Well, a common scary story is the werewolf. People believe that during a full moon, a person can transform into a half - man, half - wolf creature and go on a rampage. Also, the story of the vampire is quite common. Vampires are said to be undead beings that drink the blood of the living to survive. They sleep in coffins during the day and come out at night. There's also the creepy doll story. Some old dolls are said to be possessed and can move on their own or cause misfortune to those around them.
The Hookman is a common scary story. It's about a man with a hook instead of a hand who haunts lovers parked in remote areas. There's the Slenderman too. He is a tall, thin, faceless figure often associated with forests and abducting children. And the story of the phantom hitchhiker is also well - known. It tells of a hitchhiker who mysteriously disappears from the car after being picked up, only to be found later to be a ghost.
One common scary story is the Bloody Mary. Legend has it that if you stand in a dark bathroom, in front of a mirror, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times, a ghostly figure will appear. Another is the story of the Headless Horseman. It's about a horseman without a head who rides through the night, often chasing people. And then there's the story of the haunted house, where people claim to hear strange noises, see apparitions, and experience cold spots in a particular old, dilapidated house.
One common ending is that the protagonist discovers it was all a dream. For example, in many horror tales where the character has been through terrifying events like being chased by a monster, only to wake up safe in their bed. Another ending could be that the evil entity is defeated at the last moment. This often involves the hero finding a weakness of the monster and using it to their advantage. A third type of ending is the tragic one, where the main character succumbs to the horror, perhaps being killed or driven insane by the events they have endured.
Ghosts are a very common scary element. They often represent the unknown and the afterlife. Another is the idea of being trapped, whether it's in a small, dark space or in a situation from which there seems to be no escape. Monsters are also common, like vampires or werewolves that have the power to harm and kill.
Monsters are a typical idea in scary stories. They can be in various forms, such as vampires, werewolves, or some unknown and grotesque creatures. Their inhumane and often blood - thirsty nature scares people. Then there's the idea of the unknown. When something strange is happening but there's no clear explanation, like strange noises at night with no source. It makes the readers or listeners feel on edge.
A metaphor could be 'the storm as a wrathful god'. In scary stories, a violent storm might be used to show that some powerful and angry force is about to descend upon the characters. For example, it could be a sign of an approaching evil. 'The mirror as a gateway to another world' is also used. Mirrors often have an air of mystery in horror, as if they could be portals to places full of danger. And 'the cellar as a dungeon of nightmares'. Cellars are often dark, damp and full of unknown things in scary tales, much like a dungeon where nightmares lurk.
One common idea is the presence of ghosts. Ghosts are often used to create a sense of fear as they are usually associated with the unknown and the afterlife. They can appear suddenly and do things that are unexplainable.
Some common verbs are 'creep', as in 'The shadow crept along the wall'. 'Haunt' like 'The old house haunted by a ghost'. And 'stalk', for example 'The unknown creature stalked its prey in the dark forest'.
Well, there are stories like the disappearing teacher. In this story, a teacher suddenly vanished during a class one day. The students were left alone in the room, and ever since then, some students say they can still hear the teacher's voice during that particular class time. Also, there's the story of the school library ghost. Supposedly, a librarian who was very attached to the library passed away, and now her spirit haunts the aisles. If you're in there alone, you might find books falling off the shelves by themselves.
Well, isolation can be a theme. When a character is alone, perhaps in a big, empty house or a desolate forest, it adds to the scariness. Psychological horror is also a theme, where the mind plays tricks on the characters. For example, in some stories, the main character starts to doubt their own sanity. And then there's the theme of the cursed or haunted place, like an old, abandoned asylum.
Well, in many scary stories, there's the 'possession spell'. This spell allows an evil spirit to take over a person's body. It usually involves some kind of incantation and dark artifacts. Also, the 'death - mark spell' is quite prevalent. A symbol is placed on the victim, and it slowly drains their life force until they die a horrible death. And don't forget the 'phantom - calling spell' which summons malevolent ghosts.
Scary stories often have elements like creepy settings, mysterious characters, and unexpected plot twists.