scary story starters

One classic sentence starter could be 'In the dead of night, a strange noise echoed through the empty house.' It immediately sets a spooky mood as the 'dead of night' implies a time when most people are asleep and vulnerable, and a strange noise in an empty house is often associated with something sinister.

One good sentence starter could be 'In the dead of night, as the wind howled outside, I heard a strange scratching at my window.'

This might be a story: 'The old abandoned house was said to be haunted. Everyone in the town avoided it. But I was new in town and didn't believe in such stories. I went inside. There were broken furniture and old portraits on the walls. The eyes in the portraits seemed to follow me. As I walked further, I felt a cold breeze on my neck. I turned around, but there was nothing there. Then, I noticed a locked door. I found a key on the floor and unlocked it. Behind the door was a dark room filled with strange noises.'

One possible story could be: 'It was a dark and stormy night. I was all alone in my old, creaky house. The wind howled outside, rattling the windows. Suddenly, I heard a strange scratching sound at the door. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was the only one there, or so I thought. I slowly made my way to the door, my steps echoing in the silent hall. When I peered through the peephole, there was nothing but darkness. But the scratching continued, getting louder and more insistent.'

Here's another take: In the middle of the forest, there was a strange, glowing object. A group of scientists, who were studying the forest's anomalies, set out to investigate it. They brought all their equipment with them. When they got to the object, they started taking readings. But then, their instruments went haywire. The glowing object started to emit a high - pitched sound. The scientists covered their ears, but it was too late. One by one, they started to see hallucinations of their worst nightmares. One saw spiders as big as cars crawling towards him, another saw a never - ending abyss opening up beneath her feet. They ran away, leaving their equipment behind.

A strange figure could emerge from the shadows. Maybe it's a ghostly apparition with glowing eyes, slowly approaching the protagonist.

As the fog rolled in over the moors, I knew I was in for a night of terrors. Fog can be very effective in creating a sense of mystery and isolation. The moors are also often associated with desolation and danger in literature, so this sentence starter is perfect for a spooky nature - based scary story.

I would say that as the character got closer to the old abandoned asylum, they heard a blood - curdling scream from inside. They hesitated for a moment but then curiosity got the better of them and they entered.

One possible continuation could be: 'The old house at the end of the lane had been empty for years. But one night, a young couple, lost in the storm, decided to seek shelter there. As they entered, the door creaked ominously. The air was thick with a musty smell. They found an old candle and lit it. Shadows danced on the walls, and they could swear they heard faint whispers. Suddenly, a cold hand grabbed the woman's ankle, and she screamed. The man tried to pull her free, but it was as if an unseen force was dragging her into the darkness of the basement.'

Once upon a time. It's a classic starter that immediately sets a story - telling mood and makes the audience expect a fairy - tale - like story. It's simple yet effective in grabbing attention.