Those who have perused the web enough should know the term 'creepypasta' by now, but for those who don't, here's a rough definition. Derived from the word 'copypasta' - which is an internet slang for a block of text that is copy and pasted on numerous websites - 'creepypasta' is a term that has been used to refer to rather concise and original horror stories, meant to be passed around forums and other websites with the intention to disturb or frighten readers.
Some of the most famous creepypasta include that of Jeff the Killer, a young knife-wielding psychopath with pale skin, a carved smile, and large, eyelid-less eyes, and Slender Man, an abnormally tall, pale figure that wears a simple black suit and lacks a proper face. The latter figure has been so influential that, despite being completely based on fictional evidence, some believe to be a real creature. So much so, that some sacrificial murders have taken place to appease this fictional figure. Indie computer and video games have also been created to commemorate the creepy characters.
However, these aren't the only creepypasta out there. In fact, every day there are several hundred stories posted each day on different forums. Here are some of the slightly lesser known but no less frightening creepypasta out there.
1. 1999
The story follows the journey of a Canadian blogger named Elliot as he tracks down the meaning of a mysterious TV channel that he watched in the year 1999 when he was a child. The channel contained extremely sketchy and rather disturbing content, and through Elliot's blog posts, the reader is able to piece together every unsettling detail. 1999 is frighteningly realistic, so much so that it's not surprising if you have to pause while reading just to remind themselves that this is, in fact, a work of fiction and not a news article you are reading.
2. The Russian Sleep Experiment
This story describes an alleged experiment conducted in the 1940s, where scientists in Russia decided to test the effects of extreme sleep deprivation, sealing five people into a small room and exposing them to a gas stimulant to keep them awake. The subjects were given scarce food supplies, and were monitored using microphones and glass potholes. As the days wore on, however, the subjects behavior drastically changed and left the scientists absolutely horrified at the effects the gas and isolation seemed to have on them. Like 1999, this story is horrifyingly realistic and sticks with you for a while after reading.
3. Abandoned by Disney
Of course everyone just wants to ruin their childhood. Of course. This story is about a resort - named Mowgli's Island, from "The Jungle Book" - that Disney attempted to open in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, despite many outcries of protest against the idea. The resort was only open for a while before it was abruptly shut down. The narrator attempts to uncover the lost and abandoned resort and finds out much more than he bargained for.
4. Laughing Jack
Another creepy fellow, this time created by the mind of a child. Laughing Jack is a child's alleged imaginary friend. The story is told through the point of view of this child's mother, who (like most parents) doesn't seem too bothered by her son's new friend until things shift towards the worst as situations grow increasingly disturbing and sinister. Oh, and in case you aren't already creeped out by the photo, here is his theme music. Have fun and goodnight.
5. Annie96 is Typing...
A horror story told completely in an interactive text message conversation. Have you ever wondered if the person you're talking to online is really the person you think it is? Do you think you'd be able to tell if it wasn't? This creepypasta explores that phenomenon in a terrifying and supernatural-esque manner that will leave you frozen in paranoia before replying to that last text or chat message.
6. Psychosis
Psychosis, defined as a mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality. In this story, the narrator finds himself afflicted with what seems like terrible paranoia and delusions as the world around him seems to shift completely off-kilter. The intensity of the story is heightened as the narrator explains his thought processes and the pure fear he has for his own survival. Is what he's seeing real, or is it a figment of his overactive imagination?
7. The Rake
8. BEN Drowned
Considered a classic among many creepypasta junkies, I just had to include it here. BEN Drowned follows the story of a Majora's Mask cartridge that is haunted by the ghost (or alleged ghost) of a boy named Ben. The popularity of the story came with the fact that it had "video evidence," one of the first of its kind if not the first. For those of you who play the Zelda games, this might give you a bit of a spook. For others...well, this still might give you a bit of a spook.
9. Robert the Doll
Bad news: this doll is actually real. The story behind this creepy lil thing also happens to be the inspiration behind the Child's Play series due to its allegedly horrifying backstory. The doll has a life of his own and enjoys terrorizing those who happen to come in contact with it. The doll is currently residing in the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Fla. Visitors have to ask Robert politely if they want to take his photo. If they mock him or take his photo without permission, Robert is said to lay a curse on them.
10. Persuaded
The idea of zombies is already terrifying for most, but sentient zombies? Zombies that are aware and are able run and scream and speak to you? Nope. Follow this short story and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat. By the end, you'll be ready to run or cower in the closest and most secluded place possible in fear.
11. NoEnd House
There are nine rooms. Get to the end and receive a $500 cash prize. Would you take it? Follow the narrator David as he makes his attempt, walking through each and every room that grows more sinister with each turn. With everything moving against his sanity and humanity, is the cash prize really worth it?
12. Annora Petrova
Be careful of what you wish for...that seems to be the moral of this story and it'll absolutely make your hair stand on end. The creepypasta is told through a single, one-page email sent from Annora Petrova, a championship figure skater, to an estranged friend about a Wikipedia page that she found about herself after Googling her name years before.
13. Smile Dog
If the image hasn't already freaked you out, then the story most definitely might. The creepypasta deals with an image posted on an old Bulletin Board system back in 1992 called smile.jpg. Those who saw the image either disappeared or died, save for one Mary E., whom the narrator goes to interview. What he eventually learns is that some things, even simple pictures, are better left as mysteries than dealing with the horrifying truth.
What are some of YOUR favorite scary stories?
