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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

“A Sister's Love Never Dies” by Kaitlyn James

Submitted to Contest #65

I had died last year on November 29, 2019. This would be my first year as a ghost, and everyone else wanted to haunt everyone they hated when they were alive. All I wanted to do was make sure that my little sister, Ally got as much candy as she wanted. She loved candy, and I knew that if she got at least two jack o-lantern buckets of candy she would be less sad about me dying. I also wanted her to kind of forget that my birthday is on Halloween because she would be really sad and not want to go trick-or-treating. I had died of leukemia, and...

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“Witches in the Crossroads” by P. J. Quirindongo

Submitted to Contest #65

Salem, Massachusetts. The shopkeeper's bell rang and announced to Brigitte that she had another customer. She had been staring through a small, dusty window in the back of the apothecary and had accidentally ground a pinch of belladonna into a powder too fine to be of use. She went behind the cash register, wiped her hands on her apron and put on her face shield. A black-haired woman dressed in a velvety black coat and a matching mask stood in the corner of the shop studying the small flasks of potions and natural remedies. “How can I hel...

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“Cerito Medeni” by Amy Utami

Submitted to Contest #65

This is once again based on personal experience. I was too scared to create a horror story. My dream as a teenager was to become a filmmaker. So, my best friend, back in the day, cursed me with ‘How if you end up being a horror filmmaker?’ question. Because I was just so cowardly and she just loved horror movies so much. At that time ‘the conjuring’ was released, as always, she was so excited because ‘the conjuring’ had the taste of Asian horror. I, as expected, found a thousand excuses to not watch it. She did find a trick though, one day...

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“To Die is a Great Adventure” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #65

I’m dead. And I don’t mean I’ve-done-something-so-horrible-my-parents-are-going-to-kill-me-dead. I mean, I’m literally dead. Like my physical body is rotting in a grave. I think. I still haven’t been able to find it, but that’s not the point. The point is, I’m not alive anymore, but I’m not going to let that stop me from living. You know? So, I’m making the best of it. That’s why I’ve brought my little brother, Carter, along with me on my first Halloween adventure without a pulse. Just so you know, Carter isn’t dea...

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“That Night” by The-Burrowing-Owl- Author

Submitted to Contest #65

It was a beautiful night for a walk, but no honest and good people would ever dare to venture into the woods. It was a place for devils and ghosts after all. And ghosts there were upon this of all nights. Those who had more substance than others would go seeking their families, and some would succeed. But many would wander muttering amongst the druids until the next sun rose in the East. A few fluttering spirits brushed against the edge of a settlement, nothing that those with clear sight would find unusual. But on this year, there was ...

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“Ghost-” by Libby Carter

Submitted to Contest #65

Ghost-an apparition of a person who has died. I am a ghost. I am an apparition of a dead person. I miss being alive. I watch as my older sister dresses her daughter in the costume of a witch. It’s Halloween night, and Gin’s taking Clementine out trick-or-treating. I wish I could be there. Well, I am there. I wish they could see me. I wish I could tell Clem how cute she looks. I wish I could ask her for a p...

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“My friend with glasses” by Adilene Victoria

Submitted to Contest #65

I jumped off the already leaving bus and hit the asphalt beneath me. I turned towards the school and walked while holding my breath through the buzzing crowd. I was shaking. Blame it on nerves if someone asks. Keep eyes on ground. Waves crashing over and over. I glanced up to see where I was going, and someone caught my eyes. There was this kid at school. He stood out, so I wearily walked over to him. He wore thick glasses, a red jersey and jeans. He was my first frie...

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“The Werewolf of Llandeilo” by Rexy Rexy

Submitted to Contest #65

Tonight is the night, the pristine cold blue light of the full moon is piercing through the vast undulating pale mist of the Towy vale. Standing at my window, I carefully remove the needle from the record player and lift up the gauzy satin curtain. My pure gold long nail guards embellished with exotic jewels glint a mesmerising kaleidoscopic sharp cruel sparks. Mortal souls are going to rest as the neighbours' lights turning off one by one, leaving only a few porch lights together with a few streets lights on. The frosty green grass ...

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“Things May Go Wrong” by Bareera Samra

Submitted to Contest #65

‘Yes! No. Yes. I don’t know.’ Mike exclaimed, clearly confused.‘Come on, it’s going to be loads of fun’ Louis urged him, excitement visible on his face. ‘It’ll be the best adventure and the best Halloween in the history of civilization.’‘What? You think just visiting a graveyard and burying skulls between other graves is a form of entertainment? It’s disrespectful.’‘Hah! Disrespectful?’ Louis scorned. ‘It’s a graveyard. I’m sure the dead people won’t mind. And we’ll go far away where no one will know us. We’ll use our bicycles.’‘It’s going t...

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“It's Oh So Quiet” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #65

“We have to stay the whole night,” Mr. X said with the determination of a contestant on Survivor.“The whole night!” Mr. Y protested. “Not the whole night! I haven’t agreed to this!”“Well, we’re already here, so you might as well try it.” Mr. X shrugged.“It’s so-o-o boring!” Mr. Y continued to behave like a little child tugging at his parent’s sleeve five minutes after they’ve arrived at an adult gathering.“C’mon! It might be fun. You never know.” Mr. X dialed up the optimism.“You’re crazy, man,” Mr. Y shook his head. “What are we supposed to...

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“The Move to Rouge Nest” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

The Mondragons moved into Rouge Nest a little past midnight.Vladimir Mondragon drove the U-Haul. He wore a long coat and round glasses perched atop his sharp nose. His wife Ambrosia sat in the passenger seat and their daughter Drusilla chattered away between them.“This is it!” said Vladimir when he turned into the neighborhood. Dark houses lined the streets and a few figures ran on the sidewalk. One of them waved at the Mondragons as they drove past.Under the light of the full moon, the neighborhood came alive.Vladimir drove around a bi...

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“The Underworld Smuggler” by Saizen 🦜

Submitted to Contest #65

The night falls, Yanlin and Shenzi are ready.They laid down in two empty lots of graves they dug earlier, a pile of joss paper smoldering on the ground nearby. The two close their eyes as they each place a paper talisman onto their foreheads. Tonight, they will be as the dead. Moments later, the Heralds of Underworld have arrived. Grotesque creatures with heads of oxen and horses, they came brandishing their spears and halberds. Amidst the grunts and whinnying, the souls in the cemetery are escorted to Underworld, Yanlin and Shenzi...

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“A New Beginning” by Muhammad Hamza Suleman

Submitted to Contest #65

Trigger warning: rape The silence beneath the glaring yet pleasant Sun reminded him of a time long, long ago. It was a time riddled with nothing but the scent of blood; sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter. It was in that time he made his first kill. The man was a soldier, simply performing his duty. He must have had mouths to feed. So was it right? “Yes.” Caesar unconsciously whispered to himself. Those who inflict pain without cause lose the right to live. This tender quietness spread over the entire neighborhood, his new home, as if i...

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“Um... Boo?” by Lourdes Cruz

Submitted to Contest #65

Yūrei opened her eyes, sitting up in a... graveyard? That was strange, she didn't remember falling asleep there. Looking around, she stood and began to wander around. Maybe someone could tell her what had happened. She saw no one. "Where... Am I?" She asked aloud. "You seem lost." She jumped, turning to stare at the person to who the voice belonged. A glowing blue boy dressed in an 1800's newsboy attire. He appeared to look like a newsboy. "I am... but who are you?" She responded. He gave a playful smirk, ti...

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“Costumes” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #65

His outfit was the best. It was just a ghost costume, just like mine. No one wanted to really go out this year, but I had an idea about what I wanted to be and I could not shake it this time. A ghost. My mom did not mind at all. She said that I was getting too old for ‘tricks and treating yourself,’ but she’d let me go around with some friends. That was another lie that I had tell her just to get out of the house. All of my ‘friends’ were staying home, or they were going out to cause trouble by kicking in pumpkins or thro...

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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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