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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 358 of 435

The Barista

Submitted to Contest #90

Sausage?  No. Bacon.  Being as though this complete stranger is close enough to kiss me, I usually spend my mornings in a crowded subway train playing, “Guess What This Stranger Had for Breakfast.”  I award myself extra points if I can guess the delivery system.  In this case I think it was a burrito because it was still on his shirt.  Judging by the size of the stain, I don’t think he got much in his mouth.  That’s how I pass time on the E train on the way to my barista job: smelling stranger breath and noticin...

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Nature’s Retribution

Submitted to Contest #90

“Are you excited for the Call?” Jessica rested her chin in her hands, looking up at me from her seat in the fluffy armchair. I turned to my reflection and adjusted my olive green bow tie. “I guess.” “You guess? This is supposed to be the most exciting time of the year!” I glanced at her in the mirror. Even from where I stood, I could see the excitement in her eyes. If only I could feel the same. I sighed. “Oh, I don’t know. Something about the idea of being chosen to be the Servant of the Earth Mother and living in the woods away from ...

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The Mother's Children

Submitted to Contest #90

Alice wanted to curl in on herself as she sunk into her chair. She tugged her hair out of stress, a bad habit she needed to stop. People always talk about how moving to a new place was difficult. Alice liked this town, but lately… Lately she felt as though she were seeing things in the corner of her eye. Things like flowers going from buds to blooms in mere moments, but that was probably the wind. She also felt vines wrapping around her legs when she walked along the sidewalk. But she was sane! Those things were tricks of the light o-o...

15 likes 4 comments 4
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Murder Train

Submitted to Contest #90

First class was heavy with perfume, the scent so thick it could’ve had a physical presence. A splitting migraine ensued and it was only eleven thirty. I decided I needed a break from the alcoholic air and made my way to the lavatory, nearing the caboose. Upon arrival (not even entrance!) I instantly wished I had toughed out my headache. A nauseatingly rotten smell had assaulted me. It came from the lavatory car, but the odor was atypically bad. I have no clue why, despite this, I opened that door. The compulsion could have been what saved...

20 likes 11 comments 11
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Train to Paradise

Submitted to Contest #90

Nine-year-old Karen was an only child. She always felt lonely so when the opportunity came for a field trip with her friends, she signed up immediately. At the start of the journey, their class teacher told them they were taking the train to paradise. “Forget all the fumes, the smog, the heat and everything else technology promised. Leave those behind. We are going back to nature where everything is fresh, green and cool,” their teacher, Mr Kong said. Everyone settled down as the familiar electric whine of magnets started. The train elev...

10 likes 1 comment 1
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Pointers on Pruning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Submitted to Contest #91

Borg was not much of a reader, but Sonja, Borg’s wife, was an avid bookworm.  Living on Tvorkla Island off the coast of Norway, Sonja quickly found that the tiny library in town was not able to keep up with her voracious reading appetite.  In less than three years, she had read most of the books on the shelves of the library. Due to the isolation, sometimes it would take over three weeks for one of her requests to make it to the library.  Boat was the only way to access Tvorkla Island where Oliver was the lighthouse keeper out...

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Breakers of the Day

Submitted to Contest #90

The flicker of the flame springing to life drew a stark contrast with the rooms early morning chill. Peter steadied his labored breath for fear of blowing out the candle. The ability to rise at a specific time had helped him be selected as a member of the Daybreak Order. The selection process was brutal, only the most disciplined and devout even had a chance at consideration. Despite having barely made it through the selection, since his appointment he’d ascended quickly to the role of Candle Lighter, the first to arise each day. There were...

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The Curse of the Library

Submitted to Contest #91

"See you tomorrow Cam!" I shouted to my best friend, Campbell, as I walked to the city library. I should probably introduce myself before I go any further. Hi! I'm Sophia. I'm 14, in 8th grade, and not very popular. Pretty much just your average tween girl. So, you might be thinking, "Sophia, why are you going to the Library?" or, "What does this have to do with anything? Get to the point already!" Well, I'm going to the library to research stuff about different Culture for a social studies project. We have to choose a culture or religion ...

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When It's Dark

Submitted to Contest #91

    TW: DEATH: GORE:  RishaMy friends are all into this new game called Truth or Dare, I never play along with them because I'm not the daredevil, and I can hardly tell the truth when put on the spot. I spotted Lisa, Chad, and Mel in the library this morning giggling away. Truth or Dare... I remember thinking, Walking up to them I take a seat next to Mel. "Hey Risha! Wanna play?" Lisa exclaims, muffled by giggles. I just shrug, Maybe I'll finally surprise them by saying yes. I smile to myself, "Sure." Chad's eyes gro...

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Land of the Unwell

Submitted to Contest #91

Land Of The Unwell     It all started with a thick book and a tornado of colors. The ending, however, was one coated in red.  * * *     “I’m heading off to the library, mom. I’ll be back in an hour or so,” Eveliah Black said as she grabbed her black sneakers and pulled them over her feet.      “Okay, Eveliah dear. Don’t be too long, Jamia and aunt Crystal are coming over at three,” her mother replied from the kitchen, her voice echoing off of the blank, newly-painted beige walls. Eveliah...

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Lost Lovers' Beech

Submitted to Contest #90

The people of Southwold had christened it ‘Lost Lover’s Beech’. The tree had stood for decades at the perimeter of the village playing fields, where the neatly mowed grass merged into the sprawling spinney. Children were cautioned not to enter the small gathering of trees or go near the Beech. Parents warned their sons and daughters that there were spirits wandering the woods or that the badger setts in there were home to goblins. Harmless myth to keep local kids from being stung by nettles or twisting their ankles tripping over tree roots. ...

7 likes 2 comments 2
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Entrapment

Submitted to Contest #90

                              Entrapment“Good afternoon Professor, Weybridge. I’m from Laboratory News. Can you tell the world and me what endangered plant species you and your team are currently trying to conserve In Kew Gardens?”Asked the reporter."Yes, the team and I are trying to cultivate different species of plants; one, in particular, is Dionaea Muscipula, known as The Venus Flytrap.&nbs...

11 likes 7 comments 7
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All Change

Submitted to Contest #90

Everything looks fragile in winter. Fulsome trees shrivel into dry, skeletal things. The grass and flowers and weeds are crystallised by frozen dew drops. They look so brittle, as if they could shatter at the merest touch. But I love this time of year. The air feels so crisp and clean and new, the cold so frigid it burns your cheeks. The spell is broken, though, by the time I’m waiting for my train back home from college.  I’ve lost all feeling in my toes, which are numbed senseless by the cold in my new shoes, already splattered with m...

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The Nephilim In The Furnace Dark(original rough draft; currently nearing novella length)

Submitted to Contest #90

Earlier that night: Everything these days could become available now nationwide for public seepage and disposal. So could trains, it seemed. There were many people there that night, important people. It wasn't just the advent for jetsam clouds overhead I'm afraid. At the end of the night all four boys, including me, would end up looking at nothing but moonlit candelabra in the whalelike belly of a sky, searchingly.  But as of right now? At the beginning of all this ruckus? I sat mullioned as a vulturelike craning with a sunken larynx, f...

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Kill or be killed

Submitted to Contest #90

The baby crying,the people on the phone,the train runnin thru the tracks all this noise makes my anger more than what its actually is I feel my anger bubbling over that thin line of calm I still carry at lest of what's left looking around I notice how off guard these people truly are how unself aware they are how trustful of the strangers around them,not knowing the things they do or the things they have done,They should be afraid of people like those people like me. . . the news is on in he small tv in the train I can't hear it but I still ...

9 likes 6 comments 6
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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