3,932 words (16–20 minutes)
Genre(s): Gothic horror, psychological thriller
First published in The Saturday Evening Post, August 19, 1843

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In The Black Cat, Edgar Allan Poe spins a chilling tale of guilt, madness, and supernatural vengeance. A once-loving man descends into alcoholism and violence, committing heinous acts that unravel his sanity. When he meets a strange feline resembling the one he wronged, paranoia consumes him, culminating in a ghastly confession. Exploring themes of perversity, moral decay, and the dark duality within us all, this psychological horror lingers long after the final scream.