first person horror short story

I walked into the old, creaking house. The air was thick with a musty smell. Every step I took on the warped floorboards seemed to echo like a death knell. As I entered the living room, a cold draft brushed past me. The shadows in the corner seemed to move on their own. I could feel eyes watching me from every dark corner. Suddenly, a loud bang came from upstairs. My heart raced as I slowly made my way up the rickety staircase. I knew I should leave, but something was drawing me deeper into this nightmare.

Characteristics? Well, the first - person POV in these stories can make the reader empathize deeply with the narrator. We are basically in their shoes. They tend to have a lot of internal monologue which can be used to heighten the sense of horror. For example, in 'The Cask of Amontillado', the narrator's thoughts as he lures his victim into the catacombs are quite chilling. Another thing is that the first - person perspective can be used to create a sense of claustrophobia. The narrator might be trapped in a room or a situation, and we feel that confinement along with them. And often, there's a sense of impending doom that is conveyed through the narrator's eyes.

One characteristic is the intense sense of immediacy. Since it's from the first - person point of view, the reader feels like they are right there with the narrator experiencing the horror. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', we can almost feel the narrator's racing heartbeat as he becomes more and more paranoid.

One common element is a sense of isolation. For example, the protagonist is often alone in a spooky place like an old house or a dark forest. Another element is the unknown. Strange noises, shadows that move on their own, and things that can't be easily explained. Fear of the dark is also common. When the protagonist is in a dimly lit or completely dark area, it heightens the tension. Also, a feeling of being watched or followed by an unseen entity is often present.

One of the earliest known authors to write a horror story was Horace Walpole. His work 'The Castle of Otranto' is often considered the first gothic novel, which contains many elements of horror. It was published in 1764.

I checked into a motel on a desolate road. The room smelled musty. As I lay in bed, I heard scratching at the window. I got up to look, but saw nothing. When I lay back down, I felt something cold touch my foot. I jumped up and turned on the light, but there was no one there. The scratching continued, and I noticed the doorknob slowly turning. I grabbed a chair and barricaded myself in the corner, praying for morning to come.

Horace Walpole is often considered the first person to write a horror story. His work 'The Castle of Otranto' in 1764 is regarded as one of the earliest examples in the horror genre. It contains elements like the supernatural, gloomy settings, and a sense of dread that are characteristic of horror stories.

You could start by having the narrator question their sanity or sense of reality. Say, 'I thought I was losing my mind when I started hearing strange noises every night.' This creates mystery and unease right from the start.

Start by putting yourself in the shoes of the protagonist. Make the reader feel like they are experiencing the terror along with them. Build tension gradually and use vivid descriptions of the surroundings and emotions.

One excellent first - person horror short story is 'The Masque of the Red Death' by Poe. The narrator's description of the events during the masquerade ball in the face of the Red Death is very spooky. 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury is also good. Told from a parent's first - person point of view, it shows how technology can turn into a horror in a family. And 'The Most Dangerous Game' has elements of horror as the first - person narrator finds himself hunted on an island.