#scaretober

Haunting of Hill House (the series)

Haunting of Bly Manor

Midnight Mass (the newest series by Hill House/Bly Manor creators)

RL Stein's Fear Street 1994, 1978, 1666 trilogy. Classic slasher meets supernatural mystery

the VHS trilogy. Incredible found footage anthologies.

His House, scary transition for Sudanese immigrants to Britain

Odd Thomas, not scary per se, but lots of fun, a great independent film

Hereditary

Cabin in the Woods. funny AND scary. lots of good tropes here.

the Babadook. a haunting story about PTSD with a poignant end.

the Witch (starting Anya Taylor Joy)

Midsommar

the Lighthouse. William DaFoe's face alone is terrifying.

I am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House

Us

Get Out

Candyman. really, any of Jordan Peele's horror stuff.

I also sent her horror podcasts suggestions even though she would probably never listen

The Magnus Archives (obviously). part anthology, part grander mystery. you'll find something scary in this show because it covers all the scaries in the world

Alice Isn't Dead

Old Gods of Appalachia

the Black Tapes. I apologize for recommending this one despite the awful ending.

J&H Scaretober day 3 // Alter Ego // @edwardthebadass

Just a little something fun I thought I’d put together in honor of my second favorite holiday! The following are all fics of mine that have some sort of “darker, creepier” vibe that befits Halloween that could be just the thing to get you into the Halloween spirit!

Happy Halloween and happy reading! If you read and enjoy a fic it would mean a lot if you left a comment on the fic. Thank you! ♥

In the Name of Love

Summary: Lance just wanted to buy a flower. Instead he's now the newest victim of a serial killer who has no plans to release him until he has served his purpose. Lance may be a Paladin but he's got a higher calling in life now. And it starts with his death.

My comments: My number one creepy fic if I had to pick just one. It’s sort of Little Shop of Horrors meets IcyPanther meets Langst and it’s a beautiful, disturbing relationship until death do us part. Which, considering a plant is trying to eat us could be very soon indeed.

Sounds of Darkness

Summary: Lance couldn’t see. Or hear. Or move. The silent darkness was all encompassing and it was pressing in; choking him, drowning him, blinding him. He screamed but it was swallowed whole into the void of nothingness. Lance trembled, pain shaking his limbs, and faintly wondered if he’d even made a sound at all.

My comments: The fic that gave my sister nightmares and forced her to sleep with the curtains open for a few weeks. Don’t recommend reading this one all alone in a dark, quiet room... or, heheh, you absolutely should. Don’t fear though (hehe), there’s plenty of comfort at the end of this one to give you strength to continue onto more. 

No Use For You

Summary: “You have no discernible talent that I can use and your worth as a bartering chip is negligible. And so,” Lotor’s breath was hot on Lance’s ear. “I have no use for you.” A hand shoved at him in the darkness. “Enjoy your new home.”

My comments: It’s more the end of this fic and what is implied in the outcome that gets it a spot on this list. But, uh, unresolved bits and creepy Lotor are also scary things?

Quarantine

Summary: An alien ship crashes on Earth and Lance and Hunk are the first responders to board and look for survivors. But they don’t find people in need of help. They find bodies. What started as a rescue turns into a fight for survival and the team can only watch in horror outside of the quarantined ship as two of their own begin to lose the battle. And it begs the question: when it comes to choosing between potentially saving a loved one or for sure saving Earth what is a Defender of the Universe to do?

My comments: A little Lovecraftian horror never hurt anyone, right? Battling against an unknown disease while all anyone on the outside can do is watch as you slowly die? Yeah, I’d like to get off the ride now, please. 

His Own Worst Enemy

Summary:  Keith wheezed, trying to summon air back to his crushed windpipe. Lance… Lance could have killed him. Lance was dangerous. He was somehow incapable right now of recognizing friend from foe. Keith staggered to his feet. They needed to stop Lance. They needed to stop him now. / Lance is not himself. He's sick. And scared. And to protect himself… he has to kill them.

My comments: Hey look, more sickness! Not horror-horror but certainly terrifying to watch your friend be consumed by madness. Add on that said friend is trying to kill you and has gone absolutely feral with his appearance to match and hey, it makes the list!

Rows of Stitches, Lines of Pain 

Summary: Lines had been drawn all over the slender body. Dotted. Solid. Red. Black, blue, white, green stains against tan flesh. Others were made of stitches, of dried blood, of pain, and why had it taken them so long to find him? All of the lines sectioned off his body like some sort of science experiment, some, some thing to be studied, dissected. But, Shiro choked down the horror clawing up his throat, that’s all Lance had been to them.

My comments: Creepy laboratory setting? Check. Dismembered bodies? Check. Our boy Lance all drugged up and on an operating table? Check! Yeah, I think we can call this a horror genre... but with lots of warm fluff? Thanks, Shiro!

A Game Called Blood and Bones

Summary: “You need someone to deliver your message and get the money, right?” Lance asked. “And someone to stay as your hostage?” He swallowed, eyes darting to Pidge. “Take… take me instead.” The alien captain stared. And then he threw back his head and laughed. “You?” he came down from his mirth. “Why would we want you when we have her?” “Because,” Lance kept his voice even. “I’ll… I’ll tell you all I know about the Blades. And, and the Coalition. Information goes for a lot, doesn’t it?”Except… Lance doesn’t know any actual valuable information. And the aliens are not happy about that. Not happy at all.

My comments: You will never look at a kitchen the same way again. Perhaps today is not the day to use the potato peeler ;)

So Cold

Summary:  Keith can’t seem to get warm. He’s felt cold ever since the mission, a frigid sensation taking up root in his chest and he’s so tired. But he’s fine. He’s just a little worn out, maybe coming down sick, and all the talk of haunted planets is playing with his mind. But when he wakes from a nightmare to find his own blade impaled in his stomach and his hand the one that put it there… maybe everything isn’t so fine after all.

My comments: The only non-Lance piece on here and the closest thing to an actual horror story because we are talking about possession! And this is most absolutely not a friendly ghost. 

Feel Me, See Me (Or Please, Please Don’t)

Summary: When an attack goes wrong Lance ends up trapped in a dimensional plane separated from his team. But he’s not alone. The Druid they’d been fighting is there too. Lance’s bond with his fellow Paladins is the key to getting home, but the Druid isn’t going to let Lance so easily escape and leave him behind. He needs to subdue Lance, to use him as his own ticket back. And when you pit a Druid capable of teleporting and summoning magic against an injured, near defenseless human? Let the hunt begin.

My comments: This one is actually one of I think my scarier, horror/thriller pieces because nothing says horror like having someone stalking you as you leave a blood trail that no one else can see or hear your screams...

This is My Home (Watch Your Step Since You’ve Come Around)

Summary: “All right, Coran,” he gave himself a pep talk. “The princess and the Paladins are in danger. You are their only hope.” Coran paled in the face of his words. Oh Alaraan. He was their only hope. Well then. He straightened. That was that and that meant there was only one possible outcome. He was going to save his team. / The castle is invaded and the Paladins rounded up. Coran though is overlooked and he’s going to take full advantage of it. This is his home and those aliens are going to regret ever stepping foot in it.

My comments: Perhaps not the creeper/horror vibe of many of these BUT it does have a ghost (sort of ;p) and a haunting (sort of) and honestly, the more Coran appreciation this world has the better world it is. 

Thou Shall Not Tell Lies

Summary: The Paladins of Voltron were liars. They were liars who had murdered her family. She would silence them. She would make sure they never told another lie again. And she would start with this one, this one who appeared kind, appeared sweet and nice and honorable and a hero. She knew better. She caressed the needle in her hand as she gazed down at his face, at his lips where the poison spewed. She knew what a liar he was. And when she was done with him everyone else would know too. 

My comments: Did someone ask for a psycho? Nothing says horror like a crazy lady who first poisons our favorite blue boy and then stitches his mouth shut while he’s conscious. Fun, fun, fun :D

Game Over

The rules were simple, the two brothers said. They hunted them, their prey, for points. And they, the prey,… well they died. After they suffered, of course, as the game would be no fun otherwise. But not to worry, the brothers smirked, their games only lasted a few hours. Their pain would be over soon.

