Suspense is a key element. For example, in stories like 'The Turn of the Screw', the governess is not sure if the ghosts she sees are real or just in her mind. This keeps the reader on edge.
The 'Headless Horseman' is also a classic Halloween ghost story. In this tale, a headless rider on a horse rides through the night, usually in a small town or forest. He is often in search of his lost head. The story has been told in many different versions over the years and is a staple of Halloween lore.
One great Halloween scary story is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. It features Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolteacher who encounters the Headless Horseman. The spooky atmosphere of the small town, the dark woods, and the terrifying Horseman make it a classic. Another is 'Dracula'. The vampire's ability to transform, his thirst for blood, and his charm that lures in victims create a truly scary tale. And 'Frankenstein' is also a good one. The idea of a man - made monster that is shunned by society and has a dark side is really frightening.
One story could be about an old abandoned house on the outskirts of town during Halloween 2016. People said they saw a ghostly figure in the window, a woman in a white dress. She was said to be the spirit of a bride who died on her wedding day many years ago. Whenever someone passed by on Halloween night, she would appear, as if still waiting for her groom.
A great Halloween story is from a party I attended. Everyone was dressed up so creatively. There was a guy who made a DIY costume of a giant spider. We had a costume contest and danced all night. It was so much fun and full of positive energy.
One Halloween short ghost story is about a haunted house. A young couple moved into an old Victorian house. Every night at midnight, they would hear the sound of a rocking chair creaking. One night, they saw a faint figure of an old woman rocking in the corner. They ran out of the house and never returned.
One classic Halloween ghost story is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. It features Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolteacher, who has an encounter with the Headless Horseman. Another is 'The Turn of the Screw' which tells a haunting tale of a governess who believes she sees the ghosts of former servants at a country estate. And 'A Christmas Carol' can also be considered in a sense for Halloween as it has ghosts like Jacob Marley who visits Ebenezer Scrooge to change his ways.
The Bell Witch Haunting is a very scary real Halloween ghost story. The Bell family in Tennessee was terrorized by a malevolent spirit known as the Bell Witch. It would pull hair, slap people, and make strange noises. It even predicted the death of John Bell. The events were so terrifying that it has become one of the most famous hauntings in American history.
The story of 'The Ghostly Pianist'. In an old mansion, there was a grand piano. Every midnight, without anyone playing, the piano would start to play a sad, haunting melody. People said it was the ghost of a pianist who had died in that mansion long ago, still trying to finish his last composition.
One common element is the spooky setting like old cemeteries, abandoned houses or dark forests. These places are often associated with the unknown and death, which makes them perfect for ghost stories. Another is the appearance of the ghosts, usually in white or pale colors, often with a tattered or old - fashioned look. Also, there is usually a sense of mystery or a task that the main character has to deal with, such as finding out why the ghost is there or how to get rid of it.