20 terrifying short horror stories

Well, in some of the stories, the sudden appearance of a ghostly figure can be really terrifying. For example, a character might turn around and see a pale, translucent figure just standing there, with eyes that seem to pierce through their soul.

In my opinion, 'The Call of Cthulhu' is one of the most terrifying. It involves an ancient, otherworldly being that drives people mad just by the knowledge of its existence. It's a Lovecraftian horror that plays on the fear of the unknown and the cosmos.

They often have a quick build - up of suspense. For example, in many short horror stories, the first few sentences might introduce a strange or eerie setting like an old, dilapidated house. They also tend to have a single, impactful 'scare' moment, such as a sudden appearance of a ghost or a discovery of something horrifying. And the endings are usually left open - ended or with a final twist that leaves the reader feeling uneasy.

The psychological aspect. Horror stories play with our minds. They can make us question our own sanity. For example, in a story where a person starts to see things that no one else does. They begin to doubt themselves, wondering if they are going crazy or if there is really something evil lurking in the shadows. This self - doubt and the fear of losing one's mind is a big part of what makes these stories so terrifying.

One of the most terrifying is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he can't stand the old man's 'vulture - like' eye. The guilt drives him insane as he imagines he still hears the old man's heart beating even after the murder.

The use of psychological elements. For example, in 'Black Swan', the main character's descent into madness is both fascinating and terrifying. The stories play on our deepest fears, whether it's the fear of being alone, the fear of the dark, or the fear of something malevolent that we can't see. They also often use elements of the supernatural, like ghosts or demons, which are inherently scary to most people. The combination of these factors in the stories of '13 most terrifying horror stories' makes them truly terrifying.

Isolation also plays a major role. Take 'The Lighthouse' for instance. The two lighthouse keepers are isolated on a small island, and as strange things start to happen, they have no one to turn to. The sense of being alone in the face of the unknown is very frightening.

True horror short stories are terrifying because they tap into our primal fears. These stories can make us feel vulnerable, like in 'The Black Cat' where the main character's actions seem out of his control. They also use elements like suspense and surprise effectively. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', the victim has no idea what's coming until it's too late. The brevity of the stories makes them concentrated doses of horror that can leave a lasting impression.

One short terrifying horror story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and ends up murdering him. He then hears the old man's heart still beating beneath the floorboards. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw'. A family gets a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes, but with horrifying consequences for each wish.

The uncertainty. In psychological horror short stories, it's often not about the big, obvious monsters. It's the things you can't quite put your finger on. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the slow breakdown of the protagonist's mind is terrifying because you don't know exactly how far she'll go. The mind is a powerful and unpredictable place, and these stories play on that.