21 Short Horror Stories That Prove Terror Can Strike In Just Two Sentences

Punishments

I had just started learning to read lips, so when my mother knelt in front of me, she made sure to mouth the words very slowly.

"If you keep this behavior up, I'll take your eyes away next."

A Way To Be Remembered

From Redditor u/justadair:

My wife has ruined my life for so long that I've finally hired a hitman.

As we sit having lunch, I see him approach, and smile knowing that she'll never be able to forget my exploding face.

Admirer

From Redditor u/iceariina:

"Maybe if I wasn't married," I said to let him down gently.

The words haunt me now as he stands trial for my husband's murder.

Traditions

From Redditor u/theirhighnessvenus:

My newlywed wife playfully smeared icing across my cheek, so in return I had smashed her face into the rest of our cake.

When she went limp, I pulled her towards me only to see a skewer through her eye.

Just Desserts

From Redditor u/Averagebiker21:

After I asked the crystal ball to tell me how to escape death, I was very confused as it read, "No, thanks honey, I'm full."

However, something clicked in my head when my wife offered me cake after dinner.

Siblings

From Redditor u/microwavedhottakes:

"You're very lucky your little sister is around to help you learn these lessons," I told my eldest daughter.

I turned back to her as I dropped the screaming infant over the balcony, "and that is why you don't climb on the railings."

Just A Prank, Bro

From Redditor u/kay-sera_sera:

I held the little baby I was babysitting tight to keep her from crying, otherwise the man who broke in would find us hiding in the closet.

At first, I was relieved when my boyfriend opened the closet door and told me it was just a prank, but then sickening horror washed over when I realized I held the child *too* tight.

Son Of A...

From Redditor u/AndrexPic:

I gave my 8-year-old son a Christian cross in order to protect him from the horrible demons chasing him.

My little boy's skin started burning at contact with it and I understood that we were not running from demons.

Substitute Teacher

From Redditor u/mymiddlenameswyatt:

You have never seen your classroom so still; nor your class so well behaved.

Thirty faces swivel to face you as you enter, 30 sets of eyes fill with fear and confusion, and one exact copy of you already stands at the blackboard.

Opening The Relationship

From Redditor u/Pprdge_Frm_Rmbrs:

I was surprised when my wife asked if my best friend, Dan, could be our next threesome partner instead of the usual random man we pick up at a bar or a club.

It's unfortunate because I love Dan and I've known him my whole life, but she's hungry, and she must feed.

Showoff

From Redditor u/nDeconstructed:

"Time how long it takes me to touch bottom and get back!" said my buddy as they dove off the side of the boat into the lake.

Several hours later, emergency divers found him in a standing position, with muck up to his knees.

Protector

From Redditor u/RuokeAvel:

Until last night, I thought sleep paralysis was just my brain playing tricks on me as I was trying to wake up.

I watched unmoving as the grotesque *thing* that haunts me surgically deconstructed the man who broke into my bedroom window yesterday.

Reflection Of Fear

From Redditor u/mrcharriot:

I can't explain it, but all the mirrors in my house have stopped working.

I mean, I think they're reflecting something, just not the room that they're in.

Abracadabra

From Redditor u/JayeKimZ:

"Okay Larry, for this underwater scene, Julia will be pretending to drown, but will hold up three fingers when she needs air."

"Okay Julia, if you need air during your underwater scene, just wave your hands, and Larry will hand you the scuba mask."

Choices

From Redditor u/Viligans:

I took a shaky breath as I hit the release to open the airlock.

I knew I didn't have a suit, but it was either this or wait another six days until I burned up in reentry.

Final Wishes

From Redditor u/Xelathon1:

As the genie snapped his fingers, I felt the power course through me; anything my mind could think of would become reality!

Finally, the nightmares wouldn't be described as being "all in my head"!

Username Checks Out

From Redditor u/parasitebehindmyeyes:

I chuckled as I read the Reddit Question of the Day: "If you were to die based on your username, how would you go out?"

My laughter subsided as the familiar throbbing pain in my head quickly returned.

What The Tide Brings In

From Redditor u/hauntedfossils:

After the DNA analysis, the investigators were in utter shock.

The hundreds of feet that washed ashore yesterday all belonged to one person.

Daddy's Little Girl

From Redditor u/MJStruven:

As a single father, I was relieved when I received the call that my daughter had survived the plane crash, and I rushed to the hospital to see her.

But when she said "Dada" and ran to me, I saw that she was horribly disfigured, so I shook my head, pushed her away, and told the officer that it wasn't her.

Miracles