10 short horror stories to download for free this Halloween

Are you ready? Ready for terror? Here are 10 short urban legends that won't let you sleep this Halloween so you can enjoy the most terrifying night of the year in the company of your friends…

And if you want, you can download them to read them whenever you want…

1. The Shadow of the Monastery of Piedra, Zaragoza

In a forgotten corner of the Monasterio de Piedra in Zaragoza, visitors have heard wailing sounds coming through the stone walls at nightfall. They say that centuries ago, a nun was walled in alive for defying the rules of the order. Every midnight, the shadow of a hooded figure materializes near the cloister, whispering broken prayers in Latin. Those who have seen her say that her eyes have no pupils and that if you stare at her, your body becomes paralyzed while an indescribable cold surrounds you.

One night, two tourists, Marta and Javier, decided to spend the night in the monastery, ignoring warnings. “Do you really think something is going to happen?” Marta asked with a nervous smile as they prepared their sleeping bags. Javier shrugged. “They are just stories to scare the gullible,” he said, trying to sound confident.

At midnight, a chill ran through the room. Marta heard a whisper that seemed to come from the hallway. “Javier, did you hear it?” she whispered, her voice shaking. Javier frowned, trying to listen. Suddenly, a broken prayer in Latin echoed from the cloister. They both looked at each other, eyes wide. “Let’s see what it is,” Javier said, though his voice betrayed his fear.

They stepped out into the hallway, and there they saw it: a hooded figure, motionless, whispering unintelligible words. “No… it doesn’t have eyes,” Marta gasped, grabbing Javier’s arm. The shadow slowly spun toward them, and Javier felt his body go still as an icy cold gripped him. The figure extended a hand toward them, and then everything went black. They were found two days later, wandering the monastery grounds, whispering prayers that no one understood. Their empty eyes and lost stares suggested they had seen something beyond human understanding.

Villagers who found them said that in the days that followed, several people in the village began to have nightmares. In their dreams, the hooded figure watched them from the shadows, and an icy coldness filled the room. Some said that they could even feel the touch of a cold hand on their skin when they woke up.

2. The Cursed Bridge of Overtoun, Scotland

Overtoun Bridge, near Dumbarton, Scotland, is known not only for its beauty, but also for its haunting history. It is said that since the 19th century, dozens of dogs have inexplicably jumped from the bridge, as if driven by an invisible force. But what few know is that, on full moon nights, locals have seen a woman dressed in white walking on the edge of the bridge, her empty eyes fixed on the horizon.

One night, Carlos, a Spanish tourist traveling through Scotland, decided to visit the famous bridge. “It’s just a legend,” he told himself as he walked along the deserted road leading to the bridge. As he arrived, a cold wind blew, causing the branches of the nearby trees to move eerily. Suddenly, he saw a figure standing at the edge of the bridge. “What the…?” he muttered, slowing down. The woman dressed in white walked slowly, and Carlos felt a knot in his stomach. He rolled down his window. “Do you need help, ma’am?” he called out.

The woman turned to him and Carlos froze. Her face was not human: it was a cadaverous mask with hollow eyes, black as night. In her arms she held something that at first looked like a child, but upon closer inspection, Carlos realized it had no face. A wailing sound began to fill the air, a high-pitched, piercing sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. “It can’t be real!” Carlos screamed, trying to start the car, but the engine wouldn’t respond.

The woman began to approach, her feet floating above the ground. Carlos felt as if the air was becoming thick, difficult to breathe. Finally, the engine started, and Carlos accelerated, leaving the figure behind. The next day, he recounted his experience in a nearby pub. “If you see her, there is no escape,” said an old man in a broken voice. “She follows you. The only reason you are here is because she has not yet decided to take you.” That night, Carlos could not sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard the crying, closer, echoing in his mind.

3. The Girl from the Tower of London, England

The Tower of London, one of the most iconic and terrifying places in England, hides within its walls stories of betrayal, pain and death. The night watchmen speak in hushed tones about the little girl who haunts the abandoned towers of the palace. The story goes that, during the occupation of the tower by the soldiers of King Henry VIII, a little girl was imprisoned with her mother, accused of witchcraft. They were never seen alive again. Today, as night falls, it is said that you can hear children's laughter in the corridors of the Bloody Tower.

