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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#48: Superpower

The faces of superheroes have long emblazoned everything from our t-shirts to our lunch-boxes. For over a decade, the Marvel movies have dominated box offices, and for almost a century, superhero comics have remained prized possessions.

A Smithsonian article describes the broad appeal of superheroes: "At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose. (Wearing a cape or tights is optional.)"

This week's prompts are for anyone who's ever wondered, "If you could have one superpower, which one would it be?" And as always, our prompts are open to interpretation! Whether your entry includes familiar superhero tropes, or ends up being a piece of literary fiction about someone who just so happens to move faster than the speed of light is up to you.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Middle School – 333 stories

Write about someone who always comes to the aid of others.

Teens – 108 stories

Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.

Fiction – 128 stories

Write about a person who collects superhero comics.

Middle School – 89 stories

Write a story that features a protagonist with an archnemesis.

Character – 112 stories

Stories

“The Sidekick” by Nadia S

Submitted to Contest #48

“At last,” cried the villain, wiping away the blood that streaked their mouth. “At last, I will control the city. Their greatest protector, finally defeated, by the likes of me!” Huddled beneath the villain’s feet, crumpled and winded, lay the hero. “You won’t get away with this,” they sputtered, chest heaving as they began to rise to their feet. The villain hastily urged them back down with a swing of their boot, and the hero rolled to the side. “Give it up already. I won. You lost. How does it feel to finally lose for once in your life...

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“The Box” by Kate Enoch

Submitted to Contest #48

There isn’t a single writing utensil in my entire house. I’m serious, no pens, pencils, not even a little crayon stub. My parents bought me my own computer when I was only three years old, and instead of learning to write, I was taught to type. When it came time to begin schooling, I was enrolled in an online program that could be accomplished right from our kitchen table. And as the time where I would begin education approached, I dreamed of what adven...

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“The Dark Knight” by Kira Krieger

Submitted to Contest #48

A shadow of a figure was running in the dark. All around were tall trees, and only a small fraction of the moon’s rays got through the canopy. The ground was a black void with no difference between the dirt and the tree roots. A pack of wolves howled in the distance. With every gust of wind, the tree branches and leaves banged and rustled like a toddler playing with pots and pans. Under all of that was a low mumble, rhythmic like a drum cadence but ghostly in origin. The figure trips. "Eli?" The scene quakes. “Eli!” The moon disappea...

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“The Eye” by San T.

Submitted to Contest #48

He could take it no longer. Years of neglect and indifference on his grandfather's part tipped him over this time.All his life Lan had tried to achieve just one thing, his grandfather’s approval. The grandfather he hero-worshipped. The grandfather who could not tolerate him just because he looked like his mother. Even Lan himself had tried to justify that it was because his mother was the cause of his father’s death. This is what he had known all his life. It was the background score of the huge ancestral mansion he grew up in.Lan was the bo...

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“Bobby Brittlethorp and the Bully” by Eric Smiley

Submitted to Contest #48

Bobby Brittlethrop was a boy of no account by any means. He was very slight. no weight to him so to speak, not the brightest bulb on the tree, and he had these delusions of having an ability to help people. It was a combination that made for a risky life for in the Oakland, California public school system. But Bobby managed not well but well enough. His parents were nice people. Mom worked at the Walmart as a clerk and Dad kept the water flowing at the city's Public Utilities. Bobby was getting picked on. And as the kids grew older the bul...

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“Quill Bill” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #48

I turned my back on him, hoping he’d get the hint. “Why are you ignoring me?” I twitched my worn out body away from the finger poking into my spine, causing more of the duvet to accidentally join me. The protective heaviness didn’t last long, being promptly snatched back. “You always do this. Taking all the covers for yourself. Just goes to prove: you don’t value my feelings.” I drew in breath. Held it there for a moment, like a billion articles I surreptitiously searched for in any free moment I managed to carve out had instructed m...

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“Introducing Misty Spirit” by Cheri Jalbert

Submitted to Contest #48

A swirling mist skimmed the outskirts of the growing mob. Sensations of fear, rage and pain rioted above the escalating voices. A shadow hovered among the multitude of faces, descending to transform the erupting emotions into something less. Fear, rage, and pain mutated as a gentle breeze dispersed tolerance, understanding and compassion into the small crowd, lingering over each precious face.“It’s too strong,” a pained voice whispered. Fire light glinted on toppled statues as flames licked hungrily at the...

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“THE GHOST WHO WALKS” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #48

“Grand pa please ask your friend to give me some money”, dragging the 60 year old man , Kanak moved towards the ‘Puja room’ a place where array of picture of deities fixed in ornate frames decorated the wall. Lord krishna, Lord Rama, the powerful Hanuman... and many more with different names and powers. But for Kanak the only person with super powers, was her grandfather. Grand pa had told her as well as showed her how he could bring out crisp currency notes from his empty shirt pocket . This was a littl...

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“ Fighting Karens” by Lydia Sarrou

Submitted to Contest #48

This past year I have been seeing so many Karens all over social media. Every time that I watched one of their videos, my eyes were literally about to explode, and so did my brain. Every time, I was like, damn, I wish I had a power that could eliminate all Karens of this world, so that I could make this world a better place for everyone. That day, though, I had no idea what was about happen, and it shocked me for good. May 13th 2020 I was at the Taco Bell restaurant, wanting to get some food, because I was really hungry. All of a s...

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“The Power of Acceptance ” by Cassidy Caldwell

Submitted to Contest #48

Ken had asked him to have a beer after work today. It hadn’t been out of the ordinary, but the second they got their drinks, he knew something was different. Ken exuded confidence - he was the only person that Conan knew who could do a presentation without sweating, or sing “Don’t Stop Believin” on karaoke night without any alcohol in his system. It just wasn’t like him to be sitting here, not making eye contact, tracing the outline of the napkin with his finger. In hindsight, these were all the typical signs. Conan was just off his game ton...

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“The One Percent” by Claire C

Submitted to Contest #48

The most remarkable thing about me is my name. Prometheus Adolphus Black. It sounds like the name of someone’s superhero alter ego, or like some kind of video game villain that’s nearly unbeatable. It rolls off the tongue in a way that’s a little bit too pretentious for my taste, but it sure is unusual. One in a million. More like 31 in 325 million. One of .000008%. More people are killed by lighting strikes each year. Other than that, I’m about as exciting as a dead squirrel on the side of the road. “Ple...

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“The True Hero” by A. S.

Submitted to Contest #48

Used. Constantly being used. Every waking second is spent devising a way to break out of the cycle. Oh, how I hate that feeling of being drained, but always being asked to do more. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike my job. That’s not it at all. It is almost satisfying to know my place in life. Helping people is what I live for. I know a lot of people don’t get to that point. But the lack of control. That is what I hate. I have no choices, no options, no way out. As hard as I try, I can’t do anything to stop it. Sudden mo...

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“Bushington’s Secret Power” by James Offenha

Submitted to Contest #48

We caught Bushington at the metal detector. He had his airplane ticket around his collar and was about to go through, but we stopped him and forced Burlington into the car and drove home. We then had a one time family discussion and told Bushington if he ever did that again, he’d go back to the non-kill shelter and we didn’t give him any treats for a month. No more treats for Bushington. Bad Bushington. Then, though, other the...

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“TOP 6 TIMES I STOPPED TIME ” by Jean Racines

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #48

TOP 6 TIMES I STOPPED TIME (arranged according to my proximity to bodies of water) 6) When they were pulling my wisdom teeth out I’m 19. The syringe is huge, as if it was meant for an animal way bigger than myself. “It doesn’t hurt. You’ll just feel some pressure, champ.” Pressure deep inside my jaw, against flesh and bone. So much pressure. My mouth feels numb. My face feels heavy. The doctor asks me if I’m ready. How should I know? Yes? I pull up my thumb. He gets comfortable and maneuvers his tools inside my mouth. “Pres...

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“Origins of the Storm ” by Ethy Starling

Submitted to Contest #48

Gathered, on a worn out wooden bed, a young women lifts shining eyes to watch a two girls huddle together under a patched-up quilt. The twin girls watch her as she spoke in her soft golden voice. “Let me tell you a story. In a land far away, there lived two neighboring kingdoms, deep in the realm of fire breathers. The kings of these two kingdoms were old friends and they were handed their crowns and the burden of shouldering the responsibility of leading the kingdoms side by side. The king of the wealthier kingdom was named King Valian...

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$50

Prize money

770

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 03, 2020 EST

Won by Jeff C. Carter 🏆

Title: Primum Nil Nocere

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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