They tap into our primal fears. Urban legends like the vanishing hitchhiker play on our fear of the unknown, the dark, and the supernatural. They also often have elements of morality, like in the story of the Slit - Mouthed Woman, which can be a warning not to be too judgmental or vain. This combination of fear and moral undertone makes them very appealing.
The mystery. They often leave a lot unsaid, making our minds fill in the blanks. For example, in the Bloody Mary legend, we don't really know who she was or why she haunts the mirror. This sense of the unknown draws us in.
The suspense. In a short story, the writer can quickly build up suspense. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the slow descent into madness of the narrator as she is confined in a room with the strange wallpaper keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Well, short short scary stories are great because they are easy to remember and share. You can quickly pass on the creepy feeling to others. Also, they often focus on a single, really scary element, like a ghostly apparition or a sudden, unexplained noise, which makes them very impactful in a short space.
The brevity. In just 2 minutes, you can get a good scare. It doesn't waste your time with long, drawn - out build - ups. You quickly get to the spooky part.
The suspense. In scary audio short stories, the build - up of suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. You don't know what's going to happen next, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where you're constantly waiting for the next disaster that the wishes will bring.
The mystery. We don't know much about aliens in real life. So in these stories, the unknown nature of aliens, their strange forms and abilities, is very alluring. For example, in many stories, aliens have psychic powers or can survive in extreme conditions that we can't even imagine.
The suspense. In good short scary stories, like when you don't know what's going to jump out at you. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The suspense. In crazy scary short stories, there's always a sense of not knowing what will happen next. It keeps the reader on edge, like when a character is alone in a dark room and hears a strange noise. You just have to keep reading to find out if they'll be okay.
The mystery. Vampires are often associated with the unknown. In short stories, there's not much time to fully explain everything about them, so the mystery remains. For example, in 'Carmilla', we don't know all the details of Carmilla's past and how she became a vampire, which makes it scarier.
The suspense. Strange and scary short stories keep you on the edge of your seat. You don't know what's going to happen next. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', every time a wish is made, you're waiting for the awful consequence. It's like a rollercoaster of fear.
The thrill. Short scary murder stories are appealing because they give a quick jolt of fear. In just a few lines, they can make your heart race.