Write about two characters on the verge of a life-changing event, but one has rigged the outcome.

Posted in Dramatic on Jul 24, 2021

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?

✍️ 90 stories

“Gambits” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

Submitted to Contest #62

N.B: I don't support burglary or other stuff.(Strong language warning)Gambits: Destiny is something I don't believe in. But that doesn't mean I don't plan ahead. Every day, the same old story. That fat idiot doesn't even seem to care about adventures. There are so many things to try but no, he won't give up his century-old techniques. Kinda like using the same openings all the time. "Hey, what the shit are you thinking?" Did you call me shit? "Nothing boss. Catching right up."&nbs...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Of Bone and Blood” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #62

The sickening crunch of bone and the tang of blood had become music to Cordelia’s ears, tomorrow, she would take her place at Death’s side. Already a trained assassin and master of poisons, Cordelia Soren had longed to become a Sage of Death. She had entered the competition for that sole reason. Occurring once every century, this blood sport was a tradition amongst those in Asphodel. The champion not only won Death’s favour, immortality, and riches, but the honour to serve at its side. The last true God in this forsaken world, Death and the ...

47 comments 47

Read story

“A Battle of Wits” by Tori Routsong

Submitted to Contest #62

Charis leaned over Cleopatra to grab her cup. “So, are you worried about going home?” Cleopatra sipped her wine, and grimaced. The farther they got from Italy, the more bitter and watered down the wine became. “Worried?” “Anxious. You haven’t been home since your dad got exiled. Are you worried that things have changed?” “Of course they’ve changed. I wouldn’t be going home if they hadn’t.” “Don’t play dumb with me.” Cleopatra sighed. “Fine, fine. I’m not worried, per se. I anticipate that it will be… eventful.” “Are you excited, then?...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Betrayed” by Kaitlyn James

Submitted to Contest #62

We were about to be launched into space. The NASA Space Station wanted us to build a NASA Space Colony. It was a colony in space where we would live to move away from Earth. It is just in case the Earth explodes or something, you know. The things that usually happen nowadays. Oh, by the way it is the year 2374. These things can be expected now. The NASA Space Station had gotten to Neptune and they found an alternative life source and now they hate us for coming to their home planet. Hold on, let me backup a little bit. My guy be...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Sidestepping” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #62

Jean could almost feel a tangled, matted knot of emotions tugging and tagging at her thoughts, and none of them were especially pleasant. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be on your Golden Wedding Anniversary! And though of course they’d had rows, and of course there had been bad times, she had never for one minute regretted marrying Sam. She doubted there were a more loving husband and father anywhere in the world, and not just because she was biased. So it was all wrong, it was just all wrong for her to feel disa...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Of Ladies and Tigers” by Tim Maddox

Submitted to Contest #62

(Inspired by and heavily referencing Frank R. Stockton’s The Lady, or the Tiger? from 1882. Highly recommend reading his story.) I sat in my moonlit cell filled with dread for the coming dawn. Soon after the morning rays breached the hills I would be taken to the arena and presented with two choices; behind one of the ever changing doors would be a ravenous tiger, the other concealed a fair maiden of the king’s choosing.I had seen justice from the arena many times. One could not deny the fairness of the ordeal, for it was only by the crimina...

0 comments 0

Read story

“As Good As Dead” by Dr. Katherine

Submitted to Contest #62

Brock pulled up to the hospital, wondering if he needed to admit himself to the ER. A puddle of blood had trickled onto his lap from the wound on his hand. The floor beneath his feet squished and crackled. Sweat, blood, and glass had accumulated on the mat from the blown windows and injuries sustained from his second-story-jump. He dialed Shuggs. “I’m out front.” When Shuggs opened the car door, he froze and stared at the splintered glass. “I thought I had it bad,” he said, brushing off his seat and getting into the car. “What in the h...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Legacy or Team” by Myboy Mdakane

Submitted to Contest #62

It was one day before the final squad for the 1st team at school was announced and everyone was waiting impatiently about it. It was obvious that Bafana would be the starting fly half for the team and Wikus would have to play fullback. For both Bafana and Wikus this was important for different reasons because if Bafana got the nod to play 10 he was promised by a big union that he would get a pro contract straight out of high school and well Wikus just wanted to play 10 because he‘s father also played 10 at that school. It would also give W...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Unknown” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #62

Janice sighed, contemplating the impending task of combing through Frederik's effects; however, this had to be the time. Janice walked resolutely to the storage side of her basement, stopping only once her eyes gazed on the three big boxes. She did not have a complete understanding of the cocktail of emotions cycling through her system. After five years, Janice could not recollect what items lay folded, once cherished within their cardboard repository. Douglas slipped behind the wheel of his bronco, snapping on his safety belt before...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Rules of Holy Procedure” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #62

Those defeated in battle, along with their families, lands, and properties, shall become the spoils of the victor for ten generations. All generations from the eleventh on shall be free. So demands the God of War. — Book of War: Chapter 37, Stanza 19 The flags of the world government, red stripes top and bottom on a white background with a black skull in the center, flapped in the arid winds off the desert. Gulls called from the shore of the ocean that lapped against the city’s edge. Other than the birds, the streets of the city were silen...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Lotto” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #62

Jim and Chuck were planning on being rich. The lottery was up to 4.3 million dollars and they were going to cash in. At least, that was what they kept telling each other. They had discussed buying the tickets and how many they wanted to buy. Chuck wanted to buy at least twenty dollars worth. Jim told him that he didn’t think that was necessary. The two best friends worked together at the feed mill. They had known each other their entire lives. They had...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Icarus” by Amy DeMatt

Submitted to Contest #62

It started when the sponsors started referring to us as Twinsies. It was a joke, really. Tina Chen was from China; I was from sunny California. But we were a matched set, it seemed. Tina with her porcelain, delicate skin and long hair tied up in a high ponytail. I was tan from running in the sun, hair bleached blond. But we had the same dimensions, both five feet, four inches, and both small, barely topping a hundred pounds. We’d traded first and second in each race, bringing drama to the sport of marathon, an event so lacking in excit...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Iris ” by Kiara Vega

Submitted to Contest #62

“I’ll call you if I need you” Holly held up her phone as evidence, “and I’ll be back safe, I promise. I just need a couple of hours to tether myself back.” She gave Natalie a slow kiss and got up, grabbed her thermos and walked to the backdoor.“Okay. Call me when you’re on your way back? And, please, no dying. Love you, Holly.” Natalie called after Holly. “Love you, Nati.” Holly said with a wave of her hand, without looking back, closing the door behind her. She advanced through the backdoor of the house where she and Natalie rented the firs...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Village juries” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #62

There were five in the family, three males and two females. The second son was the most enterprising. He had wholesale business that was performing relatively ok; he was lively, outgoing, fearless and has business acumen. He got married newly when civil war started. He left city like others and went back to the village. It was in the village that his wife gave birth to their first issue. Considering the situation of things in their interior village there and misinformation’s that usually accompany unrest like civil war, people that has shops...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Chameleon Tag” by Ari Jackson

Submitted to Contest #62

Her throat was overtaken by the taste of a childhood skill. The unmistakable tang of blood and mucus, clot against the back wall of it. Hot air travels up and down its pipe with every pant. She’s tired. She’s been running for hours. But she can’t stop, because she remembered her. Her was the woman from the house, called Elizabeth. Elizabeth was forty three, and worked in an office before she worked here. Her life devoted to milk colored blouses, and coal colored pencil skirts, and red wine lip stain, and whitening strips stapled to her tee...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who can suddenly only “remember” their future, not their past.

Thriller and Suspense – 129 stories

Write about a character who’s had their future foretold from birth — but isn’t sure if they believe it.

Fantasy – 152 stories

Write about a character preparing to go into stasis for decades (or centuries).

Science Fiction – 108 stories

Write about a character putting something into a time capsule.

Science Fiction – 141 stories

Contest #62

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Forward Thinking

$50

Prize money

620

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 09, 2020 EST

Won by A.Dot Ram 🏆

Title: No Hard Feelings

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 about two characters on the verge of a life-changing event, but one has rigged the outcome.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 90 stories

“Gambits” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

“Of Bone and Blood” by Elizabeth Inkim

“A Battle of Wits” by Tori Routsong

“Betrayed” by Kaitlyn James

“Sidestepping” by Deborah Mercer

“Of Ladies and Tigers” by Tim Maddox

“As Good As Dead” by Dr. Katherine

“Legacy or Team” by Myboy Mdakane

“The Unknown” by C Alexis McGregor

“Rules of Holy Procedure” by Sjan Evardsson

“Lotto” by Monica Chaddick

“Icarus” by Amy DeMatt

“Iris ” by Kiara Vega

“Village juries” by Philip Ebuluofor

“Chameleon Tag” by Ari Jackson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who can suddenly only “remember” their future, not their past.

Write about a character who’s had their future foretold from birth — but isn’t sure if they believe it.

Write about a character preparing to go into stasis for decades (or centuries).

Write about a character putting something into a time capsule.

Contest #62

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

620

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: