Write a story about someone trying to raise the dead.

Posted in Halloween on Oct 20, 2023

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✍️ 50 stories

“The Bell” by Heather Koelle

Submitted to Contest #221

The Bell It was 1818 in London. Carriages, pulled by tired horses, clopped loudly on the cobblestone street. Gas street lamps lighted the misty night, but visibility was poor through dense fog, playing its cottony fingers around the shops and houses. “Guidry-Loo!” Someone shouted. A man emptied his chamber pot out the window. Joshua crossed the road, along with others. He cursed as a fly bit him in the neck. Flies, garbage, and sewage in the street gutters accompanied the autumn night. Joshua was sweating under his wrinkled linen jac...

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“When Does Life Begin?” by Dez-Ray Davis

Submitted to Contest #221

It felt like the first time the sun met the moon. Her light washed over him; she held the night sky in a warm embrace, and kissed the star-embedded skin wrapped around his face. In the presence of the other, they gleam and glow through the darkest of moments. Their brilliance blossoms into the world something new, something that protects and guides the lost wanderers in their souls. Every time their symmetrical images overlap, their smiles throw fireworks and shine; like a solar eclipse, casting a disco of small crescents over the earth as i...

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“A Deal With The Devil” by Danielle Obiri

Submitted to Contest #221

The act of raising the dead is not a simple task but not impossible for a professional like Celeste Douab, Contracted Communicator and Specialist of the Dark Arts; her official title (though may need a bit of renovating). However, an impressive trade requires an impressive title and Celeste was risking her life by abiding to the needs of her clients. The Dark Arts were outlawed ten years ago in all the Seven Regions, rendering it more dangerous than it was already by nature. Just walking into a graveyard, a client by her side, with the inten...

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“Androids Build Androids” by Kit Gordon

Submitted to Contest #221

Bethany Ruth Douglas, the small, thin widow, sat taciturn on her couch with her late husbands gray felt hat in her lap, thumbing the rim and blotching it with tears. It had been over a year, and grief still lived fresh inside her broken heart. Behind her stood the skeletal android, Ruthatoid, waiting to serve her needs. He’d been built to function as butler and maid, handyman and watchdog. The android was the death choir of Clyde Douglas, her husband. From the doctor’s word “Terminal,” Clyde began his work. Had there been more life to...

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“Don't Drink the Tea” by Keith Menendez

Submitted to Contest #221

The former Legion captain woke up with a start. His hands were in irons as he rode on the back of Spitfire. Will led the way on his white mustang, Winter. The elf rode next to him, while Popson and Chang followed. The hooves clattered down the somber streets of Between. He stretched his sore neck and back. He gingerly touched the large bump on his forehead, which was covered in a white bandage. "What happened? Why am I sore all over?" Popson called from behind, "You tried to ki...

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“The Summoners ” by DH Irving

Submitted to Contest #221

The Summoners by D.H.Irving Specters and apparitions danced across the darkened room; flickering shadows that spun and whirled chaotically in the sputtering light of the sickly-sweet candles that brought them to life. The low rumble of a constant, almost imperceptible chant slid rhythmically through the silence like a brackish ooze, filling the gaps of nothingness until the whispered words seemed almost deafening in the otherwise quiet room. Upon the floor, a crude pentagram had been hastily painted, its spattered lines...

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“A movie date” by Sinbad Omorodion

Submitted to Contest #221

The woods were spooky, owls hooting and for some reason in sync with the sound of crickets, Eddy had never been there, especially not at night. According to him, anyone with half a brain knew this was where the evil vampire or werewolf in a high school fantasy show gets you to either feast on you or turn you into a monster like him. The only thing compelling Eddy was the thought of a date, one he had been promised by his crush, Evelyn. Ever since the second year of high school, he had been madly in love with her, but she never gave...

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“The Seance” by Renee Langley

Submitted to Contest #221

Anna and Kari had graduated high school last spring. They had been best friends since grade school. It was almost Halloween which was Anna’s favorite holiday. She loved exploring cemeteries and old vacant homes and anything paranormal. While walking home, they passed the old Dell mansion. It was vacant for at least twenty years. Once owned by a woman named Agnes Dell. She supposedly died in the house on Halloween. Since then the house was left vacant. It was an old Victorian style home. Back in the day it was probably quite the sight to see....

