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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#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

“Hell of an Afternoon” by Zion Hintay

Submitted to Contest #65

"And what, pray tell, is the meaning of this emergency meeting." Spoke one woman."Especially on a night as auspicious as this." Spoke another."We are busy women, Maggie. Potions to brew, curses to cast and spells to place...""And tonight is the night when all our powers are at their best.""Yes, yes. But you must have heard of about our curious mister Buquet." Maggie insisted.It was midday and the sun shone above them in the clearing where they stood. Five witches forming a pentagon drawn with chalk as it was customary. Wyrding stones were on...

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“Uncle Jake's Big Night Out” by Charles Wasilausky

Submitted to Contest #65

"When will he be here," five year old Joey asked his mother. Joey, a very energetic boy, dressed as a lion, was looking forward to having his Uncle Jake take him trick or treating. You see, Joey was very close to his Uncle, and enjoyed being around him. "Uncle Jakenwill be here soon, Sweetie," Joey's mother answered. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. Joey jumped up, ran over and answered the door. Uncle Jake stood there dressed as a storm trooper. "Hi, Buddy, how is my favorite nephew doing today?" Uncle Jake asked. Joey jumped up and ...

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“Thinking in Pictures” by Mutant Llama

Submitted to Contest #65

Most of the world has stopped believing altogether by now, and stop practicing, and stopped following dogmatic rules, so I don’t think anybody’s gone to heaven in quite a while. Thanks possibly to my study of theology, I was just barely good enough to get into their purgatory. Nobody on Earth really knew what purgatory was, though. They explained the rules to me, though. I am sent to earth, in a ghostly form. I have no physical body. I move through things, nobody can sense me, except for a cold sensation when my spectral form intersects the...

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“Upon the Power of the Moon” by Michael Boquet

Submitted to Contest #65

It was unseasonably hot for the end of October. Taylor was only halfway to school and already covered in sweat, but he refused to take off his heavy coat. The stub on his right hand, where his index finger used to be, began to itch. Taylor shoved his hands into his pockets and tried to ignore the itching. In his mind he saw a flash of Renee gnawing on the severed digit, grinding her jaw back and forth with the finger between her teeth. She spat the finger out into her hand and gave Taylor her signature smile, as sexy as it was sinister. Tayl...

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“Spiritual crossover” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #65

“Where is God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over. 2Kings 2:14. “It is crossing over to all of your new seminarians. I am sure you have heard this reading of 2kings 2:14 thousand times before, but today reading is different to all of you. Your orientation won’t start and end with dos and don’ts of this institution, you must crossover from physical to spiritual since you decide to enter seminary school, you must make up your mind to crossover spiritually for that is only...

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“Pandemic Adventures of a Stormtrooper” by Art U

Submitted to Contest #65

“Why can’t I go with my friends, Daddy?” she asked innocently. “It is more fun alone dear, it is more scary with fewer people. That is what halloween is about isn’t it?” She thought for a bit and then asked me why I was going with her then. She is a smart girl. I told her that she might need help carrying everything back. She was skeptical but agreed. There was truth to my statement though, it was very creepy with fewer people around this year. Our cul de sac was usually lit with lanterns, glowing pumpkins and laser displays, with speak...

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“Untitled” by Ashlyn Leung

Submitted to Contest #65

"Get the bloody hammer!" "What's a damn hammer gonna do against A GHOST!" "I DON'T. KNOW!" Insert record scratch sound here. Hey, I bet you're wondering how I got to this point. No you're not. Welcome to the house of clichés, my friend. On with the story! Anyways, to understand how I got here we have to go back to when I was just a normal high school girl in a town not big enough to get on the map. The boys and girls in the clique- the awful names that they stick- you're never gonna fit in much, kid. I definitely didn't fit in, but who did e...

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“Happy Halloween, Yami!” by Angela Louise Fernandez

Submitted to Contest #65

This is it!!!! For some families, their biggest holiday would be Christmas or Thanksgiving. But for us, it is the last day of October. Halloween. Today is a big day for my niece, Yami. She will be experiencing her first ever trick-or-treat. Over the last 4 years of her life, we have filled her with stories about Halloween, trick-or-treat, costumes, and the like. As a child who grew up with parents and aunts who were big fans of Halloween and trick-or-treat, you sure bet that all she ever wanted was to grow big enough to wear her costumes ou...

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“CAN I JUST STAY WITH YOU?” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #65

It was late in the afternoon, and the noise was deafening. I looked out the window. Children and teenagers running up and down the street in various degrees of dark coloured spooky clothes; their faces masked, or alternatively, streaked with obvious signs of makeup, most likely using every bit of the glamour enhancer their mothers possessed to play a part. Lanterns, some with cobwebs others encased in pumpkins or skins, brooms and spikey hats. Oh yes, the joys or horrors of October more specifically the 31st of October. I...

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“A Walk in the Hereafter” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #65

“A Walk in the Hereafter” It’s taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Of course, there’s no guidebook for dead people, at least as far as I know. After three months I’m still trying to get used to being dead. Even using that word is hard to adapt to. When death comes, people use terms like “He passed away” or “He’s in a better place”. It makes them feel better but the person is still dead and words can’t change that. It’s just how people adjust to the whole situation. And one of the biggest things I’m trying to adjust to is that sinc...

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“Tweet or Tweet! ” by N C

Submitted to Contest #65

“Let’s go mommy! I wanna go Tweet or Tweet aweady! Let’s go!” Olly said, nudging our napping mom with his chubby hands. “Oh gosh. It’s not time yet. Shhh. Please talk a little softer, your sister is sleeping.” “But I wanna go now! NOW!” he threw himself on the floor and started to pout. “Liam, can you please take your brother out for a second? Ava needs some rest. She didn’t sleep at all last night.” “‘Kay, but I have to come back around lunch. Charlotte and I are gonna make some goody bags and get the community...

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“Bill is Too Slow ” by KENNEDY PLANT

Submitted to Contest #65

My mother places the witch hat on my head. I made it myself, with tin foil and everything! "Bill is waiting outside. So is Kash. Be safe, and listen to Bill!" She says, but I know she is teasing. I will listen to Bill, of course. But, her voice is high pitched and she pushing me out the door. She must how restless I am. This is my first Halloween. I take a deep breath of the crisp air around me. Kash runs up to me. "A wit-sh, really?" He says, poking my hat. His voice sounds like a chipmunk. "You be a t-rex! I can be a witch!" I yell, po...

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“Tracey's Halloween Party” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #65

“Hi Josie, are you nearly ready for Halloween tonight?” “Yes, Tracy, just getting ready, really looking forward to it. If it’s anything like last year then we will have a whale of a time. Can’t wait.” “That’s great Josie, me too. I’ve been busy all day cooking up some wonderful cakes and some brews. Would you mind phoning the others to make sure they know the time and my address, thanks. I’m rather busy just doing the finishing touches to the cakes and witchy goodies, so would appreciate it if you could call the other girls.” “No probl...

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“The Syrus's wolf” by Esther Ojifinni

Submitted to Contest #65

The wolf paced nervously in the high tower. It was tonight. He was sure of it. His girl was in danger. She didn't know about him, which was heartbreaking, of course, but important to her survival. If she knew about him early... well, he didn't have to see the future to learn how that went. "Only a night away. Only one night, until I am finally free." He told himself. A sudden jolt went through him. Something had changed. The danger was happening soon, and he would be too late to save her. But maybe not. He just had to think... Autumn stare...

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“Why don't you like Halloween? ” by J K

Submitted to Contest #65

The moon hung low as my foot dropped from the doorway onto the cold, damp stone below. The moon seemed brighter and larger then normal, it must have known it was Halloween. The world was large and dark, the wind blew through me like a sharp whisper and the damp air made me feel uneasily slimy. It was a night of fancy, or so I was told, I was the only girl in the neighbourhood that night; dressed in my long red cloak, and bright red wellie boots, a black gown under it that mam spent hours sowing, my favourite part was the old-timey braid my s...

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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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