opening lines for horror stories

The old house stood at the end of the lane, its broken windows like empty eye sockets staring into the void. This opening line creates an image of a desolate and potentially haunted place, drawing the reader in.

The opening line 'The man who bought my soul already owned my body.' is quite a great horror opening. It throws you right into a disturbing situation. It makes you question how someone could have their body and soul in such a compromised state. It's a line that grabs your attention and drags you into a world of horror and the unknown.

The moon was blood - red that night, casting an eerie glow over the cemetery. This not only sets a spooky scene but also hints at something unnatural about to occur. The cemetery is a classic horror setting, and the red moon adds an extra layer of horror.

The moon was full, but its light couldn't penetrate the thick fog that had swallowed the old, decrepit mansion at the end of the lane.

In Stephen King's 'It', the opening line 'The terror, which would not end for another twenty - eight years - if it ever did end - began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain.' It hooks the reader right away. The mention of a long - lasting terror and something as simple as a floating paper boat in a rain - swollen gutter creates a contrast that draws you in.

A classic opening line might be 'The graveyard was filled with an unnatural stillness as the moon hung low in the sky.' This not only gives a spooky setting but also creates a sense of unease. The graveyard is a typical horror setting, and the description of the moon and the stillness draws the reader in, making them wonder what lurks within that stillness.

A great opening is 'The old house at the end of the lane had always been a mystery. Everyone in town had a different story about it.' This makes the reader curious about the house and the various stories. For example, it could lead to a horror story, a mystery about a hidden treasure, or a family secret. The possibilities are endless, and it draws the reader in by presenting an enigma right from the start.

One funny opening line could be 'Once upon a time, in a land not too far away but with really strange smelling cheese, there lived a frog who thought he was a prince, but everyone else thought he was just a very confused amphibian.'

A very effective short story opening line is 'There was a man who was born old and grew younger every day.' This type of opening is so intriguing because it defies our normal understanding of the aging process. It makes the reader eager to find out more about this man, how such a thing is possible, and what his story will be. It creates a sense of mystery right from the start, which is a key element in a good short story opening.

One good opening line could be 'The day started like any other, until the strange noise came from the attic.' It immediately creates a sense of normalcy that is about to be disrupted, which draws the reader in.