The sense of helplessness. When the characters in a horror story can't escape or fight back against the horror element, it's really scary. Like in a story where a person is trapped in a haunted place with no way out and is being hunted by an unseen entity. It makes the reader or listener feel the same sense of dread and powerlessness. Also, the use of vivid and disturbing descriptions, such as grotesque monsters or gory scenes, can add to the horror.
The psychological aspect plays a huge role. A very very horror story often plays with our deepest fears, like the fear of death, the fear of the dark, or the fear of being alone. It makes us question our own safety and sanity. For instance, a story about a person slowly losing their mind in a desolate place where strange things keep happening. It creeps into our minds and makes us shiver because we can imagine ourselves in that situation.
One factor is the unknown. In a very horror story, often there are elements that are not fully explained or understood. For example, in a haunted house story, the source of the hauntings might be left mysterious. This makes our imagination run wild, and we tend to fear the unknown more than the known.
The unexpected twists. In these stories, you might think it's going one way and then suddenly something completely different and horrifying happens. Like a character thinking they're safe in a locked room but then a hand reaches through the wall. It plays on our sense of security and shatters it.
The sense of being watched. When a character in a ghost story feels like there are eyes on them, but they can't see anything, it creates a lot of tension. Also, the idea of something being out of place, like a cold spot in a warm room. It gives the feeling that there is an otherworldly presence. Ghost stories often play on our basic fears of the dark and the afterlife, making them very terrifying.
The unknown factor. In very very scary ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost will do. It could appear suddenly, touch you, or just give you a feeling of being watched. This lack of control and knowledge is what scares us.
The sense of helplessness is a big factor. In these stories, like in a haunted house scenario, the characters are usually trapped in some way. They can't easily escape the presence of the ghost. Also, the atmosphere created, like dim lighting, cold drafts, and eerie silence broken by sudden noises, all contribute to making the story terrifying. And the idea that the ghost might have some malevolent intent towards the living, that's really scary.
The unknown. In a very scary ghost story, it's often the things that we don't understand or can't see clearly that are the scariest. For example, a strange noise in the middle of the night, or a shadow that moves when there's no one there.
The unknown elements make very scary Halloween stories so terrifying. For example, in stories about ghosts, we don't really know what they are or what they can do. Their formless existence and ability to appear and disappear at will are scary. Also, the dark settings like old abandoned houses, cemeteries, and fog - covered forests add to the fear. It's the sense that anything could be lurking in those shadows.
Often, very scary true stories involve the unknown or things that go against our normal understanding of the world. For example, in many haunted house stories, there are unexplained noises, objects moving on their own. These elements create a sense of unease and fear because we can't easily explain them away. Another aspect is the psychological factor. If a story involves a real - life crime with a particularly cruel or unpredictable criminal, it can be very scary. We fear for the victims and also for our own safety in a world where such things can occur.
The unknown. In many creepypasta stories, there are elements that are left unexplained. For example, in 'Slenderman', his origin and purpose are not clearly defined. This lack of knowledge makes our minds fill in the blanks with the most terrifying possibilities.
The unknown factor. In very horrible ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost will do next. It could suddenly appear, touch you, or make a terrifying noise. It plays on our fear of the unexpected.