scary plot twist short stories

They often play with our emotions. We might be feeling sympathy for a character, and then the plot twist changes everything. It makes us re - evaluate how we felt about the whole story. In a good scary plot twist story, the author builds up a certain mood and then shatters it with the twist, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the wishes turn out horribly wrong.

One is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. At first, it seems like a normal small - town lottery event. But the plot twist is that the 'winner' of the lottery is actually stoned to death as a sacrifice. It's a very dark and unexpected turn.

One is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. In a small town, every year they have a lottery. People seem normal about it at first. But the plot twist is that the 'winner' of the lottery is stoned to death as a sacrifice for a good harvest. It's a really chilling story that shows how blindly following tradition can be very dangerous.

One idea could be that the character who seems to be the hero is actually the villain all along. For example, in a story about a detective solving a crime, it turns out that the detective was the one who set up the crime in the first place to gain fame.

Good use of atmosphere is crucial. Dark and gloomy settings, strange noises, or a sense of unease can enhance the impact of the plot twist. In a story set in an old, creaky house, the reader is already on edge. When the plot twist comes, like the discovery that the friendly neighbor who helped the main character move in is actually a serial killer who has been using the house to hide his victims, the atmosphere makes it even scarier.

Surprise endings are a common element. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's confession at the end that he hears the old man's heart beating under the floorboards is a huge shock. Another element is misdirection. The author may lead the reader to believe one thing, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the family thinks the paw will bring them good fortune, but it actually brings disaster.

You could write about a man who inherits an antique mirror from his deceased grandmother. When he hangs it in his bedroom, he notices that there are strange reflections in it at night. The reflection shows a different version of his room, with dark, shadowy figures moving around. As he stares into the mirror more often, he starts to feel a presence trying to reach out from the other side, and he realizes that the mirror might be a portal to a haunted dimension.

Another is 'The Necklace'. A woman borrows a diamond necklace for a ball, loses it, and spends years in poverty to replace it. The plot twist is that the necklace she lost was a fake. It shows how a single moment can change a life in a very unexpected and sad way.

Surprise is key. For example, in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. At first, it seems like a normal small - town lottery. But then it turns out the 'winner' is actually going to be stoned to death. The sudden shift from a seemingly positive event to a horrific one is what makes it a great plot twist.

A time - related plot twist can be interesting. For example, a character believes they have been living in the present day but then discovers they are actually in a post - apocalyptic future where time has been distorted. This forces them to re - evaluate everything they thought they knew.