Horrors of the Real World

Write a tale of horror without any supernatural occurrences.

Often horror stories rely on supernatural or inexplicable events to create tension and fear. However, this prompt challenges you to write a story filled with horror and dread using only the real, tangible world. Use the realities of life—violence, desperation, disease—to create a story that’s horrifying because it could truly happen. This prompt encourages discussion on our societal fears and the anxiety that real-world possibilities can incite.