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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#215: Monstrous

Monsters have haunted the human consciousness forever. Or, more specifically, for as long as we’ve had the ability to wonder what might be lurking in the darkness. They might have teeth, claws, and an insatiable thirst for blood. But not all monsters are made like this. Some of them look just like you and me, and that makes them all the more terrifying.

So then, what makes a monster? Is it outward appearance or terrible deeds? Where’s the line between monster and human anyway? Because sometimes, the fanged beast might be less of a threat than the familiar.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone trying to resist their darker impulses. Whether they succeed or fail is up to you.

Dark – 100 stories

Set your story in a haunted house.

Horror – 70 stories

Write a story about a monster trying to become more human. Or about a human trying to become more monstrous.

Thriller and Suspense – 60 stories

You confront the monster you’ve spent many long years hunting. Except they’re not exactly what you thought they’d be…

Adventure – 45 stories

Write a story about someone making a deal with the devil.

Dark – 112 stories

Stories

“The Wraiths of Via Riviera” by Grace Ahrens

Submitted to Contest #215

The Riviera family has many skeletons in their closet, both literally and figuratively. Their abandoned mansion, the Via Riviera, is avoided by everyone in town. Even snakes and black cats avoid crossing its path for fear of bad luck. The only things lurking in the halls are the ghosts trapped inside its rundown walls. The night is young. The moon glows blue, but you can hardly see it behind the clouds. A lone girl, 17, maybe, stands on the beaten gravel driveway. Something about the presence of darkness makes the eerie seem much mo...

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“Haunted ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #215

They had her kneel on the bare floor. Allie pulled the hood off her head and looked around. Three shadowy figures stood before her in the dimly lit room.Jason said, “Boo!”“Of course, Jason. I knew you had to be part of it. Where’s your goalie mask?”Diego pointed at him. “He forgot!”The three boys standing over her burst into laughter.Allie said, “Not wearing it doesn’t help you. Don’t leave home without it.”She and Jason dated briefly in their junior year. But his insecurity and immaturity formed a toxic gumbo.When they first led her in she ...

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“Monstera Deliciosa” by EJ Trask

Submitted to Contest #215

Content Warnings: adult language, mention of sex, violence, gore, death, murder, suicide Carolyn looked around her apartment one morning and could not believe what she saw. It was her houseplants, which she barely noticed most days. They were thriving. These little plants, so helpless, so literally dying just a few weeks ago, were suddenly wild, juicy, exploding out of their pots. The leaves were bigger and greener than she ever remembered them being, and there were new ones being born everywhere. Unfurling, twisting, reaching for the li...

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“Devil Came Down to Georgia” by Emma Hedrick

Submitted to Contest #215

She’s got a good head on her shoulders. That's what Gran said. Daddy and Uncle Hector said it too. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. So even though the brimstone in the air is making her eyes water, even though the scalding ground is making the rubber soles of her shoes soft, and he’s looking at her with fire in his eyes, she's come too far to back out now. This deal is too important to lose her head now. “It’s the standard contract,” the devil says. The pinstripes on his suit aren’t black like she’d first thought. They’re red ...

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“The Elephant in the Room ” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #215

The Elephant in the Room It's wild how often we hear someone talking about the "elephant in the room" in a conversation. Generic statements danced around the subject, asking rhetorical questions to feel out your opponent or create a scenario to search for a specific response. F.Y.I…. It hurt when you finally realized they were talking about you! Instead of asking what was wrong, they gossip, speculate, or whisper about everything I do, say, or don't do. Things began changing for all of us in early 1982 when I got pregnant. My pregnancy made...

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“The Devil and I” by Kang Lee

Submitted to Contest #215

Torrential rain screamed down upon the beach. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the black clouds before flickering off again. Sharp blows of wind blasted by, swirling into massive sandstorms above the inky-black water. Crows flew around, which I could barely make out from the dark sky. “Are you sure this is the right place?” the frenzied taxi driver asked, trying his best to maneuver the car on the disintegrating mud track. Just half an hour ago, a strong gust of wind had blasted the taxi into a ditch, and it had taken twenty min...

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“Screams In The House” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #215

“They say screaming is actually good for you.” “I’ve never heard that one before.” “It’s true. There’s something new called Scream Therapy. Supposedly screaming helps to release endorphins.” “Really?” “Yeah,” she continued, optimistic that he seemed interested. “In fact, there’s a theory that screaming can help those who have experienced trauma in their lives, even in childhood.” “Well, thankfully we don’t have to worry about that.” He grabbed her hand smiling at her. “Come on, let’s get on line. Hopef...

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“Befriending a Vampire over a Rare Steak” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #215

"So, you say biting is out of the question?" The Count asked matter-of-factly as they walked on a crowded Manhattan sidewalk. "Absolutely," the Doctor answered. "What if no one was looking, and a lonely madame really wanted me too?" "No!" "How about a suicidal man who was about to jump?" "Still no!" "Really? That seems a bit wasteful. He would have died anyway. Why shouldn't I suck his blood?" "Not even if he begged you. You said you wanted to ditch the "monster" image. There are no exceptions." "Yeah. Alright. But this is go...

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“Choose Life” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #215

The sun abandons a city brim full of life. This overcrowded and noisy place buzzes with an electric vitality that heats the pavement beneath my feet and shines bright lights through my eyes and into my brain. There was a time when this cocoon of hyperactivity enlivened me. But tonight I am tired. Tired of this life. My bones ache and once again I am sinking below the surface of humanity, my breath caught inside my chest, making me feel sick to my stomach. I sink lower and lower until I am where I deserve to be. I find my level and the pres...

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“The Blood of the Forgotten” by Jasper Woods

Submitted to Contest #215

He was forced onto his knees, face pressed deeply into the dirt making it hard to breathe. Rocks and gravel cut into his skin as they pushed. He screamed out, his skull feeling like it was about to burst. They lifted their boot off his head and with a scoff kicked him in his side sending his full body into the earth. The boy, no more than fourteen years old, face bloody and bruised, spied his assailants. They were three in total, all donned head to toe in heavy cloaks and masks. Trying to force in some breaths of air despite the pain, the sm...

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“Signed Anger, Jealousy and Vengeance” by David Foster

Submitted to Contest #215

Signed: Anger, Jealousy and Vengeance A short story by David T. E. Foster (Item #EGK-314278 from the Bismarck File. Translation of a document hand-written on high-quality parchment with what has been determined to be oak-gall ink. All but the final paragraph is in formal, high-court, ancient Attic Greek. Several handwriting analysts and experts in phraseology have confirmed that it is probable that at least four different people took turns writing different paragraphs.) ...

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“Despondent Vanity” by Hosea Guy

Submitted to Contest #215

I remember you, still, even though you were different the first time you came here. I remember how the earth trembled as you settled among the burning trees, your wings like the sails of a ship as they bore your magnificent presence. You instilled a conviction in the hearts of all who witnessed you that day, a faithful confidence that such majesty would never be seen again, not until the heavens are opened and glory descends like a dove. And then you stripped it all away, for you would not allow them to remember you. But I remember you, st...

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“One Million” by Rena Aliston

Submitted to Contest #215

I entered the competition on a whim. Wasn’t expecting to win, but I did. One million dollars. I just had to spend one night in the house. But not just any house—the Baker house, which was haunted. Sitting in the back of the limousine, I clutched onto my overnight bag. My mother’s words blasting against my eardrum–stay away from the Baker house. It’s haunted. That was never proven. But speculation was enough to keep everyone away. Of course, a few strays desired to test the waters. Some came out unscathed. Not everyone was lucky, though. ...

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“The Mind Plays Tricks” by CJ Erb

Submitted to Contest #215

Myka rummaged through his bag, trying to find his keychain within the chaos of items he kept in it. It was too dark outside to see into the bag, so he had to feel around until he found them. There was no way to get into his apartment building without his key fob. And because it was 3 A.M., there probably wouldn’t be many other residents trying to enter at this time of night. Usually, a security guard sat at the desk in the lobby, but the desk was empty. Myka assumed that the man must have gone to the bathroom or was off doing something ...

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“Haunting of an obliterated enigma” by Deepti Venugopal

Submitted to Contest #215

In a quaint town, there stood an abandoned mansion famously known as RoyManse. It stood majestically, even in its state of dishevelment. Roys were known to be a huge family. The oldest living matriarch had seven kids. Each of those seven kids went on to marry and produce heirs for the family. For a long time, Roy mansion was managed and looked after by the matriarch, Radha. All her kids and grandkids were settled in various parts of the country, trying to make their mark in the world. Radha had instilled a sense of loyalty and duty in her fa...

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$250

Prize money

387

Contest entries

135

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 15, 2023 EST

Won by Danielle Barr 🏆

Title: What Kind of 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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