Your character makes a living faking psychic powers. One morning, they wake up with real ones.

Posted in Fantasy on Dec 31, 2021

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✍️ 64 stories

“The Mentalist” by Rafael Whiterock

Submitted to Contest #127

“Look, Jessica, I’m just a normal guy.” “Sure, a normal guy who parties with the Kardashians, frequently dines with Jeff Bezos, and has millions of adoring fans, not to mention being the brand ambassador for Maserati.” I smirk. All in all, the interview has been going well, though, at this point, they all feel a bit cookie-cutter. We’d covered all the usual topics: being a nerdy adolescent in Israel, joining the Israeli Society of Magicians, doing close-up magic and random gigs until my early twenties, and, of course, becoming a world-re...

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“A Close Call” by Alyssa Tsang

Submitted to Contest #127

Lena tingled with excitement as she placed her hands in his, feeling the coolness of his skin. His long spindly fingers closed around hers. This was the first time in 20 years she had touched a man other than her husband. She was even more excited that he was a tall, dark, and handsome young man.“Ok now close your eyes.” His voice loomed out of the dim candle-lit space across the velvet swathed table.Lena shut her eyes eagerly, trying not to giggle. She felt like a teenager again, disobeying the stifling restrictions of her conservative fami...

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“Gift Horse” by Holly James

Submitted to Contest #127

Rough edged black lines dance on old paper, released from its life sentence to the trunk. I correct my hunch, clear my throat, and perform an old oration. Inhale."Keep your wits about you: for your mind will play tricks." Pause for effect, smile coyly, bite lip. "Mine are better." And release breath. I dig out a couple more pieces of paper. I don't feel like writing a whole new routine. Turning around on the bed, I see a woman undressed, asleep since late this night. I consider waking her, but I just prepare to leave; it's more befitting of ...

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“And Then the Morning Came” by Lilly Blossom

Submitted to Contest #127

Abbie Carter was born in the heart of New Orleans, on a brutal August day, to a Gypsy mother without a father in the picture. Her entire life she watched her mother swindle men out of their money, and sell all of the fake, ritualistic charms that were popular in the French Quarter to foolish tourists passing by. Living on the move, changing names, fooling people, it was all just part of the business her mother would tell her. So one day, Abbie grew up, her mother grew old and succumbed to her sicknesses, and Abbie was on her own in the big...

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“Fugazi” by Ian Barrett

Submitted to Contest #127

Mystic Mordo’s is a local psychic shop tucked in between a nail salon and a shawarma shop. Most of the customers immediately notice the sharp contrast of acetone and roasted meat as they make their way through a doorway comprised of strands of glass beads that clank together announcing their arrival. The customer is met by a woman named Veruca. Her real name is Gina but she thought it sounded more Slavic and she loves the character in Roald Dahl’s book. She leads them through a small waiting room which is adorned with various items...

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“LISTEN CAREFULLY” by Cynthia Helton

Submitted to Contest #127

“You really should stop now.” That niggling voice is back in my head but I can’t walk away yet. Working as a psychic has never been more lucrative and I am really good at the game. Do I feel guilty about what I do? Sure, but I like being able to pay off my debts more. Today, I have two appointments lined up for the morning and one house call in the afternoon. Which means by three, my day will be done and my checking account will be a thousand dollars richer. Not too shabby for four hours of w...

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“Party Trick” by Kari Larsen

Submitted to Contest #127

The birthday parties at our school range from normal fun to over the top ridiculous. With two daughters we have seen it all. Magic shows, gymnastics parties, paint your own pottery, iceskating in Central Park to trapeze school, a private tour of FAO Schwarz and a sleepover at The Plaza Hotel, for nine year olds! I have lived in NYC for 25 years and I have only walked past The Plaza. Not many people have birthday parties in their apartments because of space issues. We hosted a luau in our apartment for our then 13 year old’s birthday, but not...

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“Lady Love” by Lucy Newman

Submitted to Contest #127

“Hello dear soul, this is Stella Amour. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with today?” I always greeted clients in this way, in a most soothing voice. Having been crowned the “Love Psychic” for my company, I liked to make a loving first impression. “Hi, this is Amy,” a gentle, shaky voice replied. “Oh my dear, you’re upset. What questions do you have for me?” Step one. Read the tone. “It’s my husband. I just found out he’s been cheating on me. I knew something was up so I looked through his email while he was sl...

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“The Gift” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #127

The plump little lady in a green tartan skirt and yellow hand knitted jumper stood on the other side of the threshold. “Do come in. Mrs Hobart, isn’t it.? My daughter made the booking for you and didn’t quite catch your first name.” “Alma. It’s Alma.” Alma’s jaw dropped as she looked around the room at shelf after shelf adorned with statues and images of glittering angels, dragons, and unicorns. The windowsill beneath the tall opaque window festooned with pink rose quartz and amethyst crystals. Clutching her handbag close to her chest, she c...

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“The Second Sight” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #127

My mother’s voice sounded odd on the phone that evening. We live just round the corner from each other, but she’s good about giving me space and usually doesn’t get upset about anything. Tonight, she sounded worried.“Di, can you come over now?” she said. “It’s Mrs. McPhee. I can’t explain on the phone. Please. It’s urgent.”“Sure,” I said, staring at the phone. This was strange. Mrs. McPhee was my mother’s nosy old neighbor. I assumed it wasn’t a medical emergency or my mother would have called the ambulance“Mom, how can you stand her?” I had...

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“A Fraud's Fortune” by Abigail Jean Jacques

Submitted to Contest #127

“All of this is so insightful. Thank you, you’ve saved my life!”I sat there with the biggest grin on my face as my last client for the day thanked me.“How can I ever repay you?” she asked.“By paying me!” I exclaimed jokingly.Only, I meant it.Nothing was more important to me than my clients, except the money they’re supposed to give me after every reading. As she left the shop I raced to lock the door behind her and draw the blinds.My pet owl, Mr. Sage sat peacefully on his wooden perch while I counted the day’s earnings.Sometimes, I think he...

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“Karma Finds Lily” by Mary Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #127

Lily made her living as a psychic medium. Unfortunately, she was neither a psychic nor a medium; she was just really good at reading people. Those who came to her for guidance truly believed that she could help them. She knew exactly how to prompt them to give an accurate reading. She only played the medium when she was sure of the relationship between her client and the deceased loved one that she “brought” through. She didn’t charge any more than any other&n...

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“Follower” by Nix ♞

Submitted to Contest #127

I think it was in the fall—a particularly warm one, do I remember rightly—when I began gathering my followers. And to hold a following, it is of very great use to once in a while recall or have a holistic understanding of how it happened, why it happened, and in some cases, when it happened. What should I gain from this approach, a look again at the terminus a quo, a trudge through the woods of the past, back to the slippery mud of X? Where it all began... or where it all ended up. Is there, dare I ask, a differ...

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“Pastor Gimme's Reckoning” by C.B. Oates

Submitted to Contest #127

“I know exactly what you are thinking. You have that strong feeling that the Lord wants you to give. Without consideration, without thought, without even the need to pray, he requires your contribution to this congregation not simply from the heart but from the pocket book! If you don’t give, you will thwart the plans of the Almighty God! This power is within your grasp. It is your calling. Your duty. Your obligation. If you do not give, you will not get. You want to get, don’t you? You deserve to get.” The suits were pressed. The plate...

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“Start with a cup of coffee” by Adelina Stoyanova

Submitted to Contest #127

''I came...'' '' Louder, please, I can not hear you. Don't worry, you have nothing to fear. " "I...I came for ...I have a..." " You have an appointment with me, as I understand it. You are Melissa, are you not? " " Yes, " the woman said, visibly relieved " yes, that is my name. " Amanda just had to sigh. She didn't call herself Amanda in here, of course, but lady Gwendolyn, although most of her customers called her just "Lady" as they were not sure how to pronounce Gwendolyn. The woman sitting in front of her was trembling, her wrinkled ha...

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Your character makes a living faking psychic powers. One morning, they wake up with real ones.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 64 stories

“The Mentalist” by Rafael Whiterock

“A Close Call” by Alyssa Tsang

“Gift Horse” by Holly James

“And Then the Morning Came” by Lilly Blossom

“Fugazi” by Ian Barrett

“LISTEN CAREFULLY” by Cynthia Helton

“Party Trick” by Kari Larsen

“Lady Love” by Lucy Newman

“The Gift” by Barbara Burgess

“The Second Sight” by Bettina Karpathian

“A Fraud's Fortune” by Abigail Jean Jacques

“Karma Finds Lily” by Mary Fitzgerald

“Follower” by Nix ♞

“Pastor Gimme's Reckoning” by C.B. Oates

“Start with a cup of coffee” by Adelina Stoyanova

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin your story with a character having a gut feeling they cannot explain.

Write about a character whose intuition is always right — until one day it isn’t.

Write a story about a problem with no good solutions.

Write about a character learning to trust their intuition.

Contest #127

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

220

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: