A sudden power outage in a big, isolated building. Everyone inside is plunged into darkness. There are strange scratching noises on the walls, and people start to disappear one by one. The remaining characters huddle together, but they don't know what's out there in the dark waiting for them.
A sudden and unexplained disappearance can start a horror story well. 'When I woke up, my sister was gone. Her bed was empty, and there was no sign of her in the house. Only her favorite doll, with its eyes that seemed to follow me, was left.'
How about an adventure based on a time - travel concept? The main character accidentally activates a time - traveling device and is sent to a different era, like the Middle Ages or the prehistoric age. In the Middle Ages, they might get involved in a quest for a powerful sword that can change the course of history. In the prehistoric age, they have to survive among dinosaurs and deal with primitive tribes.
Another way is to begin with a false alibi. For example, a suspect claims to have been at a party all night when a crime occurred, but there are little details that don't add up. The main character, perhaps a detective, starts to dig deeper into this alibi. This setup draws the reader in as they want to know if the suspect is really guilty and how the truth will be uncovered.
What about 'The Dark Abyss'? It gives the image of a bottomless, dark place where unknown terrors lurk. It could be the setting for a horror story where the characters are lost in this abyss and face all kinds of horrors, from strange creatures to their own inner demons.
Start with a sense of foreboding. For instance, 'All day, a dark cloud had hung over the town, and as night fell, the feeling of impending doom grew stronger.'
You can start with a unique sound. 'The screech of the brakes echoed through the silent night, and then there was only darkness.' This sound hooks the reader's attention and makes them wonder what happened. Another hook could be a strange object. 'The small, golden key with strange symbols engraved on it was the only clue.' It creates intrigue about the key and where it might lead. Also, a curious situation like 'All the animals in the zoo were acting strangely today, as if they knew something the humans didn't.' This makes the reader want to know what the animals know and why they're acting that way.
A story about a detective who is trying to solve a series of mysterious disappearances in a big city. There are no obvious clues, and the victims seem to have no connection at first. But as the detective digs deeper, they start to uncover a dark conspiracy that involves powerful people in the city.
You can start with a prophecy or a curse. 'The old woman's words echoed in his mind. 'You will see the face of death before the moon is full.' He had laughed it off at first, but now, as the moon grew fatter in the sky, strange things began to happen around him.' This immediately plants a sense of dread and anticipation in the reader's mind. They will be curious to see how the prophecy unfolds and what the face of death might be.
One word is 'bleak'. A bleak setting in a horror story can be a desolate landscape or a rundown building, giving a feeling of hopelessness. 'Grim' is also good. It gives the idea of something harsh and unforgiving, like a grim reaper - like figure. 'Ominous' is a classic. It makes the reader anticipate something bad. For example, an ominous cloud or an ominous silence.
A witch's curse. Maybe a family is cursed by a witch from centuries ago. Every generation experiences a strange illness or misfortune. For example, the children might have nightmares that seem all too real and start seeing a dark figure in their rooms at night.