#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

“Day Drinkin'” by Michael Danyluk

Submitted to Contest #124

“There’s a guy that’s been gone for twenty minutes, and I don’t think he’s coming back,” my co-worker — Sarah, the daytime bartender — told me. “And he was pouring his own draft behind my back.”“I didn’t even notice anyone leave... who was it?”“The skinny guy with the crew cut. He’s never been here before. I didn’t expect any problems though; he looked pretty clean-cut... He seemed to get wasted pretty fast.”“OK, I think I know who you’re talking about... how much was his bill?”“22.97... I don’t know why he would leave on it. Jeremy told me ...

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“Jenna and Kate” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #124

Five-year-old Jenna gazed through the filthy panes of the kitchen window. The sky was dark. She hadn’t yet learned to tell time, but she knew the sun had risen a few hours ago. Stepping on the porch for a better look at the sky, she noticed Mom’s faded blue car still parked in the grass. Mom hadn't been home in two nights. Jenna knew because Liz, her neighbor, had taught her to count before she went away. Jenna went back inside the single wide trailer wondering if Mom had disappeared like Liz.Jenna climbed atop the stained countertop, stood ...

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“Adept of ADNI” by Minerva Noiropp

Submitted to Contest #124

The detailed map burst into life in the centre of my mind's eye. Narrowing my focus, I zoomed in to the lowest sphere, at the base of the schematic. After all, it was where I was, blindfolded by the dark, in a room, thick and loamy, smelling of fresh tilled earth. The sphere gave off a dull sheen. A dusty citrine quarter shone at the top. To its left, my right, gleamed an olive region. Balancing that, was a deep russet. Capping the bottom of the sphere, was pure darkness, darker than the night my soul stood in. Gazing hard into the sphere r...

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“Expectations of Growth” by Michelle Nieweg

Submitted to Contest #124

Distant big brakes squealed, slowing tons of metal to a safe stop. The subway was not quite second nature, not quite new. Celeste puzzled at the map on the wall at the airport, a straight line representing each stop, but did the train actually move like that? One big straight line? This map was more of a symbol, she decided. She only needed to count the stops and who cares what direction it goes. She swiped her metro card and tugged her old rolling suitcase behind her. This suitcase was in ok shape, the zippers still held all the contents s...

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“Not Since the 1890s” by Kathryn Mofley

Submitted to Contest #124

Maybe it was the approaching darkness, a low flashlight battery, deafening thunder, or sheer terror that blurred my vision, but the park map was unreadable. Yes, it’s December, but mine is no Christmas story.Although I’d been on this trail many times, in my panicked state of mind, a fork in the path confused me. I was being stalked, preyed upon, and hoped I’d chosen the best way forward.Only a few hours earlier, I’d been happily setting up my campsite. My husband was away on one of his frequent fishing trips with his buddies; a no-girls...

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“Faces” by Rita Squalli

Submitted to Contest #124

I opened my eyes to the sound of strong gusts of wind hammering rain against my window and my stare met my window as I saw a map drawn on the steamed up glass or so I thought. Squinting, I made out uneven lines and squares - some looking familiar while others not. I rummaged around my night stand before finding my rectangular glasses. Lifting them to my face, outlines grew clear and I examined the scrawly writing of estranged street names. My eyes moved to the left of the map before hearing the air conditioning switch on and the ...

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“The Map Is The Territory” by Jeremiah Benson

Submitted to Contest #124

He was a strange-looking man with an even stranger agenda, often spending his days interrogating well-meaning pedestrians on the street. Do you believe in God? He asked. Me? Well, I’m not sure. I’ve never given it a good thought. Do you believe in God? He asked again, refusing any answer besides a clear yes or no. I believe in something, maybe not God, but something.Many were frightened to interact with the man due to his intimidating physical stature; he was shaped like a large and grotesque beetle; he even embodied the mannerisms of one, o...

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“I Can't Abide By The Google” by Bobbie Candas

Submitted to Contest #124

I was kind of dreading this trip. But it was a comment I’d suggested in a casual conversation, and then my grandma seized on it, remembered me saying it, and here we were now, doing it. Sitting in my Honda in her driveway listening to a podcast, I waited for Grandma. Finally, the door to her house swung open and my five-foot-tall granny and her three large bags emerged. She marched over to my open window and swung a large, heavy book at me. “Here, Jenny. Got you something we ...

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“The Difference of Love” by Racheal Pelter

Submitted to Contest #124

“Jesus Jess just what does it fucking say?” Jessica inhaled and let a sigh slip. She wanted him to feel the air. “I’m not sure, hold on,” she said. “I just don't understand what is hard about it, Never Eat Soggy Wheaties–they still taught you that right?” How inspired. “Yes, Will” this was annoying. In her head, she thought, actually, no. I’m not 60 years old. I have never had Wheaties and I have never used anything but my phone to direct me somewhere. And also don’t fucking swear at me, but she didn’t say that. She’s not sure when she ...

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“Blackwater” by Lexie Russon

Submitted to Contest #124

“You’re holding it upside down.” “I am no…” Bree halted, realizing he was right. She glared at him and turned the map around, so it was rightside up- earning a snicker from Ryan. She shook the map out like she shook off her bruised ego and scanned the mass of colored lines and tiny names for the one they were looking for. “How is anyone supposed to read these, the words are too small,” She squi...

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“Hurry Little White ” by Z.H Floren

Submitted to Contest #124

“Ready or not, here I come.”I turn to face the grove, the sudden change of light blinding my eyes before it settles on the cacophony of green. This is quite possibly the thousandth time I’ve done this by now. The aforementioned 999th time was last spring, same date same time and same place. Every year, I come back here and I look. Of course a year goes by a lot quicker than you might think it goes, for me, it’s nothing but a petal. Think of that petal, now watch it fall, slowly of course, but eventually it’ll land somewhere as the wind of ti...

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“Kile and the Cupboard” by C. K. Marley

Submitted to Contest #124

In a little shop on an unmarked road stood an enormous painted cupboard that was very old. The cupboard stood to the right of a large window that was poorly decorated with porcelain dolls that looked out a dirty window with blank, unseeing eyes. The window was tier shaped in three sections from where a sign stood above the mercantile, that read, Flora’s Treasures. Flora was the granddaughter from whom the shop was named, long ago. Flora was no longer running about with pigtails and dresses as she did as a child. She was a heavy woman in her ...

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“The Weevil” by Ellen O

Submitted to Contest #124

Amelia sighed. It seemed that she was always sighing these days. She rolled her eyes in frustration and cupped her head in her hands. Taking a deep breath she looked up with seeming indifference and glanced around the minimally decorated office. Her face had a nonchalant expression but her head felt like a lightning storm. She wished she could be anywhere but here right now but she still had 35 minutes left. How long could she be silent and stare at the ground before the shrink started to judge her? After all, therapists are just people and ...

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“Working for the Weekday” by John Xavier

Submitted to Contest #124

Brett arrived late to work. “Why rush?” he thought as he parked in the furthest spot from the building. Looking down he saw that only four minutes remained of his podcast. He decided to stay in his car and enjoy four more minutes of his day as he took a slow sip of his coffee, the reason he was late. He hated his job and felt strongly that most everyone at his company hated their jobs too. Brett breathed heavily from his nose at the thought of the robots loving their jobs. Half of the warehouse workers had been laid off in the past ...

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“ The Connection ” by Shirley Brand

Submitted to Contest #124

"Good morning Sunshine." The big orange tabby sat staring at Gloria. "Do you ever sleep in?" It had been the same start to every day going on nine years. Gloria lived in a small seaside cottage in South Carolina. Sunshine had shown up one day after a terrible rainstorm, not very old and very hungry, he stayed. Gloria swung her legs to the floor. "We are going up to the University today, have been invited to lead a group of believers through the labyrinth, I told them eleven this morning, so Sunny boy let's get a move on it." As always ...

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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.