How can 'tuck me in two line horror stories' be so scary?

One could be: 'I tucked myself in. Then I saw a face under my bed.'

They are effective because they are concise. They quickly get to the point of horror without a lot of build - up.

I opened the basement door. A hand reached out from the darkness and grabbed my ankle.

They are effective by creating immediate tension. For example, 'The phone rang at midnight. A raspy voice said 'I'm coming'.", "Answer2":": 'Scary two line stories' work well because they rely on the reader's imagination. In a story like 'The moon was full. A howl that wasn't from a dog echoed.', the reader has to fill in the blanks about what might be making that howl. It's this sense of mystery that makes them effective.

Well, one possible 'scary two - line story' could be 'I heard a knock on the door at midnight. When I opened it, no one was there but I felt a cold hand on my shoulder.' Another could be 'The old house was empty. As I walked in, I saw a shadow that moved on its own.' And a third one might be 'She walked through the graveyard. Suddenly, a whisper called her name from an unmarked grave.'

They're short and to the point. Just two lines can quickly set a spooky mood.

I woke up to find a handprint on the mirror, but I live alone.

I woke up to find a handprint on the window, but I live on the 15th floor.

I woke up to a cold hand on my face. It wasn't mine.

I woke up in the middle of the night. There was a figure at the foot of my bed, staring at me with empty eyes.