The mystery surrounding the wanderer is what makes it so scary. We don't know where it comes from, what it wants, or why it's wandering. This lack of knowledge creates fear in our minds. Also, it might be associated with death or bad omens. For instance, whenever it shows up, strange things start to happen like animals acting strangely or the weather suddenly changing for the worse. It gives the impression that it has some sort of power over the natural world, and that power is not friendly to humans.
The unknown elements make a scary story terrifying. When there are things that the characters and the readers don't understand, like a strange noise in the dark or a figure that appears and disappears without explanation, it creates fear. For example, in a haunted house story, if there are unexplained cold spots or voices, it gives a sense of unease.
The atmosphere. If it's set in a dark, isolated place, it can be really frightening.
The things that make 'harold the scary story' scary could be multiple. If Harold is a menacing character, his actions like stalking or making strange noises in the dark would be scary. Also, the setting of the story might be spooky, like an old abandoned place. And the unknown elements about Harold, such as his motives or where he came from, can add to the scariness.
Perhaps it's the cat's appearance. If it has long, sharp claws and a wild look in its eyes, that can be really frightening.
Regarding 'She opened her eyes. Darkness everywhere. Then she realized she was already dead.', it's the sudden realization of a terrible truth. The contrast between thinking you're alive and then finding out you're dead is a huge shock. It plays on our fear of the afterlife, of the unknown state of being dead, and the fact that we may not even be aware of our own death.
The mystery around the hook. We don't know exactly what it is or what it can do, and that's scary.
It could be the idea that the whispers are a sign of something sinister. For example, they might be the voices of the dead or some kind of evil entity trying to lure the characters into danger. The fact that they are whispers gives an air of secrecy and mystery, making the listener or reader feel on edge.
Well, it could be the atmosphere described in the story. If it creates a really dark and eerie feeling, that would make it scary.
In the 'Scary Sally Story', it could be the sense of isolation that Sally feels that makes it so scary. If she is alone in a place where she can't get help easily, such as in an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. And if there are things that seem to be out of place or not normal, like objects moving by themselves or strange voices whispering in her ear. The combination of being alone and these abnormal occurrences can be truly terrifying. It also might be that Sally herself is a relatable character, so readers or listeners can put themselves in her shoes and feel the fear more intensely.
The toad might be scary because it could represent something unnatural or a disruption of the normal order. For example, if it has some strange behavior like being able to communicate in a human - like way or if it has powers that defy the laws of nature. Also, if it's associated with a place that is already considered spooky, like a haunted forest, it adds to the scariness. The toad could be seen as a symbol of an evil force that has invaded a natural setting.