Free Short Stories

Quick reads for any moment — 100 to 1000 words

Browsing:

Category: 500 words

Static

Eliza hadn’t used the old TV in years. It sat in the attic, dusty and boxy, with two bent antennae like brittle insect legs. She found it while cleaning, remembering how she and her brother used to watch Saturday morning Read more…


Room 616

“Don’t put anyone in 616,” the front desk manager told Sam on his first shift at the old motel.Sam had laughed. “What, is it haunted or something?”The manager didn’t smile. “Just don’t.” Naturally, Sam was curious. The motel was half-empty, Read more…


The Smiling Thing

It started with the photographs. Amara loved her vintage Polaroid. She took it everywhere—capturing everyday moments in soft, dreamy tones. But a week ago, things began to change. The first strange photo was of her cat, Nimbus, perched on the Read more…


Voicemail

“Hey, it’s me. Just checking in. Call me back.” Beep. Darren stared at his phone. The voicemail was from Megan. Megan, who’d died six months ago. He sat motionless in the kitchen, the hum of the refrigerator suddenly deafening. He Read more…


The Third Knock

It started with a knock. Soft. Measured. Tap. Tap. Jenna glanced at the front door. 11:47 PM. Rain streaked the windows. No one should be out there. She muted the TV. “Hello?” Silence. Then—tap tap—again. She peeked through the peephole. Read more…


Don’t Look in the Well

“Don’t look in the well,” Grandma had warned. “If you do, it’ll look back.” Liam always thought it was just one of her weird old sayings—like “never leave shoes upside down” or “whistle after midnight and the dead will hear.” Read more…


The Reflection

Ella hated mirrors. Always had. Something about them made her skin crawl—as if they remembered things she didn’t. Her new apartment had one built into the bedroom wall. Floor to ceiling, cold and seamless. She covered it with a sheet Read more…


The Last Broadcast

The wind howled outside the small, rusted radio station on the outskirts of town. WZRD-FM hadn’t aired anything for years—not since the fire in ‘98. But tonight, the static cleared, and a voice returned. “Good evening, listeners. You’ve tuned in Read more…


The Last Guest

The invitation arrived with no return address. A thick black envelope, sealed in red wax. Inside, a single card: “You are cordially invited to dinner at Black Hollow Manor. Midnight. Dress well.” Tasha laughed. “What is this, a murder mystery Read more…


Behind the Door

Eli never liked the basement door. It didn’t lead to a basement—just a shallow crawl space under the house. His dad always kept it locked with a thick padlock and told him never to go near it. “Why?” Eli had Read more…