Write a story about someone seeking revenge for a past wrong.

Posted in Dramatic on Jun 23, 2023

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 73 stories

“Jistu's Way” by Russell Mickler

Submitted to Contest #204

Many Content Warnings.Please Read my Afterword in the Comments. Twenty-six stars sewn into a blue field alongside a cage of red and white hung listlessly from a guidon. Grungy, sweat-stained, and hungover, the standard bearer leaned precariously in his saddle as he escorted a column of three hundred indigenous captives across an arid, nameless wasteland. The sun had baked the soil to clay, trampled to dust by their passing. Farthest to the rear, Nazshoni’s skin burned. Her every parched breath inhaled the land of her people. She resolved to ...

20 comments 20

Read story

“Her Final Day of Sadness” by Shannon C.

Submitted to Contest #204

The dawn was starting to make its appearance over the hills with the breath-taking colors of God as far as the eye could see. The pinks and the oranges mixed and swirled with the clouds, and the songs of the early rising birds filled the air.Last night’s dew was evaporating into a fine mist that made the prairie look as if a thousand spirits were dancing and stretching up to the sky.This is my favorite time. It’s quiet and it’s peaceful. No one is stirring yet, so I embrace the silence. The town is still now. The chaos of the night having lo...

14 comments 14

Read story

“Hate is for the Faint of Heart” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #204

White walls, white chairs, white gowns, white noise. Melissa sat cross-legged on a single bed, on cool, silk sheets, sea surf emanating from a little grey speaker on the bedside table. A long glass of water sat atop it, clear and pure, enclosing the white walls, chairs, gowns in this reflective and rippling universe. Melissa took a sip. “Are you sleepy?” asked Nora. Melissa nodded, adjusting her eye mask. “Yield. We need you in Theta to bypass the left hemisphere.” Nora leaned back in her chair, running a bare foot through the flu...

8 comments 8

Read story

“Life's Not Fair” by Katharine Widdows

Submitted to Contest #204

Friday: Scott let the silver dragon knocker fall against its polished strike plate for the third time. He shivered in the rain until the grand, black door of number 36 Oak Street swung open.“Come in, come in, you moron! Why didn’t you use your key? You’re soaking!”“I wasn’t sure if you were home. Didn’t want to just barge in.”“Let me take that coat. Go through to the study. I’m set up in there with Jack and coke. I’ve been writing again.”Ella hung up Scott’s dripping jacket and strode off down the hall towards the kitchen. Scott pulled off h...

18 comments 18

Read story

“The Outlaw & The Vigilante” by Cherish Shanks

Submitted to Contest #204

~Desert Skies~On the outskirts of Arizona stood an old western town called Westbury Creek that ran along the woodland River that flowed from California to Texas. It was a major trail that cowboys took to go from town to town. Westbury Creek was just up the river and across the train tracks. One hot summer in August 1894, Boney McGraw the fastest gunslinger in all of the West was riding his sleek brown horse called Gypsy along the trail up the river when he came across a Conestoga wagon. Tipping his old dusty cowboy hat. “Howdy!”, H...

12 comments 12

Read story

“Us Against All of Them.” by Molly Kwest

Submitted to Contest #204

When the dead started rising, I never would have thought that my biggest problem would be the living. The fact that it is, is just a little bit funny. Thick bars stand between me and him. His disgusting, olive eyes staring right back at me as my blood boils like there’s a demon lighting a fire in my gut. I am weaponless. Powerless. Furious. “Why are you here, Miss. Sanchez?” he growls, stepping closer to the bars. “You captured me,” I reply with a small shrug. “Don’t you remember?” His lips twitch into an amused smirk but he stifle...

13 comments 13

Read story

“The Bladeslinger of Canary Row” by Sabrina Hall

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #204

His face was contorted with fear and pain the moment he died. She knew because she was there, and she couldn’t stop it. As she traverses the pitch black alley, a bead of sweat rolls out from beneath her umber gambler hat and trickles toward the popped collar of her long overcoat. The midsummer night is stifling, humidity hanging in the air. Overturned trash bins and drunken urchins are mere inky silhouettes against the neon lights of Canary Row that flicker beyond the alleyway. She follows the lights like a moth to a flame, the urchins pre...

11 comments 11

Read story

“The Interstellar Murder Hobo” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #204

First Trooper Lundrin Morrissey; Constabulary Grid 7H6 of Earth’s Solar Militia ,woke drowsily from what felt like a thick fog tinged green with a mild sense of nausea. He wasn’t uncomfortable, but understood the night was over; and his hangover was coming, slowly creeping into his body from a distance. Hmmm, what did I do last night? I remember the girl Adrian sent… and drinking, so much drinking… He didn’t feel much concern over his lack of memory; it wasn’t his first black-out. Some memories always returned, and there was the foot...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Coyote” by Sophia Jowers

