In Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery', the moment when it is revealed that the lottery is not a positive thing but rather a stoning ritual. The shock on the villagers' faces and the sudden realization of the true nature of the 'lottery' is a great horror scene. It makes you question the dark side of human nature and traditions. This short story is full of a sense of unease from the very beginning, and this final revelation is the climax of the horror.
In H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu', the description of the strange and otherworldly dreams that the narrator has, along with the discovery of the ancient and evil entity Cthulhu. The way Lovecraft builds up the atmosphere of cosmic horror, with the unknown and indescribable things lurking in the darkness, makes those scenes some of the best horror scenes in short story history. The idea that there are things in the universe that are far beyond human comprehension and are so terrifying is really well - presented in these scenes.
In Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge', the moment when the protagonist thinks he has escaped death by hanging only to realize it was all a hallucination as the noose tightens around his neck again. The sudden shift from hope to despair and the cruel trick of the mind is a very effective horror moment. It plays with the reader's emotions and gives a sense of the fragility of life and the horror of impending death.
One of the best scenes is in 'The Shining' when Danny sees the twin girls in the hallway. It's a classic moment that sends chills down the spine. The visual of the pale, ghostly girls in their blue dresses is both eerie and captivating.
One of the great ones could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that builds intense psychological horror as the narrator's guilt over his deed drives him mad. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which shows the terrifying consequences of interfering with fate through a simple yet cursed object. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' which uses the setting and the protagonist's deteriorating mental state to create a sense of horror.
One of the best horror short stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that delves into the mind of a madman who is haunted by the old man's vulture - like eye. The narrator's descent into madness and his increasing paranoia as he hears the heartbeat, which could be his own guilt manifesting, makes it a truly terrifying read.
One of the best horror short stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a chilling tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man he lives with. Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' which shows the terrifying consequences of interfering with fate through a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes in the most dreadful ways. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also notable, with its exploration of a woman's mental breakdown in a haunted - like setting.
One great site for short horror stories is Creepypasta. It has a vast collection of user - submitted horror stories that range from the truly terrifying to the delightfully spooky. Many of the stories on Creepypasta have gained a cult following and have even inspired various forms of media.
There might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which has elements of the supernatural and shows how a simple wish - granting object can bring great horror. The family in the story experiences unexpected and terrifying consequences from their wishes.
One great story could be 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's a disturbing tale about a woman's descent into madness. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which has that classic horror element of wishes gone horribly wrong. And 'The Tell - Tale Heart' is also quite famous, with its unreliable narrator and the growing sense of dread.
For beginners, 'Welcome to Night Vale' can be a great start. It has a unique style that blends the ordinary with the terrifying. It's not overly intense in terms of horror but still manages to create a sense of unease and mystery. It's a great introduction to the world of short horror story podcasts.
'In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories' is also suitable. The stories are short and easy to read. They include things like witches, haunted rooms, and other classic horror elements. It helps introduce the basic concepts of horror in a digestible way. It's a great choice for those new to horror stories as it doesn't go into extreme gore or overly complex horror themes.