Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Posted in Adventure on May 22, 2021

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✍️ 145 stories

“The One Who Survived” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #66

Amber watched as Jessi was carted away, her body covered with a white sheet. What had happened? The rest of the contestants stared at each other in unmasked horror. Jessi was dead. The host of the contest, The One Who Survived, glanced at them all and smiled. “As you can see, you now have a better motivation to win the contest.” Amber stared at him as a shiver went down her spine. “What do you mean? We were told that Jessi’s death was an...

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“The Walls” by L M

Submitted to Contest #66

One of us commited the crime. One of us did not. One of us will be banished from the Safe Zone, while one of us, will live. We are the entertainment of tonight’s live show, with deadly consequences. Except, it’s not really up to us to decide who lives. It’s up to the community. Using the evidence brought against us tonight, one of us will be deemed guilty, while the other liberated. A case of mystery and betrayal. They won’t listen to either of us. Murder has always been considered the worst crime to commit throughout history, but mor...

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“The Leviathan Games” by Saizen 🦜

Submitted to Contest #66

Ikal blinked. He was utterly disorientated by the vivid colors. Coming from the Southern Ocean, he was used to the plain dark depths beneath the pale surface. He calmed himself.It was the opening ceremony of the Leviathan Games. Merfolks across the five oceans congregated at the hosting sites, looking forward to the once-in-a-decade revelry. Tens of thousands arrived at the Scarlet Reef of the Western Ocean, where the first game would be held.The procession toured the city. As a contestant, Ikal stood in front of his kingdom's ento...

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“The Bachelor: Season 492” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #66

“Ladies, it’s time,” said Chris Harrison, his voice satin (much like his designer suit). The twenty-five women in the room nodded.“It was nice meeting you,” Christie said to Rebecca, wrapping her arms around her new friend.Across the room, Kristine and Hannah similarly embraced.“I’ll let your parents know,” Maddie whispered to Charlotte, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “If, you know, it happens.”“I’ll do the same, of course,” said Charlotte.After much hugging and squeezing of hands, the twenty-five women followed the producers into t...

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“Subway” by Holly Pierce

Submitted to Contest #66

Tricky “Good bye… I’ll see you after I get back,” I smile weakly. I hug Noah one last time. “Please, don’t stay too long. I know you have to go but-” I turn away from him as tears seep from beneath his eyes. “I’m sorry… I’m so, so, sorry,” I whisper into his ear. A gruff voice yells to me from the black limousine. “Let’s go! We’re on a time limit here!” Noah and I roll our eyes and pull apart. He gently brushes the tears from my eyes. “I love you. Don’t forget, okay?” Noah says. I nod slowly. “I love you too…” I pick up my small duffel bag a...

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“Triple Threat” by Sam S.

Submitted to Contest #66

“Are you sure about this? You can still back out from it you know.” Cara said, even though Leonardo showed no signs of abandoning the challenge.“Yes. I’m two hundred percent sure about this; trying to change my mind won’t work, you already know that, don’t ya?” came a determined voice from Leo as he swiftly unlocked the car with the key.Cara shot him the no-use-telling look. “Well, I guess I’m left with no choice.”A worried face spoke, “My instincts tell me we’ve forgotten something-” “This is not the first time your instincts have lied...

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“One of Them” by Addison Smith

Submitted to Contest #66

I didn't want to go with them. No one did. Those who didn't succeed usually never returned. "Don't make a sound, Brianna!" Mother Abrinna hoarsely whispered into the pitch dark. She moved to the front window and peered through the curtain. Suddenly a breath of melancholy blew through the room like a gust from some unknown sea. "They're coming!" I caught the last scent of her robe just as she lowered the lid above my head with her fragile hands. Jasmine. It had surrounded me all my life, and I couldn't bear to be closed off from it. Wi...

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“Fast Fingers” by Edward Mixon

Submitted to Contest #66

FAST FINGERS by Ed Mixon When he finally stopped playing, the skinny goateed banjo picker’s blue eyes stared silently at his audience like a king. Then he tipped his white cowboy hat to the crowd. They went wild, hooting and screaming for more. Bobby Lee clapped so hard his hands hurt. Tonight, he thought, I’m going to meet the best damn banjo picker alive. He considered himself very lucky. He had a front row seat and a private dinner with Fast Fingers Martin, all courtesy of the Martha White Flo...

