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#159 Money, Money, Money

Like it or not, money makes the world go round. And while it (supposedly) can’t buy happiness, it can certainly change your life — for better or worse. This week’s prompts have money on the mind; whether your characters are winning big, or down to their last dollar, it’s time to start counting your cash.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character accepting a bribe.

Adults – 48 stories

Set your story in a world where the currency isn’t money — or at least not money as we understand it.

Fantasy – 62 stories

Write about somebody down on their luck who unexpectedly comes into a large amount of money.

Teens – 49 stories

Your character checks their balance at an ATM and is surprised by the number they see.

Adults – 32 stories

Write about a character who’s never encountered a problem they couldn’t buy their way out of — until they do.

Angst – 25 stories

Stories

A Devil of A Visit

Benjamin Spivey

Submitted to Contest #159

Terry McColloch was the kind of man who could be described perfectly with one word. Successful. He was not a particularly interesting person, but he could talk the talk and walk the walk and so he was, well, successful. He liked nice things. In fact, he expected them. He had grown up in the comfortable lap of that codling lady known as luxury, and he had made an easy transition into Harvard and then into business. What is meant by business? Terry didn’t even know. It was just business. And that is enough. Terry drove an expensive car, wore a...

24 likes

Down in the Dark, Where the Hunters Lark

Submitted to Contest #159

TW: Swearing, guns and black mold. Esmerelda banged a sack of skulls down on the bar. The barman looked at her with disgust. “You know we don’t conduct business here Es, take them through the back.” He pushed open the door beside him printed with the words STAFF ONLY. The door creaked on brass hinges. Behind it was a room of kegs and bottles. Behind that, another door. Hammering the reinforced door...

24 likes

The Dark Files of Lazarus: Case Number 13

Submitted to Contest #159

Lazarus, the city built upon the ashes of Los Angeles, has irony in mounds as high as the carbon-steel coins piling up in the newly formed vaults. Theo Baxton was the thirteenth child born into this city after its establishment. Blessed at birth, cursed at life - again, the irony piles on. Superstitions aside, young Theo had the average childhood of those in the city; a busy father, a mother who stayed at home making a side business for her personal hobbies, schools located on the outskirts as a means to accommodate all from different wa...

24 likes

The Dreamer

Sable Rivers

Submitted to Contest #159

On a night when the stars shied behind a cover of clouds, Imogen Salor visited the shop of the Dreamer. It was a squat building sitting alone at the edge of a field, eaves hanging low over the entry. Imogen paused at the threshold, reigned in her nerves, and turned the glass knob. Inside was a dim lobby area lit by a single candelabra. Though it was vacant, she could hear conversation through heavy velvet curtains on the far wall. Imogen paced as she waited. After some minutes, a man whose shiny shoes reflected the yellow candlelight appe...

22 likes

Thirty Nine Floors Down

Submitted to Contest #159

For one glorious month, the world looked better to me from the side that the other half lived. A fantasy of many and a dream of some, the five-star bed in the four-star hotel was a world away from the harsh reality of the cold, unfriendly, and sometimes tragic streets of the Big Apple – New York City. I wasn’t the typical downtrodden homeless denizen of Hell’s Kitchen. My parents raised me in a strict Baptist environment where change is often hard to accept. Whatever I wanted to do, was secondary to my father’s idea of what I should be doing...

21 likes

The 8th Iteration (second part)

Submitted to Contest #159

(Shibboleth: a word or emblem that distinguishes members of one social group from another.) “Do you really think he’ll commit suicide here in Beijing?”“No waaay. It’d be the last time a 22nd Century Entertainment artist is allowed in China.”Morris James©, presiding world monarch of grind music, overhears a couple of teenage girls on line 13 of the Beijing subway system. The train is headed toward Wudaokuo, a sector of the capitol known for its universities and night life. James mounted a subway car that didn’t requir...

19 likes

Little Things Lead

John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #159

“We’re gonna do big things,” said Graham as he shook hands with James, the shop-keeper. James smiled, but did not look happy. Martin watched them talk. You could hear the wheels turning in his head. James glanced at Martin with anxious eyes. Martin said, “Graham’s my point man, Jim. I’ll be traveling more. Graham will always be accessible.” James nodded. “Safe travels, Marty.” Martin guided Graham toward the door. “Come on. We’ve got things to do.” Graham spoke over his shoulder. “I’ll come in. Update your paperwork. Answer your questions...

19 likes

Dear Almighty God

Futurama Delivery

Submitted to Contest #159

Dear Almighty God, (day one),It was just another golden day, basking in the fruits of my grand labor. Alas, I recently checked my balance at an ATM machine, and every single cent was drained from my checking account. How can you call yourself omnipresent when you allowed hackers, or some kind of robbers, to get away with my money? Money may just be fiat currency to you, but it is everything to me—my entire fortune—and you don't even seem to care. Oh, is this some lesson to teach to me or something that an amateur preacher would declare to th...

18 likes

Double Murder Al Fresco

Submitted to Contest #159

TW: Swearing, sexual references and whitened teeth.Sitting across the table from her, the two boys tried to show themselves in the best light. The pale jock shifted uneasily beneath the parasol of the restaurant, trying to keep his fair skin from the sunlight. “So let me get this straight, you both like me. One a vampire.” The broad-shouldered boy with a devilish grin and sparkling canines nodded. “And one is a werewolf?” The gangly one with blonde stripes through his bro...

18 likes

The Crafter

Submitted to Contest #159

The line outside of the “Blood Pen” was shorter than Elloise had expected but twice as grim. The Crafter had only arrived in town yesterday with the sign that now hung over the shop slung on his back. Mayor Dyal set him up immediately in the abandoned building reserved for such a tradesman. Their town had not seen a Crafter in over five years. They did not have much to pay one with. The Scarmen took their toll on Elloise’s town. It was close to the capitol, high in population, and did not provide necessary goods to the kingdom like the farmi...

18 likes

Traders

Sally Morem

Submitted to Contest #159

Josh Einsley stood on the basement’s concrete floor as he adjusted flow rates on the control board for the Switzer Universal Toner System while Jinjo checked the tank. “Ah, there. The microbes just needed a little more protein.” “Yep. She’s runnin’ good now, boss.” This system was the best for generating pure toner for six of his 3-D printers upstairs. It was pretty good for the other 16. Josh looked up at the ceiling. All the feeder lines running up to the first floor were clean. No leaks. But with two printers down and three getting cr...

17 likes

Due Payment

Taylor Greny

Submitted to Contest #159

That morning, Ivy’s alarm was the smell of cinnamon. Her nose, red from the air vent directly above her head, twitched and her dark eyes fluttered open. Sitting up, she felt her bones crack and crinkle. Her pale, freckled arms were creased all over from the blankets. She must’ve slept like a baby. After rubbing the sleep from her eyes with clenched fists, she looked around. Sabel’s room was something out of a fairytale. Ivy was used to her laundry littered studio apartment, and the sanctuary she was sat in now was the complete opposite. The ...

17 likes

A Goddesses Theory

Emily Pollan

Submitted to Contest #159

Quick Note: A friend gave me the idea of using time as a currency. Without him, this story wouldn't be possible! Time is such a simple thing, yet humans struggle to comprehend it. A second is gone in a blink of my eye, and each second passing brings you closer to something. Whether that something be a life changing moment, or simply picking a rock up off the ground, that is left up to another force in the universe. This concept is so easy to understand, yet humans wrack their brains with theories… “Is there a way to get time back?” “Has...

17 likes

Rational Choices

J P Fierkens

Shortlisted for Contest #159 ⭐️

I like to imagine Earth, that ancient blue gem where humanity was born. If I could I would lay myself down in a shallow pool of clean water so that it covered every part of my body except my nose and eyes, and stay there forever. Much better than laying on top of rough magnite with moldy, gray synth-cloth covering me. There is so much water on Earth that even the sky was blue. Reedie says that’s roach spit but I’ve read stuff. Typically I only get pieces of magazines like International Geographic or the occasional download of data from the o...

16 likes

Dirty Laundry

Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #159

It might as well be a deal with the devil himself. The fallout was going to be torture for sure. Fred was going to hang this over my head for God knows how long but what choice did I have? “What’s it going to take for you to bury the evidence?” I say, knowing whatever it is, won’t be enough. “More than this, that’s for sure.” “It’s all I have right now. I can get more later.” He knows how hard it was to get this much, the jerk. “You got that right.” “So, we have a deal then?” Please, let us have a deal. I can’t believe I’m thinking this rig...

15 likes

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Contest #160

This contest has ended. Thank you for your submissions.

$250

Prize money

216

Entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 19, 2022 EST

Won by Daniel Allen 🏆

Title: Blood and Cookies

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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