Manuel, a rookie watchman, didn’t believe the story. “They’re just tales to scare the newbies,” he told himself as he made his nightly rounds. However, that night he heard a child’s laughter echoing off the walls. “Who’s there?” he shouted, his voice echoing in the darkness. The laughter continued, leading him into one of the dark rooms. Opening the door, he saw a little girl, with her back turned, wearing an old-fashioned dress. “Little girl, what are you doing here?” Manuel asked, approaching slowly.

The girl turned around, and Manuel gasped. At first, her face looked normal, but then her eyes turned obsidian black, and her smile widened into a macabre grimace. Manuel tried to back away, but his feet wouldn’t respond. He felt a coldness around his neck, as if invisible hands were choking him. His vision began to blur, and before he passed out, he heard the girl’s voice whispering, “Don’t go… play with me forever.”

The next day, his companions found him on the ground, with marks on his neck and his eyes full of terror. “She found me,” he muttered incessantly. Since then, the watchers avoid the Bloody Tower at night, and those who are forced to patrol hear whispers and laughter in the darkness, reminding them that the girl is still waiting for someone to play with.

4. The Ghost of the Saint Augustine Lighthouse, Florida

On the coast of Florida, the Saint Augustine Lighthouse stands as a lonely and haunting monument. Locals say that during storms, a figure can be seen atop the lighthouse, looking out over the raging sea. It is the spirit of a former lighthouse keeper who lost his life trying to save a sinking ship, swept away by the raging waves as he screamed for help.

One stormy night, Laura and her friend Pedro, tourists looking for adventure, decided to explore the lighthouse. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Pedro asked, watching the waves crash against the rocks. “Come on, it’s just a story,” Laura replied, trying to look brave. As they entered, a gust of wind blew the door shut behind them. “Great, now we’re trapped,” Pedro muttered.

They climbed the stairs of the lighthouse, and when they reached the middle, a transparent figure appeared before them. “Who… who are you?” Laura stammered. The figure looked at them without saying anything, and then pointed to the top of the lighthouse. “I think it wants us to go up,” Pedro said, although his voice was full of doubt. They continued to climb, and the cold became unbearable. Each step seemed to suck the heat out of their bodies, and the air became so heavy that they could barely breathe.

As they reached the top, the figure disappeared, and a muffled cry echoed from below, as if someone were drowning in the sea. Laura and Pedro looked out at the horizon, and saw the sea churning furiously. Suddenly, the lighthouse began to shake, and a guttural voice echoed: “Why didn’t you save me?” Pedro lost his balance and almost fell over the railing. Laura caught him just in time, and they both began to hastily descend, but the figure of the lighthouse keeper reappeared, this time blocking their way. His eyes, filled with pain and rage, stared at them. “You will stay here too,” he said, his voice like a whisper on the wind.

Laura and Pedro ran out of the lighthouse, and never went near Saint Augustine again. But Laura, every time she closed her eyes to sleep, saw the lighthouse keeper's face and heard his voice. Pedro, on the other hand, began to have nightmares where he fell out of the lighthouse again and again, with the lighthouse keeper's scream ringing in his ears.

5. The Whispers of Waverly Hills Sanitarium, Kentucky

The Waverly Hills Sanitarium in Kentucky is known for being one of the scariest places in the United States. Abandoned decades ago, its halls are said to still echo with the sounds of patients who died in terrible conditions, victims of tuberculosis and inhumane experimental treatments. Urban explorers who have ventured inside report hearing whispers asking them to leave, followed by loud bangs and doors slamming shut.

Sergio and Ana, two friends with a penchant for mystery, decided to break in one night to shoot a video. “This is going to be epic,” Sergio said, though his smile seemed forced. They were walking through the dark hallways when a whisper chilled their blood. “Go away…” said an almost inaudible voice. Ana looked at Sergio, her eyes full of fear. “Did you hear that?” she asked. Sergio nodded, swallowing.

