For me, it's the unexplained elements. Like when things move on their own with no logical reason. For example, a book flying off a shelf when there's no wind or anyone nearby.
One story is about an old, abandoned mansion. People passing by at night often claim to see a figure in white floating near the attic window. It was said that a young girl died in that house many years ago under mysterious circumstances, and ever since, her spirit seems to be trapped there.
Many of the stories in 'freaky but true ghost stories' seem to be rooted in real experiences. The people who tell these stories usually sound very sincere. For example, a person might describe how they were in an old house and heard strange noises that couldn't be explained by normal means. They might also talk about how they felt a sudden coldness or a sense of dread. These details give the impression that they are based on something that actually happened, although of course, there's always a bit of mystery and room for skepticism.
There's a local legend about a ghost of a woman in a white dress who haunts a bridge. People say that if you drive across the bridge at midnight, you might see her standing in the middle of the road. One night, a guy I know was dared to do it. He said as he was approaching the bridge, his car radio started acting up, making strange static noises. And when he got closer, he thought he saw a figure in white, but he sped up and got out of there as fast as he could.
In some of the 'freaky but true ghost stories', there are tales of ghosts hitchhiking. Drivers claim to pick up a passenger who then mysteriously disappears. It gives a really spooky feeling, especially when it happens on a lonely road at night.
It's also the element of fear. These stories tap into our primal fear of the supernatural. They make our skin crawl and give us a thrill that we don't get from normal stories. For example, a story about a haunted house where things move on their own makes us feel a sense of unease and excitement at the same time. And we keep thinking about it long after we've heard it.
One is the Amityville Horror. The family who moved into that house experienced all sorts of terrifying things like strange noises, slime on the walls, and seeing apparitions. It became very famous.
Sure. There's a story from a hotel. Guests would report that their belongings were moved around when they left the room. And at night, they could feel a cold presence. Some even claimed to see a face in the mirror that wasn't their own. It gives me chills just thinking about it.
Yes, I once heard a really freaky ghost story from my friend. She was staying in an old house and at night, she heard strange noises like someone dragging chains. When she got up to check, she saw a shadowy figure in the hallway but when she turned on the light, it disappeared. It gave her chills for weeks.
What makes these ghost stories so scary is the element of the unknown. We don't know what ghosts are really like or what they can do. When we hear a story about a strange noise or a shadow that can't be explained, it plays on our fears. For example, in a story where someone hears footsteps in an empty house, our minds start to imagine all kinds of spooky things that could be causing those footsteps.