#241: Et Tu, Brute?
“Beware the Ides of March!” In Shakespeare’s play, these fateful words are thrown at Julius Caesar during a procession through Rome, warning him of the day his compatriots will betray him. In the play, and in reality, this warning came to fruition. On March 15, he was stabbed thirty times by his fellow Roman senators, including Brutus, someone he thought he could trust. As that date is just around the corner, I find myself thinking a lot about Caesar’s story, and about other stories of betrayal.
It’s the ultimate breaking of trust. You thought they were a friend, a mentor, a close confidant, a person you could trust through thick and thin — only to find yourself stabbed in the back at the most inopportune moment. What leads people to make such a drastic decision, and sever a once unshakeable bond? How do you move on when your faith in the people around you is shaken? These are just a few of the questions to consider as we look towards the fateful Ides this week.
This week's prompts
Write about someone who is convinced they’re going to be betrayed.
Dramatic – 55 stories
Set your story at a tense event where everyone is unsure whose side they’re on.
Thriller and Suspense – 27 stories
Start your story with an unexpected betrayal.
Adventure – 81 stories
Write about a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) gone wrong.
Horror – 43 stories
Stories
“BOUND BY THE JERSEY” by Darvico Ulmeli
Submitted to Contest #241
“Scarecrows” by Ty Warmbrodt
Submitted to Contest #241
“Renegade” by A. Torrecilha
Submitted to Contest #241
“Fait Accompli” by PJ Town
Submitted to Contest #241
“Who Stole the Cookies From the Cookie Jar?” by Chelsey B
Submitted to Contest #241
“It’s Darkest Before The Dawn” by Scott Christenson
Submitted to Contest #241
“Birdish” by Elizabeth Cohen
Submitted to Contest #241
“Michael J. Fox Killed My Hamster” by Kenneth Goldman
Submitted to Contest #241
“The Shot Caller” by Omar Scott
Submitted to Contest #241
“Trust is a Four-Letter Word” by Raven West
Submitted to Contest #241
“Journal Entries: February 12-15, 2007” by Jeremy Tewari
Submitted to Contest #241
“Boxed In” by Paul Hellyer
Submitted to Contest #241
“Dead Mans Hand” by Timothy Rennels
Submitted to Contest #241
“The Backstabber and the Night Knocker” by Zack Herman
Submitted to Contest #241
“No Path to Forgiveness” by Luca King Greek
Submitted to Contest #241
$250
Prize money
256
Contest entries
116
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Mar 15, 2024 EST
Won by Liz Grosul 🏆
Title: When I Read Beckett
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!