Short Horror Stories by Howard S. Cahill
Welcome to the show! This blog is for readers who crave stories that dig beneath the surface, tales of horror and survival that linger long after you’ve finished reading. Each short story invites you into a world of shadows and difficult choices, where characters walk the fine line between humanity and something darker. If you enjoy narratives that challenge your comfort and spark your imagination, you’ll feel at home here.
Under Your Skin
Read Time: 24 minutes
Genre: Horror Short Story
New girl in town, Savannah, tells a scary story at a sleepover. What follows turns into one of the worst tragedies to ever hit the small town of Winchester.
Face Off
Read Time: 11 minutes
Genre: War Short Story
After watching his entire unit die and barely escaping a brutal firefight, Private Gordon is alone, running from the smell of gunpowder and the ghosts of his comrades. Exhaustion and terror drive him to a seemingly safe clearing, only to find himself in a silent, deadly standoff with a single enemy soldier.
The Long-awaited Visitor
Read Time: 15 minutes
After thirty years of brutal boxing and bare-knuckle fights, James “Pounder” Vincent is forgotten an old man fading into dementia in a quiet boarding house. But when a reporter arrives to interview him about his legacy, James sees his last chance for recognition. What he doesn’t expect is what else might come knocking.
The Dust-up
Read Time: 3 minutes
Genre: Western Short Story
A seasoned cowboy shares a memory from the trail that drifts into the night like smoke. But not every tale is what it seems. Some come with reckonings.
To Keep a Promise
Read Time: 14 minutes
Follow a solitary man reflecting on the unraveling of his world. His home, his family, his identity. Trapped in a forgotten house during the depths of winter, he confronts a moment he never imagined facing, burdened by memory, loss, and a vow he cannot escape.