hearted alcoholic, she was used to him coming home and starting fights with her mother

The shouting, swearing and the sounds of furniture shattering would echo thorough the house.

Today was no different as she sat with her baby brother in her room, trying to keep his mind off the commotion on the other side of the house when she hears her mother let out an agonizing pained scream, her heart dropped her hands shook and she dropped the book she had been reading, she couldn't take this anymore, he could keep hurting them like this, with her heart in her throat she turned towards her brother and told him to stay in the room

"I'll be right back" she whispered running her hands through his soft curls she kissed him on his forehead memorizing how soft and warm he felt and make her way to the door.

She could hear her mother crying now, rushing down the hallway her bare feet hitting against the cold floor she ran as fast as she could to where her parents were

Something was wrong she could feel it, she felt cold and sick all over ,the hallway was dark and felt somehow longer.

As soon as she got to her parents room the crying had stopped it was quiet too quiet. Putting her ear to the door she strained to hear for any sounds of a struggle but was only met with the sound of water running, pushing open the door she looked around the room and saw nothing but the door to her parents bathroom was cracked open, she could see where the sound of water was coming from, the sink was overflowing and spilling onto the floor but no signs of her parents.

Confused she turned around to make her way to where she left her brother but just as she was about leave her foot slipped on something warm and sticky,glancing down noticed a dark looking liquid

Is that blood?

No no no no

Mother she thought He hurt her, panic rising.

She rushed towards her brother she had too keep him safe, she could let father hurt him too.

Tears streaming down her face ,heart in her throat she pushed the door to her room open only to to find a figure standing in her room looking down at something but it was too dark to figure out what he was staring at but she didn't have to wonder for long

The figure slowly turned his head towards at her and looked straight at her.

Without his body blocking the light she could finally make out what he had been looking at

Bodies two of them

She knew

She knew that the Bodies that were butchered and bloodied belonged to her mother and brother and the figure standing over them was her father

She felt her world fall apart she couldn't breath she felt her heart shatter into fragments so small she'd never be able to put them back she felt all the strength leave her body, falling to her knees she starred numbly at what was left of her entire world

All while the figure just stood there watching her

With whatever strength she had left she lifted her head and look straight into his eyes and whispered

"How could you? You were supposed to protect us, to love us, how could you?" His faced shifted then, and he began to smile down at her almost as if he felt sorry for her he didn't say anything just continued to stare when she noticed the screwdriver in his hand covered in blood the blood of her mother and brother, covered in the blood of the lives he took

The lives of his wife and son

Drip drip drip the sound the blood dripping off the weapon woke her from her frozen state and her instinct kicked in

Screaming she tried to get off the floor but the blood was all over her now she couldn't move without slipping again and again when hands wrapped around her throat, she thrashed and fought but he was stronger

Just as she was about to loose consciousness she looked up and looked into the figures eyes

And saw he was still smiling showing off the blood covering his teeth

"I've always wanted to do that" he said venomously. Before everything turned black

When she wakes up with a jolt, feeling out of breath her lungs were on fire she could feel the sweat cooling on her skin, confused and disoriented she frantically looked around the room when she noticed the babies crib next to her bed and the child inside sleeping peacefully and next to her her husband also asleep, slipping out of bed she craddled the baby close to her

Taking in a shaky breath she tried to calm herself down

It had been 20 years since the incident but every night she relived the same pain over and over again it never left her, she felt as haunted mow as the day it happened but she was safe now she had to remind herself

He can't hurt me anymore.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious event celebrating the power of words and creativity. This competition attracts writers from around the globe, offering them a platform to share their unique voices and stories. With categories spanning poetry, short stories, and creative writing, it showcases the diversity and richness of contemporary literature.

We extend our gratitude to Kaylinn for sharing "Haunted Dreams" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her story is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity. Thank you, Kaylinn, for your courage in highlighting such a poignant narrative. We are honored to feature your work and look forward to more contributions in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.