10 short scary storys

The Dead Hand

In a small Ireland village, no one ventures at night for fear of the creatures that lurk in the shadows. "Long Tom" McManus wants to prove to everyone in his village that the supposedly "cursed" bog outside of town is as safe as can be. Despite his mother's pleas, he journeys into the night with only a lantern to light his way. Some townsfolk follow far behind just to make sure they really have something to be afraid of. When Tom comes upon his willow tree destination, nothing happens initially, but then the wind blows his lantern out. When the moon comes out from behind the clouds, Tom can be seen fighting the shadows before it goes pitch black again. When the moonlight peeks through again, Tom's hanging from the tree by one arm and what looks like a dead hand pulling on his other until he's from the tree and dragged into the dark. He isn't seen again till the next night, crying and mumbling under the willow tree with only one hand.