Start a story that begins with a character saying “Speak now.”

Posted in Dialogue on Mar 17, 2023

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✍️ 86 stories

“WARNING FLAGS” by Peter Merz

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak.”There was a faint buzzing sound, followed by absolute silence. A youngish man, perhaps not much more than twenty-six or twenty-seven, stared with abject consternation at his creation—though perhaps a work in progress would be more à propos. He threw his hands up in sudden frustration.“What the blazes do I have to do to make you show me you have even the faintest spark of life?”Laurie Keir was a younger man who all-in-all came across as average in most respects. Average height, average weight, average to better-than-average looks. He ...

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“A Deadly Honeymoon” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #190

When the minister finally said, “Speak now, or forever hold your peace,” the lingering seconds that followed were the most terrifying but thrilling in my life. The thought of someone from my dark past having crashed my wedding was overwhelming. If the truth should be revealed, the wedding would explode in a flash, and I would be fleeing from the police, if not for my life, since I was trapped standing at the altar with no means of escape. Silently, two seconds passed, then three. Then the minister continued. “Now, by the powers invested in m...

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“Metamorphic” by Cay Macres

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now!” Betrayed by the silence that followed, Beril turned to leave. Haphazard mirrors leaned against the ledges of the purple-veined pit, reflecting just enough light to see the carved footholes. The unresponsive abyss below apparently didn’t care that she could have died getting here. Then came a late echo, reverberating with a deeper sound and jumbled words. “Now speak!” … When the orange tents were scattered in the cave, separated by stalagmites with worm-like precipitations hanging from them, Beril began to notice the odd loo...

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“Moist Words” by Space Writer

Submitted to Contest #190

Note: this story mentions a sexual assault attempt and gun violence "Speak now, if you will, milady, lest your lips remain parched for moist words". Julianna rolled her eyes at Roosevelt Brown. Roosevelt, or ‘Big Ro’ as he was called by his friends, was a 17-year-old junior that had been hounding Julianna for a date since last semester. Roosevelt transferred into Julianna's high school the previous year. He wasn’t shy about letting her know how he felt about her. Julianna did not share the sentiment. They didn't have any classes toget...

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“Forever Hold Your Peace” by L.J Sunwing

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now or forever hold your peace,” the phrase echoes from the mouth of the minister through the sanctuary and pins off of Jean’s ears. The common words sit on top of the audience like fishing lewer upon the water, waiting for someone to reveal the inevitable flaw of the union-to-be. A small seemed to notice the red flag and see it clearly, but the girl stayed silent. She watched as the vows were spoken in cheer, and several audience members' faces grew grim. [...] Early before the service, Jean paced through the back hallway of the...

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“Ethel's Final Day” by Portia Zeiger

Submitted to Contest #190

CW: religious abuse, physical violence “Speak, now.” John Greene, father of Ethel Greene, was in the middle of a very hot-blooded conversation with his daughter about her recent shortcomings. Ethel, according to the rest of her family, has always been the “problem child” - but this recent discovery was too much on her fathers psyche. John had spent the last couple hours expressing the anger towards his eldest, switching between smacking her with a belt and reading the Holy Scriptures. His child, sitting on her knees with the Bible in her...

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“"I Love You"” by Giselle M

Submitted to Contest #190

Speak now,” he says after slamming the door and getting into the driver’s seat. He was waiting for an explanation for my actions. An explanation that I did not have. He probably thought if we were alone, I would explain it to him, why I ruined his date. It made no difference alone or in a room full of people. I do not speak; I remain silent as the events of this evening flood my brain. We were sitting in his car outside my restaurant where I worked. I had no right to do the things I did. How could I ruin his day and expect no consequences. “...

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“Leap Day” by Laura Pasek

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now,” Papa said after I gulped down my third glass of water. My throat was dry, and I had woken up for probably the third time in an hour needing to pee. The situation had gotten so bad that my dad pulled the couch next to the bathroom door since I was too tired to go down the stairs every time I needed to use the bathroom. My dad's girlfriend Ming kept giving me little sugar pills, insisting that it was some holistic medication that would help whatever my ailment was. “Papa,” I squeaked. “I really need to see the doctor.” I b...

