Horror Protagonist Novels & Stories

"You-You need to run! That's a wizard, Nat- the wizard." She finally seemed to realize that there was someone close behind her and she whirled around to face him again. He knew the picture he made standing there over her. Vampire Prince eyes glowing through the smoke and twisted black metal armor covering much of his body. His crowned helmet sported horns that curled up and back making him appear taller and infinitely more terrifying. He didn't really need armor, but he wore it anyway for occasions such as this. He enjoyed the way her throat bobbed as she tried to swallow past her own fear. She held up her trembling blade against him and his head tilted as he smiled down at her.

"Ava, your player profile—" Before he could finish, a transparent panel popped up in front of me. 【Player: Ava Stone】 【Level: Novice】 【Special Status: Sensory Deficiencies (Face Blindness, No Sense of Smell)】 【Current Anxiety Level: 5】 When Chloe saw my profile, a cruel glint flashed in her eyes. "Oh, dear. Sensory deficiencies? In a horror game, that’s fatal. You should just give up. Might as well die now and get it over with."

I don’t know why, but a warmth spread through my chest. Did Adrian prepare this for me? The next morning, another scream shattered the manor’s quiet. Linda was dead. She lay at the bottom of the staircase, her neck twisted at a grotesque angle, her eyes wide with terror and disbelief. 【System Alert: Linda died from "Player Sabotage"—pushed down the stairs.】 "What? Player sabotage?" I stared in shock at the only two survivors left. Jake and Emma, the seemingly harmless college couple. Jake had a classic boy-next-door look—blond hair, blue eyes, and a shy smile. Emma was a sweet-looking girl with a chestnut ponytail and freckles, like someone straight out of a Disney movie.

Because he had just been ripped apart. I turned around slowly and stared at the “pet” who had done the ripping. He still had blood on his face, but somehow looked… innocent. “I was hungry,” he murmured. Maybe it was my imagination, but his pupils looked a little sharper than before. [Wow. Trying to slut-shame someone in a horror dungeon? He had it coming.] [Pop the champagne. Ding-dong, the jerk is dead.] [Lol the stans are out. She can sleep with monsters but nobody can call her out?]

The other players noticed something strange and gathered to whisper, “Why do I feel like the NPCs in this dungeon only have hostility toward him, and they’re letting that girl slide completely?” “Do you think he might be the one who kidnapped the burrito lady? That’s why the entire horror game can’t eat burritos?” “Damn! Don’t say it! Seriously, don’t say it!” “This guy looks shady as hell. One look and you know he’s no good!” The remaining players naturally grouped together, isolating Jack. They were terrified the bosses would mistake them as being on his side. The judge of the third trial was the River God from the Sacrifice River God dungeon, an SSS-level boss.

He was a monster, a beautiful, terrifying monster, and he was the only thing standing between me and a cold, lonely death in the dark. The danger was real. It was here. And it was hungry. The terror was a living thing, clawing at my throat, freezing my limbs. But in the heart of that chaos, Hypatos transformed. The man I knew, the one haunted by ghosts and softened by late-night drinks, was gone. In his place stood a creature of pure, terrifying purpose.

“It's time to wake up, sweetie...” The sun was beginning to rise, but the light didn't bring comfort. It only clarified the nightmare. I looked at the eye again. The pupil didn't dilate or contract. It remained a fixed, black pinprick in a sea of terrifying blue. As my eyes adjusted, I realized the skin around the eye didn't look like skin at all. It looked like wet parchment stretched too tightly over a frame that didn't quite fit. I remembered the "rules" people joked about in horror movies. Don't go outside. Don't answer the door. But what do you do when the monster is already in the hallway, wearing your father’s throat like a stolen garment?

She felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect her people, to put an end to the terror that had gripped their once peaceful town. Unbeknownst to the mourners, a lone figure lurked in the shadows atop a nearby roof. With predatory eyes, he watched their gathering, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. As the night grew darker, he leaped down upon an unsuspecting individual, his transformation into a fearsome werewolf sending shockwaves through the crowd.

The red-haired player was completely panicking, shouting nonstop, "Help me! Hurry!" By the time Silvia and the other girl tried to reach him, it was too late. Ximena's hair turned into sharp blades and pierced through his entire body. He was riddled with holes in an instant. That wig was terrifying! This petite ghost bride was absolutely vicious, chasing Silvia and the short-haired girl all over the room. Meanwhile, I stayed in the coffin, watching the chaos unfold. Suddenly, Silvia stopped and turned to stare straight at Ximena. Ximena's speed began to slow.