Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories

On a silent winter night, a man encounters the presence of someone he loved and lost, but what appears before him is both familiar and strangely transformed.Blending supernatural fiction, ghost story, fantasy, grief, and existential mystery, “Fey” is a quiet and haunting exploration of love, loss, faith, and the possibility of something beyond what we understand.Michael Scholtes has worked as an astronomer and software engineer and has had more than 1,600 limericks published with OEDILF.com. After many years in Texas, he now lives in southern Oregon between the Cascades and the Siskiyou Mountains with his wife and two Bengal cats.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

Everyone in town knows there is something wrong with the old Carter place. No one will tell about it, though..In “The Old Carter Place,” Whitney R. Holp follows two boys who become fascinated by an abandoned house surrounded by rumors, mystery, and a disturbing history. Their curiosity eventually leads them to the house and unexpected experiences. Blending haunted house horror, supernatural fiction, dark folklore, childhood curiosity, and psychological horror, the story creates an atmosphere of growing unease as an ordinary childhood adventure becomes something much darker.Whitney R. Holp is a student of surrealism who seeks gnosis through dreams, intoxication, and objective chance. “The Old Carter Place” comes from his unpublished book of the same name. This story first appeared in Blood Moon Rising Magazine #89, October 2022The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In “The Ghost of Calvin Seaworthy,” David Albano takes us into a Gothic world populated by restless spirits and a mansion with a terrible history. Calvin Seaworthy has spent decades haunted by memories of violence, loss, and the family he left behind. Then a stranger crosses the mansion threshold, dooming him to a horrible death...Blending Gothic horror, ghost story, supernatural fiction, revenge, and redemption, this atmospheric tale asks whether even the dead can find a way to make amends.David Albano is a Louisiana native who now lives in Texas with his wife and child. An avid reader and writer, he has been published in Frontier Tales, Dark Moments, and 50-Word Stories. The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In “Molly's Divergent Blessings,” Barry Lewis introduces us to Molly, a fiercely capable woman trying to hold together the ranch she inherited from her father. Feverish, alone, and confronted with an unexpected visitor, Molly must decide whether to trust what she is seeing—or dismiss it as a fever dream.Blending supernatural fiction, Western storytelling, mystery, and folklore, the story explores family, fate, loss, and the possibility that help can sometimes arrive from the most unexpected places.Barry Lewis is the author of The Wyoming Adventure and What's Dragon You Down. His poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in publications including HotPoet Equinox, Literature Today, Amethyst Review, Poetry Breakfast, The Writers' Journal, Grist, and Harrow House Journal. He also has an upcoming short story in Bloomin Onion.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

What happens when a favorite teacher is pushed too far?In “We Love You, Miss Raina,” Prachi Shah takes us into a classroom where a popular teacher's easygoing personality makes her a student favorite—until one student's challenge to her authority changes everything. Blending supernatural horror, dark humor, school horror, and unsettling transformation, this story turns an ordinary classroom into a place where the rules are very different from what the students expect.Author bio: Prachi Shah is a horror writer whose work has appeared in Flash Phantoms, Delhi Poetry Slam, and the Tidbits 'Wishes' Anthology, among others. Her work was longlisted for the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and she is currently working on a horror series for young adults and her Substack, terriblycreative. The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

What happens when an artist's imagination becomes more powerful than he expected?A freelance comic-book artist has a talent for drawing horror creatures. When he receives an assignment to create a Wendigo for a horror anthology, he dives into the project—and into the folklore surrounding the creature. But the more he brings the Wendigo to life on the page, the more unsettling his own experience becomes.“The Penciller's Lament” is a supernatural horror story about artistic obsession, imagination, hunger, and the unsettling boundary between creating a monster and becoming part of its story.George Larson is a retired special agent with the Diplomatic Security service, US Department of State. He's written eight novels (DICK AVERY ADVENTURE STORIES) and twenty-four horror stories. Many of his stories have appeared in print or been podcasted. He holds a BA degree in English.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Clazie Porter" by Jen Schneider here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Charles Stonebridge" by Anne Hansell here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Timothy Montgomery" by Robert Pettus here.Sketch by Leonardo da VinciThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In Todd Sullivan's “An Acquisition of Words,” a writer discovers that inspiration can come at a terrible price. What begins with ambition and the desire to create becomes a supernatural encounter involving creativity, temptation, and a bargain that has terrible consequences.Blending supernatural horror, dark fantasy, and a classic bargain-with-the-devil premise, the story explores the darker side of artistic ambition and the consequences of wanting success badly enough to pay for it.About the author: Todd Sullivan is a writer of speculative fiction whose work explores the darker and stranger corners of human experience.Guest reader Melissa MilesListen to the Unpleasantville story "Noah Fiindley" by Travis Mushanski here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Claire Fiindley" by Travis Mushanski here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Marcus Findley" by Travis Mushanski here.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A lonely road. Thick morning fog. One horrifying collision.Driving home after an overnight shift, Brett encounters something no driver ever wants to see—a teenager standing in the middle of an empty road. But what begins as a tragic accident soon leads him into one of South Jersey's most disturbing local legends.Perfect for fans of ghost stories, haunted roads, urban legends, and atmospheric supernatural horror.Diane Arrelle, the pen name of South Jersey writer Dina Leacock, has sold more than 400 short stories and has three published books including Just A Drop In The Cup, a collection of short-short stories and Seasons On The Dark Side, her collection of horror stories. She is the editor of the anthologies Crypt Gnats: Horror You've Been Itching to Read, WhoDunit, Trees and A Little Fantasy Everywhere.Retired from being director of a municipal senior citizen center, she is now co-owner of Jersey Pines Ink LLC. She resides with her sane husband and her insane cat on the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens (home of the Jersey Devil).https://jerseypines.inkGuest reader MN WigginsListen to the Unpleasantville story "Adolph Hitler" by Snigda Agrawal here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Peter Heatherington" by James Roderick Burns here.Listen to the Unpleasantville story "Jane Davidson" by Lou Normann here. The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

Marcos Fizzotti's “The Man on Top of the Hill” takes us to Texas in 1867, where cowboys on a cattle drive encounter a mysterious rider on a distant hill. As they pass the time with stories of outlaws, betrayal, and revenge, the boundary between legend and reality begins to feel dangerously thin.Blending Western horror, ghost story, frontier folklore, and supernatural revenge, Fizzotti creates an atmospheric tale in which the wide-open landscape offers very little protection from the past.Listen to Unpleasantville: Daisy Diamond by Linda Sparks (episode 6) here.Listen to Unpleasantville: Jake Eastwood by Linda Sparks (episode 7) here.Listen to Unpleasantville: Ed Bagwell by Leon Taylor (episode 8) here.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

What happens when promises are made, but not kept; when commercial ambition collides with traditions that demand patience, respect, and remembrance?In Gabriele Micozzi's “Forty-Nine,” a newly acquired restaurant in Takayama, Japan, carries more than the memory of its former owner. As the days following a death pass, something begins to change inside the restaurant—and the traditions surrounding the dead may matter more than its new owner realizes.Drawing on Japanese Buddhist beliefs surrounding death, mourning, ritual, and the forty-nine days after death, this atmospheric ghost story explores the importance of ritual to the living...and the dead.About the author: Gabriele Micozzi is an Italian author based on the Adriatic coast. His short fiction has been accepted by parABnormal Magazine (Hiraeth Books, ed. H. David Blalock) and The Literary Hatchet (PearTree Press). His work is grounded in what he calls "systemic horror" — the quiet, clinical terror of institutions and rituals that function perfectly while the human beings inside them disappear. He has also published non-fiction and poetry in Italy. Website: www.gabrielemicozzi.itListen to Unpleasantville episode 3 here.Listen to Unpleasantville episode 4 here.Listen to Unpleasantville episode 5 here.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

