What are some good opening sentences for horror stories?

One opening sentence could be 'In the dead of night, a strange scratching sound came from the attic.' A possible complete story: In the dead of night, a strange scratching sound came from the attic. I lived alone in that old house. Ignoring it at first, I tried to go back to sleep. But the scratching grew louder. I slowly made my way up the creaky stairs. When I opened the attic door, a pair of glowing eyes stared at me from the darkness. I quickly turned on the light, but there was nothing there. As I turned to leave, a cold hand grabbed my shoulder. I screamed but no one could hear me in that isolated place.

One could be 'In a world where the moon never set and the stars were portals to other realms, a young adventurer set out on a journey that would change everything.'

A great opening is 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke her up, a noise she had never heard before.' This creates mystery and makes the reader wonder what the noise is and what will happen next. It gives a sense of unease and anticipation right from the start.

One could be 'In a world full of chaos, his smile was the only thing that made sense to her from the very first glance.'

Sure. 'As I walked into the abandoned asylum, a chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.'

You could start with 'In the park, under the old oak tree, two boys sat side by side, sharing secrets. Their friendship was like a warm blanket on a cold day.' This opening paints a picture of the setting (the park under the oak tree) and uses a simile to describe the friendship as something warm and comforting. It gives a sense of closeness and intimacy between the two characters.

A great start might be 'With a map in one hand and a sense of wild excitement in her heart, Lily boarded the rickety old boat that would take her to uncharted islands.' Here, it immediately sets the scene of a character about to embark on an adventure. It gives a sense of the tools they have, like the map, and their emotional state, which is excitement. Also, the description of the boat as 'rickety' adds an element of risk and unpredictability, which are often associated with adventures.

One could be 'The day the world ended began like any other.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention by suggesting something momentous is about to be revealed. It sets a mysterious and anticipatory tone, making the reader wonder what exactly made this day different from the others.

The old house creaked in the wind, each groan sounding like a dying scream.

The old house stood at the end of the lane, its broken windows like empty eye sockets staring into the void. This opening line creates an image of a desolate and potentially haunted place, drawing the reader in.