Some interesting apocalyptic horror short stories are 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury. It's about a family living in a high - tech house where the children's virtual reality nursery takes a dark and dangerous turn, hinting at a world out of control. 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson also has elements of apocalyptic horror. It starts as a seemingly normal small - town lottery but ends in a shocking and brutal way that makes you question society's dark underbelly. 'A Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury is another. It shows how small changes in the past can lead to a terrifying and apocalyptic future through time - travel gone wrong.
Some apocalyptic horror stories worth mentioning are 'Z for Zachariah'. It's about a young woman who believes she may be the last person alive in a valley after a nuclear war. The story focuses on her isolation and the challenges she faces when another person shows up. 'The Mist' by Stephen King is also great. It has people trapped in a supermarket surrounded by a mysterious mist full of terrifying creatures. And 'On the Beach' shows the end of the world as nuclear fallout slowly creeps towards the last remaining survivors in Australia.
For short horror stories, 'The Phantom's Touch' is a great title. It makes you think of an unseen, ghostly hand touching you. 'The Darkest Hour' implies that something truly terrifying happens during the darkest part of the night or a difficult time. 'The Hollow Eyes' is also quite effective as it makes you wonder what kind of creature has those hollow eyes.
One of the best is 'There Will Come Soft Rains' by Ray Bradbury. It shows a post - apocalyptic world where a fully automated house continues to function long after the humans are gone. The description of the empty, yet still operating house is both eerie and thought - provoking.
A story about a house with a locked room that no one has opened for decades. The new owner of the house is curious and finally manages to break the lock. Inside, there's a single chair in the middle of the room. As soon as they step in, the door slams shut behind them. They feel a cold presence. Then, they start to see apparitions of people who seem to be trapped in the room, reaching out to them with desperate looks, as if they want to transfer their own trapped state to the new owner.
Edgar Allan Poe has some great horror short stories that are often available for free. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' is a classic. It's about a man who is haunted by the sound of his victim's heart after murdering him. The psychological horror in it is really intense.
Horror short stories can be sourced from various places. Libraries are a treasure trove. You can find collections by renowned horror authors like Stephen King. His short story collections are filled with hair - raising tales. Additionally, some e - book platforms have a wide selection of horror short stories, both free and paid. And don't forget podcasts; some horror podcasts not only tell horror stories but also recommend great sources for more horror reading.
There are several horror publications for short stories. 'The Dark Magazine' is a great choice. It publishes high - quality horror short stories that often deal with psychological horror elements. 'Shock Totem' is another publication that has a great collection of horror short stories. They cover a wide range of horror sub - genres, from supernatural horror to more realistic and gritty horror. And don't forget about 'Cemetery Dance', which also features some excellent horror short stories among other horror - related content.
There's 'Lamb to the Slaughter' by Roald Dahl. In this story, a woman kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb when he tells her he's leaving her. Then she calmly serves the lamb to the police officers who come to investigate. It's a story full of dark humor and horror. Another short horror story is 'The Most Dangerous Game' where a man is hunted like an animal on an island by a deranged hunter. It shows the horror of being the prey and the lengths a person will go to survive.
Some good horror titles could be 'The Haunted House on Elm Street', 'The Dark Figure in the Alley', 'The Cursed Doll'. These titles are simple yet effective in creating a sense of mystery and fear. 'The Haunted House on Elm Street' immediately makes you think of a spooky place with a lot of potential for horror elements. 'The Dark Figure in the Alley' gives an impression of something menacing lurking in a dark and narrow space. And 'The Cursed Doll' is a classic horror concept that often involves the doll having some sort of evil power.
One good free short horror story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a psychological horror that delves into the mind of a woman slowly losing her sanity. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's masterful use of pacing and unreliable narration makes it a classic short horror story. And 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs is also great. It shows how a simple wish - granting object can bring about terrible consequences.