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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#117: All Hallows' Eve

October 31st: Halloween — or All Hallows’ Eve, to give it its spookier name. Just an excuse to wear a costume? Or, for one night a year, do spirits walk among us?

The Celts certainly thought so — and many of our own holiday pastimes stem from the methods they used to keep Halloween ghosts at bay. Others, like bobbing for apples, evolved from Halloween rituals for matchmaking and divining the future.

Personally, I prefer to spend the holiday with my nose in a spooky story rather than a bowl of icy water, which is why this week’s prompts are designed to put you in touch with your macabre side. Happy Halloween!

This week's prompts

Start your story with the words “Everything was ready for the ritual.”

Horror – 48 stories

Write about a character who uses a night where everyone’s in costume as cover for something sinister.

Horror – 34 stories

Write about a missing person nobody seems to know or remember.

Thriller and Suspense – 49 stories

Set your story at the boundary between two realms.

Halloween – 69 stories

Write about someone whose busiest night of the year is Halloween.

Halloween – 26 stories

Stories

“Recess Beckons” by SYDNEE LEAH

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. Kylie smashed up three slugs and Daniel stirred them together with the weird looking mushroom he found behind the tetherball court. The book also called for salt, worms of the earth and the blood of the enemy. Kylie and Daniel argued that we should use Jimmy Penley’s blood, because he skinned his knee at recess sliding into first base. “He pulls Kylie’s hair everyday,” Daniel said. “And he blamed that stinker in math yesterday on Daniel,” Kylie said. “You’re thinking too small,” I argued. “Maria ...

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“Our Turn ” by Alyson Hutchinson

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. And there were what seemed like hundreds of people stuffed into my house. I stand on the front lawn my hand gripping a plastic cup as I stare at the front door. People were still arriving too, all dressed in costume, with varying degrees of effort put in. A body pushes past me and I shove back, the guy stumbles and looks back. “What the fuck bro?” he’s annoyed. “And what are you supposed to be a bitch?” he snarls as I frown at him. I chuckle at his choice of words; he’s pretty close. The rude man in the c...

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“Casseroles and Serial Killings” by Ben Pierce

Submitted to Contest #117

TW: BloodEverything was ready for the ritual. The civic center’s basement was swept, the dark robes were ironed, and the potluck had gone off without the hitch. The residents of Shady Grove had begun to recognize perceived threats to their way of life, and thanks to the diligent organizing by PTA president Jaclyn Crosby, the ritual was prepared. People in dark robes and khakis milled about the room, making small talk about the high school’s football team, their kids’ college searches, and whatever else distracted them from the unconscious te...

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“The Seance” by Stevie Bartley

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. It was Halloween night and a thunderstorm raged outside. The wind was howling and the chill in the air provided the perfect ambiance for such a night, as though it was conjured. As Victoria Randolph got ready to cast the large circle of salt she took a deep breath and contemplated what she was about to do. Just eight months ago Victoria would have said she was as happy as she could be, but that had changed literally overnight. At twenty-five, she had been dating the love of her life for nine years. She an...

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“The Costume and The Game” by K.E. Thomas

Submitted to Contest #117

The invite intrigued me. It was a standard Halloween party invitation but printed at the bottom was the slightest mention of a game. There wasn’t an explanation of the game, just that a great reward would be involved for those who played. I loved Halloween and couldn’t wait to go to the party. I began to get ready. A zombie bride was sure to make a splash. Besides, I’d wanted to do something with my wedding dress after my husband ran off with some girl. Finally, I was ready. The costume was complete with a tiara and death white skin. I’d tak...

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“The Missing Jade” by Vanita Johnson

Submitted to Contest #117

I overheard my mother and Aunts talking about the missing Jade, so now I am wondering why this Jade is important. Could it be a valuable piece of jewelry in which someone stole it that belongs to a royal family? Well, I am curious all the time and must find out more about this Jade. The first step was to go to the library and research old history stories. The library was very quiet, I figure most people have technology gear or equipment inside the home and there is no need to visit. I asked the elderly lady sitting in the corner reading a ne...

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“Your Own Kind Of Hell” by Megan Tarbutton

Submitted to Contest #117

Trigger warning, talks about murder and hell. When my eyes opened, I was in the woods. This isn’t where I remember going to sleep. My head was pounding and there was burning in my side. What happened after I went to bed last night? I looked around to see if I could recognize anything around me. It was too dark to see anything around me. It was too dark to see anything significant. Everything just looked like a big mass of shadows. I looked down to my body just to make sure, for the most part, all of me was intact. I was still in my pajama...

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“The In-Between” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #117

Desperate to provide for his teenage son, Jarvis pulls the black ski mask over his wrinkled brow, looks up-and-down the roadway, then swings the door open to Uncle Frankie’s One-Stop Shop, a local convenience store. Jarvis scans the store for shoppers or other staff members, then nervously approaches the counter. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulls out the handle of a pistol, showing the man behind the cou...

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“Killing Time” by Ruth Zschoche

Submitted to Contest #117

TW: mentions of child and elder abuse, violence, minor sexual contentIt is low hanging fruit to talk about the dead. Look at where I work, girl. The dead are my friends. Temporary friends. Sudden Friends. Passing friends. These folks aren’t just clients to me. I care about them - like family. And in a way they are. My real brothers and sisters are always busy. No time for lowly little me, doomed to be the ultimate intermediary. The dead are never too busy.It’s a good thing that I find humor in their stories. I get little enough entertainment...

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“Halloween in New Orleans” by Alexandra Burt

Submitted to Contest #117

Prologue It was a partly cloudy Friday night in October around 8 p.m. There was a light breeze that stirred the multicolored leaves on the trees and ground in little whirlwinds. Big puffy clouds were floating lazily on by. The parking lot of the Bee and Jay Supermarket was shining brightly on the cars and people strolling about, either looking for their cars because they forgot where they parked or getting out of their cars to shop for Halloween goodies and costumes with their families. Once inside the “Market”, as the locals enjoyed callin...

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“Mask and You Shall Receive” by Aitazaz Asrar

Submitted to Contest #117

When you’ve been a bespoke costume maker for as long as I have, you don’t normally get surprised. I’ve pretty much seen it all. But one letter sent by a potential customer three days before Halloween night perplexed me more than any other I’ve ever received. The letter read: Mr. Robert, I require a mask made from the photo attached below. Make it as realistic as possible. My head measurements are written on the backside and so is my address. Have it ready by the 30th and leave it outside the door of my house. Your payment is enclosed.&...

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“Beautiful Souls” by Emily Snyder

Submitted to Contest #117

“You ready?” I ignored the question. I’d seen enough war to understand what was coming and Gabriel should know not to expect an answer. I watched the earth turn beneath us. Soon the hour would come for us to return, but for now we were safely beyond the boundary line. There was a disturbance in the air. A plane was headed towards us. Gabriel moved out of it’s way, but I let it pass through my translucent body. I wanted to see the passengers inside. I studied the indifferent faces of those who were unaware of my existence. The dog in ...

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“The Summoning” by Maxina Storibrook

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. I had drawn the star to the best of my ability, placing the candles at the points. All I could afford were those pillar candles with Jesus Christ on the front, but oh well. Being squeamish of blood, I couldn’t do the animal’s blood part, so I did the best wine I could get my hands on with my latest paycheck. Maybe it will like wine more? Taking a deep, steadying breath, I nearly choked on the cloying scent of the strong incense and herbs I had burning in a bowl on my end table. My last resort at even a sl...

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“Moonshine Manor” by Alicia Coggins

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual and finally, after months of preparation and planning, she found herself standing at the kitchen counter gazing out into the backyard where everyone would soon be gathered. Checking over her list again, her breath fell hard and she sighed deeply, she had indeed checked everything off. Now all that was left was to wait until the festivities began. Checking her watch she silently gauged the time she had to freshen up until the guests would begin to arrive. Only six hours left to wait for the miracle to be co...

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“Halloween Party ” by Karen Lethlean

Submitted to Contest #117

Halloween Party Phone, as always, interrupts. Damn I will never get this mess of forms finished nor reduce patients queued outside in the waiting room. Complaints about waiting time in public hospitals clinics, already enormous will grow gargantuan. ‘We’re organising a Halloween party. It will be fancy dress, ghosts, monsters, Halloween-ish things. Do you want to come?’ Jill gushes. ‘Should I bring anything?’ ‘If you like, bring something for supper.’ ‘No’, I interjected when Jill takes a breath, ‘I really meant to say – anyone? A da...

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$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

153

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 29, 2021 EST

Won by John Merino 🏆

Title: Sleep Story

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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