Short Horror Stories: The Hand-Shaking Nightmare

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled like a pack of hungry wolves, and the rain lashed against the windows. I was walking home alone, my mind filled with the eerie sounds of the night. As I turned the corner, I saw a figure standing in the shadows. It was a man, tall and thin, with a face that seemed to be carved out of stone. He reached out his hand and said, “Shake hands, and I’ll show you something.” Foolishly, I took his hand. In that moment, I felt a cold, icy chill run through my body. The world around me began to spin, and I saw visions of darkness and despair. When I finally broke free, the man was gone, but I could still feel the cold grip of his hand on mine. From that night on, I was never able to shake hands again without feeling the ghostly touch of that stranger.