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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#64: Out on the Moor

This week marks 173 years since the original publication of the classic novel Jane Eyre. In the nearly two centuries since then, the novel has served as social critique, deep character study, sweeping romance, and so much more. Its atmosphere has inspired reams of Gothic literature and ghost stories, while its in-depth handling of Jane’s perspective set a whole new path for the way characters are written.

In honor of this achievement, this week’s prompts have been drawn from facets of Jane Eyre. We can’t promise that your story will be remembered for centuries — but you never know!

This week's prompts

Set your story in a Gothic manor house.

Horror – 133 stories

Write a ghost story where there’s more going on than it first appears.

Mystery – 225 stories

Write about someone who’s been sent to boarding school.

Novel – 120 stories

Write about a family attempting to hide their secrets from someone new.

Dramatic – 121 stories

Write a romance that involves one partner saving the other from a fire.

Romance – 154 stories

Stories

“Yes, Master” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #64

I pause when I reach the threshold of the grand entrance and stare inside the elaborate school facility.It is beautiful. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows line the back wall, with long hallways stretching from either side. The floor is a marbled concoction of white and gold hues. A chandelier drips from the ceiling, the hundreds of thousands of crystals sparkling in the light of the sunny afternoon.And the students. They wander about, the boys and girls, chatting and giggling, their voices light and airy. They wear freshly pressed uniforms of wh...

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“Don't Say Anything” by Emily Nghiem

Submitted to Contest #64

I could barely remember the last time Beverly and I celebrated Halloween. Between churches frowning on pagan traditions, and rumors of poisoned candy and razor blades, we started skipping the holiday over the years, and just focused on Thanksgiving instead. The last time I asked my wife about giving out candy for the kids, she refused, explaining she could never look at costumes of witches and devils after she heard horror stories of children kidnapped for ritual abuse. She was afraid of attracting evil spirits. I never asked again.The most ...

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“Ghostly Meeting” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #64

Rain lashed against the windows, and the strong wind howled down the chimneys. It was cozy inside the library but the inhabitants still shivered as a breeze blew across the room. The fire had long ago died.Despite the thick curtains, they could all sense the thick fog surrounding them, almost as if the moor was penetrating into the house.Madame Kiri coughed and cleared her throat. It turned into a racking, chesty hack which she tried to stifle with the sleeve of her dress. The rich embroidery on the material was quickly dampened.“Now then," ...

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“Who are you?” by Palak Shah

Submitted to Contest #64

Wind carried secrets far and wide; their merciful but menacing nature made it impossible to distinguish them between a friend or a foe. Gutters spat out water like secrets. Penetrating the ambiance, the hymn of matrimony rang in his ears. The white washed walls suffocated behind the cabinets and tables; whilst they panted for air. Sitting proudly in the middle of a destitute village; a fairly small cottage stood. However, everything was perfect; the flower pots were in arrays the.... “Thomas, Thomas. Does she know?” asked Mrs Smi...

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“The Manor of a Dream” by Yolanda Wu

Submitted to Contest #64

The young lord lived in the manor atop a cliff. The manor was big with winding stairwells, crouching and thorn-clad like a great, dark wolf. Trees grew around it with elongated trunks, boughs, and limbs thin as twisted wire. Witches’ fingers that reached, casting long, thick shadows on the scaly roof.The manor had been built by his father, a thin, studious man who wasn’t afraid of the creaks in the night. Or how the wind moaned when it was dark like the howls of a fair maiden. He slept soundly because of the roaring of the waves as it broke ...

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“If You Die, I Die” by Zea Bowman

Submitted to Contest #64

Do you remember that day?The one where you almost died? I remember very clearly what I said to you as you told me to run; to save myself."If you die, I die."That brought tears to your eyes. Your beautiful eyes.Blue as a clear sky on a summer day. Your blonde hair was turned black with soot and ash, your throat was clogged with smoke as you tried to cough it out.But you will always be beautiful, inside or out, no matter what you look like, where you are, or what you do. And as I saw you trapped, mouth open in a silent scream of plea that nobo...

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“No Other Way” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #64

The smoke is rancid, thick fumes billowing out of the house’s windows and curling into heavy tendrils clawing their way out into the air. Autumn makes the air crisp and fresh, leaves crunching below sneakers not-quite warm enough for your toes. Despite the extreme heat emanating off of the house, goosebumps run up my arms, hugging me in it’s cold embrace. I can’t tear my eyes from the window, still sealed shut and revealing nothing more than smoke and burning white blinds. From the old house freshly painted a baby-blue, now blackened by fl...

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“Preoccupied” by Maggie Deese

Submitted to Contest #64

Edith couldn’t sleep.The house was colder than usual. Frigid air blew in from the open window and tickled her nose, freezing her nostrils. She wiped at her nose and quietly rose to tighten the attic window. Edith pulled at the lock as hard as her weak arms allowed and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.A noise sounded from below her. Edith’s ears pricked. She tried to remember the last time she heard clamor in the old house. A few years, maybe? Yes, that was it. She decided it had to have been at least a few years, fifteen maybe. The noise sou...

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“The Boy, The Ball, and The Shadow” by Janetra Waters

Submitted to Contest #64

The house looks normal, a carbon copy of the suburban houses on the street. Healthy green grass sits before the house. No peeling paint or falling shingle. A beautifully carved rocking chair sits on the porch. But something is off about it, it's barely noticeable, like a slight shift in the wind. A weird feeling radiates from it, one I'm familiar with, creeping silently along my skin. A woman stands on the porch, arms crossed, trying to shield herself from the chill of the Winter air. Blonde hair whips about from the breeze. I ca...

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“A Watchman Lady” by Skyler Woods

Submitted to Contest #64

Lindsay McBride murdered her husband. She stabbed him to death while he was trying to leave the house with their son in his arms. If Lindsay could do it all over again, she would still kill her husband. Sadly, Lindsay’s husband, Dennis, wasn’t her only victim. Lindsay also murdered her 5-year-old son, Amari. The little boy didn’t suffer as badly as his father, but he still died. His father’s shielding arm took most of the stabbing blows. Amari died instantly when his mother stabbed him in the neck by accident. She was aiming for his fat...

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“The House of Inner Demons” by Gip Roberts

Submitted to Contest #64

It felt like there were spiders crawling all over me. The heavy glass door rolled open with ever such silence, like some kind of unseen force was standing there to open it. I was there. This was home now. The faltering daylight cast shadows in imitation of every shape of every object in the place. My throat twitched. The hanging lamp above the oval dining room table was gently swinging, I guess because the house was settling again. I pulled the chain to turn it on, my imagination expecting to see anything. I listened and held my breath.&nb...

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“Hot as Hell” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #64

"Hurry up, hurry up!" I hissed, smiling despite myself. Saira hit me lightly. "Shut up, and it might go faster." I giggled wildly, clamping a hand over my mouth. I had never done anything, anything like this before, and I didn't know how to act. "Done!" Saira exclaimed triumphantly, leaping up and high fiving me. I wrinkled my nose at that. "We high five now?" I asked, feeling unusually flirty. I opened my mouth, wanting to ask her out, right this second, but all that came out was a weird mumble. Saira laughed, "What the hell...

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“The Ultimate Escape” by Malz Castell

Submitted to Contest #64

Trigger warning. There were eighteen of them, huddled up in different corners, not making eye contact with each other.The younger ones tried to move closer to the older girls seeking refuge. Their immature minds told them that they could trust the older girls. They weren’t bad like the men who prowled free outside the tiny, windowless room. No, these girls were victims like them, but they were older. Surely, they would know what to do.Kiara was once just like them. A child who waited for the older girls to take her in their arms, tell her e...

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“A Fiery Romance” by Echo Sundar

Submitted to Contest #64

“Gather round.” my father announced beckoning us closer. I finished washing my dishes and then walked over to our large couch where I plopped myself down and waited for something interesting to happen.“That's my spot.” My sister pouted pointing to where I was now sitting.“No it's not, you barely ever sit there!” I pointed out.“That's because you always sit there!” She exclaimed. I rolled my eyes. “Suureee.” I proclaimed. “Lu you can sit over here.” My mom told her. Pointing to a spot that was next to her.“I don't want to! I want to sit ...

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“Under Your Persimmon Tree” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #64

One. You promised to write every day. Your two pinkies were outstretched and your parents met you halfway with theirs. You liked how the fingers wrapped around each other. They looked like little hugs. Your parents bent to kiss you goodbye. Two little circles on each cheek. You inhaled their scent of ripe persimmons and wet paint on portraits of dead pets. Over their shoulders, you saw another boy leaning on his car. He had thin-lipped parents who stared straight ahead. They tapped their feet to an unheard rhythm. He offered hi...

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$50

Prize money

753

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 23, 2020 EST

Won by Mollie Rodgers 🏆

Title: The Girl in the Goethe House

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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