Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 27, 2024

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✍️ 84 stories

“The Last Message” by Caroline Guirgis

Submitted to Contest #283

Sarah sat at the desk in her dimly lit apartment, her fingers trembling as they hovered above the keyboard. It had been weeks since she'd last heard from him—weeks since the mysterious disappearance of David, her fiancé. The police were no help. Of course, they'd filed a report, but they didn't seem particularly invested in finding him. The case was quickly labeled "cold," and the authorities had moved on. But Sarah couldn't. She knew something wasn't right in her heart, and she couldn't let go.It all started when David had gone on a busines...

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“The space between us.” by Ann Sheree

Submitted to Contest #283

Snowflakes drifted outside the frosted window, but inside the Marquez home, chaos reigned. Layla had somehow convinced their younger cousins to turn the living room into a “snowball war zone” using balled-up socks, and Leo— Layla’s ever the reluctant peacekeeper twin, stood in the middle, arms crossed, dodging every attack. “Can you at least try to act like civilized humans for five minutes?” he groaned, but Layla’s voice piped up in his ear, "What’s the fun in that?" He shot a glare at the space next to him, where Layla stood, her mischievo...

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“The Capsule” by Stephen McManus

Submitted to Contest #283

Luther watched the eight women and four men shuffle quickly into the jury box. They pointedly did not look at him, finding something interesting to stare at on the floor. The windows forming most of the wall behind the jurors rattled as a summer storm blustered fussily outside.His orange polyester jumpsuit was stifling. Sweat beaded along his scalp line and dripped down his back. “Why can’t they make these out of cotton, or some fabric that breathes?” he whispered to his attorney.Without turning her large head, almost without moving her lips...

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“Highway Murder” by Anuradha Dev

Submitted to Contest #283

Content warning: References to physical and sexual abuse"You should be kissed often and by someone who knows how." - Gone With the Wind by Margaret MitchelTwenty-year-old me shudders inside the soft cotton blanket while reading arguably the most romantic novel of the twentieth century. White lamplight illuminates the pages while I lay on my stomach, swallowed by the covers. My right-hand slides lower to cater to the throbbing between my legs. There's another bed on my left with covers folded. My roommate left for the Halloween par...

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“All the Time in the World” by Patti Pierucci

Submitted to Contest #283

By Patti A. Pierucci (Author’s Note: The protagonist of this story, Dr. Anton Mellick, also appears in the author’s full-length book The Hand of Maud.) “There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space,and a fourth, Time.” H.G. Wells, The Time Machine Mrs. Russell gave three quick taps on the door, then opened it and stuck her head in. “I’m leaving now, doctor. I left a pot of soup on the stove for you,” she said with a slight wave of her hand. “Good night; see you on Monday.”“Alright, then. See you in the morn...

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“A Lively Souvenir” by Phil Martin

Submitted to Contest #283

A Lively Souvenir We were on very good terms with our neighbors of about 4 years in our San Diego, California neighborhood. We invite each other over for barbecues and Joe and I frequently sit in front of a tv somewhere on Sundays to watch a football game or two. Our wives Annette and Ellie are in a book club together, workout at LA Fitness, and enjoy poetry reading event...

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“~Other Worlds~” by Jim Parker

Submitted to Contest #283

~ Other Worlds ~Wisty removed her prosthetic hand and placed it on the seat. She had it on for the last two days and it was wearing on her. Then turned to Shewuma and asked, “So. Chieftess?” Wu hopped up next to her and sat cross-legged. “My father was chief, and my twin brother and I were his only children. But we had the sacred lineage and were turned. We both had to give it up.” “Do you regret it?” Wu thought about her life and smiled. “No, not at all. I had Enoch. Now I have Debbie and Jimmy and David E. and Tippycat and the rest of the ...

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“INVASION” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #283

“How long have we been working together as a team, Val?”“Twelve years, five months, two weeks and three days. Do you want me to break it down into hours and minutes?”Paul Jones turned to his partner, an incredulous look upon his face.“Are you actually, frigging serious?’Val Thorens broke into a broad smile, his eyes never leaving the giant screen in front of him.“No, you muppet. I’m pulling your leg”.Paul, standing, strode across the small room to a filing cabinet and yanked open a drawer. Retrieving a brown, cardboard file, h...

