psychological
Mind games taken way too far; explore the disturbing genre of psychological thrillers that make us question our perception of sanity and reality.
The Eater of Men
The Eater of Men: In His Eyes, You're Meat There are some people who walk into a room and make the air colder. Not because of who they are, but because of what they are. When Malcolm Grieve walked into the diner off Route 41, his smile was wide and pleasant—but his eyes didn’t see people. They weighed them. Counted the ribs. Measured the muscle. In his eyes, you weren’t a person. You were meat.
By Top stories 9 months ago in Horror
The Hidden Hand
“Let me make sure I understand you clearly Professor Jones, you believe your microflora told you to kill Dr. Doyle?” The prosecutor leaned in close as he spoke, then turned toward the jury and raised a skeptical eyebrow. The gesture was intended to convey a message of incredulity to the nine jurors who listened in disbelief. “Yes. Not told me but made me”, replied the distinguished looking gentleman seated on the witness stand. He wore a simple black suit and had a shock of grey hair that sprouted wildly from his round wrinkled forehead. Many had commented that he looked a bit like Albert Einstein in his later years. In truth the comparison flattered him though his interest in physics had only been at the level of laymen. Microbiology was his passion and had been for the past 30 years. The prosecutor continued. “So, the bacteria in your body forced you to commit cold-blooded murder?” Dr. Jones replied quickly, speaking in a soft southern drawl, and with the authority of a man used to having his opinions respected. “It may not have been just the bacteria. The fungi, viruses and bacteriophage may have also been involved but I do think yes, it was primarily the bacteria in control.” “Sorry professor, can you please clarify for the jury, what exactly are bacteriophage?” The professor responded with some measure of arrogance in his voice, “to put it simply for you and the jury they are viruses that infect bacteria instead of higher life forms like plants or animals or humans.” “Thank you, professor. Can you please explain to the jury how exactly these evil germs were able to do this.” “I am not entirely certain” Dr. Jones replied quickly, the irritation plainly evident in his voice. “I would ask that you please kindly refrain from using the terminology, germs, I and my microbes find it highly insulting. I greatly prefer microbes or microorganisms. Animalcules were also once a favored term though it is much out of style today. That would be acceptable as well.” The professor continued, his volume slowly rising as he gained confidence. This was clearly an issue to which he had given much thought. “You need to understand that the microbes in and on all our bodies are numerically superior to the total number of cells of which they are composed. It is estimated they may outnumber us by as much as an order of magnitude. One order of magnitude means they are present at ten times the number of human cells. We are in fact more microbe than man. To me it is not surprising that given this advantage in numbers they might not attempt to take control at some point.” The prosecutor cut him off before he could continue. “And what was the motive for these animalcules to make you kill Dr. Doyle?” “I believe it was self-preservation. You see my colleague was on the verge of a great discovery, an entirely new class of antibiotics. If he had succeeded it could have revolutionized the control of many diseases and theoretically eliminated the issue of antibiotic resistance forever. Obviously, they were concerned for their continued existence.” Professor Jones smiled smugly and became silent. The prosecutor stared for a moment at the witness, unable to speak. He was obviously stunned by the straightforward and almost scholarly tone of the answer. The insane words coming out of the professor’s mouth just did not match with the way those words were delivered. The jury seemed shaken as well. Mouths hung slightly agape, and fear was evident in many of the juror’s eyes. The courtroom was deathly silent. The prosecutor slowly gathered himself and pressed on. “I am a bit confused Dr. Jones, why would not Dr. Doyle’s own microbes, or his graduate students’ microbes, have acted before yours? They surely were every bit as aware of his research program.” “A question I have considered myself. I don’t have the answer. Perhaps much like people there are different personalities among our microbes. Some are simply not capable of committing an evil act such as murder where others are. Certainly, all the data suggests large variations in the makeup of any one individual’s microflora. Given the variety between people, and the diversity of the microbial population within each it might not be unexpected that they act and react with their host in many different ways. It is also no doubt difficult to achieve any sort of consensus on action among the various genera and species on any given person at any one time. That might also explain the rarity of this type of event. It just is almost never possible to reach agreement on anything and therefore nothing of any consequence is done.” The professor looked genuinely pleased with himself as he considered this possibility, then continued. “I would very much like to study this in some detail when this is over and I get back to university.” The prosecutor looked shocked. “I am afraid you won’t be returning to university anytime soon Dr. Jones. You have essentially admitted to murder and given the jury no choice but to convict you. Your so-called explanation is clearly insane. No further questions.”
By Everyday Junglist9 months ago in Horror
The Mystery of the Depths (Part 6)
After returning the chain, we believed it was over. We wanted to believe Saira’s spirit had found peace. But one night’s horror shattered that illusion. When young Saiful claimed, “I saw a girl underwater,” fear, doubt, and mystery clawed back into our lives.
By Kevin Hudson9 months ago in Horror
Diary of a Forgotten Vampire
Diary of a Forgotten Vampire When You Read It, He Wakes. It was supposed to be a simple thesis. Emily Karr, a folklore graduate student, had been researching 17th-century vampire myths in Eastern Europe. Most of it was academic filler—plague hysteria, buried bodies, ancient rituals. But when she came across the legend of Valen the Pale, something clicked.
By Top stories 9 months ago in Horror
The Thirteenth Door. AI-Generated.
Rain slapped the windows of the Greystone Orphanage with the fury of a fist. Inside, the halls were dim and the lights flickered with every crack of thunder. Annie, barely twelve and newly arrived, sat on her cot clutching a flashlight and a dog-eared book, though her eyes weren’t on the pages.
By Hamdan Khan9 months ago in Horror
She Answered the Door Ten Years After She Died
Chapter 1: The Knock at 3:17 It began with a knock. Three slow, deliberate knocks at exactly 3:17 AM. Daniel Keller sat bolt upright in bed. His heart pounded as he reached for the lamp, casting pale yellow light across the bedroom. His wife, Aria, didn’t stir. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, the house still and silent.
By Ikram Ullah9 months ago in Horror
The Devil at Kuldhara Based on the real abandoned village of Kuldhara, Rajasthan, India.
The Devil at Kuldhara Based on the real abandoned village of Kuldhara, Rajasthan, India. They say no one has lived in Kuldhara for over 200 years. Not since the villagers vanished overnight — every door left ajar, every pot left boiling, and not a single trace of struggle. Just silence.
By Dr nivara bloom9 months ago in Horror
