I think 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also a very scary short story. It's about a woman's mental decline while being confined in a room with the yellow wallpaper. As she becomes more and more fixated on the wallpaper, she descends into madness. The way it portrays the psychological breakdown is really spooky.
The scariest story I've ever read was The Heavens: I Can Summon Cthulhu Infinite. This book told the story of Mu Yan, who had the heart of an evil god, transforming Cthulhu in various story worlds, pretending to be passersby, and scaring the Samsara travelers and natives to death. The protagonists and evil forces of various worlds prostrated themselves at Cthulhu's feet. It was extremely terrifying. After reading this book, the psychological trauma could not be dispelled for a long time. I hope you like my recommendation.😗
One of the scariest short stories could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's creepy because of the unexpected and disturbing twist at the end.
I think 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant is really sad. The main character, Mathilde Loisel, borrows a diamond necklace for a ball, loses it, and spends years in poverty trying to replace it. Only to find out at the end that the original necklace was a fake. Her life is ruined because of her vanity and the misfortune of losing the necklace. It makes you think about how a single moment of pride can lead to a lifetime of hardship.
The one about the haunted house on the hill. There was a family who moved in. Every night, they would hear strange noises, like footsteps and whispers. One day, the daughter saw a figure in white in the attic. They tried to leave, but the doors and windows would not open. Eventually, they called a priest who performed an exorcism, but the priest was thrown down the stairs. They managed to escape in the end, but they never fully recovered from the horror.
One of the scariest true stories I know is about a haunted house where strange noises and apparitions were witnessed by multiple people. It's just terrifying!
For many, 'The Monkey's Paw' is regarded as extremely scary. The idea of wishes coming true with horrific consequences is truly spine-chilling.
One of the best treasure short stories I've read is 'The Gold-Bug' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a captivating tale of a man who deciphers a code that leads to a buried treasure. The story is filled with mystery and suspense as the protagonist follows the clues. Poe's vivid descriptions of the settings, like the desolate island where the treasure might be hidden, really draw you in.
One of the best game short stories I've read is 'The Last Guardian'. It tells a story of a boy and a huge, mysterious creature. The bond that forms between them as they face various challenges in a strange world is truly heartwarming.
For me, 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most horror short stories. The narrator's increasing paranoia and his confession due to the sound of the old man's heart he imagines still haunts me.
One of the best very short stories I've read is 'For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn' by Ernest Hemingway. It's so concise yet it conveys a deep sense of loss and tragedy in just six words.