Horror Story Roundup, Part Two

It's that time of year again, my lovely readers. September is here, and Halloween is only seven weeks away! Time for me to present you with some of my creepiest, spine-tingling, and spooky-fun stories to get you in the festive mood.

For those of you who remember, I did the same thing around this time last year (to see the stories featured then, follow this link). Now, I will be featuring all-new stories for your reading pleasure. Also, this time around, there's a bonus: I am including Halloween- and horror-themed poems in this list as well as stories!

From the purely psychological to the more gruesome and gory, here are my scary Vocal poems and stories:

I'll start with a list of poems that will raise the hair on your skin:

1. "The Faust Deal"

Ever wanted to write your masterpiece so badly that you would give anything for it--even your own soul? Be careful what you wish for.

2. "Samhain"

This time of year isn't for everybody, but for many of us, it's the most festive time of year. Find the light in the darkness and the darkness in the light as you celebrate the great and hallowed Samhain.

3. "Small Town"

Small towns are such quaint places, great areas to raise a family...or are they? What do small towns hide beneath those fair facades, and what exactly do their residents know about their hidden depths?

4. "Small-Town Killer"

He was a father, a working man, a neighbor. Then, he snapped. What truly happened the night that his wife died? Did he kill her, or is there another madman on the loose?

5. "Monsters in the Night"

They say that monsters are all in our heads...and they might be right. But does that mean they aren't real? Not all monsters have fangs and claws.

A piece of flash fiction, "The Ceremony" is one of my shortest Halloween stories. It was originally written for Chloe Rose Violet's "Writing Prompts for October". Follow the nameless protagonist as she undergoes a bloody and painful ceremony. But what is the ceremony for?

Although not Halloween-themed, I wrote "All is Bloody and Bright" as part of my own challenge to write a winter-themed horror story. I am rather proud of this one because it ended up as a Top Story in December 2023. It follows a nameless protagonist as he is stalked on a blustery night by a dangerous figure bent on his punishment. But who is this mysterious figure? It's none other than the worst of the worst during the holiday season--Krampus.

A January 2024 Top Story, "The Ghostwriter" is one of my more popular pieces. The story was written as a way of venting my frustrations towards my occupation at the time, which was as a paranormal romance ghost writer. "The Ghostwriter" follows the story of a writer who has no choice but to write...again and again and again. No breaks, no deviations, no distractions, ever. The consequences are most deadly, but perhaps death is not the worst option in this scenario.

Originally written for Raymond G. Taylor's Write-a-Witch Awards Challenge, "The Witch of the Thirteen Crows" is one of my personal favorites. It tells the tale of an empathy witch, a witch who can feel the emotions and sensations of others, even transfer their pain to herself. She uses her talents to help others but lives in constant fear of being discovered as a witch. When she uses her powers to help a young boy who has been injured, will she be embraced for the hero that she is--or feared as the freak that she sees herself as?

"Initiation: The Devil's Tree" was originally written for Vocal's Under a Spell Challenge. However, I knew that the story could not end there. Thus beget "Initiation, Part II: The Waters of Life". Together, these stories tell the tale of a young witch's initiation gone wrong when the infamous demon of The Devil's Tree decides to possess her. Only with the help of her fellow witches--and one particular witch that has caught her eye--can she expel the dark forces that have taken over her...if it's not already too late.

Do you have any horror or Halloween-themed stories that you want to share? 'Tis the season! Leave a link to them in the comments below, or make up your own list and leave a link to that!

To peruse all of my stories, check out My Vocal Archives.