What are some good hooks for scary stories?

A mysterious figure that appears briefly and then vanishes can be a great hook. Such as, 'Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy figure, tall and gaunt. But when she turned to look fully, it was gone, leaving only a chill in the air.'

A mysterious event or a strange noise can be a good hook. For example, starting a story with 'In the dead of night, a shrill scream pierced through the silence.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what's going on.

A startling statement can be a great opening hook. For example, 'The world ended that day, but no one noticed at first.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what could possibly be meant by such a statement.

A sudden, unexplained noise in an empty house can be a great hook. For example, the creaking of a floorboard when the character knows they are alone. It immediately creates a sense of unease and mystery.

One hook could be starting with a lonely figure in a desolate place, like 'In the empty park, a single silhouette sat on the bench as the cold wind whipped around.'

One great hook could be a mysterious object with unknown powers. For example, a glowing crystal that no one can touch without being sent into a trance. Another hook might be a prophecy about a hero who will save the world from an ancient evil, but no one knows who the hero is. Also, starting with a character waking up in an unfamiliar and magical land can be a strong hook.

An old photograph that seems to change on its own can be a very spooky hook. 'He found an old photo in the attic. It was a picture of his family from decades ago. But every time he looked at it, a new figure seemed to appear in the background, a figure with a menacing look in its eyes.'

A good hook for a scary story might be 'She opened the attic door, not knowing that the moment she stepped inside, she would be plunged into a nightmare world. The air was thick with a musty smell and an unidentifiable sense of foreboding. As her foot touched the dusty floorboards, she heard a soft whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.'

An unusual object or symbol that keeps popping up can be a good hook too. Say, a strange amulet is found at every crime scene. This mystery surrounding the amulet will intrigue readers and make them eager to find out its significance in the story.

A mysterious statement or question can serve as a good hook. Such as 'The door was ajar, and what lay beyond it was something no one could have ever imagined.' This makes the reader curious and eager to find out what's behind the door.