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“Sentient” by Chris Broome

Submitted to Contest #283

Ben was a stay at home father who loved his life. He spent his days with the children he loved so dearly as his wife Sarah was the bread winner. He loved being the “soccer dad”, as he was jokingly called by his male friends. Life was good and Ben felt fulfilled. He often thought he couldn’t have wished for anything more.Sarah loved the freedom that came with being the breadwinner. She had a wonderful loving husband and he was committed to her and the children. She was a junior executive at a local law firm whose emphasis was tax law. Numbers...

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“"Frau" #ReedsyTwist” by Tucker Sloan

Submitted to Contest #283

Frau Trigger Warning: This short story contains some Language, Sexual Content, partial Nudity, strong Bloody Violence, Gore, some Substance Abuse, and Suspense. “I have an idea! I found some old board games in my late grandmother’s attic. One had this dice with six sides. One dot on two sides, two dots on two sides, and three dots on two sides. So, here’s what you do…” said the host of the Christmas Eve party, Sarah, but before she could explain the rules of the game, the front door of the cabin flew open, and snow blew inside with the blust...

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“A Not So Normal Day” by Di Hodson

Submitted to Contest #283

It was a cold day and the grey clouds were laced across the sky. Sara was pulling into her driveway."I don't understand why the stores are so crowded, I can't believe that I had to stand in line for 15 minutes. And why is food so darn expensive nowadays?" Sara mumbled to herself as she carried the last of the grocery bags into her small kitchen.She took off her jacket, threw it onto the couch, and started to put the food away when she realized she left the trunk of her car open. "Oh man!", she exclaimed, not wanting to go back out in the col...

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“STAY IN THE GAME ” by Joanne Oliver

Submitted to Contest #283

Eve banged loudly on Maya's front door “For, God's sake! I only stepped out for a couple of minutes!”Rushing to the front window Eve peered inside. The sight made Eve's chest tighten with frustration and fear. Maya sprawled on the sofa cradling a vodka bottle like it was a newborn baby outing the lie about being laid up with a nasty bout of flu. As a surprise Eve had brought her some homemade broth that was easy to heat up. The tense atmosphere in that small kitchenette should have been the first clueMaya was always the same in December - ...

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“The Highest Price of Memory” by K. L. Renaud

Submitted to Contest #283

Emily had always savored the December atmosphere in her hometown. Twinkling lights illuminated every storefront, and the faint ring of sleigh bells drifted from the old speaker system on Main Street. More than anything, she looked forward to the aromas pouring out of the local bakery: cinnamon, caramel, fresh ginger—each holiday season she found herself pausing at the large display window just to inhale. This year, however, felt different. There was no clear reason for the restlessness in her chest, no immediate explanation for her uneasy mo...

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“Home Invasion” by Jerrine WIRE

Submitted to Contest #283

The whole world was holding its breath. The most Goggled word this year was austerity. Political insanity had hardened hearts; blinded even softhearted people, in a desperate desire to survive the harsh economic collapse, like drowning people, some had lost all sense of kindness, climbing over the others to save themselves. Bankers were bailed out. Debtors were unforgiven; families had lost everything. Pets and family photographs were abandoned in the panic when the sheriff knocked on the door. Along the grey and silver coast, the late ...

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“The Black Rose A Christmas Sea Tale” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #283

This happened to me when I was a little one and I only knew the whole story when I met an old sea captain who explained how it came about. And this is how he told it to me. It was like he was there. I know I was. The storm had slowed its pace and finally broke into easy winds and slowly mounting swells. The skies were streaked with grey clouds over grey seas and all around under that was deep blue with white crests breaking but with little force. The sea was becoming a kitten once more and it was just in the nick of time. The crew were exhau...

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Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 84 stories

“The Last Message” by Caroline Guirgis

“The space between us.” by Ann Sheree

“The Capsule” by Stephen McManus

“Highway Murder” by Anuradha Dev

“All the Time in the World” by Patti Pierucci

“A Lively Souvenir” by Phil Martin

“~Other Worlds~” by Jim Parker

“INVASION” by Charles Corkery

“Sentient” by Chris Broome

“"Frau" #ReedsyTwist” by Tucker Sloan

“A Not So Normal Day” by Di Hodson

“STAY IN THE GAME ” by Joanne Oliver

“The Highest Price of Memory” by K. L. Renaud

“Home Invasion” by Jerrine WIRE

“The Black Rose A Christmas Sea Tale” by H.e. Ross

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Contest #283

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: