Setting and imagery are two literary elements that help build up suspense in the short story called “The Bus Ride”. A literary element that helped build up suspense in “ The Bus Ride” is setting. The passage states, “It was still dark outside; usually I left the ER around eight, and now it was barely six fifteen.” This shows that it is dark and creates a sense of insecurity in the passage since you can’t see everything around you. Another piece of evidence that is said in the passage is, “From that view point of the back corner of the bus, I could see everyone. I didn’t like being in a weak seat, where someone I couldn’t see could be watching me.” This represents that she believes that anything could happen if she isn’t in the seat she prefers.