15 spooky stories that will keep you up at night

With Halloween just around the corner, it's time to delve into the dark, the eerie, and the unsettling. What better time to celebrate the scariest holiday of the year other than 12 am on a chilly night?

Below are a handful of unsettling stories, some true, some fabricated. If you haven't been scared yet, it's time to get rolling. Grab a blanket and a hot drink and dive into these deliciously spooky stories, and hope a monster doesn't grab your feet!

1. Two sentence horror story

This brief gem comes from Reddit user AtomFarmer — and it's only two sentences.

2. Mom averts danger

Forget monsters, people are terrifying. This camping story from Reddit user Morenapkinspls will solidify that.

3. Ouija board knocks back

Reddit user ExcrementCranium wrote about messing around with a Ouija board — and it worked.

4. Forgotten memory

Redditor Call_Me_Egg shared this horrific tale about a strange happening in the night.

5. A Clockwork Orange-style break in

This story comes from Reddit user Joshsecond, in which a break-in is scarier than you'd expect.

6. Phantom alarms

Reddit user 666_numberofthebeast shared this story about strange occurrences in their dad's home.

7. Mom's scary boyfriend

Reddit user aett noticed that their mom's boyfriend was pretty weird, but one cold night they had an especially bad feeling.

8. She heard it through the wall

This haunted story comes from Reddit user GoatbustersBM, about an "old boys home."

9. "You're lucky I'm scared, too"

Reddit user Megaman1410 shared this story about a letter from a burglar who visited their home.

10. A ghost testing the waters

Redditor mrtenor talks about their first night after moving into a haunted house.

11. A reminder from the past

Redditor WybieLovat shared this story to warn people about their childhood toys.

12. A warning

This story comes from Reddit user MynamesnotChase about a haunted barracks.

13. The plane ride that never ends

Reddit user Worchester_St shared this story about losing track of time on a continental flight.

14. A home invader tries every house in the cul-de-sac

This terrifying story comes from Reddit user Suitology about a home invader.

15. "I see everything!"

I don't think I would have made it if I grew up in Reddit user _Panda_Panda_'s house.

UPDATE: Oct. 11, 2024, 9:48 a.m. EDT This story was first published in 2019, and has been since updated.