Short Horror Stories

PixelQueen

Sam's YouTube channel, "PixelQueen", had soared to unprecedented popularity. As her subscribers multiplied, so did the comments. Some admired her gameplays; others adored her magnetic persona. But, lurking among the enthusiastic fans was one who seemed a tad too invested.

Comments like "You looked more beautiful than the sunset today" or "I can smell the lavender from your evening bath" were unnervingly specific.

But things took a truly terrifying turn one evening. As Sam was deeply engrossed in a suspenseful game segment, she failed to notice her chat's frantic messages:

"Who's behind you?"

"Someone in your room!"

"CALL THE POLICE!"

Confused, she glanced at her chat and then to her streaming preview. Behind her, in the dim shadow cast by her streaming lights, stood a figure just barely discernible. Only the glint of his eyes betrayed his presence. Frozen with fear, her heart raced as the shadowy figure took a step closer, and she could hear his breathing.

With adrenaline pumping, she swiftly reached for a decorative glass trophy from her desk and swung it blindly behind her. The intruder was momentarily stunned, giving her just enough time to lock herself in her bathroom, dial 911, and alert her neighbor via her phone.

Police sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as they approached her apartment complex. When they arrived, they found the front door ajar and her apartment in disarray. There was evidence of someone having lived in her attic, with countless pictures of Sam plastered all over.

The chilling realization that her stalker had been so close, watching her every move for God knows how long, was a trauma that took Sam time to recover from. She went offline for months, and when she finally returned, her streams had a palpable tone of caution. Her traumatic experience became a terrifying lesson on privacy and safety in the age of the internet.