Suddenly, a door slammed shut behind them. “Run!” Ana screamed, but as they reached the third floor, they stopped dead. There she was: a faceless nurse, floating a few inches above the floor. Sergio felt the air leave his lungs, unable to breathe as the figure approached. “No… please…” Ana pleaded, her words barely audible between sobs.

The nurse raised a hand, and coldness filled the hallway. Sergio felt as if all the warmth in his body had been sucked out. Suddenly, a series of voices began to echo around them, crazed whispers that seemed to come from the walls themselves. “Don’t go…”, “Stay with us…”, “The pain never ends…” Sergio and Ana tried to run, but each step became more difficult, as if an invisible force was dragging them to the ground.

Finally, they managed to leave the sanatorium, panting, with tears in their eyes. When they reached the car, Sergio still couldn't catch his breath, and Ana looked back, seeing the nurse at the window, watching them without eyes, without mouth, without soul. Since then, Ana has had recurring nightmares in which she walks through the corridors of the sanatorium, surrounded by shadows that call to her, and it becomes increasingly difficult for her to distinguish between dream and reality.

6. The Hoia-Baciu Forest Cabin, Romania

The Hoia-Baciu Forest in Romania is known as the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania” because of the strange events that occur there. A place where the trees grow crooked, and the silence becomes deafening. In the middle of this forest lies an abandoned cabin, which locals speak of with fear. They say that anyone who enters the cabin hears voices that do not come from this world.

One night, three friends, Adrian, Marius and Elena, decided to explore the forest. “This is going to be amazing,” Adrian said with a smile, although the darkness of the forest and the oppressive atmosphere were beginning to make him doubt. After hours of walking through twisted trees, they found the cabin. “There it is,” Elena pointed out, with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

As they entered the cabin, the air changed. A sudden chill enveloped them, and a feeling of being watched washed over them. “I don’t like this,” Marius muttered, looking around. The door behind them slammed shut. “What the…?” Adrian said, trying to open it without success. Suddenly, a guttural voice echoed, “They shouldn’t be here.” Elena screamed, and the lights from her flashlights flickered before going out completely.

In the darkness, they began to hear whispers. “You’re not alone,” one voice said, while another murmured, “You’re trapped, just like you.” Adrian felt something brush against his shoulder, and panic gripped him. “We have to get out of here!” he shouted. The three of them began to desperately search for a way out, but the cabin seemed to expand, each door they opened leading to another, darker room.

Finally, Elena found a window and smashed it with a chair. They climbed out one by one, but as they turned to look at the cabin, they noticed that there was no light inside, and yet human shadows moved behind the glass. Since then, each of them has suffered recurring nightmares. In them, the cabin calls them back, and the whispers turn into screams, demanding that they return to stay “forever.”

7. The Well of Lost Souls of Black Angel, Iowa

In Oakland Cemetery in Iowa, there is a statue known as the “Black Angel.” Legend has it that if you stand in front of it at midnight and look into its eyes, you will hear the wailing of trapped souls. But few know the true story: beneath the angel lies a sealed well, a well that leads to a place where wandering souls mourn for eternity.

One night, a group of teenagers, Sarah, Mike, and Tom, decided to test the legend. “I don’t believe in this nonsense,” Tom said, as they walked toward the statue. The air was cold, and a thick fog was beginning to form around the cemetery. “Come on, it’s just a statue,” Mike said, laughing nervously. Arriving in front of the angel, Sarah stared into its dark, cold eyes. “It seems to be watching us,” she muttered.

At midnight, the atmosphere changed. A chilly wind suddenly blew, and the fog grew thicker. “Do you hear that?” Sarah asked, her eyes wide. A wailing, a distant cry, began to echo from the ground. “It must be the well,” Mike said, trying to sound brave. Without thinking, Tom walked over to the base of the statue and began searching for something. “There must be an entrance here…” he muttered.

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. An iron lid slowly opened, revealing a deep, dark pit. An unbearable cold emanated from it, and the wailing grew louder, almost deafening. “We have to go,” Sarah said, but Tom seemed mesmerized. He began to descend into the pit, his eyes expressionless. “Tom, stop!” Mike shouted, but it was as if he couldn’t hear them.

