Start your story with a character in despair.

Posted in Dark on Jun 14, 2024

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✍️ 91 stories

“Sirena the Hybrid Mermaid” by Nicole N

Submitted to Contest #255

Along the local island shores lived Sirena, a beautiful, adventurous, free-spirited girl. She was always on the go, exploring everything she could. She loved the ocean the most. Every time she visited, she couldn't help but admire its infinite existence. Getting Sirena to leave was almost impossible. She’d always sigh and say “I wish I could just live here” as she mosied home. Sirena loved exploring the shorelines for treasures that washed up. She’d make up stories about how that item got there. And she had a collection for everything, shell...

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“Jordie” by Matteo Picchietti

Submitted to Contest #255

Bam! Clayton’s hand goes through the wall, creating a large hole next to two others. “Damit!” The TV blares in front of him as sports announcers talk about the play that just scored a touchdown with ten seconds left on the clock. The 60-year-old Clayton holds a beer in his other hand. His jaw clenches and nostrils flare as he looks down at his phone in his lap. Next to him is a pile of empty beer bottles, some not even from today. Dirty clothes are piled around the room, next to overdue bills. &...

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“A Series of Dorm Disasters” by Micheline Chen

Submitted to Contest #255

“My phone !” My screams were covered by the revving of car engines. I was on the other side of the pedestrian crossing when I realized it. My handbag was – the lights turned from green to red when I felt the pavement vibrate. Then a flock of cars rumbled past. After the noise cleared, all that was left was a ringing in my ears and my dirty handbag in the dust. My legs were rooted to the spot. It wasn’t until other pedestrians started to cross the road did I reminded myself to move. Breathing was suddenly harder. My hands shook as I unzipped ...

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“ Planet in Despair” by Roneta Davis

Submitted to Contest #255

This story contains triggering content related to mental health, suicide, or self-harm. I parked the car on the gravel path that led to the house. The color had faded into varying hues of grey, emphasizing the years my family abandoned it. Grabbing my camera as I opened the door to the car, a light scent of lavender traveled through my nose, unlocking forgotten memories hidden in the back of my mind. I pushed the car door shut and began my journey to the past filled with nostalgia. I never asked Dr. Redding if this visit could do more harm...

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“Post Vin” by Samantha Kabiling

Submitted to Contest #255

“Selene! He’s gone!” Pam yells shaking Selene off of Vin Selene’s eyes widen, only seeing tunnel vision of Vin lying there with a pool of blood surrounding him. Her breathing started to become irregular as she looked down her hands to see that same blood. She was trying to stop the bleeding not realizing there were other wounds on his body that were pouring out. Nothing felt real, she can’t even hear Pam yelling in her ear. All she sees is Vin’s lifeless eyes staring directly at her as if it was her fault she didn’t protect him. It was...

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“the road home” by Turner Powers

Submitted to Contest #255

I came to in the car. Unsure of how I got there or what time it was, I looked towards my husband. His face said it all. The rage, the disappointment, the tears. My head splitting, my cracked lips crusted together with the dried sugar of wine. I ran my tongue over my teeth, a viscous film coating them making my already tender stomach roll. Shifting my gritty eyes and oily face towards him, I managed to croak, “What time is it?”“1PM. It’s 1 fucking o’clock in the afternoon,” he didn’t even make a motion to look at me. As if meeting eyes w...

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“A Small Relief” by Sophie Goldstein

Submitted to Contest #255

Lalo woke with an overwhelming throbbing in his head.He pushed the tequila bottle lying next to him off the bed and proceeded to cut his feet on the broken glass below.Limping to the bathroom, he waded through more tequila bottles on the floor, bags of chips, remnants of fast food, donuts.He cleaned his bloody feet, wishing it hurt more.So, he could feel something else than what he felt now.He stared at his reflection.She wouldn’t like this, he thought.“She wouldn’t like this at all,” he said aloud.“No, I wouldn’t,” came the imagined reply.“...

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“Keep Your Enemies Close” by Bekah Wren

Submitted to Contest #255

Trigger Warnings: Grief, physical violence, blood- It is said that the screams that filled the air that September night still echo through the city’s streets. Many people whispered about the source of the noise. Was it a bloody stand-off between gangs? Had vengeful spirits taken to haunting the streets? Was it simply a stray cat yowling under the light of the full moon? No one would ever guess that the screams came from one of the most feared criminals the city had seen in decades. “Why? Why did you come here?” Gideon held Casey in his arms....

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“Pretty Deadly” by Patricia Parent

Submitted to Contest #255

The cell was cold, reeking of piss and desperation. How the hell did I end up in jail? Me, a promising future beauty queen! It was all because of Ellen Stanton, or The Crooked Queen, as they dubbed her in the news. I was laying down on my bunk bed mentally cursing Ellen when I heard a buzzing sound. The door opened, and there it was, the most intimidating person I’ve ever seen. It looked like the result of a cross breed experiment between a mammoth and a human. The shit-shaped human looked at me, grinning creepily:-Bow down to your new cellm...

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“Regrets” by Dunja Inajetovic

Submitted to Contest #255

As soon as Harriet entered the building, she headed to the top floor.She pressed the button of the old, vintage lift, then again, repeatedly, while cursing under her breath. Creaking, the lift slowly ascended to the seventh floor, the top floor of the Victorian classy building. Her heart was thumping, so much that it was almost as if it wanted to exit her rib carriage. Harriet was sweating, cursing and running her hands through her hair. The lift came to a stop.Almost immediately, she opened the door and ran to the apartment at the end of th...

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“Sandcastle in the Storm” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

Submitted to Contest #255

I remember standing on the pale sands in warm sunlight watching the boy who kneels near his sister. He is using the top of a red plastic shovel to shape each turret on the sandcastle towers with deep concentration. She is looking down at him and smiling. He is her best ever birthday gift as he was born on her birthday. Who needs a doll when you have a real baby to cuddle? Only, I don’t remember this at all. I never had children. I wanted them desperately, but never had even one. I didn’t even get so far as a miscarriage. Why does this scene...

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“Rootbound” by Mike Rancourt

Submitted to Contest #255

“Today, I take Texas!” Antoine said, deepening his voice to adopt the bravado of a confident athlete predicting victory.Carolina laughed and watched his dread locks swing side to side as he hopped on his shitty, fifty-pound mountain bike and worked the pedals in that exaggerated, jumping-up-and-down, grunting way he always did to get a chuckle out of her.“No pain no gain!” he called back over his shoulder.He could pass as a jock with his broad shoulders and muscular frame—and those calves—but Carolina knew that was only a millimeter deep.“St...

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“The Stages” by Allyson Jannotta

Submitted to Contest #255

CHAPTER 1: “Oh come on! What are you, scared?” “I’m not scared,” says the teen girl reluctantly. “It’s just that, we are so far from home and it’s – it’s dark.” The boy flirtatiously grabs her hands and pulls her closer. “But you have a big strong man here to protect you.” "Big. Strong. Man. Hmmmm," she says checking out his smaller physique. Embarassed, he realizes a man, big or strong may be a poor choice in words. He is a young teen barely out of puberty. He is more young and fearless, or an adult might say reckless. He leans in for thei...

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“Never Normal” by Lyla Janet

Submitted to Contest #255

Warning: This story contains mentions of sensitive topics such as suicide and violence.Aaron fell to his knees in front of the stone. The stone that marked that place that his boyfriend now lay, six feet under the dirt. He blinked several times, but the tears just wouldn't come. The shock was greater than the sorrow.The past events had done a number on him. His fluffy blond hair was full of dirt and grime. The physical pain inside him was slowly getting worse, although he had no idea what was causing it. One of his eyes was now a pure black ...

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“without a Trace” by Ashley Soltysik

Submitted to Contest #255

I want it to make sense. I want to state one tragedy that got me to this point. That damaged me so much; repairs were unmanageable. But that isn't reality. There's no bullseye. Just multiple fragments, some tiny and some large, floating about, cutting me up bit by bit without showing any signs of mercy. There is no one great tragedy. The story starts with just one instance, seemingly small in the beginning but foundational now as you look back on it. It was like turning on a faucet with one slight bump, then walking away. A leak began, but ...

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Start your story with a character in despair.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 91 stories

“Sirena the Hybrid Mermaid” by Nicole N

“Jordie” by Matteo Picchietti

“A Series of Dorm Disasters” by Micheline Chen

“ Planet in Despair” by Roneta Davis

“Post Vin” by Samantha Kabiling

“the road home” by Turner Powers

“A Small Relief” by Sophie Goldstein

“Keep Your Enemies Close” by Bekah Wren

“Pretty Deadly” by Patricia Parent

“Regrets” by Dunja Inajetovic

“Sandcastle in the Storm” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

“Rootbound” by Mike Rancourt

“The Stages” by Allyson Jannotta

“Never Normal” by Lyla Janet

“without a Trace” by Ashley Soltysik

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a someone who's in denial.

Write a story about anger.

Center your story around a character bargaining for something that's important to them.

Write a story about someone finding acceptance.

Contest #255

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

365

Contest entries

142

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: