The element of the unexpected. Like in the apartment story, the person didn't expect to see a figure out of the corner of their eye. And when they found out it was an optical illusion, it still left a sense of unease because it was so unexpected and played with their perception.
The unknown is a big one. For example, in the story of the strange whispers, not knowing what was making the sound immediately created fear. It's that sense of something being there but not being able to see it clearly.
Isolation also plays a role. When the person was in the forest alone and thought they were being followed, the fact that there was no one around to help made it scarier. The feeling of being completely on your own in a potentially dangerous situation is terrifying.
Isolation also plays a role. When you're alone, like when I was camping and saw those glowing eyes, you feel more vulnerable. There's no one around to help you, and your mind starts to play tricks on you. You imagine all sorts of horrible things that could happen. Another element is the setting. An old, abandoned place like the house I went into as a kid has an eerie atmosphere that adds to the scariness. It's full of mystery and decay, and it just gives off a feeling that something bad is going to happen.
The sense of being watched. In the forest story, the hikers feeling like the trees were alive and watching them added a lot of terror. Also, in the doll story, the girl feeling like the doll was somehow aware and watching her even at night was terrifying.
The unknown is a big factor. For example, in my camping story, not knowing what was making those rustling sounds and having only a glimpse of the glowing eyes was terrifying. It's the fear of the unseen.
I think the betrayal aspect in some of the stories is terrifying. There are fairies who seem friendly at first but then turn on the human characters. For instance, a fairy might offer to help a lost traveler but then lead them into a dangerous trap instead. It makes you question who can be trusted in these fairy - filled worlds.
Their strength. Crocodiles are incredibly strong. When they get hold of something or someone in a story, it seems almost impossible to escape. In stories where a crocodile attacks a boat or an animal, they can easily drag it into the water, and this power is very terrifying. Like when a crocodile latches onto a large buffalo and pulls it under in a matter of seconds.
The unknown is a very terrifying element. In these stories, there are often things that are not clearly explained, like strange noises or shadowy figures. It makes the readers' imaginations run wild and creates fear.
Another scary element is the use of familiar Christmas settings like the Christmas tree or the fireplace. When these normal, cozy places become haunted or the source of something evil, it makes the horror more immediate. For instance, a Christmas tree that comes alive and attacks people in the middle of the night is really frightening because it's such an unexpected and disturbing twist in a familiar environment.
The unknown is often the most terrifying. In these stories, like in the story of the abandoned mine, not knowing what lurks in the dark corners. Is it a monster? A ghost? Or something even more sinister? That uncertainty sends shivers down your spine.
The size of the yeti is often terrifying. It's described as much larger than a human, which makes it seem like an unstoppable force. For example, in many stories, it can easily overpower a person without much effort.
The most terrifying element is often the unknown. In many stories in Scary Club Stories, things happen without explanation. For example, a character might suddenly feel a cold hand on their shoulder, but there's no one there. It's that sense of not knowing what's causing these strange occurrences that sends chills down your spine.