What are some of the most spine - chilling stories in 'Dark Encounters: A Collection of Ghost Stories'?

There's a story about a person who got lost in a maze - like cemetery at night. They kept seeing a figure in white that would disappear whenever they got closer. It was so frightening that they ran around in panic until they finally found their way out.

One of the scariest could be the story about the old mansion. In it, there are tales of strange noises at night, like footsteps echoing in the empty halls when no one should be there. It gives a sense of unease as if the place is haunted by the spirits of the past.

Some of the stories might be about vengeful spirits. In many ghost story collections, these are quite common. Maybe in the 'Penguin Book of Ghost Stories' too. The idea of a spirit seeking revenge can create a lot of suspense and fear.

One of the scariest might be 'The Monkey's Paw'. It has this dark atmosphere where a simple wish - granting object brings only misfortune. Another could be 'The Beckoning Fair One' which creates a sense of unease with its haunted house scenario. And 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' is also quite terrifying as it involves a spooky apparition that haunts a lonely man on a desolate beach.

One of the mysteries could be the unexplained noises heard in abandoned places. For example, in an old, deserted mansion, people often report hearing strange creaking sounds, as if the old floorboards are being walked on by unseen entities. It gives the feeling that there are ghosts still lingering in the place.

A woman was driving alone on a desolate road at night. Suddenly, she saw a hitchhiker on the side of the road. She stopped to pick him up, but when she looked over, there was no one there. Shaken, she continued driving only to see the same figure appear again further down the road.

A very scary story is about a family's Christmas dinner. They were all sitting at the table when suddenly, the candles blew out. In the dark, they could see the shape of a little girl's ghost. She was crying and saying she was lost. When the lights came back on, there were small handprints on the windows. It was later discovered that a girl had died in that house on Christmas many years ago and her spirit was still there.

One of the scariest stories might be about the phantom patient. Legend has it that at night, you can hear the rattling of chains as this apparition wanders the old halls. It's said to be the spirit of a patient who was wrongly confined and died in despair.

One of the top true ghost stories is the Amityville Horror. The Lutz family claimed to experience terrifying paranormal activities in their new home, like strange noises, cold spots, and apparitions. It was so extreme that they left the house in a hurry.

Another story is about the abandoned attic. It's rumored that strange noises come from there. Sounds like scratching and moaning. Legend has it that it was once used as a hiding place during some sort of past turmoil, and the spirits of those who hid there are still trapped.