Short Scary Stories

Sometimes, we all crave a good read that is not too much of a commitment. A quick thrill that leaves you petrified and packs a punch ; experience true terror reading our short scary stories, where one is crafted to instil the maximum amount of fear in the least possible amount of words.

Each short scary story will be a brief journey into the unknown and into the supernatural, and will leave you double guessing about what that shape over there in the shadows is. Perfect for horror enthusiasts looking for a quick thrill, our short ghostly stories ensure that fear comes in small but potent doses.

whether you are looking for a spine tingling bedtime story, love to explore the darker side of imagination without a longer commitment, or just a quick scare to escape from an otherwise boring day, our short story collection has something for everyone.

Short Scary Stories Catalogue

Image of a shadowy prison cell where a figure in visible agony is confined. A ghostly, sinister warden stands nearby, exuding an eerie aura, with a faint, menacing smile that conveys unending torment. The scene is dark and filled with despair, reflecting the overwhelming sense of pain and hopelessness as the figure realizes they must endure the suffering for 'two hundred years more.

The Purgatory-Short Scary Story

I was in constant pain and agony due to the torture that the warden was putting me through. It felt…

An eerie scene of a young man escaping a decayed, dimly lit house at night. In the background, a shadowy, monstrous figure resembling his mother stands ominously, holding an old axe, partially obscured by fog. The atmosphere is tense and filled with horror, with dark, misty surroundings and faint, unsettling shapes hinting at Jeff's newfound terror.

The Axe-Short Scary Story

Jeff had never experienced any human interaction apart from his mother who had kept him confined to their home since…

A dimly lit hallway with eerie shadows, where a man walks towards the kitchen. In one room, a ghostly figure of a woman holds a baby, while in the kitchen doorway, a woman hurriedly enters with groceries. The atmosphere is ominous, with flickering lights and unnatural shadows adding to the horror theme.

The Lullaby-Short Scary Story

David walked past his room towards the kitchen, smiling, as he heard his wife singing a lullaby to their infant…

A dimly lit, eerie basement with a young child peeking cautiously around the open basement door. The basement is filled with dark shadows, cobwebs, and old furniture, creating a sinister atmosphere. In the background, shadowy figures suggest a hidden, ominous presence. The child’s expression shows a mix of curiosity and fear, enhancing the horror elements of the scene.

The Locked Basement-Short Scary Story

“Mommy told me never to go in the basement, but I wanted to see what was making that noise. It…

A dark, eerie scene inside a lonely cottage deep within the woods at night. A frightened young man stands near a flickering fireplace, holding a flashlight, which points toward a half-open basement door. The room is dimly lit, with shadows creeping on the walls. Emerging from the pitch-black basement is a twisted, shadowy figure with glowing eyes, staring back at the man. The overall atmosphere is tense and filled with fear, capturing the feeling of isolation and dread.

The Whispering Dark-Short Scary Story

In line with tradition, Quinn spent his summer holidays with his parents in their lonely secluded cottage, inside the woods. …

A dimly lit, eerie apartment scene featuring a creaking old wooden door slightly ajar. A woman, Emily, stands in the foreground holding a glowing phone, her face filled with fear. The phone screen eerily reflects the door from the opposite side, as if watched from within. Shadows stretch across the room, adding to the oppressive and haunting atmosphere. The dark hallway beyond the door fades into obscurity, amplifying the tension, while a whispering presence seems to lurk in the unseen darkness.

The Silent Caller-Short Scary Story

Emily lived alone in a cheap, old apartment away from the city with rare human interaction and no family or…

A dark and eerie drawing room illuminated by a flickering old lamp, casting shadows on the walls. A man named Samuel sits in a chair reading a book titled 'The Shadows,' looking terrified. In the corner of the room, a shadowy figure with glowing eyes stares menacingly at him. The atmosphere is tense, filled with whispers and a sense of dread as the shadowy figure looms closer.

The Shadows-Short Scary Story

Sameul was sitting in his drawing room late at night reading a book called “The Shadows”, when his old lamp…

A terrified young woman, Nancy, holds a flickering flashlight inside an abandoned and decaying mill house. Shadows loom around her as she faces a pale, ghostly figure in tattered clothing, with long messy hair and bleeding wrists. The figure's unnerving smile and wide eyes stare menacingly at her, creating an intense and eerie atmosphere.

