The sense of isolation in Santa Barbara settings can add to the horror. If characters are alone in a big, old house or in a desolate part of the forest, it makes them more vulnerable to the horror elements, whether they are natural or supernatural.
Well, first, the unexpected behavior of Santa. In normal Christmas stories, Santa is all about giving gifts and spreading cheer. But in scary stories, he might be the source of fear. For instance, when he enters a house not to deliver presents but to create a sense of dread. Second, his physical appearance. If he is described as having a distorted face, glowing eyes or looking like a half - dead version of the traditional Santa, it can send shivers down one's spine. And third, the atmosphere associated with his appearance. The jingling of bells that usually signal his arrival becomes a sign of impending doom in these scary stories.
The scariest elements can be a Santa with a menacing appearance. For example, a Santa with a distorted face or red - glowing eyes is really terrifying. Also, when Santa's actions are the opposite of what we expect, like stealing instead of giving. It goes against the traditional image we have of Santa, creating a sense of unease.
The unknown is the scariest. In 'as is horror stories', things are often left in their natural state, so you don't really know what's lurking in the shadows or what's causing those strange noises. It's that sense of not having all the answers that makes it terrifying.
Isolation is also a key element. When characters are alone in a spooky place, like an abandoned asylum in one of the stories. They have no one to turn to, and that makes the situation even more terrifying as the horror unfolds around them.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. When things are not clearly defined, like a strange figure in the fog in some stories from '1001 horror stories', it makes our imagination run wild. We start to create the most terrifying scenarios in our minds.
The scariest element could be the sense of the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange noises or happenings that the characters can't explain. It's that not - knowing what is causing the fear that really gets to you.
The isolation in many of the stories is really scary. Like when a character is alone in an old, abandoned building, cut off from the outside world, and they start to feel like they're being watched by something malevolent. There's also the fear of the supernatural, such as ghosts or demons that defy the laws of nature. This makes the characters, and the readers, feel powerless against them.
The scariest part could be when Santa's appearance is distorted. For example, his rosy cheeks are replaced with sunken hollows, and his bright eyes turn into dark, soulless pits. It completely shatters the traditional image of Santa that we all grew up with.
One well - known Santa Barbara ghost story is about the ghosts in the Old Mission. People claim to have seen the apparitions of the early missionaries there. It's said that at certain times of the night, you can see shadowy figures moving around the old corridors as if they were still going about their daily tasks from centuries ago.
Well, one plot could be about a haunted house in Santa Barbara. There might be strange noises at night and apparitions that scare the inhabitants. It could involve a family who moves into an old mansion not knowing its dark past.