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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

“Experiences Shared” by Bryan Wade

Submitted to Contest #260

Experiences SharedBy Bryan Wade Toby and Scott had been friends for a few years. They’d been buddies ever since Toby moved into the house next door.Scott’s house was a big, old, rambling place with creaky polished wooden floors, which were great for sliding on and even more exciting when they chased each other around the house. Unfortunately, they quickly stopped games like these before chasing the excited pair into the garden to let off steam.They were both seven years old and enjoyed doing the same things, usually having battles ...

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“The God Killer” by Joseph Cillo Jr

Submitted to Contest #260

The measure of a man is made in crisis, and no man knows his measure until that time when he must act, or someone dies.I knew. And my partner laid dead at my feet. I had frozen. My finger on my service revolver, the safety off, waiting for me to act to save my partner, the gun trained on the perp, but I failed to fire. How many times had I made easier shots at the range? But this time, it was for real. And had I but squeezed the trigger, my partner’s brains would not be splattered on the wall. My ears rang from the blast of gunfire. I pulled...

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“Marital Problems” by Paul Chappel

Submitted to Contest #260

My day started badly when my wife came home late, she had been dismembering some paedophile piece of work in her murder house but had got caught by the traffic on the return journey. As she walked through the door, wiping her shoes on the matt, I called out from the adjoining lounge in a hushed whisper, "Hey Darling. Rough day?"She sighed as she said "Urgh, traffic was murder." Then she noticed our son in my arms and lowered her voice, "Sorry... How's my little killer?"I smirked, "Well I'm doing okay... oh you mean the kid? Seeing my wife sm...

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“Divine Hearts” by X Kaiser

Submitted to Contest #260

Clara and Sadie have been thick as thieves since they were kids. Both met in middle school, Sadie being the new girl and Clara already a local. Everyone was intimidated by Sadie's expressionless face, but Clara thought the new girl was fascinating. Her golden curls, bronze skin, and caramel eyes made Sadie look like a goddess. Unlike Clara, who believed her ash blonde hair and hazel eyes were dull and her pale ivory skin didn't have that warm imperial glow. At first, Sadie did her best to avoid everyone. Although she was initially unsuccessf...

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“Dear John” by Cristina Ochoa

Submitted to Contest #260

Everyone thinks my head is always in the clouds just because my mind is on the stars, but they’re wrong. My mind is on the stars because they hold the truth. They are the diary of our past, and they tell the story of our future. Plus, they have a front row seat to our present. They see everything. From their perspective, all is known. So while most everyone else has their head pointed down on a screen these days, I have my eyes locked up on the stars. My father always said, “Look up son, or you’ll never know what you’re missing.” I know he s...

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“Post Trauma, 2007: Love and War” by Heidi Fedore

Submitted to Contest #260

Candice blinked several times, trying to see the illuminated clock, which read 2:35 AM. A nightmare portraying her ex-boyfriend, Ken, plunging into the Puget Sound and feeling like she was plunging too had jolted her awake, gasping for air. She slid back under the covers and concentrated on square breathing, like a Navy Seal staying calm. Inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four. I’m okay. Ken is okay. I hope. She needed sleep; her alarm was due to chime at 5 AM and then she’d be on the road to Vancouver, Washington, tw...

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“The Second Son's Daughter” by Asa P

Submitted to Contest #260

She was alone in the apartment, which was not an unusual occurrence. Even in childhood, in the long bygone years when she had still lived at home during elementary school, more days than not had been solitary. In those years, the boundaries had been firm, though, and she would never have done what she was doing now. Her father’s bed took up more than half of the room, yet left a space just wide enough for a locally sized human being to wedge through. Said human being could then sit on the edge of the bed and look out the window which took up...

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“Red Sneakers and Hidden Lies” by Nova Nite

Submitted to Contest #260

(sensitive topics include mentions of kidnappings) Red, dirty sneakers thumped against a gravelly forest road at a steady pace, the surroundings were practically silent however the earphones secured in the brunette woman's ears blared loud music, enough for it to drown out her own thoughts. All she needed to focus on right now was running, pretending like she could run away from every problem she'd ever had in her life.The tall stocky built woman was the only one in the dense forest, she enjoyed the solitude, even if it was only for a thirt...

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“Everything about Laila” by Chandrika Manikandan

Submitted to Contest #260

Laila was magic, or so I had always thought. Her confidence, humor, and beauty all made her incredibly mesmerizing. She was like a siren—the way she lured people into her life, making everyone fall in love with her with only her voice, and then the way she tore apart the very people who loved her. May 12, 2023. "Hey, I can't come today," the text read. It was 6:17 am, but I read the text at 9. "I'm going to call in sick for work, too; I just feel super nauseous." Laila and I worked together all week, planning our perfect Friday, s...

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“The Fortune” by René Sadae

Submitted to Contest #260

Hearing the front door open, without looking up, Madeline offered an inquiry off-handedly as she hovered over her pot of stew, “How did your appointment go Sweetheart?” After several moments of silence Sabrina answered, “Mommy, please come and sit down with me.” “Oh my goodness” Madeline replied while continuing to stir, “You sound so serious Sabrina.” “Mommy please.“ Sabrina’s voice withering into a softness, delusive of her wish to order rather than request, “Please. Come here.” Madeline stopped mid-stir, staring into the copper splash-bac...

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“Besties” by Renie Smith

Submitted to Contest #260

Besties Betty smiled as she answered the phone. She knew it was her best friend Andrea. “Hey, girl, what’s up?” “Yes! Let’s go. I’ll pick you up in about half an hour.” The new department store was having a grand opening and lots of sales. It would be so much fun to see all the specials. They loved to shop together. As she drove to Andrea’s house she remembered when they met in the maternity ward after each having their first baby. She smiled. Those first babies were all in their thirties now. They were both empty nesters. It seemed like s...

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“A quiet suburban community” by Noemi Csokas

Submitted to Contest #260

My grandfather was understandably doubtful. I could see doubt slowly creeping into his pupils, with the hardness of his generation, like a curtain falling straight from his thick, unkempt eyebrows. But we should go back to the start.It was a warm September morning. Sunday, to be precise. Just 10 minutes earlier, I arrived back at the house in a panic I had never felt before, and which I suspected could be fatal in certain circumstances.I was still clutching my shirt and breathing heavily when my grandpa walked in from the back garden and saw...

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“Mama said, Dad said” by Poppy LaC.

Submitted to Contest #260

Contains Profanity, Gore, October 22nd, 1985 It’s the disgusting meatloaf again. Mom always makes it on Tuesday nights. Maybe I can distract her long enough to feed some to Rover. I break the silence with a question Mama hates to answer. “Mama, what happened to Dad? I know you said he ran away but why? I wanna know the whole story.” I watch Mama sigh, holding her head in her hands. “I've told you this before Marty, it’s a complicated story. I don’t want you worrying about him, he’s out of our life now...

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“The School Bus ” by Megan DuPree

Submitted to Contest #260

Caroline was sitting on the school bus staring at the raindrops racing each other down the window pane. It was August and the lack of air conditioning combined with the fact that she couldn’t open the window due to the rain had her feeling suffocated. The humidity commingled with the B.O. wafting from the other middle school kids surrounding her in the worst, most disgusting way. She was acutely aware of her legs sticking to the blue vinyl seats and wondered how many butts had sat in this seat before her. Her earbuds were making her ears hur...

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“Guess what? I’m related to Frankenstein” by D. Rohan Rowal

Submitted to Contest #260

“Guess what? I’m related to Frankenstein” That was the last text message Amir sent me. I had so many questions like “Isn’t Frankenstein just a story?” and “How’d you find out?”. But he left me on read.Summer had come and gone, and with it the vacation. Clouds roared aloud at the height of the Indian monsoon. I looked out the school bus window, my mind as gloomy as the skies. Amir’s ghosting had got to me. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten and I was beyond frustrated. My plan for the day was to beat his ass as soon as I saw him....

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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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