Write about a hero or a villain deathly afraid of doing their job.

Posted in Adventure on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 37 stories

“An Angel With a Broken Wing” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #135

Mickey “Iceman” Monchelli was a hitman by trade, but most in the rundown Bronx neighborhood knew him as Mickey the florist. Icky Taborinni walked into his shop wearing a cheap suit and his hair slicked back by a handful of hair jell which was his trademark along with a scar that ran from his throat to his jaw. It made his face, that was once perfectly asymmetrical, a mass of facial scars that included a creepy, crooked smile. “Why are you here?” Mickey closed his eyes and put both his hands on the counter. “Big Gino is needing you...

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“Blossom the Bee” by Cindy Suda-Martinez

Submitted to Contest #135

Blossom the Bee The hive was a-buzz with honey bees galore. There was lots of honey, but they could always use more. Assignments were made, by the Boss, Mr. Big To assure that each worker was aware of her gig. “Look here, Beatrice, Bianca and Bo You’re getting your new assignments, you know? And you, Bella, Brooklyn, Betty and Blake You’ll be promoted if you make no mistakes ‘At tending to the larvae, our babies, our brood. Clean them and love them and bring them their food. Teach them to exercise their wings and their leg...

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“Forever Is Far Too Long” by Isabela Maher

Submitted to Contest #135

No matter how often she told herself she was prepared, Aurora’s mind refused to believe it. Today was the day she proved herself to society - to her mother. She would be the thorn in the chancellor’s side no more. After a year of nothing but hushed tones and downcast eyes, Aurora would show everyone aboard the Vindicator just how capable she undoubtedly was. Her initial failure would serve as nothing but motivation. Aurora was ready. “You’re not ready,” Laurent blurted, breaking her focus entirely. “Really? Now?” Aurora grumbled. Cou...

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“Determination is Rewarding” by Jenna Melancon

Submitted to Contest #135

“Are you ready?” asked Travis. He was supposed to be dead, but he visited Nicole often, so he couldn’t be. “No,” she replied. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.” “Pussy,” said her mom from the chair in the corner. Her mother was in Chicago most of the time, hundreds of miles away, but somehow she managed to sit in that chair every night. Usually she only said one word at a time, and that word was usually something bad. Nicole tried to ignore her mother, to focus on Travis. “I’m scared, okay? I am terrified. That just means I’m sane, ...

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“Follow Your Orders” by Noa L

Submitted to Contest #135

“Phee.” “Phee it’s time to wake up.” “Phee!” “Goddamit Phee would you just wake up?!” I yelled, more worried than angered but I couldn’t help the immediate response. It was nearly noon, the sun filtering through the crystal skylights and casting rainbows about the room. Phee was princess of the human kingdom of Valda, and I was her maid servant. I didn’t exactly like the job and the only reason I took it was because I would die if I didn’t. I was a fugitive from the crown. The first reason for that was my heritage. I wa...

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“Travesties in Lyme-Regis” by White Buffalo

Submitted to Contest #135

A bright yellow sun winked its eye over the hills in the East. "Sunday morning, in the life of 2073," typed Father Jimmy Savvalas in his soon-to-be-read sermon, at church today. He felt like a seminarian, procrastinating his sermons 'til the day before, if not the day of. Times were tough of late, however, for the region of Dorset, town of Lyme Regis, and soon, for the whole country of England. Father Jimmy turned his television off. Click. The only thing fun he did these days was watch movies, trying to get his mind off the riots. A ...

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“The Enochlaphobic Amnesiac Horse Park Bugler” by Scott Muka

Submitted to Contest #135

His brain regained function after six months of cognitive rehabilitation, but erratically. Lieutenant Jack Dawkin’s heroic actions saved the lives of his squad. But all Jack got in return was the presidential Medal of Honor, an honorable discharge from the army, intermittent amnesia, and a deathly fear of large, noisy crowds. The army psychologist said Jack’s fear was a result of reliving his traumatic escape from a prisoner-of-war camp, then brawling through a noisy throng of angry townsfolk outside the prison. Jack was an a...

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“Hang ‘Em From the Cypress Tree” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #135

Standing on a hill overlooking the nearby valley, Brendan Sheehan and Creed Bonham study a herd of undernourished cattle. They wipe their brows, feeling the effects of the hundred-degree heat. With wavy, jet-black hair and sculpted features, thirty-two-year-old Brandon is absurdly handsome, which suits his role as the heir apparent to the Shamrock Ranch, the biggest spread in Little Heaven, Arizona. Although he has a college education and is as tough as any cowhand, Brandon still has problems living up to the reputation of his uncompromisin...

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“In the Matter of Minions” by L.M. Lydon

Submitted to Contest #135

Content Warning: Moderately murderous musings of a megalomaniac... Gritting his teeth in rage at the mocking laughter, Markus Mordquist tried to force his involuntarily twitching face into stillness. Responding in any way would only encourage the merciless taunting. It was one of the earliest lessons he’d learned as a child. He’d always detested this particular smooth, smug bastard anyway. It must be nice to be handsome, muscular and not overly burdened with enough intelligence to suffer from anxiety or phobias. Markus himself had never be...

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“The Covered Man” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #135

CW: death, gore, illnessThe man in my room was dressed like an alien. He had a white plastic suit, like a packaged fish from the town over the hill. I couldn’t see his face behind a dark visor, but when he spoke his voice was fluent in muffled smiles. It was comforting in a way, like burying your face in pillows when you’re tired. I wish I could see his face, I hadn’t seen anyone's face in weeks. Not since I got sick. I was playing with my baby sister outside the village about two weeks ago. Running around near an old hollow tree. ...

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“The Unfortunate Orphan” by Kate Armentor

Submitted to Contest #135

Oh, why did it have to be spiders? I apologize deeply, but if you are one of those individuals who find spiders interesting, cute, or, dare I say it, you love the little fanged, death carriers of the minuscule realm, than I have little more respect for you than an extraterrestrial being unable to fathom the simple act of flipping a coin. Apologies, allow me to introduce myself. Actually, I will not. My name, race, nor any other aspects of my personal life are of your concern. All you have to know about me is that I am currently on an expedit...

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“You Wanna” by Hayley Johnson

Submitted to Contest #135

“If you don’t find your preying spirit, then I will turn this cloud around young vampiress!” Victorina screeched at her newest daughter while flying at the front of their bat colony.“It’s too dark,” Prella whined. “I promise I’ll do better when the sun comes up.”Victorina flapped her wings forward to slow herself down and hovered in front of her youngest. “You know why we cannot hunt during the day. Besides, you won’t make it to morning if you don’t feed soon.” Her mother’s last point made Prella tremble and lose height. She was right. ...

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“Forever Young, Forever Old” by Lee-Anne Lenore Archibald

Submitted to Contest #135

He was tired of fighting, with the adults, on the big island. Drake, on the Children of the Isle, was tired. He had had wars with the adults before, but nothing compared, to the war they were in the middle of, with these big people.They were all adults of the big people, from the big island. Thier "Children of the Isle" Island, being inhabited by only, forever children. Given, an anti growth hormone at birth, made development of adult hood, null and void. All of the children, that were shipped over from the adults "Big Island" stayed child l...

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“Cat Burglar with a Moral Compass” by Kat. L Haywood

Submitted to Contest #135

When I was 6, I wanted to be a zookeeper. Upon my brother's insistence that penguin poo could only be removed with bare hands, I opted for a career change. At 10, I was set on becoming an Olympian. That was before my sister wrestled me off the bed for touching her Ballerina Barbie. I shattered my wrist and my dreams of pole-vaulting for gold. By 15, I got smart and opted for a line of work beyond sabotage. Every spare moment went into my father’s Cessna Skyhawk. First a passenger, then a co-pilot. At 16, I flew solo. Short trips....

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“Footnotes ” by Abigail Kramer

Submitted to Contest #135

The house is empty when I get home. I shut the door against the wind that threatens snow, closing myself into a greater threat - an empty house. It takes me a minute to remember what my wife, Katie, told me as I was going out the door this morning. She was wrestling our 3-year-old into a bright pink coat while reciting the day’s itinerary that I was never going to remember. “And remember, Julie’s game is at 6 at the Vale complex. I’ll text you which court. She’s probably going to start. You should come.” Her informat...

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Write about a hero or a villain deathly afraid of doing their job.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 37 stories

“An Angel With a Broken Wing” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Blossom the Bee” by Cindy Suda-Martinez

“Forever Is Far Too Long” by Isabela Maher

“Determination is Rewarding” by Jenna Melancon

“Follow Your Orders” by Noa L

“Travesties in Lyme-Regis” by White Buffalo

“The Enochlaphobic Amnesiac Horse Park Bugler” by Scott Muka

“Hang ‘Em From the Cypress Tree” by Michael Jefferson

“In the Matter of Minions” by L.M. Lydon

“The Covered Man” by Jeffery Young

“The Unfortunate Orphan” by Kate Armentor

“You Wanna” by Hayley Johnson

“Forever Young, Forever Old” by Lee-Anne Lenore Archibald

“Cat Burglar with a Moral Compass” by Kat. L Haywood

“Footnotes ” by Abigail Kramer

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone stepping outside their comfort zone.

Set your story in a town full of cowards.

Write a story where fortune doesn’t favor the brave.

Write about a casual act of bravery.

Contest #135

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: