What are the elements that make short scary dream stories so frightening?

Isolation also plays a role. When you're in a fog, it can feel like you're cut off from the rest of the world. For example, if you're alone in a foggy forest or on a foggy road, it's easy to feel vulnerable. And the fact that sound is muffled in the fog makes it even scarier. You might hear something strange but not be able to tell where it's coming from. All these elements combined make scary fog stories really frightening.

Isolation also plays a role. When characters are alone, like in a big, old, deserted house, they are more vulnerable. It makes the reader feel that there's no one to help them. A good example is in 'The Shining' where the family is isolated in the hotel in the mountains. And the use of the supernatural, like ghosts, vampires or demons, scares people because it defies the laws of nature that we are used to.

The loss of humanity in zombies. They used to be normal people but are now mindless, flesh - eating monsters. It makes us think about how fragile our humanity is. Also, the sense of isolation. When the world is overrun by zombies, the survivors are often alone or in small groups, cut off from the rest of the world. This loneliness adds to the fear.

One element is the unknown. When there are things that can't be easily explained, like strange noises in an empty house or a figure disappearing into thin air, it scares us. For example, in a story where a person hears footsteps in an attic but when they go to check, there's no one there.

The unknown. We don't fully understand werewolves in these stories. Their sudden appearance, like in the dark of the night or during a full moon, is very scary.

The sense of the unknown is a big factor. In scary leprechaun stories, they often have their own hidden world that we don't fully understand. They can be mischievous and unpredictable. They might lead someone astray in the woods, or play tricks on people that have serious consequences. And the fact that they are often associated with lonely and desolate places, like old ruins or deep in the woods, gives an overall feeling of unease.

The use of the senses. Scary stories often play on our senses. They might describe a strange smell in a haunted place, or a cold touch that can't be explained. For example, in a story about a haunted hospital, the smell of old medicine and the cold drafts that seem to come from nowhere all contribute to the overall scariness of the story. It makes the story more immersive and terrifying.

The shape - shifting nature of kelpies is really scary. They can look like a beautiful, innocent horse one moment and turn into a terrifying, menacing creature the next. It's the element of surprise that gets you.

The unknown is a big factor. In a scary alone story, like when you hear a noise in an empty house but don't know what it is. It could be anything, and your mind starts to imagine the worst. Another element is isolation. When you're alone, there's no one to turn to for help, which makes the situation scarier. For example, if you're in a spooky forest all by yourself and something strange happens.

The cultural and historical context. Many Mexican scary stories are based on ancient Aztec or Mayan beliefs. These cultures had a deep connection with the spiritual world, and some of their more fearsome deities or spirits find their way into the stories. For instance, the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, is often associated with dark and spooky tales. His appearance is often described as terrifying, with a skull face and a body covered in bones, and his domain is the underworld, which adds a lot of horror to the stories.