Perhaps the scariest is the story of a lone traveler who was crossing the bridge during a foggy day. Out of the fog, a pair of glowing eyes seemed to be staring at him. He froze in fear. As the fog cleared a bit, he thought he saw a large, dark shape but it vanished before he could fully make it out. This left him with a sense of dread that he couldn't shake off for days.
There is a story where a group of friends were on the Gatlinberg suspension bridge. One of them took a photo. When they looked at the photo later, there was a strange, distorted face in the background that none of them had noticed while on the bridge. It was as if some otherworldly entity had been there with them. They all got really spooked and started to believe that the bridge was haunted.
A man was walking across the Gatlinberg suspension bridge when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. But every time he turned around, there was no one there. The footsteps continued, getting closer and closer. He started to run, but it felt like something was chasing him. When he finally reached the end of the bridge, he looked back and still saw nothing, but he was sure that there was something strange and menacing on that bridge.
One horror story is about a hiker who was crossing the Gatlinberg suspension bridge at dusk. As he was in the middle of the bridge, he heard strange whispers. When he looked around, he couldn't see anyone. But the whispers grew louder and seemed to be coming from beneath the bridge. He quickly ran to the end of the bridge, feeling a cold chill all over.
One horror story is about people feeling an unexplained presence while crossing the bridge at night. They described a sudden coldness and a feeling of being watched. Some even claimed to hear strange whispers in the wind.
There's a story about a couple who were walking across the bridge late one evening. As they were in the middle of the bridge, they both suddenly felt a strong push, as if someone or something was trying to knock them off. But when they looked around, there was no one there. They quickly ran to the end of the bridge, shaken and scared.
The isolation of bridges can be a really scary element. Most bridges are in places away from the hustle and bustle, like over deep valleys or in remote areas. So when something strange happens there, it feels like you're all alone with the unknown. For example, in the story of the bridge in the forest, the hikers were far from any help.
One of the scariest elements is the idea of the bridge being a threshold between worlds. In many bridge scary stories, it's as if the bridge connects our normal world to a world of the supernatural. You might cross it and enter a realm of ghosts or otherworldly beings. And the fear of not being able to return to the normal world once you've crossed that threshold is truly frightening.
Sure, some modern Chinese novels might touch on the suspension bridge effect. This psychological concept can add an interesting layer to the plot, especially in stories about love and relationships. In a novel, characters might experience a sudden and intense emotion during a dangerous or exciting situation like being on a suspension bridge, and this could be a turning point in their relationship. But it's not a common theme that is blatantly obvious in every Chinese novel.
Perhaps there is a tale of an old witch who used to live near the 3rd bridge. She was said to cast curses on those who crossed the bridge without her permission. Many years later, people still report feeling a strange unease when they cross the bridge, as if her malevolent presence still lingers.
In Chinese novels, the suspension bridge effect can play out in various ways. For instance, when characters are in a dangerous situation on a suspension bridge, like during a storm or a battle near it, their heightened emotions can lead them to misinterpret their feelings. A hero might think he has a special connection with a female character he saves on the bridge due to the adrenaline and fear, which is a manifestation of the effect.
One horror story could be about a strong windstorm while driving across the Mackinac Bridge. People might have felt like their cars were being tossed around. It was a terrifying experience as they struggled to keep control on the narrow lanes with the powerful winds buffeting them from all sides.
The unknown is the scariest. In 'as is horror stories', things are often left in their natural state, so you don't really know what's lurking in the shadows or what's causing those strange noises. It's that sense of not having all the answers that makes it terrifying.