He finally managed to close the portal to the underworld. But as he took a deep breath, a small, black shadow slithered under the door. It was a sign that something had made it through. This ending creates a sense of unease because it gives the impression that despite the protagonist's efforts, the horror is still present and lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
As the sun peeked through the clouds, it seemed like the end of the horror. But the mark on his wrist, a sign of the demon's touch, started to burn. It was a reminder that evil never sleeps.
The girl ran and ran until she reached the safety of the town. However, every face she passed had the same hollow eyes as the ghosts she had fled from. The horror had seeped into the world around her. She realized that there was no true escape. In horror stories, the line between the supernatural and the real world is often blurred, and this ending shows that the horror doesn't have to be in a spooky old house or a dark forest. It can be right in the midst of normalcy. This makes the horror more relatable and terrifying because it could happen to anyone, anywhere.
The element of surprise. In just two sentences, it has to shock the reader. For example, 'I looked in the mirror. My reflection smiled and then reached out to me.' It catches you off - guard.
You can end it with a powerful image. Say, a lone figure standing on a cliff as the sun sets, which can symbolize many things like new beginnings or solitude. It allows the reader to interpret it in their own way and gives a sense of finality.
End it with a time - jump. Show how the events of the ghost story have affected the main character in the long run. Maybe years later, they still get a shiver down their spine when they think about it, but they have also learned to live with the memory. It gives a sense of how deeply the ghost story has impacted them.
The brevity. It gives just enough to let your imagination run wild. For example, 'I saw a figure in the corner. It vanished when I blinked.' You immediately start picturing all kinds of terrifying things about that figure.
Their brevity. They quickly create a sense of unease. For example, 'I woke up to a cold hand on my shoulder. The room was empty.' It gives just enough to let your mind fill in the blanks and scare itself.
They create suspense quickly. For example, 'The phone rang. No one was there.' It's so brief but makes you wonder what's going on right away.
Effective horror reading stories often have an element of the unknown. In 'The Exorcist', the concept of demonic possession is something we can't fully understand. The use of vivid descriptions is also important. Take 'Pet Sematary', the detailed descriptions of the cemetery and what happens there are really disturbing. And a sense of dread that lingers throughout the story, like in 'Rosemary's Baby'.
The atmosphere is crucial. For example, in 'Another', the dim lighting, the old school building setting, and the sense of something being wrong all the time create a great horror atmosphere. Sound also plays a big role. Creaking doors, strange whispers, and sudden loud noises can send shivers down your spine.
The ability to evoke strong emotions. A moral horror story should make the reader or listener feel something deeply. For instance, if it's about betrayal, it should make you feel the pain of being betrayed and the horror of being the one who betrays. This emotional connection is crucial. It can also use vivid descriptions. Like in a story about the immorality of pollution, it could describe a once - beautiful land now turned into a desolate, polluted wasteland. This visual and detailed description makes the moral horror story more effective.
A good horror mystery story needs a sense of the unknown. If the reader can't predict what will happen next, it creates suspense. For example, in 'The Woman in Black', the ghostly apparitions are unpredictable. Also, strong characters are important. Their reactions to the horror and mystery situations draw the reader in. In 'The Silence of the Lambs', Clarice Starling's character is crucial.