Well, one story could be about a strange figure seen in the old abandoned wing of the school at night. Students claim to have heard eerie noises coming from there too.
In a middle school, there was a supposedly haunted music room. The piano would sometimes play by itself. It was later discovered that there was a problem with the piano's mechanism. When the temperature changed, it would cause some keys to be pressed down, creating the spooky effect. But before that was known, it was a terrifying mystery for the students.
Common themes include the power of the mind. In some stories, the horror is created by the character's own thoughts and paranoia. Death is also a prevalent theme. Whether it's a character facing their own death or the death of someone else in a spooky way. And then there's the theme of secrets. There might be a hidden secret in the school or among the characters that, once revealed, brings out the horror. For instance, a long - forgotten murder or a hidden room full of horrors.
Mysterious figures or presences are often in these stories. It could be a ghost of a former student or just a shadowy shape that the protagonist can't quite explain. They add to the mystery and horror. For instance, a figure that disappears when you get close or one that just stares at the main character from a distance.
A lot of middle school horror short stories deal with the theme of the supernatural. This could be ghosts, witches, or other paranormal elements. It gives a sense of something beyond our normal understanding. Also, themes of betrayal can be found, where a character is betrayed by someone they trust, which then leads to a horror - filled situation. For instance, a friend who turns out to be something evil. These themes are used to create a sense of fear and unease in the reader.
Dark and isolated places like basements or empty classrooms are common. For example, an old storage room in the basement where things seem to move on their own.
One common element is unruly students. They can be disobedient, disrespectful, and cause chaos in the classroom. For example, students talking back to the teacher or refusing to do assignments.
One of the best middle school horror novels is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'. It has a collection of really spooky tales that are perfect for middle schoolers who like a good scare. The stories often have unexpected twists and the illustrations add to the overall creepiness.
One great middle school horror short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which has a spooky premise where a family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrifying consequences. And 'The Landlady' is also a good one. It tells the story of a young man who stays at a bed - and - breakfast run by a strange landlady.
One middle school level horror story is about a girl who always heard strange scratching noises coming from the old attic in her school at night. Every time she passed by it during the day, she felt a cold chill. One night, she was forced to stay late for detention. As she walked down the empty hall, the scratching got louder. When she finally mustered the courage to look up at the attic door, she saw a pair of glowing eyes staring down at her.