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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

“The Pretty Ones” by Asha Cole

Submitted to Contest #65

***TRIGGER WARNING: Allusion to rape. "Where the field kisses the forest, Where the rats build their nest, My pretty ones pin their wrists, Preferring this Over pale fists That groped and choked their breath," I murmured these lines as my steps fell in line with Jacob's. Jacob stopped at the last verse, eyes wide and flashing in moonlight. "You make that up?" I shook my head and nudged to continue forward. "No. Mama would say 'em, hours before we started our work with the sun. I used to think it was for ...

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“The Legend of Lonely Street” by Amanda Tams

Submitted to Contest #65

First Halloween The Legend of Lonely Street 'Wherever you go don't go down Lonely Street' calls Mrs Mathews to her husband. 'Why, you don't believe in silly superstitious nonsense do you? I'll take him where he wants to go. You want to go somewhere spooky don't you Josh?' 'Yes, if you're with me, dad, but I don't want to go on my own'. 'Of course, son, this is going to be fantastic, the scariest ever. Is young Craig coming?' 'His mum says to call for him on the way, he's dressed as a ghost.' 'Well, you are far better as the Grim Rea...

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“Bad Decisions ” by Abby Marston

Submitted to Contest #65

“Come on Ella, how bad could it be?” I consider this question, imagining and envisioning this crazy plan of my sisters. She may be younger than me but most of the time she is the boss. In most situations we do things her way despite my countless protests. But this request, this question I can’t possibly say yes to. “No Julie, there is absolutely no way in hell I’m sleeping in a graveyard at night, let alone on halloween,” I say plopping down on the red beanbag facing her bed. She stares me directly in the eyes, digging deep into my s...

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“The Big Surprise ” by Charles Wasilausky

Submitted to Contest #65

"I am sorry, but I am afraid your father didn't survive the crash," Dr. Fleming said keeping his voice solemn. "What happened," Dave asked. He was planning on visiting his father over the weekend. Once he received the phone call from the hospital saying there was a car crash, and his dad was looking slim for survival, Dave rushed to the local hospital. Once he arrived, he learned that his dad was in critical condition and there was a chance he would pass away from his injuries during the night. Dr. Fleming came in six hours later with the ne...

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“The Two Souls” by Abigayle King

Submitted to Contest #65

Allegra “Ouch,” I say as I pick myself up from the ground. Being invisible has its perks, but it really does suck when people actually don’t see you. I mean, who walks into somebody and doesn’t even look to see if they’re ok. I ignore all my feelings and continue to my favorite class, History. It’s last period and I wish I didn’t have to go home. Today is Halloween. Meaning that in the small town of Cairage, Washington everybody would be going overboard for halloween. Except me. And it’s not that I don’t like Halloween because believe me,...

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“Runaway” by Carylle Delim

Submitted to Contest #65

I just want a night of peace and quiet from my parents. Is that too much to ask? I want a night where they don’t yell at each other and my father would pan his anger at me and hit me with his belt. I’m sick of it. I pack my five shirts, two pants, two shorts, a pair of flip flops, and I wear my jacket. I’m leaving this house. I take a few snacks and count my money left. It’s not enough but it will do. I don’t exactly have a plan, considering that I’m almost dropping out of high school, I’m an eighteen-year-old boy with no experience with a...

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“Neighborhood Watch” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #65

The Neighborhood WatchStonebrook Farms was one of those neighborhoods that people would often see on television shows about people who had a lot of money but not enough to have a mansion by the sea in Malibu. Most of these places were very nice on the outside yet were more often than not, filled to the brim with competitive residents trying to out do each other on decorations or gossip about who is sleeping with whom, who should part of the committee for community involvement, etc...Young Sarah Jones, lived in this neighborhood with her aunt...

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“Do Not Be an Ostrich for Halloween” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #65

For thirty years, I ate candy corn with you. Now I watch you eat it without me. Setting off the motion sensors on your security system and taking down your dad’s Internet from time to time, those are the ways I haunt you. I come to your dreams; sometimes you remember, other times, you don’t. The second night I was dead, I threw a photo from your dad’s dining table—the dining table that was up until two nights prior, my dining table, too—and for you...

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“Memories of a Halloween” by Kelle Lima Silva

Submitted to Contest #65

-The Dad-You may wonder why I would remember such a trivial night from so many years ago. I will tell you what, for us Halloween is everything but trivial. It is more special than any other night of the year, even birthdays or Christmases.Isabella was five years old when we decided to take her trick-or-treating for the first time. A little too late, you might think. But her mom took ill three months after our daughter was born. In between hospitals, work, cooking, and cleaning there was barely any time left to go out with the kids. We h...

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“Grotesque Paradise” by Khadija A. Kasuri

Submitted to Contest #65

My back was nearly broken when I finally straightened it. “Fooohhh!!” exclaimed Shane. “This took forever. And it looks pretty comfortable and more fun you know a camping in the middle of a Grotesque Paradise” Shane and I were known to be brave little kids, but when Shane said “Grotesque Paradise” I had the pinch that he said to satisfy himself, because, though brave, had never been dared to camp in the graveyard, and when Halloween was a night away. It was all because of my cousins who were spending there a week at our house had dared us to...

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“Child of the Moon” by K.M. Hotzel

Submitted to Contest #65

When I reached the woods wisps of fog had settled on the ground winding their way through the forest. I took my clothes off, folded them neatly into a little package, and stuck them into the hollow tree stump of a gnarly oak. Despite the chilly breeze, my body tingled with excitement as I buried my toes in the fallen leaves. Today was a full moon, and not any full moon, but a blue moon. I relaxed my body, watching the small cloud in front of my mouth dissipate. The moon had barely risen over the edge of the horizon when I felt the su...

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“So...you want to talk about it?” by Megan Faith

Submitted to Contest #65

Dinah placed the trash cans at the curb, hoping to catch a glimpse at the new neighbor. He ducked back inside before she got the chance. “Hmm,” “Dinah!” The other neighbor’s voice asked her to come over. Joan the town gossip saw Dinah’s look of disappointment from a mile away. Dinah came over. Joan was sweet enough, a little annoying but she’s the type of lady that would fix your hair after a crying session and call you pretty. Buy you chocolate and tell you to eat the whole thing because you deserve it. “What’s the tea, Joan?” She s...

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“Howls in the Night” by Charles Wasilausky

Submitted to Contest #65

On one blustery October day, a moving van was seen in front of an old, abandoned house. Now, this house was going to need a lot of work as the windows were boarded up, the door was almost completely off its hinges, and the wood on the floor and porch were rotted through. It wouldn't support the weight of an adult. There were rumors about this house being haunted. Most people in this small town of Allyn avoided this house. When a group of teenagers saw the moving van in front of the house, they were surprised and decided to do some investigat...

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“The Hunt” by Lisa Hills

Submitted to Contest #65

Yurei was a people person. An extrovert. She loved being amongst people, interacting with them, and just being around them in general. She can't seem to stay away from people, and they seemed to like her too. People always noticed her, laughed and joked with her, even if they were complete strangers. Yurei had this... charisma about her, allowing her to get along with anyone and everyone. She rarely met anyone who didn't like her or didn't get along with her. In other words, she was an extremely bubbly extrovert and made friends wherever she...

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“I'm Not a Ghost for Halloween” by Jane DiGiovanni

Submitted to Contest #65

Blood drips from the jagged cut across my forehead over my black and blue eye. Bloody abrasions cover my cheek. I glance down at the multiple cuts and bruises covering my arms and legs. My beautiful dress is a thing of the past. It is now torn and covered in blood. I can't believe how good this costume turned out. "I should have been a make up artist instead of a boring accountant." At least this party won't be boring. I absolutely love Halloween costume parties and Annie has yet to have a boring one. Its cool its actually on Halloween th...

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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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