avatarZachary Seda

Summary

"Joycelyn" is a chilling short horror story about a person being dragged away by a supernatural force while walking home with their friend on a windy night.

Abstract

The narrative "Joycelyn" unfolds as the protagonist experiences a terrifying encounter on their way home with their friend, Jocelyn. As they walk together under a foreboding sky, the protagonist notices an eerie stillness, particularly Jocelyn's hair and the leaves around them remaining motionless. Suddenly, an unseen entity grasps the protagonist's leg, pulling them into darkness while Jocelyn watches with a disturbing smile. The story ends with the protagonist's disappearance, leaving the reader with a haunting image and a sense of unresolved horror. The author invites readers to explore more of their work and engage with them on Twitter.

Opinions

  • The author successfully creates a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere using environmental cues like the lack of wind and the stillness of Jocelyn's hair.
  • Jocelyn's slanted smile at the moment of the protagonist's abduction suggests a sinister complicity or knowledge of the impending horror.
  • The use of a first-person narrative immerses the reader directly into the protagonist's experience, heightening the story's emotional impact.
  • The story's brevity and open-ended conclusion invite readers to imagine the extent of the horror beyond the protagonist's last sight of Jocelyn's smile.
  • By encouraging readers to explore further stories and engage on social media, the author demonstrates a desire to build a community of horror enthusiasts and writers.

Joycelyn

A Short Horror Story

Photo by Michael Mouritz on Unsplash

Clouds loomed overhead as the icy night wind picked up, causing me to shiver while I walked home with my friend, Jocelyn. I stole a glance at her, my heart momentarily paused, when I noticed her long black hair not flowing like mine.

Further inspection revealed not even the surrounding leaves rustled. Before I knew what was happening, a transparent hand stretched out from the darkness and snatched my leg, dragging me away while I shrieked. Jocelyn’s slanted smile was the last thing I saw before darkness consumed me.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this short story, consider checking out some of my other work. Also, feel free to connect with me on Twitter! I enjoy engaging with other writers.

Fiction
Short Story
Horror
Ghosts
Scary
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