A very disturbing story is 'I looked in the mirror. My face was melting like wax.' This is disturbing because it involves something abnormal and grotesque happening to one's own body. It makes you feel a sense of unease and horror. Another one is 'I heard my mother call my name from the kitchen. My mother has been dead for five years.' This plays on the fear of the supernatural and the unexpected return of the dead, which is a common and highly disturbing horror theme.
Well, 'My phone took a picture of me while I slept. In the photo, there was a figure standing over me.' This is quite scary as it involves the invasion of our private space, especially when we are at our most vulnerable while sleeping. It also adds the mystery of an unknown figure. This makes us wonder what that figure could be and how it got there while we were unaware.
One story could be 'I always feel like I'm being watched at night. Then I realized the eyes in my portraits were following me.' It gives that sudden shiver of something abnormal in a familiar setting.
One story could be 'I always sleep with a nightlight. Last night, I woke up to find it off and a cold hand on my wrist.' Another might be 'The old doll in the attic blinked. Now it sits at the foot of my bed.'
Here's another. 'I woke up to find the world silent. When I looked out the window, all I saw were shoes.' This is scary as the silence implies something is very wrong, and the sight of just shoes is strange and makes you wonder what happened to the people.
Another one could be 'I heard a scratching at the window all night. In the morning, there were deep gouges on the glass and no sign of what made them. The simplicity of two sentences can create a very intense and spooky atmosphere.
One could be 'I woke up to find my reflection smiling back at me, but I wasn't.' It creates an immediate sense of unease as it plays on the idea of something being wrong with one's own reflection, which is often associated with the self. It makes you wonder what has taken over your appearance.
I walked into the empty room. Suddenly, I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, but no one was there.
There was a knock on the door. Nobody was there when I opened it.
I woke up to find a shadow at the end of my bed. When I turned on the light, it was gone.
One: 'I woke up to find my reflection missing from the mirror. And I heard footsteps coming from the empty room.'