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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#240: In the Wind

Wind is something of a contradiction. Powerful yet invisible, it’s nothing but air, but can influence the shape of landscapes, sway trees, and carry whispers across vast distances. This force of nature can be a calming breeze or a raging storm, offering comfort or unleashing destruction.

It’s always around us, whether you’re laying on a warm beach with a relaxing breeze cooling you down, or in awe as a storm passes by while carelessly throwing debris. With that in mind, this week we delve into the wonders of wind and bring attention to its influence within our stories.

This week's prompts

Begin your story with the sensation of a breeze brushing against a character's skin.

Narrative – 138 stories

A crumpled piece of paper holding an unexpected message is carried by the wind. Where did it come from, and where is it going?

Mystery – 63 stories

Set your story on a sailboat, large or small, and entirely at the mercy of the winds.

Adventure – 31 stories

Craft a story where a character finds themselves swept away by the wind, either physically or metaphorically.

Angst – 60 stories

Set your story in a lighthouse surrounded by powerful gale-force winds.

Dramatic – 37 stories

Stories

“WHERE TWO SEAS MEET” by Laura Payne

Submitted to Contest #240

WHERE TWO SEAS MEET The tent flap clapped and slapped in the howling wind. Sand bit into her face and skin. They had decided to sleep under canvas that night while the desert storm picked up, rather than wrapping themselves in sleeping bags under the shelter of the stars. The Bedouin, tasked to watch over the group, had built the large white marquee during the day but already the wind had whipped up, pulling at guys and pegs as they hefted it down into the moving sand. Part of her felt sad to be spending the night inside with the...

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“Whispers of the Wind” by Klearchos Sevastiadis

Submitted to Contest #240

The Etched Message A cool breeze brushed against Rania's skin, carrying the salty tang of the sea. Perched on a weathered rock, she gazed out at the endless blue expanse. The scent, both familiar and strangely foreign, rustled through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine. The ocean whispered of pirates and forgotten adventures, stirring a strange mix of nostalgia and yearning within her. Here, with the weight of countless stories in her eyes, Rania yearned for experiences yet to come. As she lost herself in the rhythmic sound of the wav...

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“A False Tranquility ” by Faith Sweat

Submitted to Contest #240

A gentle breeze brushed against the cheek of a young man, causing him to stir slightly. Not long after a salty smell overwhelmed him so strongly that he could taste it. Grumbling out a groan, he began to smack his lips in the need for water. He squeezed his eyes shut, in a small attempt to stay asleep just a little longer, but quickly accepted that he needed to get up. He awoke lying facedown in wet sand. Only putting in just enough effort to get his upper body off the ground, he stared at the imprint he left behind. His mind was completely ...

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“The Last Two” by Matthew Goldstein

Submitted to Contest #240

An underground draft brushes the back of my neck, a weightless hand that tickles the hairs in warning. Ahead of us, a shadow creeps through the room at the end of the long hallway where a single, weak bulb is the solitary source of light. The lumbering movement of the shadow belies its ability to outrun any human, its occasional predatory thrashing the only indication of its intentions. Beside me, my big sister’s wide eyes glisten in the near-darkness, her rapid puffs of warm breath on my cheek. I steady myself on the rough concrete wall wit...

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“Toward the Stars” by Paige Wilkins

Submitted to Contest #240

TW: References to suicide, mental health issuesGoosebumps trail my skin as I begin my trek upward toward the stars. My bare feet graze the crumbly rock, climbing up the tower. A slight breeze makes the hair on my arms tingle, but for some reason, it doesn’t diminish me.I have never fantasized about this torturous journey I’m putting myself through until the past month or so. Life reminds me of a clown in a mystery box; it pops out at you when you’re least expecting it. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, and days turned into w...

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“Mother” by HC Edwards

Submitted to Contest #240

A strong gust blew his curls across his face then waned. She reached out a weak hand and pushed them aside.“It’s out there,” she said.“What is?” he replied, curious despite the grief he was feeling.“The world.”“I don’t know what that means,” he confessed, confused now.“You will…ready the boat…then you will see.”The boy looked behind them to the tree line where the craft was tethered to several trunks. “Can’t I just stay here?” he asked.She shook her head.“You will be alone.”“We have always been alone.” “Not like...

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“Once Upon an Us” by J.E. Brumley

Submitted to Contest #240

The salty breeze encircled her creating a sensation of being embraced in a soft blanket. One year ago, Anna felt like her whole world was crashing in on her. The happiest time of her life had abruptly become a nightmare. She never could have envisioned the twists and turns life had thrown in her direction. The worst part was that she had let it happen. Anna could have put on the brakes at any time but let herself get swept up in chaos. The water lapped up over her tired feet outlining each toe with tiny bubbles before it trickled...

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“The Wind Sends You Home” by Vicki McCash Brennan

Submitted to Contest #240

As sure as the wind whispering “go” at the back of my neck, I knew my buddy Dan wouldn’t want us to delay our sailing trip to the Keys. Not with a forecast predicting fair winds for days. Not when our 32-foot Catalina sailboat was fully provisioned and ready to go. Nah. He'd be raising a cold one in heaven. “Red sky at morning,” my wife Jeanne said as she handed me her duffle and climbed aboard. I finished the phrase in my mind: Sailors take warning. “I don’t like leaving on a Friday either,” she added for good measure, although we often wen...

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“Winds of Time” by Grace Froh

Submitted to Contest #240

The first thing she noticed after dying was the flash of hot, white light that brought in a cool, dry breeze. The wind tickled her skin, light as a feather, welcoming her to the next plane of existence.She knew she was dead. Moments ago, she heard the soft good-byes, felt the hot tears on her skin, and the undeniable feeling of separating from one’s body. Now, everything was silent, pain ceased to creak sharply through her bone marrow like it had for so long, and a sense of calm blanketed her. She knew her body had done all it could, and she...

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“Thalassus” by Jack Brooks

Submitted to Contest #240

Between the blindfold and the time spent asleep, Conor was uncertain which parts of the last day had been real - obscured by the black sash across his eyes - or the dreams of his addled mind. He was certain he was awake now though; the wind that had once carried the texture of sand from the shore had lost the aspect in favour for the feel and scent of salt, and the chill he felt was unmistakably of the night. Conor attempted to right himself into a sitting position as opposed to the crumpled mess he was in now. The all-encompassing ache of h...

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“The Strongest Force” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #240

The Strongest Force Shivering against an icy breeze stippling her skin with goosebumps, Joanna Wilson rewrapped her slender neck in her favorite red knit scarf. She usually avoided walks in temperatures below 30 degrees, but she needed a respite from home. The frigid air allowed her to breathe again, dialing down the boiling below the surface of her consciousness to restore peace within her. Remaining in the presence of Pauline, demanding she shop for additional items for dinner and giving unsolicited advice abou...

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“Gone” by Latarsha Willis

Submitted to Contest #240

The breeze from autumn’s chilly air caressed my melanin face, tickling the beads of sweat that formed on my forehead and nose. The sun that beamed over the earth wasn’t the cause of my sudden hot flash, as the weather was just right; not too hot, but not too cold. It was the rage that I felt from Dani’s lying, unfaithful, selfish ways. The wind caressed my scalp, rushing through my long black hair as they flowed in sync together. That gust was a bit stronger, and I was grateful for it because I felt as if I was melting. Angry was an understa...

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“Hunt for Bloodtooth” by Jacob Cazier

Submitted to Contest #240

Faylin brushed aside his dark unruly hair as a gust of sea filled wind threatened to knock him over. He looked over as the first mate shouted over the chaos flooded deck, taking the captain by his shoulder as he repeated his question. “What are your orders Captain?” But the captain stood, frozen with fear as he watched the black and red sails descend upon his ship. “I’ve done my duty” The Captain mumbled over and over, praying to whatever gods hadn’t abandon him. Briggs staggered back in disbelief from the man he once respected, seeing...

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“A Winter's breeze” by Sam Evans

Submitted to Contest #240

A breeze graces myself with its presence and I welcome its gentle touch, but I am unprepared for its piercing shock. This breeze transformed into a gust that chilled deep into my veins and froze the very core of my body. The wind persisted for what seemed to be minutes but in actuality was only seconds. Every second that the wind scratched against my skin I felt pieces of my being blowing away with it. I felt like I was being suffocated, but how can you suffocate on something made of air? My lungs constricted and I felt the lack of oxygen te...

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“Searching for salvation ” by Jasper Shaw

Submitted to Contest #240

"They'll be here soon".The words were ancient, the paper they were on even more so. The markings on the paper were dated at approximately a thousand years old but the paper itself was at least ten times that. When they found it it was sitting in a room, bland in nature. Eggshell-white walls, drained of any inspiration or creativity, as if to draw any visitors into the exhibits. The note was found in 2006, a plaque in its new home reads.The plaque is dusty and ignored now, twisted and bent by the failed attempts to remove it. One day, a hoode...

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$250

Prize money

329

Contest entries

134

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 08, 2024 EST

Won by Jonathan Page 🏆

Title: Lost and Found

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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