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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#92: Chiaroscuro

A meteor's dazzling burst of light, a sky faintly illuminated by a crescent moon, or a sidewalk lined by long afternoon shadows, the world is infinitely more interesting for chiaroscuro — the contrast of light and shade. More than that, the binary between light and darkness is one that holds great symbolic power (think yin and yang, Nyx and Erebus, good and evil).

With that in mind, this week’s prompts invite you to reflect on the way light influences a story’s setting, plot, or even its characters. Whether darkness means comfort and privacy or creepy echoing corridors, and whether light reminds you of clarity and safety or of blistering intensity, I’ve chosen prompts that give you freedom of interpretation. Happy writing!

This week's prompts

Write a story that begins in the light and ends in darkness, or the other way around.

Horror – 382 stories

End your story with a truth coming to light.

Horror – 184 stories

Set your story in a countryside house that’s filled with shadows.

Horror – 170 stories

Write about a character who thinks they have a sun allergy.

Summer – 117 stories

Write a story set in a city where the power suddenly goes out, leaving everyone in darkness.

Horror – 187 stories

Stories

“The Things You Forget” by Mel Elizondo

Submitted to Contest #92

The girl who called herself Maggie Fell didn’t normally stay back after chemistry class. She wasn’t a fool. Chemistry wasn’t her forte and the teacher hated anyone who didn’t understand anything involving the periodic table. Also, she didn’t like that feeling that came when she saw a bunch of beakers filled with obviously hazardous fluid. It seemed ironic that the materials locked up from young children were given little precaution to those society still didn’t trust to drink responsibly. She also didn’t also normally talk to the guy ...

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“THE FORTUNE COOKIES” by Mousumi Biswas

Submitted to Contest #92

THE FORTUNE COOKIES Ashok was born in a family of very humble means. His father, Bhola,worked in a bakery and his mother ,Maya , was a house maid. Bhola and Maya worked tirelessly to bring up their children, son Ashok and a daughter, Tara . They worked hard to provide the best facilities and education for their children. Tara was a bright and confident child , but Ashok was shy and reticent since childhood , both at home and school. As years passed, he became more reserve...

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“Shadows of the Past” by Katelyn T

Submitted to Contest #92

When Jillian moved to the small town of Smithville, she was hoping for a new start. The house she moved into could only be described as having charm. She had rented it cheap. The home had two bedrooms, one bath, a small living room, a kitchen, and an attic. Since it was just her, it was more than enough house. The paint was chipped in places, the wooden floors creaked and were hazardously uneven in some places, and who knew the last time the foundation, electric, or plumbing had been looked at. Jillian knew the first time it rained, the roof...

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“Illusions” by Robert Consiglio

Submitted to Contest #92

"The time may come when fantasy will become reality and reality shall become fantasy. Rare will be the person able to discern the difference.” -Author unknown “Good morning Jacob, did you sleep well?” says a brassy voice. Jacob Macpherson rubs his eyes and stares at the central control panel opposite him. He notes the time: 0600. “No, Max,” says Jacob. “I am sorry to hear that, Jacob. Would you like a be...

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“A Glimpse of the Stars” by Silver Pen: Temporarily Inactive

Submitted to Contest #92

TW: Violence and graphic descriptions. She wheezed, dust gathering into her lungs as she dragged her pickax through the desolate mines. Sweat ran down her face in streams, tracing rivers through the sticky coal. She despised the mines. It was 2200, and people deemed worthless as she was were doomed to the sweltering, poorly lit mines to work until death. Rations were based on pounds of coal mined. She forced herself to drag her ax down the rusted metal tracks, the screeching grate of metal on metal echoing throughout the tunnel. Despite the...

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“Soulless” by Kat Mordaunt

Submitted to Contest #92

Light. It was everywhere. The sun beat down on Teslirin as she walked the streets, a ring of guards surrounding her and the four other Darkests, keeping them from running. That was pointless; where would they run? Every corner where the sun didn’t quite reach was illuminated by lanterns. There was no Darkness anywhere. The laughter of the young Brightened on the streets paused as the group of Darkests passed, the Brightened’s tanned faces practically glowing in ...

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“The Night Light” by Advik Godbole

Submitted to Contest #92

The city plunged into darkness. The computer in front of me went dark instantly. I heard generators coming to life until those were killed too. I looked through the window at the rest of the city. It was pitch-black except for the shine of the moon. People were gathering at balconies and opening windows. I called my sister and asked if she had faced a power cut too. She had. It seemed like the whole city's power had been cut. I started calling some of my friends when I heard it. A siren going off in the distance. It was the siren that ...

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“The Dove and the Raven” by Blue Green

Submitted to Contest #92

I can feel the house mocking me long before I see it. Its presence seems to infuse the landscape, tainting the bleak heath with tendrils of ink seeping deep into the roots of the trees. It whispers to me in the long grass swept to and fro by the same wind which sends the dark clouds scurrying across the gloomy sky, as though they too don’t want to linger long in this dismal place.I look across at my mother. She doesn’t seem to be affected by the landscape, or the prospect of being cut off from the outside world for two long weeks. She keeps ...

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“Siren Song” by Brenna Enos

Submitted to Contest #92

Visiting the old beach house this summer was supposed to be a good chance to get away from it all. By “it all”, I mean my dad. He died four months ago, but he’s still everywhere. I saw him in his favorite chair that sits in the corner of the living room. I saw him in his jacket that still hangs in the closet at home. It smells like the cinnamon gum he always used to chew. Sometimes, when my mom’s at work, I would sneak into the coat closet and bury my face in it, trying to remember him at his b...

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“Falling out of the dark, into the glass” by Shah Zaib Mukhtiar

Submitted to Contest #92

I opened my eyes, bending my legs against my abdomen and trying to reach out the blanket. Surprisingly, I realized it wasn’t my room. ‘M-mom Dad, is anyone there?’ my voice broke. It was completely dark. Running in different directions with tears rolling out of my eyes, I realized the room was endless. It felt like being stuck in the worst of your nightmares, but I had no choice but to accept the reality. I was crying louder for help when a bright light emerged before me. I ran faster to my escape and found myself amid a room full of mirrors...

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“I'm Sorry, Jessie” by Paige Winters

Submitted to Contest #92

I watch my little girl chase a butterfly in the front yard, her new boots tramping through the fresh mud from last night’s rainfall. Trees sway in the wind, sending shadows dancing crazily across the yard. I stand in the shadow of the house, the only relief from the boiling sun. I inherited the old farmhouse from my parents when they died in a car crash three years ago. There’s a lot of memories in it, from when my older brother shoved me into the stone walls to when Mom and I used to work on the flourishing garden outback. I’ve never had a...

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“And Then Cones” by Will Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #92

1. The date for Marcus Favisham was totally irrelevant. What he did know that with this discovery his life would be more than changed. He would be able to publish what he wanted and could demand a significant fee each time he spoke. Marcus was pleased. He scrambled around on his desktop. "Where are my notes?" Now his mood had changed to a vexed state. He growled into midair with frustration. He was about to call his assistant but she was there, as always, hold his notes leaning on the door that was ajar. "I told you that you should e...

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“What I Remember in the Dark” by Opal Knight

Submitted to Contest #92

The first thing I remember is light. It blinded me as hands wrapped around me, raising me up towards the heavens. As I rose my eyes adjusted and soon I could see. A young girl beamed down at me and hugged me to her chest. That was the first time I smiled. The second thing I remember is the adults, two of them looking down at the girl and I, twin smiles on their faces. She talked to me, showed me whole new worlds... not that I had really seen any worlds just yet. Finally she gave me a name. That was the first time I knew myself. The third...

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“From Dark to Light” by Kathy Landes

Submitted to Contest #92

To this day I have received no logical explanation for what happen once upon a time, decades ago. It was night time and I had gone for an evening swim off the coast of Miami Beach Island. I had felt something brush my leg and not wanting to take any chances head for shore as fast as I could. I sat that reflecting on what it could have been as I stared out at the night sky. Then my whole world disappeared into blackness. I didn’t black out; I was fully conscious. I felt something akin to a bullet shot through my brain but I knew that wasn’t h...

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“Red” by Wild Rose

Submitted to Contest #92

It was Diwali, the festival of joy, the festival of brotherhood, the festival of light. Marigold Gardens was beautifully decorated with diyas, the traditional lamps that the Indians use. The sky was ablaze with the light from crackers and parachutes. Electric lights decorated the trees, colourful crackers such as the traditional rangmashal and phuljhuri added a colourful appearance to the place. People wearing colourful lehngas and sarees, the traditional wear of the Indians, could be seen dancing together in couples. There were husban...

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$50

Prize money

1050

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 07, 2021 EST

Won by Nina Chyll 🏆

Title: On the Origin of Shadows

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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