Start or end your story with a house going up in flames.

Posted in Dark on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 55 stories

“Getting Home” by Sylvia Luna

Submitted to Contest #108

Jeffrey could hear the sirens from two blocks away. The fire had a definite smell; it was raw and earthy…he peddled faster. The sirens were behind him now, he pulled the old brown Schwinn he’d borrowed over to allow the fire engines to pass. He wondered if he could get a ticket for halting their expedient passage to the fire. People were standing on the street, looking over towards the block where his house stood. Police were putting up barriers to stop traffic. He looked up into the sky and could see billowing smoke, it was a dark gray colo...

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“Fire Deaths” by Karen Lethlean

Submitted to Contest #108

Fire Deaths Mary couldn’t help it. Impossible to ignore those floppy ears, dark eyes and puppy jowls. One individual among so many furry caterpillar creatures who snuffled up to their mother’s ‘milk-tray’, pushing and tugging at her teats. Later when one began nibbling her fingers Mary felt a fierce ownership urge. Named him Deefa - D-fa-dog. She felt sure her husband Jack also desired a farm dog. She remembered their romance, a time when they wandered along silken beach sand. And held her hand out to scoop up setting sun auras appearing ...

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“Bush Fire Night ” by Therese Obeid

Submitted to Contest #108

The fire was spreading rapidly. Thick smoke filled the air. The small town was in a state of panic as the fire moved towards it. The first house on the edge of the village went up in flames as the fire reached it. Sirens shrieked loudly as the firemen hurried to fight the fire from spreading further. Finally, the townsfolk grabbed a few precious belongings and evacuated the town, fleeing to safety. Rita had been at her friend's house. Now, as she hurried back home, she hoped her family had not left yet. But, unfortunately, Rita was only yo...

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“FLAMES AND STARS” by Julia Corliss

Submitted to Contest #108

FLAMES AND STARS The winds raged outside whipping trees into a tangled frenzy, throwing dust and debris across roads, and even overturning top heavy vehicles. All the while, refusing to pause anywhere over the landscape of Rosa’s vast valley, the winds relentlessly scoured the land. Somewhere, someone lit a match to wind-bent dry grass. The winds did what winds do. They picked up the spark and breathed it into flames spinning those flames into monstrous fireballs and then with their mighty power, they flung those flaming fireballs ...

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“Closure” by Sway Dodson

Submitted to Contest #108

CONTENT WARNING: DEPICTIONS OF R@PE AND TR@UMA --- You never think it can happen to you until it does. And when it does, you think it can never change you. But you’re wrong. You’re so wrong. --- I met Gavin while I was working at a coffee shop. I wrote my number on his latte and he called me after my shift. We dated for a few months, and got really close. He was kind, and funny, and genuine. His eyes were a mossy green, the color of leaves in August. His were the kind of eyes that you look into and f...

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“Up In Smoke” by Trina High

Submitted to Contest #108

Okay; 350 degrees, and there you go. Marshall slid the confection into the stove. He HATED eating sweets at room temperature, so warming them was a necessary evil as far as he was concerned.The doorbell rang, and he looked at his watch. It was 5:30, already? Where did the time go? He hustled through the living room, decorated in all tan, to the basement door, flung it open, and yelled, “Go on down; I'll be right there” before racing to his bedroom.Upstairs, Marshall looked in the mirror. His blue tee and jeans would be okay for rehearsal, bu...

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“An ordinary Day” by Angela Bencivenga

Submitted to Contest #108

An order day sun trying to peek through the clouds. All the sleepy houses not making a sound. No one is outside as if everyone quietly disappeared into another world. In our house my dad is getting ready to go work. My mom is getting ready to come with me to hairdressers. I’m going to be a bridesmaid later today. My little sister Marie followed my dad around from room to room. “Daddy play with me please “ Marie was getting excited because we were planning another trip to Disney, her favorite place.? After her adoption becomes final we we...

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“The Bad Thing” by Stacey Iannazzo

Submitted to Contest #108

S. Hileman Iannazzo The Bad Thing Reedsy - Elemental Contest Entry 8/20/2021 The boy's name was Joseph, that was the only information the detective had managed to get after a half hour or so of sharing the small interrogation room. No last name, just Joseph. The kid looked to be about 12, maybe 13, he wore his hair long and in need of a cut. He was unkempt and filthy down to his blackened fingernails. The beat cops picked him up walking alone on the train tracks, just after dawn this morning. He had ...

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“WHAT YOU LOVE MOST” by Atizay Fantezi

Submitted to Contest #108

JADIS“I feel for you. I really do” Ivan said with a sympathetic look, “but there is nothing I can do for you.” He sat there waiting for an emotional reply, but he didn’t get one. Jadis’s face held no emotion. “Your son is dying.” She said, Ivan, Rubbed his chin. Jadis stood up abruptly, “he's still your son, even though you’ve abandoned us.” In a shaky voice, she asked, “How can you not spare but a little of your money?” He stood up, “I have a family to take care of Jadis, I’m no longer responsible for you, If you don’t stop bother...

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“From the Flames” by Manuel Trujillo

Submitted to Contest #108

The woods appeared untouched by the flames yet nothing else seemed to be spared as Andrew watches it all burn. His house, car, and all the valuables within were all but gone and would soon be reduced to ash. The anger and despair he had felt earlier were now replaced by a numbing acceptance as he watched on. Firefighters now begin to arrive to continue their eternal fight with the elements.Through the thick smoke and fiery blaze, one could see the luxurious house was an impressive build with its imposing entrance and three garage doors.The f...

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Start or end your story with a house going up in flames.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 55 stories

“Getting Home” by Sylvia Luna

“Fire Deaths” by Karen Lethlean

“Bush Fire Night ” by Therese Obeid

“FLAMES AND STARS” by Julia Corliss

“Closure” by Sway Dodson

“Up In Smoke” by Trina High

“An ordinary Day” by Angela Bencivenga

“The Bad Thing” by Stacey Iannazzo

“WHAT YOU LOVE MOST” by Atizay Fantezi

“From the Flames” by Manuel Trujillo

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a voyage on a boat.

Write about a person or object vanishing into thin air.

Write a story about a team tunneling down into the centre of a planet.

Write a story about a character who’s trying to fill an empty space, literally or metaphorically.

Contest #108

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

202

Contest entries

207

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: