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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#220: Out of Place

The air’s beginning to chill and goosebumps are rising on your skin like mushrooms on a log. With Halloween not far off, everything’s beginning to feel a little… strange. It’s got me thinking about all things odd, and one of the most unsettling sensations of all — noticing something that’s out of place.

From things that shouldn’t be where they are, to protagonists far from home, this week’s prompts explore the bizarre, and the uncanny feeling of things being where they don’t belong.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character walking through a desert landscape, when they stumble across something unexpected. “That shouldn’t be there,” they muse.

Dialogue – 50 stories

You arrive at a destination you promised an old friend you’d visit after they passed, only to find them there too.

Mystery – 65 stories

As a child you’re helping your grandparent bake. When you’re sent to the pantry to fetch an ingredient, you discover something odd.

Mystery – 41 stories

Begin your story with a protagonist taking shelter under a bridge during a thunderstorm. An animal scurries past which shouldn’t exist. Against their better judgment, they decide to follow it out.

Fantasy – 50 stories

You’re awakened from your nap by someone asking, “Are you hungry?”. You fell asleep somewhere else entirely.

Mystery – 45 stories

Stories

“The Transportation Emerald” by Shreeyan Veera Pampana

Submitted to Contest #220

Victor’s face was pale. His hands were sweaty. He was hiding under the Brooklyn Bridge with his younger brother John, seeking shelter from the storm that was brewing over New York City. They had been on Victor’s sailboat nearing the bridge when it started to drizzle. The light rain turned into a torrential downpour. “Victor, I want to go home, where we’re safe,” John whimpered. “John, we must be vehement at scary times like this,” Victor replied. Victor tensed hearing footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw ...

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“Little Boy Blue” by Jeannie Labelle -Potvin

Submitted to Contest #220

“Are you hungry?”A rather simple question and yet for some, the answer lies deeply hidden beneath layers of complexity.He was very hungry. Though the family kitchen held copious amounts of food, to the little boy it was empty. To the uneducated eye his belief of emptiness was somewhat delusional.None the less, his hunger persisted. Empty promises lurked menacingly behind boxes and bags of food.He was just a little boy who lived with a good family. They looked after him as best as they could, but he had a hole somewhere in his belly that neve...

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“A Surprise Awaits a Reporter” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #220

A Surprise Awaits a Reporter Scene One – Walking Through the Woods – Camera in Hand Why did I think that I was taking a short cut? I don’t even live in this part of town, and have only visited it a very few times. And I am getting very tired. It’s been a long day and the sun is beginning to set. I might not be able to take the pictures that the editor wanted me to take. And what does ‘a strange red light over a potato field as the sun set’ actually mean? And why trust what some boy had to say on the subject? He ma...

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“The Shimmering Light” by Stephanie STEVENS

Submitted to Contest #220

he shimmering grew in intensity as he alked across the desert and and came from a strange red and green coloured conical object. “ That shouldn’t be there,” he mused. “ It’s not a mirage. What the fuck is it?”The shimmering light seemed to beckon him on and he glided slowly towards it. His plane haf touched down nose first. While the plane’s nose was damaged, Jack was not hurt except for a cut on his forehead. He felt more shaken up than any other sensation. The light plane’s nose had dropped and the craft fell towards the Mojave deser...

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“Lost Soul” by Abigail Brown

Submitted to Contest #220

Tragedy, no… worse. Devastation. Once upon a time hasn't always been there for everyone, especially Willow. Childhood stories were cut off for her because of one death, her best friend, Anna. Untold secrets fill Willow's mind with fogged thoughts. "Willow!" Sara, Willow's mother yelled from the kitchen. Stomping down the stairs, Willow speeds into the kitchen to eat breakfast before school starts. Sitting down, a plate full of food is placed down in front of her. Digging in, she thanks her mother with a wide smile. "Slow down, sweetie!...

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“Isn't He Dead part 1” by Tahel Levental

Submitted to Contest #220

Ever since my parents died when I was eight, I have been living with my aunt and her husband. We lived in their manor near a forest. The manor, a big and imposing structure, stood tall amidst the trees. It had been passed down through generations in my family, a testament to their wealth and importance. But now, it belonged to my Aunt Marry and my uncle, Henry. The manor was set precisely next to a beautiful forest. The manor's grand opening stood tall, welcoming people in with its elegant appearance. When one stepped onto the ...

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“Cruising beyond death” by Sissi Tursi

Submitted to Contest #220

As I stepped out of the car at port, a mix of nostalgia and sadness washed over me. I had promised my dear husband, that I would have gone back on board our first cruise ship after he passed away. So, the day in which Mark died I simply promised him that I should have gone on board the cruise ship, which voyage we already reserved since a while. He hardly wanted to sail for that cruise as it was the trip to celebrate his 60th birthday despite his terrible lung cancer which in one year only took him away from a life full of love and satisfac...

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“invited. ” by Lara Deppe

Submitted to Contest #220

“I’ve been waitin’ for you. Watchin’.” She whispered and beckoned me to follow her. I was immobile with unbelief. Dante grabbed me by the right arm and pulled. I reached for her other arm and turned her by the shoulders so I could look into her face. Those eyes. Those mocha brown, swimming in chocolate and honey brown eyes. I was convinced at her graveside that I would never see them again. “I know you are confused but we don’t have much time. I need to get you out of here.” She warned. “I’ll explain later.” I refused to move my feet. “How c...

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“Grandma"s House” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #220

Jenny Parker and I usually walked home from school together. Maybe "walked" wasn't the right word. We usually raced each other, our cheeks cherry red from running. But not today. Today my father was picking me up because I was spending the weekend with my grandparents. I loved spending the weekend with my grandparents. They live out in the country, while my parents and I live in the city. Whenever I come home from my grandparent's house I always feel like I've been wrapped in a ...

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“Recipe for a Storm” by Alexander Corby

Submitted to Contest #220

My hand struck the cutting board and a cloud of flour erupted from the counter, the small white flakes sparkling and dancing in the morning sunbeams. I squealed in delight. I didn’t want to make a mess, I just wanted to watch the sunbeams sparkle. The sun was shining bright and the warm spring weather made my feet want to jump and play. For some reason, the weather was always nice when Granny Gran made pie. &nbs...

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“Hannibal the Animal” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #220

Nana was one of those women who was at home anywhere, but the kitchen at Popop’s house was her place. She animated the space. The pots, pans, ladle, and spatula. They were extensions of her flappy old arms. As she moved over the pans, she smelled of lavender, talcum powder, and fresh bedding—mixed with the aroma of spices, ground pepper, parsley, and red pepper flakes simmering in oil and coating the eggs. Her owl-like eyes brightened and her cheeks flushed as soon as she got busy fixing a meal.I was ready for a good meal. I’d been up all ni...

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“Stuck in the Rain” by Niki Cloutier

Submitted to Contest #220

“Chikushō!” I knew my luck wasn’t great but this felt almost personal. The sky was that perfect blue this morning - the kind of blue that’s almost like glass, like a single pane was between you and the stars above. The important thing being - the color of the sky aside - was that there weren’t any clouds! I had checked my weather app before heading for school, my dad watched the weather on the news before waving me off, everyone at school was talking about outdoor activities after school. Everything about today hinted at a glorious late-sum...

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“Tortum Nature” by Egidijus Bielskis - WizardWork

Submitted to Contest #220

I - The Encounter The calm evening weather turned to a thunderstorm in an instant. Jack was planning to reach home before all of this started… but heavy drops of rain stated that this wasn’t an option anymore. A few hundred meters further there was an abandoned train bridge, it would be a perfect cover for the storm to pass. Nearing the bridge, the structure’s contours in the gloomy evening looked like a twisted creature. With rain pouring down, it seemed alive… breathing… sluggishly moving around. The thunderstorm was getting more and...

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“Beneath the Bridge” by Matt McKinney

Submitted to Contest #220

Rain had seeped through the seals of the Cadillac convertible and forced her off the road. Darcy hadn’t correctly closed the convertible top on the new 1970 Coupe Deville as she left fled the restaurant. Who could’ve, given what happened? She’d thought the first pitter-patter of rain onto her lap was the universe’s way of mocking the tears sliding down her cheeks, but as the trickle swelled into a downpour, she realized even God himself had it out for her tonight. He must’ve taken pleasure in making her suffer. In a matter of minutes, he’d r...

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“Kitsune” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #220

On any other day, Colin would have left home on time; but on any other day he wouldn’t have had friends over the night before to celebrate, nor would he have drunk so much. He’d gotten lucky on a cheap scratch-card and was officially $5,000.00 richer.Even so, with a bit of a rush he’d have left with good time, but for some reason he had also misplaced his keys… something Colin never did.I bet it was Gabe!He found them in his pillowcase fifteen minutes later; he roared in triumph as he held them aloft dramatically.With that done, he quickly c...

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$250

Prize money

251

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 20, 2023 EST

Won by D. Grimes 🏆

Title: Fae Touched

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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