Beginning of a scary story: In the dead of night, a strange noise came from the attic. What could it be?

It could be just the old house settling. As houses age, the wooden beams and structures shift slightly, which can often create strange creaking or knocking sounds.

I could immediately feel my heart pounding in my chest. I slowly sat up in bed, trying to listen more closely. The noise seemed to be coming from downstairs. I reached for my flashlight on the bedside table and, with trembling hands, made my way towards the door. As I opened it, a cold draft swept across my face, making me shiver.

For a thriller story, after being awakened, you grab a flashlight and slowly move towards the source of the noise. You realize that the noise is coming from outside your window. Looking out, you see a masked figure running away. You decide to follow, leading you into a dark alley. Along the way, you encounter various obstacles. You might find out that the figure is part of a gang planning something illegal in the neighborhood, and you've now put yourself in danger.

Here's an answer. In the middle of the night, I heard a strange noise coming from the attic. I knew I had to investigate. As I climbed the stairs, I felt a cold draft. When I opened the attic door, it creaked ominously. I peered into the darkness, and there was a figure in the corner. It was hunched over, and I couldn't make out what it was. My heart was pounding as I took a step closer.

I slowly climbed the creaky stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. As I reached the top, I saw a figure in the corner. It was a little girl, her eyes black as coal. She let out a blood - curdling scream and then disappeared. I never went up to the attic again.

It sounds like the start of a mystery or a horror story. Maybe there's a burglar or something supernatural causing the noise.

It could be a wild animal that we haven't seen yet. Maybe a large, nocturnal predator like a panther or a wolf - their growls can be quite strange and menacing.

Perhaps there's an experiment gone wrong. A mad scientist once used the mansion for his unethical experiments. His creations, half - human and half - monster, still lurk in the shadows of the old building, creating those eerie sounds.

The moment I was awakened by that strange noise in the dead of night, a shiver ran down my spine. I was all alone in the house. I carefully opened my bedroom door and peeked out. The house was pitch - black. I remembered that I had left my glasses on the kitchen table, so everything was a blur. I heard the noise again, this time it sounded like it was coming from the basement. I was terrified of the basement, but my curiosity got the better of me. I slowly made my way down the stairs, my hand gripping the railing tightly. When I reached the bottom, I fumbled for the light switch. Once the light was on, I saw that a mouse had knocked over a box of old tools, creating the noise. I was so relieved that it wasn't something more dangerous.

It might be an animal that got into the house. I first thought it was a mouse, but the sound was too loud for that. I tiptoed to the kitchen where the noise seemed to be coming from. When I peeked around the corner, I saw a raccoon rummaging through the trash can. I didn't know how it got in. I quickly opened the back door and shooed it out. After that, I made sure to lock all the doors and windows tightly.