The unknown and the sense of impending doom. In the story with the truck driver and the strange noises and the apparition, the hitchhiker had no idea what was going to happen next. The fear of the unknown, like whether the driver was a threat or if there were really ghosts, is a very scary aspect in these types of stories.
In some stories, it might be the sense of the unknown. For example, when there are unexplained phenomena like objects moving on their own. You don't know what's causing it, and that's really terrifying.
The feeling of being watched is really terrifying. In many true stories, people describe that creepy sensation of eyes on them, but when they look around, there's nothing there. It gives a sense of dread and paranoia. For example, in the story of the old house where the family always felt watched, but they could never find the source.
The scariest part is often the unknown. In many true scary stories, like the haunted house ones, not knowing what is causing the strange noises or apparitions. It could be anything, and that sense of mystery and potential danger is terrifying.
The feeling of being trapped. Once you've let the hitchhiker into your car, it's not that easy to get them out, especially if they don't want to leave. And if they turn out to be dangerous, you're in a very vulnerable position in a small, enclosed space like a car.
In some of the stories, the sudden appearance of the supernatural entities is the scariest part. Like in the haunted house story, when a ghostly figure just pops up in front of you out of nowhere. It gives you an instant shock.
The sudden and unexplained disappearances or strange happenings. For example, in many hitchhiker stories, the hitchhiker might vanish suddenly, or objects in the car start behaving oddly like the radio going haywire or the engine stopping without reason. This creates a sense of the supernatural and the feeling that there's some malevolent force at work.
The invasion of privacy in smart home device hacks is very scary. Knowing that someone could be watching you through your own camera or messing with your home environment without your permission is a huge concern. It makes you feel vulnerable in your own home, which is supposed to be a safe place.
The sudden appearance of something strange. In the story of the face at the window, the babysitter is just going about her job, and then suddenly there's this creepy face. There's no warning, and it's something that seems out of place and threatening, which is really terrifying.
The feeling of helplessness. For example, in a haunted house story, when you're trapped inside and there's no way to escape the terrifying presence. You can't fight it because you don't know what it is. It makes the story really scary as hell.
The suddenness is often the scariest part. Lightning can strike without warning, like in the story of the hiker where it hit the tree near him so suddenly. Another scary aspect is the power it shows. When it causes destruction, like splitting a tree or hitting a chimney and causing sparks. It makes people realize how vulnerable they are.