Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Posted in Dystopian on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 61 stories

“It was the quietest house, it was the darkest sea” by Flore Lazcano

Submitted to Contest #119

Mr. Roger Auclair heard nothing but the sound of his wheelchair for months, or maybe it was years. He was a lonely man; it was his own choice.It was a long time ago when he decided to move by the sea. It was a dream he and his wife, now long gone, had. A youth-filled dream that was fulfilled unfortunately too late for her to enjoy. He wished he did things differently, but that's human fate for most of us. Alone in his mansion, he came and went. He turned on and off the lights and stood by the window to watch the mysterious sea every mor...

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“In the Quiet Our Sorrow Lies” by Katie Ingold

Submitted to Contest #119

TW: Mentions of death and grief.This is not a story I would usually write, but it wanted to be told nonetheless. To all of those who’ve lost someone they love, may you find love and happiness again.Silence filled the house. The locked doors and closed windows kept the noise of the world at bay. Jason’s family left out early this morning for the long drive back, and the last of his friends left a few minutes ago, too afraid to leave him by himself but needing to get back their own lives. As much as he loved them, he was glad they were go...

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“Heritage House” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #119

Palacio De Maria stood on a plateau close to Palolem beach. The lush greenery surrounding it was in sharp contrast with the shiny sands that lay beyond. Remo Pareira was its sole occupant at the moment.Remo looked down at the flashing strobe lights from the shacks, milling tourists with fluorescent headbands and folding tables set close to the lapping waves. November nights had turned even the quieter beaches into buzzing hives.Once, he too used to look forward to the tourist season. He would set up his small booth next to Big Bamboo and pai...

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“By The Sea” by Zachary Seda

Submitted to Contest #119

The gentle water rose and sank on the beach. Hot sand warmed the body. The fresh smell of nature was welcoming. Though the clouds loomed overhead, it was a beautiful day. One could die here peacefully. The worn-down wooden docks led to the little island in the middle of the sea. The island, sprouting only three trees, had a little silent house atop it. There lived an older man, minding his own business for the past several years. Every day he would come outside to water his flowers around the house, even giving the three trees a little lov...

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“Time To Grief.” by Colleen Brownlee

Submitted to Contest #119

Time To Grief. Melanie turned the key and took a deep breath as she entered the beautiful refurbished beach house. It had been a year since she had visited with her mum and friends. Today it was just her with George her dog entering the house, it was so quiet. As she walked in the hallway, she felt tearful but a peaceful relieve that she was there. Her mum had loved the beach house an escapism from the monotonous of life her mum had always confessed it was her outlay in life. “It was always our dream love to have a ho...

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“The Silent House” by Patricia Robinson

Submitted to Contest #119

“Buy our little house by the ocean and enjoy your final years!” My husband’s last words before he took his final breath. He lasted 4 months longer than the doctors predicted, but they were not months of quality, only pain and misery … and a bit of soul searching … for us both. On our 19 anniversary, two weeks before Thanksgiving, I was diagnosed with advance stage macular degeneration and told I would be mostly blind within a year. Paul died 2 days short of our 21st anniversary and I could see him clear as day. I’m sure he would agree that i...

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“Beach Mansion” by Sam Newsome

Submitted to Contest #119

Beach Mansion The notice could not have come at a better time. James’ job had just ended with his company moving off-shore. There was nothing keeping him in the city and he was ready for a change of scenery. James’ wife, Jenny, was working from home. All she needed was her laptop and an internet hook-up, so the notice in the paper was ideal. Custodial Care Needed Custodial care givers needed for an exceptional opportunity. Infirm minimal custody inmates are being moved from stand...

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“Hindsight is a wonderful thing” by Alice Richardson

Submitted to Contest #119

Hindsight is a wonderful thing If only we could see the future, even just a little bit. A few hours could be enough. And if we could, would we be smart enough to do things differently? I wonder. I was holidaying at a little seaside town and, to fill in an hour or so, had been driving aimlessly around looking at the scenery. The dirt road I was travelling along terminated at a tee junction. A wooden signpost indicated ‘to the beach’ in one direction while the other side of the ...