There are people who can spot the value in almost anything. A chipped piece of pottery, an old painting, a box of forgotten papers—one person's rubbish can be another person's treasure. And places like Glasgow's Barras Market are built on that possibility. You never quite know what you're going to find, or who owned it before you. Most of the time, the history attached to an old object is harmless. But every so often, you come across something that has been waiting a very long time to be found.JS Apsley is the pen name of a horror and noir author from Glasgow, Scotland. He won the Ringwood Short Story Prize in 2024 and has gone on to publish over fifty short stories around the world. You can find his work at jsapsley.com and on Instagram at @jsapsley_author.Listen to episode 1 of Unpleasantville.Listen to episode 2 of Unpleasantville.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

When Aveline's family moves into Greymist Manor overlooking a lonely coastline, local whispers of a curse seem easy enough to dismiss. But after discovering a mysterious necklace washed ashore, vivid dreams begin to blur into waking life. An unseen presence calls her by another woman's name, and every tide seems to pull her closer to a centuries-old promise.Perfect for listeners who enjoy gothic horror, haunted houses, ghostly romance, cursed relics, and eerie coastal folklore.Lara Shamas is a writer, Poet, and literature enthusiast based in Lebanon. Lara's work often explores the intersections of love, loss, and the supernatural.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

There is said to be a gate somewhere in County Wicklow that whistles whenever the wind blows. It never stays in the same place for long, dogs sense it before people do, and there is one rule that is not always followed: Never open the gate.In The Whistling Gate, Silke Phillips draws on the rich traditions of Irish folklore to weave an unsettling tale of curiosity, superstition, and the terrifying consequences of ignoring old warnings. Atmospheric and quietly chilling, this story captures the feeling that some legends survive because they are true.Author Bio: Silke Phillips is a freelance writer, editor, and translator from Germany who has found a new home in Ireland. In her fiction, she likes to explore the uncanny. In her real life, she enjoys art and crafting, cooking and eating, reading and writing, and her big fluffy dog and husband.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silke-phillips-1a3945208/Website: https://www.text-und-lektorat-phillips.de/enThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

After the sudden death of her husband, a woman tries to rebuild her life and create a new future for herself and her young daughter. But as strange events begin to occur, she is forced to confront the possibility that some bonds are not easily broken. A poignant ghost story that explores the lingering presence of those we love. Author Bio: Frances Brindle lives in Oxfordshire, England, with her husband, a Greek dog, and an American cat. After studying microbiology at university, she moved into marketing and was once responsible for sending an animatronic kangaroo down a ski jump in New Zealand for a beer campaign. She was shortlisted for the H.G. Wells Short Story Prize, and her stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

When a local teenager receives a personal invitation from the mayor's influential family, he assumes he's simply been singled out for a special occasion. But as the gathering unfolds, small details begin to feel increasingly wrong, and what should be a memorable day becomes something far more unsettling.A tense supernatural horror story exploring power, privilege, family, and the hidden costs of getting exactly what someone wants.Tim Law writes fantasy, horror, and often a combination of the two. A husband, father of three, and self-described "fur-father" of four, he lives in a small town in Southern Australia where he manages the local library. He enjoys discovering stories as he writes them and never plots in advance.Narrated by Tim LawThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A woman out for an early morning run encounters something unexpected on a remote hill at the edge of the woods.Inspired by Japanese folklore surrounding the Ubume, this chilling tale blends modern life with ancient fears, asking what happens when ordinary people cross paths with something that should exist only in stories.Atmospheric, unsettling, and darkly imaginative folk horror.Alice Kinerk enjoys writing, reading, and sometimes jogging. She has published dozens of stories. Learn more at alicekinerk.comNarrated by Deborah Sale-ButlerImage: Ubume in the Moonlight by Hokusai. This is one of my absolute favorite works of art. There is so much sympathy for the character in Hokusai's work, and Ubume is a character to feel empathy towards, not enmity. Read the ekphrastic story I wrote about this art here.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

Oliver arrives at a casino looking for excitement and distraction. What he finds is a mysterious woman. His obsessive personality soon presents an option. Can he stop his obsession with her, or is he willing to take one more chance? A haunting psychological horror story that taps into a very human trait. Author Bio: Growing up with TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, and Star Trek, Ivan Richardson developed a love of dark fantasy and science fiction. Born in Scotland, he studied Mechanical Engineering at Leicester University and is a member of the Leicester Writers Club. He also holds a fourth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.Narrated by MN Wiggins and Melissa Miles.Photo by Jonathan Greenaway on UnsplashThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

