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

Posted in Dramatic on Oct 18, 2024

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✍️ 116 stories

“Storage” by Jonah Buck

Submitted to Contest #273

Derek first became aware that there might be trouble tonight when the enormous man with pages from the Bible duct-taped to his body armor stuck a rifle barrel under Derek’s nose. The man appeared from the nighttime shadows and poked the weapon through the security hut’s open window. “Where is it?” The man’s English was heavily accented with some Eastern European dialect. “Whoa, hey, whoa, I’m not looking for any trouble.” Derek instinctively jerked back and tried to stand up and back away. The cheap plastic lawn chair in the security hut to...

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“One Small Deed” by Matthew Foster

Submitted to Contest #273

Bobby had been sitting in the cafe for what felt like half a day. His short red hair was obscured by a baseball cap and his hands shook from the four coffees he had downed while waiting. He could have left the journal with one of the baristas. They probably had a lost and found box, but his conscience couldn't let go of the journal until he gave it to her directly. Bobby had read a little from her journal, just enough to find out how to return it to her. Her name was Helen. It was scrawled all over the journal in a tight, flowing scrip...

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“The Last Heist” by Winnie Yu

Submitted to Contest #273

10 minutes until I noticed. Sloppy. It was a Wednesday. An ordinary day. It was particularly grey and overcast, with straggly clouds looming above, looking like they had their own agenda. It seemed that the sun had given up and gone home for the day, despite it being rather early in the morning. Walking down Jefferson Street in Carlsbad, California, it wouldn’t have been easy to see somebody tailing you. They could have easily been another member of the crowd, rushing to meet family or friends, or trying to get to work on time. However...

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“Where's the Salt?” by Brandon Rose

Submitted to Contest #273

Why is everyone in such a rush? I figure there must be some fantastic event I’m missing. No matter where I go, everyone around me always seems to be in such a hurry to get where they’re going. Or maybe just to get away. “Excuse me, miss?” I tapped the shoulder of the lady next to me. She gasped hard while raising her hand to her chest. “Oh! Uhm, yes?” she answered, hesitantly. “Do you know where the salt is?” I asked. Each word I spoke repelled her further and further from me, and before I knew it, she was half way down the aisle pointing in...

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“Candy Eyes” by Justin McCulloh

Submitted to Contest #273

Candace spent the evening in her studio. Working like crazy in the overwhelming acrylic and hardwood pencil shavings. This particular painting would be the fifth one she had to do today for clients. Candace swiftly brushes at the corner of the painting, tidying up the last line. Until her hand cramps. “Ow, Jesus!” she exclaims when her hand goes numb and knocks the water bowl and a pill bottle onto the floor. Candace glances at the colored mess, moving on with her brush stroke. The pill bottle tumbled through the colored mess, rolling slowly...

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“Blackout” by Joseph Murray

Submitted to Contest #273

BlackoutI am lost in my own thoughts again. I blink my eyes rapidly as my focus returns. Was I daydreaming?Yellow road lines travel down the center of the dark red convertible I’m driving. I guide the car back into the right lane. Luckily, there is no oncoming traffic on this two lane road. As far as I can see, there is nothing at all out here. No other cars, no foliage, just a whole bunch of yellow desert and blue sky. The only thing breaking up the unending flatness is a brownish landmass in the far distance…Is that a butte or a mesa…...

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“Purge” by Oly Thurston

Submitted to Contest #273

You fall out of bed like a corpse. The sunlight stings your bloodshot eyes. You haven’t sleep because your stomach was twisted into knots. Groggy, you gaze at the phone lying awake on your nightstand. The battery’s nearly drained. It’s only showing two bars. You dialed a number. The one your friends group told you not to. You stare at the digits on the keypad. You switch it off and throw it in your backpack.It takes ages to pull yourself up from the cold, wooden floor. You need to get changed for school. You’re terrified to look in the mirro...

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“The good son” by Raquel Mora

Submitted to Contest #273

"I like that girl he took to the dance last week." I could hear my mother talking in between the clacking of the knitting needles. I didn't need to see them to form the image in my mind. My mother sitting in her rocking chair in the sitting room. My father sitting next to her grunting as he read the paper. Who reads the paper anymore? My father. He isn't that old, but he is an old soul, as my mother says. He clings to the ways of generations before without electronics or cell phones. He only carries one because he can no longer deny the conv...

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“You'll Never Work A Day In Your Life” by Trey Blevins

Submitted to Contest #273

TW: Gore, implied sexual violenceI've harbored a resentment toward latex, filter cloth, ammonia, all of that clinical, hygienic, chemical-doused and alcohol-soaked, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, sterilized equipment, along with its dull and stinging scents and the negating feel of a lifelessness anti-coating over the arsenal, for as much of my life as I've been aware of it.Despite this handicap, I attempted to go into medicine. Bleach pervaded my pores every time I swiped my keycard on the automatic doors and the custodial Heaven beyond them w...

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“Trust” by Lizzy Shaw

Submitted to Contest #273

She looks nervous, the Detective thought. That’s normal when a cop shows up at your door. “Please don’t worry, Mrs. Blanchet. I do need to ask you a few questions about your husband.” Detective Erickson said. “Please call me Kate. Come in, have a seat.” Kate offered space on a plush white sofa. “I’m following up on a request to look into your husband’s whereabouts. He’s been reported as a missing person by his mother. She stated no one has heard from Daniel since he left for a business trip a week ago.” The Detective said. “That’s wrong -I m...

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“Bump” by Lynda Smith Hoggan

Submitted to Contest #273

CW: Contains themes of sexual violence, assault, and psychological distress. As she lay awake at 1:00, and 2:00, and 3:00 a.m., a breeze ruffled the leaves of the grapefruit tree outside her bedroom window. At least she hoped it was a breeze. It made pretty patterns on the curtains that she thought—prayed—were completely closed. So that no one could peer in and see her lying in bed. So that he couldn’t see her. Because if it wasn’t a breeze, it might be him. The man she’d been reading about, the...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 116 stories

“Storage” by Jonah Buck

“One Small Deed” by Matthew Foster

“The Last Heist” by Winnie Yu

“Where's the Salt?” by Brandon Rose

“Candy Eyes” by Justin McCulloh

“Blackout” by Joseph Murray

“Purge” by Oly Thurston

“The good son” by Raquel Mora

“You'll Never Work A Day In Your Life” by Trey Blevins

“Trust” by Lizzy Shaw

“Bump” by Lynda Smith Hoggan

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

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?

Contest #273

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

361

Contest entries

164

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: