The scariest might be the story of La Llorona. It's a Hispanic legend about a weeping woman who drowned her children and now roams, crying for them. The idea of a mother who killed her own kids and is now a vengeful spirit is truly terrifying.
One really scary urban legend is the 'Slender Man'. He's a tall, faceless figure in a black suit who is said to stalk and abduct people, especially children. In terms of true ghost stories, there are accounts from people who worked in old asylums. They claim to have seen the ghosts of former patients wandering the halls, making the place feel extremely eerie. This is because these asylums were often the site of great suffering and many people died there.
The Mothman legend from Point Pleasant is really terrifying. A large, winged humanoid figure was sighted before a bridge collapse that killed many people. The Mothman was seen by multiple witnesses, and its appearance seemed to forebode doom. It gives a sense of unease as it's this unknown, otherworldly creature associated with a real - life tragedy.
The unknown is the scariest element. In urban legends like the Chupacabra, we don't really know if it exists or not. It's a creature that supposedly attacks livestock and drains their blood. The mystery around it makes it terrifying. In ghost stories, it's often the idea that the ghosts can be anywhere and we can't see them until it's too late.
The connection to the unknown and the supernatural. These Philippine urban legends involve creatures and spirits that are not of this world. The mystery surrounding them, like where they come from and what their true intentions are, makes the stories extra scary. For instance, the Kapre living in the ancient balete trees - there's a sense of the otherworldly about it that sends chills down your spine.
In my opinion, most are urban legends. True serial killer cases are terrifying enough on their own, but when people start adding ghostly aspects, it's often to create a more sensational story. However, in some cultures, there are superstitions that link killers to the supernatural. But there's rarely any solid evidence to prove these true serial killer ghost stories are real.
The unknown is the scariest part. In true urban ghost stories, you often don't know what the 'ghost' is or why it's there. For example, in the story of the abandoned building, no one knew who the figure in the window was.
One famous urban legend is the story of Bloody Mary. It's said that if you stand in a dark bathroom, light some candles, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times while looking into the mirror, a terrifying apparition will appear. However, this is just a spooky tale with no real evidence. Another is the vanishing hitchhiker. A driver picks up a hitchhiker who then mysteriously disappears from the moving vehicle. These stories often play on our fears and the unknown.
Some urban legends are based on real events that have been distorted over time. For example, the story of Bloody Mary might have originated from a real person, but the supernatural elements were added later. However, not all urban legends are true. Many are just made - up to scare people.
A real - life ghost story that sends shivers down the spine is that of the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. There are tales of ghosts of slaves and a young girl who was murdered there. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions, feeling cold hands on their shoulders, and hearing the sound of crying in the empty halls.
The Winchester Mystery House also has a spooky true story. Sarah Winchester, believing she was haunted by the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles, continuously built onto her house in a maze - like way. Workers reported strange apparitions and unexplained events during construction, and visitors often claim to feel an eerie presence there.
One famous true urban legend ghost story is the Bell Witch in Tennessee. It's said that a spirit haunted the Bell family in the early 19th century. There were strange noises, physical attacks on family members, and the spirit would even communicate with them. Another is the story of the Winchester Mystery House. Supposedly, Sarah Winchester built the elaborate and maze - like house to confuse the ghosts that were haunting her.