What are the characteristics of twist short horror stories?

One interesting one is about a couple camping in the woods. They hear howls all night. In the morning, they find a huge paw print. They decide to leave but get lost. As night falls again, they see a pair of glowing eyes. Just as they think it's a wild animal, a ranger comes out. But then the ranger's face twists and he says 'I'm the real danger here'.

One characteristic is the element of surprise. The ending is not what you expect.

They are concise. Usually, they quickly establish a spooky or menacing situation. For example, in a short horror story, the horror might start within the first few sentences, like a strange noise in an empty house right at the start.

Typically, they are likely to have elements of the unknown. The fear of the unknown is a common characteristic in horror. For example, an unexplained sound or a shadow that moves on its own.

Often, they create a sense of unease and fear quickly. For example, they might start with a strange or disturbing setting like a haunted house or a desolate graveyard.

They are often filled with suspense. The authors build up tension to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Sure. Here's one. A woman was alone in her house at night. She heard strange noises coming from the attic. She bravely went up to check. There was an old doll sitting in the corner. As she turned to leave, she heard a voice say 'You shouldn't have come.' When she looked back, the doll was gone.

Many 1948 horror short stories often had a sense of mystery. They were set in rather ordinary settings which made the horror more relatable. For instance, like 'The Lottery', it was set in a small town that seemed normal at first glance.

Sure. One story is about a girl who always hears strange noises at night. She thinks it's the old house settling. One night, she decides to face it and goes to the attic. There, she finds a doll that looks exactly like her. As she reaches for it, the doll's eyes open and it whispers 'You're not alone'.

One idea could be that the seemingly innocent child character is actually the one causing all the horror. They have some sort of dark power that they are using to torment the adults around them. For example, they make people see their worst nightmares come to life.