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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 Unluckiest Living Thing Alive” by Amy Utami

Submitted to Contest #67

Hi, I am Elaine and I just witnessed a murderer. My dad did it, but I could not accuse him. Since mom won’t take it seriously. None of those adult beings believed in me that it’s a crime. I wonder if it’s all related to my age? I’m nine and big, a very big-big girl. Big girl with a big brain and big courage and a big bed of my own and a big bag for school and big baby sister. Even though big didn’t make you an adult. But I was always serious, my dad is a criminal and no one accused him of his sin. WHY???I don’t understand this situation. Whe...

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“The Jewel of Calla” by Anna Mosqueda

Submitted to Contest #67

Layth stared down at his brown feet, covered in grime and dirt from hours of labor. Blisters had begun to form on the soles of them, bringing unbearable pain along with him everywhere he walked. His shoes had been lost in the last hopeless expedition to Pawley's Island. Those shoes were his favorite, gifted to him by his mother before he was captured. They had leather laces that he tied in a double knot every time he wore them. If you looked closely at the rubber sole of the shoe, you could see an inscription of some code. Layth had no idea ...

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“Ghost Dreams” by Geeta Boodansingh

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #67

Coming to Nand K'tara always felt like coming home to Rhinn.The floating market or the free market (depending on who translated the Gorachi word into Galactic Basic) was a large generation space ship comprised of a hodgepodge of different races from all over the galaxy, outcasts and possibly outlaws, dreamers, wanderers, all with the common desire to explore the universe and pay their way to do so by plying their trade.She stood in the centre of the market, drinking in the bustle with her senses. Alien tongues mingled together like spices in...

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“Wildfire” by Aubrey Maria ✌

Submitted to Contest #67

Thoughts rushed through her head like wildfire. Mira knew this was her last chance -- her chance to change what would happen. Sticking in her earbuds, she drifts off into a peaceful unconsciousness hoping to hideaway. But the more she tried to run away, even for a moment, her conscience crept up reminding her of her choice, her betrayal. She always had a choice - it just depended on what she chose. She laid her head back against the soft cushions on the couch snuggling closer into a comfortable position in hopes to mindfully drift off. A kno...

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“Speak or Die” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #67

Tom can’t count the days of darkness. He’s been sitting in the middle of that room for what seems like an eternity. He cannot differentiate day and night. He can only feel the temperature change. He thinks it’s nighttime when his feet, tied to both legs of the chair, ache with the touch of the freezing floor and daytime when sweat drips from every pore of his body. There are no windows for light and air to pass through. He’s surprised he’s still breathing, taking in the stench of mold, sweat, and piss. He’s been in and out of sleep, he can’t...

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“Markets and Beyond.” by TonTon The Bard

Submitted to Contest #67

As an auctioneer, I had always held intergalactic weapons in high standard. Weapons and ammo are littered everywhere but it felt fantastic to buy one of a greater quality with minimal wear.As a bounty hunter, a gun is a gun. I will buy it if need be, if the price is high or not. I've been searching for a certain gun; the XSerpt-200. It's maker's specie has been long extinct. The species had thousands of versions of this gun, but in the genocide, many of them were destroyed. About 500 exist, and only a fourth of them are in condition to fire....

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“Murder to Come.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #67

He was struggling, but it was no use. There was a familiarity to the man being attacked, I couldn’t quite place him, but I knew I had met him at some time. The assailant plunged the knife into the man many times in his frenzied attack. Then stepping back, he let the mortally wounded man sink to the ground. Seemingly complete with his task, the attacker turned and let the knife fall to the ground and stumbled away. The scene faded before my eyes and once again I knew I was witnessing what would be, not what is now. But this time I was motivat...

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“My Lost Comrade, Lyza Ziner” by Rachel Cerbito

Submitted to Contest #67

I was so jealous of those joyous birds and butterflies that scampered in the far-flung places. I wish I could be like them. They witnessed the beauty of nature. Actually, for me everything was mundane. Nothing new at all, but there was one thing that made me feel special, the twilight. I saw the light from the sky appeared diffused and often pinkish. I was mesmerized by the sun that was below the horizon. Its rays were scattered by Earth's atmosphere and created the color of twilight, it made my day. Until one day, I found o...

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“Vent by the Door” by Amelia Bowen

Submitted to Contest #67

If she pressed her ear to the vent next to the door, she could just make out the sound of whispering. It was high-pitched, like it belonged to the human equivalent of a feather boa. It was the ripple of maple leaves on a summer afternoon; breathy, like a horse’s hooves on pavement. She heard another voice too, like a top hat. It was low and measured, sounding like it drank tea in the mornings instead of coffee. She imagined a porcelain mug. He wouldn’t use teacups, no. He wasn’t like that, she could tell. The cool metal of the vent’s rim cut...

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“Fake-Dating The Enemy” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

Submitted to Contest #67

Clara looked at her watch, for the umpteenth time. Yes, it's twenty minutes past 10am and no, her date still hasn't shown up! Aaargh! She knew agreeing to that blind date had been a mistake. When her best friend Alexa pleaded her to go on a date with her brother's teammate's roommate’s cousin (don’t even ask me how they managed to find such a random single guy), she knew she should have said no, like any normal person would. I mean, c'mon, who would even agree to such a date, where even their bestie hadn't seen the date's face!! ...

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“The Face I Couldn't Read” by Rachel Hume

Submitted to Contest #67

I looked outside, waiting for today’s Amazon package to be delivered. It was a book Mom ordered for me and a new sleeping bag with three Disney Princesses painted across the front. The familiar gray truck with blue letters was stopped across the street, and I watched the delivery man as he sat; gathering his thoughts before delivering packages to every house on the block. I looked at him closer, trying to read his expression like I did with everyone. “Scared.” I said out loud, to no one in particular. “Sweetheart, what did you say?” ...

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“Reality Show” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #67

“So, you want us going on this reality show… and claim we’re married?” “We’re together.” “For now? Only for the show?” Sheila nodded. He finally got it. Tom shimmied. “Sexy!” “You’ve got the wrong channel, bub.” He continued, “So, nothing else? Isn’t pretending the same as lying? I thought fraud is a crime…” “Things change. We can’t know the future.” “What about intentions? You’re thinking we could be together?” “Theoretically.” Tom shook his head. “I don’t know. This sounds awful… theoretical…” Sheila made fists and set her jaw. “Hypothetic...

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“Pokie” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #67

“This is amazing!” Louis yelled as he flung his body in a messy flip through the air. His form was atrocious, but he hung in the air seemingly forever. “I feel like I can fly!” Luka replied, spinning unbelievably slow into a 1080; his body disappearing behind the glare of the late afternoon sunshine. They leaped toward each other, exchanged high fives, and floated back down to the dusty turquoise surface of Tirkizan. Their feet barely made footprints as they landed. “We should just stay here! I could get used to this low ...

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“A Delicious Adventure” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

Submitted to Contest #67

It was a very cold night at Perseus. A chilly wind was breezing through the desolate streets and even the normal barking sounds of the dogs sounded like some haunting music. Somewhere distant, the bell in the clocktower started ringing twelve times, indicating the hour of midnight, the bewitching hour. Yes, you have guessed it right! I am trying to create the setting for a scary story. Buckle up folks, and get ready to go on for a delicious (and slightly creepy) ride with the protagonist of our story, Prudence! Prudence, a twenty...

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“Status Quo” by Marissa Yates

Submitted to Contest #67

The day I witnessed the murder was the day I wore my favorite flannel for the last time. It had white paint speckles over the right arm from my sloppy attempts at painting the kitchen, the front pocket was torn down one seam and mostly held on by the button, and the collar was wrinkled and folded in on itself. Finding a good flannel is impossible these days; I swear they're made from sandpaper or tissue paper. But this one, this flannel, had achieved that perfect balance. Three years of washing had broken down the stiff fabri...

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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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