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Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Posted in Fiction on Apr 5, 2024

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✍️ 71 stories

Blood Rain

Submitted to Contest #245

It wasn’t the red aliens that were the problem. It was the voodoo high priests that caused all the mischief. Monkey hands, parrot beaks, and baboon skulls were one thing. But when the blood rains came, all of the usual cons kicked into high gear.The mantis-like, spindly red alien surveyed my vegetables with an air of fascination. He stopped on the okra, holding up a stalk and studying it. He was dressed in ripped whitewashed jeans and a Blink-182 T-shirt. But behind his disguise was a standard silver spandex jumpsuit, like they all wore when...

76 likes 18 comments 18
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This Is All Your Fault, Alexander

Submitted to Contest #245

Alexander, do you see that? Do you see the way the sun is disappearing right before our very eyes? Do you know why that’s happening, Alexander? It is because you abused yourself. When young princes abuse themselves the way you have, the Lord above sees it, and punishes them by making the sun disappear. You may have thought nobody noticed, but the Lord did, Alexander. The Lord always does. Despite being told that you are a descendant of Kings, and must treat your body with the utmost respect and care, you decided to give into temptation and t...

29 likes 12 comments 12
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A Planet’s Worth

Submitted to Contest #245

In the first photograph of Mercury captured by humans, I could see the fear etched on its cracked gray face. The planet's weathered visage held many secrets, its surface marked with millions of deep, enigmatic recesses. Upon closer inspection, a stark white spot emerged—a colossal 50-mile-wide crater the scientists called Debussy. Mercury was peering back at me, an all-seeing eye unveiling its truths.  I orbit through the indigo expanse of stars, with only a few planets perceptible to my naked eye. I glimpse Venus, the hottest plan...

24 likes 25 comments 25
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Moon Union

Submitted to Contest #245

Gathered together as the sun rose over the water, the crowd of young women clutched their bags nervously. They looked around at each other, some attempted small talk, but most remained pensive.Pearl felt the butterflies in her belly beat their wings as an elder approached her with a dark haired stranger walking in his shadow. “This way,” the suntanned elder extended his arm to the waiting boat, the rower in place, the oars calmly waiting in the water. She tentatively stepped in, assisted by the younger man who sat down on the ...

23 likes 16 comments 16
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The Brighter the Light, the Deeper the Shadow

Submitted to Contest #245

Thyra surveyed the water around her, diligently waiting for a minnow to reveal itself between the soft glints of reflected sunlight. Her long skirt was knotted around her waist, serving two purposes – keeping it dry and holding in place her bilberry-laden pouch. A faint ripple appeared beside her left foot. Without hesitation, Thyra deftly plucked a small silvery fish from the brook. She had four now, which wasn’t a lot, but with a portion of bread and a handful of berries, it would be sufficient. Cadoc wasn't expected home for another few d...

22 likes 10 comments 10
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TOTAL ECLIPSE of MY HEART

Submitted to Contest #245

**possible sensitive content: sudden, unexpected death of an adult child**Dear Nancy,As I sit here lost in thought on the eve of the total eclipse of the sun, I’m trying to think about something funny or witty about tomorrow’s big event, but nothing is coming to me. There’s just nothing funny on my mind right now.So I turn to poetry instead. I write a catchy line about the sunset cremating the sky over the ocean at Pescadero. I saw that “cremation” decades ago when death was the furthest thing from my much younger mind. And then your email a...

21 likes 26 comments 26
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Four minutes and half a life

Submitted to Contest #245

Everyone was speaking about it. It was the day when celestial bodies would meet, the light would disappear, and magic would happen: the total eclipse was about to happen, and no one would shut up about it. It would only last four minutes, but I had heard about it for weeks. No matter what channel I set on the television, someone spoke about it: science lovers, adventure junkies, romance seekers, first timers, experienced people... everybody wanted to be there, feel it, be able to say "I was there," but I didn't. I couldn't care less because ...

21 likes 19 comments 19
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Like Christmas

Shortlisted for Contest #245 ⭐️

Note: contains sexual and physical violence.LIKE CHRISTMASThe eclipse came and so did my relatives, in a fashion similar to the Fourth of July or Easter. Casseroles, potatoes, pie. Tin foil. It was not like Christmas. I will explain why.My cousin, Melony, came last, and put a greasy bag of gas station JoJos into my hands. Said curtly, “Muffins burnt up.” Shot a withering glance at her new husband, who refused to meet it.“I’ve been craving these anyway. We should get together more often,” I said.“Of course.”This was the stilted talk of those ...

20 likes 13 comments 13
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How We Forgive is Different for Everybody

Submitted to Contest #245

Out on 9, as the locals call it, the highway runs parallel to a flat plain that runs the stretch of road over ten miles. Lines of wire fences, not noticeable from the roadway unless you’re looking for them, block off the plots of land every few hundred yards. Every so often a row of power lines cut gently through the fields. The farm-kept bison and horses catch any traveling eye. Cows, destined for slaughter and dairy production, dot several farms with modest houses on them. There are small ponds and marshes off the side of the road from the...

19 likes 10 comments 10
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Darkness Descended

Submitted to Contest #245

“I see you’ve brought payment. Good, come in,” spoke the woman adorned with a tattered linen hood that draped over her slender shoulders.       I entered her eerie shop, a dark place which looked condemned from the outside. I was nervous. Inside I met an eclectic array of odd ornaments, peculiar crafts, and sculptures of deities among other things that unfolded like a twisted tableau from one of my own nightmares. The scent of spices and oils hung heavily in the air, suffusing the atmosphere with an otherwo...

18 likes 17 comments 17
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The Red Mirror Project

Submitted to Contest #245

Elena waited anxiously at the meeting point in front of the Yuantong Temple gate. Standing outdoors on the high plateau that Kunming is situated on, the refreshing coolness of the breeze brought her senses alive. It was a stark contrast to the relentless heat of San Francisco, where stepping outdoors felt like entering an oven. In Kunming, despite it being the middle of July, the temperature was a comfortable 90F.  Even more exciting than the cool weather was that Kevin was due any minute. She hadn’t seen Kevin, her ex-boyfriend, since ...

17 likes 17 comments 17
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Lenny Was Right

Submitted to Contest #245

LENNY WAS RIGHT              Max was used to people walking past him without paying him any notice. Eclipse day wouldn’t be any different. The streets were more crowded than usual and Lenny, his best friend who lived one alley over, told him that everyone would probably take off of work to watch the eclipse. “It’s either gonna be a slow day or we’re gonna end up millionaires. Or maybe the world will end,” Lenny told him.         &nbs...

16 likes 12 comments 12
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She Didn't Have The Right Words

Submitted to Contest #245

They were in his favorite restaurant, downtown, in Tribeca.“Let’s do the eclipse”, he said.He seemed very busy, so it came as a surprise to her.“Are you sure?” she said, “it’s such a long trip, to Maine”.“I can carve out time, but I might need to make a few phone calls on the road,” he said.She didn’t mind. His work was important. She would find a place for them to stay.“Are you staying at my apartment tonight?” he said to her, as he handed the waiter his credit card.  +++Couples, families, small groups traipsed from cars and picku...

15 likes 9 comments 9
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Eclipse. The, Sun, the Moon , Humans and Beasts

Submitted to Contest #245

 Saturday, April 6th 2024“I came here to hide myself away. I have a new outlook on life… if that's what I can call this little world I have created for myself. I moved to Luna Pier Michigan fifteen years ago. With hopes to just … exist… without pressure to perform, or to exceed anyone’s expectations. To learn how to forgive myself, if there is such a thing, and to rediscover my innocence, if any remains. I hope to find mercy, both to give and receive. My life in New York City was fun and exciting at first, tantalizing eve...

14 likes 10 comments 10
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The Moon Spoke the Truth

Submitted to Contest #245

The moon spoke the truth.The truth set me free.I heard its truthAs I drank my bubbly.My moon viewing glasses,Splashed with fine wine,Saw you quite clearly,Just that one time.The wine loosed my tongue,I delivered a grape crushed blowYou were “The man”,And I failed to stroke your ego.Don’t ‘member what I saidEn vino veritas, I had sass.You the king, the ruler,Maybe I called you an ass.You showed me the truth,With the back of your hand.A mark on your queen,Darkness o’er the land.But in marriage unspoken, The spell it did break.And sober ki...

14 likes 16 comments 16
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