Write about a character who’s stuck in a shopping mall.

Posted in Christmas on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 27 stories

“Holiday Magic” by Cathryn V

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #122

Deep-set eyes in bony sockets, a long-ish sharp nose, skin draped over broad cheekbones reflected in Vernon Warder's rear-view mirror. He nudged the frame to accommodate his morning height. During the day, his spine would collapse somewhat, but each morning, after a night’s rest, he sat a half inch taller. He checked his watch again, a little after ten, a late start for his morning mall walk.Vernon inserted the key and held it for a moment before turning on the ignition. There was something he was supposed to do, some obligation he’d forgott...

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“Dressage” by Yves. ♙

Submitted to Contest #122

I was at the mall late, as bag-laden parents escorted their children towards the exits, when I entered the store where I found the dress. I had come to send some things off, mostly my childhood; I was growing up finally and wanted to make my last walk past these stores mindful, before I had to say goodbye to it all. This store was my last stop: a pink paradise layering tulle curtains over the plush rabbits and heart-shaped purses in the windows. I couldn't tell if the girl at the register was watching me because she thought I was a very ugly...

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“After the Storm” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #122

There were, no doubt, better places to hide out, but this one was available. The storm was coming. Already, the heavy rains pounded against the large glass wall of the main mall entry. Deciding that the glass was likely to turn into shrapnel when the storm fully hit, Angel moved deeper into the pitch-black mall, the crowbar she’d used to break in hanging from one hand. Her phone provided a little light, at least for now. She didn’t dare check how much battery it had left. The drumming of the rain echoed in the empty promenade, louder now. ...

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“Forever 31” by JD Moore

Submitted to Contest #122

James grunted with pain as he sat up and carefully felt the back of his head. To his relief, there was no blood, not even a bump. The gentle touch of his fingertips though was enough to make him grit his teeth and wince. He turned around as he recognized the subtle hum behind him. Lucky break, he thought as he watched the sharp teeth of the escalator slowly descending toward him. Had he fallen higher up those protruding edges may have been less forgiving on his body. As it was, he considered it fortunate to fall without so much as a scrape. ...

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“Unholy Night” by Lisa Rose

Submitted to Contest #122

Warning: This story contains violence and gore. I had prepared for the apocalypse. I hadn’t prepared for the apocalypse to arrive on Christmas Eve. Everything seems to accelerate around the holidays, you know? Including, apparently, the destruction of the world as we know it.We all knew it was coming. We had seen it coming for months. Years, really. All those dystopian novels, all those monster comic books, and movies and TV shows, and—really? We knew. But the knowledge of something is different than the seeing of something. The ab...

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“Brains - Fifty Percent Off!” by Lily Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #122

SALEEEEESSSSSS A garbled message chokes out of the PA system. “The go-go-government … collapse … save yours-” With its dying screech it paints a clear picture. No one is coming to save us. I hold back a gasp as they shuffle past me. Their heels scraping on the vinyl floor tiles, hands outstretched, and I pray to a god that seems to have left us. They’re on the hunt for the next victim, the next bargain. All around are the rotting replies of the consumers. SALEEEEESSSSSS We tried to keep them out. The team barricaded the door with mannequ...

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“Run!” by Connie Elstun

Submitted to Contest #122

(Contains brief Dystopian gore)Pine Grove Mall couldn't provide a non-gender specific Santa Claus this year due to an unforeseen incident. Everyone who resided in our small suburban community was dead, or at least that appeared to be the case. Well, everyone except Faith and me. We hid when those things, those machines, entered the mall. Two strangers together, just she and I hiding and scared. Before we sat in our protected cubby, eighteen-year-old Faith Gardner told me how she loved coming to the mall to socialize with her friends and...

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“All I Had Ever Wanted” by Chuck Canady

Submitted to Contest #122

I tried to scream. “Help me! Help me get out of here!” A young couple walked by, holding hands. They didn’t even see me. “No, wait! Come back!” I pleaded, but they didn’t stop. I wanted to cry, but tears wouldn’t come. They never came. I had no idea how long I had been there. The lights came on. The lights went off. Days came and days went. Seasons changed. I might have been there for years. I knew I was at the Mega Mall of the South in one of Atlanta’s suburbs. I wanted ...

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“Autumn Rush” by MichElle Colpo

Submitted to Contest #122

(Warning: Contains Death)I opened my eyes, and blinked painfully at the fluorescent light buzzing above me. It was quiet, with only the sound of a broom scraping trash into a dustpan echoing somewhere far off, and the sound of a floor buffer zooming across the floor even farther away. I was flat on my back, and carefully tested my cognizance on how I landed in this position. My mind carried me away to just before 1 a.m. inside the mall, crammed elbow to elbow with eager strange...

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“Spent” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #122

BryceStainless steel, plate glass, high gloss granite floor tiles, everything squeaky clean. I know this place comfortably well. A few units boarded over, as usual, splashy logos promising me something new and exciting, coming soon.The girls know I can’t deal with trailing round behind them while they browse the boutiques and the kitchen store. I need a goal; a purpose. I go shopping for something. I get it and I’m done. I suppose I do browse a little. My tastes are tech stores and bookshops. Not that I buy paper books any more, when I can d...

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“I Gotta Go” by Dane MillerHass

Submitted to Contest #122

“Jesus Christine. We’ve been in line for almost twenty minutes now,” Blake said in a huff. “Relax. You know, just a few decades ago, it would’ve been a million times worse,” Christine replied. “You can’t hold it just a little longer?” “No. I gotta go. Just take my damn card,” Blake said as he shoved his debit card into her hand. “My pin is 3891. The cashier won’t ask for the pin, but if he does, it’s really not that hard to remember. Take my coat while you’re at it, I’m burning up.” Christine put on a pouty face and grabbed his arms pleadi...

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“Drinks With Righteousness” by Dhruv Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #122

Jack Washburn’s heart hammered in his throat as he sat in the stall just outside the food court at City Center Mall. He’d been there for half an hour already, and his legs were starting to get sore, as were his arms, mostly from the fact that he was perched with both feet on the toilet bowl with his hands pushing at the sides of the stall for support. Sweat beaded on his face, and his mop of curly black hair was sticking to his forehead from beneath his hoodie. He gave his arms a short break, but a ding from the intercom made him quickly pus...

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“Let that be a Lesson” by Kevin Morley

Submitted to Contest #122

“Ever get yourself stuck in a situation where your pride demands a larger commitment than you are willing to pay?” A jostle from behind me nudges me forward and my camera, dancing merrily six inches in front of my face, loses focus. The camera is a virtual representation that holds a point of light in front of me and records me directly to my feed—fancy tech for a Ceres shopper. Once I settle, glaring at the person behind me, I continue, “Of course you have; you’re human. Let me tell you a story. No, no, no, don’t leave. I’ve got the time.” ...

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“A Boy Falls Into The Purple Night” by J. W.

Submitted to Contest #122

Walking through the aisles was all that he thought to do. As time ticked on and the world rotated, the best thing, in Edward's mind, was to walk up and down the aisles, looking at the books and CDs, wondering whether or not taking one would really be illegal. If you were trapped in a mall, would you take one? Guess you never really know till your in the situation yourself. Edward plucked a book off the shelf. The book was a thick one with art that resembled a boy walking through a maze. Heh, thought Edward, guess the world wants to taunt m...

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“A Night in the Mall” by Leon Moss

Submitted to Contest #122

Hey, what’s this huge ad? Westgate, a new mall in the Western suburbs. Thousands of square meters of shopping. Whatever you need is here! Come and see for yourself. Opening day specials! Bring the kids; our clowns will entertain them while you shop! We’re open from 10 till 10 – choose your time! Oh man, this is for me. I never shop. I am a work-at-home engineer and no clients ever call in to see me, so I don’t dress for the city, so to speak. There are times when I walk past the computer on the way to the shower wearing socks and a pair...

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Write about a character who’s stuck in a shopping mall.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“Holiday Magic” by Cathryn V

“Dressage” by Yves. ♙

“After the Storm” by Sjan Evardsson

“Forever 31” by JD Moore

“Unholy Night” by Lisa Rose

“Brains - Fifty Percent Off!” by Lily Fitzgerald

“Run!” by Connie Elstun

“All I Had Ever Wanted” by Chuck Canady

“Autumn Rush” by MichElle Colpo

“Spent” by Rob Ryter

“I Gotta Go” by Dane MillerHass

“Drinks With Righteousness” by Dhruv Srivastava

“Let that be a Lesson” by Kevin Morley

“A Boy Falls Into The Purple Night” by J. W.

“A Night in the Mall” by Leon Moss

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story in the middle of a traffic jam.

Write a story about a limited edition item going on sale.

A package arrives at your character’s house, but they didn’t order anything. Write about what happens next.

Write about a character who won’t (or can’t) shop for the holidays.

Contest #122

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

150

Contest entries

104

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: