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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#221: Ghostly

With Halloween fast approaching, I find myself thinking about the different kinds of spooky stories we like to tell each other. Year after year, there’s one particular topic I gravitate towards when in search of a thrill: ghosts. Whether they’re friendly or vengeful, these haunting spectors represent more than just our fears and anxieties around our own mortality. They’re also symbols of the collision between the past and present, and the ways what has been can tangibly affect what will be. It’s no wonder, with the universality of these themes, that ghosts feature in folklore from all around the world.

This week, as the veil between worlds continues to thin, let’s dive into that liminal space between life and death, and see what it has to offer us.

This week's prompts

Write a story from a ghost’s point of view.

Halloween – 133 stories

Write a story about someone who is haunted. Whether by a ghost or something else is up to you.

Halloween – 137 stories

Write a story about someone trying to raise the dead.

Halloween – 49 stories

Write a story where ghosts and the living coexist.

Halloween – 69 stories

Set your story in a world where contacting the dead is as easy as making a phone call.

Halloween – 35 stories

Stories

“The Assembly Room” by Alasdair Perry

Submitted to Contest #221

London, 1855There is a general hum of conversation whilst the guests arrive. Eleanor has made sure there is a good turnout this evening, in that part of the house which she calls The Assembly Room. She thinks of all those she admires, who give her strength, comfort, or inspiration, and invites them - members of her family, all the great and the good. None of them are alive, as such. But how can they be dead if she still thinks of them? She closes her eyes and checks who is here so far. Her older brother E...

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“Roommate” by Sarah Nieman

Submitted to Contest #221

“You should add ‘mancer’ to the end of your name.” Nick looked up from his tea to the skeleton lounging on his couch. It tilted its head in a way that meant Mero, the ghost possessing it, was grinning. He sighed. Mero would only get worse if he didn’t ask. “Why?” The skeleton did its best approximation of a hum, tapping one boney finger against its chin, click, click, click. “Nicholas Row. Nicholas Row Mancer. Nick-ro-mancer!” The skeleton tilted its head the other way, beaming. Nick fought the urge to slam his forehead into the table. ...

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“Loreley” by Eugene McLean

Submitted to Contest #221

Eugene C. McLean Jr Word Count: 2,154 162 South 23rd Street Defuniak Springs, Florida 32435 Email: eugenemclean802@gmail.com Loreley By Eugene C. McLean Jr “You better get to making things right before it’s too late, Michael Bennett!” grumbled the old woman in the corner of the store through a nearly toothless mouth stained with chewing tobacco. “How do you know who I am?” Bennett asked impatiently. A moment of deathly silence...

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“A Walk in the Hereafter” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #221

“A Walk in the Hereafter” (A Ghost Story) It’s taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Of course, there’s no guidebook for dead people, at least as far as I know. After three months I’m still trying to get used to being dead. Even using that word is hard to adapt to. When death comes, people usually use terms like “He passed away” or “She’s in a better place”. It makes them feel better but the person is still dead and words can’t change that. I guess it’s just a way that people try to adjust to the whole situation. And one of the bigg...

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“Fort Delaware, Very Alive” by Celia Bassols

Submitted to Contest #221

My sister and I wanted to have a ghostly experience around Halloween last year and we visited a supposedly haunted Civil War prison named Fort Delaware. To begin our adventure we had to take a ferry across the mouth of the river and past the marsh in order to get to Pea Patch Island.I noticed our tour guide had on rubber boots. I hate getting my feet wet.Taking my steps gingerly, I crossed the gangplank onto a dirt and tile walkway where the tread in my sneakers filled with squishy soil until we hit the well-kept lawn. Lovely, I thought to m...

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“Like 4 Ever” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #221

It’s the first time in a month I’ve left my house. The first time in a month I’ve worn anything except my pajamas. The first time I’ve done pretty much anything since I got the diagnosis from my doctor. I shift in my seat, glancing around the space I’m in. It’s a nice enough waiting room, with comfortable furnishings and pleasant decorations. Paintings of peaceful landscapes and actual live plants. Everything’s done in soft, muted tones. All designed to be soothing and comforting. Necessary, I guess, considering what they do here. Now I’m t...

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“Death 101” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #221

I accidentally died the other day. And do you know what? It didn’t come with a manual. Shouldn’t there be a manual? I’m used to everything having a “How to…”, a YouTube tutorial, “Haunting for Dummies” even. But no. Heart stops, here you are, don’t forget your towel. So far it’s been a whirlwind of adjustments. Once I realized I was dead, as I stood by my body, I wasn’t sure if I should just hang out for a while there or if I needed to check in somewhere? Again, no manual. Was there a Hotel Death awaiting my check-in with a mint on the ...

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“Our Host is a Ghost” by Robin Hollars

Submitted to Contest #221

Jackie sits as still as possible. She’d Googled it once and one of the top suggestions on the web was to not move. Movement during a possession could give the ghost something to cling to, like wrinkling up a brand-new white shirt for tie dye. Of course, how many of those people giving their suggestions online are face to face with a possessed Halloween prop skeleton on a live broadcast ghost hosted talk show? “Relax!” The voice booms, disconnected from the face in front of her. She can’t tell exactly where it’s coming from. Everywhere? ...

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“New Beginnings and Spiritual Encounters” by Katherin Cole

Submitted to Contest #221

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. The alarm buzzes, jolting Lilian awake. Normally she begrudges getting up early, but not today. Today is a special day. Today is the day she leaves for college and her new life on campus. Finally she will be moving out of her family home and living on her own for the first time. And she can. Not. Wait! She jumps out of bed with a joyous exclamation and immediately starts getting ready. “Ah, you’re up,” her mother smiles as she nudges open her bedroom door. “How could I not be on a day like today,” Lilian grins back at her mum. ...

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“Dead Line ” by Quill Salem

Submitted to Contest #221

You know, contacting the dead really isn’t that difficult. Luca stared at the message on his screen. The famous paranormal researcher, Oliver Jinx, had a massive online following. So to reach out, and actually get an answer? Luca was floored. He was almost to the point of shaking with excitement while he typed up his response. What do you mean? I’ve tried for years but never gotten any response at all. After making sure he was saying what he wanted to, without wasting Dr. Jinx’s time, Luca hit send. He turned around to go back to his chor...

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“ Dial Tone” by Jacqari Hill

Submitted to Contest #221

“Your time is up, Mr. Kyle.” Pursing his lips at the security guard, Jason Kyle held up one finger in a ‘one minute’ gesture as he got ready to end his phone call with his girlfriend. “They’re telling me that my time is up. I just wanted to tell you that I miss you so much, and I love you.” Ann Marie sighed a little on the other line. “I love you too, and don’t worry about me, okay? I’m fine here.” Jason rubbed the center of his chest gently; his heart felt like it was trying to push its way out of his ribcage. He didn’t like this at all....

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“phneumatophony ” by Eddie McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #221

“Thank you for calling ‘Wraith Wranglers’, where all your spectral, haunting and communicative needs are just a call away! What can we do for you today? – Uh huh, uh huh I see! With the Class B Haunting pack you can expect all the classics that we pride ourselves on, including the ever popular cold chills and faces in the mirror, as well as your choice of either mild poltergeist activity or bleeding walls. – Yes of course, good choice, the bleeding walls are always very popular ma’am. For just a little extra, can I interest you in upgrading ...

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“seashell” by Bunzo S

Submitted to Contest #221

Cape spear. A small town on the coast of Canada on an island called Newfoundland. In this town, there is a neighborhood with a street and a house. On this street, the fog hangs low to the ground on misty days in October. Five people – the Patterson family – live on this street in this house: A mother, Father, Grandmother, a young girl, and a teenage boy. The mother's name is Eileen. Eilleen works at an old lighthouse and museum dedicated to the old town of Cape Spear. The father’s name is Keith. Keith works down near the shore on the Canada ...

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“Ghost Blue” by Zoe Zarubin

Submitted to Contest #221

Ghost Blue Mama used to say cemeteries were “hallowed ground.” Not to Elle. To Elle, cemeteries were a sandbox of possibility. When Elle and her sister Ana were kids, they would spend every free moment at the cemetery. They would bolt across Cherry Avenue’s four lanes of traffic, swing themselves over the cast-iron picket fence, and shelter underneath the big oak. Then, as always, Ana would ask the all-important question: “What do you hear?” Elle would close her eyes. Of course, she’d hear the sounds of a bustling New England ...

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“When the Road Darkens ” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #221

“Ana, what’s wrong?” Jeremy asks, crouching beside her. She’s on her knees, a cry of pain fading to a silent exhale despite her wide-open mouth. Her hands clutch at her rounded womb. “I think it might be the baby.” It had been a night like tonight when he’d left his old life behind and started this new one. A clear sky, though you couldn’t see the stars for the light rising from Santa Fe. The sparse ornamental shrubbery and trees cast dark, thick shadows. No wind, or even a breeze, stirred the hot air. Car fumes hung heavy. Sm...

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$250

Prize money

423

Contest entries

148

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 27, 2023 EST

Won by Bay Colt 🏆

Title: Clearance Aisle Libations

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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