Maybe a story where a digital camera shows a person's face changing into a demon - like form in a series of photos. You know the person was normal when the pictures were taken, but in the photos, they look completely different and evil. This could be due to some sort of curse or supernatural influence on the camera.
A digital camera that reveals a hidden world of ghosts and monsters every time it's used in a particular location. For example, in an old, dilapidated mansion. Each photo shows more and more terrifying creatures, as if the camera is a window into a world that we're not supposed to see. It makes you wonder what else might be lurking there that the camera hasn't shown yet.
It could be about a digital camera that captures something it shouldn't. Maybe it takes pictures of ghosts or other supernatural entities. For example, every time the owner takes a photo at a certain old house, strange figures appear in the pictures that no one can explain.
In some versions, the end might involve the camera being locked away in a safe place. The character decides that they can't destroy it because they are afraid of what might happen if they do, but they also don't want to keep using it. So they put it in a box, seal it, and hide it in a basement or attic, hoping that the camera's strange powers will be contained forever.
Once, I took a photo with my digital camera in an old, abandoned house. When I looked at the picture later, there was a strange figure in the corner that I didn't see when I took the shot. It was really scary.
The most terrifying aspect could be the mystery that the scarf represents. It might be hiding a disfigured face or some other grotesque feature. For example, in a story, the woman's scarf could be covering a gaping wound that she got from a tragic accident or a self - inflicted injury in a moment of madness.
Maybe the little girl discovers that her foster parents are not what they seem. At night, they lock her in her room and she can hear strange chanting coming from downstairs. When she tries to peek through the keyhole, she sees them performing a ritual around a pentagram drawn on the floor. She realizes that they are planning to use her as a sacrifice in some sort of dark magic ritual, which is extremely terrifying.
Imagine being alone in the vastness of space and seeing an unidentified object approaching rapidly. There are so many unknowns out there. It could be a piece of debris, but what if it's something else? The feeling of helplessness would be overwhelming.
A really terrifying 2021 story was about a derelict asylum. Explorers went inside and heard screams that seemed to be from the past. They saw old hospital beds moving on their own and felt a cold presence. They also found strange markings on the walls that seemed to be some kind of ritualistic symbols.
One scary security camera story could be about a family who installed a security camera in their old, creepy house. One night, they checked the footage the next day and saw a shadowy figure moving slowly down the hallway. It had no distinct features but seemed to be floating. They were so terrified that they called the police. But when the police arrived and searched the house, there was no sign of anyone breaking in or any explanation for the figure on the camera.
For the story about the cursed amulet, the most terrifying part is probably when Liam started to feel that the shadowy figure in his nightmares was starting to cross over into his real life. He would see a dark shape out of the corner of his eye during the day, and he knew that it was related to the amulet. This blurring of the line between the dream world and reality is extremely frightening as it means that the source of his fear is not just confined to his sleep but is starting to invade his waking hours.
The viper's sudden appearance can be really terrifying. For example, when it emerges from the shadows or bushes without any warning, like in a forest where a person is least expecting it. Also, its venomous nature. Just the thought that one bite can cause serious harm or even death is scary.