The forced displacement of native peoples is a very scary aspect. In horror stories, it can lead to vengeful spirits. For example, if settlers take over native land due to manifest destiny, the spirits of the natives may haunt them, bringing bad luck and death.
One horror story could be: The settlers, driven by manifest destiny, pushed into the native lands. As they built their new homes, at night they heard strange whispers. They soon realized the land was haunted by the spirits of the natives they displaced, and the whispers were cries of vengeance.
Another really scary one could be 'My phone rang at 3 am. The caller ID said it was me.' It plays on the idea of the self being something other or unknown, and calls at that time are always spooky.
I think 'The clock stopped at midnight. Then I heard footsteps.' is quite scary. It gives this feeling of something ominous starting right at a spooky time.
Some two - sentence horror stories are truly spine - chilling. For example, 'I woke up to a noise in the kitchen. When I got there, all the knives were floating.' The simplicity of the setting and the unexpected, supernatural element make it effective. Another one could be 'She heard a baby crying in the attic. She doesn't have a baby.' It plays on our primal fears of the unknown and the unexpected in a very short space, creating a sense of unease and horror.
In a way, they can feel real because they touch on primal fears that we all have. But no, they're not based on actual happenings. They're just creative expressions to give you a quick scare.