In Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery', the moment when it is revealed that the lottery is not a positive thing but rather a stoning ritual. The shock on the villagers' faces and the sudden realization of the true nature of the 'lottery' is a great horror scene. It makes you question the dark side of human nature and traditions. This short story is full of a sense of unease from the very beginning, and this final revelation is the climax of the horror.
In H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu', the description of the strange and otherworldly dreams that the narrator has, along with the discovery of the ancient and evil entity Cthulhu. The way Lovecraft builds up the atmosphere of cosmic horror, with the unknown and indescribable things lurking in the darkness, makes those scenes some of the best horror scenes in short story history. The idea that there are things in the universe that are far beyond human comprehension and are so terrifying is really well - presented in these scenes.
In Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge', the moment when the protagonist thinks he has escaped death by hanging only to realize it was all a hallucination as the noose tightens around his neck again. The sudden shift from hope to despair and the cruel trick of the mind is a very effective horror moment. It plays with the reader's emotions and gives a sense of the fragility of life and the horror of impending death.
One of the best scenes is in 'The Shining' when Danny sees the twin girls in the hallway. It's a classic moment that sends chills down the spine. The visual of the pale, ghostly girls in their blue dresses is both eerie and captivating.
One of the great ones could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that builds intense psychological horror as the narrator's guilt over his deed drives him mad. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which shows the terrifying consequences of interfering with fate through a simple yet cursed object. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' which uses the setting and the protagonist's deteriorating mental state to create a sense of horror.
They often have a sense of the unknown. For example, in 'The Call of Cthulhu', the idea of these unknowable cosmic beings is really scary. Another characteristic is a build - up of suspense. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the reader is kept on edge waiting to see how the wishes will turn out horribly. Also, they can play with psychological elements like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the main character's mental state deteriorates in a very disturbing way.
I would recommend 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' by Alvin Schwartz. This book is filled with classic short horror stories that have been scaring generations. The stories are often accompanied by disturbing illustrations that add to the overall horror factor. It's a great choice for those who enjoy traditional horror stories with a touch of the macabre.
One of the best horror short stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that delves into the mind of a madman who is haunted by the old man's vulture - like eye. The narrator's descent into madness and his increasing paranoia as he hears the heartbeat, which could be his own guilt manifesting, makes it a truly terrifying read.
One of the best horror short stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a chilling tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man he lives with. Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' which shows the terrifying consequences of interfering with fate through a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes in the most dreadful ways. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also notable, with its exploration of a woman's mental breakdown in a haunted - like setting.
One great site for short horror stories is Creepypasta. It has a vast collection of user - submitted horror stories that range from the truly terrifying to the delightfully spooky. Many of the stories on Creepypasta have gained a cult following and have even inspired various forms of media.
There might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which has elements of the supernatural and shows how a simple wish - granting object can bring great horror. The family in the story experiences unexpected and terrifying consequences from their wishes.
One great story could be 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a disturbing tale about a woman's descent into madness. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which has that classic horror element of wishes gone horribly wrong. And 'The Tell - Tale Heart' is also quite famous, with its unreliable narrator and the growing sense of dread.