One liners to start a story: 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise woke me up.'

It sounds like the start of a mystery or a horror story. Maybe there's a burglar or something supernatural causing the noise.

It could be just the old house settling. As houses age, the wooden beams and structures shift slightly, which can often create strange creaking or knocking sounds.

The moment I was awakened by that strange noise in the dead of night, a shiver ran down my spine. I was all alone in the house. I carefully opened my bedroom door and peeked out. The house was pitch - black. I remembered that I had left my glasses on the kitchen table, so everything was a blur. I heard the noise again, this time it sounded like it was coming from the basement. I was terrified of the basement, but my curiosity got the better of me. I slowly made my way down the stairs, my hand gripping the railing tightly. When I reached the bottom, I fumbled for the light switch. Once the light was on, I saw that a mouse had knocked over a box of old tools, creating the noise. I was so relieved that it wasn't something more dangerous.

For a thriller story, after being awakened, you grab a flashlight and slowly move towards the source of the noise. You realize that the noise is coming from outside your window. Looking out, you see a masked figure running away. You decide to follow, leading you into a dark alley. Along the way, you encounter various obstacles. You might find out that the figure is part of a gang planning something illegal in the neighborhood, and you've now put yourself in danger.

The strange look in his eyes might mean he had a secret. Maybe he was a retired spy or something. I sat down next to him and he started to tell me a story about his past. It was full of adventure and mystery. He talked about far - off lands and dangerous missions. I was completely captivated.

I slowly climbed the creaky stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. As I reached the top, I saw a figure in the corner. It was a little girl, her eyes black as coal. She let out a blood - curdling scream and then disappeared. I never went up to the attic again.

Here's an answer. In the middle of the night, I heard a strange noise coming from the attic. I knew I had to investigate. As I climbed the stairs, I felt a cold draft. When I opened the attic door, it creaked ominously. I peered into the darkness, and there was a figure in the corner. It was hunched over, and I couldn't make out what it was. My heart was pounding as I took a step closer.

In the middle of the night, a loud noise woke up John. He sat up in his bed, his heart pounding. He listened carefully, trying to figure out what could have made such a sound. It seemed to be coming from downstairs. He grabbed a flashlight from his bedside table and slowly made his way out of his room. As he walked down the stairs, every creak of the floorboards made him jump. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he shone the flashlight into the living room. There, he saw that his cat had knocked over a vase, which had shattered on the floor.

Maybe it's a stray cat. They often climb on things and might accidentally scratch at the window while looking for a warm place or some food. However, if this is the start of a horror, it might be a demonic cat or a shape - shifter in the form of a cat.

He should first look for a source of water. Water is essential for survival, and finding a stream or a pond can also give him an idea of the general layout of the forest, as water sources often attract other forms of life.