Describe the first time you see the haunted house. 'As I rounded the corner, the old, decrepit house loomed before me. Its broken windows were like empty eye sockets, and the overgrown ivy seemed to be strangling the walls. I knew then that this place was full of secrets and terrors waiting to be unleashed.'
You could start by describing a creepy old mansion standing alone in the middle of a dark forest. Set the mood with the eerie silence and the strange noises coming from within.
There was a haunted house that no one dared to approach. It stood there, all gloomy and silent. A group of friends, thinking they were brave, decided to spend a night there. As soon as they stepped in, they felt a sense of dread. The lights flickered on and off. In the attic, they heard heavy footsteps. One of them saw a handprint on the dusty wall that wasn't there before. Then, a cold wind blew through the house, carrying with it the faint sound of a crying child. Terrified, they fled the house as fast as they could, leaving behind their camping gear.
There was this old, dilapidated house at the end of a dead - end street. It had been empty for years. One day, a family moved in, ignoring the rumors of it being haunted. That first night, they heard strange scratching noises coming from the walls. The mother went to check, but when she put her ear to the wall, she heard a faint voice saying 'Get out'. Later, in the middle of the night, the children saw a shadowy figure moving in the hallway. The figure seemed to float, and its eyes glowed red. The family was so terrified that they fled the house at dawn and never returned.
In the haunted house story, perhaps the house was once an asylum. The main character, a journalist, decides to spend the night there for a story. As soon as it gets dark, they start to feel a sense of dread. The lights flicker and they hear screams echoing through the halls. They then discover old patient records that reveal a doctor who went mad and killed many patients. The journalist soon realizes that the doctor's spirit still haunts the place and is now after them.
Start with a strange sound or noise. For example, 'A low, guttural moan echoed through the empty hallway. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to figure out where it was coming from. This was how my nightmare began.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what's causing the noise.
A good start could be to set the mood immediately. 'The night was pitch - black as I approached the so - called haunted house. Every step I took on the gravel path sent shivers down my spine. There was an eerie silence, broken only by the creaking of the old gate as I pushed it open.'
You could start with the idea that the house has a dark history, like it was once a place of torture. The walls could ooze blood or strange noises come from the attic. There might be hidden rooms where the most terrifying things happen.
First, set a creepy atmosphere. Use descriptions of the old and dilapidated house, strange noises, and flickering lights. Also, build suspense gradually by hinting at unknown horrors. Make the characters' fear palpable.
A good title could be 'The Haunted House: A Terrifying Abode'.
Set the scene in a spooky place like an old, abandoned house at midnight. Just describe the creaking floorboards, the cold drafts, and the peeling wallpaper. It immediately gives a sense of unease.