Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Posted in Horror on Sep 22, 2023

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✍️ 64 stories

“The House on the Hill” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #217

Best seat in the house. That’s where this house was at. Head and shoulders above the rest, with views to die for. There was no better place to build a dream house. That was the theory anyway. Life is a big fan of the curve ball and the kind of guy who has the money to buy a plot like that, the best plot going, well he should not be trusted when it comes to the shaping of his own dream. He has the money and he has the broad shape of a vision, but beyond that he should stand well back and allow others to deliver him somet...

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“Spirits” by Josephine Cavalier

Submitted to Contest #217

Spirits Written by Josephine C. I’ve spent 30 years chasing “ghosts”. People call them ghosts; I call them spirits. Everyone always thinks I’m insane. Maybe I am. Maybe I’m gripping for a reality that doesn’t exist, a mere illusion. These thought...

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“Hallington Grove” by Carol Smith

Submitted to Contest #217

“I had no idea how far off the main road this place was. How much further until we get there?” Judy questioned, starting to feel uneasy about what she had just gotten herself into. “It’s not much further, the entrance is up ahead on the left.” Emily cheerily retorted back. The engine roared as the SUV slowly climbed the hill and turned into the entrance, before coming to a stop in front of a huge gate. The driver window began to lower and the cool air tickled Judy’s face. It was crisp and clean, pretty typical for a late Oc...

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“Crumbling Heap” by Cade Holter

Submitted to Contest #217

They stared up at the old mansion with apprehension. None of them could name when it had been built, nor who had built it, just that both had been well before their time and that time had changed it immensely. The sheer size alone was enough take them aback, but it was the condition at a glance that truly shocked them, down to the youngest who was just 11 months old and had no earthly concept of what a mansion even was.The paint was peeling and washed out, showing old brick walls that looked more like raw, weeping wounds than the dry, red cl...

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“Dinner with old friends” by Allan Palmer

Submitted to Contest #217

The invitation was curt.Dear Sir.Dinner at 6pm prompt. Your attendance is mandatory.-The CircleDamn. I was hoping for a quiet evening. Now, I’ll have to leave the solitude and safety of my home. “The Circle” is the name given to my friend group from our college days. We had all met as freshmen at Miskatonic University and graduated simultaneously. On graduation day, we made a blood pact that would honor such an invitation without question, and any of us could initiate such a request.We did not go to ...

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“Something Ventured Something Gained” by Susanne O'Connor

Submitted to Contest #217

Something Ventured Something Gained Martin Rogers, a television producer and impresario, was not actually friend of mine but our paths had crossed. I’d heard of the parties he threw at his centuries old estate in Massachusetts. My friend, Kate had once been his guest and said they weren’t to be missed. ‘I won’t tell you about them, Elizabeth, instead I’ll arrange for you to get an invite and you can make up your own mind.’ True to her word, an invitation arrived the following week. The envelope had a wax seal with the letters MR on top of ...

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“A Haunting to your Health” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #217

“It’s the most haunted house in the country,” said Orla. I could instantly feel a shudder of fear travelling through me. My body felt as cold as unbreakable ice shards. I didn’t want to go there. I was always afraid of the spiritual world. I tried my best to back out of it, but Orla wasn’t having it. “Christa, you have to come. It’s for you. I can’t tell you the details, but you just have to be there.” I didn’t know why she needed me there. If she wanted to put herself in harm’s way, why did I have to tag along? I couldn’t think of a...

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“Admirable Adversaries” by K. Bacchae

Submitted to Contest #217

<TW: some mentions of aggressive behavior>Everyone in town is aware that the charcoal-black homestead at the edge of the residential district is haunted-–I work very hard to keep it this way, in fact. The fire-licked facade of the five-bedroomed two-story structure is just that: a finely crafted front. The small windows encrusted with grime to the point of revulsion, those were a week-long labor of love. Each of the couple dozen insect exoskeletons artfully placed in believable death throws on and between the window panels are the only...

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“Josie goes Ghost Hunting” by Cherry Blossom

Submitted to Contest #217

Josie goes Ghost Hunting Josie had heard stories of the Haunted Mansion on the hill just outside the neighborhood. The house was given a name by the locals who called it the Family Murder House. Rumor had it the dad went crazy after being laid off and caught his wife in bed with another man. The kids weren't so lucky either, being surprised when they got hom...

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“The BlackWood ” by Algernon Drake

Submitted to Contest #217

Deep within a state that many a second thought wouldn't have been given, sits a mysterious building. The locals say that in it's heyday it was a grand mansion, but over the decades it has been converted to fit many needs by the numerous hands that held control over the estate. It sits just at the edge of a bayou known for it's slow-moving muck-infested creeks that dart the seemly endless wilderness that consisted of towering, overgrown willows. Their branches created an impenetrable wall, isolating the house from the rest of the world. The...

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“Starlight Explorers” by Tanishka Agarwal

Submitted to Contest #217

“All right, let's do a head count. One” said Tom. “Two” “Three” “Four. End of count” followed Atlas, Nick, and Dan. It was a dark and windy night when they all decided to explore a haunted mansion. No one was really that courageous to go in, but they felt that if they were all together, then there would be nothing to fear. Even then everyone was shivering. Due to the strong winds? Yes. But I would say mainly because of fear. “We have one missing” exclaimed Nick. “Unfortunately, we cannot do anything about Edwin. But the more time we take to ...

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“Charley’s Home ” by Emily Grace

Submitted to Contest #217

It was no secret in Lockeside that there was an abandoned home at the end of the road, right by the last remaining Catholic Church. Once the liveliest area of the old West Virginian town, it was left bare and withered with the installation of the new highway. It didn’t help that there were old rumors of that place; rumors which had only grown with its rot. It was that of the Etsons and their son Charley. The Etsons were good folk, according to Pastor Davidson. They went to church every week, volunteered some miles out at a soup kitchen, an...

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“October 13th” by Ian Grogan

Submitted to Contest #217

Janet watched as Celeste filled her backpack with all the “essentials”. Two flashlights, a first aid kit, water bottles, candles, a lighter, gloves, her cell phone and, of course, the Ouija board. Janet wanted to ask what all of that was for, but as long as she has known Celeste, she knows not to ask such questions. Celeste operates on her own level and Janet was too tired to head down that rabbit hole.“You ready?” Celeste quickly zipped the backpack and propped it up on her shoulder.Janet, a bit hesitant, responded, “I guess. I don’t think ...

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“The Haunting of Hill House? Except Not Really” by Chris Jones

Submitted to Contest #217

The Haunting of Hill House? Except Not Really I pull up to the rickety old mansion, me tiny little blue Citroen looking like a toy car in the shadow of this beastly estate. The paint's all chipped and the stone work's crumbling away, giving the place a right old haunted house look about it. But I know better. Just gotta spend one night here for this experiment at uni, no biggie. I get out, grab me duffel, and amble up the overgrown walkway, cracked stone steps nearly tripping me up a few times. Wouldn't fancy a tumble down these on a dar...

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“The Mystery Archambeau Manor” by Sammy C

Submitted to Contest #217

Where some believe in ghosts and the supernatural wholeheartedly, others are more prone to seek truth and hard evidence. Madilyn J. Harper was of both natures, a seeker of truth as well as a believer of otherworldly beings. Her eyes scoured the computer screen, scrolling endlessly through articles. Today’s topic? The history of the Archambeau Manor. “Maddie?” Madilyn startled, looking up to see her friend Charlotte’s worried face. “Oh, hey Charlie. What’s up?” Maddie pushed up her round purple glasses. “I’ve been looking for you for the last...

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Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 64 stories

“The House on the Hill” by Jed Cope

“Spirits” by Josephine Cavalier

“Hallington Grove” by Carol Smith

“Crumbling Heap” by Cade Holter

“Dinner with old friends” by Allan Palmer

“Something Ventured Something Gained” by Susanne O'Connor

“A Haunting to your Health” by Keelan LaForge

“Admirable Adversaries” by K. Bacchae

“Josie goes Ghost Hunting” by Cherry Blossom

“The BlackWood ” by Algernon Drake

“Starlight Explorers” by Tanishka Agarwal

“Charley’s Home ” by Emily Grace

“October 13th” by Ian Grogan

“The Haunting of Hill House? Except Not Really” by Chris Jones

“The Mystery Archambeau Manor” by Sammy C

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Write about a sleuth who’s a little too keen, but not because they have a traumatic past they won’t talk about.

Write a story about a warrior who doesn’t want to kill the dragon.

Contest #217

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

283

Contest entries

130

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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