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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#263: Heroes and Villains

If you’re an avid cinemagoer, you’ve probably seen trailers or posters for the recently released superhero comedy film Deadpool & Wolverine. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing two beloved characters set aside their differences to save the world — and potentially start an unlikely friendship along the way.

Inspired by Deadpool & Wolverine, this week's prompts center around protagonists and antagonists. Create a new kind of hero or villain, parody a character who already exists, or go totally off script and interpret the prompts in a creative, unexpected way… the choice is yours!

This week's prompts

Write a story from the antagonist’s point of view.

Character – 84 stories

Start or end your story with a hero losing their powers.

Character – 42 stories

Write about two mortal enemies who must work together.

Character – 29 stories

Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear or enemy.

Character – 71 stories

Write the origin story of a notorious villain.

Character – 89 stories

Stories

“Kodeka's Purpose” by Branson Kennedy

Submitted to Contest #263

In a world full of warring nations, the advanced civilizations of the Mortallis species developed a new way of conducting espionage and warfare. This new avenue is through something called the Bellator Project. The results of the project are... mixed. In terms of what was expected, the nations of Helia, Celia, and the Megalachorin Alliance have developed a very robust system and maintain 'somewhat' fruitful relations with one another. The Utanic Empire, on the other hand, controls an entire super-continent and they believe they have a superi...

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“Hand of Faith” by A.M. Derge

Submitted to Contest #263

Sitting still, was unmistakably the hardest thing to have happened. Every minute her heel would tap on the carpeted floor. Feeling the sweat drip down her forehead in little tears was just the beginning. Soon her whole body would implode and take the world with it. Once again her foot tapped the carpet. Smelling the environment around her, gave a distinct smell of cologne, makeup, and desire. Her thoughts raced like a car going 100 miles an hour. She refused to look upon the room that was before her. Many times she sat in this very spot and ...

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“A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity” by Mary Wilkins

Submitted to Contest #263

Part I As a night-shift barista in Corner City, Riley Gardner had two top fears. Top Fear Number 1: Getting robbed at work (the Night Owl Café’s hours were 10:00pm to 5:00am). Top Fear Number 2: Meeting a villain. She’d never expected both to happen at once. Riley did as she’d been trained: opened the register, raised her hands, and stepped back. “Take it. It’s yours.” “Huh?” The Scale-Head scratched his head, then paused when his fingers felt the bumpy leather of his cowl. “Shit.” Behind his domino mask, his eyes were bleary and bloodshot....

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“I am Going to Ruin my Life ” by Samuel John

Submitted to Contest #263

I am Going to Ruin my LifeBy Sam John I’m going for a run! I told myself I’d do it and now, here I am. Post pandemic, still living with mum and dad but fixing my life. Giving myself lists, tasks, objectives. I can’t face going back to London just yet. I don’t want to hang out. I want to stay in this bubble. I’m listening to Derren Brown’s book: Happy. It’s really changing my life. He talks about the stoics and all these ancient Greek/modern day philosophers. What’s most important, I believe, with Stoicism is knowing how you can’t affe...

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“Bright Line” by Marc Wilks

Submitted to Contest #263

Brian Woods walked along the sidewalk, his usual dread weighing on him like an anchor. He was on the way to school, a place that until recently, he would have said that he enjoyed. Brian played football, was in the drama club and his grades placed him in the top ten percent of his class. It was a situation that anyone would have loved to be in. That is until you factor in the presence of Neil Redman. Neil had transferred from a private school last year, and from his first day, Neil made it his mission to persecute Brian in any way he could. ...

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“TRUE ADVENTURES OF A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN JAMAICA, W.I.” by Corelli GIEFER

Submitted to Contest #263

TRUE ADVENTURES OF A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN JAMAICA, W.I. I was a skinny, but highly energetic and athletic child. At ten, I had just begun to wear glasses. I was proud to be the best friend of Peggy. She was fourteen and very smart. She knew ‘everything’, I was certain. She told me that I would soon get my ‘menses’; which would mean that I could have children: but she warned me it would only happen when I had sex. Then she explained what ‘sex’ was. Sex, she explained, is an i...

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“The Devil Smokes Marlboros” by Joseph Cillo Jr

Submitted to Contest #263

The devil smokes Marlboros. I know because he offered me one.“Cigarette?” A smile curled the corners of his lips—confident, almost smug. He wore an Armani suit, not some crazy red getup. He carried no pitchfork, though I would not be surprised if his tongue were forked.Now, it is never wise to converse with an ancient being who knew most all that ever happened, was created with super intelligence beyond the imagining of man, and who detested you and every creature like you since the very idea of your race came into the mind of God. Long ago,...

