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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of horror short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

6600+ Horror Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From hauntings and murderers to terrifying creatures from the deep, our collection of horror stories will have you breaking out in cold sweats. Take a look… if you dare.

Horror Short Stories – Page 309 of 440

The Cajun Conundrum

Submitted to Contest #105

PETER Those who strayed too far from the grassy knolls and cemented sidewalk of Mother's shotgun cottage were sure to face a bad case of juju. Living in New Orleans as pet rabbits hadn't been a difficult ordeal while Mother watched over us. It was a comfortable place, brightly painted yellow with a triangle roof and stairs that lead to a porch that circled around long enough for me to stretch my legs. Me and Snoball had our own spacious enclosure inside, a never-ending supply of food and water and even a cushioned space to sleep. Out...

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Unwelcome Guests

Submitted to Contest #105

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.Who dares disturb my slumber?Get up and stretch slowly, deliberately, flexing so that my claws scrape the wooden floor. My sunbeam has vanished. The awful thumping continues. Shuffling and the clacking of those feet-guards with blocks in the back join the thumps."MrrrrrrrAIIIIOOOOO," I call to the Giver of Chicken, in case she hasn't heard the racket outside. Visitors approaching."Thank you, Nightshade," the Giver of Chicken croaks, stoops lightly down the rickety wooden stairs from the second floor. She stoops to scratch...

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Pleas to the Grove

Submitted to Contest #105

On a late summer night, When stars give no light, Out from the grove, To take a new member, In the full moon of September, You’ll never come back, Once in their cursed pact.              That was the saying that every member of Grovetown knew. The tiny town surrounded by farmers’ groves looked upon this time of the year with horrified dread. Shutters were tightly closed as fearful looks were given along with the whispered gossip of who would be taken this year.   &n...

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My Assignment

Submitted to Contest #105

Three of us stood in a small church just inside Atlanta. Normally I would’ve liked the high white ceiling, the loft for the choir, and organ. Fifty wooden pews lined either side of a walkway to the altar. A statue of Mary stood to the right of the altar, St. Joseph to the left. Stained glass windows should’ve caught the sunlight. But today, it was dark inside, as if the windows had been blinded. Flashlights and candles helped but only just. It was chilly but not from air conditioning, for the electric wasn’t working. The blood on the statues...

15 likes 4 comments 4
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My real estate broker sold me a haunted house

Submitted to Contest #105

I stretched my back as I listen to my real estate broker’s grouchy voice. “I’ve already sent the papers,” he continues speaking. I do not understand why he sound so shaky and hesitant. Or is it the air conditioner from the office that has been buzzing my ears affecting my head? My broker said it is the most affordable and the cheapest house in the neighborhood. Well, for one reason, which is what I told him. To find me an affordable house. My arms and back felt a little bit warmer after I heard crunching sounds of my bones. I place...

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Evil Eyes

Submitted to Contest #105

I struggle against the heaviness that threatens to keep my eyes shut. I lift my hand to my face and feel the skin around my eye, as if that would help me to gain the courage to open my eyes. My hand freezes, and I can feel the goosebumps rising on my skin. Never have I felt so afraid to do such a seemingly simple thing. I haven't seen the world for over a month now, not since the accident. I can feel my eyelashes flutter against the hand that I raised to my eyes, and I allow myself to take a look at the world. I wince as a beam of light ente...

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Someone Else's Thriller Movie

Submitted to Contest #105

‘There has to be some way through.’ Jasper said confidently. ‘We need to stick together, alright?’ I wasn’t sure about that, but it wouldn’t be very helpful to say otherwise. I shone my torch around, trying to get my bearings. Why had I ever thought this was a good idea? I haven’t been spelunking in years. It's definitely not like riding a bicycle. You can and do forget. I shivered; it was getting cold down here. Britta shivered too, and Jasper peeled off his waterproof coat and draped it around her shoulders. She smiled adoringly up at...

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The Attic

Submitted to Contest #105

The attic. One would think nothing special about an attic. It is just a room, after all. But mine was different because of its contents. I don’t know when it started. Maybe with the Doll maker from the early 1900s or further back with the puppeteer who lived during the 1800s? All I know is I am now a part of the sinister collection on the third floor. A strange energy wafts around the entire property. It doesn’t necessarily feel evil, but it still gives me chills. Between the basement and the attic, just being in the house is unbearable at t...

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Clusters

Submitted to Contest #105

CW: suicideI read these words, and I am not yet dead……the terminal was crowded with anxiety and lifeless eyes. The air itself seemed to squeeze your chest the more you breathed in. We saw the bodies of suicide strewn about – it’s strange how unaffected we were by this; I suppose we understood why…. I continued to hug the head pressed into my shoulder as I guided her through the labyrinth of teary faces and scattered luggage. Maybe I was just conditioned by years of strict routines, but I was more panicked by the thought of missing the plane ...

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Guilt

Submitted to Contest #105

I stared down at their graves, my face felt blank. Emotions boiled underneath my skin as I gazed at the names carved into the stones. The ground was still freshly shovelled and wet. Steadily becoming soaked by the gray drizzle that was pouring down on me from the dark clouds above. I sniffed, wiping away a tear that was about to fall as I stared at the first grave. James Oliver Johnson, it began. Died at age 43, Husband of Anne Marie Johnson, father of Marina and Esme. He will be missed. A tear made its way down my cheek. The grave said almo...

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Vice Versa

Submitted to Contest #105

ANGIE: The sun seeped down until hidden behind the horizon. I walked inside to turn the television on and switched to the news. The bottom headline read “CAUTION: New disease found in flies causes a ‘zombie’ like state. Spreads through bodily fluids. Wash your hands often, do not touch any part of the face.” I pause and rewound the television. After rereading what must have been ten times, the phone rang. It was my friend, Caroline.  “What is going on?” I asked her as I picked up the phone.  “That’s what I was calling you about. Ye...

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The Thinking Undead

Submitted to Contest #104

The dawn was still. The crickets and fireflies had lowered the curtain on their nocturnal performance. The birds had yet to warm up their voices and take to the stage. For Susie, it was the best time of the day. She watched the light grow in the distance. She thought of Hannah. “Time to get up!” Hannah would have said if she thought Susie was taking too much time to savour daybreak.But Susie was already up and thinking. She had been up all night thinking. She had been up all night for the last three nights (she did not sleep anymore), t...

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God all I wanted was to read Agatha Christie

Submitted to Contest #104

“Are you coming tonight?” I wanted to scream. Why did everyone in the goddamn group feel the need to pry whenever I didn’t want to get blackout drunk and vomit in the bathroom on a Tuesday, of all days. Like I needed a better excuse than that.  “I have to work early and don’t need to rage like I’m 19 every other night, Meg. No offense.” I heard her huff over the phone, and could picture the irritation in her face, clear as day: pursed lips, eyes narrowed, probably rubbing her mascara all over the place because she didn’t know what...

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Never Alone

Submitted to Contest #104

With the girls gone skiing with their cousins, Tracy finally found herself with a couple of days to focus on the novel she was writing.She felt it was nice having roommates, to be able to have a whole house; roomy, private, but it also seemed like she never had any time alone.She has completely forgotten the parcel at the front of the house which her friend, Carol had pointed out when they were leaving. She will have plenty of reminders this evening.After getting her coffee, Tracy turned off all the lights but what she needed around her desk...

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Peace and Quiet

Submitted to Contest #104

Marietta Morgenstern begrudgingly left the comfort of her home to attend school, like every child, on September 21st. In her 9th year, Mari learned how children worked, how a routine worked, and how she didn’t like it. A quiet child, Mari never caused problems for her parents or her teachers. Teachers, in fact, were quite fond of her. That didn’t help Mari very much. Mari attended school with the intention to learn and to grow. Other children often got in the way of this.  By the second day of the new school year, she devised a plan. D...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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