What are the common elements in short urban ghost stories?

One common element is old, dilapidated buildings. They often serve as the setting for these stories, like an abandoned factory or an old mansion.

One common element is old buildings. Abandoned factories, old mansions or former hospitals often feature in these stories. They carry a sense of history and mystery. Another element is tragic events. For example, deaths, murders or suicides that took place there in the past. These events create a somber and spooky atmosphere.

Strange noises are also very common. Whether it's a creaking floorboard, a howling wind or an unexplained scratching sound, it adds to the scare factor. For example, in many stories, the main character hears these noises at night when they are alone, which makes it even scarier.

One common element is the spooky setting. Often it's a dark, isolated place like an old mansion or a deserted cemetery. Another is the presence of an otherworldly being, like a ghost or a spirit. For example, in many stories, the ghost has a tragic backstory that ties into its haunting.

One common element is the sense of the unknown. Ghosts are often mysterious, and their presence is not fully understood.

Common elements include the use of the supernatural. Ghosts, spirits, and otherworldly phenomena are central to scary ghost stories. In short stories, this can be used to convey a deeper meaning or just to scare the reader. Another element is foreshadowing. In many of these stories, there are hints early on about what will happen later. For instance, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the description of the wallpaper at the beginning foreshadows the woman's descent into madness as she becomes more and more fixated on it.

There might be a story of a park that was built on an old cemetery. People often see shadowy figures among the trees at dusk. These figures seem to be wandering aimlessly as if they are still attached to the place where they were buried.

One common element is a sense of mystery. For example, in the vanishing hitchhiker story, the mystery of how the girl vanishes. Another element is the element of fear. In the Bloody Mary legend, the fear of an unknown entity appearing in the mirror. And often there's a moral or warning, like in La Llorona where it warns against the consequences of extreme anger and jealousy.

One common element is the spooky setting. It could be an old, abandoned house or a fog - covered graveyard. Another is the presence of unexplained noises like creaking floors or howling winds. And often, there's a sense of mystery surrounding the ghost's identity and why it haunts a particular place.

Another element is the presence of unexplained phenomena such as strange noises, objects moving on their own, or apparitions. For example, in many short ghost stories, doors slam shut or lights flicker without any natural cause. Also, a feeling of being watched or a cold presence is often described. This makes the reader or listener feel the unease that the character in the story is experiencing.