best haunted short stories

They often have a sense of unease from the start. For example, in 'The Fall of the House of Usher' by Edgar Allan Poe, the description of the decaying mansion sets a spooky mood right away.

Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It's about a family who comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes but with a horrible cost. Every wish they make has unforeseen and terrifying consequences, which makes it a really suspenseful read.

Another is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. While it might not seem like a traditional haunted house story at first, the room with the yellow wallpaper in the old house takes on a very haunting quality as the narrator descends into madness, and the house becomes a prison of sorts.

One of the best haunted stories is about the Winchester Mystery House. It was continuously built and remodeled by Sarah Winchester. Legends say that she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. There are strange architectural features like staircases leading to nowhere, doors that open to walls, and secret passages, which add to the spooky allure.

The Bhangarh Fort in India is extremely famous for being haunted. It is said that a curse was placed on the fort. People are not allowed to enter the fort after sunset or before sunrise. There have been reports of strange lights, voices, and apparitions. Another place in Asia is the Manila Film Center in the Philippines. There were accidents during its construction where workers died. It's said that their ghosts haunt the building. People have heard screams and seen unexplained figures there.

The Amityville Horror is also a well - known haunted house story. The Lutz family claimed to experience all sorts of terrifying phenomena after moving into the house, like strange noises, slime oozing from the walls, and seeing apparitions. Their story was so disturbing that it became famous worldwide and inspired numerous movies.

Fear of the past is a big theme. Haunted short stories often involve characters being haunted by events or people from their past. There's also the theme of isolation. In stories like 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the woman is isolated and this makes her more vulnerable to the 'haunting'. And death is a prevalent theme too. The idea of the dead coming back to haunt the living is quite common.

Well, in haunted house fiction short stories, the setting is crucial. A haunted house might be isolated in a desolate area, adding to the sense of dread. These stories often play on our primal fears. For example, a character might hear strange noises at night, and as they explore, they discover dark secrets about the house's past, like a tragic event that left restless spirits.

These stories might also comment on human nature or society through the lens of the haunted house and related elements. The settings and symbols play crucial roles in conveying the intended messages.

One of the most famous haunted places is the Tower of London. There are many stories of ghosts there. For example, the ghosts of Anne Boleyn and other beheaded royals are said to haunt the place. People claim to have seen their apparitions. Another is the Winchester Mystery House in California. It has a strange layout with staircases leading to nowhere and doors opening to walls. It's said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during its construction.