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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 419 of 435

It wasn't just another cliche ghost story and camping

Submitted to Contest #64

In a summertime afternoon, 5 friends were getting ready for their yearly camping trip for they became friends even after the closure of their school camp. They were all interested in each other for they all have traits that befit one another and they became close like father and daughter. A trip that once was enjoyable will soon be a nightmare of confusion, betrayal and riddles. Their friendship was confronted by a series of trust and faith. Will they succeed in this situation or will they rot in their regrets? Read to find out. Chapter 1:...

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Lucy's Visitor

Submitted to Contest #64

Over the years Lucy had moved to a new house several times, but nothing had prepared her for her current move. She and her husband, Eric, had finally scraped together the funds to buy their dream home: a manor house on the Sussex Downs, surrounded by large, established gardens. Part of the house itself dated back to the sixteenth century, albeit with many later and varied additions. It had obviously been well-loved by its owners, with each leaving their own mark, thereby creating a hotchpotch of architectural features and internal decoration...

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ghostly perspectives

Submitted to Contest #65

when she woke up, it was almost sundown. the first Halloween she spent as a ghost would mean she could go out of the house and finally see her kids and sun. unlike many ghosts, she was friendly. the ghosts could also relocate to abandoned mansions or were their friends and family were. little did anyone know, but most families had a ghost in their house, making sure that no one broke in. the families that got killed didn't have ghosts. when she had pushed out of the window, as it was midnight and Halloween had just started, she could final...

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They Seem Like Lovely People

Submitted to Contest #64

“I just need to get them to sign, then we can finally be done with this,” Kevin said to himself. He had just parked his car in front of the house. Not just any house. This was the house. Kevin worked for a real estate development company that was in the process of designing and building a new business and housing district in the area. The design was ready and approved and the community was looking forward to having a new area to explore in their city. They had everything they needed. Except… this new district would be going up in an area th...

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By the Light of the Moon...

Submitted to Contest #64

“Look, Jacob, I’m telling you, this is all your fault! If you hadn’t brought that girl home, we wouldn’t be hiding in these basement caskets!” Tina whisper-yelled at him, her voice carrying her annoyance across the room with nearly the same force as the howling winds they’d run through to get into the crypt. “Mom and Dad told you that dating was against the rules!” “How’s it my fault she saw me without my shirt on in gym class and decided she wanted the hot goth kid all to herself?” Jacob called back, a tone of derision hanging heavily on ...

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A death trap

Submitted to Contest #64

 The moment she saw the great abandoned manor, known to be cursed, Haley was drowning in regret punching herself “why… when…when…will you stop gambling”. It really looked cursed, though, great big walls touching the Sky . Algae following the height, loads of windows giving the view of a monster with several eyes and a giant main gate. “the owner wanted to invite a colossal Titan”, said Caitlin frowning at the main gate. There was nobody insight except for a bunch of guards. Hailey’s gaze followed the yard stretching to several mile...

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Not Whoth It

Submitted to Contest #64

Manor, manor here I come. I repeat the phrase in my head, preparing myself for what was ahead. The line seemed to be something taken out of a children’s rhymes book, I thought with a chuckle.I struggled my luggage out of the adorable yellow auto with an “oomph,” and placed my suitcase on the path. I opened my mouth to bid the driver farewell, but the young man didn’t seem to care much for formalities. Having enough of my tardiness, he pulled the reins and trotted past me on his horse. The next thing I know, there are mudd...

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Arabella

Submitted to Contest #65

           He was gone. Lying in the casket was his husk. It looked nothing like him. It smelled nothing like him. He was too pale and still. Stan wasn't like that. Stan was boisterous, vibrant, joyful. Arabella should've gone against his will and transformed him.             "I'm immortal, Stan. A vampire, actually." She remembered how much she had dreaded that confession. Even now she felt nervous remembering that moment in a...

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ghosted

Submitted to Contest #64

  I would sit by the window and listen to bare branches scratch the glass- like they so desperately wanted in, while I so desperately wanted out. Sometimes I’d send a dish crashing to the ground, just to remind myself that I was still real, in some sense of the word. It was comforting to know that I could still influence things that were truly real. The days melded together seamlessly. I knew that I missed someone, but could no longer remember their face. I spoke to the paintings. I tried to figure out how to die a second time. Until th...

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My new job

Submitted to Contest #64

Today is the day. I begin my new job with the McConell family as their new caretaker. It's been so long since I had a job like this, I was both excited and nervous. Technically, they had posted the ad looking for a governess - whatever that is - and I got the job. I watched the scenery fly by me as I drove to their house. The road curved through a large, dark forest and trees dappled the road with shade. I was enjoying the drive, hoping that my new employment would be just as enjoyable. After cruising along for about 20 minutes, I arrived at...

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Gaining The Family Trust

Submitted to Contest #64

Mary dreaded the drive. The scenery swept by in an endless blur of flat, beige and brown sameness. The kind of landscape a painter would render in the hastiest of brush strokes. But the leaden knot in her stomach had far more to do with her decision to head up to the house today.Even as she sped down the freeway, the sun hung above the horizon. Mary gnawed at a fingernail as she drove, while her other hand tapped out the seconds. She ignored the diamond on her finger.George and Mary were off. Their relationship was broken, and now she saw it...

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Don't follow the Leader.

Submitted to Contest #64

Pregnant black clouds consume the night sky, concealing stars, presenting a darker void than usual. Those clouds birth, discharging a steady stream to careen down the slopes and curves of the dreary moor.  Two men hike; one a few strides further ahead of the other and struggling to plant his feet in the steadily water-logging grass. His torch lights a trail through nature’s obstacles. The follower observes carefully where the leader’s footfalls settle, tracing his path for a smoother trek.  Leader ascends a hill but loses his foo...

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Buried Alive

Submitted to Contest #65

His death was my fault. No matter what people say. I pulled the trigger. The fluorescent bulb flickered and the wind howled. Curled up in my duvet knees drawn to my chest, I perused a copy of ‘The Origin’, by Dan Brown, chugging hot chocolate. “Let it go”, Ambra Vidal said. If only I didn’t drive. If only I let go. Drunk and soporific, I drove him to death. A fresh tear appeared, which rolled down my sullen cheek, to the book, manifesting a small round crinkle. Shutting the book, I placed it on the bedside table, and hauled myself onto the w...

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Collage 2

Submitted to Contest #64

It’s been a couple months since I moved into this house. I don’t own it, there’s a portly landlord. I met her when I moved in and she handed me the keys and the documentation for my new place. Didn’t think much of her at first. Not to be mean, but she’s the kind of person who’s hard to remember once you’re not looking at her. Not ugly, just plain looking. Handed me the keys and said that if I ever lost them or something like that, she had a spare set in her house. So, I settled in and moved all my stuff in and such. Initially it was great; ...

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The black manor

Submitted to Contest #64

Contest 64 This weeks theme- Out on the moor Set your story in a Gothic manor house. They entered an ice-cold attic full of cobwebs and dust. The brown ceiling was low and the walls were pitch black. There was only one window through which the wind screeched. Old looking skulls, bones, rag dolls with names, eyeballs, and hands were hanging from the top. Books and boxes were scattered everywhere. She could see maps of the city. Some broken mirrors stuck on the walls. This was where people had spotted the criminal. He had to be found ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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