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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#67: The Great Escape

There are times when the world feels so chaotic and out of our control that a break from reality is called for. And what better way to leave everything behind than jumping headfirst into the escapism of stories?

Whether it’s a larger-than-life situation, a comforting old trope, or a genre that’s literally out of this world, stories have been providing people with a way to retreat from their troubles ever since humanity first started telling them around a fire.

To truly keep in the spirit of escapism, make sure you fully immerse both yourself and the reader in the world you’re creating. Use sensory details to really pull us in — make us see, smell, and taste every detail of your story, so that we fully believe we’re standing alongside the characters. After all, the real world will still be here when the story’s over.

This week's prompts

Write about a pirate captain obsessed with finding a mythical treasure.

Adventure – 144 stories

Write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder… except there’s no evidence that a murder took place.

Thriller and Suspense – 218 stories

Write a romance where the characters pretend to be dating each other in order to win a reality show.

Romance – 70 stories

Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.

Dark – 170 stories

Write a space adventure story that features a visit to an alien marketplace.

Science Fiction – 123 stories

Stories

“The Diamonds of Saba Island” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #67

The angry crew is gathering outside my cabin door. I hear the bosun’s powerful voice subdue the furious mob. He’s been appointed to deliver their ruling. “You’ve drawn the short straw, lad!” he says. “You’ll be leaving with the captain in five minutes.” The satiated crew retreats down the corridor, leaving me in peace to pack my belongings. I scramble down the cargo netting and join Captain Trimble and his two officers in the long boat. They’re waiting for me amongst an untidy collection of their boxes and personal effects. Old Trimble lif...

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“A Hard Day's Night” by Mustang Patty

Submitted to Contest #67

The sound of the key slipping into the lock echoed throughout the empty street. Darkness surrounded Lisa’s feet, making it hard to see more than two feet in front of her. Figures they still haven’t fixed that light. I told Mario what three weeks ago? And no one even bought a light bulb. I hate my job. I hate my life. Strolling, Lisa finally came into the arc of light from the street. Once she could see her feet, she walked briskly. Midnights weren’t a good time to be alone around here. Why on earth did I train as a chef? Didn’t I reali...

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“Escape Hearts and Breaking Rooms” by Jessy Glazewski

Submitted to Contest #67

“I think we should break up,” Violet said to Dave, ending the quiet back and forth bantering they found themselves in. Her words surprised her as much as they did Dave. The room fell silent, aside from the soft four-note melody that played on hidden speakers. Not a soul dared to make a sound. No one moved. Time passed unnoticed. “Welp, good luck ye mateys!” the host of the escape room said as he slipped out of the room, closed the door, and locked it in place; starting the countdown to sunrise. Violet and Dave, Elliot and Tom,...

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“Masquerade” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #67

“We are divorced, like everyone else in Moscow.” –Katya Orlova (The Russia House by John le Carré)----------I tried not to stare at her. “You've got to be kidding, Sasha.”Her dark eyes were serious. “I'm afraid not, Dmitri.”“What could possibly have put that sort of idea into your head?” I asked.“Because we're both poor,” she said. “Something I don't enjoy being.”“Nor do I,” I said. “I'm not sure we can convince them that we're really a couple.”“It has to be just long enough to convince them that we're the real thing,” Sasha said. “If we win...

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“Soup From a Stone” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #67

For Fe, for all her support and love.Once in a while it happens that there is a witness to a murder, but subsequently no evidence of a murder can be found. At least one noir novel must have used this motif. Nothing is more disturbing than a murder that disappears, of course. Those of us who like murder mysteries need to know how the crime was committed, to savor the gore (just a little), and to see justice carried out. That is the usual template for fictional killings.We should not, however, discard the possibility that a murder can be creat...

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“A Darker Timeline” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #67

Your head is spinning and your vision is blurred. Red and silver dots flicker before your eyes, and you feel as if a steamroller has been through your brain. You put your index fingers on your temples and start massaging. The veins along your forehead are throbbing fiercely, threatening to explode any second now. You concentrate harder.You realize you are crouched on the floor. Trying hard not to lose your balance, you extend your right arm forward and grab onto the first thing it touches. It is smooth and hard, and gives you a sense of stab...

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“The Mole Has Turned” by Andrew Krey

Submitted to Contest #67

*Author’s Note: “The Mole Has Turned” is a standalone story, set in the same universe as my other Reedsy short-stories, with overlapping characters/events.* I was barely an adult the last time I saw a sunset, but this one had surpassed any genuine memories left in my mind. It was so beautiful we’d watched it on a loop for the last hour. Troy had arranged for us to have the same shifts this week, so today we could both spend our free-time together. It had been my best day, even though I still hadn’t felt real daylight on my skin for years.&...

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“No Movies Tonight” by Monica D

Submitted to Contest #67

Malitta "Hey Eli wanna watch a Movie with me?" I say in my chill voice. Eli is my best friend we did EVERYTHING together but since junior high started she started acting different. I don't know what happened. She's now into boyfriends, Parties and even DYED her hair!!! "What Movie do you wanna watch?" Eli said staring into my soul. she looked like I was gonna say something childish like...I don't know but whatever that look was about, gives me a chill up my spine. "Maybe...FROZEN??? It is such a fun Movie!" I smiled, but Eli looked soo...

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“Burn the F*cking House Down: Episode 3” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #67

“Okay, Wizz, do you want to tell them the surprise? Or shall I?”“You always have such a flair for the dramatic, Paul. You go right on ahead.”“Always such a gentleman. Folks, last time you heard us, we were testing out some magical new coffee drinks. Well, you won’t believe where we are this fine morning. After spending endless amounts of money––”“––none from our sponsors or our fans, of course––”“––and lots of last-minute planning––completely legal and ethical, of course––we managed to scrape up two rocket tickets to…hold your breaths…Pl––”“...

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“The Devil You Know” by The-Burrowing-Owl- Author

Submitted to Contest #67

Gulls circled above Tidefail harbor. Captain Alarick Cortez walked through the weak market of the dying seaport with his head held down beneath his cap. The most prominent sale was seafood. Often raw with pearly lifeless eyes, the smell of their peeling scales could waft for miles in the summer. Alarick was familiar with the fins and claws, sometimes even tentacles. So many foreign and wild things having their corpses traded off for silver and bronze.Alarick left the crowded streets behind, walking along the stained and uneven cobble pathway...

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“Fail or Do a Dare” by Meera Lakshmi

Submitted to Contest #67

I’m poor. Go ahead laugh. Go ahead and shame me, you obnoxious rich people. My family has just enough money to pay for food. We live on the streets because my mom is out of a job and my dad is a janitor who scraps the gunk of school pillars in our town and mops city hall’s floors. I have a sister who was just born. She is my life and I love her. I’d do anything for her like I'd anything for my best friend Fiona. She is the one person I know who doesn’t shame me or my family for our situation at hand. She also teaches me school. She is like m...

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“Fistful Summer” by Djulieni Lopes

Submitted to Contest #67

Hanagae Beach, Muuido. July 23, 1990. The school trip to Incheon province was troubled from the begging. In the bus while Seung-Hee was apprehensive and excited, his classmate sitting next to him continued with the same regretful speech. "Seung-hee, your know how scared I am of beaches" the boy with curly hair said in a regretful tone. The brownish hair matched perfectly with his gracious appearance, having a upturned nose, palid cheekbones and round eyes just like two marbles. Some s...

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“The House on the Cliff” by Genevieve Taylor

Submitted to Contest #67

Midnight As the bells in the church below the cliff sang midnight in a melancholy choir, the world smelled of lime zest and metal, and a dark-masked villian slipped away unnoticed. One Grandfather O’Brien found the body as he went up to bed, his eyes red from exhaustion and his brain dizzy with pipe smoke. His feet slid in the blood, but he barely screamed as he looked down. Zooey had always been his least favorite grandchild anyways. She lay across stairs, the long train of her dress spread out beside her, soaked deep red,...

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“A Pirate's Life For Me” by David G.

Submitted to Contest #67

Here are some things that are said by, and about, alcoholics. Mostly these come from famous men celebrated for their genius and their drunkenness. Others I learned during my years of AA meetings. 1) First you take a drink. Then the drink takes a drink. Then the drink takes you; 2) As an alcoholic, you will violate your standards quicker than you can lower them; 3) Work the program. Hang in. Keep coming. Believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.And here are some things that are said by, and about, pirates. 1) Yo ho...

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“Fishy Fables” by AntMan 🐜

Submitted to Contest #67

I was so close, I could almost smell it. The sea breeze nudged our boat in a slow, steady path as we searched the clear waters of the Caribbean. Suddenly, I saw a faint glimmer in the deepest of waters.“There! I see it! Lay the anchor!”My crew scrambled as they prepared to take a deep-sea treasure dive. I doubt they were as excited as me, though. I, Captain Coyle Cutthroat, have finally found the treasure most pirates dream of. No one has been said to lay their hands on it and survive. Yet.I was going to be the first, and this treasure must ...

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$50

Prize money

725

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 13, 2020 EST

Won by Deidra Whitt Lovegren 🏆

Title: Your Poor Rick

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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