fiction
Horror fiction that delivers on its promise to scare, startle, frighten and unsettle. These stories are fake, but the shivers down your spine won't be.
The Elevator
I’m getting too old for this, I say as I make my way up the stairs to the thirteenth floor of this hotel. The elevator of this place was closed permanently due to the obscene amount of people who ended up dead inside of it. Every year at this hotel seven people lose their lives in the elevator. The latest victim is my son, Ben. Twenty years prior I was here at this same hotel after my wife, Louise, was found deceased in the elevator.
By Matthew Guillory5 years ago in Horror
Older Obligations
An old, bent man in a slick black trench coat walked towards me cautiously looking melancholy and miserable. His gnarled fingers removed the gray plaid flat cap from his mostly bald head. Thick unruly eyebrows crowned his sunken but bright blue eyes and his gray beard obscured his lips. “Don’t open the notebook.” That was all he said as he thrust a dirty manilla envelope into my hands. I tried to resist accepting the package, but his arm was alarmingly strong and his gaze intense. Hesitantly, I complied. He repeated, “don’t open the notebook,” and took his leave of me. I folded the brass clasp securing the flap so I could see the mysterious contents. Inside was a little black notebook with a worn leather cover embossed with the name Simon Keel and an elastic band holding it closed. A smaller white envelope containing a signed cashier’s check for $20,000 was tucked under the elastic band. It was already made out to me.
By James Rich5 years ago in Horror
The End Code
It was all a blur at this point, her grandmother’s death, the funeral, the mourners going in and out of her childhood home and now the lawyer sitting across from her on the sofa, his words rambling together. “Your grandmother left everything to you.” His voice, attempting to reassure her that this is a good thing. Still in her heart she just wanted her grandmother back, everything else was just stuff. He continued: “The home, cars, savings, all of her belongings are yours, you will not have to worry about money for the rest of your life, that’s what your grandmother wanted.” His tone changed to a slight annoyance at her blank stare when he added… “I know it won’t bring her back but at least she made sure your days on earth would be spent in comfort.” It was obvious he was just doing his job and her mental breakdown would have to wait until the papers were signed. With that she snapped out of her grief trance and signed her name to all the papers required. And thus, she was now the proud owner of her grandmother's hopes and dreams, her hard work, her earthly toil, her future interests, and her past investments. It was all signed over in an instant. “It’s been a pleasure working for you and your family, your grandmother was a special person, and she will be missed.” The rote, perfunctory speech of a politely disinterested party seeking a quick exit from an uncomfortable conversation. Audra finally spoke, rising to her feet in the same motion “Thank you for your assistance Mr. Lawson, I will be in touch should I need anything more from you.” Shaking herself free of these necessary evils the way a dog shakes water free from its coat, vigorously and with great speed. Now that the paperwork had been signed and the pleasantries exchanged, Mr. Lawson made his departure.
By The Write of Passage 5 years ago in Horror
The Rollback
It was one of those rare days on the mountain, bluebird skies and freezing temperatures that made the air look like it was filled with glitter. Here and there sun dogs were visible on the white slopes, these meteorological phenomena tended to appear in pairs, bright spots of light shooting straight up into the sky. It really was a perfect day, too bad it wouldn’t last long.
By Clare Skakel5 years ago in Horror
Final Effects
The contents of this envelope represent what I believe to be George Henricksen’s only remaining possessions: one small black leather-bound notebook containing journal entries of an unknown origin (while I assume the notes belong to George, he signed the hotel ledger with an X, so I cannot be certain), one solid gold coin, a monkey carved in ivory, and a key to a safe deposit box.
By Patrick Wellman5 years ago in Horror
Skin In The Game
Standing well back from the fierce heat of the blaze, the gaggle of onlookers watching the unexpected conflagration were not surprised the building was burning so furiously. Some even smiled wryly as they pointed out to each other that Three-Bs was, after all, full of books.
By Will Thoresby5 years ago in Horror