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #204

TW: Animal death, violence“Coyotes have the gift of seldom being seen; they keep to the edge to the edge of vision and beyond, loping in and out of cover on the plains and highlands. And at night, when the whole world belongs to them, they parlay at the river with the dogs, their higher, sharper voices full of authority and rebuke. They are an old council of clowns, and they are listened to.” —N. Scott MomodayAlan shot the coyote on a Saturday, just before sundown.It was a good, clean shot, maybe through the heart. He’d been sitting out on t...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Dog Statue” by Naomi P

Submitted to Contest #204

CW: mentions of pet death, physical violence/harm, bloodIt may have been a 10-inch tall porcelain statue, but it meant everything to Jack and his family. It was white, shaped like a dog, and decorated with tiny painted pink and purple flowers that circled its neck like a collar. Its eyes were painted black and seemed to be alive, watching over the family with benevolence.It had been given to the family after their dog, Buster, had died in his sleep one night. Ever since then, the statue had become their most prized possession.Jack was dreami...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Circle of Outlaws” by Brandon Breeze

Submitted to Contest #204

As the sun shone its last rays across the green hillsides, a lone rider dismounted a snarling black horse. The rider, Jake Dawson, focused hard, narrow eyes on a little hacienda down in the valley. It belonged to the infamous El Bandido, who, if Jake got his way, would be dead by morning.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ The outlaw fidgeted with the two pistols on his hips. For years he had dreamed of the time when he'd not only put a bullet in the side of El Bandido’s head, but see him grovel and beg for mercy. Yet, he knew he couldn’t simply kick in the do...

0 comments 0

Read story

“It's The Brakes Todd” by Morgan Leigh

Submitted to Contest #204

Why? The only question that crossed my mind as I pulled out of my driveway. Not why me? Not why her? But why now? Why would you do this now? Red light. My brakes keep screeching. You said they were fine. Then why are they screeching? The whys. The thousands of questions racing through my head. All starting with why. Green light. You left your jacket in my front seat. The night I had to pick you up for Shanigins. Shanigins. You know. The dusty brick building on the corner of Water St. and Saint Johns St. Where we had our second date. Played p...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Obsidian Eyes” by James Virgil

Submitted to Contest #204

When October came, the fiery colours of the oak trees around the farm looked like they were burning from afar. Even though it was noon and the sun was shining, there was a faint cool mist in the air. The day would have been quiet then, if not for my father, who was chopping down trees with his trusted axe to expand the farmland. Thud. Thud. Over and over, for hours, father would tirelessly strike a tree until it collapsed. I wanted to help, but father told me just to watch. He said having me around gave him strength and focus. Ever ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Final Visit” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #204

I would rather not go see her.I would have ignored her pleading phone call, so low-tech and useless. I imagined her fumbling with her cell phone and being so ridiculous. She couldn't make a cell phone work if her life depended on it! No wonder I never answer her calls.I called her back but it was a wasted effort. I tried to get her to use her Instagram account. She didn't know how to sign in or use a password! She would apologize and say "Emma! I'm so sorry to be wasting your time like this." What? Did my time really count for anything?So he...

8 comments 8

Read story

“Sweet little old couple” by L J

Submitted to Contest #204

Martha Venger tottered out to the pump to fill the bucket with fresh water to make her famous blood red cocktails. They were sweet and thick. Harold Venger stood at the vanity adjusting his bow tie. He noticed a spot on his spectacles, so he carefully removed them and polished them with his hanky. When he was satisfied, he folded the hanky into a point and placed it in his jacket pocket."Oh, father, don't you look dapper today." Martha stood beside him."Now, mother, it's you who make me look dapper. I see you're wearing your best dress and a...

8 comments 8

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a stranger coming to town and shaking up the order of things.

Character – 57 stories

Set your story in a desert town.

Adventure – 53 stories

Write a story about someone undertaking a long, dangerous journey.

Adventure – 39 stories

Write a Western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.)

Fiction – 78 stories

Contest #204

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Wild, Wild West

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

94

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 30, 2023 EST

Won by Katy B 🏆

Title: The Ungentling

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story about someone seeking revenge for a past wrong.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“Jistu's Way” by Russell Mickler

“Her Final Day of Sadness” by Shannon C.

“Hate is for the Faint of Heart” by Carina Caccia

“Life's Not Fair” by Katharine Widdows

“The Outlaw & The Vigilante” by Cherish Shanks

“Us Against All of Them.” by Molly Kwest

“The Bladeslinger of Canary Row” by Sabrina Hall

“The Interstellar Murder Hobo” by Cecilia Englishby

“Coyote” by Sophia Jowers

“The Dog Statue” by Naomi P

“Circle of Outlaws” by Brandon Breeze

“It's The Brakes Todd” by Morgan Leigh

“Obsidian Eyes” by James Virgil

“The Final Visit” by Joe Smallwood

“Sweet little old couple” by L J

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a stranger coming to town and shaking up the order of things.

Set your story in a desert town.

Write a story about someone undertaking a long, dangerous journey.

Write a Western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.)

Contest #204

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

94

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: