What are some of the most terrifying stories in McSweeney's Horror Stories?

Well, in '20 most terrifying horror stories', there could be a story of a small town haunted by an ancient evil. The townspeople start experiencing unexplainable phenomena like animals acting strangely and people disappearing. There might also be a horror story about a group of friends who go camping in a forest that has a dark history. They encounter something that hunts them down one by one. Additionally, a story about a possessed doll that seems to have a life of its own and causes chaos in a family's home is also a possibility.

There's a story in 'the horror stories' that involves a forest at night. A group of hikers got lost in it. As they wandered, they heard whispers that seemed to come from all directions. The trees looked menacing, and they felt like they were being watched. It's the kind of story that makes you fear nature's power and the unknown lurking within it.

Well, there are those 911 horror stories where a person is having a medical emergency like a heart attack. They call 911, but the ambulance gets lost on the way because of incorrect address information provided by the operator. Also, some stories involve prank calls that tie up the 911 lines when there are real emergencies happening elsewhere. It's really a nightmare when the system fails those in need.

One of the most terrifying horror stories is 'The Shining'. The isolation of the Overlook Hotel, combined with the slow descent into madness of Jack Torrance, is truly chilling. The idea of the hotel having a life of its own and influencing the people inside it creates an atmosphere of dread. Another is 'The Exorcist'. The possession of a young girl by a demon and the battle between good and evil during the exorcism is extremely scary. The graphic and disturbing scenes in the movie adaptation also add to its horror factor.

One '7 11 horror story' could be about a late - night shift worker seeing a strange apparition near the drink coolers. It might be a shadowy figure that seems to move on its own and disappears when the worker tries to get a closer look.

In 2020, the fear of getting sick was also a big horror story. With the pandemic spreading, every cough or sneeze made people worried. Hospitals were overcrowded, and there was a lot of misinformation about the virus. People were constantly afraid for their own health and that of their loved ones. It was a year full of fear and horror in many aspects.

One of the scariest could be the one about the haunted house. The way the author describes the creaking floors and cold drafts makes it really spooky.

There could be a story in Denny's horror stories about a cursed object. Maybe it was an old doll that brought misfortune to whoever possessed it. People around it started having nightmares and then real - life bad events occurred. It slowly drove those associated with it to madness.

The use of psychological elements. For example, in 'Black Swan', the main character's descent into madness is both fascinating and terrifying. The stories play on our deepest fears, whether it's the fear of being alone, the fear of the dark, or the fear of something malevolent that we can't see. They also often use elements of the supernatural, like ghosts or demons, which are inherently scary to most people. The combination of these factors in the stories of '13 most terrifying horror stories' makes them truly terrifying.

It also uses the element of surprise. Characters might be going about their normal day when suddenly something completely unexpected and terrifying happens. This shock factor is a big part of the horror in McSweeney's Horror Stories. Additionally, the exploration of dark human emotions and the consequences of immoral actions can be quite horrifying as it makes the reader reflect on the darker aspects of human nature.