There was a camper in the middle of a dark forest. He sat by his small fire when he heard strange howls. He thought it was just a wolf, but then the howls got closer and more inhuman. He saw a pair of glowing eyes in the bushes. Terrified, he grabbed his flashlight. When he shone it, there was a hideous, half - human, half - animal creature snarling at him. He ran blindly through the forest until he found his way back to civilization.
Once upon a time, in an old, creaky house, a girl was home alone at night. She heard a strange scratching at the window. When she looked, there was a dark figure with long claws. She ran to her room, but the door slammed shut on its own. She hid under the bed, and then she saw two red eyes peering at her from beneath. Then she woke up. It was all a nightmare.
Suspense is key. For example, like in the story of the girl in the old house, the strange scratching at the window immediately creates suspense. Another element is a sense of isolation, which makes the character more vulnerable, just like the hiker alone in the forest. Also, something unexpected like the attic door slamming shut on the young man in the apartment story.
Sure. There was a girl who lived in an old, creaky house on the edge of a dark forest. One night, she heard strange noises coming from the attic. Ignoring her fear, she climbed the stairs. As she opened the attic door, a cold wind blew through her. In the dim light, she saw a shadowy figure. She screamed but no one could hear her. The figure started to move towards her. Suddenly, she woke up, realizing it was all a nightmare. But then, she heard the same noise from the attic again.
One such story could be about a girl who heard strange scratching noises at her window every night for 3 - 5 minutes. One night, she peeked out and saw a shadowy figure with long claws. She quickly closed the curtain and hid under her blanket. When she finally summoned the courage to look again, the figure was gone, but she could still hear the faint scratching.
One 5 - minute scary story could be about a girl who moves into an old house. Every night, she hears strange scratching noises coming from the attic. One night, she decides to go up there. As she climbs the rickety ladder, the air gets colder. When she reaches the attic, she sees a pair of glowing eyes in the corner. Before she can scream, a dark figure lunges at her.
The element of the unknown. In a short 2 - minute story, not having all the answers makes it scarier. For example, in a story about a strange noise in the basement, not knowing what's making the noise creates fear. Also, sudden and unexpected events like a door slamming shut on its own can startle the listener.
Ghosts are a great element. For example, a ghost that haunts an old mansion and scares anyone who enters. Another is a mysterious figure in the dark. Like a shadow that follows someone but disappears when they turn around. Creepy noises also work well, such as strange scratching or moaning sounds that seem to come from nowhere.
One scary 2 - minute story could be about a girl who wakes up in the middle of the night to find a strange shadow on her wall. It moves and takes the shape of a menacing figure. As she tries to scream, no sound comes out. Then she feels a cold breath on her neck, but when she turns around, there's nothing there. She runs out of her room only to find the entire house in complete darkness and strange noises all around her.
A one minute scary story. You wake up in the middle of the night and see a shadowy face at the window. You blink, thinking it's a dream. But when you open your eyes again, it's still there, staring at you with hollow eyes. You're too terrified to move.