What are some good free short scary stories?

There is also 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a psychological horror story about a woman who is confined to a room with yellow wallpaper while she is suffering from postpartum depression. As she becomes more and more obsessed with the wallpaper, the story takes a very disturbing turn.

One popular one is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that's both short and extremely creepy, with the narrator's descent into madness over an old man's 'vulture - like' eye.

One popular one is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. Since it's in the public domain, it's copyright free. It's a terrifying tale of a man's descent into madness over an old man's 'vulture - like' eye. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which is also well - known. It tells a spooky story about a magical paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences.

They are often concise. Since they are short stories, they usually get to the point quickly, introducing the horror element fast. For example, a story might start with a strange noise in an old house right at the beginning.

One characteristic is that they can cover a wide range of horror sub - genres in a concise way. It could be supernatural horror, like a ghost story, or psychological horror, where the fear comes from the character's mind. Also, royalty - free scary short stories usually have relatable characters at the start. This makes the reader more engaged before the horror elements kick in. They might be about an ordinary person in an extraordinary and terrifying situation. And the endings are often left open - ended or with a final shock to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Yes, many of them are quite good. Some are written by amateur writers who are really creative and can come up with unique and terrifying ideas. For example, on Creepypasta, there are stories that have given me goosebumps.

I would recommend 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' by Alvin Schwartz. It has a collection of short, hair - raising stories that are perfect for those who like a bit of a scare. There are stories about ghosts, monsters, and all sorts of creepy things.

Good titles include 'Whispers in the Graveyard', 'The Sinister Shadow', 'Midnight's Terror'. 'Whispers in the Graveyard' gives the impression of something lurking among the tombstones, with voices that send shivers down your spine. 'The Sinister Shadow' makes you wonder what kind of menacing presence the shadow represents.

One spooky short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and ends up murdering him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family is granted three wishes by a mummified monkey's paw, but each wish comes with a horrible and unforeseen consequence. Then there's 'The Lottery' which has a very disturbing ending. It takes place in a small town where an annual lottery is held, but the winner of the lottery doesn't receive a pleasant prize at all.

One good example is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's 'evil eye' and eventually murders him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrifying consequences. And 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is also very scary. It shows a small town's annual lottery which has a dark and cruel ending.