The element of the unknown. In these stories, often things are not fully explained. For example, a strange figure that appears in the corner of a room but you can't really see what it is. It leaves your imagination to fill in the blanks, and our minds can come up with some really terrifying things.
If you like scary novels, I can recommend you some ancient novels. The first was Nine Drops of Water's " Records of the Tang Dynasty." This novel was set in the Tang Dynasty and incorporated traces of ancient criminal investigation. It was full of suspense and puzzle-solving elements. In addition," Song Tiandi Criminal Prison " and " I'm a Detective for the East Chamber " were also good choices. They told the story of a forensic professional who transmigrated to the Song Dynasty to solve a case, and a young criminal police officer who transmigrated to ancient times to become the first female private detective. These works can give you a thrilling reading experience.
Stephen King's 'Children of the Corn' is also a frightening short story. It tells the story of a town where all the adults have been killed by a cult of children who worship a demonic entity in the cornfields. The sense of isolation and the malevolence of the children create a very scary atmosphere.
One great short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a frightening tale as the narrator is obsessed with an old man's 'vulture - like' eye and eventually kills him. The way Poe builds the suspense is fantastic. Another is 'The Landlady' by Roald Dahl. It starts off seeming quite funny with the young man finding a cheap place to stay, but it quickly turns frightening as you realize the landlady has some very dark secrets. And 'The Monkey's Paw' is also a classic. It has elements of the fantastic as a magical paw grants wishes, but the consequences are truly frightening.
The fear factor in these 13 short scary stories often comes from the sense of isolation. When a character is alone in a spooky place like an old mansion or a dark forest, it makes us feel vulnerable. Also, the idea of the supernatural, such as ghosts or curses, plays a big role. We don't understand these things in our normal lives, so when they are presented in a story, it gives us a chill. For instance, a story where a person is haunted by a spirit that only they can see makes us wonder what we would do in that situation.
The unknown. In many of these stories, like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's unclear motives and the sense of something lurking in the shadows create fear. We don't fully understand why he is so obsessed with the old man's eye, and that mystery is scary.
The price of getting what you want in 'The Monkey's Paw' is extremely terrifying. We often wish for things, but in this story, it shows that wishes can have a very dark side. The family doesn't expect the horrible consequences of their wishes, and this unexpectedness and the high cost of wishes make the story very scary. It makes you think twice about what you might wish for if you were in a similar situation.
Unsettling sounds play a big role too. Strange whispers, creaking floors, or howls in the night can create a really scary atmosphere. In many stories, these sounds are often the first sign that something is wrong, and they build up the tension before the actual ghost is revealed. They make you feel as if there is an unseen presence lurking around. Also, the idea of the ghost being an angry or vengeful spirit can be quite terrifying. It gives the impression that the ghost has a purpose, and that purpose is often to harm the living characters in the story.