ideas to write about for a horror short story

You could write about a forest that has an evil presence. Maybe a group of hikers go into the forest and get lost. As they wander, they start to feel like they're being watched. The trees seem to close in on them, and they hear howls that don't sound like any normal animal. The forest seems to play tricks on their minds, making them see things that aren't there, like apparitions of long - dead hunters.

One idea could be a haunted house. Picture an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town. Strange noises come from within at night, like creaking floorboards and whispering voices. The protagonist could be a curious journalist who decides to spend a night there to write a story. As the night progresses, they start to see shadowy figures moving in the corners of their vision.

One idea could be a story about an old, abandoned house. A young couple decides to explore it. As they enter, the doors slam shut behind them. Strange noises start coming from the attic, like something is dragging heavy chains. They try to find a way out but every door they open leads to a darker and scarier room filled with cobwebs and the feeling of being watched.

One idea could be a young adventurer who discovers a hidden, magical forest. In this forest, the trees can talk and they hold the secrets of an ancient civilization. The adventurer has to solve riddles set by the trees to find a magical artifact that can save his own world from an approaching darkness.

One idea is to start with an ordinary setting like a small, idyllic town. But then introduce a strange occurrence, such as all the animals in the town suddenly going silent. Another idea could be a character who inherits an old, creepy mansion and starts experiencing unexplained noises and apparitions at night. You can also write about a group of friends who go camping in the woods and encounter a menacing force that seems to be stalking them.

Imagine a forest that is known to be cursed. People who enter it often get lost, even those who are experienced hikers. The protagonist is a journalist who wants to investigate the mystery of the forest. Once inside, he discovers that the trees seem to move and form mazes. He also hears voices that seem to be leading him deeper into the forest. As he tries to find his way out, he realizes that there are strange creatures watching him from the shadows.

One idea could be a haunted mirror. A young woman buys an antique mirror at a flea market. Every time she looks into it, she sees a figure in the background that gets closer each time. At first, she thinks it's just her imagination, but then strange things start to happen around her. Objects move on their own, and she hears whispers coming from the mirror.

One idea could be that a family moves into an old, dilapidated house. At night, they start hearing strange noises coming from the attic. When they go to investigate, they find old portraits with eyes that seem to follow them. The walls start to ooze a strange, black substance. Eventually, they realize that the previous owners were part of a cult and the house was built on an ancient burial ground.

Write about a strange object that washes up on the shore of a beach town. It's a small, metallic cube with strange markings. A local scientist starts to study it, but soon realizes that it seems to be emitting some sort of signal. Strange things start to happen around the town - electronics malfunction, animals act strangely. As the scientist tries to figure out what the cube is and where it came from, she uncovers a mystery that might involve an extraterrestrial origin.

You could write about a memorable adventure you had or one you wish you could have. Maybe a day at the beach, a hiking trip, or a fantasy journey to a magical land.