Start your story with an unexpected betrayal.

Posted in Adventure on Mar 8, 2024

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 81 stories

“Unexpected Betrayal” by Keila Aartila

Submitted to Contest #241

I hopped off the school bus, hitting the ground at a dead run ahead of my two younger brothers; dropped my book bag at the house door and ran down to the barnyard. I couldn’t wait to touch the little horse who would be waiting to see me, after a full day of going through the motions of attending my Middle School classes. I wanted to get home to continue the training of my young horse. He was coming along sop well! The horse had been purchased for a small fee from a poor quality situation. He was of unknown breeding, and a non-extraordinary b...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A Fatherly Betrayal” by Sasha Emmaleth

Submitted to Contest #241

A fatherly betrayalThe angry skies cleared and the lightning stopped its angry whipping giving way to sunshine again. All but a few of the witnesses of the event stayed behind to handle the body. The rest cleared the scene and mundane life seemed to continue as if nothing of significance had just occurred. In the shadows he smiled and turned to his companion and boasted, “As I predicted for this long-term experiment, the test subject would not denounce what he believed was his purpose for being born. This credence would remain...

2 comments 2

Read story

“It's all Swedish to me/Naked and Furious!” by Pip Stroud

Submitted to Contest #241

It was 1999 and Finn and I had been living and working in Sweden for a couple of years. Sweden is about as far away from our home country of New Zealand as you can get. Due to our experience working with Swedes in the company in New Zealand, we thought their culture wasn’t so different. How wrong we were! We were surprised and frustrated at how hard it was to make new friends and socialise with the locals. As world travelled Kiwis, I thought we understood about different cultures and our place in the world. We came to discover that Swe...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Wrong Pick” by Mikah Ribble

Submitted to Contest #241

My hands twirled the pouch of coins in an experienced manner. I could feel the slick of the lock pick pressed up against my wrist, secured tight with a thief’s bracelet. I could always feel it, always aware of where it was and how to use it and when best to make my move. Strolling leisurely through the town’s narrow streets, I tucked the pouch away. I had a big score soon. There were things I needed to know. The pick slid down my wrist as I slipped in front of a door, shadowed by the cover of a falling structure nearby. I palmed it, unnotice...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Great Edith's Ghost!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #241

"It worked!" Edith thought, so who was listening? There she stood, right next to her own coffin, all dressed up to go away. The lady undertakers she had selected when planning this last trip, all did a double take. Clear as a bell, there stood Edith. The female preacher, also chosen for chick power, yammered on, seeming to ignore this ephemeral specter of Edith."Yes, it worked!" Edith tried to say to her son, as he stood to read the Eulogy she had been forced to write herself, before her sudden demise. Horrified, dumbfounded, her only son an...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Animals we be ” by Reed Rolfe

Submitted to Contest #241

warning, unshown but implied cannibalismEvidence: Journals of alan percivial smithson and William ty-kell Robertson Report: found on a deserted island,writings very old appearing to be from twenty first century, almost two hundred years ago , journal very torn and and worm eaten but still readable Significance: two hundred year old murder. contents of journals are a follows Journal of Alan Day one This cruise will be very exciting! They say it goes Deep into the pacific islands and shows us many new things! Willia...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Devil’s deal” by Jacey Raytchev

Submitted to Contest #241

Clay sat in his room thinking. He had lots of work to get done, but was too fearful. Suddenly he heard a knock at his door. He got up and opened the door, it was his best friend Spencer. Him and Spencer had worked together for a few years, he helped with leading the group. Spencer asked “did you get the paperwork done, we need it by tonight. You know how strict the authorities are when it comes to traveling to another district. Especially with large groups like us.” They were a group of many young adults, they needed to get out cause t...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Blood on the Leaves” by Jacqari Hill

Submitted to Contest #241

Jumping into the big pile of autumn leaves, Ryan felt like a child again. The smell of the damp earth and pinecones lingering in the air surrounded him as he got buried into the colorful piles, and it was enough to evoke the sense of nostalgia and make Ryan reflect. He stood up and stepped out of the pile, dusting himself off from the speckles of dirt that the leaves left on his clothing. "You just couldn't help yourself, hm?" At the sound of his twin's voice, Ryan turned to look at his own reflection. The freckles on his twin's face were bu...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Homecoming” by Kim Meyers

Submitted to Contest #241

He had made her a promise. Her help in exchange for a lifetime together. She had held up her end of the bargain. She saved their lives and got them to this faraway, distant place. He in return had agreed to the marriage and to be hers forever. And now, this. Ten years of marriage and four children later, he was leaving her. Yet she vowed that she wouldn’t let him go easily. Maybe he just needed a reminder of all that she had done for him. She had protected him, counseled him, nursed his father back to health, and even killed for him. H...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Atticula” by Kristy Anderson

Submitted to Contest #241

I woke up groggy, my eyes sticky with sleep. My muscles were stiff and aching like I had been bedridden. well, that was new. I woke up, and stood up from where, the floor? I spun around scanning the room for my coffin. Trunks and chests in red, gold, and blue all varying in sizes and shapes sit around the room.A red one to my left lay there with its lid wide open, a quick peek revealed strands of garland and layers of small figurines, Saint Nicholas, small reindeer, and shiny round balls in all varieties of color. ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Benighted, Betrayed, Beshrewed” by Robert Pyke

Submitted to Contest #241

November 1962 We huddled around Father Fred with our heads down, eyes on the stage floor. Most of us had our arms wrapped around ourselves, whether to ward off the chill of the Illinois night or to comfort ourselves. The great director was browbeating us again. His voice echoed in the empty fieldhouse of Our Lady of the Holy Scepter College. “You girls, Bell Jacoby especially, show up looking like tramps—or like you’re trying out as prostitutes! And when you’re not on stage, you act like prostitutes—trolling for johns among the boys!” “Not...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Battle of the Senate Palace” by M. L. McCortney

Submitted to Contest #241

The Battle of the Senate Palace4:59 A.M., June 22nd, 1951Moscow, Soviet Union The only sound inside the Senate Palace as night becomes morning, perhaps in the entire Kremlin, was the hammering of Stalin’s fingers on the typewriter keys. The sound mercifully pauses for a second. Stalin coughs, then returns to his tireless work, only pausing in his keystrokes to move to a new line. Presumably, he is preparing for his speech to commemorate the ten-year mark since the German invasion. “Should we check on him?” Valery whispers to the other guard...

3 comments 3

Read story

“But This Is a Betrayal” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #241

Sam spoke, “But this is betrayal.” The difference between their relationship on Tuesday and Wednesday was like day and night, March suddenly reverting back from spring to winter.TuesdaySarah speaks: “I’ve never met a man that is so incredibly excited about having children. That is a large part of my attraction to you.”Sam replies: “Sarah, as you know I come from a big family. All my brothers and sisters have wonderful kids that I love so much. Now I can have...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Butcher Knife” by Naomi Atwood

Submitted to Contest #241

Trigger warning: This story suggests child sexual abuse. I only vaguely recall Grandpa coming to the door of our bedroom that evening and asking us to come to his bedroom. I do remember that it was not the first time. My older sister, Evelyn, at age seven and myself, five years old, were already in bed. We shared a room that was just down the hallway from our grandfather, in the basement of the duplex where our family li...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Discoveries” by Mark Gagnon

Submitted to Contest #241

“So, this is what I get for trusting you.” The vitriol oozed from Cain’s words. His eyes burned with hate as he glared into her gold flecked orbs. All he needed to do was pay attention, but initially, that was something he didn’t want to do. It was only now, knowing the end was near, that he saw her for what she actually was—a demon. Cain’s business consisted of buying and selling relics created by artisans from ancient civilizations. Most of his clients were museums and wealthy collectors. At periodic intervals, Cain took part in trade show...

1 comment 1

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who is convinced they’re going to be betrayed.

Dramatic – 55 stories

Write about someone who is stuck between two opposing sides and can’t decide which one to choose.

Fiction – 49 stories

Set your story at a tense event where everyone is unsure whose side they’re on.

Thriller and Suspense – 27 stories

Write about a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) gone wrong.

Horror – 43 stories

Contest #241

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Et Tu, Brute?

$250

Prize money

255

Contest entries

116

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 15, 2024 EST

Won by Liz Grosul 🏆

Title: When I Read Beckett

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Start your story with an unexpected betrayal.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 81 stories

“Unexpected Betrayal” by Keila Aartila

“A Fatherly Betrayal” by Sasha Emmaleth

“It's all Swedish to me/Naked and Furious!” by Pip Stroud

“The Wrong Pick” by Mikah Ribble

“Great Edith's Ghost!” by Julie Grenness

“Animals we be ” by Reed Rolfe

“Devil’s deal” by Jacey Raytchev

“Blood on the Leaves” by Jacqari Hill

“Homecoming” by Kim Meyers

“Atticula” by Kristy Anderson

“Benighted, Betrayed, Beshrewed” by Robert Pyke

“The Battle of the Senate Palace” by M. L. McCortney

“But This Is a Betrayal” by John Steckley

“Butcher Knife” by Naomi Atwood

“Discoveries” by Mark Gagnon

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who is convinced they’re going to be betrayed.

Write about someone who is stuck between two opposing sides and can’t decide which one to choose.

Set your story at a tense event where everyone is unsure whose side they’re on.

Write about a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) gone wrong.

Contest #241

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

255

Contest entries

116

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: