One idea could be to set the story in an old, abandoned asylum. Describe the long, dark corridors filled with rusted beds and straitjackets. Another idea is to have a character haunted by a doppelganger that appears at unexpected times and always has a menacing look. You could also write about a town where every night at midnight, all the residents turn into something inhuman.
How about 'The old cemetery on a foggy night'? Picture a lone figure walking through the cemetery. The fog is so thick that they can barely see the tombstones. All of a sudden, they hear a soft moan coming from one of the graves. They freeze in fear, but their curiosity gets the better of them. As they approach the source of the sound, they notice a strange glow. Then, a hand reaches out from the ground. This is just the beginning of a terrifying encounter with the undead.
You could start with the idea that the house has a dark history, like it was once a place of torture. The walls could ooze blood or strange noises come from the attic. There might be hidden rooms where the most terrifying things happen.
First, think of a spooky setting like an old, abandoned house. There could be creaking floors and peeling wallpaper. Then, create a menacing character, perhaps a shadowy figure that moves silently. For example, a girl enters the house and starts to hear strange noises. Every time she turns around, she feels a cold breath on her neck. As she explores further, she finds a locked room. The mystery of what's inside adds to the scariness.
Once upon a time, in a haunted castle, there were dark secrets hidden within its walls. A group of friends decided to explore it. As they entered the main hall, the candles flickered and went out. They heard a creepy laugh echoing through the corridors. One of the friends, Jack, got separated from the group. He found himself in a room filled with old portraits. The eyes in the portraits seemed to follow him. Then, a figure in a white dress appeared in front of him. She had no face, just a blank space where her face should be. Jack tried to run, but his legs felt like lead as the figure glided towards him.
One idea could be a haunted house. A family moves into an old, dilapidated mansion. Every night, they hear strange noises like creaking floorboards and whispering voices. The children start seeing a shadowy figure in the hallway that disappears when they turn on the lights. As the days pass, the figure gets closer and closer until it finally reveals its terrifying face one night.
How about a story set in a dark forest? A hiker gets lost in the forest at night. As he tries to find his way out, he hears strange howls. He comes across a clearing where there are strange symbols carved into the trees. Suddenly, he feels like he's being watched from all directions. Every step he takes seems to lead him deeper into the unknown and the sense of dread just keeps growing.
A house that seems normal during the day but at night, the walls start to bleed. The blood drips down and forms strange symbols on the floor. These symbols are a warning from the spirits trapped in the house. The people living there start to experience sleep paralysis and see terrifying apparitions that get closer each night.
One idea could be a haunted mirror. Every time someone looks into it, they see a distorted version of themselves with a sinister figure lurking in the background. As they keep looking, the figure starts to come closer out of the mirror until it reaches into their world.