Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Horror.
Lesser No More
The crunching of small stones filled Ajax’s ears as his arm quivered to hold his lantern steady, his eyes struggling to pierce the wilderness around him. It was a cold night, his multiple layers of clothing providing no comfort from the biting winds. The men around him provided no comfort, already used to what this job entailed.
By Isabel Dixon3 years ago in Horror
Bedtime Story: Godfather Death
As a child, I don’t remember much about the stories my mom read to me, but I remember the ones I chose to read. I spent many nights reading the original Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales. Anyone who has read these stories knows how gruesome they truly can be. However, most of the stories recorded by the Grimm Brothers keep a great deal of the graphic details to the reader’s imagination. There is one story that stuck with me for years and I still go back and reread. The story titled “Godfather Death” will always be my favorite. It is centered around a man who has many children, all of whom have godparents. However, the man’s last child does not have a godparent yet as there is no one in the village left who is willing to take on that responsibility. The man goes out in search of a godparent for his child and comes across God, the Devil, and Death. God offers to be the man’s godparent, but the man declines because God lets the rich get richer and poor get poorer. After, the Devil offers to be the child’s godparent and the man declines because the Devil tricks innocent people and damns them to Hell. Finally, the man comes upon Death and accepts his offer to be the godparent of his child because Death treats everyone as equal.
By Chris White3 years ago in Horror
Absense
Her name is Tracy. She is fourteen years old in this picture. The picture in the heart-shaped locket on a gold-plated chain. Her long, brown hair is parted in the center and cinched up in two pigtails. Her big, brown eyes sparkle and the curl of her smile makes me wonder what mischief she is up to. I think as I walk through unfamiliar forests, will I recognize her if I find her, no, when I find her. How will she react when she sees me? I continuously practice what I will say to her as I tramp through fallen leaves and weave my way around twigs and branches and other detritus. I have little to steal: A bedroll, a knife, an air rifle and a few sundries that make the journey a bit less of an ordeal. The most valuable item is, of course, Tracy in a locket. My head throbs, has been since before I left. There was that week I was down sick and delirious, it scared me. So, I packed up and snuck out of the neighborhood, dodging patrols all along the way.
By Mark Coughlin3 years ago in Horror
Conquered
I placed a handful of wildflowers in Grandmother’s hands as two burly men in black suits approached to close her casket. “WAIT,” I cried out. The men stopped, as I reached down and carefully removed the silver, heart-shaped locket from around her neck, and placed it around my own. I locked eyes with the men and nodded my approval, and they closed the casket. I began choking on the lump in my throat, overwhelmed with the grief that I would never see her again. Not only was Grandmother the only parental figure I ever knew; she was also one of the few ties left to the old world.
By Samine Khadem3 years ago in Horror
Feverish
Veronica adjusted her locket with gloved hands before she slunk through the rusted back door of an abandoned local pizzeria. She hated the way the lobster clasp caught on the mole on her decolletage. The cumbersome steel door was much heavier than she anticipated, causing her to stumble over her heels as she ripped her stockings on her way out.
By sarah martineau3 years ago in Horror
Chain Reaction (Part One)
In a world of perpetual darkness on a concrete island surrounded by a sea of death is not the life I envisaged for myself or my beloved wife but sadly that is what our earthly life has come to. A cardboard box to keep us warm in an atmosphere of 24 hour freezing temperatures with no hope of rescue or a return to life as we once knew.
By Emily Spankfirst3 years ago in Horror
The Robber Bridegroom
I grew up most often the only child with a single father in the military. Sometimes, usually for a few weeks during the summer, my younger sister would visit, and I would have a playmate. My father frequently deployed, and I remember one time staying with my grandma. She gave me an old book of fairy tales that used to be my father’s, and holding it would make me feel close to him when he was away. It was a small, red, leatherbound copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, with gold inlay and wording. The pages were old and worn, and the binding was starting to fall apart. I wore it down more by frequently reading it, or having my grandma read it to me. Eventually she gave me the book to keep, and I still have it on my shelf today, over 25 years later. The book was published in 1973, so it is now nearly fifty years old. Copies of this book run between $8-$50, depending on condition of the text and where you are buying from.
By DarkRandall3 years ago in Horror
What Do You Covet?
“Please, don’t do this! There’s got to be another way,” pleaded the victim. The other man inched closer forward. His arm poised and bent at the elbow, brandishing a large knife. Fresh blood coated the tip of the blade. The victim slowly backpedaled, trying to maintain distance, never taking his gaze off his aggressor. The aggressor continued to push forward, his knife at the ready. The victim tossed anything of value at his aggressor, including a half-filled water canteen, rations, and his backpack.
By Blayke Stevens3 years ago in Horror
Forgotten Chambers
My life feels perfect in every way. I have a great career, a nice house, good health, and best of all my smoking hot Heather to share it all with. I never understood why she decided to drop law and instead work with inner-city youth, who the system gave up on long ago, but it was her passion. Those kids need a good influence like her around. Hell, I need a good influence even more.
By Jacob Carroll3 years ago in Horror