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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#260: A Twist in the Tale

Has a friend ever recommended a book or a movie with the line, "The twist is amazing"? I usually hate when they do that. Even if they don't spill the beans on what the plot twist is, just knowing there is one can spoil the fun. I won't be able to resist trying to pre-empt the plot, and guess what that it might be — but a truly great twist is always rewarding, whether you expect it or not.

Here's a twist I'm sure you saw coming: this week's contest is all about them. Your readers will know there's one on the horizon. Can you still manage to surprise us?

This week's prompts

Write a story with a big twist.

Dramatic – 188 stories

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Mystery – 63 stories

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Character – 31 stories

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Dialogue – 41 stories

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Narrative – 105 stories

Stories

“Whispers of the Forest” by Rina Kim

Submitted to Contest #260

In the heart of the medieval forest, a small shack cast a shadow over the land, the air hung heavy with grey mist as Ernest fled for her life. She pressed on undeterred despite the branches clawing at her clothes and roots reaching for her feet. Her hair blowing from the cold wind blocking her vision. The sharp thrones nagged at her legs making a sharp cut on her leg. She started limping through the forest after she saw the monster walking softer each time. She picked up the torn-up piece of her short jeans an wrapped her leg slowly and also...

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“Shattered Honor” by Rai Patton

Submitted to Contest #260

In the heart of Higashi, where mist clung to the pines and the air was thick with the scent of sakura, there lay a town forgotten by prosperity. Its name, once celebrated in the annals of history, had faded like ink washed away by relentless rains. The people of the gloomy town lived in the shadows of a jade citadel, its towering walls casting long shadows over their lives. Within the town lived a young samurai named Kurayami. At eighteen, he stood at the threshold of adulthood, his sword arm strong and his spirit unyielding. Kurayami's fath...

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“Criminal Minds” by Paula Mulroy

Submitted to Contest #260

‘Honey, I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay?’ My mum led me to the side, out of the way of the rushing people, and squatted down so that she could look me straight in the eye. ‘It’s going to be busy inside, and I need you to stay close to me, do you understand? I don’t want to lose you.’ I nodded, distracted by all the things I could see in the shop window. ‘Look at me. This is very, very important. If you do lose sight of me, come right back here and wait for me. I will come and find you, okay? Now say it back to me, darling.’&n...

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“The New Exhibit” by Nina Shylo

Submitted to Contest #260

Karla awoke to the soft sounds of her mother in the kitchen. The smells that greeted her made her mouth water. Mommy must be making something nummy. Her stomach grumbled in agreement. Karla yawned wide, stretching long and lean, enjoying the feeling as she relaxed again and snuggled into the blanket. Suddenly, it struck her—they were going to the zoo today! Although her fifth birthday had been last week, her parents had waited until today to take her to her favourite place because the zoo was opening a much-anticipated exhibit that Karla cou...

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“Warabe Jizo” by David Kolf

Submitted to Contest #260

An: Ahh, morning is breaking. Light but not yet enlightenment. The fresh fragrance of moss. Yes, I am surrounded by moss, even buried in it. I shouldn’t care, but this garden at Sanzen-in is cozier than many a previous incarnation. Did I do something right? Am I purified of an evil desire? But the goal is to be released of all desire, and I do so desire to stay comfortable in this shaded bed of moss. My moss, my most precious moss.Ko: I could have stayed half-asleep if it weren’t for the ant ...

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“What it Means to be a Monster” by Hanna Walker

Submitted to Contest #260

Child 7673 was a problem, the biggest problem to plague the Nightmare Department of the Monsters Advocacy Bureau since its inception. 7673 was like no child anyone had ever seen. On the surface, she seemed like any other child; she slept in a bed, and she had nightmares; that much was obvious from her sleep charts. The problem with 7673? She wasn’t afraid of monsters. She just wasn’t intimidated by them. The Nightmare Department had exhausted almost all of its resources trying to scare this child. The threat level of the monster visitin...

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“The Unwelcome Intruder” by Allison Cellura

Submitted to Contest #260

“What was that?”Allison’s head snaps from her monitor, the screen's glow casting eerie shadows across her face. She freezes, ears straining to detect any sound beyond the steady hum of her computer. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. The air becomes colder, prickling her skin as she listens intently. She has been alone in her one-story bungalow, or so she thought.Did she hear something? Or was it the cats? It doesn’t sound like them, but sometimes they get into mischief. Kitty and Kat sau...

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“My Best Friend, The Ghost” by Kimberly Talisse

Submitted to Contest #260

Chelsea Pierce’s entire life had been focused around writing. Need someone to write an article about the tiger who just broke out of the zoo? Done. What about someone to write a blog review on the latest trends? Also done. If there was something that needed to be written, Chelsea would be the first to volunteer to write it. Ever since Chelsea was little she had been dreaming of the day she could share her work with the world, whether it be in poetry form, an essay, or a lab report. She didn’t care as long as she was able to write. In m...

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“Vertigo” by Ivy Wade

Submitted to Contest #260

Trigger Warning - Implied infanticide.For as long as I can remember; my mother suffered from vertigo. It would make her dizzy, and sometimes she’d get sick from it, but nothing major. My father had left almost as soon as I could walk, or at least that’s what I was told. So it was just my mom and me, so when things took a turn for the worse, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have anyone to talk to, and my mom made it abundantly clear that this was not talked about.It was my 8th birthday when things really started to go wrong. Mom had organiz...

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“Wasted Vacation” by Tyler Basti

Submitted to Contest #260

My eyesight slowly faded in as if it were the beginning of a television show. I heard muffled screams and cheers surrounding me. I was hoping this was still a dream. It wasn’t. My mom abruptly shook me as if she thought I was unconscious, or something. “We won! We won! We won!” she squealed repetitively. I glared at her half asleep. “The vacation we entered to win; we won!” She continued squealing. I had no recognition until she pulled out a brochure of the Dominican Republic. I snapped out of my sedated state. I couldn’t believe it, we ente...

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“A Crow's Business” by Kay Martin

Submitted to Contest #260

He's dead.He's dead?He's dead.I check for a pulse.His neck is cold and thick like rubber.I check again.His wrist is rigid and heavy.Again.I raise his hand and let it fall, it rolls off his stomach and makes a thud on the stone floor.Yeah, he's dead.He's dead. I wipe my sticky palms on the waist of my satin green dress and stand over the body of Mr. Zabardast. He's mangled at my feet. His tongue is pushing through his shining teeth and his eyes are bulging from his skull. I nudge his arm with the edge of my shoe. He doesn't move. ...

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“Three cats.” by Rose Lind

Submitted to Contest #260

Warning. Cussing.Every morning at 3 a.m., for the last seven years, I started my day with yoga, followed by prayer. During the recent past, I was distracted by a small and vulnerable cat. Somehow he was aware of my quiet body movements and silent prayer and sent a soft meow through the gap between the old front door and the wooden floor. "Please, Miss, could we have some food?" The sweetness of the melodic, pleading sound tugged at my heartstrings for those three poor animals. Although it was deeply unsettling to imagine their stomachs growl...

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“Marsh Walker” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

Submitted to Contest #260

I had timed it right. As the twilight began to soften the sky after the sun vanished over the edge of the marsh, I finally walked on firm footing and could see my way clear through what I felt sure were the last patches of boggy ground.Of course, I still tested with my staff. Excessive confidence was a danger since the marsh had tricksy ways. I heard enough about that as a child to always heed my mother’s warnings, especially as since then I dragged more than a few people out of the quavering fen, though one of them I had been tempted to lea...

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“Being a Champion” by Amber Sayer

Submitted to Contest #260

Kiera rubbed her arms, hoping her gloved hands would melt the goosebumps off her arms, but knowing they were more a product of nerves than the November chill. Unlike all the other races during the season, the ribbon of girls fanning out on the starting line displayed a more diverse array of uniforms.Today was the Northeast regional Junior Olympics Cross Country race. How can I possibly finish in the top 10 for Nationals in this huge race if I got 10 in that first meet of the season against just two middle school teams?Kiera tried to put...

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“Ugly Hearts” by Astrid Skarsgaard

Submitted to Contest #260

The reason I’m so good at killing people is because they never see me coming. All they see is a pleasant-looking woman dressed by QVC and shod by Sketchers. By the time they realize they’re in danger, the bullet is halfway to their head, or the knife is slicing through the carotid.Janie Latham is no exception. &n...

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$250

Prize money

428

Contest entries

131

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 26, 2024 EST

Won by Elizabeth Hoban 🏆

Title: You

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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