Dream up a secret library. Write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. What’s in the library? Why was it kept secret?

Posted in Adventure on May 17, 2024

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✍️ 97 stories

“Ascending Absolution ” by Caitlyn Diamond

Submitted to Contest #251

This story discusses topics of dementia and death. It started with her forgetting names for things and places. Although it was rare, early on-set dementia affected people as early as forty. Forty-three in my mom’s case. The day she told me about her illness, I decided it was my purpose to learn as much as possible about her. It was important to me to hear about her childhood, her dreams, her fears, her loves, her heartbreaks, and her passions while I still had the chance. The duty and drive to document the life of the person I loved most w...

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“Trevor the Teleporting Marvel” by John Redken

Submitted to Contest #251

Wendy took one of the three bananas out of the shopping bag, pointed it at Trevor, and hissed “what's this?”She'd sent him to the supermarket, with another one of her lists, to get some groceries as she was “bogged down with the effing ironing.”Only he hadn't gotten it 100% right, and 100% right was what Wendy demanded. She'd written down “three GREEN bananas,” as she didn't like them fully ripe. Trouble was, Tesco were out of green, apart from the larger bags of organic ones. So Trevor made an educated guess, and chose three yellow bananas,...

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“Forsaken Library” by Emily Pollan

Submitted to Contest #251

"Ugh..." I coughed as I sat up into the dust cloud created by my impact on the dust covered splintered wood beneath me. I looked up, seeing a giant hole far above me, shining a dim light like a sad spotlight on me. "How did I even survive that fall?" I asked myself, feeling around my body for any pain from bruises or bumps, "I guess my bag cushioned the fall. Hah, I told Michael overpacking would be a good idea." I took off my bag and failed my attempt in standing. A shocking pain rang through my right ankle and up my whole body. I tripped f...

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“Check With Me Before You Touch Anything” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #251

Five war-weary Santori soldiers approach the Rahman Cathedral led by Commander Arcus Dollman, a ruthless, driven leader intent on wiping out the Kuntasi civilization and ending the war between them. His present mission is to loot the cathedral, which is rumored to contain millions in treasure and ancient texts about alchemy. The men are accompanied by Father Theodor Strasburg, a Kuntasi cleric. Father Strasburg hopes he can convince Dollman to spare their religious texts. Commander Dollman smiles as he looks at the cathedral’s shell-smudged...

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“The Library Card” by Derek Hastings

Submitted to Contest #251

The Library Card Barry Wilder watched as the Librarian scanned his Reader’s Card to gain access to Duke Humphries Library. Years of genealogical research into the Wilder family culminated in this trip to visit the Domesday book and collection and its list of property owners after William the Conqueror became king. All of his research pointed to his family being substantial landowners under King Edward’s reign. Genealogy was his addiction. Barry’s only saving grace was his wife, who supported him even when he lost his job due to the a...

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“The Tome” by Vincent Jessop

Submitted to Contest #251

In the labyrinthine chambers of the crumbling Bibliotheca Sericatus, shadows whispered ancient secrets as the air held the scent of aged parchment, decaying wood, and forgotten magic. The walls themselves seemed to breathe, moving subtly with a life of their own, the silence filled with a hidden, ominous hum. A scholar named Cassandra stumbled and limped past the towering stacks of scrolls and grimoires, her hands stained with ink and blood, trembling with an urgent purpose. A magical construct of light hovered over her, illuminating the dar...

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“What Behind the Door Lurks?” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #251

As he opened the door of the darkened building and stepped into the glitzy vestibule, a loud sound echoed off the walls. He then saw before him a long, dark corridor illuminated on each side only by a series of book lights, one every few feet. John’s girlfriend Jane had texted him a half hour before and told him to join her at the abandoned building, to which she had provided Google Maps directions attached to her text. Although the place looked familiar to him, its age a...

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“The Knights' Trio and the Library of Damned Fools” by Joseph Keener

Submitted to Contest #251

Far and deep into the long lost reaches of the Caucasus Mountains, two men (and a Woman), were climbing down a sheer cliff. The first man, stout of body and sharp of mind, rappelled down with the care and precision of a three-legged ewe. Mainly as he was coated in full steel plate. As he smashed against the rock wall for a third time, his first companion called down to him playfully as the rope shook. "Oaf! Do be careful! I don't want the meteor of your shelled form to alert the Quarry of our approach. This one is a wily one, so I am told!"...

