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There are many reasons why one might enjoy a good horror story. One, for example, is the adrenaline rush after being scared. The other is that some of us like to experience overwhelming, complex emotions. It also helps that the scary stories aren't happening to you, so you can still feel relatively safe while experiencing them. 

And bigger doesn't always mean better, especially when it comes to scary stuff. Sometimes, it’s the small things or short scary stories that are the most terrifying, like an unexpected spider in the bathtub, a creaking floorboard in the dead of night, or a lizard on the wall staring right at you! Those are the real-life short horror stories that give us an adrenaline rush. 

Two-Sentence Horror Stories: Reddit Collection

The classic of the horror genre is, of course, the two-sentence scary stories. So when a now-deleted Reddit user asked others, “What is the best short horror story you can come up with in two sentences?” the answers scared everyone to death. You might want to keep the lights on for this one! 

From short scary stories about being buried alive to working the night shift alone (or not...?), this compilation of creepy stories definitely has it all. And if you are a fan of two-sentence horror stories, we promise this post will leave you scared and mindless. Let’s dig in!

#1

Shortest Horror Story

Text on a black background: "There was a picture in my phone of me sleeping. I live alone." Horror story image.

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Hans
Community Member
9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Overly helpful neighbour closed the door after you walked in, left it open, and drunkely fell asleep on the floor?

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    #2

    Sibling Horror Dilemma

    Text from a horror story, "My sister says that mommy k****d her. Mommy says that I don't have a sister," on a black background.

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    #3

    Scary Story

    Horror story text with a chilling message that warns not to go downstairs due to a mysterious whisper.

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    António Lima
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Easy: he is son of a lesbian couple...thats not scary :p

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    #4

    Spooky Visitors

    Text displaying a chilling tale of horror involving a clock and terrifying presence.

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    #5

    Perks Of Cremation

    Text on a black background with white font sharing a chilling horror story about darkness and loneliness.

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    #6

    Creepy Story

    Text from a horror story with chilling twist about a baby monitor and a wife's presence.

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    Pi...
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or MAYBE, the person next to you wasn't your wife...

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    #7

    2 Sentence Horror Story

    Text on a dark background sharing a short horror story about a patient paralyzed during surgery.

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    #8

    Afterlife Horrors

    Text on image: "My daughter won't stop crying and screaming in the night. I visit her grave to ask her to stop, but it doesn't help."

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    Charles Laster
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder, if you have a condensed ghost story, if you spilled water on it, would it grow into a short story or novel.

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    #9

    Short Scary Story

    Text of a short horror story on a black background, evoking a chilling atmosphere.

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    Shannamrichardson
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Carolers waiting to sing, Mormons there for a service project, neighbors waiting to surprise you with a fresh coat of house paint?

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    #10

    A Touch From The Other Side

    Text of a chilling two-sentence horror story about an amputee and phantom limb sensations.

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    Pi...
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Whoa! This was totally a new take on the phantom limb aspect! Well done!

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    #11

    Pet Horror Story

    Text on black background reads a horror story about unsettling sounds of scratching.

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    Cristi
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always felt safe as a kid because I thought any strange noise in the middle of the night would be my cat.

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    #12

    Something About Night Shifts And Short Horror Stories

    Text reads: "Working night shift alone. A face in the cellar stares at the security camera."

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    #13

    Two Sentence Horror Story

    Image of a chilling horror story about hearing knocking from a mirror.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I once heard some light knocking while I was drawing and listening to a CD. I looked around, saw nothing, didn't pay attention, dismissed it as some random sound. Then the album has finished and I wanted to change the CD... But atop the CD player there it was - a grasshopper as huge as a fist!

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    #14

    Creepiest Of The Short Creepy Stories

    Text reads a chilling two-sentence horror story about a dead girlfriend and child, with a break-in twist.

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    #15

    Spookiest Of The Short Horror Stories

    Text graphic of a two-sentence horror story to send shivers down your spine.

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    #16

    Most Scary Stories: Short And Terrifying

    Horror story text about a man who can't communicate his consciousness during cryogenic freezing.

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    #17

    Short Scary Stories For Sleepless Nights

    Text on a black background: "I can't sleep" she whispered. A chilling horror story about waking up clutching a burial dress.

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    #18

    The Full Body Twitch

    Text image featuring a two-sentence horror story about a sleep twitch captured on camera.

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    Keely Estep
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A girl is alone at home one night, for the first time. She has a dog to keep her company. The girl listens on the news about a serial killer on the loose. She goes to sleep after locking all the doors and windows but for one, which doesn’t close. Suddenly she is awakened by a dripping sound. Scared thoroughly, she tries to go back to sleep and puts her hand down the bed for a reassuring lick from her dog. As the dripping sound continues, she goes to check on the taps in the kitchen, bathroom and everywhere else but finds nothing. She returns to her bedroom and puts the hand down again for the dog to lick. The dripping sound continues and the girl is too frightened to fall asleep. But as her hand gets licked from under the bed, she slowly falls asleep. In the morning, when she opens the closet, she finds her dog killed and hanged upside down. The dripping sound was from the dog’s blood. On the closet doors, she sees a message written in the dog’s blood– “Humans can lick too"

    Felix Mejia
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dmn it I have those twitches very often, stupid horror tales

    Becky Stacy
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Always put the feeling of falling with why it's called, "falling asleep". Anyone else? I mean, that's a odd verb to put with it.

    Šimon Špaček
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you mentioned it I started thinking about it. So I tried google and found out that it is same in few other languages through Europe. Strange is that there is no good reason listed so I guess that there was some tale/myth/legend from which it originated but that story was forgotten.

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    Kyla
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No to this. I randomly shiver all the time, I don't need these thoughts!

    Nat Gif
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nah I get these all the time except for me its always a reoccurring nightmare that I'm walking on the 3 floor of my childhood house except all the banisters are gone and I lean over the edge to look down into our large foyer and then I'm pushed from behind by a man with no face and all of a sudden I'm falling and I look up to see the man with no face except he has a big wide mouth that stretches his whole face who is now smiling down at me and its absolutely terrifying and just as I hit impact I jerk awake. I've had this nightmare since I was a toddler and it will never go away...

    Liam Potenberg
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    probably an oatmeal raisin cookie hopping in your mouth.

    Aimee Kelley
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How did we even start talking about cookies????

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    Joel Moreno
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i tried that and lets just say its disturbing and you don't wanna know what it is.....

    Lena Abougabal
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well who in the world took the video of u in the FIRST PLACEEEEEEEEEEEEE????????????

    tiagoobin
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    God this scares me the most!! EEKS.

    taylor lancon
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NOOOOO NOW I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WHAT WOULD IT CAPTURE?!

    Laci Fuller
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would like some more details. Was it your demon cat?

    Carrigan Kerous
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I probably WILL sleep again, just not with a camera aiming at me. And with the covers on, so I don’t twitch, As well as the FBI outside my door.

    Ethan Rodebaugh
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    easy again: a cookie that you hate jumps in your mouth and you try to get it out .

    Fatima
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    wait so is that a fact???

    Jayce Steward
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Uzziah
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    actually its bc your body thinks its dying wwitch is pretty scary if you think about it

    Dakota Bloyer
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    me just looking like im having a seizure

    Dakota Bloyer
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    now im incretibly curious on what it is and now have to spend the rest of the school day wondering about this

    strawberry
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHAT DOES IT CAPTURE?!?!?!? REALLY?? 🍓

    Logan Hesse
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get these all the time and I dont want to know whats actually happening.

    Veronica Fantozzi
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i dont want to imagine what it is ((0_____0))

    Vanessa Nunez
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait, what if I want to see it though. I mean, Unless it showed like E.T. or something cause that brother is scary as frick with his long neck and glowing fingers.

