Here's another: 'The old doll sat on the shelf. Its eyes followed me. I turned off the light. In the dark, it giggled softly.'
The old house creaked. I heard a whisper. Then a cold hand touched my shoulder.
Well, here's an example. 'The attic was silent. I climbed the ladder, and a cold hand grabbed my ankle.' Also, 'The mirror was fogged. I wiped it, and a face that wasn't mine stared back.' These two - line horror stories create a sense of dread in just a few words. They rely on setting up a spooky situation quickly and leaving the reader to imagine the worst. For instance, in the first one, being trapped in an old house with no way out is a classic horror trope. And in the second, the unknown entity in the attic adds an element of mystery and fear.
I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, but no one was there, yet the knocking continued.
I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, no one was there, but I felt a cold hand on my shoulder.
A memorable one is 'I can't sleep at night because I keep hearing my name being whispered in my ear, but there's no one there.' It gives that feeling of being haunted and makes you shiver at the thought of an unseen presence that knows your name.
One classic opening line could be 'It was a dark and stormy night, and the old house at the end of the lane seemed to beckon me.'
Another one might be 'The old doll in the attic blinked. I'm sure it did.' This simple line creates a sense of unease as dolls are often associated with the uncanny. The idea of an inanimate object like a doll showing signs of life is quite terrifying.
Sure. 'I woke up to a cold hand on my face. I live alone.'
Here's a line: 'The old doll's eyes follow me around the room.' This is scary because dolls are often associated with innocence, but when they seem to have a life of their own and are watching you, it goes against that perception. It creates an uneasiness as if something inanimate is now sentient and has an intent, which is very disturbing.
The mirror showed my reflection smiling. I wasn't smiling. I ran.