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#65: Spooky Season

What is it about Halloween that we find so deeply appealing? Is it the excuse to dress up and pretend to be something other than ourselves for a few hours? The exploration of all things creepy and macabre, of subjects normally too taboo to engage with? Perhaps it’s just the abundance of all our favorite candies at the same time.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying the allure of this thrilling and chilling holiday. And while many people’s Halloween celebrations will need to be very different this year, there’s no reason why we can’t still enjoy a bit of spooky fun!

Whether you like horror, the creepy aesthetic, or just overloading on candy, this week’s prompts have plenty of inspiration to get you into the Halloween mood.

This week's prompts

Start your story with two characters deciding to spend the night in a graveyard.

Novel – 320 stories

Write about someone’s first Halloween as a ghost.

Halloween – 206 stories

Write about a group of witches meeting up on Halloween night.

Halloween – 135 stories

Write about a vampire or werewolf who moves into a quiet suburban neighborhood.

Vampire – 160 stories

Write about someone taking a child trick-or-treating for the very first time.

Kids – 87 stories

Stories

“Book of the dead” by Julie Adamson

Submitted to Contest #65

It was a stupid idea and I couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. Camping was not something I considered fun, let alone camping in a graveyard. However it was Halloween and a party was planned. 20 people would be here tonight. My closest friends had come all dressed up in their spookiest outfit. I had come as Daenarys Targaryen, I loved Game of thrones and my boyfriend Matthew was here as Jon Snow. Matthew was currently having a sword fight with one of his friends who was dressed as Jack Spa...

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“Night Out” by H.L Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #65

Night OutIt was a chill winters night, pitch black. There was very little light to be seen by. Street lights in the distance provided an electrical glow, projecting unnatural yellow light out into the dark. It rained a little. Nothing heavy, just a light drizzle.A young couple walked in the dark. The shorter of the two walked a few feet ahead, taking quick steps. The sounds of her heels clacking against the ground rang out into an otherwise quiet night."Urgh! I hate the rain! It always ruins my hair!"The man, a few paces back, took long rela...

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“The Graveyard Vigil” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #65

“Don’t do anything on a dare.” That’s what Tom’s older , and acknowledged much wiser brother Frank had told him more than just once throughout his life. But this dare, Tom hoped, would win him some of the respect he had long lacked from his fellow 15 year-old classmates at school.The dare wasn’t for Halloween night, as they figured there would be too many people there in the night, especially other teenagers. So Tom and his buddy Stan were going to spend the entire night, eight to six in a local cemetery on Friday, a week befo...

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“Carved Pumpkins and Bowls of Treats” by Heather Ann Martinez

Submitted to Contest #65

Carved Pumpkins and Bowls of Treats By Heather Ann Martinez It’s the night before October 31st. My brother called me and asked me to take his son Trent trick or treating tomorrow afternoon. My brother couldn’t get the afternoon off of work and Trent is five and a quarter. He ‘s been looking forward to wearing his ghost costume and carrying his plastic pumpkin bucket up and down the street with the other kids for a whole year. My brother didn’t take Trent trick or treating before this year, because he didn’t know any of the neighbors. The...

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“Tangerine Twist” by Louise Owen

Submitted to Contest #65

My hands desperately clung onto my jacket, pulling onto it to gather up all the warmth I could. The fabric that laid against my skin sheltered my skin from its harsh touch. My eyes were glued to the floor, seemingly protecting my eyes from the winds harsh gusts. Leaves toned with Tangerine twist and shaded with Cranberry crunch twirled at my feet, dancing through the air as that harsh wind guided them away from its own touch."I feel like this is a bad idea." My voice called out, my feet taking louder and rather rapid steps to reach our desti...

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“The Vampire-Next-Door” by Ruby Galvez

Submitted to Contest #65

Nineteen-year-old vampire billionaire Welton Perry III stepped inside his new townhouse in suburban Maine already bored with the droning voice of the realtor. He held up one hand to stop the lady’s overeffusive description of the basement kitchen with the cold storage facility for his special dietary needs.He didn’t really need a fancy house, but his parents insisted. They wanted him to get as much rest as he needed after the ruckus he went through when his girlfriend and childhood friend sued him for assault, which was ludicrous.D...

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“Hanna's Halloween Ghost” by Jeni Conrad

Submitted to Contest #65

Hanna frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself in the cold wind. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.” “Oh, don’t be such a stiff. It’ll be fun!” Andrea nudged Hanna with an elbow as they navigated the rolling grass of the dark cemetery. Randi giggled. “Stiff, because we’re surrounded by dead people. Get it?” Gravestones peeked up out of the gloom, their grey faces watching as the three girls walked between them. A few trees loomed overhead, their branches bare and stretching out with gnarled fingers. The w...

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“The Kinnan Disturbance” by PK Spice

Submitted to Contest #65

Note: I tried to combine all of this week's prompts into one story.*******“Bobby, we aren’t really going to sleep in the graveyard … are we?” Joey Alvarez asked as the two boys hurried down the street. “I’d rather just go trick-or-treating and eat a bunch of candy while we watch scary movies at home.” He pointed to the house they were passing. “It’s Nik’s first time trick-or-treating and I told him we’d meet up with him and show him the ropes.”“Shut up Joey! Saul did it last year and he dared us. He said he’ll tell everyone at school we’re c...

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“horror” by Keegan Boughton

Submitted to Contest #65

1. Ghost - noun. “The apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear to the living, typically as a nebulous image.” Rory usually texts early in the morning, but yesterday he didn’t. I got worried at noon and called him up just to make sure he wasn’t dead. Call me a worrywart if you will, or paranoid, or uptight. I don’t care. “Hey, babe. Are you okay?” “Yeah. I’m fine. Why?” “I’m just making sure.” “I’m fine, Mom.” “Hey.” “See you tonight.” I sighed and hung up. I tugged on my gloves; it was chilly enough to have an ...

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“The Veil” by Marissa Yates

Submitted to Contest #65

Sarah Williams 1991-2020 Beloved Wife It was simple. Without pretense. The headstone was still polished and gleaming, although the ground around it had settled and no longer appeared disturbed. I've read it over and over again, until the writing was burned into my mind. It haunted me when I closed my eyes, refusing to let me pretend or feign ignorance. Another stone sat beside mine, identical in dimensions and font, although fate had not yet dictated the final date. The side-by-side plots were located in a cemetery minutes f...

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“Fanged Hero” by Sky Daniels

Submitted to Contest #65

Blood dripped down Allister Calbury's hands from the gaping hole at his side. He almost escaped without incident until a hunter broke off a wooden chair leg and stabbed him. The hunter underestimated how much he wanted his freedom. They assumed it'd be easier to recapture in his weakened state. He ran, stole a car, and ran again, stealing his last car leaving Nee York in his review mirrors. After he ditched his car in case the hunters followed him, his body lagged. Allister weaved around in the shadows, hoping he landed in Sunrise Valley. Hi...

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“You are Pretty Cute for a Boy. ” by Serendipity May

Submitted to Contest #65

(So this was written at 12:00 in the morning and I was tried as all. So, this story is really just something that was created on the fly :))Tonight was the night of Halloweenie and Kota could not be any more excited than he already was. After about a year of separation, he was going to be able to get to see all of his friends again. Not only that but they get to see how the witch in training is going to be like. That he was most excited for since this year the witch in training was going to be training underneath him.Taming his pink fluffy h...

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“Phelia” by R. N. Jayne

Submitted to Contest #65

I'm having that nightmare again—the one where I'm lost in the woods. Only I'm not on dry land: I'm underwater. The forest grows tentacles. These wooden jellyfish have arms like boughs. They reach for me. Tangle my hair. Pull me down. Drowning, I choke on my love's name.***Phelia's trying on a headpiece for her dungeon mistress Halloween costume. She fiddles with the formidable crown of spikes. I wonder who she wants to repel with this getup. Maybe she wants to people to think she's impenetrable.It's been seven months since my passing. I shou...

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“Don't Mind the Howl” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #65

I am just so embarrassed that I couldn’t have you over sooner. I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since I got here. I tell you, you start unpacking, and the next thing you know, it’s the middle of the night, and a month’s gone by, and you’re shackled to the wall going “Hey, what’s going on here?” You ever had that happen to you? The number of times I wake up, and I’m chained to a radiator or a doorknob or a pipe or something, and at first, it’s very disorienting. Usually I’m not wearing any clothes, because, well, so, you know, I try ...

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“Double, Double, Toil and Lip-gloss” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #65

“I don’t trust her,” announced Glinda. The dull roar of the food court washed over them. Elizabeth frowned, “Why not?” “She’s a witch.” “Aren’t we all? I thought…” “Well, I’m just a wannabe.” “But we’re learning…” “And she’s weird.” “Comes with the territory, if you ask me.” “And too cute.” “Okay… Not that we’re butt ugly…” “Don’t let on... Here she comes.” Madeleine had a rare quality. Girls envied her look, never knowing how she did it. Not merely pretty, she projected genuine warmth and a good-natured spirit not easily copied. She exited...

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$50

Prize money

908

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 30, 2020 EST

Won by Joshua G. J. Insole 🏆

Title: Bridgemoss Guardians

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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