Write a story that includes the line “I think someone’s listening/watching.”

Posted in Dialogue on Oct 6, 2023

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✍️ 53 stories

“Rocky ride” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #219

"Hon', did you hear that?" Elaine asked, her voice filled with concern. "Yeah, something about a disabled train ahead of us," replied Ian, with a tone reflecting his frustration. I found myself in the company of the McAllisters, a situation that usually meant Elaine's incessant chatter and Ian's desire for peace and quiet to read his newspaper. "Just when you need to get there early. How about you call the office?" "I hate this," he muttered. As I observed his grumpy demeanor, I couldn't help but sympathize. Being late was not pa...

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“Zion” by Blue Lantern

Submitted to Contest #219

“...What about the pilot? Were we able to figure out if they were DOA?” Sai’urn sighs heavily, one of the office chairs creaking slightly as he sits down. “First officer Shaii’kvi died on impact due to engine failure in the pod. An engineering failure in the pod’s design. We suspect she was seeking refuge on station RELLE, before it was taken down a decade ago, sir.” Wait. Mom? “Shit.” Oni hisses under his breath. His heart begins to compete with the officer’s voices, hammering away inside its cage, drowning out the world around him. ...

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“FEAR” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #219

Fear is all around me. I see it everywhere I go. I can't stop the fear. The fear is consuming me. I know why this is happening to me. I know why I have so much fear. I think someone is listening and watching me. It all began six months ago. I was at the park sitting on my favorite bench reading my book when I felt someone, a stranger watching me. I looked around the park but I saw nobody. I was feeling nervous and scared throughout the rest of the day and into the night. Not long after I swear I heard breathing noises at the end of my ph...

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“Love Notes From Afghanistan” by Susanne O'Connor

Submitted to Contest #219

Love Notes From Afghanistan My husband Paul had been serving in Afghanistan for almost a year now and, oh, how the kids and I missed him. Sure, we could Face Time once a week when he wasn’t out on a mission, but I craved his smell and the warmth of his breath on my face. For the kids, it was a bedtime cuddle. Willow our youngest was fifteen-months old now. He'd missed her first tooth, the first time she took a step and many other things that dad's enjoyed. She would and run to the laptop calling say Dada, Dada, she didn’t understand. Eig...

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“Knock. Knock. Knock.” by Bryan Irwin

Submitted to Contest #219

Trigger warning: This story contains themes related to mental health, physical abuse and mental abuse. “I think someone’s listening. I think someone’s watching.” The creak of The Man’s chair broke through the ambient silence as he shifted upright from his tranced slumber, ears straining to listen through the dark. Deep breaths. Deep. Trying to slow the sudden pounding of blood in his ears, the punching of his heart against his chest. Inflate. Breathe. Slow. The excitement had gotten the better of him. He’d let it. Let it slip. A shiver, ...

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“Project Panoptes ” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #219

Harold gasped when he saw the ads on his phone. Suzi peeked at his screen to see various things meant to be used during role-playing behind locked doors.Her wide eyes and exaggerated frown lines told the tale. “Is there something you’re not telling me?Harold smirked before returning his gaze to the advertisement. Everything existed. From lubes to gels to fuzzy handcuffs and even a leather paddle with a large crimson heart. It amazed him to see things that made the perverse seem normal.He smiled while he continued to scroll through the differ...

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“Corner of the Eye” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

Submitted to Contest #219

Corner of the eye One of Darren Fishers first memories was of a tiny wooden glider. It represented much of his childhood. His family was poor, and it was not so much what he had as a child but what he did not have, that he remembered the most. The glider was brightly painted in the widow of the toy shop. When he had asked his mother if he could have it, she looked at him with sympathetic eyes. “I am sorry, we can’t afford to buy things like that. You need important things like socks and shoes. Perhaps one day.” He knew instinctively that d...

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“You Get What You Deserve” by Suzanne Griffin

Submitted to Contest #219

OBITUARY: Jason Badier, 51, of Paris, France, ended his life on Thursday, April, 22, 2021. Born to Carole and Benjamin Badier, on March 13, 1970, Jason held both French and American nationalities. After graduating from HEC Paris, he interned with Total in Houston, Texas, where he spent the entirety of his career. Having been recently promoted to COO of the global group, Jason had returned to his native France only two weeks prior to his death. He had the personality and natural charisma to make friends no matter the situation....

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Write a story that includes the line “I think someone’s listening/watching.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“Rocky ride” by Mara Rouge

“Zion” by Blue Lantern

“FEAR” by Melinda Madrigal

“Love Notes From Afghanistan” by Susanne O'Connor

“Knock. Knock. Knock.” by Bryan Irwin

“Project Panoptes ” by Scott Taylor

“Corner of the Eye” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

“You Get What You Deserve” by Suzanne Griffin

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a type of prison cell.

Write from the POV of a security guard on the night shift, sitting in front of a wall of CCTV feeds.

Write about someone who is shackled by fears of failure, until they break free.

Write a story about someone who breaks an unwritten social rule and the consequences they face as a result.

Contest #219

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

253

Contest entries

114

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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