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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#273: Locked Away

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

Ah, secrets. What is it about the unknown that’s so alluring? Do you relish the implicit power of knowing confidential information? Do you love the feeling of connection and exclusivity that being told a secret brings? Or do you enjoy dissecting other people in your head after you’ve discovered their deepest, darkest secrets?

This week, let’s write some stories that unravel long-buried truths — and maybe even a character’s entire life in the process.

This week's prompts

Write a story in the form of diary/journal entries about a secret or confession.

Short Story – 68 stories

Begin your story with someone either being followed or following someone else.

Dramatic – 52 stories

Write a story with the line “Don’t tell anyone.”

Angst – 80 stories

Your character is invited to a secret meeting. Who invited them, and what do they encounter?

Short Story – 40 stories

Write a story that hides something from the reader until the end.

Dramatic – 113 stories

Stories

“A Somber Fulfillment of the Countess's Wishes” by M.C. Raven

Submitted to Contest #273

The sky was littered with sparkling lights, indicating night had arrived. The neighbor’s windows were covered, no flashing of a television, no movement of shadows. The crickets chirped away as if laughing at the funniest of jokes.Shania moved towards her home, noticing the toys thrown about the yard. Her younger brother and sister, Raya and Pryor, would be in very big trouble in the morning.She adjusted her worn, dark khaki colored knapsack that continuously escaped her shoulder for the hundredth time, hoisting it with a quick huff as she da...

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“Vein” by Sam Hollis

Submitted to Contest #273

‘Don't tell anyone,’ Taff Wallace half-whispered to his assistant, Brienne Sykes. ‘But the Prime Minister is going to resign.’ His eyebrows bent along with his head, and the purplish vein buried deep inside his forehead’s skin looked fit to burst. It took a moment for Brienne to take in this information, for the stale aroma of morning coffee had just wafted out of Taff's mouth and into her nostrils. They flared and she flinched, and in doing so her boss, the Head of Communications at Number 10, stepped back. &nbsp...

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“The Dead Don’t Talk” by David Inkling

Submitted to Contest #273

He sits still staring at the picture. It is flat on the floor in front of him. It is a picture of three young men dressed in dark and sombre suits, plain dark ties, with their hair neatly slicked back. Underneath someone has written: Robert, Henry and Joe. They wanted to look their best. Of course they did. He barely moves. He stares at the picture. Sometimes he holds it, but mostly it sits square and flat on the floor in front of him. Nothing moves. ‘I don’t understand why he is naked though, do you?’ ‘It’s a thing. Don’t read too much int...

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“A Friends Promise” by Brian Bosader

Submitted to Contest #273

It seems like only yesterday when my pops approached me, his eyes wide, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “We’re going on a trip,” he said, his voice trembling with excitement. “A cabin deep in the woods.” The words buzzed in my ears, sending a rush of exhilaration through my chest. My heart raced at the thought of an adventure, something we hadn’t had in so long. This would be our first vacation since Mom passed. But, as things usually do, it came with a catch. My cousin Jamal, whom I never got along with, had to join us. We were as differ...

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“The String” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #273

The story I’m about to tell you must remain a secret. I beg you, please don’t tell anyone. You will disrupt the order. Everyone has their own truth and we need to leave it that way. --- I am a ballerina. Or rather, I was a ballerina until a few seconds ago. Now, I’m somewhere else. There’s nothing—just an empty space, infinity. I turn around, but the feeling is strange when there’s no perspective, nothing around me. Nobody appears. Actually, they don’t appear, I just know they’re there. “You guessed right. I am Nobody. But this isn’t somewhe...

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“The Confession” by Cathy Ro

Submitted to Contest #273

Iris sat down in the confession seat. The church was not overly crowded which worked out in her favor. She didn't want to feel rushed or chance someone overhearing her conversation. Iris had never gone to confession before and the only thing she knew about it was from what she had seen in movies. "I've sinned. At least I think that I did," said Iris. "How long has it been since your last confession?" the priest asked her. She chuckled. "Last confession? I have never went to confession. I've actually never been inside of a church.& She t...

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“The Bite” by Jonathan Clark

Submitted to Contest #273

My clothes were already halfway off by the time Evie closed the door. Something about surviving a supply raid, thrusting yourself to the edge of death, always made me crave the most basic, primal release. "Zach, I have something to show you."Oh my god. "Yeah, you do." I turned around, shirt off, pants unbuttoned. Evie was fiddling with the button of her fly. She looked tired and disheveled, her chestnut brown hair held loosely in a bun, a smear of ash streaking across her face. "You are so hot," I said and closed the distance betwe...

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“THE SPANISH GALLEON” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #273

THE SPANISH GALLEON “Okay! Okay!” Riley looked around nervously, making sure the coast was clear. “Don’t tell anyone! You have to promise me.” “Dude,” said Trent, rolling his eyes. “What are you looking around for? We are in the boonies. There probably isn’t a living soul around here for twenty clicks.” “Yeah, well you can never be too careful.” Trent rolled his eyes again. “Got it! What's up? What’s the big deal?” “You have to promise,” stressed Riley. “What? Are we like ten years old or something? Do you want me to pink...

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“Dear Diary” by Charlie Strickland

Submitted to Contest #273

Dear Diary, Go fuck yourself! Seriously. Despite all you have done for me, I am going to throw you onto a bonfire and laugh as each blackened corner of your pages burns away slowly. You were supposed to help. My parents said it. My therapist said it. Even Kate had said it. ‘Write down what’s bothering you. Writing it all down releases the pressure in your head. If you won’t talk to me, or anyone else for that matter, then why don’t you start a diary?’ Kate had insisted I buy a large one. I think she was implying that I had been thundering ar...

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“Don't Tell Anyone” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #273

Don’t tell anyone. That’s all he said. Don’t tell anyone. Then he turned around and walked away. He went across the street and walked into a shop. When I went over to ask what it was I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone I found that the door to the shop was locked. Upon looking in the window it appeared that the store was vacant, with nothing but cobwebs and debris occupying it. So, what was it he wanted me to keep to myself? Maybe he didn’t want me to tell anyone that he disappeared through a...

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“When Max Met Maya” by TC Cook

Submitted to Contest #273

“Into the old warehouse on Skewer Road, find the hidden wall behind the first-floor office, then just keep going straight.” The note was written on one of my grocery list pad papers. The note was boldly positioned in the center with my various magnets pushed to the side. “I live alone. Who did this? Who wrote this? How did they get in my house?” The questions plagued me throughout the day, as I continued to wonder if my house was even safe or not. I could barely focus on work, but that made the day go by faster. One of my coworkers even aske...

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“The Box” by Polly Bochkariov

Submitted to Contest #273

The figure in the chair swiveled to face the intruder as soon as the door opened. “I was waiting far too long for you to come,” a voice called out from the dark corner the chair was in. “Nearly didn’t,” replied the intruder. “And why all the secrecy?” The voice didn’t respond. Instead, a shuffling noise was heard as the person in the chair approached the intruder. “Grandma!” cried the intruder. The shuffling figure nodded her head. She grabbed her guest’s hand and brought her to the dusty table. Grandma had set a box down o...

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“You Don't Know Me” by Larissa Distler

Submitted to Contest #273

**This story contains discussion of miscarriage. When we came together it was like I'd finally stopped fighting against the current. It was easy, natural. Tension I didn't even know I'd been carrying fled my body. Her own body melded into mine like a puzzle piece, my other half finally fitting into place. I sighed and held her flush against me, burying my nose into her hair breathing her in. After a long moment she pulled back and put both hands on my chest. I looked into her big blue eyes, sparkling with uncertainty and wanted to chase it a...

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“The Mermaid's Wedding ” by Rosa Arlotto

Submitted to Contest #273

The Mermaid’s Wedding When Jeanine was a little girl she would dress up as a mermaid and marry her prince at sea.Her adoptive parents had her dream come true. Steve, her father, the smart accountant that he is had made a few lucky investments and made a bundle and now he and his wife Patti could afford a cruise wedding and were now completing their daughter’s fairytale. Patti has said to Jeanine:” You don’t marry a person, you marry a family” and so she had invited and paid for their entire family and a few ...

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“One Of Them Is My Daughter” by S Nicole Langley

Submitted to Contest #273

For almost two years my family and I have anticipated this day, unable to ban the circumstances from our hearts and minds as much as we so badly wish that we could. Two people: the victim who was assaulted, and the one who committed the assault. One of them has been out (of jail) on bail for 21 months, and today, in just a few short hours, a sentence will be handed down by a judge. Why do I even care? Because one of them is my daughter. I worry about her quite often, and this situation has not made it any better. Yesterday evening...

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$250

Prize money

353

Contest entries

162

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 25, 2024 EST

Won by Asia W 🏆

Title: Venus Buried

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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