The immortality of vampires can be quite terrifying. They can live forever, haunting the night and always being a threat. In Halloween stories, they keep coming back year after year, no matter how many times they are defeated. For example, in many tales, they rise from their graves on Halloween, as if death has no hold on them.
The way vampires can manipulate people is also a terrifying element. They can charm their victims, making them willing to go with the vampire without a fight. In some stories, a vampire will use this charm to lure a person into a dark alley or an abandoned place on Halloween night, where no one can hear their screams.
Ghosts are often a terrifying element. Their ethereal presence and the fact that they can appear and disappear suddenly can send shivers down your spine. For example, a ghostly figure floating through a wall in an old mansion.
The most terrifying element is often the unknown. In these stories, things that lurk in the dark and can't be easily seen or explained are really scary. For example, in the haunted house stories, it's the unseen force that grabs someone. It could be a ghost or some other supernatural entity, but not knowing exactly what it is makes it scarier.
The fangs are one of the most terrifying elements. They are the tools that vampires use to pierce the skin and suck blood, which is a very visceral and gory image. Also, their superhuman strength can be really scary as they can overpower their victims easily. For example, in many stories, a vampire can break through doors or hold a person down effortlessly.
Another terrifying element is the feeling of being trapped. Like in the stories where the doors slam shut or the characters get lost in the maze - like hallways of the haunted house. It gives a sense of helplessness. Also, the presence of supernatural beings such as ghosts, witches, or demons is really scary. Their appearance, often accompanied by cold spots, strange lights, or unearthly sounds, makes the whole situation seem very real and terrifying.
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.
One truly scary Halloween story is about a haunted house. A family moved in on Halloween eve. That night, they heard strange scratching noises coming from the attic. When they went to check, the door slammed shut behind them. In the dark, they felt cold hands on their necks. They managed to break out and never went back.
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.