Cursed objects. Maybe Esmeralda finds an old locket that was cursed long ago. Once she puts it on, she starts having visions of dark and terrifying things. It could also bring bad luck and misfortune to her.
Ghosts. For example, a ghost of a past resident who died a tragic death in the place where Esmeralda is could be haunting her. It could appear as a translucent figure or make strange noises like moaning.
Well, the idea of cursed objects at the wharf can be really spooky. Maybe there's an old chest that was salvaged from a sunken ship, and anyone who touches it is haunted by bad luck or strange visions. Another aspect could be the use of the wharf as a place for dark rituals in the past. The residual energy from those rituals could cause strange happenings like lights flickering, objects moving on their own, and a general sense of unease. And of course, the idea of a vengeful spirit of a pirate who was executed at the wharf and now haunts anyone who dares to set foot there at night.
The dark woods surrounding the cabin can be really spooky. There could be something lurking in those woods, and at night, the trees seem to take on menacing shapes. Unnatural weather patterns can also add to the horror. For instance, a sudden fog that descends and makes it hard to see anything outside. And then there are the strange symbols or markings that one might find in or around the cabin. These could be signs of some kind of dark ritual or curse.
One spooky element could be glitched out avatars. For example, an avatar's face might be distorted with eyes in strange places or a mouth that won't stop stretching into a wide grin. Another element could be a haunted - like environment, like a spooky forest where the trees seem to have faces and reach out with their branches. Also, disappearing and reappearing items can be very spooky. For instance, a key that Kate needs to escape suddenly vanishes and then shows up in a very unexpected and creepy place.
One spooky element could be strange noises. For example, unexplained whispers or howls that seem to come from nowhere. Another is the presence of a shadowy figure. Maybe it just stands there, not moving, but watching the person at the bus stop. Fog can also be very spooky, especially if it suddenly rolls in and obscures the surroundings while someone is waiting at the bus stop.
In a Heidi Wong horror story, the presence of a cursed object could be really spooky. For example, if Heidi found an old locket that brought misfortune and strange visions to whoever possessed it. Ghostly apparitions that look like people from Heidi's past but with a distorted and menacing appearance could also add to the horror. And let's not forget about the use of the dark and foggy settings which create an atmosphere of mystery and danger.
Strange noises are also a common spooky element. In Manila City Hall, there could be the sound of footsteps when no one is around, or the creaking of doors that are closed and locked. These noises could create an atmosphere of fear, as if there are unseen entities moving about the building. Maybe it's the ghosts of past employees or officials who still haunt the place.
Ghostly apparitions of past Lovely Lor convention - goers who died under mysterious circumstances. They could appear in mirrors or in the corner of one's eye. And then there's the idea of a blackout during the convention, with only the faint glow of emergency lights. In that dim light, people see things that aren't supposed to be there, like distorted versions of Lovely Lor characters floating in the air.
The presence of abandoned carnival games can be very spooky. The broken and dusty arcade machines, the stuffed animals hanging limply from the rigged claw machines. It gives the impression that time has stopped and something bad happened to the people who were once there. Another spooky thing is the smell. The stale, musty smell of a place that has been closed for a long time, combined with the possible smell of something rotting. And finally, the idea of a derelict theater in the amusement park. The empty seats, the torn curtain, and the stage that might hold some unholy performance from the past.
A spooky horror story often has elements that play on our deepest fears. Death is a common theme, whether it's the threat of it or the mystery surrounding it. Supernatural elements like ghosts or demons are frequently used. These elements create a feeling of unease. Also, the use of foreshadowing is important. It gives the reader a hint of the horror to come, like a single drop of blood on a white wall, which could foreshadow a gruesome event later in the story.
The isolation of the beach can be a spooky element. It's a place where you can be cut off from the rest of the world. Strange sounds coming from the ocean or the surrounding woods are also spooky. And the idea of something lurking in the water or in the shadows, waiting to attack an unsuspecting victim.