My Favorite Short Scary Stories

My Favorite Short Scary Stories

By: Zoea Marland, Class 12

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a good scary story—the adrenaline rush, the sudden chill down your spine, and that irresistible suspense that makes your heart race. If you know me, you know that I live for eerie tales, especially the kind you share during a late-night sleepover, flashlight in hand and blankets pulled up to your chin.

Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few short horror stories from books and the internet, and I thought it would be fun to share some of my absolute favourites. These are the ones I always go back to—the ones that still get gasps, goosebumps, and wide-eyed stares every time I tell them. So, if you’re brave enough, read on. Here are five of my all-time favourite short scary stories.

1. Who’s in My Bed?

Every night, without fail, a father tucked his seven-year-old son into bed. It was their nightly tradition—one that helped the boy sleep peacefully.

That evening, he entered the dim room as usual. His son was already under the blanket, waiting. But something felt… wrong. He looked the same, but the expression on his face was strange—a wide grin stretching too far, too forced.

“You okay, buddy?” the father asked, gently.

His son nodded, still grinning. “Daddy, can you check for monsters under my bed?”

The father chuckled and knelt down, humoring the request like he always did.

But this time, under the bed, he found his real son—pale, trembling, eyes wide with fear.

In a shaky whisper, the boy said, “Daddy… there’s someone on my bed.”

2. The Cabin

A hiker decided to challenge himself with a solo adventure through the mountains. The day was perfect—sunlight filtering through the trees, birds chirping, and the smell of pine filling the air. But as dusk began to fall, he realized something unsettling: the trail back looked unfamiliar.

Panic set in. The sky darkened, and with only a dying flashlight, he knew it was too dangerous to keep moving. Just as he started to lose hope, he stumbled upon a small, decrepit cabin. It looked abandoned—old, broken, and long-forgotten—but it was shelter.

He knocked. No answer.

Inside was cold and dusty, but in the center of the room stood a single bed, made neatly as if expecting someone. Exhausted and desperate, the hiker lay down. His flashlight flickered, and the darkness consumed the room.

He tried to ignore the unsettling detail that the room was lined with dozens of paintings—portraits of people with unnerving, lifeless eyes, each one smiling, each one watching. But sleep eventually took over.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows. The hiker blinked and looked around.

The walls were bare. No paintings.

Just windows.

3. The Red Wristband

In a hospital where patients were identified by colored wristbands—green for the living, red for the deceased—a doctor worked the night shift.

Late one evening, he was sent to the basement to retrieve supplies. He stepped into the elevator and found a woman already inside. She stood silently, hands folded. Some patients liked to walk around for exercise before curfew, so he didn’t think much of it.

He smiled politely, pressed the button, and noticed she hadn't selected a floor.

When the elevator reached the basement, the doors opened to reveal a man limping quickly toward them. His skin looked pale, his movements jerky. Alarmed, the doctor slammed the “Close” button, and the doors shut just in time.

The woman frowned. “Why did you do that? He was just trying to get in.”

The doctor looked at her carefully. “Did you see his wrist? It was red. He died last night… I was the one who signed his death certificate.”

The woman slowly raised her hand, revealing her wrist.

It was red.

She smiled. “Like this one?”

4. White with RED

After moving into a new apartment, a man collected his keys from the front desk. The receptionist handed them over with a smile—but added a strange warning: “Please don’t disturb the door at the end of your hallway. The one without a number.”

Curious, but preoccupied with unpacking, he brushed it off.

Later that evening, unable to shake the receptionist’s words, he stepped into the hallway and approached the mysterious door. It was locked. Intrigued, he crouched down and peered through the keyhole.

Inside was an empty room. Barren. Dusty. But in the far corner stood a woman, her face turned toward the wall. Her skin was ghostly pale, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.

Unnerved, he stepped back. Maybe she was just someone who wanted privacy.

The next day, curiosity got the better of him. He returned, knelt down again, and peered in.

But this time, all he saw was red.

He blinked, confused. It was as if something had been pressed up against the keyhole… blocking it completely.

Disturbed, he went back to the receptionist and asked about the woman in the room.

The receptionist sighed, her expression dark. “You looked through the keyhole, didn’t you?”

He nodded.

“There used to be a couple living there. The husband lost his mind and murdered his wife. People say their spirits still linger. They both had pale skin, long black hair… and red eyes.”

5. A Mother’s Call

Upstairs in her room, a girl sat quietly, focused on her homework. The house was peaceful—until she heard her mother’s voice calling from the kitchen:

“Dinner’s ready!”

She stood up and made her way toward the stairs when, suddenly, hands reached out and pulled her into the laundry room.

Terrified, she was about to scream when she saw who it was—her mother. The real one. Her eyes were bloodshot, her voice trembling.

“Don’t go downstairs,” she whispered.

“I heard it too.”

Final Thoughts

These stories have stayed with me for years. They’re short, sharp, and straight to the point—but each one leaves a lasting impression. That’s the magic of a good horror story. It doesn’t need to be long or gruesome. Sometimes, it’s the simplest tale, told in the right moment, that sticks with you.

So the next time you’re with your friends late at night, the lights are off, and the mood feels just right... maybe give one of these stories a try.

Just don’t forget to check under the bed.