Lance has no idea how he’s escaping. He’s defenseless, alone, terrified, and trapped inside the playing field. And now he’s gone and made himself a primary target so both brothers are (literally) gunning for him, the “hero.” He’s got to escape. He has to save everyone. But… but he doesn’t even know how he’s supposed to save himself.

My comments: It’s Hunger Games meets IcyPanther :D This fic is more of a thriller than a horror one, but it’s definitely sure to still make your breath catch and send shivers down your spine because right now someone is watching you...

Make Them BLeEd

Summary: The voice burned inside Lance’s head and sent lightning flowing through his veins, barely audible over the sound of his screams. ‘YoU CaNnoT FiGhT Me, PaLaDiN,’ it chuckled. ‘ThErE Is No UsE ReSiStInG.’

Or; Macidus the Druid is not as dead as they’d thought. And he’s going to use Lance’s body to kill all of Voltron.

My comments: Mind control is bad on any day, but mind control via a revenge-hungry Druid is next level. Resistance is futile, but you’re welcome to try. Maybe you’ll manage to save one of your friends before you kill the rest of them. 

Trick or Treat 

Summary:  Pidge (gently drags) Keith with her to go trick or treating at the Garrison sponsored Halloween event. But what is supposed to be all in good fun takes a dark turn when they realize that someone is following them…

My comments: An actual Halloween fic has arrived! Costumes? Check! Candy? Check! Someone stalking you from the shadows? Chec... hey... wait a second, what? 

Dusky Purple

Summary: With with each cup they forced him to drink, with each passing day, Lance could feel it.

He was changing.

He was changing into a Galran.

My comments: Is there anything more horrifying than non-consensual body modification? It’s the Halloween costume that just keeps on giving.

For the Love of Family

Summary: They said they didn’t want to hurt him. And Lance knew they didn’t, not really. They were doing this out of love, out of hope-fueled despair. But at the end of the day they wanted to use their magic to replace Lance’s mind and change his body to make him become their beloved, deceased younger brother and restore their family while ripping Lance away from his own.

And with a desperate plan like that… everyone involved is going to get hurt.

My comments: It’s not quite ritual sacrifice or anything, but still, being restrained on a bed while people try to turn you into their long-lost dead brother is no picnic. 

Feast

Summary: Lance is well aware he's the weak link on Team Voltron. He knows he's not the brightest. But he's not stupid. And he's always thought that even despite his shortcomings he had not just a place with Voltron, but friends who would look out for him just as he would do for them.

But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. While there's no knife to stab him in the back, the ones his friends wield with their cruel, heartless words cuts just as deep. And by the time Lance realizes that something is wrong, that these people are not his friends, it's too late.

The feast has begun.

My comments: One of the closest things I’ve written in my opinion to an eldritch horror type fic and what I’m calling creep fic #2 on this list. Creepy, child-like aliens that thrive on your fear and use your friends and every thing you’ve ever feared against you with the plan to eat you (or, well, eat your emotions while mutilating your body)? While doing it with a smile and a giggle? Um, waiter? I think I’ve lost my appetite (or, maybe gained a new one for whump!)

Cold Comforts

Summary: Lance’s chapped and bloodied lips curled into a small smile at his visitor, drawing comfort in his arrival. Or, well, as much comfort as a figment of his imagination could be.

My comments: More sad than scary/spooky, but being abandoned and left to die and summoning up ‘ghosts’ of your teammates to keep you company definitely falls into this realm. 

We've Got Each Other 

Summary: Voltron is dispatched to a planet to protect them from a violent group of aliens who, notably, also enjoy eating other sentient aliens. If that wasn't horrific enough, there's the pack of essentially intelligent space coyotes to fight against too and Lance and Hunk find themselves overwhelmed by sheer numbers and snapping teeth and long claws.

And those teeth and claws? They rip Lance apart.

It's now up to Hunk to save Lance from the gruesome wound, the coyotes and, of course, the aliens who are looking at Lance like he's a five-star gourmet dinner.

My comments: If you like the aspects of gore for Halloween you’ll love this. I mean, what’s more gory than first being mauled by a pack of space coyotes and then eaten while still alive and conscious by other sentient beings? If you like all those things AND some Hunk and Lance content, chow down! *licks lips*

The Date of October the Thirty-First

Summary: Lance is feeling a little homesick and the upcoming Halloween holiday, which had always been a full family affair, is making him feel even more so. But to his surprise and delight, Allura is intrigued by his favorite holiday. And with her offer to help him scare the rest of the castle’s inhabitants… Halloween is looking frighteningly fun once more.

My comments: A legit Halloween fic (I know, it’s now one of two on here) that’s more fluffy than frightening and gives you all the warm fuzzies. A good little pick-me-up after reading some of these other ones!

I Feel Safe Now (You Found Me) 

Summary: Lance has been helping ghosts move on for several years now. He, along with his friends Hunk and Pidge, have encountered all sorts of ghosts — from those with unfinished business to those who were lost and needed help finding their way — but this most recent one is something else entirely.

What started off as a haunting involving a child ghost switches when the child, Keith, suddenly transforms into an abused looking teenager and Lance discovers that Keith didn’t just die young.

He was murdered.

My comments: A ghost story most definitely makes this list! Add in the fact the ghost in this story was violently murdered and you’ve got yourself one haunting tale. I had a lot of fun creating this AU world and always love writing Lance being protective of children ♥

Hide and Seek

Summary: Lance is spirited away and buried alive in a horrific game of hide and seek where if the team cannot find him before he runs out of air… it’s game over. --- “We count, we count, we count our dead!” the voices sang. “One thousand and three, one thousand and three! Count then seek, and seek and seek! And if you seek but can’t find what you are looking for... then we count to one thousand and four.”

My comments: Being buried alive while your friends desperately race to find you checks all the boxes for a horrifying fanfiction. Especially when those boxes are actually coffins.

The Best Ghost Story Ever

Summary: Team Voltron introduces the Alteans to the concept of a ‘ghost story’ and now it’s an all out competition as to who can tell the scariest story. But there’s more than just spooks afoot around this campfire…

My comments: I’m not typically a fan of scary stories but this little slice of life fic has all the right shivers and spooks plus a lot of team bonding and oh hey, is that actually a real ghost now?!

The Deadliest of Sins 

Summary: (Police/Detective AU) There’s a serial killer haunting the streets of Garrison City. Detective Lance is assigned to the case, trying to solve the killer’s motive and identity before another victim shows up in a week. He can tell there’s something very personal to the killer about these crime scenes and how each victim is killed, but even Lance has no idea how personal this case is about to become.

My comments: It’s not quite “scary” in the typical vein of Halloween, but it does involve a serial killer who has left some positively gruesome crime scenes behind and it’s up to our team to stop him before he kills again. I loved getting to use some of my own background with the police in this fic and for lovers of mysteries and serial killer documentaries... it’s to die for ;p

You Can't Hide From Me (I'm Coming)

Summary: “Let him go,” Lance’s voice was tight with pain but far stronger than Hunk knew he could have ever managed.

“Go?” Hunk repeated. “We’re playing a game, Lance. And if you refuse to play…”

The knife pressed harder against Hunk’s throat, sending another line of blood dripping.

Hunk’s lips pulled into a smile. “Hurry up and run.”

Lance audibly swallowed.

Backed up.

And ran.

Or; Hunk is possessed by an evil spirit who just wants to play a little game of hide and seek... to the death.

My comments: From the moment I first heard the Hide and Seek / Ding-Dong song I immediately was inspired for a horror fic featuring Hunk and Lance. Seriously, watch and listen to the song; it’s my go-to song to get me ready for Halloween! Regarding the story, this is thriller meets horror meets possession and you can’t hide from this deadly story (or can you?).

If you read the fics please do feel free to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you! Enjoy!

Some members of Steamnation were participating as actors on a one day halloween themed park. And this is how we looked!