I think 'lonely' and 'forgotten' are very effective. You could start like this: 'In the lonely graveyard, a forgotten tombstone stood. As I approached it, a cold wind blew.' It creates a spooky atmosphere right from the start. There's an air of isolation and the unknown which is very scary.
Effective 'scary 4 word stories' often play on common fears. 'Alone in the woods.' Most people are a bit afraid of being alone in a secluded place like the woods. There could be wild animals, or something more sinister. It quickly taps into that primal fear. Also, using strong and evocative words is key. Words like 'darkness', 'evil', 'haunt' can enhance the scariness even in just four words. For instance, 'Evil lurks here.' It immediately gives a sense of dread.
First, pick out some really spooky words from the word bank like 'haunted', 'ghostly', 'eerie'. Then, start with a setting that gives a sense of unease. For example, 'In the old, haunted mansion at the edge of town...'. Next, introduce a character who stumbles into this creepy place. Build up the tension by using more words from the word bank as the story progresses. Don't rush the scares, let them unfold gradually.
You could start with 'Cursed', 'Malevolent', or 'Dread'. 'Cursed' immediately implies that there is something wrong, something that has been doomed. 'Malevolent' sets the tone for an evil presence. 'Dread' is a feeling that can draw the reader in, making them wonder what is causing this sense of impending doom from the very start of the story.
To create an effective scary three - word story, think about what scares people the most. Is it the unknown? Then you could do 'Blackout, alone, noise'. The blackout creates darkness and uncertainty, being alone adds to the fear, and the noise makes you wonder what it could be. You can also play on common fears such as claustrophobia with 'Trapped, box, panic'. Or use elements from horror stories like 'Vampire, bite, drain'.
Use the words to set the mood. For example, if 'foggy' is in the list, start with 'The foggy night made it hard to see.'. Then add a character like 'A lone man was walking'. And introduce something scary using another word like 'dread'. 'He felt a sense of dread as he walked.'.
The element of the unknown makes a scary story effective. When the reader or listener doesn't know what's going to happen next, it creates a sense of unease and anticipation. For example, in a story where a character is walking alone in a dark forest and hears strange noises but can't see the source, that mystery is what scares us.
One factor is the atmosphere. A dark, gloomy and tense atmosphere can immediately put the reader on edge. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', Poe uses descriptions of the old man's room at night and the slow, stealthy movements of the narrator to create a sense of dread. Another is the element of the unknown. When the reader doesn't know what's going to happen next or what the true nature of the horror is, it's much scarier. Like in 'The Call of Cthulhu', the vast and incomprehensible nature of the cosmic horror is what makes it so effective.
A good hook for a scary story might be 'She opened the attic door, not knowing that the moment she stepped inside, she would be plunged into a nightmare world. The air was thick with a musty smell and an unidentifiable sense of foreboding. As her foot touched the dusty floorboards, she heard a soft whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.'
Beginning with a mysterious character can be effective too. 'There was a man in a long, black coat who always seemed to be lurking in the shadows. No one knew his name or where he came from. His eyes were cold and empty, and whenever he passed by, an icy chill filled the air.'
Relatable characters. If the characters in the story are like normal people we can identify with, when they get scared by something that's not really that scary in the end, it's funny. For instance, a person who is always so brave but jumps at the sight of a balloon popping in a spooky - looking place. The contrast between their expected and actual reactions is humorous. And also, the build - up of suspense is important. You gradually make the situation seem more and more terrifying until the big reveal that it's not so bad, like when you describe a shadowy figure approaching slowly and then it's just a lost dog.