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“To save young Prince Thomas” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #66

Knight of the Realm, Ser Louisa de Griffin surveyed the land that extended beyond the ridge. With her helm up she could clearly smell the sulfur and burning limestone. The valley was pocketed with tiny pools of lava, what earth she could see was probably not stable. “What are you thinking?” asked Michael, Ser Louisa’s loyal page. He was fifteen, small for his age but strong. Ser Louisa knew if she asked him to Michael would happily carry whatever she thought she might need. Walking in to a dragon’s den though it was not worth risking two liv...

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“A Whisper Of The Wind” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #66

Hide and seek, but if you're found you're dead. I should never have agreed to do this. It was a dare set up by my friends. Why why why? I don't want to die. I know it sounds selfish, but I'm only 15. I'm too young to die. I mean I could survive, but it's only a small chance. Do I really have to do this? I have no choice, I have too much pride to back out now. I hate my pride sometimes. I kick the dirt around me. Now the death march begins. I march into the woods, making sure that no one followed me. We all enter the forest at different point...

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“The Fate Games ” by M C

Submitted to Contest #66

Competition is not all fun and games. A girl stood in a doorway, her long hair sat on her back. She had a long brown overcoat that went just below her knees. She wore a dark green shirt with black leggings. She leaned in the doorway and looked out at the town before her, this was the doorway out the front entrance to her home. It was a small home with only a few bedrooms; it barely fit her, her mother, and her three brothers but it was her home. She lived in a small town at the border of the safe lands. You see dear reader this is many hundr...

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“Teracotta Flames” by H.L Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #66

Teracotta Flames The sun rose to its highest, fixed in place staring down at the settlement isolated in grassland that seemed to reach out forever, beyond the sun. The settlement stood alone, a small island in the middle of a green sea. Large cones pointed into the sky woven out of colourful fabrics and dark leather. Strong ropes and posts prevented them from falling down. The tepees huddled together, finding comfort in their closeness, keeping the isolation of their world at bay. The community that inhabited this fabricated island were ...

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“Left or Right” by Elizabeth Burrows

Submitted to Contest #66

Soft footfalls and the insistent sound of water dripping from the ceiling onto the cold stone floor echoed through the corridors. Stone walls and metal bars lined the corridor. Metal bars that separated the unfortunate from freedom. There were rows of cells with many different types of people. Some people were more desperate than others, clawing at the ground and throwing themselves at the bars. Some had accepted the situation and simply sat there in disinterest in what was going on around them. And others...

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“Pretty yet deadly ” by I'm Dru

Submitted to Contest #66

The warmth of it all was intoxicating. Her heartbeat went crazy as the blood was trickling down her face, onto her chin and down onto the marble floor. Why did this feel so good? Why was this easier and easier? Addicting. The crowd cheering made her feel the world spinning around her, like that one time she tried drugs. Would this be just as hard to give up on like the drugs as well? The constant craving for that feeling, but not the aftermath. She wondered what the aftermath would feel like, but for now, there were still four more people sh...

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“Through the woods” by Christina Hall

Submitted to Contest #66

Roland stood stiffly against the rough bark of one the great trees of Wormwood Forest. He was standing on a blanket of vibrant emerald moss that crawled over the forest floor. Spotted mushrooms poked out seemingly at random, giving the illusion that he stood above the world of fairies. Wormwood Forest was not the sort of place he usually frequented. While the beauty of it could entrance a unwary soul, the darkness of men had long since taken it over.The road nearby was relatively safe in the light of day, particularly if those that travelled...

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Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 145 stories

“The One Who Survived” by Trinity Womack

“The Walls” by L M

“The Leviathan Games” by Saizen 🦜

“The Bachelor: Season 492” by Lani Lane

“Subway” by Holly Pierce

“Triple Threat” by Sam S.

“One of Them” by Addison Smith

“Fast Fingers” by Edward Mixon

“To save young Prince Thomas” by Tim Law

“A Whisper Of The Wind” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

“The Fate Games ” by M C

“Teracotta Flames” by H.L Whitlock

“Left or Right” by Elizabeth Burrows

“Pretty yet deadly ” by I'm Dru

“Through the woods” by Christina Hall

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Contest #66

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: