A character gets caught red-handed breaking the rules, but they refuse to admit any wrongdoing. What happens next?

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 22, 2024

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✍️ 45 stories

“Can I Kill Him Now” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #278

"Alright, remember, the new treaty says relocation assistance — no killing!" Five years of fighting orcs doesn't switch off overnight. I could still see the fight in their eyes. A newbie recently assigned to my squad shouted, "What if an orc won't relocate willingly? Can I kill him then?" "Didn't you just hear me? No killing!" "My bad," the knight said. "Just wanted clarification." We mounted our horses and rode out. The newbie caught up beside me while trotting to the orc's camp. "Sir, I've been thinking, what if an orc pretends to le...

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“Caught in Time” by John Rutherford

Submitted to Contest #278

Have you ever had one of those déjà vu moments? It appears to us all at some moment in our lives. Sometimes it is so innocuous, we are caught in a fleeting and surprising moment, you can miss it so easily. There is recognition or pre-recognition of sorts. Now think again, have you ever thought about the worst possible nightmare situation that could ever befall you as a person. Well, ponder this as a possible living nightmare, being trapped in a time loop, a continuous déjà vu moment for breaking the laws of time, and simply because you were ...

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“The Anger Dragon” by James Scott

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #278

Tommy’s bright blue eyes followed the slow drift of the important papers over the water’s surface. They looked like the toy sail boats on his favourite lake at the park. Each leaked his multicoloured markings into the bath water, making pretty patterns that moved and changed. Now that his anger dragon had retreated back into its cave - words his Papa had taught him to explain the big feelings he sometimes had - he wondered how it had all happened. He had just been so MAD! When the bathroom door behind him eventually swung open, he accepted t...

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“Captain Squidbeard of the Soggy Sardine - Voyages of the Destiny's Dreams ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #278

The pirate known as “Captain Steelwave” of the fishing boat the Soggy Sardine was sometimes called "Captain Squidbeard" by his crew.He proudly wore the sprawling flame-colored cloud that floated around his head and body.His red beard and hair had a life of their own, like a giant sea creature attacking, with curling tentacles stretching out.A green vine from his last trek in a forest and some pieces of seaweed trailed from the masses of hair hanging down his back.His eyes were like chunks of coal with embers burning. Sparks seemed to fly at ...

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“The Bagel Fiasco ” by Alex Solomon

Submitted to Contest #278

"Jordan, what do you think you're doing?" Shoot. Randy the Rat, office snitch, has caught me red-handed stealing a bagel from the company kitchen. His skeevy lips twitch into a grin, knowing I'll be canned when he tells the boss. Just like that, the last five years of my life will disappear in a cloud of meaningless smoke. All because I wanted a bagel for tomorrow’s breakfast. "Randy, be reasonable—" But the rat scurries off before I can finish. Shoot. Alone in the white-walled kitchen, wedged between the boxy microwave and th...

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“The Lightning Prince” by Charisma Upton

Submitted to Contest #278

Draven scraped a booted foot across the stone wall. The blood wouldn’t wipe off. Not that the Prince would believe anyone else could have caused the massacre in front of them. The seven guards lay slain in puddles that were now more blood than muddy water. Whether the cries from the children fleeing the orphanage were of relief or fear, he didn’t know. Lightning cracked in the distance, the only thing that could tear Draven’s attention away from the carnage. “You know we must leave now.” Taetra said, appearing beside him on silent ...

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“The Truth” by Leslie Mamola

Submitted to Contest #278

Let’s start with the scene of the crime. It’s Sunday afternoon and my parents have just returned from an outing. My sister Roxy greets them at the door. Her tail is wagging so hard her whole body shakes. As my parents turn to face the kitchen, they spot my brother Bj lounging on the table. He is tapping his tail with a look of disgust on his face. They take their shoes off and head into the family room where they find their favorite pet (that’s me). Dog treats lay all over the floor and I am doing my best to eat every single one! “Josie, wha...

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“It Might As Well Be My Fault” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #278

"Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world to come."-Haruki Murakami The chapel hall was silent.“You opened the gate after sunset. You know the penalty.”Carter looked bewildered. He held out his palms and shook his head. “No. You don’t understand…” He ran out of words.“You opened the gate after sunset. You know the penalty.”The elders seated at the long table in the front of the chapel had solemn eyes and stern faces. People seated in the pews in the rear began to mutter darkly among themselves. Daniel Granders...

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“He Retains Our Full Confidence” by Maxwell Brooks

Submitted to Contest #278

I had stood at the podium and felt each camera-flash like a slap. At first. The press pack had been larger than usual, their ability to scent blood in the water would make a shark blush. I remember clearly that the sky had begun to fall out of my world on a Thursday lunchtime, heralded not by trumpets but by a WhatsApp message from my Chief of Staff. My indiscretions had apparently been seen, noted and were now to be dredged into the light and sacrificed on the altar of public opinion. The years of service didn’t matter, the severity of my “...

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“The Unraveling” by Kristy Schnabel

Submitted to Contest #278

Everything would have been different had Brooke and Andy Tyler called before picking up their daughter early when their event got cancelled. Their Honda Civic sedan weaved through the Portland neighborhood in which Brooke had grown up, and the windshield wipers squeaked without enough rain to make them glide smoothly. The sun peeked out, accentuating the red rhododendrons and pink azaleas adorning ranch homes one after another. “Now the sun comes out,” said Brooke, leaning into the windshield and looking up. “Predictable,” said Andy, simulta...

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“Stake News” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #278

Even if the girl hadn’t been wearing headphones, she wouldn’t have heard a thing.Farvald Braddocke fell from the midnight skies like a raindrop, liquid and silent. He fluttered behind her, exploding out of a swirl of black ink to take human form. Farvald landed on his feet, mid-stride. He bloomed his cape out behind him for good effect – as was the vampiric way.The girl, sensing something out of the corner of her eye, started to turn. One hand went to her over-ear headphones, which blared music loud enough for others to hear. ‘Huh?’Farvald g...

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“Dissentia” by Vladimir Stefan

Submitted to Contest #278

TW - Too close to reality, some may say.As another day of war dawned on the Kingdom of Dissentia, the longstanding king, Ibib, gazed across the fields from his ivory tower, sipping slowly from a golden chalice filled with the finest wine of the land. For over a year, his army has ploughed the Tribes of Palast, rendering their villages and the already poor infrastructure they had to rubble. To his people, he was a hero. To himself, a god. Entrusted by millions to lead what they thought to be a just fight. Although short, the history of the Ki...

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“Honesty is the School Policy” by Aimee Lavigne

Submitted to Contest #278

(Note: scary themes and brief mention of childhood trauma/poverty) “Easton, stop writing on your desk. We’ve talked about this,” Mrs. Anderson told her 3rd grade student. “I wasn’t writing on my desk,” Easton said, putting his pencil down. “You were. I was watching you when I asked you to stop.” “I wasn’t,” Easton repeated. “There are words written on your desk right now, that I just watched you put there,” Mrs. Anderson explained, running out of patience for this old argument. “I didn’t write them.” “Easton, ...

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“Apology Not Accepted” by Kyla Davis

Submitted to Contest #278

"I think you owe me an apology," David said, his voice low but tight with indignation. Sheila’s eyes narrowed. "An apology? For what exactly?" "For humiliating me," he shot back. She took a sharp breath, trying to rein in her frustration. "I didn’t humiliate you. You did that all on your own." His tone turned defensive. "You shouldn’t have put me in that position in the first place. I told you I didn’t want to be around those people." Sheila shook her head, her voice trembling but steady. "I’m sorry you can’t handle a nor...

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“Forgive Us Our Trespasses” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #278

He’d once been affable, pleasant, uselessly handsome, but in old age, Peter Clarke’s demeanor was curmudgeonly, his unpleasant puss-faced pout quite repellent. He was the sort of old man that really should grow a beard. ‘Those damn trees. If only that bitch would cut them down so that we had a better view of the harbor. It would improve her view too, a win win. We live next door to idiots.” Peter Clarke and his wife, Patty, lived alone in a pretty cottage overlooking the beautiful tranquil harbor of Bairstow, Maine.“Have you tried talking wi...

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A character gets caught red-handed breaking the rules, but they refuse to admit any wrongdoing. What happens next?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 45 stories

“Can I Kill Him Now” by Daniel Rogers

“Caught in Time” by John Rutherford

“The Anger Dragon” by James Scott

“Captain Squidbeard of the Soggy Sardine - Voyages of the Destiny's Dreams ” by Kristi Gott

“The Bagel Fiasco ” by Alex Solomon

“The Lightning Prince” by Charisma Upton

“The Truth” by Leslie Mamola

“It Might As Well Be My Fault” by Thomas Wetzel

“He Retains Our Full Confidence” by Maxwell Brooks

“The Unraveling” by Kristy Schnabel

“Stake News” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“Dissentia” by Vladimir Stefan

“Honesty is the School Policy” by Aimee Lavigne

“Apology Not Accepted” by Kyla Davis

“Forgive Us Our Trespasses” by Luca King Greek

🌟 Similar prompts

A family argument gets out of hand. Neither side will budge, requiring a mediator with unusual methods.

An apologetic letter or email from an old flame suddenly arrives — many years too late.

A court or disciplinary hearing is taking place — but the person accused does not know what they’re apologizing for.

On their deathbed, a relative/friend/partner admits to a horrible crime. Will the narrator reveal the secret or keep it hidden?

Contest #278

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

262

Contest entries

101

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: