Two Sentence Horror Stories

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Give me your purse.

You ransacked their fridge?

That's an exaggeration.

Dad says you threw out all the meat and ice cream!

Okay, it's not an exaggeration.

His heart attack was two years ago and he eats like a college kid.

Why are you so paranoid?

I check his blood pressure weekly.

Or did you forget I'm a nurse?

Hmm, you're in nursing school.

Anika.

Fine. Maybe I'm a little paranoid.

How's that novel going?

I'm working on it.

You gotta start making some money.

By the way, your rent cheque bounced.

Crap. Uh, can you wait a few more days?

Yeah, but not long.

I promise, just a couple days.

I'm at a new gig that should cover it.

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Speaking of which...

Go, make some money.

- Love you. - Love you back.

Hey.

Right on time.

Come on in.

- I'm Patrick. - Anika.

Was traffic okay?

Oh, I took the train.

Nice. Much more environmentally friendly.

Well, let me show you the spot.

Um...

Would you mind?

Right.

Sorry about that.

Should've known better.

No need to apologize.

Come on in.

Feel free to help yourself to anything while you're working.

This is a really nice place.

Graphic design business has been good to me.

What about you?

Are you doing this to support any big career plans?

Uh...

I'm kind of, sort of, an aspiring mystery writer.

Really?

Like... Agatha Christie.

I'm more of a Dashiell Hammett or Tana French.

Hardboiled crime.

I'm actually working on my first novel,

hence why I'm doing a lot of app gigs.

Well that's great.

And no shame in paying your dues.

I flipped burgers for more than a few years.

So should I?

Oh, right.

Of course.

Here it is. Supplies are right there.

I think I've got enough paint for three coats.

Great, I'll get right to it.

I want a before and after photo.

Sorry.

I'm such an idiot. I didn't mean for you to be in it,

I just forgot to take one before.

You won't be in the after, I promise.

No, it's... It's okay.

Don't worry, I'll leave you alone,

let you work in peace.

There's extra supplies in the closet there, and um...

let me know if you need anything.

Paint sticks, where are you?

Now, where are the glasses?

What are you doing?

I'm, I'm so sorry.

Oh God, I was just looking for a water glass.

I had no idea you...

Not that it's any of your business,

but my wife had cancer.

I used to administer her medication.

She died a year ago.

I'm... I'm so sorry.

Her name was Holly.

I should probably... get back to...

She was an architect.

And a painter.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag out...

It's just so embarrassing.

I just, uh, I miss her so much.

I'm actually painting the wall in her favourite colour.

I guess technically you're painting it

in Holly's favourite colour.

I can't imagine what you've gone through.

Months and months of treatment.

The last few days, things were actually looking up.

The morning when I went to check on her...

Have you ever felt a pain you didn't think you'd survive?

I... I don't know.

I don't think so.

I know this sounds terrible, but...

Sometimes I'm mad at her for leaving me.

I, I should...

Oh, I have to take this.

Hey.

Yea, thanks for calling me back.

Why did you write a murder scene

before entering a stranger's home?

Do you think he's capable of this?

Hello?

Is anyone else seeing these red flags?

You're overreacting.

Well, I'm you.

So that means you are overreacting.

And you're not.

What's he doing right now?

You should check.

But like I always say, take some protection, hmm?

Just in case you're wrong.

Or right.

Why the hell was he laughing like that?

Like what, is he sifting through mementos from his kills?

He's probably just watching a funny YouTube video.

Yeah, we're not going to buy that.

Honestly girl, what are you still doing here?!

- Just leave! - I can't leave.

If I don't finish, I can't pay rent.

Plus a bad rating would tank my other gigs.

Besides, nothing's really happened.

Oh, so you're just being paranoid then?

Exactly.

Why don't you ever trust yourself?

What if he stabs you while you're painting?

Does he use apps to lure women into his lair?