Managing editor Marie Ginga has combed through the more than 600 stories we’ve published here at MetaStellar to bring you the thirteen spookiest ones.
Just in time for Halloween, too!
Enjoy!
I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Rhonda Parrish
When her dead son calls to announce he’s coming home for Christmas, a mother faces the horrifying consequences of a decades-old crime. Though she once found ways to explain away his darker tendencies, there’s no explaining this: Nathan is calling from beyond the grave, and he hasn’t forgotten about his baby sister Maggie.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 2 minutes.)
Small, Precious Things by Maggie Nerz Iribarne
Dr. William has built a perfect life caring for elderly women at the Mansions at Elderhaven, following in the footsteps of devotion set by his relationship with his late mother. But when a daughter’s unexpected visit interrupts his careful routine, the true nature of his “calling” threatens to emerge from its leather boxes.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 4 minutes.)
Portrait by Nick Young
When talented young artist Hugh Fletcher becomes captivated by a mysterious Romanian beauty who agrees to sit for a portrait, his friend watches helplessly as obsession turns to frenzy. But as the paint grows inexplicably thick and the subject’s true nature emerges, this tale of artistic passion becomes something far more sinister.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 8 minutes.)
The Tended Field of Eido Yamata by Jon Michael Kelley
In the afterlife, a Buddhist monk who achieved the rare feat of self-mummification finds himself seated at the center of an endless tilled field, accompanied only by a mysterious mouthless girl. But as strange crops begin to sprout across this vast expanse, he discovers that pride has a terrible price.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 12 minutes.)
Deadbolt by Kirstyn Petras
On a stormy Seattle night, Jess’s routine trip home becomes a nightmare when unexplained sounds and shadows begin haunting her apartment. As she frantically secures deadbolts and wields a baseball bat against the darkness, the truth about her fiancé’s death rises like floodwater – and some promises, it seems, even death cannot break.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 13 minutes.)
Mortimer the Maus by Michael Picco
When a young boy gets separated from his father at a second-rate amusement park, a familiar mascot seems to offer help and comfort. But behind the mesh eyes of this bargain-bin Mortimer the Maus lurks something far more sinister than a sweaty performer in a costume.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 14 minutes.)
Incandescent by Josephine Queen
When Sarah moves into her new flat, an old lightbulb that seemingly operates on its own is merely an annoyance. But as memories of a tragic childhood incident begin to surface and shadowy figures lurk in the corners of her vision, she discovers that some illuminations cast more shadows than light.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 14 minutes.)
年兽 Nián Shòu by Nathan J. Fealko
In modern-day San Francisco’s Chinatown, young Jim faces more than just schoolyard bullies and extra math homework on Chinese New Year’s Eve. When an ancient legend bleeds through into reality, this third-grader must confront not only the feared Nián monster of folklore, but also deeper truths about courage, kindness, and what it truly means to be clever.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 14 minutes.)
The Scrivener by Marie LeClaire
When Brother Silas is tasked with copying a mysterious Book of Night Hours, his resentment toward the monastery that raised him makes him susceptible to the manuscript’s darker purpose. But as he discovers the true power of its ancient Latin phrases, he fails to recognize that he’s not the only one seeking vengeance through forbidden prayers.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 16 minutes.)
Alviss the Dwarf by David A. Hewitt
Through Loki’s silver tongue comes the tale of Alviss, a dwarf whose wisdom spans all Nine Worlds and whose heart yearns for a giant’s daughter. But in the halls of the gods, where even the smallest slight can spark divine wrath, knowledge may not be enough to overcome fate.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 17 minutes.)
Interlude In Gehenna by Lamont A. Turner
In a dying Arizona town called Gehenna, a drunken sheriff tells a strange tale to a would-be deputy – one of a Navajo warrior’s relentless pursuit across Civil War battlefields and western frontiers. But as storm clouds gather and mechanical hands reach through the darkness, this haunting story of revenge proves to be more than just a drunkard’s rambling.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 18 minutes.)
Ye Anointed by K.K. Ameyo
When young Luke Bwire dreams of following in his father’s footsteps as a respected church elder, he sees his chance in an ancient exorcism ritual that only his bloodline can perform. But in a decaying chapel with a dark history, Luke discovers that legacies aren’t always what they seem.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 19 minutes.)
Nothing in the Dark by C. M. Fields
When ambitious astronomer Dr. Kiera Morrison takes a Christmas observing run at an isolated Chilean observatory, she expects long nights and loneliness. But as her telescope begins tracking something unseen across the sky and darkness itself seems to defy the laws of physics, she discovers that some scientific pursuits come with unfathomable costs.
Read full story here. (Reading time: 26 minutes.)
All illustrations were created by Maria Korolov using Adobe Firefly, the only AI image generation tool trained on fully-licensed images. Adobe also pays artists for the images, with the first payments going out in the fall of 2023. Read more here: Why Adobe Firefly is the only AI image app I recommend.
MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist, writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality. See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel. Email her at maria@metastellar.com. She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.
Marie Ginga, MetaStellar's reprints and excerpts editor, has been writing and publishing books for five years. She writes as Marie LeClaire in Magical Realism. She thinks there's a little bit of magic out there if you know where to look. You can find her books on Amazon.