Horror | Lecturia

Bram Stoker: The Dualitists, or, the Death Doom of the Double Born

“The Dualitists, or, the Death Doom of the Double Born” is a horror short story laced with dark humor written by Bram Stoker, published in November 1886 in The Theatre Annual for 1887. The story follows Harry and Tommy, two inseparable boys whose pranks grow increasingly macabre, leading them to discover an unsettling fascination with cruelty and destruction. What begins as innocent play gradually transforms into a spiral of boundless violence. Set in an apparently quiet neighborhood, the narrative—rich in suspense and horror—reveals the darkness that can lurk behind childhood innocence.

H. P. Lovecraft: The Tomb

“The Tomb,” a psychological horror story by H.P. Lovecraft, published in 1922, immerses us in the disturbing story of Jervas Dudley, a young man obsessed with an ancient family mausoleum. Narrated in the first person, the story offers a disturbing journey through the disturbed mind of Dudley, who claims to have established a supernatural connection with the ancient occupants of the tomb. As the story progresses, the line between the protagonist’s delusions and supernatural events becomes blurred, leaving the reader in a state of uncertainty about the veracity of the events narrated.

María Fernanda Ampuero: Ali

“Ali” is a short story by Ecuadorian writer María Fernanda Ampuero, published in 2018 in the book Pelea de gallos. It tells the story of Ali, a kind-hearted woman who, unlike other women in her social circle, is unusually generous and attentive to those who work in her home. However, as time goes by, her behavior begins to change in a disturbing way. Through the collective voice of the workers, the story shows domestic life from the inside and gives a glimpse of how, in that everyday space, tensions and memories accumulate, destabilizing the apparent normality of the home.

Edgar Allan Poe: Morella

“Morella” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in April 1835 in the Southern Literary Messenger. A man marries Morella, a woman of great erudition and a marked inclination toward metaphysics and mystical knowledge. Although he initially feels deeply attached to her, over time he experiences a growing detachment and an inexplicable aversion toward his wife, a feeling that intensifies as she languishes and her presence becomes increasingly disturbing.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Pit and the Pendulum

“The Pit and the Pendulum,” a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1842, is a chilling tale that follows the anguish of a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition. After being sentenced, the protagonist awakens in a dark and sinister cell, unaware of the fate that awaits him. In this claustrophobic place, he discovers that the punishment he has been assigned was conceived by a twisted and sadistic mind. Faced with various mechanisms of torture, the prisoner is subjected to extreme physical and psychological torment, where terror and despair become his only companions as he struggles to survive in this earthly hell.

Robert W. Chambers: The Yellow Sign

“The Yellow Sign” is a short story by Robert W. Chambers, published in 1895 as part of the collection The King in Yellow. While painting a portrait, an artist is disturbed by the presence of a mysterious man in the courtyard of the neighboring church. The man’s face—pale, swollen, and repulsive—makes a strong impression on him, which seems to contaminate even his work. Meanwhile, his model, Tessie, tells him about a recurring dream in which a mysterious coachman transports a coffin in a gloomy hearse. The girl is deeply shocked when she discovers that the man from the church is the same man who appears in her dreams.