ideas for a good scary story

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.

How about a story based on a cursed object? For example, a beautiful antique mirror. Everyone who looks into it sees a distorted version of themselves, and soon they start having nightmares. Then, they notice that their appearance in real life is slowly changing to match the distorted reflection. The mirror has a dark past and was used in some sort of evil ritual.

How about a camping trip gone wrong in a forest rumored to be home to a vengeful spirit? The isolation and unknown can add to the scare factor.

One idea could be a haunted house. A family moves into an old, dilapidated mansion. Strange noises start at night, like creaking floorboards and whispering voices. They soon discover a dark secret about the previous owners, who were involved in a satanic ritual in the basement. Shadows start to move on their own, and things disappear only to reappear in a more menacing way.

In a small town, there's an abandoned factory on the outskirts. At night, a group of teenagers decide to explore it. Once inside, they find strange machinery still running despite the place being long shut down. There are blood - stained workbenches and a cold draft that seems to whisper warnings. They soon realize that there was a horrible accident there years ago and the spirits of the workers are still angry and vengeful.

One idea could be 'The Haunting of Blackwood Manor'. It gives the impression of a place filled with ghosts or other spooky entities. Another title could be 'The Shadow in the Attic', which makes the reader wonder what that shadow might be. And 'Cursed Woods: A Terrifying Encounter' is also a good title as it implies that there's something very wrong in the woods and a scary encounter awaits.

One idea is a story set in a creepy asylum. The readers can decide which rooms the protagonist explores, and each room could hold different horrors like a deranged patient or a strange experiment gone wrong. Another idea is a story about a cursed town. The choices could be whether to trust the strange old man who offers help or to go it alone. A third idea is a haunted ship at sea. The reader can choose actions like searching for the source of the strange noises or staying in their cabin, with different terrifying consequences for each choice.

In the small town, there could be a well in the center of the town square. Legend has it that every 50 years, someone is dragged into the well by an unseen force. The town's people are always on edge during the 50 - year mark. This time, a curious child gets too close to the well and strange things start to happen. Dark figures seem to lurk around the well at night.

The theme of a possessed person. Their behavior changes drastically, and they do things that are not normal, like speaking in tongues or having superhuman strength. It gives a sense of the unknown and the fear of something taking over a person's body.

One theme could be a desolate forest at night. There are strange sounds coming from the bushes, and the trees seem to be alive and menacing. Also, the idea of a vengeful spirit is a classic. A spirit that has been wronged in the past and now seeks revenge on the living, following them everywhere they go.