Start your story with someone witnessing magic from a hiding place.

Posted in Fantasy on Dec 9, 2022

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✍️ 52 stories

“THE MAGIC IN THE BOX” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #176

THE MAGIC IN THE BOX ( MAGIC IS IN THE BOX) The cellar was the coolest room ( zone) in the house. It wasn’t certainly a room where to stay in winter. But however, there was a sheltered place there in the cellar which, besides being suitable for hiding, was almost warm. It was not a warmth for heating, it was rather the warmth of the hot drinks in winter . It was in fact the old vat, no longer used now for years, where her grandfather had crushed the grapes and fermented the wine. That afternoon __it was a Friday in February___ Nicholas was...

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“Hide and seek Magic Equals love ” by Leanne Drain

Submitted to Contest #176

"Quick look over there, a shooting star, "shouts Alfie. The four of us look around and see grandad in the sky. It is grandad, they all say, the children of the night as our story begins. Magic is all around the house, flaming lights, tinsel golden with puddings being fed to the leading man, Santa. As the children look on, they wait from heaven for a sign that their grandad is with them and he is guiding them to Santa's heavy lake. Where all dreams come true, the lake is brilliant. There are dancing elves, kings, queens of Christmas, and fair...

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“Extra Innings” by Jim O'Shea

Submitted to Contest #176

EXTRA INNINGS If my life was a baseball game, the story I’m about to tell you would begin somewhere in the third inning. It was the summer of 1977 to be more precise, and near the end of a challenging decade for my home team—the St. Louis Cardinals. The dismal times were hard on most fans of the team, but not me, because that mediocre stretch of baseball was how I met my friend Willy. William James Jonas was an elderly gentleman back in 1977, and would’ve been easy to pick out of a crowd thanks to the bright white shock of hair exploding...

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“Cora and Harley” by Jango MyHeart

Submitted to Contest #176

Cora peers into the narrow alleyway, spotting the tabby cat in a rough and tumble with a sphynx cat, as they bite into each other, growling. The sphynx cat then successfully pins down the tabby cat and lets out a long hiss before forcing its right paw on the cat’s head . A bright white light along with stardusts soon erupts from the focal point of their contact, blinding the alleyway into oblivion. The white light and stardust begin to dissipate. Cora squints her eyes, trying to make out what’s happening. She sees the tabby cat’s lifeless bo...

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“The twisted verses” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #176

The adhan had just ended when Azad went into hiding. From the roof he could see everything going on tens of meters below him. He loved heights, and he was good at reaching them. They were yet again after him but by his own fault. He stole in order to pay off his debt. He used immoral means to pay back his immoral mistakes. It was an addicting circle of bad behavior. To him, being a manual laborer did not seem worth the work, or the time. But, he was not consistent with his classes at the university either. Therefore the third opt...

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“The Summoning Ceremony” by Josh Pederson

Submitted to Contest #176

"Something just brushed up against my leg, Tish, I think it was a spider.""I swear Jak, if The Elders hear us, a spider is going to be the least of your problems.""I can't see anything, there's too many leaves and bushes in the way."With a swift hack of her machete, Tish cleared a line of sight from the dense overgrowth. "Thanks.""You can thank me by shutting your trap. Look, the ceremony is starting."A drum beat began to pound in the clearing and a collective hum could be heard buzzing in the air."First comes the song to gain her atten...

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“The Watcher” by Megan Michelle

Submitted to Contest #176

It had been seven long hours since he alighted in the rafters of the cabin bedroom. He waited until the couple was asleep, not wanting to frighten them considering what was to be discovered upon waking. To witness the beginning of the end was sacred and he delighted in being in his natural form. The silky black feathers, the light bones, and the heightened sense of sight, smell, and prophesy. His presence in these woods in his fowl form yesterday had allowed him to observe the fatal cut, tipping him off to his duties tonight, even before the...

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“Glide” by Benjamin Okojie

Submitted to Contest #176

The air stings the back of my nose, barely squeezing through to my lungs as my chest tightens and burns. My heart racing, beating trying to set itself free from my rib cages. I can feel my pulse in my fingertips and head, almost like a pacer reminding me to keep pushing. I don’t know how long I can keep this pace up. I check my watch, 4:51 it reads, my minute per mile, I can break my personal best run here. I push just a little harder with each stride now, slowly picking up pace faster I tell myself, more I think. Landing...

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“In the Pawnshop Somewhere on 7th Street” by Charly Woods

Submitted to Contest #176

---TW: Physical violence: mild--- In the bustling streets of a city I, unfortunately, called my home, I stumbled into an old shop. There were antiques behind glass, things I’d never seen before. I was somehow drawn to the shiny artifacts. One of the things that caught my eye, was a small box with bronze decorations on each corner. The sides were made of glass, and inside the box was what looked like a small rock. I looked around, there was no one. I turned back to the small box which was shielded with glass from prying eyes and greedy hand...

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“Dust and Devils” by Wesley Osigian

Submitted to Contest #176

“Pa said ya’ll put the boxes over there,” Jr. shouted at the bikers. Being small as Jr. was, he had to holler hard to get the adults to listen. “We heard ya Jr.- stop screaming! We're just taking a wee break,” Gus, the largest and laziest of the Round Hook bikers, yelled back. After unloading half the truck, he and the other bikers placed a few crates in a circle and were using them as chairs. Jr. peered out the warehouse window and watched as little, yellow, fuzzy dust balls danced in the faint flicker of the streetlight. “We gotsa’ hurr...

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“The Birth of Magic” by Johanna Parry

Submitted to Contest #176

My hiding place is my home. That safe-from-the-world cave where I only venture out if I want or need to. Lately, this seems wise. Especially given the risk of infection. Or worse - being exposed to the views of those with which I may disagree. I was surprised to discover that when I witness the world from a perspective of being anchored inside my own heart - I see only magic unfolding all around me. This awareness led me to find ways to open up my journey in a way that expands my perspectives. To compensate for my inner her...

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“MAGIC SECRETS” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #176

"Powers of the light, Guardians of the Earth, I call to thee to give me, Your strength, open all doors, Watch over me, I trust in your hand, to help me through this, Difficult time, so let it be," Bang the attic begins to rumble, then it's over. What did I just witness? My mother and grandmother doing magic. How? "What is mother?" I listen intently at my mother and grandmother, clearly something is bothering my grandmother. "Iris, we need to tell Star the truth, She deserves to know about our family, the family she was born into." ...

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“Mirror, mirror” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #176

-"Once upon a time..." -"Let me stop you right there mom!" my daughter replies. -"Why?" I act surprised. "You used to love stories, especially in December." -"Yeah, yeah: the bleak midwinter is the season for storytelling." she sighs. -"That's the spirit" I happily exclaim. -"You are a storytelling animal, mom." she jokes, "But please don't start with once upon a time, I hate stories that start with once upon a time." -"Okay, no problem. You have your way." I come to a compromise, "If you can bring yourself to put down that eternal iPhone." ...

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“Never Trust a Magician” by Gregg Punger

Submitted to Contest #176

A tall mysterious stranger wearing a slightly, worn multicolored coat and a tall purple top hat strode into the middle of the town square with a box under his arm catching a few of the townspeople’s eyes, but not stopping them from going about their business. He put the box down right in the middle of the square, hopped surprisingly nimbly on top, and exclaimed, “Gather round, gather round, for I have a story to tell.” His exclamation caused some of the townspeople to stop and all of them to look his way. “Please, please, don’t make me ye...

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“La Magie” by Hannah Reed

Submitted to Contest #176

In. Out. In. Out. I take a small step out of my bedroom. Carefully. Silently. My mind, always the contrarian, flashes back to my mother catching me at age eight with a smeared face and handfuls of Kouign Amann hiding in our kitchen dumbwaiter. But, as I creep towards her drawing room, I know that a sore behind is a better punishment than the one I would reap if Madame Riche was to see me creeping along her foyer late at night. As my caretaker, the Madame is my North Star. She instructs me in the way that I, as a high society lady, should s...

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Start your story with someone witnessing magic from a hiding place.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 52 stories

“THE MAGIC IN THE BOX” by Mara Masolini

“Hide and seek Magic Equals love ” by Leanne Drain

“Extra Innings” by Jim O'Shea

“Cora and Harley” by Jango MyHeart

“The twisted verses” by Ksenija Rubež

“The Summoning Ceremony” by Josh Pederson

“The Watcher” by Megan Michelle

“Glide” by Benjamin Okojie

“In the Pawnshop Somewhere on 7th Street” by Charly Woods

“Dust and Devils” by Wesley Osigian

“The Birth of Magic” by Johanna Parry

“MAGIC SECRETS” by Melinda Madrigal

“Mirror, mirror” by F.O. Morier

“Never Trust a Magician” by Gregg Punger

“La Magie” by Hannah Reed

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story involving a magical potion — which may or may not work.

Cast a magician (a real one, or a party entertainer) as your story’s protagonist.

Write a story told from the point of view of an animal.

Set your story in a magical bookshop.

Contest #176

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

231

Contest entries

111

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: