One really scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he can't stand the old man's vulture - like eye. After hiding the body under the floorboards, he starts to hear the heartbeat of the dead man, which drives him to insanity. It's scary because it shows how guilt can haunt a person.
The use of atmosphere can make a short story really scary. If you set the scene in a dark, abandoned place like an old cemetery or a deserted house, it immediately gives off an eerie feeling. Additionally, having relatable characters who are in danger makes the reader more invested in the story. When bad things start to happen to them, the reader can imagine themselves in that situation, which is terrifying. For instance, a story about a person alone in a haunted forest at night, lost and hearing strange howls. The combination of the setting, the vulnerability of the character, and the mystery of the howls all contribute to the scariness.
One really scary story is about a haunted house. There was an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town. People who passed by at night often heard strange wailing sounds coming from it. A group of curious teenagers decided to explore it one night. As they entered, the doors slammed shut behind them. They saw shadowy figures moving in the halls. One of the teens was suddenly pulled into a dark room and disappeared. The others ran for their lives, but they could still hear their friend's screams as they escaped.
One really scary ghost story is about the haunted mansion on the hill. People say that at midnight, you can see a lady in white walking through the halls. She was a bride who died on her wedding day many years ago. Her spirit is still searching for her lost groom. Whenever someone tries to stay overnight in the mansion, they hear her sobbing and the sound of her footsteps echoing in the empty corridors.
The unknown factor makes really really scary stories terrifying. When we don't know what's going to happen next or what the source of the horror is, our imagination runs wild. For example, in a story about a strange noise in an attic, not seeing the cause of the noise creates a sense of unease.
One really scary story is about a haunted house. People who entered it at night would hear strange whispers and see shadowy figures. Lights would flicker on and off by themselves. There was an old legend that a family was brutally murdered in that house long ago, and their spirits were trapped there, seeking revenge on anyone who dared to enter.
The use of atmosphere. A really scary story will set a dark and foreboding atmosphere. Descriptions of dark, lonely places, like an old cemetery at midnight. The cold wind, the howling of animals in the distance. All these details work together to create a sense of dread. Also, the characters in these stories are often ordinary people, which makes it easier for us to put ourselves in their shoes and feel the fear they experience.
The unknown factor makes really really scary ghost stories so frightening. Ghosts are often depicted as mysterious entities that defy the laws of the living world. We don't know what they can do or how they interact with us. For example, in a story where a ghost can pass through walls or appear and disappear at will, it creates a sense of unease as it goes against our normal understanding of reality.
One really scary short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by an old man's vulture - like eye and eventually murders him. The narrator's increasing paranoia as he hears the heartbeat, which may be his own guilt - ridden conscience, is truly terrifying.