Fresh Cookies
A little Spooky Micro
There was only one rule: don’t open the door.
Creak…
A subtle waft of fresh baked cookies permeated the hallway. It was weirdly nostalgic. Only thing is, Natalie couldn’t remember her mother ever baking.
It looked like her house; the tired wallpaper, the browning white carpet. Even the family photo hung on the wall. It was all the same, except… her mother was a neat freak that would never allow the house to reach this state. She would certainly not let the family photo get this dusty. Natalie could barely make out their smiling faces.
She continued on, careful to avoid any loose floorboards. She could hear clicking and clacking from the kitchen. It’s the only room with lights on.
As she edged closer to the kitchen door, she extended a hand and grabbed the frame. She could feel the door hinges on the tip of her fingers. They were cold. Colder than anything she’d touched before.
She pushed her head past the frame, carefully. Finally, she could see into the kitchen. There was a woman there. Natalie didn’t recognise the clothes, but it had to be her mother, right? Who else would it be?
She wanted to get closer. She needed to see properly.
Squeak…
Her mother stopped. Natalie was sure she avoided all the loose floorboards, but one still squeaked.
Her mother slowly turned around and looked at Natalie. She tilted her head sympathetically and asked “Did I wake you, dear?”
But, how did she speak? She had no eyes, nose, or a mouth. It was a completely smooth face.
***
“Sedate her quick!” Natalie was held down promptly and given a sedative.
“Looks like curiosity is a more dominant drive than we thought. Increase the dose, and put her back under.”
About the Creator
Mo Darasi
I write fiction, poetry and occasional articles about interesting topics.
Finding interesting ways to write a poem or hide messages within them seems to be my main interesting in writing now, and it's been fun
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insights
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
10 Horror Movie Scenes Based on True Events (That Are Even Worse in Real Life)
Hollywood may add dramatic music and special effects, but in many cases, the real stories behind these scenes are darker, crueler, and far more tragic. Here are 10 horror movie scenes based on true events — and the real-life versions are even worse. 1. The Possession in The Exorcist The spinning head, the strange voices, the violent behavior — this iconic possession scene was inspired by a real boy known as “Roland Doe” in the 1940s. In real life, the boy reportedly experienced unexplained scratches, moving objects, and disturbing voices after playing with a Ouija board. Priests performed dozens of exorcism rituals over several months. Witnesses claimed the bed shook violently and words appeared on his skin. The movie toned it down. The real case involved long-term psychological and physical trauma, not just a few dramatic nights. 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Human Furniture Leatherface making furniture from human remains seems too insane to be real — but it was inspired by Ed Gein, a real-life killer. Gein dug up graves and made chairs, lampshades, and masks from human skin. He kept body parts in his home and even wore faces like costumes. The film shows shocking moments, but Gein’s slow, obsessive behavior over years was far more disturbing than any single scene. 3. The Girl in the Box — The Silence of the Lambs The basement scene where a woman is trapped in a pit was inspired by serial killer Ted Bundy and others who kidnapped victims and kept them hidden. Real victims were held for days or weeks, psychologically tortured, and completely helpless. Some tried to escape but were dragged back. In movies, the rescue comes just in time. In real life, most victims were never saved. 4. The Doll from Annabelle The creepy doll in the movie is based on the real Raggedy Ann doll owned by a nursing student in the 1970s. The owner claimed the doll moved on its own, left handwritten notes, and once tried to strangle a visitor. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren locked the doll in a glass case. Whether paranormal or not, the fear experienced by the people involved was very real and long-lasting, not just one jump scare. 5. The Open Water Nightmare The movie Open Water shows a couple left behind by a diving group, floating helplessly in shark-infested waters. This actually happened in 1998. Tom and Eileen Lonergan were accidentally abandoned during a scuba trip in Australia. They were never found alive. Unlike the movie, which ends quickly, experts believe they survived for hours or even days, facing dehydration, sunburn, panic, and predators before dying alone. 6. The Amityville House — The Amityville Horror The movie shows demonic forces driving a man to madness and violence inside a haunted house. In reality, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family in that house in 1974. Later residents claimed paranormal events, but the brutal murders were real and confirmed. A ghost story is scary. But a son calmly killing his parents and siblings in their sleep is far more horrifying than any demon. 7. The Strangers’ Random Home Invasion Masked attackers breaking into a home “just because you were home” feels terrifying — and it’s based on real crimes. Many violent home invasions happen without reason or personal connection. Victims are targeted randomly, sometimes while awake, sometimes while sleeping. Unlike in movies, where victims often fight back successfully, in real life these attacks often end with serious injury or death. 8. The Hostel Torture Rooms The idea of paying to torture humans sounds fictional — but it was inspired by real rumors and crimes involving human trafficking and underground torture networks. While the movie exaggerated for shock, people are kidnapped, sold, abused, and killed every year in real trafficking operations. There are no heroic escapes or dramatic finales in most real cases — only long-term suffering that never makes headlines. 9. The Girl Next Door’s Basement Abuse This movie is based on the horrifying true story of Sylvia Likens, a teenager abused and tortured by her caretaker and neighborhood children. She was beaten, starved, burned, and locked in a basement for months. Many people knew and did nothing. The film shows cruelty, but real-life suffering lasted much longer and involved more people, making it one of the most disturbing true crime cases ever. 10. The Ritual Killings in The Conjuring Several scenes are inspired by real cult-related murders and ritual abuse cases. In real life, cult leaders have convinced followers to kill family members, sacrifice children, or commit mass suicide in the name of faith or fear. Movies show demons as the enemy. But in reality, humans manipulated other humans, which is far more frightening.
By sanab khanabout 8 hours ago in Horror
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH5 days ago in Critique
Comments (24)
Dang man!!! Great Entry Muhammad.
Damn, fresh baked cookies make me drool. But not drool my entire face off... Amazing creepy work 🙏😁
Lovely story.
Excellent work. Loved the ending. Congrats on the Top Story.
Oh, it started so innocent with the smell of fresh baked cookies. What a dirty trick! Just like a true nightmare.
The ending that hints there will be no end to Natalie’s torment made it so much creepier!
Very nice work, I love the plot twist there at the end. Great job!
Creepy story, Mohammed. Congrats, buddy!
Lovely
I felt scared when Natalie saw her mother without any eyes or mouth.
I love it
Nice twist
I really like this one. It's a unique twist.
Fantastic story! Sharp and short! Congratulations 👏💥✨
well written
So many twists and turns. This was so good.
very twisted..congratulations
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
You had my heart beating, and the end was horrifying. Great work!
Yikes! This was an awesome psychological bit of horror. I never once saw where it was headed either. Congratulations on the well-deserved Top Story! Well done.
I wasn't expecting that ending. This is great, Mo. Well done.
welll done
Lol, a face without eyes, nose or mouth. I loved that!
Oh!!! The no face thing was creeptastic!!! And then the sedation...I got chills. Great storytelling :)