Mike and Sarah tried to grab him, but an invisible force pushed them back. Tom disappeared into the darkness of the well, and the lid slammed shut. Sarah and Mike have avoided the cemetery ever since, but every year on the date they lost their friend, they hear his voice calling out to them in their dreams, asking them to help him out of the well, where he still hears the wailing of lost souls who will never find rest.

8. The Shadow Man of Banff Springs Hotel, Canada

The Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada is known for its beauty and luxury, but also for being one of the most haunted places in the country. One of the scariest stories circulating among employees is that of the “Shadow Man.” He is said to haunt room 873, a room that officially does not exist, having been sealed off after a series of unexplained events.

One night, Claire, a hotel worker, was sent to check out a noise in the hallway where the sealed room was located. “I don’t believe these stories,” she muttered, as she walked down the hall. As she reached the door, she noticed that the number was half-erased, and a cold sensation ran down her spine. Suddenly, a loud knock resounded from inside. “Is there anyone there?” she asked, her voice shaking.

The door slowly swung open on its own, revealing complete darkness inside. Claire switched on her flashlight and stepped inside. The walls were covered in scratch marks, and the air was thick and chilly. Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her, as if someone was breathing down her neck. “Who… who are you?” she whispered, unable to move.

Turning, she saw a dark figure, with no visible features, just a shadow that seemed to absorb all the light. The figure’s eyes were pools of darkness, and before she could scream, the door slammed shut. Claire was found hours later, in a state of shock, babbling incoherently about a faceless man. Room 873 has remained sealed ever since, but employees say that, some nights, knocks and whispers can be heard coming from that hallway.

9. The Creature from Mirror Lake, Switzerland

The Lake of Mirrors in Switzerland is a place of stunning beauty during the day, but after dark, it becomes a site of fear for locals. It is said that on moonless nights, a creature emerges from the water, seeking out lost souls to drag them to the bottom of the lake. Legend has it that if you look into the lake on a dark night, you might see your reflection transform into something else.

One night, Luca, a photographer, decided to capture the beauty of the lake under the starlight. “It’s just a lake,” he told himself as he prepared his equipment. As he approached the shore, the water seemed strangely calm, as if it were waiting. Luca leaned over to look at his reflection, but instead of his face, he saw a distorted visage, with empty eyes and a twisted smile.

Luca stepped back, frightened. “It can’t be… it’s just a reflex,” he muttered. Suddenly, a hand shot out of the water, gripping his wrist tightly. The cold was unbearable, and he felt something pulling him into the water. “No!” he screamed, trying to break free, but the creature was too strong. The water began to swallow him, and the last sounds he heard were his own screams, drowned out by the lake.

Luca was found the next morning, lying on the shore, soaked and wide-eyed, as if he had seen something his mind could not comprehend. His camera was smashed, but the last photo captured showed a dark figure emerging from the lake, with a smile that seemed to mock the world of the living.

10. The Lady of the Mist of Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima, is a deserted island off the coast of Japan, famous for its ghostly appearance and history of mining. The island is said to be inhabited by the souls of workers who died in terrible conditions, and that on foggy nights, a lady dressed in white appears among the ruins, seeking company.

Taro, a journalist, decided to explore the island for a story. “It’s just an abandoned island,” he thought as he disembarked. The fog began to surround him, growing thicker with each step he took between the ruined buildings. Suddenly, he heard a whisper: “Why did you leave me…?” Taro stopped dead in his tracks, his heart pounding. “Who’s there?” he cried, but only silence answered him.

As he walked forward, he saw a figure in the mist: a woman in a white kimono, her face hidden under a veil. “Are you lost?” he asked, trying to sound calm. The woman raised her head, and Taro felt a chill run through him. Her eyes were black and empty, and her mouth twisted into a sad smile. “Come with me,” she whispered, extending a hand toward him.

Taro began to back away, but the fog seemed to close in around him, making it impossible for him to find his way back. The figure came closer and closer, until he felt her cold breath on his skin. “You should never have come,” the woman said, and everything went dark. Taro was found at dawn by a group of fishermen, unconscious and shivering. Since then, he has had visions of the lady in every fog, her figure coming ever closer, as if she wanted to take him back with her to the island of lost souls.

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