One common element is negligence. For example, notaries not properly verifying identities. Another is mistakes in filling out the notary forms, like wrong dates or signatures. Also, dishonesty among some notaries, like being bribed to notarize false documents.
Well, here's a notary horror story. A small business owner needed a notarized contract for a big deal. The notary didn't check the identities properly. Later, it turned out that one of the parties was a fraud. The deal fell through, and the business owner lost a great opportunity and also had to deal with legal issues. And then there was a case where a notary lost an important document that was supposed to be notarized. The client had to go through a lot of trouble to recreate the document and get it notarized again.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
One common element is the white wedding dress. It often represents purity in normal weddings but in horror bride stories, it can be a symbol of the bride's unfulfilled or tragic fate. For example, a blood - stained wedding dress can be a sign of a violent end.
One common element is overbearing behavior. Bosses who are too controlling and don't trust their employees, like the micromanaging boss I mentioned before. Another is unfair treatment, such as taking credit for others' work or not giving proper rewards. And of course, unrealistic expectations, like expecting too much work in too little time.
Time pressure is a common element. Like in the case of the student with no study materials or the cook with spoiled ingredients, there's not enough time to fix things. Another is unexpected disasters, such as the coffee spill on the interview outfit.
One common element is the loss of control. For example, when a device starts acting on its own like a computer cursor moving without the user's input. Another is the invasion of privacy. Just like in stories where someone's webcam is hacked and they are being watched without their knowledge. And often there is an unknown entity, such as an anonymous hacker or a mysterious figure in a digital realm that is causing all the horror.
Common elements in rules horror stories include a rule that is either ancient or passed down in a spooky way. For example, it could be a rule written in a diary from a long - dead person. When the rule is broken, things start to go wrong in a very abnormal and scary way. There's also often a sense of isolation, whether it's in a big, empty house or a desolate forest. The characters who break the rules find themselves alone with the horror that follows. Also, there is often a build - up of suspense before the rule is broken and then a rapid escalation of fear once it is violated.
Financial exploitation is also seen sometimes. One parent may try to use the custody situation to get more money from the other. For example, demanding exorbitant child support payments while not actually using the money for the child's benefit. And there are cases where the custodial parent restricts the non - custodial parent's access to the child for no good reason, which is really unfair and causes a lot of emotional pain.
Common elements in nautical horror stories include the sea itself being an unpredictable and dangerous entity. It can swallow a ship whole or carry strange and terrifying creatures. Strange noises are also common, whether it's the creaking of an old ship in a way that doesn't seem normal, or unidentifiable howls and screeches. The fear of the unknown is a big part. Crew members or passengers not knowing what lurks beneath the waves or in the dark corners of the ship. In some stories, there are cursed artifacts on the ship that bring about the horror, like a mysterious chest or a strange piece of jewelry.