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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.

6520+ 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 355 of 435

Reading is Fun

Submitted to Contest #91

The Philip Noyer Library in Lexington closed indefinitely after the incident because management needed time to clean blood from the shelves, tables, carpet, etc. Moreover, a local college student Michael Cook was taken into custody by police for the murder of the librarian, Brad Umstead. These are purely the facts.However, there are rumors something more ominous transpired on the afternoon of April 17. Some individuals even speculate a malevolent force had haunted the library since its founder, Philip Noyer (local millionaire and n...

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After Hours, And The Horrors That Come With It

Submitted to Contest #91

I don’t notice the sound when I wake up. In my defense, I had more pressing issues at hand.  I notice the lack of lights first, then the lack of people, then the time, glaring up at me from my phone. It was 2 in the morning. I had fallen asleep in the library.  Now, this wasn’t the first time this happened. People fall asleep in libraries, especially tired college students like me. There was something about the utter peace radiated by the books and armchairs that puts people to sleep.  However, this time was different. ...

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Corvid's Pocket

Submitted to Contest #91

“What is this racket!” Remhann shouted and stormed down the aisle between the bookshelves. A library was a place for solemn study and reflection, not wanton shouting or crying. When the disturbance did not go quiet, Remhann shouted again. “Be quiet this instant!” He chided himself for disturbing the other visitors to the library, but he had his duties and they had to be carried out, for the sanctity of the library. So absorbed in his thoughts was Remhannn that he did not notice turning a corner that he had never before seen in the library. H...

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"The Tome of Dissidius" by Dante Crossroad

Submitted to Contest #91

"Really, LaKeisha?" Tiffany asked me. "You're gonna stay late again?" "What can I say?" I laughed. "Being alone with all these books makes me feel right at home and helps me wind down after a long day?" "If you say so," she replied, turning to leave. "I'm off for the weekend, so I'll catch you Monday." She locked the doors as she left. I wasn't gonna tell her that my girlfriend broke up with me and moved out, that I didn't wanna go home to an empty apartment because I just couldn't accept the silence yet. She didn't deserve to know me lik...

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Savannah

Submitted to Contest #91

My heart hammers inside my chest. Sweat drips down my face, clinging to my lashes and stinging my eyes. But I don't dare move. I hope that my hand clamped against my mouth is enough to muffle the sounds of my ragged breaths. From outside this cramped cabinet, I can hear the shuffling of their feet. Their low, primal growling sends a flurry of goosebumps across my skin. Those near-indestructible things whose only goal is to bite and spread their disease used to be human. And somehow that thought makes my heart pound even faster. I swallow h...

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Some Books Should be Left Untouched

Submitted to Contest #91

Chirping birds and blue skies a beautiful day to walk for Ande, skipping along the pale white concrete with a smile. Long silky hair runs in the wind while she glides with ease on the path to the library.  Nearing the library, she breathes in the air feeling the warmth fill her lungs with the smell of spring. Approaching the door, her stride slows down to open up the creaky wooden doors to the oldest library in the entire country. Spiral stairs lead up to the very top where some of the oldest book in history sleep, the place she likes...

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Home Library

Submitted to Contest #91

Harold sips his coffee and flips the light switch as he makes his way down the old wooden steps. The fluorescent lights struggle for a few seconds before finally illuminating the chilly basement of his Lawrence, KS home. Harold pauses at the bottom and breathes a deep, calming breath, basking in the stale air of the basement. Drinking his morning coffee in his home library is his favorite part of his morning routine before starting his shift as librarian at the University of Kansas’s Watson Library. He stares at the bookshelf and takes a mom...

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The Mystery Behind Rail Car 666

Submitted to Contest #91

Ms. Edna Porter sat back straight at the librarian desk and gazed at the quiet but rather busy library. Robert 'Robbie' Webb's head popped between rows of shelves from time to time while he was putting books back from the cart. She missed old Edward, who was her assistant for the past 30 years and retired last month. It took Edward a whole day to finish the same chores that Robbie could finish before her second morning tea. But there was pleasant silence surrounding old Edward while young Robbie's overzealous behavior was deafening. Robbie...

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Da Mortem Mihi

Submitted to Contest #91

It was in the Geography section. I remember it being strange because of how old the book looked. It was something I would have expected to see in a museum, not in the public library downtown.  The day was hot, the windows in the stifling library cracked open to let in the slight breeze that blew outside. I was the only one in the library other than the receptionist that stood at the desk, talking loudly on the phone and blowing a bright pink bubble before snapping it.  I was searching for something, I wasn’t quite sure what. Ju...

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Miss Wellington of Lindfall Library

Submitted to Contest #91

The boney finger of Miss Wellington rattled against the plastic board she had placed on her desk. With the deliberate placement of her table, as you entered Lindfall Public Library, the sign was, for most, the first thing they would see on arrival. Young Tony and Miguel were standing in front of the irate woman as she again listed the library's rules. Rule 1 - NO Food or Drink inside the library Rule 2 - NO talking while inside the library Rule 3 - Books must be returned to their designated shelf space Rule 4 - Books must be treated with e...

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The Twist

Submitted to Contest #91

“Let’s pretend, just for a minute, that I believe everything you say,” Officer Scott Wilde began, pushing the evidence bag toward Nikolaus as he edged about uncomfortably in his plastic chair. “The whole story, from the beginning. What is so special about this.” The clear wrapper of the bag chuckled as he pressed it and Nikolaus flinched before speaking. “It’s too complicated and…” He paused before continuing, “Outlandish for you to understand. If I tried to tell you even half the story, you’ll either loose interest or try to get me sectione...

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Angels and Demons

Submitted to Contest #91

“Good morning John, welcome to the public library, anything I can help you with?” Julia Manson asked softly.  “No, just browsing, thank you,” replied John Walker.  John proceeds to roam the aisles of literature not knowing what he seeks. He enters the section labeled, “spirits.” As he is walking he feels something. It felt as if one of the books reached out and touched his shoulder. To his surprise, he turns around and sees a glowing book. No title, no words, nothing, just the hard leather cover. John opens the book and ha...

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The Back of the Library

Submitted to Contest #91

“I still don’t understand why you’re so set on doing homework here instead of at home,” Jamie said, picking at the pages of a book he had taken from the shelf randomly. “You don’t live there, JJ. I do.” Sarah kept her focus on the words she scratched onto her paper. For the few moments she lost focus, her eyes would sneak a peak of Jamie, sitting across from her, flipping back and forth between random pages as they slightly ripped before shutting the book and pushing it to the side of him.“JJ,” Her innocent voice was sweet music to Jami...

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life log

Submitted to Contest #91

LIFE LOGDropping the micAuthor: Leanne TaylorOn the outskirts of the village of Hookworth in the year 2034, there was an abandoned library. No human had entered there in several decades, and it looked antique.There had been several rumours about the place, most saying it was haunted. Many people swore that they heard voices that sounded like they came from the eerie place.A young man called Ezra Turner had noticed that his fiancée, Jessica Bates was distant with him lately. He had noticed her spending a lot of time with her Grandparents and ...

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This was fun until...

Submitted to Contest #91

I am Ben da Costa. I am 15, and I live with my mother and my younger brother in the St. Inez neighborhood of Goa. My dad left us when I was 2, so I have no memories of him.It all began last month when my brother caught the flu and had to skip his classes for a while. The little punk’s a weakling if there ever was one. Me? I’m tough; strong as a bull, never so much as had a stuffy nose all my life. Anyway, he asked me to return a book to the school library. I had avoided that gloomy dungeon so far, but my mom threatened she would cut off the ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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