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“Good Sort Of People” by James Seamone

Submitted to Contest #251

I did odd jobs for Mrs. Maplewood. Mowed her lawn, raked her leaves, minor household maintenance and repairs. I have been doing these jobs for her for the past five years, started just before her husband died in that car accident.I was twelve years old and delivered papers at the time. Mr. Maplewood was sitting on the front steps waiting for me one morning. He asked me if I would like to do some odd jobs for them as they were getting older and could not keep up with it all. He offered to pay me so much more than I was getting delivering pape...

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“Special Collection” by Avery Crescent

Submitted to Contest #251

Sequestered in the library archives, doctoral student Amelia Jenkins gazed at the 15th century manuscript that lay before her. As she lifted the curled edge of the parchment and studied the text, she imagined its author writing these words more than five hundred years ago. The ancient document described the seasonal rotation of crops and the annual harvests of wheat, oats, and barley. Halfway down the page, the manuscript ended mid-sentence, the writer's meticulous handwriting turning to light scratches and dark blots. The author had apparen...

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“Adventures of the Kids from Detective School” by Stacey Cooper

Submitted to Contest #251

A young woman spends the day visiting a children’s museum. It is a famous museum and she has wanted to visit the museum for a long time. She wants to make sure she sees everything. Using the museum map as a guide, she crosses off each exhibit after she walks through it. She has spent several hours walking through all the exhibits. The more popular exhibits are located on the first three floors of the museum. The special exhibits are located on the first floor. The famous doll collection is located on the se...

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“The Curator” by Jennifer Sieber

Submitted to Contest #251

Boxes and more boxes were everywhere. Roma sat in the middle of room on the floor contemplating her next move. Pen and paper in hand she had just started this task. What was her task, more likely could she complete it. This was Romas first official job as a curator/caretaker of collections. Roma knew since she was eight years old that she wanted to be in charge of a museum a curator just like her father. Her father was Walter Hames the famous curator of the Boston museum collection. Her father often took her to work with him on the weekends ...

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“Aquila” by Calvin Long

Submitted to Contest #251

Part I~The Pacific “Ok, Aquila, you should be approaching the site about. . . now,” the intercom murmured. A little submarine was inching across the sea floor, about six hundred miles off the coast of what was once California. “No, I’m not seeing it, and we could’ve passed it already. Doesn’t help that the ocean floor’s so. . . rocky here,” Eualia said, lacking any confidence. Eualia was the curator of the Mars Galactic Archives, established in the year 04037. She had named the submarine Aquila, after her favorite greek myth, and Eualia was ...

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“The Secret Library” by KC Taylor

Submitted to Contest #251

Ivy held her breath as the stairs creaked under her weight. She didn’t want to take the risk and wake any of her brothers, she knew how angry they’d get to find her sneaking out of the house so late at night. She couldn’t help it though, she needed to get out and explore the world around her and while she loved her brothers, they were over protective of her. They just didn’t understand that she hated being cooped up in the house. I’m sixteen. She thought, I’m not a child.. She should be able to come and go as she pleased and ther...

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“The King's Library” by J.R. Alton

Submitted to Contest #251

The desert noonday sun is a brutal master. It demands every ounce of energy and returns nothing–no trees, no shade, no life. Here in the Dunes of Duranan it is relentless. It is a far cry from the icy shores of Agária from whence I hail, but such a journey is necessary if the knowledge I seek can be found hither. For any who should read these words, allow me to expound upon my quest. My name is Émata, scribe of the Dianoa, and student of wisdom. I was raised in the finest learning institutes the northern kingdom of Aglia has to offer, a...

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Dream up a secret library. Write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. What’s in the library? Why was it kept secret?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 97 stories

“Ascending Absolution ” by Caitlyn Diamond

“Trevor the Teleporting Marvel” by John Redken

“Forsaken Library” by Emily Pollan

“Check With Me Before You Touch Anything” by Michael Jefferson

“The Library Card” by Derek Hastings

“The Tome” by Vincent Jessop

“What Behind the Door Lurks?” by Bob Faszczewski

“The Knights' Trio and the Library of Damned Fools” by Joseph Keener

“Good Sort Of People” by James Seamone

“Special Collection” by Avery Crescent

“Adventures of the Kids from Detective School” by Stacey Cooper

“The Curator” by Jennifer Sieber

“Aquila” by Calvin Long

“The Secret Library” by KC Taylor

“The King's Library” by J.R. Alton

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about discovering a lost manuscript. It can be from a famous (or infamous) author, or an unknown one.

Your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. How does their writing, or even their own personality, change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence?

Write a story about a future academic (or another influential person) “rediscovering” a book that, in its time, was dismissed. The book can be fictitious or real.

Your protagonist is a voracious reader. Lately, they’ve been noticing odd synchronicities in the books he or she is reading. What does the protagonist discover is happening?

Contest #251

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

76

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: