#124: Seeking, Finding

Have you ever noticed how common it is for fictional characters to embark on their adventures in search of something? From an Odyssean longing for home to Hero’s-Journey-style quests, many great tales begin with the potent act of seeking.

Let these prompts guide you along your own journey of creative discovery — I’m curious to see what you find.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character in search of something or someone.

Angst – 94 stories

Start your story with someone trying to read a map.

Fiction – 35 stories

Write a story where two characters are playing hide and seek, literally or metaphorically.

Fluff – 27 stories

End your story with someone finding themselves.

Character – 39 stories

Set your story in a labyrinth that holds a secret.

Dark – 31 stories

Stories

“The Case of the Missing Wife” by Olivia Snead

Submitted to Contest #124

Edgar Nikephoros Huntinger had an appointment with Canton Heronly, a director for the Miami Telephone Company at 9:00 on Monday morning. He hummed cheerfully as he dressed. Something causal would be right for this meeting, he thought. He went to his wardrobe and chose a quarter sleeved brown striped beige shirt, and brown slacks. He attached his prosthetic foot, donned his white socks, and laced up his sneakers. After a breakfast of cheese omelet and coffee, he went into his office. He put a recorder into his brown leather shoulder bag...

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“Embracing My Ghost” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #124

My mom laid there on the hideous hospital bed that had taken up space in the living room for the past two months. She hated that bed. If she could have talked she probably would have said that it was the most uncomfortable bed in the world. Her head was propped up on two pillows, one over sized and one undersized. Her comforter was covering her now tiny body which was always cold. She laid there eyes open and looked up to the heavens. My mom was dying physically. She was no longer going to be here after that cool November day, the week befor...

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“Like A River” by Ann Martin

Submitted to Contest #124

Like a River Ann Martin A story from down-under. Tasmania to be precise. I hope some of the references aren’t too obscure, but I can’t be the only Australian Reedsy Prompt author. …………………………………………………… She arrived at his door in a rainstorm, soaked and shivering. Turquoise dye from her shoes was oozing across her feet and mascara was dribbling her cheeks. The sleeves of her coat slid down over her fingertips and she had a sodden scarf tied over the dome atop her head. “Is it you what wants a model?” she asked. This was nineteen sixty-five....

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“An Old Photograph” by Eugenia Birger

Submitted to Contest #124

A familiar rustling sound filled the otherwise quiet living room. Ines was shifting through the weekend edition, half looking and half looking away. It was a habit in her family, and from a young age her weekends were filled with sounds of paper, occasional gasps, and dirty fingertips that no one bothered to clean. From the rhythm of their reading, Ines could guess if her parents had just had a fight, making these motions rough, fast, eager, as if they were in a competition to reach the end of the newspaper – usually devoted to sports and ob...

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“Finding Essence” by Shanda Skerritt

Submitted to Contest #124

I've been searching for you. I scoured the earth in search of your essence that you left on my bedsheets. That night you were on fire, I wasn't sure whether to put it out or set you ablaze more. As I drive down the coast memories of that night keeps playing in my mind. I was joyous, at first, but as I continue to replay that night, I find myself continue to find more reasons why I should hate myself. The word no crossed your lips multiple times, but it fell on deaf ears. Those scratch marks were defensive wounds not signs of pleasure. You...

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“Figures of Stigma: Masao Dobrow” by Melina Morr

Submitted to Contest #124

“There is a lost myth about the Aokigahara forest. Those who wander past the fallen souls and moss-covered trees encounter a rustic mansion known to heal all mental wounds. It has been disregarded for decades as it had never been found. Many have turned this belief into a hoax to encourage people to visit the forest and commit suicide. As of now, Japan has the highest suicide ratings in the world, most taking place in Aokigahara. Those who entered have never returned.”I set aside the newspaper on the desk and outlined my knee briefly with th...

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“Raven” by Misty Phillips

Submitted to Contest #124

“Xin? ….. Xin?” Her voice was faint. A whisper. How far away was she? “Lore?” I tried to speak softly, but it came out in screaming anger. She laughed. It was that soft, loving laugh at first, and she was standing in front of me. Just her with that wonderful olive skin, her sweet scent surrounding me. I wanted to reach out, to touch her again, but the closer I got, the further away she was. Then came that cackling, mocking laugh. “You were just a mark.” It echoed through my mind. *** I gasped myself awake, nearly gagging on the taste...

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“Persephone's Wish” by Sammi Bregman

Submitted to Contest #124

Content Warnings: mental health issues, self destructive and risk taking behavior, suicidality, trauma, injuryI’ve always been drawn to her, and her to me. Opposites attract to a certain extent. I guess I never realized how opposite we really are.Because at first glance we were so similar. We met at church twelve years ago. One year later we both realized we’d rather pray to each other than to God.We were both looking for more than what the world had to offer. It took me a long time to figure out what hers was.And now she’s at it again. And ...

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“B12” by Allya Nosmada

Submitted to Contest #124

The gate for my connecting flight had changed and I only realized it now as the gate attendant announced that they were beginning the boarding process for a flight to Miami. That explained why everyone looked at my winter coat when they sat down around me. I gathered my luggage and massive parka, removing myself from the tangle of legs and suitcases, and stepped into the flow of pedestrians. I looked for the departures screen and matched my flight number to the new gate. I was at gate D5 but I needed B12. As I walked, I soon sensed t...

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“You Found Me .” by Paulina M Barbera

Submitted to Contest #124

2013: Trying to wrap my head around what just happened. Feeling like I was just born to die. Depression and suicide was heavy on my heart. Feeling like there's no reason to be alive. Trying to numb the pain away with drugs that only temporarily took it away. Cutting harmless skin only left scars that haunt me. Spending Countless nights awake and watching as the days go by. Each time I look at my reflection , I don't recognize the person in the mirror. Losing hope. Wasting time. Feel like I'm losing my mind. I look at my mother who almost l...

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“The Black Sun” by Mirtis Sison

Submitted to Contest #124

"Has Dr. Wyse discovered what it was?" "No. He said he needs to find the source of that substance. He said it came from a peculiar Toltec statue." "Is it at the museum?" "No. A so-called exorcist was brought in because of paranormal activity happening at the museum after they brought in the statue. She told them to return the statue, and they did. After it was returned to its temple, things stopped flying off the walls and museum goers stopped being harassed by the invisible." "Well, ain't that crazy!" "Yep. But guess what? I don't...

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“Treasure Hunting, Dragon Style” by Ann Kitching

Submitted to Contest #124

Cramped in the dead end of a rock-walled maze, foot talons stuck in goo, wings brushing cobwebs, hand talons gripping flashlight and map, Ashley growled curses on the dragon whose directions had lead to this impasse. She was just doing her job, sent into the labyrinth to recover a treasure. Some dragons took protecting their treasure too seriously, but this guy was crazy. She’d passed taser traps, mouse-mazes, and a bucket-of-slime-over-the-door trick. Infantile stuff. Frederick Watstheprob was no genius. He should pay the bank the money he ...

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“The End of The Search” by Gerard Watson

Submitted to Contest #124

The virus killed five thousand people in the first month. The pharmaceutical companies worked 24 hr, 7 days a week, struggling to find a vaccine. Then, a rumor started that a doctor working off the grid in a remote section of Eastern Africa had stumbled on a cure. Infectious Disease Specialist Doctor Ernesto Fernandez became the most sought-after person on the planet. But unfortunately, Doctor Fernandez, along with his discovery, had disappeared. &n...

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“Home” by Veronika Walker

Submitted to Contest #124

There is something exciting and terrifying about not knowing quite where you’re going to end up. Like pointing to a spot on a map and deciding that’s where you are going to go then that’s it, you go. Unless you are not the travelling type and the spot on the map is only one stop of many to get to where you must, not want, to go. Add to that the reward of the impromptu trip being a fight with your ex-husband, Bakster to retrieve your soon-to-be furious 8-year-old daughter, Rosalinda. Then the drive back to Lafayette with that furious child. R...

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“The Transformation ” by Gabby Agho

Submitted to Contest #124

He knew that to find out who he really was, and who he was to become would involve an inordinate amount of work. He knew something was missing in his quest to become fully Human with feelings and emotions, wishes and dreams. What it was, he had yet to discover. And discovery was not without its risks! Here he was, trapped between two realms. Could he transform and return, or was he destined to evolve in this realm? Would the quest to find himself be too great?He was told about ...

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$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

147

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 17, 2021 EST

Won by Amanda Lieser 🏆

Title: Birth Mother

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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#124: Seeking, Finding

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character in search of something or someone.

Start your story with someone trying to read a map.

Write a story where two characters are playing hide and seek, literally or metaphorically.

End your story with someone finding themselves.

Set your story in a labyrinth that holds a secret.

Stories