The unknown. There could be unmarked graves, or stories of people buried with secrets. You never know what might be lurking in the shadows, or what kind of spirits might be present. Also, the idea of the dead not really being at rest can be terrifying.
There was a story of a girl who went to the cemetery at midnight as a dare. As she walked among the tombstones, she felt like she was being watched. Suddenly, she heard a soft moan coming from an unmarked grave. She started to run but felt as if something was pulling her back. When she finally escaped, she swore she'd never go back there. The cemetery has since had a reputation for being haunted.
There was a farmhouse adjacent to a cemetery. People said it was haunted. A group of teenagers decided to spend a night there for fun. As they sat in the dark living room, they heard a low moaning coming from the direction of the cemetery. Then, the door of the farmhouse slowly creaked open. They saw a pale face at the doorway. Terrified, they ran out into the night.
Once upon a time, in a small, forgotten cemetery, there was a strange old woman. Every night, she would come to the cemetery with a big pot. She would dig up the dirt near the newly buried graves and scoop it into her pot, muttering about making 'cemetery soup'. One night, a curious young boy followed her. As she stirred the pot over a small, eerie fire, she turned and saw the boy. Her eyes glowed red and she let out a spine - chilling scream. The boy ran for his life, never to return to that cemetery again.
A young couple, lost on a dark and foggy Halloween night, stumbles into a cemetery. As they walk through, they hear whispers in the wind. Statues of angels seem to be crying blood. They then see a figure in a tattered burial shroud, slowly making its way towards them. The figure is a vampire that has been dormant in the cemetery for centuries and now sees them as its first victims in a long time.
I'm not sure specifically which six stories are in that collection as there are many of Stephen King's works. But generally, his stories often involve elements like supernatural entities, psychological horror, and the dark side of human nature.
The atmosphere of the cemetery itself is a very scary element. The tombstones, the silence, and the darkness all create a sense of foreboding. When combined with the idea of something as strange as cemetery soup being made there, it amplifies the fear. The possibility that the soup could be used for some evil ritual or to curse those who stumble upon it makes it even more frightening.
A man walked into a cemetery at midnight. Step 1: He noticed a fog rolling in. Step 2: He heard a soft moaning sound. Step 3: Saw a figure in a white dress by a grave. Step 4: He tried to leave but his feet felt heavy. Step 5: The figure started to move towards him. Step 6: As it got closer, he could see it had no face. Step 7: He finally managed to move a bit, but then more figures emerged from the graves. Step 8: They surrounded him. Step 9: He closed his eyes in fear. Step 10: When he opened them, he was back at the cemetery entrance, not knowing if it was real or a hallucination.
The scariest element could be the history of the area. If there were dark events in the past, like murders or tragic deaths in the cemetery or the farmhouse. Maybe a serial killer was buried in the cemetery and his malevolent spirit haunts the nearby farmhouse, making every night a living nightmare for those inside.
The 'ny times 2019 cemetery stories' might feature stories about cemetery maintenance and the people who take care of cemeteries. There could be accounts of restoration projects of old graves in 2019. It may also include stories of how cemeteries are used for remembrance and as a place for the community to gather, perhaps for commemorative events in that year.