When Julia answers an ad offering cash to spend the night in one of England's most haunted hotels, she expects cheap scares and staged ghost stories. Instead, she finds herself trapped inside a place where reflections linger too long and corridors shift in impossible ways.A gothic supernatural horror story filled with mirrors, whispers, and creeping dread.Originally from the UK and living in the USA for nearly 20 years, Ria is an author and artist with a background in journalism and communication. Blending creativity with storytelling, Ria published their debut book, Elara's Tea Leaves, a whimsical journey through magic and meaning. Their next book, a richly illustrated tale about gnomes, is set for release in 2026. With a love for folklore, nature, and visual storytelling, Ria combines words and art to craft immersive experiences. Their work reflects a lifelong passion for narrative in all forms, shaped by both European roots and American life.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

Set high on Mount Everest, HEAT is an atmospheric survival horror story about isolation, ambition, and the dangers that await in the frozen darkness.As a climber reflects on the choices that brought her to the world's highest peak, strange figures begin to move through the snow and something unseen stalks the mountain's isolated expeditions. On Everest, survival can become far more terrifying than the climb itself.A chilling blend of Mount Everest horror, supernatural horror, and survival fiction, HEAT explores the thin line between endurance and obsession—and the unsettling truth that some places refuse to let go of those who enter them.About the AuthorCaolán Mac an Aircinn is a translator, classicist, and musician from Dublin, Ireland, who writes in both English and his native Irish. He has published numerous short stories and poems in the horror and science fiction genres. When he isn't writing, he enjoys playing traditional Irish music and bothering his cats. He can be found on Instagram at @writercaolan.Narrated by Caolán Mac an Aircinn.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In a small town built around a mysterious carousel attraction, visitors line up for the chance to relive a moment from their past. Some leave shaken. Some never recover from what they discover. As the ride's popularity grows, so do the whispers surrounding the man known only as “The Creator” and the strange influence the carousel seems to have over the entire town.A chilling psychological horror story about obsession, memory, and the dangerous allure of knowing the truth.Lori D'Angelo, a two-time Pushcart nominee, is the author of a short story collection, The Monsters Are Here, which was published in 2024 by ELJ Editions. For more information about her, see her website at lori.dangelo.com.Listen to the song "Hurt" performed by Johnny Cash here.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A quiet high school student drifts through life unnoticed—until a hidden room in her school begins calling to her. Inside, she discovers strange messages layered beneath decades of forgotten posters, and a place that seems to understand her better than the outside world ever could. But the deeper she disappears into the secret closet, the harder it becomes to tell where memory ends and something else begins.A haunting and emotional supernatural story about loneliness, identity, memory, and being seen.Zary Fekete grew up in Hungary. He has a debut novella (Words on the Page) out with DarkWinter Lit Press and a short story collection (To Accept the Things I Cannot Change: Writing My Way Out of Addiction) out with Creative Texts. He enjoys books, podcasts, and many, many films.Twitter and Instagram: @ZaryFekete Bluesky:zaryfekete.bsky.socialThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In the trenches of war, soldiers face more than just the enemy. When something unnatural begins to move across the battlefield, they must confront a horror that feeds on death itself.A bleak, atmospheric tale of war and cosmic horror.David Horn is a Colorado-based writer whose fiction explores the border between history, memory, and the uncanny. His stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Rooted Literary Magazine, AntipoedanSF, and other journals and anthologies. A veteran, former police officer, and cybersecurity engineer, he now divides his time between writing and environmental studies. He is the author of Signals from the Edge and the forthcoming novel The Glass Child. Find him at https://www.facebook.com/horndw​Image of the Japanese yōkai nuppeppō from Sawaki Suushi.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A woman narrowly escapes death during a violent raid—thanks to her guardian angel… who just happens to be her deceased twin sister. But as the two navigate the aftermath, reality begins to fracture, and the truth behind her life—and her sister's influence—becomes something far darker than she ever imagined.Here is an article about multiple alternate universes potentially affecting our lives and an alternative (lol) viewpoint.MN Wiggins is an internationally published novelist, surgeon, professor, and voice actor from the American South whose short stories have been performed on multiple podcasts and published in several magazines. His narration credits include The Night's End podcast and Thirteen. Dr. Wiggins's latest novel, El Dorado, is available through Solstice Publishing. His complete works may be found at www.MNWiggins.com The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A man obsessed with cleanliness and control begins to notice something wrong—flies appearing where they shouldn't, and a smell he cannot escape. As reality unravels, he must confront a terrifying truth about decay, memory, and guilt.A psychological horror story that builds into something deeply disturbing.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A night janitor working at a blood bank encounters something impossible—a floating bedsheet that appears first in mirrors, then in reality. But this is no ghostly illusion. It wants something. It needs something. And when it finally reveals its purpose, escape is not an option.A darkly surreal horror story blending humor, dread, and visceral terror.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A strange ship is spotted drifting along the English coast—appearing and disappearing, sometimes engulfed in flames, sometimes perfectly intact. A naval officer is tasked with investigating the vessel and bringing it back to port. But once he draws closer, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary ship—and that some mysteries are not meant to be solved.Blending classic nautical horror with a creeping sense of dread, this story explores isolation, uncertainty, and the terror of losing control in the vast unknown. If you enjoy ghost ship stories, maritime horror, and slow-building suspense, this episode is for you.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A question survivors hear far too often: Why didn't you just leave?In this powerful and unsettling story by Shannon Massey, one woman reflects on her past while trying to rebuild her life in a new home. But as strange and unexplainable events begin to unfold, it becomes clear that something isn't quite right—and that some things refuse to stay buried.Blending psychological horror with deeply personal storytelling, this episode explores trauma, survival, and the lingering presence of the past.If you enjoy emotional horror, haunted house stories, and character-driven narratives, this one will stay with you.Music from Pixabay. The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

Long after humanity has vanished, machines inherit the universe—and a question they cannot answer: where did their creators go? Curiosity turns into obsession and debate as artificial minds push beyond science to find what was lost.A haunting blend of science fiction and horror, this story explores intelligence, existence, and the possibility that something may still be out there.If you enjoy sci-fi horror, cosmic mystery, and thought-provoking storytelling, this episode is for you.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A young woman walks alone at night, dragging a heavy cauldron through empty streets—just wanting to be left in peace. But when a group of men decide she's something to be toyed with, the encounter quickly escalates into something far more dangerous.“The Cauldron” is a dark, unsettling horror story that blends real-world fear with a chilling sense of inevitability—where consequences may come from the most unexpected places.Photo by Kevin Dowling on UnsplashThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

What once seemed like a simple tale told among children begins to take on new meaning in adulthood, as the past and present blur in unexpected ways. As the narrator revisits a place tied to the legend, the story shifts from something frightening to something far more personal.Blending supernatural horror with emotional depth, Hannah Sawyer explores memory, loneliness, and the quiet persistence of the past. This haunting and reflective story is perfect for listeners who enjoy ghost stories with literary depth and psychological resonance.Aaron Brown-Ewing is an Ohio native who currently lives and works in Iwate prefecture, Japan as an English language teacher and travel blogger. As a writer, he enjoys creating narratives and imagery with the surreal and the fantastic. You can follow his travels at aaronhimself.com and @mraaronhimself on Instagram.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A solo cyclist pushes himself to the limit on a grueling ride through the mountains of southern France. Determined to show his friends his stamina and strength, he documents the trip on social media, certain to put forward a good front regardless of reality.When an unexpected shortcut presents itself, the line between ambition and reality blurs. Blending psychological tension with subtle supernatural horror, King of the Mountain explores modern culture and the risks we take to promote ourselves. Perfect for fans of literary horror, slow-burn suspense, and eerie, thought-provoking fiction.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A musician finally finds the quiet she needs to focus on her music—until something begins knocking in the middle of the night. What starts as an unsettling disturbance soon becomes impossible to ignore, leaving her exhausted, frustrated, and searching for a way to reclaim her creative space. But the deeper she looks into the haunting, the more complicated the mystery becomes.Blending supernatural horror with humor and heart, Ghost Jam explores creativity, burnout, and the strange connections that can form when the living and the dead refuse to stay silent. This eerie and imaginative story is perfect for fans of modern ghost fiction and literary horror.Daniel Scott Tysdal is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher. He is the author of four books of poetry, the poetry textbook The Writing Moment: A Practical Guide to Creating Poems, and the TEDx talk “Everything You Need to Write a Poem (and How It Can Save a Life).” His debut horror novel is forthcoming in fall 2027.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A writer's childhood flirtation with dark forces resurfaces years later, blurring memory, guilt, and desire as laughter becomes a terrifying invitation to something ancient.When a writer's adolescent fascination with summoning the Devil resurfaces years later, memory, intoxication, and chance collide to reveal that some invocations are never truly undone. This dark, surreal tale explores temptation, guilt, addiction, and the thin line between imagination and reality—perfect for fans of psychological horror and unsettling supernatural fiction.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

In “Old Ben” by T.G. Smith, an immigrant zoo worker navigating unfamiliar snow and baffling English idioms finds himself haunted by an unexpected presence during his nightly rounds. The story explores isolation, cultural displacement, and the eerie persistence of memory when the world feels both strange and unwelcoming.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A subtle supernatural horror story in which an unknown presence has a warning. Set against the mundanity of everyday life, "Negative Space" uses slow-dripping dread to expose a presence and its terrifying warning. Is there a way to counter the impending tragedy that is predicted?Jennifer Peaslee is a dark fiction writer with an affinity for fairy tales and folklore. She lives in Atlanta with her cat, Trouble, and runs bleedingtypewriter.page, a community for new and emerging writers.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A haunting supernatural story in which a woman receives a phone call from herself—warning her about the life she's about to live. Blending psychological horror with speculative dread, Torn uses the uncanny device of a doppelgänger to explore a world where the past, present, and future collide. The story asks whether foreknowledge is a gift—or just another form of cruelty.Melissa Miles is a writer based in Aotearoa/New Zealand and is delighted to return to Kaidankai. Melissa has had numerous short stories published in online magazines, and has featured in a number of print anthologies. She has one children's book out, Terri the Tiny Dragon, and is currently working on a short story collection and completing a Steam Punk novel. When she's not writing she's caring for her menagerie of rescue animals.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A quiet supernatural story about aging, death, and the unsettling certainty that something always comes after. When a man is interrupted by an unexpected knock, he's forced to face his mortality.Told with restraint and dark humor, What Comes Next explores the thin boundary between life and whatever waits beyond it. This is a story about endings--life, relationships, our existence in a world we belong to, and what happens if that world tells us its time to move on. It's about the deeply human desire to remain in a world we know—even when the universe has other plans.David Corisis is a born-and-raised Idahoan and graduate of Gonzaga University. He lives the exciting life of a programmer by day and aspiring writer by night. When not sharing a keyboard with his cat, David enjoys running, brewing mead, playing Magic the Gathering, camping, and worrying about the ever-marching hand of time stealing everything he holds dear. His favorite books include At the Mountains of Madness, and Flatland. He couldn't be happier taking on the world and its challenges with his eternally inspirational wife at his side. To find out more, you can visit www.dcorisis.com.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A first-person supernatural confession about inheriting witchcraft, where fear, taboo, and belonging collide.In That Sound That the Crickets Make, tradition is not comfort—it's obligation, and refusal has a cost.This is not a story about monsters from the outside, but about what it means to inherit a world you didn't choose. Told with brutal honesty and dark humor, it explores witchcraft as culture, survival, and generational obligation—and asks whether tradition must always be obeyed.Valerie Tendai Chatindo is a biochemistry graduate, writer and communications consultant. She's a regular contributor for The Kalahari Review, Enthuse Magazine, The Diplomat Zimbabwe and EarGround. Her work has also appeared in Pink Disco Magazine, Creepy Pod, Agbowo, Argyl Literary Magazine, The Afterpast Review, Whisper House Press, Omenana, Efiko Magazine, Writer's Space, and Literary Yard. Her short story “Sheba,” was shortlisted for the African Cradle African Heroines literary prize, and her pieces were featured in Povo Afrika's Nehanda Reimagined anthology. Her debut novel Mono: Tales of The Tapa Kingdom is shortlisted for the Iskanchi Book Prize. The twenty-nine-year-old resides in Harare, Zimbabwe with her cat, Muffins. She runs her own Literary Platform, Shumba Literary Magazine.You can read "That Sound That The Crickets Make" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Illustration by Aubrey BeardsleyThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A powerful retelling of the legend of La Loca, where betrayal, hypocrisy, and supernatural vengeance collide. A mythic tale of feral justice and reckoning.In this haunting story, justice is not delivered by courts or institutions, but by something older and wilder. La Loca is no innocent, but neither is she deserving of her fate. What follows is a reminder that some legends endure because they speak truths society would rather ignore.Robert Walton is a retired middle school teacher, rock climber and mountaineer with ascents in Yosemite and Pinnacles National Park. Walton is an experienced writer. His novel Dawn Drums won the 2014 New Mexico Book Awards Tony Hillerman Prize for best fiction. His novella “Vienna Station” won the Galaxy contest in 2011and was subsequently published by Rosetta Books. Most recently, his story “Suka Blat” was included in Alternative Truths, an anthology of protest literature. You can read "La Loca" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A retired sailor's fond memories of a ship's cat take on a chilling afterlife.In “Polydactyl Aboard,” a retired sailor recalls his years at sea and the extraordinary ship's cat whose talents went far beyond catching rats. The bond between sailor and animal becomes something deeper after death. Set against the rhythms of life aboard ship, the story explores loyalty, instinct, and the quiet persistence of the past.Thomas Koperwas is a retired teacher living in Windsor, Ontario, Canada who writes short stories of horror, crime, fantasy, and science fiction. His story Vacation won a Freedom Fiction Journal Top Crime Editor's Choice Award 2024. His work has appeared, or is forthcoming in: Anotherealm; Jakob's Horror Box; Literally Stories; The Literary Hatchet; Literary Veganism; Bright Flash Literary Review; Bombfire; Pulp Modern Flash; Savage Planets; Dark Fire Fiction; The Sirens Call; Yellow Mama Webzine; 96th of October; Underside Stories; Danse Macabre; A Thin Slice Of Anxiety; Androids and Dragons; Chewers & Masticadores Canada; The Piker Press; etc..You can read "Polydactyl Aboard" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

A quiet man's passion for rare books draws him into an exclusive invitation—one that reveals an old literary grievance demanding a very personal and terrifying form of justice.Nick Young is a retired award-winning CBS News Correspondent.  His writing has appeared in more than thirty publications including the Pennsylvania Literary Journal, The Garfield Lake Review, Backchannels Journal, the San Antonio Review, the Bosphorus Review of Books, The Best of CaféLit 11 and Vols. I and II of the Writer Shed Stories anthologies.  He lives outside Chicago.You can read "Redress" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstackThe Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange.New episodes every Wednesday.Subscribe on Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Read the stories at kaidankaistories.comFollow the show:InstagramFacebookBlueskyHave a story you'd like us to read? Send submissions to kaidankai100ghoststories@gmail.com.

The annual alternative Charles Dickens story to A Christmas Carol.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.Linda

A drifter joins a strange sheriff's posse, only to discover he's part of a ghost-hunting ritual—and far closer to the dead than he ever realized.This story appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of SPOOKY Magazine.Chad Gayle's short speculative fiction has appeared in DreamForge Magazine, Inner Worlds, and Cosmic Horror Monthly.You can read "Dead Man's Posse" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

Two brothers flee through frozen fells from an unearthly pursuit, only to discover a city that chooses who may enter and who must be lost.Bio: Daniel Stride has a lifelong love of literature in general, and speculative fiction in particular. He writes both short stories and poetry; his stories have appeared in Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Tales to Terrify Podcast, and Eternal Haunted Summer. His first novel, Wise Phuul, was published in 2016 by a small UK press, Inspired Quill. A sequel, Old Phuul, is due out in the near future. He likes chocolate and cats, and can be found blogging about the works of Tolkien (among other things) at https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/. Daniel lives in Dunedin, New Zealand.You can read "Fleeing To The Dawn" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

A celebrated self-help guru meets a follower whose “infinite patience” twisted his teachings into something dark.Rick McQuiston is a 57-year-old horror fanatic with over 400 publications, including three novels. A new novel is due for publication in 2026. McQuiston spends his time working on new full-length and short stories.You can read "The Patience Factor" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

A pastor reconnects with a troubled parishioner only to find prophecy and madness entwined in tragedy.Nathan Perrin (he/him/his) is a writer and Anabaptist pastor in Chicagoland. He holds an MA in Quaker Studies, and is a doctoral student studying Christian Community Development at Northern Seminary. His doctorate work centers on creating a writing program for nonprofits and churches to use to help under-resourced communities process trauma. His work has been published in the Dillydoun Review, Bangalore Review, Collateral Journal, Esoterica Magazine, etc. His forthcoming novella Memories of Green Rivers will be released in winter 2026 by Running Wild Press. He is also a screenwriter for an unannounced indie comedy series. For more information, visit www.nathanperrinwriter.comYou can read "A Prophet's Hometown" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

When a priest sells his dying church to a nightclub owner, he discovers that even the dead still demand redemption.Ed Ahern resumed writing after forty odd years in foreign intelligence and international sales. He's had over four hundred fifty stories and poems published so far, and nine books. Ed works the other side of writing at Bewildering Stories, where he sits on the review board and manages a posse of eight review editors, and as lead editor at Scribes Microfiction.https://twitter.com/bottomstripper https://www.facebook.com/EdAhern73/?ref=bookmarkshttps://www.instagram.com/edwardahern1860/'You can read "Penance" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

A ski trip to Japan turns into a darker adventure when two friends encounter a spirit that wants something.Paul Walter is an Irish-born, recently retired illustrator, art teacher, and occasional author. He has had two children's books published by Penguin; Grandpa's Big Adventure, and Grandpa's Space Adventure. His literary novel, Fin Rising, was originally published by Really Blue Books in 2012 and was re-published in 2022 by Púca. It is available on Amazon In his spare time, Paul likes fishing, playing pétanque and writing novels. 'Hungry Ghost' is the first chapter of a half-finished manuscript with the working title 'The Suicide Forest'You can read "Hungry Ghost" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

A student filmmaker recreating an old murder discovers that the past is not done performing its part.A life-long resident of Melbourne, Australia, Rick is retired after 42 years in the transport industry. His stories have appeared in magazines, anthologies and podcasts and he has several books on Amazon. He hasn't been owned by a cat for decades and must resort to talking to next door's white tom who sometimes condescends to talk back to him.You can read "TheFaces in Morgan Alley" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

When the Rodadora arrive, born of blood and storm, a family braces for survival against an ancient, inescapable force.Helen Gallegos Evans has taught Los Angeles students for 24 years. She enjoys writing, photography, reading, walking, and engaging conversations. Her works have appeared in Gingerbread House Literary, Acentos Review, The Amaranth Review, Papercuts, Bards and Sages Quarterly, and elsewhere.You can read "The Rodadora" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstack

A woman servant is under a monster's spell. A chance encounter with a stranger makes her  question whether her life—and her very identity—are her own.Salem Savage-Cutcher strives to spark whimsy in the world. They write experimental and just plain weird fantasy, horror, and magical realism. They have previously been published in the Iris Review. You can find them at salemsavagecutcher@neocities.org.You can read "Brainworm" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comPlease feel free to contact me through the website contact form.Follow us on: InstagramFacebookBlueskySubstackPhoto by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash