One of the spookiest is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because of his 'vulture - like' eye. The murderer hides the body under the floorboards, but he starts to hear the old man's heart still beating, which drives him insane.
A really terrifying story could be the one where a person is being haunted by a vengeful spirit. This spirit follows them everywhere, causing strange things to happen around them. They might see the spirit in their dreams, and then start to see signs of it in their waking life too. Doors slam shut on their own, and they feel a cold breath on their neck, making them constantly on edge.
They probably have a strong atmosphere. It could be a dark and gloomy setting, like an old cemetery or an abandoned asylum. These settings add to the overall spookiness and make the events seem more terrifying. For instance, in a story set in an abandoned asylum, the creaking floors and peeling walls create a very eerie backdrop for the scary events that unfold.
One of the spookiest ghost stories is 'The Bell Witch'. It's about a spirit that haunted a family in Tennessee. The witch would torment the family by making strange noises, moving objects, and even physically attacking them. It was so terrifying that it became a well - known legend in American folklore.
Well, 'The Shining' has a very spooky ghost story element to it. The hotel in the story is haunted by various ghosts, which drive the main character crazy. There are visions of dead people in the hallways and in the rooms. Also, 'The Legend of Bloody Mary' is a well - known spooky tale. It is said that if you say her name three times in a mirror in a dark room, she will appear and bring harm.
Edgar Allan Poe is a very well - known author of spooky stories. His works like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are filled with dark themes, gloomy settings and psychological horror. His use of unreliable narrators makes the stories even spookier.
One spooky true ghost story is about the Winchester Mystery House. Sarah Winchester, the owner, kept building onto the house in a very strange way. It's said that she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. Workers reported seeing apparitions and hearing strange noises while building the complex maze - like house.
In 'The Bell Witch Haunting', the spookiest part is perhaps when the witch would start whispering threats and curses at the family members in the middle of the night. It was so terrifying as they couldn't see who or what was making those sounds. The feeling of being constantly watched and harassed by an unseen force is truly spine - chilling.
I heard a footsteps scary story from my grandfather. He was in an abandoned building once. He heard footsteps that seemed to be coming from the basement. He was curious and went to check. As he got closer to the basement stairs, the footsteps grew more intense. He then saw a shadowy figure at the bottom of the stairs. He quickly ran out of the building, and he said he never went back there again.
A really creepy story involves a disembodied voice. Hikers in the sanctuary have sometimes heard a faint voice calling out names. It could be the spirit of someone who died there, perhaps still trying to communicate with the living. There are also stories of cold spots in certain areas of the sanctuary. Even on a hot day, these spots are freezing cold, and some think it's because of the presence of ghosts.
Well, there was this story where a man was going down the stairs in an abandoned building. As he descended, the steps seemed to become steeper and darker with each step. He heard what sounded like someone dragging a heavy chain behind him. When he finally reached the bottom, he saw a pair of glowing eyes in the corner. He ran out of there as fast as he could.