The Old Mill House- Short Scary Story

Despite the rumors of the Old Mill house, Nancy’s friends still dared her to spend an hour locked inside the…

An eerie and dimly lit train carriage at night with Sarah, a frightened woman, sitting alone. The train doors are open at a deserted station, and a shadowy figure of a man in black clothing stands on the platform with a disturbing smile. Behind Sarah, unnoticed, the same ominous man now stands inside the train. The scene is filled with suspense, shadowy lighting, and a chilling, supernatural atmosphere as the train approaches a dark tunnel.

The Last Train-Short Scary Story

Sarah finally managed to catch the last train of the night and she sat alone in the carriage with only…

A frightened woman stands in a dimly lit living room, turning her head toward a large window. Outside, a pale, twisted face stares back through the glass, casting an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Shadows creep along the walls, and the room is bathed in low light, creating a tense and horrifying scene filled with fear and suspense.

The Midnight Knock

It was just past midnight when Laura heard the knock. A slow, deliberate tap at the front door. She paused…

Dark, eerie forest scene at dusk with a lone man holding a dim flashlight, cautiously approaching a decaying, abandoned wooden house surrounded by mist and overgrown weeds. The house looms ominously, creating a haunting atmosphere filled with dread and suspense.

The Night Watcher-Short Scary Story

After camping for roughly 8 hours, Jeff was exhausted and decided he should return home since it was almost night…

An eerie mansion bedroom, dimly lit with shadows casting ominous shapes. A father kneels beside the bed, peering underneath with a shocked expression. Beneath the bed lies his pale, terrified son, eyes wide and tears streaming down his face. On top of the bed, another figure resembling the son is curled up under a blanket, creating a ghostly and unsettling scene. The room has a gothic, haunted atmosphere with dark colors and flickering light, enhancing the suspense and fear.

Who’s Under My Bed?

Josh was Ben’s son and they both lived together in a fine mansion. Josh had always been a timid little…

An eerie room with a glowing projector screen displaying two faintly glowing eyes in the background. The scene is dark and unsettling, with a woman standing frozen, clutching a cross around her neck in fear. The atmosphere feels abandoned and creepy, with shadowy figures and a faint mist adding to the horror elements. The room is dimly lit, with the projector's glow casting ominous shadows.

Portrait Of God-Short Scary Story

“You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Alex’s voice echoed through the empty room…

A dark, eerie apartment room with dim lighting. In the center, a mirror reflects a twisted figure with a disturbing, wide grin. The reflection appears to be stepping out of the mirror, with hollow, menacing eyes. The room is filled with deep shadows, a faint glow from a phone on a table, and an overall atmosphere of horror and dread, as if the boundary between reality and the reflection is breaking.

Smile- Short Scary Story

Late one night, Lisa sat alone in her apartment, scrolling through her phone. She had heard rumors about a cursed…

In a dimly lit, flickering laundry room, a terrified man grips a crowbar while facing a shadowy, indistinct figure slowly approaching from the darkness. The ominous figure, barely visible in the shadows, evokes a sense of supernatural dread. Everyday laundry items like baskets and a washer-dryer contrast with the eerie, foreboding atmosphere, emphasizing the man's fear as he stands on the verge of panic.

Okay Google-Short Horror Story

Timothy had just moved into his new apartment, still adjusting to the creaks and groans of the unfamiliar place. Exhausted,…

A dark, eerie dining room scene where a terrified family sits stiffly around the dinner table. A gray, skeletal hand grips the shoulder of a young girl, her face filled with fear. The father is pounding on a locked bedroom door in desperation, while a shadowy, twisted figure is creeping toward the mother, who is on the phone. In the reflection of a nearby fridge mirror, the same twisted figure is seen sprinting toward two children with wide, terror-stricken eyes. The overall atmosphere is filled with tension and impending doom.

Ignore Her-Short Scary Story

Jonathan was listening to music in his room when his dad burst in, pale with terror. Christopher locked the door…

A dark, eerie night scene featuring a dimly lit bus stop on a deserted street. A shadowy, old-fashioned bus has just arrived, its foggy windows revealing ghostly passengers. In the foreground, a young man hesitates at the bus door, his face showing fear and desperation. Inside the bus, a bride in a vintage gown stands with her face veiled, extending a hand ominously. The scene is haunting, with muted colors and a chilling atmosphere under a nearly moonless sky.

