Write about a mysterious guest who arrives at a party — but no one knows who they are.

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 13, 2024

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✍️ 60 stories

“COFFIN SHIP” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #281

Captain’s Log. Captain Charles Anson, HMS Partition. November 12th 1732 Thank God! I breathe a great sigh of relief that, thus far, we are incident free. Our first port of call in charge of mine own ship, HMS Partition, as we sink anchor in Madeira. We shall take on provisions and fresh water here and I anticipate a delay of only two days before we depart for the Americas; two days when I can relax from the stresses of captaincy that have weighed heavily upon my shoulders. I have treated myself to several casks...

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“Lady Boyle's Last Party” by Jack Shoemaker

Submitted to Contest #281

Dunwall. The sprawling capital city of Gristol, home to both royalty and industry alike. Naturally, I was more interested in the former. The Boyle family in particular.Every year, the Boyle sisters held a lavish masquerade ball and invited everyone who’s someone to partake. Though, none but the most discerning can tell who exactly these “someones” are. The triplets have made this fact the main attraction; the guest who manages to identify each of the three by name before dawn is promised a king’s ransom. For ten years I’d been invited to thi...

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“Have You Been Bad Or Good?” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #281

“I don’t understand why we’re going to visit her,” Izzy says. “She’s your grandmother, and she invited you to share Christmas with her,” Joel replies. “She didn’t even come to our wedding, and she’s never met Izzy,” Cherie notes. “Maybe she feels guilty.” “Maybe she’s about to croak,” Isabella adds. “Show some respect, Isabella,” Cherie scolds. “Your grandmother Jolie was a world-famous model.” Izzy dismissively rolls her eyes. Dressed in black, her dark hair streaked blonde and pink, their sixteen-year-old Goth daughter sports a ring in h...

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“The Party Crasher ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #281

“Come on Yvette, it’ll be fun!” Estrella shouted. The blonde fae was grinning ear to ear as she danced in her sundress, her butterfly wings twitched in excitement and Yvette half expected to see her friend spin into the air like a helicopter. Yvette - her raven familiar perched on her shoulder - nervously ran her fingers through her brunette hair, a frown on her freckled face. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to go to a party, Estrella.” “PARTY TIME!” Cole called from her shoulder, Yvette put a hand to his beak...

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“The Stranger” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #281

A chill went through the room as the tall stranger entered the doorway. No one seemed to recognize or claim him. Rhonda, our hostess, rose from the table and tentatively walked to the hallway. She had a pained look on her face. We all assumed she knew him, but her question put our assumption in doubt.“Hi, were you invited by one of my friends? There was an open invitation to invite anyone. We are celebrating the election. Are you here to celebrate with us?”The man took the black hood off his head and just glared at her. He stood silently for...

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“Three's a Crowd” by Kitt Que

Submitted to Contest #281

In a season full of twinkling lights and rosy cheeks, there exists a bubble suspended in time. Frost covers the dark, wet ground underneath the feet of two people. Nothing about this moment is significant to anyone in the world, except for the shadowy figure squatting unceremoniously between the juniper bushes. The icy breeze brings tears to her eyes, at least she tells herself it is from the wind. Janice presses her palms firmly against her temples; her mind, normally bustling with sound, repeats the same shrill note. The wind starts ...

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“The Stranger” by Lady Senie

Submitted to Contest #281

“Who is that man, Geena?” Cousin Jason asked curiously. I scanned the crowd of friends and relatives for the person he was talking about. There. The man in question was well-dressed in a suit and tie. He was quite attractive with strikingly green eyes and a sharp haircut to his black hair. His height was also impressive on his leanly muscled body. Standing at seven feet at least, he towered over all the other guests. The strangest thing about him was how the other guests instinctively avoided him as they leisurely interacted with each ...

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“The Perfect Woman” by Hamilton Briggs

Submitted to Contest #281

Danny tossed back a martini and thought about how he had been dragged to the Christmas party in Charlestown against his will.His old friend, Sam, had insisted he come. They had been roommates their senior year at Boston College and still spent most weekends together.Danny was nearly 6’3” with black hair and blue eyes. Sam was just 5’7” with a carrot-colored mop. but you could look across at any party and he’d be smack in the middle of the room, a drink in one hand, gesticulating wildly with the other.Right now, Sam was speaking with a woman....

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“Ghosts of Winter Future” by John Rafanelli

Submitted to Contest #281

** Sensitive language, and harm to children. ‘Winterfest’ was always a special holiday for the people of Augusta Cove, Long Island. A small bay town, where everyone knows everyone, all their happy memories along with all of their dark secrets. The yearly festival was a great place to set aside your grievances, and enjoy the magical winter holiday together, as a community. December 19th, 1999, may be one of the town's most memorable holiday festivals, and not for a good reason. It was the day Rory Falco was murdered. The town spent th...

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“The Uninvited Guest” by Jennifer Burrell

Submitted to Contest #281

The city was buzzing with an extra festive flare. The freshly fallen snow on all the holiday decorations created a filter of soft, holiday cheer. People were rushing about doing their last-minute shopping as the calendar ticked down the days until Christmas. Parties full of merriment and cheer were spilling out onto stoops and balconies. It was a magical time to be in the city. Which is why no one realized when she walked into one of those parties. The days that followed that party, the guests will wrack their b...

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“A Nightingale's Tale” by Katie Mobley

Submitted to Contest #281

"Live like you die tomorrow"The Birds;He first came when the sun set. The fledglings were still squawking on the highest branches when he slinked through the undergrowth- mischief in his steps. The great night hunters- The Owls sat in wait, their bright amber eyes following his tracks. While the songbirds went to sleep, the Owls would remember and whisperer the tales to the singers to spread through the forest upon daybreak. The Mockingbird sings his melancholy echo. His interest perked in the figure passing below. The Nightingale watches: h...

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“Who did you f***” by Omar Scott

Submitted to Contest #281

A stranger wearing a suit at a bachelor party in a hotel suite stood out for some reason. Not that wearing a black suit with a white shirt, red tie, and holding a briefcase is all that odd. I mean he could’ve been a hotel manager or a member of that staff. But this gentleman looked different. His eyes more intense than the usual service worker. The guys at the party barely noticed. They were too busy dancing to Too Short’s song, “Blow the Whistle”. And before that, “Yeah” by Usher and Lil Jon. Their eyes were focused on the ass and titties i...

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“The Mysterious Mr. X” by Christion Drake

Submitted to Contest #281

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the living room where two small beds were arranged with precision, each topped with mismatched blankets and an assortment of stuffed animals. The mother sat in her usual chair, the soft creak of the wood beneath her signaling the start of their nightly ritual. Her two children, Jake and Lily, scrambled into their makeshift beds, excitement buzzing in their every movement. “Tonight’s story is going to be… different,” the mother said, her voice unusually low, almost c...

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“The Woman in White” by Dawn Bliss

Submitted to Contest #281

You learn a lot when you pick up waiter gigs during the holiday party season. People are so busy being merry and bright they tend to overlook you as you dart about with trays of tasty treats and sparkling spirits. This means you hear lots of juicy snippets shared between celebrants. Now, it’s a given there will be snarky gossip and cutting judgements, but you really don’t expect to witness a vicious manifestation of regret and shame. It began when a woman dressed in white arrived fashionably late. A soft hush fell over the handful of p...

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“The Heart of the Matter” by Alex Marmalade

Submitted to Contest #281

Ruth stared at the chocolate fingerprints she'd left on the invitation. Five years of keeping it pristine in her desk drawer, and now, on the actual day, she'd smudged it with half-melted chocolate from a stress-eaten candy bar. The heavy cream paper still smelled faintly of her father's signature cologne—sandalwood and something medicinal she could never identify. "The reading of Robert Sterling's last will and testament," the gold lettering proclaimed, "to be held at Sterling Manor, five years from the date of donation." Not death. Donatio...

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Write about a mysterious guest who arrives at a party — but no one knows who they are.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 60 stories

“COFFIN SHIP” by Charles Corkery

“Lady Boyle's Last Party” by Jack Shoemaker

“Have You Been Bad Or Good?” by Michael Jefferson

“The Party Crasher ” by M B

“The Stranger” by Rudy Greene

“Three's a Crowd” by Kitt Que

“The Stranger” by Lady Senie

“The Perfect Woman” by Hamilton Briggs

“Ghosts of Winter Future” by John Rafanelli

“The Uninvited Guest” by Jennifer Burrell

“A Nightingale's Tale” by Katie Mobley

“Who did you f***” by Omar Scott

“The Mysterious Mr. X” by Christion Drake

“The Woman in White” by Dawn Bliss

“The Heart of the Matter” by Alex Marmalade

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or end your story with someone receiving a strange — and possibly sinister — gift.

Write a story from the POV of a non-human character.

Set your story during the coldest day of the year.

Write a story that includes the line “Be careful what you wish for.”

Contest #281

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

309

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: