There could be a painting in the hallway that seems normal during the day. But at night, figures start to move within it. Maybe it was painted by a deranged artist who trapped souls in it. As people pass by the hallway at night, they can hear faint whispers coming from the painting, and sometimes, a cold hand seems to reach out from it, making the whole place feel eerie.
The cultural references in science fiction can be difficult to translate. A story might reference a particular historical event or a cultural icon from the author's home country. Translators need to either find a similar reference in the target culture or find a way to explain it without losing the essence of the story. For example, if a science - fiction story in the US mentions the Apollo moon landings as a reference for a future space exploration mission, a translator into a language of a country with no such space - faring history needs to be creative.
Scary hallway stories are popular because they play on our primal fears. Hallways are often narrow and confining spaces, which can make us feel trapped. When something scary is added to that, like a ghost or a strange noise, it heightens the sense of danger. Also, they are often based on the unknown. We don't know what's at the end of the hallway, and that uncertainty is what makes these stories so captivating.
I'm not sure specifically without reading the novel, but there could be a brave protagonist who is not afraid to explore the dark hallway. Maybe there's also a wise old figure who gives advice to the main character about the secrets within the hallway.
One of the main themes could be mystery. Dark hallways often symbolize the unknown, and the novel might explore the characters' journey through this mystery. Another theme could be fear, as the setting of a dark hallway is typically associated with unease.
Perhaps the painting depicts a long, dark hallway with no end in sight. The shadows in the painting seem to move on their own, creating an atmosphere of unease. It gives the impression that something sinister lurks just out of sight.
There's a spooky hallway story about an old apartment building. The hallway on the top floor was always cold, even in the middle of summer. Residents would often see a strange old man standing at the end of the hall. He never moved or said a word. One night, a tenant woke up to find the old man standing at the foot of their bed. They screamed and when they turned on the light, he was gone. Since then, people avoid that hallway at all costs.
First, decide on the story you want to tell. Then, sketch out a rough plan of the images and scenes. Choose colors that match the mood and theme of the story. Start painting from the background and work your way to the foreground details.
One of the best ways is to have a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' cultural backgrounds. Science fiction often contains unique concepts, so being familiar with the genre's common tropes in different cultures helps. For example, in English - speaking countries, some science - fiction concepts like time travel are very common, but they might be expressed differently in other languages. Translators also need to be good at handling technical terms which are abundant in science fiction.