Set your story at the boundary between two realms.

Posted in Halloween on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 76 stories

“Sleep Story” by John Merino

"Now blessings light on him that first invented this same sleep: it covers a man all over, thoughts and all, like a cloak; 'Tis meat for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, heat for the cold, and cold for the hot. 'Tis the current coin that purchases all the pleasures of the world cheap; and the balance that sets the king and the shepherd, the fool and the wise man even. There is only one thing that I dislike in sleep; 'Tis that it resembles death.”- Don Quixote“I have to practice staying ali...

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“Styx and Stones” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

A cold thick fog enveloped the muddy banks of the River Styx, chilling Persephone’s ankles. Demeter pulled Persephone’s coarsely woven robes tightly around her—robes of finely combed linen made from flax soaked in olive oil. When dried in the balmy Grecian sun, Persephone’s clothing smelled of newborn lambs and gentle sunbeams and fresh mown grass, but her dark destination had none of those sensations—nothing to smell, nothing to taste, nothing to feel. Demeter kissed her daughter’s forehead.“I do not want to go back,” ...

36 comments 36

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“Hellville” by Ivy Genesis

Content Warning: strong language Word was going around Hellville that a new priest was in town. The old one died just 7 days after his retirement, but it was just enough time for him to find a replacement. The church was not frequented too often, and for a good reason: the church was built in the deepness of the woods, where tree crowns covered the sky and crows were eating the carcasses ...

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“The Night Creatures” by Howard Halsall

Jessie and I never saw the van that killed us that night at the crossroads. It flew out of the darkness like a predatory raptor swooping down on its prey. An anxious resident who’d heard the crash called the emergency services. Fifteen minutes later, they arrived to discover the other driver had abandoned his stolen vehicle, leaving us unconscious and trapped inside our mangled car. The paramedics performed defibrillation as we raced to the hospital, however after all their efforts, they declared us both dead on arrival.

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“With Four Words” by Tommie Michele

She stumbled into the shop with eyes wider than the chasm between life and death.I could come up with a better metaphor, given time. The chasm between life and death is not as wide as many assume.I should know. I run this place.Some do not believe it exists. Some fear it. Some call it Purgatory.All are misguided.She stumbled into my Apothecary not long ago. I've been keeping an eye on her since she crossed the doorframe and the bell above rang out with a lonely tone. I remain silent, of course. Waiting f...

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“The Demon of Tricks ” by Courtney Moore

The Demon of Tricks sits at my door.He says he loves me, but I don’t know anymore.The screaming down the hall has put mine to shame.I know he has others, and I am most tame.“Hardly tame, love,” he laughs, pacing the space outside the gates. Shadows push against the thick material, but never cross. Sounds and smells, of laughter and decay, are the only pieces of him allowed through. “But you are my favorite,” the raspy voice purrs. His swift steps come to...

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“Two Bodies” by Emily Blackbay

Trigger warning: body horrorIt began when, as a small child, I noticed a cut on my forearm the size and shape as the tip of a cat’s tongue. I had been scaling a cluster of tall rocks on the beach’s far end. Out of sight my mother slept peacefully, the pitched tent of a beauty magazine shading her face. Blood welled inside the shallow puddle of the cut, and as I instinctively put my fingers to stop the flow, peeled the skin off my forearm in one long strip. There was no pain, and the wind blew my cr...

2 comments 2 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Battle for B'Droom” by Amanda Fox

The morning dawned cold and bright over the valley. As the sun crested over the western hill, it illuminated a lone knight, the formidable and intimidating Sir Mason, on horseback, his red and gold bear crest stark against the cloudless skies. The bear knight’s soldiers emerged behind him, the sun to their backs, creating one solid silhouette of impending warfare.Gallant and beloved Sir Noah, on the eastern hill, blinked against the rising sun. His army stood at his back, silently menacing, an...

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“The Curious Story of Life and Death” by Jessica Payne

“You do this every year, Alison. Every year that veil comes down and our realms collide, I find you in the same spot, same table set up and a new game ready to start.” The chair creeks as she slides it out and sits down. A smile grows on the angelic face across from her, moving a piece forward two spaces, “Well, it’s the only way I get to see that devilish grin of yours, Lady Marian.” She extends her hand...

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“God's Knowing” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

This is incredible.To his left was Earth. It had a shimmering cerulean glow about it which starkly contrasted its pitch-black cosmic backdrop. Henu couldn’t see even a single star, standing in front of the Gate, and that sent a chill down his spine. His home, which was immense and humbling, could now fit in his hand. Henu wondered if he crushed it would he rid them of their suffering.He stood transfixed by the beauty of his world for a long time. With time comes perception, and with perception ...

6 comments 6

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“Invasion” by John Lynn

Invasion As Aubrey Bailey slowed to enter the town of Ballyfrack he was pleased to see a hotel sign lit by an overhead street light and made up his mind there and then if there was accommodation available he would stop for the night. The meeting with the solicitor had taken far too long which meant he’d been caught up in rush hour...

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“Purely Selfish Poltergeisting” by Mack Gage

Erin was a speck of dust on the map back home, trapped in the holographic border marking the edge of Human space. All around her, specks of dust were still exploding. When she thought of home Erin meant West Virginia. Of all the places left on Old Earth, West Virginia might have changed the least. It was still poor. Still a backwater. Still hell, for a precocious young woman like her. If a person could still be precocious when they were dying, and young after they’d been to war. Home wasn’t th...

2 comments 2 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“The Unquiet” by Caroline Eddy

“This is kind of ballsy,” Davis McKenna said with an unkind smile. Eve frowned, arms crossed over her blouse. She’d always hated. “I prefer unorthodox.” “Uh huh,” Davis sniffed. His eyes drifted to the next chair over, where Henry sat still save for an anxious bouncing leg. “And you’re sure about this?” “You’ve heard Eve’s answer,” Henry said in a clipped tone. “So...

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“Hel” by Shiloh Ord

Trigger Warning: Mentioning of death. Parentage is and has always been an important factor in who you are and who you will become. For some, having a "high-class" father would give them comfort and riches. However, for myself and my siblings that is not exactly the case. Living in a deep cavern, with dripping water and cold rock and dirt floors is not something one would expect with our...

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“New Born Spirit” by John K Adams

“Here. Take some before it’s gone.” Don shoved the flask into Greg’s ribs. “I’m good.” He gently pushed the bottle away and continued walking along Bayshore Boulevard overlooking Hillsborough Bay. Don held the bottle up and announced, “Everclear… Highly recommended by nine out of ten Neanderthals…” He guffawed and took another swig. “This stuff kicks ass!” He shook the pint bottle in Bill’s face. T...

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Set your story at the boundary between two realms.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 76 stories

“Sleep Story” by John Merino

“Styx and Stones” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Hellville” by Ivy Genesis

“The Night Creatures” by Howard Halsall

“With Four Words” by Tommie Michele

“The Demon of Tricks ” by Courtney Moore

“Two Bodies” by Emily Blackbay

“The Battle for B'Droom” by Amanda Fox

“The Curious Story of Life and Death” by Jessica Payne

“God's Knowing” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

“Invasion” by John Lynn

“Purely Selfish Poltergeisting” by Mack Gage

“The Unquiet” by Caroline Eddy

“Hel” by Shiloh Ord

“New Born Spirit” by John K Adams

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with the words “Everything was ready for the ritual.”

Write about a character who uses a night where everyone’s in costume as cover for something sinister.

Write about a missing person nobody seems to know or remember.

Write about someone whose busiest night of the year is Halloween.

Contest #117

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

245

Contest entries

153

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: