Write a story about someone trying to track down the source of a rumor.

Posted in Adults on May 26, 2023

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✍️ 35 stories

“The Haunting of 555 Maple Avenue” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #200

Eloise Fish pulled back her drapes a hand’s breadth, took a sip of wine, and watched the circus unfolding down the street. Night was settling on Maple Avenue, but the old house four-doors down was bathed in the lights of half a dozen full-sized vans, each honking at the others. The crew of the National Ghost Hunters had been embroiled with the cast of Paranormal Sightings Unlimited, and just now the whole production team for Spectre Collective rolled up, with their tour bus in tow.When Snuffles – her pet tarantula – shimmied down the drape, ...

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“A Babel Fish of Lies” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #200

“Good evening,” greeted the tubular dark figure hovering at Emily Whitticombe’s front door. “I am Constable RMR-1132813, and my supervisor on this visit is Detective Inspector Dorothy Garland of the Droid Yard.” Emily Whitticombe studied the shadowy figures intensely, before switching her porch light on to illuminate them. “What do you want?” She demanded to know from the hovering android. “We would like you to help us with our enquiries, Ma’em,” the droid replied with phonetic difficulty. “Regarding what?” The impatient householder asked. “...

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“A Rumor of Oilheads” by Mark VanTassel

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #200

A Rumor of Oilheads A Legend from the Strength of Old By Mark VanTassel Erde Date: 960 (Earth 1940) Breach hung head down, face to the darkness. His heart thudded, and between beats he listened. It was quiet tonight, and moonlight filtered down in streaks. He saw a fish hurry past, then a great tailfish followed. He wondered which would get what they wanted tonight--a meal, or another day. A crack from a nearby mountain rumbled through him, telling him that the firestone would hit the water again soon. When the news came, it was ...

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“Category Six” by Kevin Logue

Submitted to Contest #200

"Can you believe this? On today of all days too." Agents Mills shook his head and narrowed his dark eyes at me through the rearview mirror. To him I was little more than a nuisance, and I knew it. Just another rookie brought over to experience the human world before making my decision. "What?" The question sprayed from Agent Worth's overstuffed mouth, crumbs sprinkling the dashboard to Mills’ disgust. "I said, can you believe this?" He nodded back towards me. "Oh right, well we all have to start somewhere. You had a first day too, re...

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“From the Fourth to Bastille Day” by Anne Shillingsburg

Submitted to Contest #200

Leo’s grandmother’s is as French a garden as ever existed in backwater Kansas. Leo will go to southern France in the coming year; his grandmother will likely never go to her ancestral home, but that has not stopped her from putting on Bastille Day in force every year. When he was little, the annual vacation was a family reunion that spanned Fourth of July and Bastille day. Streamers of red, white, and blue flew instead of flags for the Fourth so they could serve dual purpose ten days later, when hot dogs were traded out for croque monsieurs ...

16 comments 16

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“Quantum banana breaks internet” by Robert Egan

Submitted to Contest #200

The video that broke the internet was about bananas. It blindsided everyone. The doomscrollers would later say they saw it coming, and the trolls would claim they did it. But on the day that the internet fell they were all just watching videos like everyone else: videos that offered simple fixes, tips and tricks; videos of bloopers, body shots, traffic stops, dance-offs, and staged candid camera moments. They were all watching, searching for traces of their ideal selves, watching and waiting to feel something. But most didn't see the...

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“Healing Through the Grapevine” by Ian James

Submitted to Contest #200

"Look, I'm not crazy," Adrian kept saying. He'd lost count how many times he'd echoed those words, and they hung in the air, heavy with his plea for understanding. His gaze landed on the man across from him - an emissary of worry and empathy. Adrian had figured out, right off the bat, that this guy wasn't here to buy an electric guitar. There was something about the weariness in his eyes, the lines of concern etched on his forehead, the sparse hair clinging to his scalp."Who put you up to this?" Adrian asked him. The man responded with ...

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“The Senator's Wife” by S. W. Vaughn

Submitted to Contest #200

“Did you hear about Senator Wickam’s wife?” I turn toward the voice to find a woman I don’t know who’s apparently talking to me. Though I have no clue who she is, I know something about her because she’s wearing a red tube dress at a charity gala. Which tells me she’s not especially charitable. She’s only here to show off her gym-toned body and the breasts her husband is probably still paying for. She blinks and takes a half-step back. Her eyebrows would’ve shot up if there wasn’t so much filler in her forehead. “I’m sorry. I thought you...

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“Whisper on the Wind” by Henry Mauser

Submitted to Contest #200

A breath of wind ghosted through the open office window, rattling the skeletal array of printed papers taped and tacked to the opposite wall. For a moment, the paper bones cracked with life, animated by the cigarette-and-saxophone city air, but presently the wind withdrew to whisper elsewhere, and the pages slumped stiff and lifeless back against the wall. A few more bones and an arrest to give flesh, and this skeleton would be ready to testify in court, and restore peace to a restless city. Printed upon the dead-white of each page was a sc...

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“Whispered Fate” by Topher Winters

Submitted to Contest #200

In the cold and unforgiving cityscape of London, Gabriel Stone, a private investigator hardened by both the city streets and the unseen dark corners of the paranormal, sat quietly in a seedy pub tucked away in a narrow alley. It was a sanctuary for the downtrodden, forgotten by the world and drenched in shadows. Here, Stone knew, lay a trail that could lead him to an entity as insidious as it was clever. In the treacherous game of cat and mouse that he played with the supernatural, the trail of The Miller was the dodgiest he had ever follo...

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“The Devil's Hometown” by Allan Bernal

Submitted to Contest #200

The following are interviews conducted and recorded by journalist Ruby Fullbright as part of her investigation of Bushfield, Georgia. All interviews were conducted in the year 2000, fifteen years after the name “Devil’s Hometown” first appeared in print referring to Bushfield. Isaiah Malcolm, 54, former federal agent: So, you wanna know why it’s called the Devil’s Hometown. Well, the fact that Bushfield is in Georgia certainly doesn’t help – the Devil went down to Georgia af...

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“Alina J. Michaels, Sr. Technician, 12 years tenure” by Gianluca Angelucci

Submitted to Contest #200

Everything needs to be impeccable. She stands, adjusting the blazer in front of her reflection on the opaque glass walls of the office, straightening the folds on her suit with firm pulls. Getting back to her chair she checks her makeup on an round hand-mirror, perfect. The computer screen displays the employee page for Alina J. Michaels, Sr. Technician, 12 years tenure. The picture on the screen looks just like a baseball card in a kids game. She goes through the page one last time, just to be sure to have all memorized. A knock on ...

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“The Eighth Sin” by Jessica Cook

Submitted to Contest #200

The lies ate away at Aileen until she couldn't take it, until she was done being nice to everyone as they plastered fake smiles across their faces to get through the sight of her. She was back in her hometown not even a full week before the whispers and stares wove between the goosebumps on her back. Aileen slept with so-and-so. Did you hear about that night? I hear it runs in the family. Aileen had no idea what person she supposedly slept with, or what night that took place. The only thing that ran in her family was a short temper and h...

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“AND YOU THOUGHT ONLY HUMANS GOSSIPED!” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #200

AND YOU THOUGHT ONLY HUMANS GOSSIPED “Look, there’s no point in beating around the bush, Gloria. You didn’t get it. I’m so awfully sorry but the board voted unanimously for Rex and he will be the new Off-Planet CEO”. “But, I thought…with your backing…” “I know, I know. It’s as much a shock to me as it is to you. I had pinned all my hopes on you being selected. You’d have been my eyes and ears up there but, there it is. We just have to bide our time and try again in three years”. “But it makes no sense.&n...

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“What seems reality is not reality ” by Stephen Lake

Submitted to Contest #200

Raymon Diggins was found lying dead in the middle of a busy road in his hometown of the state of Washington. Nobody knew what happened, except for Raymond was exiting his apartment with his poodle to walk on their daily routine. Only a civilian saw Raymond stop in the middle of the road and stare at something in front of him when there was nothing in sight. The civilian noticed that Raymond reached out his right arm to what appeared he was grabbing a shoulder. It was reported that the civilian tried to get the attention o...

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Write a story about someone trying to track down the source of a rumor.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 35 stories

“The Haunting of 555 Maple Avenue” by Michał Przywara

“A Babel Fish of Lies” by Chris Campbell

“A Rumor of Oilheads” by Mark VanTassel

“Category Six” by Kevin Logue

“From the Fourth to Bastille Day” by Anne Shillingsburg

“Quantum banana breaks internet” by Robert Egan

“Healing Through the Grapevine” by Ian James

“The Senator's Wife” by S. W. Vaughn

“Whisper on the Wind” by Henry Mauser

“Whispered Fate” by Topher Winters

“The Devil's Hometown” by Allan Bernal

“Alina J. Michaels, Sr. Technician, 12 years tenure” by Gianluca Angelucci

“The Eighth Sin” by Jessica Cook

“AND YOU THOUGHT ONLY HUMANS GOSSIPED!” by Charles Corkery

“What seems reality is not reality ” by Stephen Lake

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that includes the line “my lips are sealed.”

Write a story about a piece of gossip that becomes more and more distorted as it passes from person to person.

Your character is known as the town gossip. One day, it comes back to bite them.

Your main character has a secret superpower; the gossip they spread always comes true.

Contest #200

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

210

Contest entries

116

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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