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“Emergency” by Melody Watson

Submitted to Contest #263

Emergency“You’ll be up and running on all cylinders in no time.”That's what they said. Every single one of them. After spending months, almost two years, arguing with the doctors that work was not possible, but falling to my knees was. I think the labs have drained me twice over. There was not a day or an hour I didn't wonder if it was my last. Going to sleep was another matter, simply put, exhaustion took over from staying awake twelve hours. This unwanted journey felt to have been a lifetime, nearly was in fact.The problem arose one night ...

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“Finding Home” by Steven Wierenga

Submitted to Contest #263

Mateusz sat down heavily in the gray and slosh of late winter under an oak tree. The marrow of his bones curdled; he was tired with a tired that could no longer tell time or season. He was tired of fighting and noise and death. He had stopped counting long ago the number of friends he had lost. He sat next to Josef, a jeweler’s son from Spandau, and Bruno, who had a fat face and wore a bandolier. Bruno’s hands weren’t greasy, but they looked like they should’ve been. Josef had only joined Die Piraten last year and m...

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“A Solemn Fear ” by Sir Suirradel

Submitted to Contest #263

It looks just like him. His eyes singe from the waves of smoke that flood the air. Breathing becomes thinner as his sweaty palms hold onto a metal pipe. Covered in bruises, Ethan sniffles as he tries to kindle courage inside of his heart. Loneliness shrinks it as he peers this creature that stalks him. Fear snakes within his veins - and every plink injects more venom through his bloodstream. It looks...just like him. His almond coated eyes. His stupid freckles on the bridge of his button nose. His unkempt hair and his burly brows. Even the s...

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“The Rise of Malchior” by Leah Williams

Submitted to Contest #263

Malchior was born in the small, peaceful village of Eldoria, known for its lush landscapes and close-knit community. His parents, humble farmers, raised him with strong moral values. From a young age, Malchior was known for his intellect, kindness, and a burning desire to help others. He dreamt of becoming a great healer, someone who could rid the world of pain and suffering. As a teenager, Malchior’s village was struck by a mysterious plague. Despite his best efforts to save his family and neighbors, he was powerless against the disease. Wa...

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“Ghostly Beginnings” by Timothy Gabriel

Submitted to Contest #263

The mere whisper of his name resonates with terror amongst the criminal underground. His nefarious reputation has earned him trepidatious respect combined with the feeling of absolute horror should you learn he’s coming for you. Ruthless, cunning, and rumored to have the coldest heart known to man. He is the Devil’s Ghost. He is Colonel Gregor Alexi Nikolanovic, former Spetznaz operative, dreaded mercenary and feared assassin. Some say he was born from a volcano in the northwestern edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” in...

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“The Cinema Butcher” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #263

Seventeen-year-old Steven Scott greeted the cinemagoers as they made their way out of the packed movie opening night. Holding the cinema door open and nodding his head as the last of the patrons made their way out, he grabbed his broom and dustpan, sucking in his breath as he made his way inside the movie theater. The sight that greeted him was one of horror, one that he had seen several times. Popcorn littered the floor, and it looked sticky. Hot dog containers, nacho cheese containers, and empty candy boxes—and candies—were also strewn acr...

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“The Bird Child” by Aria Damari

Submitted to Contest #263

“Mama - "“Quiet, James!”“But Mama - "She sent me a look so angry I shut my mouth. Pursing my lips, I jiggled uncomfortably; my bladder needed to empty it’s contents. We had been here, at the Choosing, since early morning, and I hadn’t used the bathroom even once. I needed to go.“When will you pick already, Mama?” I asked her, keeping my voice quiet so she didn't get mad. When I talked loudly she got a headache, and then she would become mean. I didn’t like when Mama was mean. She would always scream at me and also sometimes throw me on the w...

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“Shadowheart” by Kaylee Ellison

Submitted to Contest #263

In the heart of the ancient kingdom of Aldoria, where magic flowed as freely as the rivers and the skies were painted with the hues of enchantment, there lived a young woman named Lysandra. Born to a humble family of herbalists, Lysandra was a beacon of innocence and potential, possessing an innate talent for magic that surpassed even the most skilled sorcerers of her time. Her emerald eyes sparkled with the promise of greatness, and her raven-black hair flowed like shadows. From a young age, Lysandra was drawn to the forbidden arts, the dar...

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$250

Prize money

315

Contest entries

109

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 16, 2024 EST

Won by Eliza Entwistle 🏆

Title: Petrified

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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