THE BELIEVER'S PUNISHMENT: HOLIDAY HORRORS SHORT STORY SERIES

by Patti Petrone Miller

Welcome to Holiday Horrors, a multi-author collection of standalone thriller and horror short stories. In this series, you'll question whether Christmas is about Santa's Sleigh... or Santa's Slay. What holiday nightmares keep you up at night?

When Christmas Hope Dies, Something Evil Awakens Holiday Horror Story

Danny Morrison returns home for what may be his mother's last Christmas, carrying the weight of divorce papers and a heart hardened by loss. His father has abandoned the family, his marriage has crumbled, and his faith in miracles died long ago. But when cynicism replaces wonder, when hope transforms into despair, something ancient stirs in the darkness—a supernatural predator that feeds on broken dreams and shattered beliefs.

On Christmas Eve, as snow blankets their childhood home, Danny discovers that losing faith has consequences beyond heartbreak. His despair has opened a door that should have stayed closed, summoning a creature from the shadows between belief and emptiness. Now this thing of winter darkness offers him a terrible surrender his capacity for hope forever, and never feel disappointment again.

But some promises are worth the pain of keeping them. Some lights are worth fighting for, even in the deepest darkness.

A psychological Christmas horror story about family, loss, and the courage to believe in good things when everything seems broken. Perfect for fans of supernatural horror, holiday fiction, and stories that explore the thin line between hope and despair.

Make sure you check out all of the Holiday Horrors Collection!

53 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is 50 pages and at least 80% of it is just the same lines rewritten over and over.

[Crystal O · Rating 5 out of 5]

when a man loses all hope in life due to a failed marriage, dying mother, and a father who left, he invites a creature into his home and is left with a decision to be made. A very short novel but worth every question we ask ourselves. well written and a page turner! #holidayhorrors

[Rachel Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Believer’s Punishment” by Patti Petrone Miller is a beautifully chilling blend of supernatural horror and raw emotion. Miller weaves love, grief, and the fragile line between hope and despair into a gripping tale. The haunting elements amplify the emotional weight, creating a story that feels both eerie and deeply human. A powerful, unsettling read that hits straight at the heart.

[Whitney Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had a lot going for it. It had some substance to it and a decent message, and had a few genuinely chilling moments.

I think it would have been better if it had been a little more tightly edited at the end. There was quite a bit of repetition at the end regarding the message, and it started to feel a bit heavy handed.

It’s also hard for me to find a story concerning hope in the face of despair to be entirely satisfying when it doesn’t include God. Having faced my own bouts of hopelessness many times, I am intimately familiar with the struggle to find reasons to hope, and they’re all empty without God. However, without that ultimate answer, this story did the best it could, and had good things to say.

[Laura Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I didn't find this book particularly horrifying in the traditional sense like some of the other books in the Holiday Horrors Short Story collection.

Danny is a man who returns home for the holidays with his life in shambles. He's going through divorce, his mom is ill, and his dad abandoned them.

The monster that revisits Danny throughout the book is one of depression, one that would take away any sense of hope so that he would never have to be let down again.

It was an interesting take on a horror book, and we were reminded many times what hope truly means for our lives.

[Karm Barter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depression. Is it mine or Danny’s? Lots of emotion in this one.

[Caitlyn Daviau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good short and had a nice message and plot to it

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has a nice message about the power of belief. It has a good mix of morality and creep factor. Just how much belief do you have to have to avoid punishment?

[Lari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good short story. It did give you a scare but ended well. I would recommend.

[Tracy Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Can’t say why, heartwarming 😳?