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“The Voice of Many” by Brandon Tucker

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” The antechamber echoed with a brass tone; chimes strewn across the floor still held their tune. Wiry hands now found their way to the boy beneath them. “You have been given an order boy, speak now.” “You would have me speak for what? You have heard my voice and seen what it can do.” The hands gained weight, pushing painfully now into the boy’s shoulders. Groaning in disgust, the man turns to the door behind them, the gold lacquer on the handle worn to brass. “I would have you speak only to ass...

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“Jumping Off the Diving Board” by Kristin Johnson

Submitted to Contest #190

Note: Written with input from Taylor Swift superfan Kathryn Berenbaum. “Speak now, or forever hold your peace,” the preacher said. I stood frozen in the back of the church looking at the man of my dreams dressed up in a tuxedo that he probably rented. The girl beside him, in the super-frilly bridal gown, didn’t know that he probably rented the tux because he just would have wanted a nice suit. Or his best pair of jeans. He certainly didn’t want three hundred people and eight bridesmaids that he had to pretend he cared about. All he wante...

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“In which a necromancer speaks” by Eddie McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” The voice rang out loud through the near-silent throne room, a profound heaviness to it that one would think would have been enough to urge even the more obstinate of listeners to obey. Typically, it would too, so it was an altogether reasonable assumption that this would not have been an exception to this rule. In fact, of those who had gathered thereabouts, more than one had to fight the urge to raise their own voice when they were not spoken to.So, really, by all rights this shouldn’t have been an exception, but the here...

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“Speak Now” by Sandy Stewart

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.” “Speak now!” I said to myself again. “Hello folks! My name is Ada Thomas. Thanks so much for joining me today!” One year prior, on this same stage, I turned and walked off after my second ‘speak now’ prompt to myself. And that day was the second time I had done so in as many months. I vowed then to never put myself in such an embarrassing position again. No, not ever! But here I was. And to my great surprise and delight, the auditorium was once again filled with lovely folks. Some, most certainly, curious to see if I wou...

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“The Wedding Shhhh” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #190

“’Speak now.’” Arlene pointed at me on her way up the stairs to bed, and then held her finger to her lips to make the shush face. “’Speak now.’” I smiled, pointing and shush facing. Our grandson, Jeremy, looked up from some game he was playing on his cell phone. “Your grandmother and I have been saying that since our wedding day. Well, one of our wedding days. “You know, your great grandfather, my father, was a judge, and he told me before I married anyone I should go down to the courthouse and s...

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“Puppy Love” by Jill Clark

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now!” his stepfather says to me over the phone. “If you don’t, you will be speaking to the police. We will not need to get them involved if you just tell us where he is.” My palms are sweating, and I feel dizzy. The police? This is really bad. What if they call my parents, I will be grounded forever, then how will I help him? “Sir, I swear. I don’t know where he is.” I told him. “I have not talked to him since yesterday morning. He didn’t tell me he was going to run away. I have no idea where he would go.” I know he doesn’t believe me...

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“Dogs Don't Write” by Vincent Dominguez

Submitted to Contest #190

"Speak now." I ignored him. "Speak." He barked again. "Ni que fuera perro," I finally answered. "What did you say to me?" Said an offended Mr. Tudyk. "It means I'm not a dog." I replied. "Well, we speak English here, Jose." Said an imperious Mr. Tudyk. "Jesus. My name is Jesus." I looked at Mr. Tudyk who sat across his desk from me and tried not to make eye contact. He always had a way of making me feel uncomfortable. So for now, I studied him. He dressed like every middle aged teacher who hated their life. He wore la...

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Start a story that begins with a character saying “Speak now.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 86 stories

“WARNING FLAGS” by Peter Merz

“A Deadly Honeymoon” by Howard Seeley

“Metamorphic” by Cay Macres

“Moist Words” by Space Writer

“Forever Hold Your Peace” by L.J Sunwing

“Ethel's Final Day” by Portia Zeiger

“"I Love You"” by Giselle M

“Leap Day” by Laura Pasek

“The Voice of Many” by Brandon Tucker

“Jumping Off the Diving Board” by Kristin Johnson

“In which a necromancer speaks” by Eddie McKenzie

“Speak Now” by Sandy Stewart

“The Wedding Shhhh” by David B Fraser

“Puppy Love” by Jill Clark

“Dogs Don't Write” by Vincent Dominguez

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who decides to make their own version of something old.

Set your story in New York, where someone’s been waiting for your character.

Write a story about a fandom

Start your story with someone vowing to take revenge.

Contest #190

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

250

Contest entries

114

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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