One way is to add some spooky sounds in the background. For example, a low, continuous moan or a creaking sound like an old door opening slowly. Another way is to describe the environment in more detail, like a dark and cold room with strange shadows on the wall. Also, making the only child's situation more desperate, such as being lost in a big, empty house with no way out can make it more terrifying.
To make 'ust scary stories' more terrifying, use vivid descriptions. For example, instead of just saying 'it was a dark room', say 'the room was pitch - black, like a void that seemed to swallow all light, and the air was thick with a musty smell that made it hard to breathe'. Another way is to add unexpected twists. Just when the reader thinks the character is safe, something even more horrifying happens.
Use vivid descriptions. For example, when describing the snarling sound, say it's like 'a thousand demons fighting over a single soul, a guttural, rasping snarl that cuts through the air like a knife'. Also, build suspense. Instead of revealing the source of the snarling right away, let the reader or listener wonder. Make the setting really spooky, like a fog - covered moor or a dark, damp cellar.
One way is to make it completely isolated. If it's in the middle of a dark forest or on a desolate moor, it'll be scarier. Also, add lots of cobwebs and broken furniture.
For the haunted house theme, make the house seem alive. Have the walls ooze blood or the floorboards creak in a way that seems like they're trying to trap the characters. With the vengeful spirit, give it the ability to possess people and make them do things against their will. For the lost soul theme, make it so the soul is constantly changing forms, never looking the same twice.
Use vivid descriptions. For example, instead of just saying 'there was a shadow,' say 'a long, inky-black shadow slithered across the wall like a serpent, its edges blurry and indistinct, as if made of pure darkness.' Also, build suspense. Don't reveal the source of the fear right away. Let the reader or listener wonder what's going on.
Use vivid descriptions. For example, describe the lady's increasing panic as she hears strange sounds in the dark room. Her heart pounding, her breath coming in short gasps. Also, make the ghost's appearance really eerie, like it has a distorted face or glowing eyes.
Adding a sense of isolation can make it more terrifying. For example, if the home is located far away from other houses or in a desolate area. The characters can't easily get help or escape if something goes wrong.
Add more vivid details. For example, if it's a haunted house story, describe the creaking floors in detail, like 'The floorboards groaned under my feet as if they were alive and in pain.' Also, use strong adjectives such as 'eerie', 'ghastly', and 'macabre'.
To make a 'one paragraph scary story' more terrifying, first, introduce an element of the unknown. Don't be too quick to explain what the scary thing is. Let the reader's imagination run wild. Second, create a sense of isolation. If the character is in a big, empty place or cut off from the outside world, it adds to the fear. For instance, a person stuck in an abandoned mine shaft deep underground. Third, build up the tension gradually. Start with a small, slightly off - putting detail and then keep adding more and more disturbing elements until it reaches a crescendo at the end of the paragraph.
Use vivid and detailed descriptions. For example, instead of just saying 'a dark figure', say 'a tall, lanky figure with long, bony fingers and a face hidden in shadow'. This makes the reader picture it more clearly in their mind, which is scarier. Also, build up the suspense slowly. Don't reveal the horror all at once.