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“Solitude” by Noelle C. Lee

Submitted to Contest #119

Each morning she walks miles along the coastline without fail. There’s no such entity as weather permitting. Sometimes I spy her bundled in layers protecting her from nature’s wrath. Today was not different, a sleeting blizzard took our shores but non the less she walked them in diligence and dignity. I have often wanted to approach her and ask her why she’s so dedicated to this mission, but I have held myself back. Living on this beachfront property for nearly 2 years, eagerly waking each morning to my cup of Joe, luxuriating in my senses...

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“Small Town Hideout” by Rowan Legend

Submitted to Contest #119

After Heist CW: 1 swearword and a tutu Silent house in the middle of the night the ocean water cold as it crashed on the shoreline, four figures rose from the saltwater coughing and crawling towards the safety of the sand. “Holy shit!” Van called out as he reached the beach first, he wasn’t one for swearing often so the words were a shock for him and the others that know him. “Even breaths, deep even breaths baby,” Sid called from the back making sure that none of them got lost or lose their strength in the last stretch. “Is the house real...

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“Let Her Go ” by Molly Quinnell

Submitted to Contest #119

TW: mentions of death, death scene The waves gently crashed over the jagged rocks, making that crushing, crashing sound I could no longer hear. I was a bit like a wave, I thought, slowly rising to my full height before crashing painfully on the shore. “You and me, wave,” I thought, “we’re not so different. We both give our all, only to end up destroyed. We’re both lonely. We’re both killers.” “My little philosopher,” she teased, running her slim finger down the length of my cheekbone, her dark eyes sparkling in the night. It was c...

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“Dandelions and Lambs Ear” by Marie Martello

Submitted to Contest #119

TW: abuse, gore. The soft glide, the mellifluous grey floss puncturing material of a half embroidered flower. A prick of sharpness diving into tight threads, straining to pass, then breaking through. The journey of the thread, drawn away from the subject in a long hiss until it doubles back to create a quiet symphony. It was the only note that Helena would appease. She never used to be so solitary. Her house was once filled with artifacts, parties, and guests that would make Queen Victoria blush. Extravagance filled th...

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“The Past and the Present” by Giulia S.

Submitted to Contest #119

The past is the past. You need to let go. How many times have people said that? How many times have you had to listen to those words? At first, it's so annoying. You can't even think about letting go. How could you? How could you let go of part of your life? It seems just impossible. But then something happens. What is it? Well, it's just that. Time passes. Yes, simple as that. That same thing that felt impossible a while back, now it starts to make sense. You can't realize the exact moment when this happens, though. It would be nice to kno...

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“Kiera and the Sea Dragon” by Annalisa D.

Submitted to Contest #119

CW: Abuse, Sexual Violence, Trauma To escape the anger that burned through my veins with debilitating power, I fled to the silent house by the sea. Silence was all I had. Only the noise of waves crashing against the black rock lined shore interrupted my peace, but that sound didn’t bother me. It fueled me. As I sat on the shore, letting icy wind pierce through my soul, I noticed a large cave carved in the sea cliffs a mere walk...

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“The Silent House at Saltmarsh” by Joseph Morganella

Submitted to Contest #119

I had just completed my devotional exercises to Nerull and was entering a meditative state when I felt his presence intrude upon my senses. I rose easily to my full fifteen-foot height, muscles toned and relaxed. “Master,” I bowed, “I am honored by your presence, how may I serve you?” “Mortals have invaded our crypts, even now they break through the secret entrance to my throne. I will alert the others. The steelwing, the cauchemar and my children will engage them, we must reinforce them.” I bowed again, “As you say, ...

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Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 61 stories

“It was the quietest house, it was the darkest sea” by Flore Lazcano

“In the Quiet Our Sorrow Lies” by Katie Ingold

“Heritage House” by Suma Jayachandar

“By The Sea” by Zachary Seda

“Time To Grief.” by Colleen Brownlee

“The Silent House” by Patricia Robinson

“Beach Mansion” by Sam Newsome

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing” by Alice Richardson

“Solitude” by Noelle C. Lee

“Small Town Hideout” by Rowan Legend

“Let Her Go ” by Molly Quinnell

“Dandelions and Lambs Ear” by Marie Martello

“The Past and the Present” by Giulia S.

“Kiera and the Sea Dragon” by Annalisa D.

“The Silent House at Saltmarsh” by Joseph Morganella

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).

Write a story that involves eavesdropping.

Contest #119

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

232

Contest entries

160

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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