The disruption of normal routine is also common. In lockdown, our daily lives are turned upside down. In scary stories, this can lead to a sense of unease. For instance, when power outages happen more often during lockdown (maybe due to less maintenance staff), it can create a spooky atmosphere. And the lack of social interaction means there's no one to quickly turn to for reassurance when something strange occurs.
One common element is the sense of uncertainty. People often don't know exactly what the threat is supposed to be. For example, in school lockdown drills, students just know they have to hide but may not be clear on the details of the 'danger'. Another is the suddenness. The drill starts without much warning, like the lights going out suddenly or an alarm blaring. Also, the strict rules of silence add to the scariness. If someone makes a noise, they fear they will be 'discovered' which creates a lot of tension.
Isolation is a common element. People being cut off from their loved ones, like in the case where families were separated across different locations. Another is the lack of access to essential services such as medical help. We saw this when people couldn't get ambulances in time. Also, shortages of basic necessities like food and medicine are often in these stories.
Most creepy school lockdown stories seem to involve a sense of mystery. For example, a locked classroom door might start rattling as if someone is trying to get in, but when the lockdown is over, there's no one there. Another common element is the presence of something that defies normal explanation. It could be a cold draft that suddenly appears in a sealed room, or a strange smell that fills the air. These elements create an atmosphere of fear and unease during the lockdown.
One scary lockdown story was when a family heard strange noises at night. They thought it was just the wind at first, but then they saw shadows moving outside their windows. They were really frightened and didn't know what to do. Another was about a person who got stuck in an elevator during lockdown. It took hours for help to arrive as there were so few people around.
One of the scary lockdown stories could be about a family that started hearing strange noises at night during lockdown. They were all alone in their house, and every night there would be a scratching sound on the walls, but they couldn't find the source.
The uncertainty is the most terrifying part. You don't know if there's a real threat or not. For example, in a lockdown because of an unconfirmed intruder report, students just have to wait and wonder if someone dangerous is actually in the school.
A group of friends were locked down in a big house. They started to play with a Ouija board out of boredom. Soon, they felt a cold presence in the room. Things started to move on their own. A picture frame fell off the wall and shattered. They were so scared that they stopped using the Ouija board immediately, but the strange occurrences continued for a few days until they all decided to sleep in the same room together for safety.
A really scary lockdown story involves a woman living alone. She started to receive anonymous and threatening notes slipped under her door. Since it was lockdown and she couldn't go out freely, she felt trapped and terrified. Also, in some areas, people reported seeing shadowy figures wandering around in the empty streets at night. It was especially creepy because the streets were supposed to be deserted during lockdown. There was this one man too who thought he saw a face at his window in the middle of the night when everything was supposed to be quiet.
One common reason is threats, like when someone calls in a bomb threat or a threat against the students or staff. Another is the presence of a potentially dangerous person near the school. For example, if there's a person acting erratically close to the school perimeter.
One common element is the fear and panic among students. They are suddenly thrust into a situation where they feel unsafe. Another is the sense of helplessness, like when they are locked in a room waiting for something to happen. Also, the unknown factor, such as not knowing if there is a real threat or how long the lockdown will last.