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“They Danced” by Amy Mahlke

Submitted to Contest #221

They say that the deepest definition of youth is a life that has not yet been touched by tragedy. But I know better. Dashed illusions are every bit as destructive to youth as tragedy.My childhood ended on a Friday night in October of ’89, when I was in sixth grade.My little sister Shelby and I were lying at opposite ends of our Grandma Bea’s couch watching T.V., when our Grandma Bea hollered, “Brownie’s are ready, girls!”Shelby scrambled off the couch so fast she kicked me in the face and then staggered into the coffee table, sending Grandma...

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“I will always be there” by Peach Wells

Submitted to Contest #221

It all started our first year of university, we were both starting our bachelor’s in psychology. You sat beside me and told me your name was Elsie, I informed you mine was Arthur. We made small talk about our class until our professor came, we continued to talk after class, and this became our routine. I always found the mind to be a vast and fascinating place, but you brought that interest to an entirely new level. The way you thought and looked at the world was simply exhilarating, and you took me for the ride of my life. You said walking ...

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“To Raise Them Up” by Mahtan Runya

Submitted to Contest #221

“Scath Kokori.” I looked up from my desk, scattered with the latest reports from my spies and commanders on the front lines. Death tolls, enemy movements, proposed strategies. All of them thinly veiled with desperation, every one of them saying the same thing: ‘We are losing.’ With a simple gesture, I set them aflame as I looked at my right-hand man, Captain Adalyn Belos. Older and wiser than me, he had acted as a sure, guiding hand, and now that I was the one in command, he had been invaluable in both aid and criticism, often in eq...

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“The Tome of Night Terror” by Meghan Brooks

Submitted to Contest #221

Trigger warning: violence, mentions of Hell, and gruesome deaths.The Bat Wing Society bookstores had many customers come and go, renting spellbooks to those who wanted to experiment and use them for whatever purpose they wanted. The lady of this particular Pondview store, Miss Foxglove, cautioned against using books that involved the use of dark arts, especially necromancy. She kept certain books like a book with the face of a blue demon on the cover locked up as a precaution. Miss Foxglove wanted to ensure that no one stole them at night or...

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“The Lady of Harrow” by Dan Ward

Submitted to Contest #221

14 November 1902Dear ThaddiusI thank you so kindly for your last letter, as well as the wreath you so thoughtfully sent. The staff and I were sorry to not have the pleasure of your presence during these solemn times. Of course it would be unforgivable to have asked you to make the journey back from America, even under such grave circumstances. The memorial was as pleasant as such things can be. It was an unusually bright and clear day here in London, and we were fortunate enough for the Harrow council to suspend the church service for A...

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“Revenants” by Kyle Meyer

Submitted to Contest #221

August 30, 1752 My Dearest Isabella, After a long uneventful journey I have finally reached the shores of Acadia. I already miss you more than words can describe. I can only hope that this endeavour proves fruitful and brief. So it appears this small plot of land, endowed to my family on behalf of my grandfathers service to King and country, seems pittance; hardly worth my leaving Massachussets, leaving my medical practice, leaving you… Yet I find myself hoping s...

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“Primum non Nocere” by Richard Griffths

Submitted to Contest #221

“Look alive, guys, we got another code blue coming in five minutes.” The doctor screamed through the still swinging doors. His scrubs were still stained with the blood of his last patient. “Jesus, what happened out there? They just keep coming.” Mary asked, dark bags hung under her eyes like sickly plums. “A lady told me a semi drove on the wrong side of the inters...

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Write a story about someone trying to raise the dead.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 50 stories

“The Bell” by Heather Koelle

“When Does Life Begin?” by Dez-Ray Davis

“A Deal With The Devil” by Danielle Obiri

“Androids Build Androids” by Kit Gordon

“Don't Drink the Tea” by Keith Menendez

“The Summoners ” by DH Irving

“A movie date” by Sinbad Omorodion

“The Seance” by Renee Langley

“They Danced” by Amy Mahlke

“I will always be there” by Peach Wells

“To Raise Them Up” by Mahtan Runya

“The Tome of Night Terror” by Meghan Brooks

“The Lady of Harrow” by Dan Ward

“Revenants” by Kyle Meyer

“Primum non Nocere” by Richard Griffths

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story from a ghost’s point of view.

Write a story about someone who is haunted. Whether by a ghost or something else is up to you.

Write a story where ghosts and the living coexist.

Set your story in a world where contacting the dead is as easy as making a phone call.

Contest #221

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

426

Contest entries

148

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: