Explore a collection of short scary stories to tell in the dark. These creepy tales are sure to give you and your friends a good fright!
Have you ever experienced the fright of ghost stories around a campfire? Scary stories to tell in the dark is more than just a collection of tales. It draws you into a realm where every whisper, creak, and shadow appears sentient.
As you sit tight, chills begin to rattle through you. Would you ever consider the possibility another thought lingers? The fear does not stop and takes new shape. How does the notion that these stories might be true seem to you? Every noise you hear zestfully shifts your perspective. And, remember, these tales are created to feed and embrace your primal fear of the unknown.
There is a calling, but no one on the other end. What lies at the end of the path? Or the house that seems to be empty, yet does not feel like it should be? Every story pulls you in closer, deeper, almost drowning in the presence of something mere inches away.
Are you prepared? If so, relax, and stare into darkness. Pay close attention to anything behind you, as looking away may frighten more than you could imagine.
Short Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark
Have you ever felt like something is watching you in the dark? That eerie feeling, the shiver down your spine, the shadow that wasn’t there before… Some stories stay with you long after they’re told. Are you ready for tales that will make you sleep with the lights on?
The Missing Phone Call
That night, Sarah was still awake. She sat on the couch scrolling through her phone when her mother’s name showed up on her screen.
“Mama? Why are you calling this late,” she said sleepily.
Her mother’s voice came through, but it sounded strange. It was muffled… like she was talking with a pillow over her mouth.
“Sarah… don’t trust anyone in the house,” her mother’s voice was soft but urgent.
“What? Mom, what are you talking about?” Sarah said, frowning. “Where are you?”
But before her mother could respond, the line disconnected.
Sarah stared blankly at her phone. It was in her hands but her head was spinning. She promptly dialed her mother’s number but this time it seemed like she was picking up on time. Only she wasn’t.
“Hey, hun, what’s wrong?” her mom responded as if she was brimming with joy.
“Um, did you not just call me and tell me something,” Sarah stammered.
Just then, a flash of white air moved onto her neck. She quickly turned around and there was a figure standing in the shadow. To put it simply, her heart dropped.
The Last Ride
Jake’s car came to an abrupt halt on the highway and stalled. Cursing under his breath, he reached for his phone to call a tow truck.
A man gets out of the car while talking to Jake, saying that the truck behind him can help him pull the car if he wants. Jake looks at him and requests, “Yes, please, I would like to.” and thanks him later. The man shifts his gaze anxiously to the back and in a whisper informs Jake that he should leave as someone is observing them.
Jake starts laughing and asking what the man means. The driver stares right into his eyes and tells him that he should just get going because it will be safer for him. Jake was confused about what was being said. Nonetheless, the man seemed to know what he was talking about.
The man starts to get reply but the tow truck has departed and left the man on the desolate road. There is a clear sight of nothing for miles. “What happened to him?” He asks under his breath whilst his hands are shivering.
A pair of weary travelers who have just finished their long trips, decided to check in to a small, dusty hotel at the outskirts of the city. Walking further in to the room, stepping on the rotten floorboards, they are taken aback by how old the hotel feels and it’s coating in musty dirt. 1800s must be accurate is what Roy thinks to himself.
His girlfriend Jenna pulls open the drawer but to her surprise, the place feels as if it’s from the 1800s. She raises an eyebrow while saying that out loud. But little did she know, something did catch her attention; a journal smeared with dust concealed behind the drawer. She starts busting it open.
She stopped at the last entry: “I hear footsteps at night, but I’m the only one here.”
“Babe, check this out,” she said to her boyfriend. He came up to her and read it with nervous laughter.
“Great, now I’m gonna be scared to sleep,” he said, albeit in a joking tone.
That evening while they were lying in bed, faint footsteps could be heard echoing in the void of the hall.
Jenna stopped, listening. “Did you hear that?”
He sat up. “Yeah, it’s just the house settling or something.”
But the footsteps grew louder. Closer. They both got out of bed and checked the hallway but saw no one.
The next day he manager approached them demanding that they leave. “Room 7, it’s been empty for years.” He said with a shaky voice.
The Unseen Guest
In 1959, a group of friends went to a cabin deep in the woods for a weekend getaway. They had been laughing and telling stories when one of them named Mark heard something strange.
“Do you hear that?” he asked while suddenly lowering his voice.
“What? What’s wrong?” Emily replied.
“It’s coming from the attic,” Mark said whispering, his eyes wide.
They all listened and sure enough, there were faint sounds from above like someone moving around.
“Are you sure it’s not just the wind?” asked another friend, Sarah.
“I don’t know,” Mark said shakily. “But I’m going up to check.”
When they reached the attic, the window was broken. Their stuff was in disarray all over the floors. But the worst part is… the horrible words ‘I’ve been watching’ was scrawled on the dirt-covered wall. A reminder that someone is watching over them.
They called the cops but nobody was at the cabin. It was locked from the inside, and no one had come in.
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The Creaky Hotel Room
A tired couple on a road trip decided to check into a small, creaky hotel on the town’s outskirts. The both of them swore the room’s musty smell alone would make them vomit.
“Ugh, this place feels like it’s from the 1800s,” Jenna sighed and waited for the drawer to pop open.
But instead of the drawer popping open, something caught her attention, a dusty journal wedged behind the edges of the drawer. She began to flip through the pages, only to skim through them.
She stopped at the last entry: “I hear footsteps at night, but I’m the only one here.”
“Babe, check this out,” she yelled to her boyfriend who had started to walk away. He came closer to her and read the journal page making him chuckle nervously.
“Great, now I’m going to be concerned about sleeping,” he said in a teasing way, but it was eerie how off his tone was.
That night, as they laid on the bed, the fuzzy sound of footsteps ringing through the hallway made Jenna not want to sleep at all.
Jenna stopped moving and just listened. “Did you hear that?”
He sat up. “Yeah, it’s nothing, maybe the house is settling or something.”
But the footsteps were way too loud. Way too close. They decided to get out of bed. They looked into the hallway and saw nothing.
The next morning, the manager had an eyebrow raised and an expression that looked like he was daring them to ask for another night. “Room 7 is… it hasn’t ever been touched for a long time,” he said, shivering.
The Silent Visitor
Sarah simply moved into a new apartment that was peaceful and quiet. But she expected everything to be perfect and that was the slightest issue there. Sometimes the lights will go dim and the doors would open by themselves.
One night she woke up with a start and saw a figure in the corner of the room. Her heart raced as the shadow stood still.
“Hello?” she called out softly but the figure wouldn’t move.
She held her breath but it was too dry to let out a scream. The figure remained unmoved, as though watching her walk.
And the figure disappeared as soon as Sarah blinked.
Trembling, she walked into the living room, spotting an old newspaper on the coffee table. While it was dated for that morning, something was off. The headline read: “Woman found dead in apartment 3B. No sign of entry.”
Her eyes went wide. She lived in apartment 3B.
Wrap Up
Once the last word falls, it echoes as though sent into a void, leaving you tiptoeing on the edge of discomfort and inviting questions that might be rather difficult to answer.
Short stories that are designed to scare are not just terrifying; they skillfully provoke the deepest of our fears, making us restless even after the story is over. It’s the self-inflicted suspense with a twist of a imagination, leading to “What if it is true?” the question is begging to be answered.
So, when the people around you go blank in dark, remember this thought — it’s not only the tale which will frighten you but rather the possibility of what’s hiding out of your reach. Moreover, and I do mean this more than I should, the dark may in fact be expecting you to make the first move.
Mark Richards is the creative mind behind Classica FM, a podcast platform that brings stories, knowledge, and inspiration to listeners of all ages. With a passion for storytelling and a love for diverse topics, he curates engaging content—from kids’ tales to thought-provoking discussions for young adults.
