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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

“Fangsy” by Sage S

Submitted to Contest #65

The box clanked ominously when Kai set it down on the kitchen floor. “Careful,” Roan called from the other room. Kai rolled his eyes. “I heard that.” Kai stomped through the living room, passing Roan bent over a tangled pile of cords. “Stop listening to my eyeballs and get back to work, fangsy.” Roan threw him a rude gesture and Kai smiled, heading out to the car for another box. Across the street, one of their new neighbors waved. Waving back, Kai took a quick sniff. Flour, butter, sugar—she must’ve been baking. Faint floral perfume u...

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“SUPREME” by Edoh Francis

Submitted to Contest #65

Chapter one Lagos, Sunday, March 11 "What does it matter what he looks like?" Mary tyson said into the phone, looking like hell the dark, primal lust drumming through her veins didn't bleed into her voice. She frowned absently at her control's odd question as she shifted the compact sat phone between chin and shoulder, and the binocs left an inch for a better view. A logos street and a shit load of swirling fog separated the two apartment windows. The lights over here were off. The lights over there weren't. Desire tightened her body and clo...

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“212 Anima Street” by Rachael Clark

Submitted to Contest #65

Nora watched as the removal van pulled up outside her house, coming to a stop in her driveway. The driver opened the door and jumped down, landing in the garden. She hissed as he made his way to the front door, trampling the ground cover under his steel-capped boots.Shaking her head, Nora sped to the door, opening it just as the man reached for the doorbell. He jumped back in shock, Nora could hear his heart pounding in his chest. The sound was welcoming to her. “You must be Miss Nora Blanchard,” he said, wipin...

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“Danny Summons The Devil” by Angelina Jim

Submitted to Contest #65

“Hey Max. There's a graveyard near my house and I have a few sleeping bags and a tent. Wanna sleep in the graveyard?” Danny coos. “Sleep in a graveyard?” I ask. “Danny you are out of your mind.” “Out of my mind? No! You're just a big wimp!” Danny yells. I sigh. Why am I friends with such a weird girl? Beats me. But I am and she is not allowed to call me a wimp. Which is why she is doing it. To get me mad, so i'll say yes. But I won't. She can't control me. “Guess you'll just have to stay at home and be bored while the girl shows you up. And ...

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“Trick or Logic” by E.J. C

Submitted to Contest #65

It was the evening of October 31st and Dad was taking Emma on her very first "Trick or Treat". The weather was particularly hot that Autumn and rain was in the forcast. However, the weather was not enough to dampen the spirits of the Price family, especially not those of Emma's older brother who had been the year before. He was already in his costume and impatiently running up and down the driveway in an attempt to hurry his single Dad Robert and little sister Emma who were putting the last minute touches to a homemade costume. "I like Princ...

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“The Missing RV” by Jake From State Farm

Submitted to Contest #65

The frigged rain drenched his mousy brown hair but he didn't hesitate even for a second. He kept on walking, it was cold but he trudged on anyway. His dark red converse is soaked. He arrived at a small house, it was pleasant and welcoming. He knocked on the door, it was rough and sandy. The door flung open. The boy jumped back, he almost wasn’t expecting it to open. “Leo? I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Bianca's face was kind, Leo hadn’t known her for long so it was a bit odd he chose to go to Bianca's house but it was the first ...

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“Until We Meet Again” by Kristin Rothell

Submitted to Contest #65

I feel closer to them here, somehow. The frigid stone against my back, the cool grass beneath my legs, the moon high above me casting an eerie glow against the cobblestones. Laughter rang through the night, little kids erupting with sugar and happiness as their parents kept careful watch, smiles on their own faces. Innocent laughter is a drug I find myself immune to, anymore. I used to love it, those gleeful little giggles when my fingers touched his soft little tummy, and his chubby legs would kick and flutter in happiness. When...

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“Trick or Treat” by Christine Goucher

Submitted to Contest #65

It really shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Right? Trick or Treating was a tradition that was what every child wanted to do. A fun tradition! So, why was he so nervous? Sitting in front of his laptop trying to finish sorting through the last of his emails for work. He was starting to feel like he was going to throw up. His whole body was sweating but his hands were icy cold and clammy. Rubbing his hands together and blowing on them. Absentmindedly he started biting his nails. Owwww. Looking down at his now bleeding nail, maybe he needed to go...

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“Beware of the Black Cat” by Megan Gim

Submitted to Contest #65

The polyester collar makes my neck itch and the face paint threatens to melt down my cheeks. It’s a tough price to pay to be the best-looking vampire in the neighbourhood. Hopefully the only vampire. Halloween this year is going to be different. Tonight, I’m on a very important mission; getting a girl to notice me and go out with me. Not just any girl, either. If all goes to plan, I will be taking Olivia Newman to the party coming up at Dillon’s place. It’s an optimistic plan but I may as well try. I will casually walk past Olivia, as we cro...

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“Find a friend ” by Hana Alradai

Submitted to Contest #65

SOMEWHERE IN LONDON Click…click… The pressing sound of analog controller bottoms of Xbox game device filled space of Alan's small room. Graphic images and characters are moving when Alan presses the control bottom. Today is Halloween, so the 12 year old Alan, chooses to play the zombie game. He doesn't care for the type of the games he is playing. Sometimes he plays football, or action game, war games or street fighting games, basically if it doesn't including playing with real people he is ok. The time sense in Alan's bod...

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“A Halloween First” by Amy Sutch

Submitted to Contest #65

Fifty something, Joyce, loved Halloween. It brought back happy childhood memories, when life was simple. Her life was anything but simple now as a divorced mom of two grown children. Someone always needed something, and her paycheck rarely stretched until the next one. Soon her shift would be over, but she didn’t really want to go home to an empty house. The diner had been busy with customers - most excited for Halloween, but there were a few who didn’t like their r...

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“The Mind Plays Tricks (Inspired by a True Family Story)” by Maya Valentine

Submitted to Contest #65

“I’ve never done this before. What do I do?” “Really? It’s just trick-or-treating. It’s so easy.” She wrung her hands together and stared at the ground. “Don’t laugh at me. I didn’t grow up in America like you did.” “Hey,” he took her hands into his and gently kissed her wedding ring, smiling all the while. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make fun of you, it’s just a really simple concept, is all. You just go up to the house, take what you want, move on to the next one, and repeat. Easy, right?” “Yeah. Easy.” She refused to look up at ...

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“Graveyard” by Elizabeth Colon Rosario

Submitted to Contest #65

A cool, late autumn breeze rustled the leaves at Lisa’s feet as she stood before the open cemetery gate. She wasn’t scared, but chills had settled along her neck and shoulders. Lisa’s gaze centred on the hulking Oak in the middle of the graveyard. Its bare branches stretched out across the landscape with limbs that looked like huge arms waiting to pluck anyone who dared to enter. “It’s no big deal,” Tommy said. “Then why do I have to do it?” &nbsp...

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“TAINTED LOVE” by Lea Vida DEL MORO

Submitted to Contest #65

We meet our lips…biting and sucking and cherish the moment. I love him but only on the surface. He kisses me again and his stare intense. “I love you,” he said and I gaze at his face and I feel something inside of me like a caged predator, and my anger explodes. My sense of indignation flares brightly, burning inside me as adrenaline surges through my body. I was about to change and transform myself into a zombie when I reached the cemetery with my ex-boyfriend Terry John. Thi...

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“Who is he?” by Anupama K Thomas

Submitted to Contest #65

"Ryan?" Kate called from her terrace, looking into the terrace of the house closer to hers. She was feeling the night cold creeping up her and creating goosebumps behind her neck and arms. She was wearing an all-black outfit as she and Ryan had planned for the night out of fun. "Ryan? Come out fast. We need to be out of here soon!" Soon she saw Ryan appearing on the terrace with his bag and a goofy laugh. "Don't be impatient, Kat! Let's go!" She rolled her eyes and soon both of them were out of the terrace through the drain pipes. They mov...

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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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