Leaks are a common element. Just like in the story where the family had a slow - leak in their second - hand waterbed which could have led to a collapse. Another common thing is unexpected movement. The girl in the dorm room was scared by the large wave in her waterbed when she rolled over.
Over - expansion due to temperature changes is also common. Remember the waterbed in the attic on a hot day? The water expanded and burst the seams. And sometimes, improper installation can be an issue. If a waterbed isn't installed correctly, it can be wobbly or more likely to have problems like leaks or even tipping over, which can be quite a horror in itself.
One waterbed horror story is about a family who bought a second - hand waterbed. One night, they heard strange gurgling noises coming from it. When they investigated, they found a small leak that had been slowly filling the base of the bed with water, almost causing the whole bed to collapse.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Food quality issues are common. For example, finding bugs or foreign objects in the food.
Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.
Misleading language. For example, using words like 'free' or 'unlimited' in the CTA but then having restrictions later.
The power of nature is sometimes involved. In Ukrainian horror stories, dark forests can be a source of horror. They are often seen as places where the unknown lurks. People can get lost in them, and there might be supernatural forces at work. Also, bodies of water like lakes might be associated with strange happenings, like the appearance of water spirits.
Isolation is a common one. Just like in the story where a prisoner was in solitary confinement and felt haunted. Another is the presence of unknown and menacing inmates or spirits. In some stories, there are dark, damp and dirty cells that add to the horror atmosphere.
One of the common elements is the power imbalance. Big companies or wealthy individuals can use their resources to their advantage against smaller parties. For example, they can afford better lawyers and more extensive research. Also, misinformation or false evidence can play a role. Sometimes, false witnesses are presented, or evidence is misinterpreted, which can lead to unjust outcomes in litigation horror stories. This can be especially devastating for the innocent parties involved.