The Wedding Bus- A short scary story

Tennison, new to Oakville, got lost one dark night and stumbled upon a dimly lit bus stop. As he waited,…

An eerie, dimly lit cottage on the outskirts of Delhi, shrouded in a supernatural aura. The furniture in the living room is slightly askew, and an open cabinet hints at something dark and sinister within. Extinguished candles leave deep shadows, while a faint demon figure is drawn on the floor in a ritualistic pattern. A ghostly presence looms in the background, partially obscured by mist, enhancing the ominous and chilling atmosphere.

The Haunting of the Old Cottage: A Tale of Fear and the Unknown

Pragg, a young and adventurous lad, had recently moved to the outskirts of Delhi. Enticed by a seemingly great deal,…

Dark, eerie forest at night with a lone, isolated guesthouse partially hidden among the trees. A terrified man holds a flashlight, illuminating a ghostly woman in white with a decayed face under an ancient tree. The scene is filled with shadows and an ominous, haunting atmosphere.

Into the Abyss: A Family’s Nightmare in Naran Valley

The allure of Naran Valley, with its breathtaking landscapes of snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, and verdant meadows, proved irresistible to…

In a desert at night under a starry sky, a terrified group of friends sit in a dented car, its headlights illuminating ghostly children with dark, empty eyes. The eerie scene, a perfect example of short scary stories, contrasts the vast emptiness of the desert with the haunting presence of the Children of the Dusk.

Children of the Dusk

The desert promised adventure. A vast, empty canvas under a sky ablaze with stars. That’s what we thought, a group…

An eerie scene featuring an old two-story house in a misty village, surrounded by a dense forest. A traditional Nepali doll with realistic hair and piercing eyes sits ominously next to a smoldering fire in the foreground. The background displays the house under a full moon, creating a spooky atmosphere ideal for short scary stories

The Knocking of Nepali Doll

In the quiet village of Mirik, nestled between the misty hills of Darjeeling, the Rai family lived in an old…

The gift that wouldnt stop laughing Landscape 1 2

The Gift that Wouldn’t Stop Smiling

Little Lily bounced with excitement, clutching a wrapped box adorned with garish cartoon flowers. Her birthday had been a washout,…

Guardian of the Ghostly Gate

The lone streetlamp flickered erratically, casting distorted shadows across the deserted parking lot. Ten years had passed, yet the memory…

The Dark Road – A Short Scary Story

With three kids in the backseat, the Johnson family drove down a deserted road at night. Suddenly, their car sputtered…

the pizza delivery guy waits on the 13th floor, the setting perfectly captures the short scary story

The Thirteenth-Floor Delivery

Jake, a diligent food delivery rider, got an order for a pizza late one night. The address directed him to…

The Graveyard Grin

At 2 a.m., Akash finally submitted the project to his overseas client. Thirteen hours of relentless work had left him…

A young woman named Emily standing in a dark, eerie Victorian house, holding a candle aloft, capturing the haunting essence of a short scary story

Familiar Face In The Mirror

Emily hated mornings, but this one was worse. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes, and her reflection in the…

A young woman named Sarah huddled by the dying embers of a fireplace inside an old cabin during a storm, capturing the tense and mysterious essence of a short scary story.

The Last Knock

The storm howled like a banshee, each gust of wind a skeletal finger scraping against the boarded windows. Rain lashed…

An eerie, abandoned school at night with broken windows and overgrown ivy, creating a chilling atmosphere ideal for short scary stories.

Our short horror tales are perfect for anyone who is looking for a scare in small yet potent doses. spanning a variety of ever-updating themes such as eerie forests and abandoned houses, each story is written to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Some may be end on frustrating cliff hangers and some will leave you intensely frustrated. What’s certain is that each story is crafted to immerse you in a world of fear and intrigue, where the supernatural lurks just beyond the shadows.

If you want more detailed and longer horror stories then visit our main home page for more scary stories

A lot of our shorter stories will be inspired by the rather popular subreddit for short scary stories. Click here to go to r/shortscarystories