Begin your story with someone either being followed or following someone else.

Posted in Dramatic on Oct 18, 2024

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✍️ 54 stories

“The closeness of shadows” by Penelope Stansfield

Submitted to Contest #273

Shirley had known Agatha for as long as she could remember, inseparable since infant school. So when Agatha suddenly disappeared that June without a word, it felt like Shirley had lost a part of herself, and the months that followed were filled with heartbreak and unanswered questions. But then, five months later, Agatha came back, just as suddenly as she’d left.Shirley was thrilled to begin with, her lifelong friend had returned to their small town and everything that had been disturbed was now slotted back into place, but things ...

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“THE PATH ALMOST FOLLOWED ” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #273

THE PATH ALMOST TAKEN I don't usually walk at night, well, not this late after dark but I have a reason to walk tonight. This is no time for a car ride. And I am recording my thoughts because well, maybe someone (I really don't know who) might be interested in hearing why I did what I am about to do. And it‘s too late to tell me I am being impulsive, headstrong. It’s much too late for that. By the time you will hear this, whoever you are. Maybe you’re just a morbid bystander, maybe a friend (if I ha...

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“New Orleans Nightmare” by Rachel Keller

Submitted to Contest #273

Louise was never one to scare off easily, nor did she ever care to believe in the paranormal. One of her earliest memories was sitting restlessly in a pew during the St. Louis Cathedral’s 11 o’clock Mass, swinging her legs up as far as they could go in her Sunday best. She remembered rolling her eyes whenever the priest would cry out that God can save us from the evil spirits lurking the city. More importantly, she remembered pitying all the fervent church-goers who believed him. Therefore, when the student body of Tulane decided to throw a ...

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“Criminal ” by Jasmine Flowers

Submitted to Contest #273

Criminal #reedsysecrets Dear Diary, "I just stole a million dollars from a bank today It was probably the best heist of my life! Now, I can finally buy that mansion I’ve always wanted to buy and the X-Box for my son’s birthday that I forgot four months ago. Yes! This was the day! Today was a good pay day” Sincerely-“ Step...step...step… What was that? Step…step…step… Probably my imagination. I walked through my house, but everywhere I went, I heard extra footsteps. I ran faster, so did they. I tiptoed. They would too. I placed my...

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“Saving Mr Scruffy” by W B

Submitted to Contest #273

The problem with being good at your job is that others notice. I should have had the foresight to fumble a few easy cases during my training and spend the rest of my career coasting, but no. You see, in my line of work, there are the easy cases, the hard cases and the downright impossible cases. Naturally, after excelling at my job for years, the chap upstairs has rewarded me with successive examples of the latter, and you were the hardest yet.After receiving the alert, your parents dragged you from your bed. You weren’t happy but then again...

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“The Beginning of the Loop” by Ayden Carver

Submitted to Contest #273

I was running from something, I just didn’t know what. It was following me with an intense yellow glow. I could feel all my senses rushing back to me. I didn’t want to die, I didn’t want to be stuck here all my life, or at least what was left of it. I just didn’t want to be alone. That was what I was thinking after the reality shift, or at least that’s what I and the very few others that were involved called it. It all started a few years ago. I was 15 at the time. I remember sitting in my backyard underneath the patio roof...

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“I am Victoria's Keeper” by Julianna Lovingood

Submitted to Contest #273

For years I have followed Victoria Donahue. She doesn't know who I am. Doesn't know that for almost half a decade I have incorporated parts of her life into my own. It all started the summer I met her ex my now husband. It was innocent curiosity. I wanted to know who his first love was, the one who got away, his first choice. he told me about her on our fourth date. While eating sushi on his couch. Victoria Donahue. Maybe it was her name, or the way he described her that piqued my interest. I can't remember the exact moment or reason anymore...

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“We follow” by Stephanie Howe

Submitted to Contest #273

We follow The sound of heels beating against the broken sidewalk made him smile. He followed the sound, anticipation inside him. Ready to pop like a balloon. Soon. Soon he’d feel that soft flesh he’d been admiring beneath the warm lighting of a bar near his office for the last hour. Soon he’d see the light dim from her eyes and feel her sweaty skin cool. Soon. The word was a crescendo inside him. Bouncing around his bones like an echo. A sick promise he’d m...

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“Shadows of the Darkness” by JoAnne Burgess

Submitted to Contest #273

I step out of the pub, turning the lights off and locking the door behind me. I slide the keys into my bag. The last of the waitstaff left thirty minutes earlier since it was my night to close up. Another day in the books. The old cobblestone street the pub is on, in this part of the historic village, has that deserted after midnight look, moody and dark. The amber glow of the street lights cuts the thick darkness on this rainy, cold night. As I begin the long walk back to my apartment, I begin to hear the brisk drum...

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“Deadly Ambitions ” by Jade Lawson

Submitted to Contest #273

The librarian locked the sliding doors with a low click, an emphasis to the glare he was already giving from the other side of the glass. I rolled my eyes. It's his own damn fault for not flickering the lights fifteen minutes prior to closing. And for being too lazy to do the patrol like the other librarian usually does to start cajoling us out of our hiding spots so she can lock up right at midnight. Zipping my bag, maybe a tad aggressively, I swung it back around, letting it create a warm bubble against my back while the rest of me f...

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“Black Out” by S.M. Sykes

Submitted to Contest #273

The street was dark. The power went out about thirty minutes ago, cutting my bar shift short. This was good because we were dead, but it also meant that my brother wasn’t off of work yet. I would have to walk the ten blocks home by myself. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me, but in a blackout, it was eerie. There was nothing but shadows everywhere. I pass a few others walking home from the bars, or home from the late shift. Altogether it was light traffic for a Friday night. As I walk, the shadows move, making trashcans and fire hydrants look...

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“Azra'il” by Jihad Awwad

Submitted to Contest #273

Critiques are welcomed and encouraged thank you for taking the time to read this story.Azra’il looked at the list of souls he had to collect in the war-torn land of Valithorai. The list was as follows.Salythara Firestone Elvin, female, age 22, Healer from the Valley of Peace, time of meeting 7:10 pm. Death by dragon fire. Alistair Drakeblood Orc, Male, age 10, Child from Valithorai, time of meeting 7:10 pm Death by dragon fire. Valdorai refugee camp1417, 23rd of Thors month, 7:05 pmDay 36,500 of the Hundred Years War."More ma...

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“Sunken Bones” by Travis LaPrairie

Submitted to Contest #273

The coastal town of Ayrloft often had a constant salty mist rolling through the cobbled streets from the Casbalt Ocean. The ankle-biting cloud cover always appeared at the worst times, and tonight was no exception. After verifying his trusty vessel, a seasoned dock worker slung his pack over his shoulder and made his way down the rickety old plankway to the town. Every other crew member had turned in for the night, and the soft glow of the streetlights was his only company on his journey home: that and the mist. The sensation always brought ...

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“A Cursed Dream ” by Miller George

Submitted to Contest #273

Princess Amunet ran as fast as she could with quick, silent steps across the sand. She stopped for a minute to take off her sandals as they kicked up dust while she ran. She scanned the valley with the grand silhouette of the royal palace, which loomed behind her in the sky, painted in pale pink and gold as dawn broke over the Egyptian landscape. The daughter of the great Pharaoh Menkaura was on the run. She did not want this, but her father would disapprove of Seshat. Even though he was a captain of the royal fleet...

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“The Following” by Andrew Darrah

Submitted to Contest #273

My name is Adam. And I am a “Follower”. Who am I following? Well, they call him Brother Ignatius. Some call him a prophet. Sent by God Himself to save us all. He may even be the chosen one. Depends on who you talk to I suppose. But in reality, no, he’s just a cult leader. Before we get too far into this, I’m not exactly bought in. Yes, I joined The Following of my own free will. No coercion, no brainwashing. Very little convincing even. I am a willing Follower. But there’s a catch. I want to write a book. Just out of college, not sure what t...

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Begin your story with someone either being followed or following someone else.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 54 stories

“The closeness of shadows” by Penelope Stansfield

“THE PATH ALMOST FOLLOWED ” by Frances Goulart

“New Orleans Nightmare” by Rachel Keller

“Criminal ” by Jasmine Flowers

“Saving Mr Scruffy” by W B

“The Beginning of the Loop” by Ayden Carver

“I am Victoria's Keeper” by Julianna Lovingood

“We follow” by Stephanie Howe

“Shadows of the Darkness” by JoAnne Burgess

“Deadly Ambitions ” by Jade Lawson

“Black Out” by S.M. Sykes

“Azra'il” by Jihad Awwad

“Sunken Bones” by Travis LaPrairie

“A Cursed Dream ” by Miller George

“The Following” by Andrew Darrah

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of diary/journal entries about a secret or confession.

Write a story with the line “Don’t tell anyone.”

Your character is invited to a secret meeting. Who invited them, and what do they encounter?

Write a story that hides something from the reader until the end.

Contest #273

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

361

Contest entries

165

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: