Can you give examples of the best horror scenes in short stories?

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.

Another one is 'The eyes that stared back at me from the darkness were not human.' It immediately creates a sense of dread. Just the thought of non - human eyes watching from the dark is terrifying. It makes you wonder what kind of creature or entity is there, lurking and observing.

Sure. A school setting can be really good. There are different types of students, teachers, and a whole social hierarchy. It's a place full of drama, from academic rivalries to relationship issues among students. Another example is a battlefield. The chaos, danger, and high - stakes nature of war can create intense and gripping short stories.

A 'creampie horror story' could be about a cursed dessert competition. A contestant makes a 'creampie' but during the judging, the 'creampie' starts to ooze a black liquid and strange noises come from it. Everyone in the room is horrified.

My phone took a picture of me while I was sleeping and sent it to an unknown number.

Sure. A popular theme is the haunted house. It represents a place filled with dark secrets and often has ghosts or other spooky entities. Another example is the cursed object theme. This could be a doll that brings misfortune to whoever possesses it. Also, the theme of body horror, like mutations or abnormal physical changes, is quite common.

Well, the theme of madness is quite prevalent in horror. Characters going insane and doing unthinkable things create a lot of horror. For instance, a scientist driven mad by his unethical experiments. Another theme is the theme of the otherworldly invasion. Aliens or creatures from another dimension coming to Earth to take over or cause chaos. Also, the theme of the undead, like zombies or vampires, is very popular in horror stories.

One theme is the end of the world. Many horror stories explore what would happen if the world was ending due to some apocalyptic event, like a zombie apocalypse or a global pandemic that turns people into monsters. Another theme is the lost in a strange and dangerous world. For example, a character finding themselves in a parallel dimension filled with nightmarish creatures. And the theme of the untrustworthy nature is also there. In horror, you can't always trust the people around you as they might be part of the horror.

Sure. Consider a short max story where a little boy finds a coin on the street. He decides to use it to buy a flower for his mother. When he gives it to her, her smile is so bright that it makes his day. It's short, but it shows the boy's love for his mother. Also, many horror short max stories exist. For example, 'She heard a noise in the attic. She went to check. It was silent. Then a hand grabbed her.' These stories rely on creating an immediate impact and leaving the rest to the reader's imagination.

One example could be a story about a cat that follows a strange light at night and discovers a hidden world of talking animals. Another is a short story of a young artist who finds a magical paintbrush that can bring his paintings to life. Also, a story of a boy who stumbles upon a time - traveling device in his grandfather's attic.