Which Stephen King's short horror fiction story is the most terrifying and why?

For me, 'Pet Sematary' is the scariest. It plays on our deepest fears about death and the afterlife. The concept of a place where the dead can come back, but not in the way you expect, is truly horrifying. It makes you question the boundaries between life and death, and the consequences of messing with those boundaries. It's a story that gets under your skin and stays there long after you've finished reading it.

For me, 'Gramma' is up there as one of the scariest. It's about a young boy left alone with his dying and possibly possessed grandmother. The atmosphere of the old, creaky house and the strange things that start to happen create a sense of dread. And the ending is really spooky, leaving you with a feeling of unease long after you've finished reading.

I think 'The Jaunt' is one of the scariest. The idea of what happens during the jaunt is so disturbing. It takes a simple concept like teleportation and turns it into something truly horrifying. King is able to make the reader really feel the dread of the characters through his descriptions.

For me, 'The Shining' is the most terrifying. The idea of being isolated in a haunted hotel with ghosts that can drive you mad is really scary. The visions of the dead and the sense of being trapped are just bone - chilling.

Take 'The Boogeyman'. It's terrifying because it taps into a very common childhood fear - the fear of the monster in the closet. King has a way of taking these simple, relatable fears and making them seem very real. The way he describes the boogeyman's presence, the sounds it makes, and the sense of helplessness of the characters makes it a truly scary read.

For me, 'It' is the most terrifying. The idea of a malevolent clown that can appear in different forms and feed on fear is just spine - chilling. Pennywise lurking in the sewers and coming after kids is nightmare fuel.

Definitely 'Carrie'. A bullied high - school girl with telekinetic powers who finally snaps. The prom scene where she unleashes her wrath is iconic. The build - up of her being an outcast, constantly tormented, and then the explosive revenge she takes is both shocking and terrifying. It also shows how ordinary people can be pushed to the extreme and do extraordinary and terrifying things.

The most terrifying elements in Stephen King horror stories are often the psychological aspects. His characters often face inner demons that are as scary as any external monster. For example, in 'The Shining', the slow descent into madness of the main character is truly terrifying. Another element is the sense of the unknown. King is great at creating situations where there's something lurking in the shadows that we can't quite see or understand. Also, his use of ordinary settings made strange and menacing, like small town America in 'Salem's Lot', adds to the horror.

One of the most popular is 'The Mist'. It has a great sense of mystery and horror as people are trapped in a supermarket surrounded by a strange mist full of terrifying creatures. Another is 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption', which was later made into a very successful movie. And 'Children of the Corn' is also quite well - known for its spooky premise of a town ruled by murderous children.

Castle Rock has its own brand of terror. There are so many strange and often violent events that occur there. It has a prison which adds to the sense of danger. And the fact that the town seems to have its own malevolent force at work, whether it's a supernatural being or just the collective darkness of its inhabitants, makes it a truly terrifying fictional town in Stephen King's works.