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Imgur user Aharit has always been curious about their ancestors. So, they bought a couple of those genetic testing kits everyone can find online to learn more about them.

Usually, we seek horror out in bookstores, on TV, and in the theater, as well as in video games. Most of these complex stories, however, take time to unfold, and not everyone has it. Luckily, there are tidbit alternatives that can creep you out in a matter of seconds.

A subreddit called r/TwoSentenceHorror is dedicated to sharing chilling micro-tales that are just two sentences long. The online community was founded in 2014, and over 320k people have joined it since. From haunting ghosts to cold-blooded homicides, together, they have created one of the darkest libraries on the Internet, so take out your nightmare fuel canister and continue scrolling.

To read more two-sentence horror stories, check out our previous posts: part 1, part 2.

Bored Panda got in touch with some of the moderators of r/TwoSentenceHorror to find out more about its content."

First of all, I think the anatomy of a two-sentence horror story will change from writer to writer. However, I have seen the following pattern: Line one - set up; line two - twist. Often times, the real horror element does not come until the second line. This is a very common approach," two_sentence_critic said.

But even though many of the stories can be dissected like that, such a structure does not guarantee a text will go viral. "Thankfully, there is no exact answer," two_sentence_critic said. "That would be boring. Some of the top posts are existential horrors, like mine. Others incorporate revenge, visceral and/or body horror, weird fiction, sci-fi, fantasy elements, historical fiction, crime, and abuse. Note: we do not include trigger warnings as we feel this acts as a spoiler. You've been warned."

Legioneer, another moderator of r/TwoSentenceHorror, agreed there is a lot of variety in the most popular stories, though most have unique concepts and good twists. "A story that has a good enough hook and payoff will go far. There are some more common themes, like murderers, comas, or stories from the perspective of a pet, but any theme can work if it is creative enough and well written."

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Legioneer thinks the subreddit has become popular because it is very simple to both scroll through and submit your own tales. "A lot of readers don't have the time to read a whole series on NoSleep, and a lot of potential writers don't have the time to write them. r/TwoSentenceHorror is different. You don't need to have that same level of commitment, spending hours reading or drafting something up only to be potentially disappointed by the end result. Our scares are bite-sized, so you can visit our sub for just 5 minutes or binge for 5 hours, and there will always be new stories to read," they said.

Alright, so you read the stories, you love them and you want to take a shot at creating a killer two-sentence horror story. Where do you begin? Try to come up with a situation that's universal and induces fear in everyone. "If you're a new writer, here's a few hints to start off with: incapacitation, complete control, anonymity, or delusions," moderator WoodenPiano explained. "Some cliché traps which people fall into are cannibalism, darkness, death, or other topics that only target specific fears."

Once you have the concept, explain it clearly. "Don't leave people hanging, wondering what exactly is the twist, unless it really makes the story that much better," WoodenPiano added. "In-your-face horror more often than not shocks readers more than slow and concealed horror. People who write about existentialism or identity crisis often run into this problem."

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Some popular strategies include breaking the fiction barrier (writing stories that people can't easily pass off as just fictional), condensing multiple twists in two sentences, and forcing the reader to empathize with the characters involved. "However, you should note that most of these require a bit of luck, and trying to incorporate them may make them seem forced. But don't give up!"

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#15

Scary-Two-Sentence-Horror-Stories

TwoSentenceHorror Report

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lilskittleme avatar
Hermione Granger
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... --- ... That is SOS by the way. Dot dot dot, line line line, dot dot dot. For blinking, blink quickly for dot and slowly for line.

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#18

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Terri Rowland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn it, I was just congratulating myself for not crying yet, now I have to start again, this time while hugging my doglet.. 😢😭😭😭😭🐕💞👩‍🎤💞🖤🖤🖤

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PhotoJenic12
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Humans are a plague and most don't deserve the love of a dog.

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Ariel Fox
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people LOVE and care for their pets - the abusive ones are in the minority!

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Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This- ugh. When we got our beagle his previous people said that he only really dug holes if it was hot outside but he didn't bark much or cause trouble otherwise. We figured out that he didn't cause trouble because he'd lived in his kennel. He's literally never dug a hole here- how long were they leaving him in the yard?? He didn't bark for the first three months we had him- the first time one slipped out he looked terrified. First time my husband had whiskey after the beagle moved in, and the beagle smelled it on his breath, he ran away. Everything else was normal, except that you could smell whiskey on my husband's breath, and the beagle was terrified. At this point he's not scared of anything but smoke detectors and bicycles and will NOT hush his face when the mail truck goes by- but goddamn I don't like to think about how he got that way in the first place.

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Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jeez, what's with all these dog themes stories? That's not horror, just horrible.

evelynlc500 avatar
Animal lover❤
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😭I'll never understand why people do that. I would never do that to my doggo

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Monika Eckenrod
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dogs are literally perfect little angels and humanity....I can't even. It makes me sick. This is why I always adopt rescues. They need to experience true love. Everyone at the rescue had a party when we brought home our special needs senior. No one thought he'd ever fun his fur ever. We will love and care for him for all time.

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AnnieLaurie Burke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another wrenching pet abuse story... I liked removing the earth's parasites better.

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Serafina diMerrowvingia
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No please my poor baby, everyone loves you. You are the goodest of bois. tell me where you are and I will come and get you

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Tammy Ralph
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heart breaking, why so people do these horrible, cruel things ? I'll never understand it, my dog is like a child to me.

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Another loser
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then people from boredpanda came along and gave the doggo a loving home

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Karina Tinnel [STUDENT]
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are an amazing dog, break the chain and go find someone who actually loves you

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#29

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Hendra Lim
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard that you can wake up from the dream if you died in it, try to die, but remember "Never believe that you died" or you'll really die instead

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#30

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