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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

“Adrenaline Injection ” by Elise P

Submitted to Contest #65

Halloween day was creeping closer, and the ominous atmosphere of dying life and the addictive adrenaline that accompanies feeling scared influenced my not-so-smart decision of camping out at the local cemetery. I spent the evenings, when both Luke and I return from work, begging him to accompany me on my daunting night plan - as my boyfriend, he has an obligation to help me out, right?! Bitterly, he finally gave in last night, growing tired of my persistent nagging, much to my delight. I’ll take any win I can get! It’s 1...

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“The Overnight Dare in the Graveyard” by Anne Hansell

Submitted to Contest #65

People called my sister and me, “The Crazy Twins” because we got our reputation for doing dangerous things, such as speeding in street races, riding our motorcycles over running trains from one cliff to another or gliding during thunderstorms. One afternoon when we were washing our SUV on a driveway at our parents’ house, a car, full of the Sherwood High School kids, stopped by. We stopped working and stiffened because that school had been a rival of our school, the Grant High School for years. Their leade...

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“A Good Night For A Chat” by Pene Worth

Submitted to Contest #65

A nice night for a chat 39/10/2019 Ella enjoyed her night walks in the Pembleton Cemetery. Despite a name that invoked stately residences, Pembleton was not an upmarket zone. The grid of unadorned streets was lined with 50’s wooden boxes in various states of dilapidation, high fences boasted a variety of graffiti; some bordered on art, others sported ugly botches and ill spelled profanity. The pavements were cracked, in parts weeds were winning the battle to regain control. Not the path to the cemetery though. Age worn well-attended cob...

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“Romancing the Stones ” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #65

“Why did you drag me in here?” she asked while adding red to her lips. “A chance to be alone, why else?” Nathan fidgeted. “Christ, Nath, there are loads of parties we could go to.” “Yes, but everyone knows us. Here we can be together.” “What’s in your bag?” Shirley looked at him and tutted. “This my dear is a tent, a heater, and a box of chocolates. What more do you need?” The tuts got louder. “I don’t suppose you have a five-star hotel in there, do you?” There was a break in the clouds, the full moon shined on them. The gravestones su...

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“Efa and the moonbeam girl” by Sarah Gallego

Submitted to Contest #65

The starlight was reflected in the wide brown eyes of Efa. They darted left, right, to the canopies of the naked trees and scoured the clouds above her. She peered deep into the dark shadows nestled within the hollows of the gnarled oak. Her nose twitched, harnessing the myriad of scents that danced in the fading light. Where was he? Her instinct was to prick up her ears, to work out where he might be, but she knew there was the chance they would betray her. Her senses were overwhelmed with the incessant pounding of her heart agai...

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“The Intruder” by Kaaya Okeke

Submitted to Contest #65

"Get the coat, it might get cold!" Beyond the bounds of the burial ground, a silent prayer was going off in a church. The chilly air wafting from the town brought with it the scent of candy and of cakes. Somewhere further down the empty road excited children were clenching their importuned sweets, laughing at the sheer existence of a festival they could neither understand nor comprehend. I sat beside Shane under the non-existent shade of a large tree in the cool night. Perhaps on a hot sunny day, the gentle tree would serve as a cool umbra...

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“Life and Death” by Emma Rose

Submitted to Contest #65

“Are you lost?” The girl’s head shot up, taking a cautious step backwards. “No, I can find my way, thank you very much.” “Just enjoying the night?” She took another step back, giggling nervously. “Yes. Yes I am.” “It certainly is lovely tonight.” She visibly relaxed when I stepped into the light. “Yes, it is.” I surveyed her. All things considered, she was quite pretty. She was a timid little thing, absently playing with her raggedy hair, hiding herself behind it. She was covered, as most of us were, with wounds tha...

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“A night in graveyard” by Sivaprakash .

Submitted to Contest #65

Its Halloween night and the streets are filled with kids. Now and then, I get vampires and goblins to knock my door. These kids, and their costumes make me remember my childhood. Seeing them makes me cherish the moments of my life."Trick or Treat!", I heard a familiar voice. As expected, it was a familiar face greeting me at the door. It was Damian in a Lion costume. Seeing him in that made me laugh. I asked,"You think, you are still a child?" with uncontrollable laughter. He replied," Huh, I thought you would like it." I said,"I like it!" w...

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“The Tale of Monolo” by Tiffany 🌻

Submitted to Contest #65

The talk of the town was Jolene Normans arranged marriage that would happen sometime after Halloween. The day was supposed to be as perfect as her family, set in a crisp November afternoon as falls scent blew away the shedding leaves. Being part of the Vayne family, we would never be seen near theirs with a ten feet pole. The Vaynes and Normans have been enemies since the town was founded. It was a fateful autumn night when I decided to leave my mother's Halloween dinner party and spend time alone. I didn’t want to get caught up in the con...

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“Thanatologist Tantrums ” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #65

Brown, dry leaves in every direction blew with rustling sound, a soft autumnal drizzle and icy wind added to my woes. I still walked aimlessly with so many thoughts rushing like traffic on a busy intersection. I reached almost the outskirts. My legs refused to take up one more step. Reluctantly I stepped inside the white wooden gate. To my dismay it was a graveyard with stone slabs end to end. Though it was creepy , I decided to take some rest before I could start my unknown journey. At seventy five , on...

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“In the Graveyard Together” by Matthew Turner

Submitted to Contest #65

“I’m sorry I just don’t get it.” Charlie said as he hobbled along, a loaded down backpack on his back and a rolled blanket under his arm. Rebecca was following the funnel of light coming from her flashlight. She sighed loudly. “Samhain is a liminal night which means that the veil between our world and the world of the dead is at its thinnest which means there’s increased odds of having an otherworldly encounter especially on hallowed ground.” “No I mean get that, I’m saying, why am I carrying a plastic pumpkin filled with candy?” “It...

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“A Ghostly Halloween” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #65

I am so nervous and excited today. Today is Halloween. For a lot of people, that is neither nerve – racking nor exciting, but those people didn’t just die a few months ago and are not experiencing their first Halloween as a ghost. I am not dressing up as a ghost. I am a real ghost. I know, I know. You were told ghosts aren’t real and all that malarkey. I didn’t think ghosts were real either, until I died and became one. Let me tell you, it took s...

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“Haunt” by Roqualind McCortney

Submitted to Contest #65

“Imagine, for a moment, that everything drifts away in a single second. Every feeling is rushing through you. Pain. You feel pain. But not the pain you’ve felt before, but a mental pain. A pain that makes it feel as if a dagger has made a strong gash through your feelings. Disgust. But not disgust at yourself, but at the same time, only at yourself. That your body hasn’t been through enough, but still too much. Hate, but not self hate, or hate at others, but hate at Atropis. For she guaranteed you’d die. You, someone who needs to do so much....

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“Night Visiting ” by Mairéad Ní Shúilleabháin

Submitted to Contest #65

The air is different. Fresher, cooler, purer. The air feels like something is happening. There is another feeling. They are close. The ones I lost. I walk through a field. Already dew is forming on the blades of grass. The moon is full. How apt. I can see my way clearly. A fox watches me from the corner. He is well hidden. He knows that I know he is there. I reach the ditch and climb over it. I am on a road. I know this road. I turn right and follow the twists and turns. In the distance I can hear fireworks and dogs howling. Lights c...

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“Am I an 11 year old ghost, or a 5 month old ghost? I haven't been here long” by Jenny St George

Submitted to Contest #65

I've heard stories that my older brother (and only sibling) believed everyone got to go door to door to ask "Trick or Treat" and receive a bounty of various candies...because it was his birthday. He told me that he actually believed it for many, many more years than he cares to admit. Our parents encouraged it. Our parents are very funny - and kids get candy just because it's my brother's birthday.My name is Dexter, Dex, Duders, The Boy, the name my Ancestors gave me, and more. Although, now I know when I'm being spoken to, ev...

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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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