The theme of the unknown also frequently appears. A character might encounter something that they can't explain, like strange noises in the night or a figure that disappears when they look closer. This creates a sense of fear and unease as the human mind tries to make sense of what's happening.
One common theme is the supernatural. Stories often involve ghosts, curses or otherworldly forces. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the paw has a supernatural power to grant wishes in a very dark way. Another theme is madness. In 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the main character's descent into madness is a central part of the story. It makes the reader feel uneasy as we watch her lose her grip on reality.
A short scary story could involve a lonely forest. A hiker gets lost in the forest. As night falls, he starts to see strange lights flickering among the trees. He follows them, thinking it might be a way out. But the lights lead him deeper into the forest. He hears howls that don't sound like any normal animal. Suddenly, he realizes he's being watched. He turns around and sees pairs of red eyes staring at him from the darkness.
There's 'The Doll in the Attic'. A little girl discovers an old, porcelain doll in the attic of her new house. The doll has a creepy, fixed smile. Every night, she hears the doll moving around in the attic. One day, she finds the doll at the bottom of her bed. The doll's eyes seem to follow her everywhere. Eventually, she convinces her parents to get rid of the doll, but strange things still happen in the house as if the doll's presence lingers.
Their brevity. In just 2 pages, they can create a sense of unease quickly. There's no time for long, drawn - out build - ups, so they hit you with the scares right away. For example, in a short story about a haunted house, it can immediately start with strange noises and sightings, getting to the point fast.
There was a dark forest on the outskirts of the village. A traveler, Tom, got lost in it at night. As he walked, he saw a faint light in the distance. He followed it, thinking it was a sign of civilization. But as he got closer, he realized it was a pair of glowing eyes. A growl filled the air. Tom started running, but the eyes seemed to be everywhere. Every tree branch seemed to reach out like a claw, and he knew something was hunting him.
One short one - page scary story could be about a girl who hears strange scratching noises every night at exactly 3 am. She lives alone in an old house. One night, she decides to follow the sound. It leads her to the attic, where she finds a doll with a sinister look, and its eyes seem to follow her every move. Then, she realizes the doll wasn't there before.
The brevity. In a short one - page scary story, there's no room for long - winded explanations. It hits you right away with the spooky elements. For example, a simple description like 'The old mirror showed a face that wasn't mine' can send shivers down your spine without needing a whole backstory.
Sure. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is a great one - page scary short story. It's about a narrator who is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man and eventually kills him. Another one could be 'The Landlady' by Roald Dahl. In this story, a young man checks into a bed - and - breakfast run by a seemingly nice landlady, but there are some very creepy undertones as he discovers some strange things about the previous guests.
Isolation is often a theme. In stories like 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the main character is isolated in a room and this isolation contributes to her psychological breakdown. Also, death and the afterlife are common themes. Many 10 - page scary stories play with the idea of what happens after death, whether it's through ghosts or some other supernatural means. These themes help to create a sense of unease and fear in the reader.