Strange things found in the food can be really terrifying. For example, if you find something that doesn't belong in a sandwich, it can make you question the hygiene and what else might be wrong. In some of the Arby's horror stories, people have reported finding odd objects or markings in their food, which is a big part of the scariness.
The unknown noises are quite scary. Like in the story where there are unexplained bangs and clatters from the kitchen area when no one should be making such a racket.
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.
Isolation is also a key element. When characters are alone in a spooky place, like an abandoned asylum in one of the stories. They have no one to turn to, and that makes the situation even more terrifying as the horror unfolds around them.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. When things are not clearly defined, like a strange figure in the fog in some stories from '1001 horror stories', it makes our imagination run wild. We start to create the most terrifying scenarios in our minds.
The scariest element could be the sense of the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange noises or happenings that the characters can't explain. It's that not - knowing what is causing the fear that really gets to you.
The isolation in many of the stories is really scary. Like when a character is alone in an old, abandoned building, cut off from the outside world, and they start to feel like they're being watched by something malevolent. There's also the fear of the supernatural, such as ghosts or demons that defy the laws of nature. This makes the characters, and the readers, feel powerless against them.
The sense of the unknown. In these horror stories, there are often things that can't be easily explained. Like strange voices or figures that seem out of place. It plays on our fear of the unknown and makes the whole experience terrifying. For example, seeing a figure that doesn't belong in the normal 'It's a Small World' setting can send shivers down your spine.
The presence of otherworldly entities in the Jacob's Well horror stories is quite scary. Whether it's a shadowy figure emerging from the well or a witch's face in the water, these supernatural elements create a sense of dread. Also, the isolation of the well's location adds to the fear. If something bad happens there, it's far from help, like when the hiker in the previous story was all alone near the well and had no one to turn to.
The scariest elements often include the unknown and the cosmic horror. Lovecraft's stories often deal with entities that are beyond human comprehension, like the Great Old Ones. Their mere existence challenges our understanding of the universe and our place in it, which is truly terrifying.
The sudden movement of the LPS toys when they're not supposed to be able to move is really scary. It goes against what we know about them as inanimate objects.
The unknown and the supernatural. Take the Black Shuck for instance. A huge, black spectral dog just appearing out of nowhere is terrifying. There's no rational explanation for such a thing, and that's what makes it so spooky in UK horror stories.