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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#272: Fright Night

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ReedsyFright to share your stories (and potentially be featured on our social accounts)!

Spooky season has arrived, and what better way to embrace this time of year than by diving into some spine-chilling writing? I’m constantly amazed by the variety of enthralling narratives we come across in this contest — from subtle, eerie stories with sinister undertones to tales that are outright macabre.

So, as one of the year's most popular holidays approaches, let’s get into the Halloween spirit and conjure up some creepy tales. Grab your coziest sweater and favorite hot drink, and let’s get writing!

This week's prompts

Write a story with the aim of scaring your reader.

Short Story – 112 stories

Start or end your story with someone running away from something, literally or metaphorically.

Dramatic – 85 stories

Write a story from the point of view of a ghost, vampire, or werewolf.

Short Story – 144 stories

Center your story around someone trying to resist their darker impulses — and they’ll either succeed or fail.

Angst – 63 stories

Write a story in which the narrator or a character says "Did you hear that?"

Short Story – 84 stories

Stories

“Grandpa's House” by Cecilia Heiskary

Submitted to Contest #272

This story is going to start out slow, but you need to understand the layout of the house and who my grandparents were. My grandfather hated Italians and he may have been prejudiced against other nationalities, however my nine-year-old self didn’t understand the hate that people had against each other. My mother raised me with an open mind and that we were all created equal.My grandfather was 100% Lebanese. He came over to this country with his parents when he was eight years old for a better life. I don’t know anything about my great grandp...

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“The Ex” by Jim Gilbert

Submitted to Contest #272

She loved this place. A lovely little ‘shack’ – as she thought of it, shown to her by an ex who… …An ex, nothing more now. Deep in the woods, amongst the trees and bushes. Gavin had brought her here, many times. He said it could be their ‘secret place’, that nobody else knew it was here. They came here and made love, so many times she lost count. It had been such a magical time until… So many happy memories. So long ago. But things changed. And now… She sat before them, nervous and afraid, wringing her hands together. Three men sh...

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“Cold, so cold” by Bruce Callahan

Submitted to Contest #272

Cold, so cold. I have no recollection of the rest of the night. I’m missing time. My eyelids feel like they are frozen shut. I force them open. I can’t feel my fingers or toes. Bright, so bright. The celestial rays of morning sun embrace the frigid earth, a welcome visitor to my hoary appendages. The ground has a thin layer of frost atop it. I bask in the warmth from the heavens, hoping it is a harbinger for the better.Sore, so sore. My muscles scream at my brain. I feel like a human pin...

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“Twisted waters” by Caitlynn Shaw

Submitted to Contest #272

One exceptionally early morning, a man awoke with a start to the sound of the landline ringing in the kitchen. He shot up, grabbed a robe, and quickly made his way to the telephone. Afraid of who would possibly consider calling him at such an ungodly hour. He picked up the phone. “Hello this is Jake Thatcher speaking,”Jake said in a deep groggy morning voice, “Hey Thatcher, this is Rodney from Laverne. I apologize for bugging you so early but there has been a kidnapping, and I heard you could help”Jake’s ears perked up at th...

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“A Foggy Hallows Eve” by Christine Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #272

They walk among us every day not knowing their past or future. Vicky sat alone in the pub waiting for the Halloween party to start. The publican dimmed the lights before lighting the candles in the carved pumpkins running along the bar. A large ornately carved lantern lit up with glowing evil eyes and sharp teeth carved in its flesh, “Wow, that one is scary.” Vicky said taking a mouthful of her beer. “Halloween.” An old lady dressed in rags bent over the bar suddenly looked up and madly shoved her purse into her...

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“Tea for Two” by Eric E

Submitted to Contest #272

A closing car door and the soft crunch of gravel under a wistful blue sky as Allan King, carrying his briefcase, walks slowly, and with intention. He thinks of his boss, Mr. Langston, and how he had spoken that morning with almost maddening ambiguity: that he seemed ready for his own crack at a policy renewal, if he wanted it. This one’s a walk in the park. And what the hell was he supposed to say to that? Absolutely, sir, seemed like the only choice, and so he said it. And then he found out it was a funeral home. But it wasn’t lik...

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“Nightmare on Hursch Street” by Lottie Waldeaux

Submitted to Contest #272

To: Andrew HuxleyFrom: Michael CainRe: Package at 641 N. Hursch Street Mr. Andrew Huxley– I hope this letter finds you in good health and prosperity. My name is Michael Cain, a resident at 641 N. Hursch Street. You may remember my girlfriend, Katelyn, and I moving in a few months prior, and our time has been incredible so far. Recently, we received a package with no name or return address that neither of us remember ordering and were wondering if you knew anything about it–is this common at the Hursch Street house? Did you happen to order it...

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“Porch Light” by Bernadette Stott

Submitted to Contest #272

The porch light clicks on as Callie sets her foot on the bottom step. She freezes. On either side of the screen door is a hanging basket, thick with petunias, the colour hard to discern in the glare of the security light. Liam whimpers in her aching arms. The taxi driver couldn’t, wouldn’t take them beyond the driveway gate. She left the car in the little town five miles away, at the end of a cul-de-sac, in case there’s a tracker in it, which is ludicrous for a nine-year-old Honda Civic, but she doesn’t put anything past Dale. She dropped he...

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“A Residual Haunting” by Jade Lawson

Submitted to Contest #272

The couch groaned in commiseration as I flopped down. With a sigh, I rubbed my eyes, then began to take off my jewelry. It took minutes to carelessly unmake what had taken an hour and half to assemble, but it was sort of cathartic. Almost like I was cleaning myself of yet another disastrous date. “Bad night?” Slumped low in my green velvet chair was the reason why I wouldn’t go on a third date. Tristan raised his brows, his eyes alight with eager anticipation of a good story. “It was fine,” I finally answered and got up to go was...

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“Keira and the White-Robed Fairy” by Kathryn Minicozzi

Submitted to Contest #272

Keira removed her shoes and stockings and stood to feel the leaves between her toes. She smiled as she squished a few of the leaves with her two big toes, leaving big green spots on her feet. Her mother would scold her for slipping out the house and down to the woods, but Keira wasn’t afraid. She was on an adventure, away from home and her mother’s subjection. She began to walk toward a stream a short distance ahead. The day was warm and clear, with bits of sun escaping between the leaves of the overhanging tree...

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“IT WILL REMAIN THE SAME” by Mystery Guest

Submitted to Contest #272

IT WILL REMAIN THE SAME.Sunday, 1500 PM, August 15th 2030.The man slowed down his pace until he finally stopped running. He just passed farmers lands with corn still growing, ready to be harvested. In the distance was a small industrial area and an old wildlife observation post which was built when it was all undeveloped land. Still it was very peaceful, except for a few cars and bicyclists. He slowly turned around catching his breath. He looked directly into the sun. This was the third heatwave but yet he enjoyed the exhausting 10...

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“It'll Be Fine” by Nate Tesar

Submitted to Contest #272

Should have seen that coming, I thought to myself as I dodged between two oak trees, narrowly avoiding a burst of purple fire thrown by an angry witch. This is why you never trust a gremlin. “Hey, I heard that!” shouted the psychic little cloaca. “I heard that, too! There's no need to be so vulgar.” I spared a glance at the hairy little green wannabe pixie dodging through the forest beside me while dragging a jagged knife with the heart of whatever poor sap had agreed to be the witches' sacrifice still impaled on it. How's this for vu...

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“Fox Hunt” by Benjamin Khoury

Submitted to Contest #272

It's a bad decision I know, but never was the sharpest tool in the shed. There's a less than 20% survival rate for runners and yet people like me keep applying. I spent the last two years accumulating credit card debt and jamming needles into my forearm. Now I'm here three months sober in a blue school bus with a handful of soon to be dead strangers. We all chose to run. I looked around at the silent companions around me. None of them met my gaze. There was an unspoken understanding between all of us. We were not good people. We were all cow...

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“Just Run” by Lynne Boyd

Submitted to Contest #272

They were on to her. Jack was acting weird, and there was no way she would get away with it forever. She turned on her computer and opened his email. He had set it up on her computer over a year ago so she could check it when he was out of town with no service. She felt sure he had forgotten she even had access. She was shaking as she scrolled down each line, stopping at the one to Jane in HR. The subject line was empty. She moved the cursor and double-clicked to open it.‘You will never believe who has been buying prepaid…’ She didn’t h...

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“Ezmira” by James Crofts

Submitted to Contest #272

Angie walked into the greenhouse and found her boss, Lisa, working at a large table where they sorted the seeds they grew. She was a curious type of character with tattoos on her face and she claimed she studied alternative beliefs, like witchcraft. But Angie had accepted it as some who was simply different and she had no place to judge. Angie's body ached and complained from unloading bags of fertilizer and compost from the box truck. She needed to go home and sit in a nice hot bath and do nothing all weekend. But it was almost quitting ti...

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$250

Prize money

488

Contest entries

175

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 18, 2024 EST

Won by Mortimer Ridgewood 🏆

Title: Drone

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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