    Joel Moreno
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i tried that and lets just say you don't wanna know

    Kalissa Johnson
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah what do we look like i wanna know! i don't sleep anyways

    KEARA GABRIEL
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i feel like the person got stabbed by a ghost but i could be wrong

    Rishika Chaudhuri
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well, I get that many times some while sleeping any some while doing puke I would try capturing next time, by the way, what would happen?

    Austin Doer
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    what a demon or aghost WHATTTTTT

    Gustavo Bernal Quintana
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i dont care if twitch in my sleep sleep is sleeep

    NIGGA25
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    his hand twitched into a middle finger

    NIGGA25
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    his hand twitched into a middle finger

    KpGamer !!
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I once read that your soul leaves your body at night during sleep...Is that what it captured?if so.......HOW THE F***K DO I STOP MYSELF FROM DOING THAT!?! 🤣

    KpGamer !!
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one scares me the most cuz it’s one I can kinda relate to..Ish....I have that feeling all the time...And I’m assuming that this is trying to say that there is like a ghost or something shaking you...I read in a scary story once that your soul sometimes leaves you body when you sleep..Is that what is happening?

    KingOfPigness
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is actually called a hyptic jerk. Google it.

    UnderbossGecko
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's simmmplllle. You may think that you are falling I a dream so you did and "catch" urself therefore making ur muscles twitch. You don't have to be dreaming for this to happen. It's just a simple muscle twitch.

    Skunk Drunk
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's called a hypnic jerk...right...?

    Maxi Heat
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    thanks, this is the point in slumber when you have those disturbing dreams and you are half awake and you are urging your body to wake up roll over scream anything, but nothing, so thanks for now I am scared to go to sleep yet yearn to because these moments always seem too happen when I am suffering from severe sleep deprivation.

    Karolina Demich
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somehow hypnic jerk does not sound scary

    Grace McLean-Storrie [Student]
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ok but like, I'm genuinely intrigued what you look like-

    Grace McLean-Storrie [Student]
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    k but like- I genuinely want to know what you look like-

    Lena Abougabal
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well who pointed the camera in the first place?? omg my chair keeps moving by itsself

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    #19

    Heights And Scary Short Stories

    Text on a black background: "The grinning face stared from the darkness beyond my bedroom window. I live on the 14th floor."

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    Miklós Nagy
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know that feel. F#cking alpinist window cleaners.

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    #20

    Horror Short Stories: The Cabin In The Woods

    Horror story text about sleepless night in a cabin, focusing on eerie portraits and haunting change to windows.

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    #21

    Can Cats See Ghosts?

    Text box displaying a 2-sentence horror story about a cat's unsettling behavior.

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    #22

    A Baby’s Laughter

    Text reads a 2-sentence horror story about eerie baby laughter at 1 A.M. when home alone, evoking spine-chilling fear.

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    Pi...
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *shudder* this is like Chucky from child's play.

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    #23

    Who Opened The Door?

    Text reads: "After years living alone, I realized I'd closed more doors than opened." Eerie two-sentence horror story image.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This doesn't need to be horror. It can be about some richman or a rich woman, closing him/herself up to the public, to close friends and relatives, to themselves... A celebrity with a troubled personality perhaps.

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    #24

    Shhh, Someone Is Watching!

    Text on a black background describing a horror story, highlighting a mysterious presence.

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    #25

    What The Ghosts Want

    Text on a black background reads a chilling two-sentence horror story about mirrors and watching.

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    Clever Fool
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I talk to my mirrors, saying funny things for the people watching me. The head doctor calls it "Truman delusion", but I know the truth.

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    #26

    A Creepy Short Story On The Rails

    Two-sentence horror story about being tied to abandoned train tracks, with a chilling revelation.

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    Jeanne Deaux
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is way more terrible than the thought of someone, or even a train coming...

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    #27

    Wrapped In Horror

    Text image of a two-sentence horror story about mannequins causing popping sounds.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The mannequins must be so heavy...

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    #28

    An Unsuccessful Operation

    Text image with a spine-chilling 2-sentence horror story about heat signatures and a room temperature friend.

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    #30

    When You Live Alone

    Text from a horror story on a black background.

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    #31

    Turn On The Lights!

    Text of a horror story about reaching for a light switch, only to find another hand.

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    #32

    Look For The Monsters

    Text from a horror story about monsters hidden around you, warning not to look up.

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    Łukasz Wydra
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok, I wasn't planning to sleep today, anyway...

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    #33

    I Never Go To Sleep

    Black background with eerie text: "I never go to sleep. But I keep waking up."

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It happens to me sometimes during my REM phase.

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    #34

    The Grammatically Accurate Ghost

    Horror story text on a black background with playful capitalization, creating a spooky effect.

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    #36

    Just A Dream

    Text on image: A 2-sentence horror story with a chilling twist about a dream.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This feels kinda like a sci-fi story about engineering artificial memories and experiences.

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    #37

    You’ve Been Noticed!

    Image featuring a chilling two-sentence horror story about being alone and noticed.

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    #38

    Pretty Skin

    Text image with a two-sentence horror story about skin, evoking spine-chilling feelings.

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    Pi...
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Enter the guy from silence of the lambs...

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    #39

    Night At The Swimming Pool

    Text graphic with a 2-sentence horror story about a nighttime swimming encounter.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Night swimmiiiiiing deseeeeeeeerves a quiet niiiiiight. ♬♪ ♥

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    #40

    Wish I Could Remember

    Text reading "I wish I could remember whose these people are. They tell me I have Alzheimer's," featuring horror stories.

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    #41

    Game Of Shadows?

    Text on a black background: "She wondered why she was casting two shadows. After all, there was only a single lightbulb."

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    #42

    Last Man On Earth

    Text on a black background reads a spine-chilling two-sentence horror story about the last man on Earth hearing a knock.

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    #43

    Spooky Headphones

    Text-based image featuring a 2-sentence horror story about unplugged headphones whispering.

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    #44

    Horror On The Dining Table

    Horror story text about mysterious items on a dining table: a knife, rag, and recording camera.

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    #45

    Good News

    Text on a black background reads: "The dead are watching us now. That's the good news." This horror story sends shivers.

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    MD
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That sounds like the start of a dark doctor who episode...

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    #46

    Short Horror Story In The Doorless Room

    Text of a chilling two-sentence horror story about a man in a doorless room facing a grim reality with a gun.

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    #47

    A Deathly Heart Attack

    Text image of a horror story about a man experiencing a graveside service while unable to move.

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    Grey Sage
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Male version of Snow White ant the 7 dwarves?

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    #48

    Creepy Coffin Tales

    Text on a black background shares a chilling two-sentence horror story about a nightmare turning into a terrifying reality.

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    Brendan Eaves
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is the most horrifying experience ever also f**k off

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    #49

    A Spooky Funeral Story

    Text from a two-sentence horror story in white on a black background with a subtle border.

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    Maria Corns
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did the person attending the funeral bury someone alive?

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    #50

    Wake Up!

    Text on a black background: "You wake up. She doesn't." A chilling 2-sentence horror story.

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You go to the bathroom first, when you hear some knocking. It was her, telling you to hurry up 'cause it's urgent.

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    #51

    A Haunted Crypt

    Text on a black background reads a short horror story about funeral attendees trapped in catacombs.

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    Lily Mae Kitty
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    if it as locked from the inside, they could unlock it and leave.

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    #52

    The Prettiest Pink Doll Dress

    Text of a horror story displayed on a black background with white font.

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    Short and Spooky!

    This is what we were talking about. The classic horror of the shortest stories! And we bet there were quite a few that made you check twice if you are really alone in the room! Isn’t this the perfect collection to scare your friends? Share it with them, and let us know in the comments if these short and spooky tales managed to creep them out, too!