Well, 'My phone took a picture of me while I slept. In the photo, there was a figure standing over me.' This is quite scary as it involves the invasion of our private space, especially when we are at our most vulnerable while sleeping. It also adds the mystery of an unknown figure. This makes us wonder what that figure could be and how it got there while we were unaware.
A very disturbing story is 'I looked in the mirror. My face was melting like wax.' This is disturbing because it involves something abnormal and grotesque happening to one's own body. It makes you feel a sense of unease and horror. Another one is 'I heard my mother call my name from the kitchen. My mother has been dead for five years.' This plays on the fear of the supernatural and the unexpected return of the dead, which is a common and highly disturbing horror theme.
One story could be 'I always feel like I'm being watched at night. Then I realized the eyes in my portraits were following me.' It gives that sudden shiver of something abnormal in a familiar setting.
One story could be 'I always sleep with a nightlight. Last night, I woke up to find it off and a cold hand on my wrist.' Another might be 'The old doll in the attic blinked. Now it sits at the foot of my bed.'
One could be 'I woke up to find my reflection smiling back at me, but I wasn't.' It creates an immediate sense of unease as it plays on the idea of something being wrong with one's own reflection, which is often associated with the self. It makes you wonder what has taken over your appearance.
Here's another. 'I woke up to find the world silent. When I looked out the window, all I saw were shoes.' This is scary as the silence implies something is very wrong, and the sight of just shoes is strange and makes you wonder what happened to the people.
Another one could be 'I heard a scratching at the window all night. In the morning, there were deep gouges on the glass and no sign of what made them. The simplicity of two sentences can create a very intense and spooky atmosphere.
Well, in '20 most terrifying horror stories', there could be a story of a small town haunted by an ancient evil. The townspeople start experiencing unexplainable phenomena like animals acting strangely and people disappearing. There might also be a horror story about a group of friends who go camping in a forest that has a dark history. They encounter something that hunts them down one by one. Additionally, a story about a possessed doll that seems to have a life of its own and causes chaos in a family's home is also a possibility.
The phone rang at 3 am. When I answered, all I heard was heavy breathing and then it said my name.
One could be 'I heard a knock at the door in the middle of the night. When I opened it, no one was there but I felt a cold hand on my shoulder.'
Their brevity. They quickly set a spooky mood without over - explaining. For example, 'She found a photo of herself sleeping. She lives alone.' It gives just enough information to make your mind race with questions and fears.