A horror story is a narrative designed to evoke feelings of fear, dread, or unease in its audience. It typically features elements that exploit our deepest fears and vulnerabilities, often through supernatural or psychological means. Key characteristics of horror stories include:

1. **Atmosphere and Setting**: Horror stories often take place in eerie, foreboding locations such as abandoned houses, dark forests, or isolated islands. The setting contributes to a sense of isolation and impending danger.

2. **Antagonists**: These can range from supernatural beings like ghosts, vampires, or demons to human antagonists with twisted motives or psychological issues. The threat they pose is central to the story's tension.

3. **Fear-Inducing Themes**: Common themes include death, the unknown, existential dread, and the breakdown of sanity. Horror stories often explore primal fears that tap into universal human anxieties.

4. **Suspense and Tension**: Effective horror relies on building suspense through pacing, foreshadowing, and unsettling events. It keeps the audience on edge, anticipating what will happen next.

5. **Psychological Depth**: Many horror stories delve into characters' psyches, exploring their fears, vulnerabilities, and moral dilemmas. This psychological aspect can make the horror more relatable and unsettling.

6. **Gore and Violence**: While not essential, some horror stories include graphic descriptions of violence or gore to intensify fear and revulsion in the audience.

7. **Symbolism and Allegory**: Some horror stories use symbolism and allegory to explore deeper themes such as societal fears, morality, or the consequences of human actions.

8. **Resolution or Lack Thereof**: Horror stories may conclude with a resolution that provides closure or leaves questions unanswered, contributing to a lingering sense of unease.

Overall, horror stories aim to provoke intense emotional reactions, often challenging our perceptions of reality and the boundaries between the known and the unknown. They can range from supernatural tales of the paranormal to psychological thrillers that delve into the darkest corners of the human mind.