Write a story where ghosts and the living coexist.

Posted in Halloween on Oct 20, 2023

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✍️ 69 stories

“Loreley” by Eugene McLean

Submitted to Contest #221

Eugene C. McLean Jr Word Count: 2,154 162 South 23rd Street Defuniak Springs, Florida 32435 Email: eugenemclean802@gmail.com Loreley By Eugene C. McLean Jr “You better get to making things right before it’s too late, Michael Bennett!” grumbled the old woman in the corner of the store through a nearly toothless mouth stained with chewing tobacco. “How do you know who I am?” Bennett asked impatiently. A moment of deathly silence...

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“A Walk in the Hereafter” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #221

“A Walk in the Hereafter” (A Ghost Story) It’s taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Of course, there’s no guidebook for dead people, at least as far as I know. After three months I’m still trying to get used to being dead. Even using that word is hard to adapt to. When death comes, people usually use terms like “He passed away” or “She’s in a better place”. It makes them feel better but the person is still dead and words can’t change that. I guess it’s just a way that people try to adjust to the whole situation. And one of the bigg...

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“New Beginnings and Spiritual Encounters” by Katherin Cole

Submitted to Contest #221

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. The alarm buzzes, jolting Lilian awake. Normally she begrudges getting up early, but not today. Today is a special day. Today is the day she leaves for college and her new life on campus. Finally she will be moving out of her family home and living on her own for the first time. And she can. Not. Wait! She jumps out of bed with a joyous exclamation and immediately starts getting ready. “Ah, you’re up,” her mother smiles as she nudges open her bedroom door. “How could I not be on a day like today,” Lilian grins back at her mum. ...

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“Fort Delaware, Very Alive” by Celia Bassols

Submitted to Contest #221

My sister and I wanted to have a ghostly experience around Halloween last year and we visited a supposedly haunted Civil War prison named Fort Delaware. To begin our adventure we had to take a ferry across the mouth of the river and past the marsh in order to get to Pea Patch Island.I noticed our tour guide had on rubber boots. I hate getting my feet wet.Taking my steps gingerly, I crossed the gangplank onto a dirt and tile walkway where the tread in my sneakers filled with squishy soil until we hit the well-kept lawn. Lovely, I thought to m...

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“The Church and the Chatty. ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #221

"You can do magic," Cheerful Charlie from the church practically moaned in orgasmic delight. Why was this? He had been summoned by Chatty Cathy to be her assistant, and try her latest concoction. These two were no Spring chickens. Absolutely not. Nothing to get too serious about these days. Longstanding pals, they sat in the back pew on Sunday, devoutly saying their prayers. They were doing a great job for their community all those years. A few Sundays prior, their religious leader had been preaching to the converted and the choir. The messa...

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“Death 101” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #221

I accidentally died the other day. And do you know what? It didn’t come with a manual. Shouldn’t there be a manual? I’m used to everything having a “How to…”, a YouTube tutorial, “Haunting for Dummies” even. But no. Heart stops, here you are, don’t forget your towel. So far it’s been a whirlwind of adjustments. Once I realized I was dead, as I stood by my body, I wasn’t sure if I should just hang out for a while there or if I needed to check in somewhere? Again, no manual. Was there a Hotel Death awaiting my check-in with a mint on the ...

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“Ghost Friend: A Miller South Teens Halloween Story” by Tori L. Day

Submitted to Contest #221

It was late fall in Akron, Ohio. Mason, Finn, Lexi, and Xenna were in town, visiting the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Inside the manor, they were touring the hallway and viewing out the paintings. "This place is booorrrriinnnggg," Finn groaned. "Come on, man. It's not that bad," Mason reassured. He placed his arm around his friend's shoulder. "Remember, we use to visit this place when we were at Miller South." "That was when we thought old stuff was cool. Now, it's just dull and gross." "Like our vice principal, Ms. Allen," L...

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“Our Host is a Ghost” by Robin Hollars

Submitted to Contest #221

Jackie sits as still as possible. She’d Googled it once and one of the top suggestions on the web was to not move. Movement during a possession could give the ghost something to cling to, like wrinkling up a brand-new white shirt for tie dye. Of course, how many of those people giving their suggestions online are face to face with a possessed Halloween prop skeleton on a live broadcast ghost hosted talk show? “Relax!” The voice booms, disconnected from the face in front of her. She can’t tell exactly where it’s coming from. Everywhere? ...

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“The Assembly Room” by Alasdair Perry

Submitted to Contest #221

London, 1855There is a general hum of conversation whilst the guests arrive. Eleanor has made sure there is a good turnout this evening, in that part of the house which she calls The Assembly Room. She thinks of all those she admires, who give her strength, comfort, or inspiration, and invites them - members of her family, all the great and the good. None of them are alive, as such. But how can they be dead if she still thinks of them? She closes her eyes and checks who is here so far. Her older brother E...

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“Roommate” by Sarah Nieman

Submitted to Contest #221

“You should add ‘mancer’ to the end of your name.” Nick looked up from his tea to the skeleton lounging on his couch. It tilted its head in a way that meant Mero, the ghost possessing it, was grinning. He sighed. Mero would only get worse if he didn’t ask. “Why?” The skeleton did its best approximation of a hum, tapping one boney finger against its chin, click, click, click. “Nicholas Row. Nicholas Row Mancer. Nick-ro-mancer!” The skeleton tilted its head the other way, beaming. Nick fought the urge to slam his forehead into the table. ...

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“Spirit Guide” by Evee R

Submitted to Contest #221

The dancefloor was packed! Shouldn’t have been a surprise for a Saturday night. This was THE club to be at for electronica dance music, light shows, and drinks. The beat, the bass, was so strong you could feel it through your body. It gave a sense of euphoria just from the music. Drinks were plenty, and surrounded by others to enjoy, it didn’t matter if you danced alone, with a group, or met new people. Jer watched as she waited to get a drink. An invisible wave seemed to move the crowd up and down with the music. Everyone’s head and body bo...

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“Don't Go Back” by Helen Anderson

Submitted to Contest #221

Don’t Go Back Trevor was up early that day, just like he was every other morning. He threw on his hi-vis shirt and long, blue work pants. You know the type, with the yellow reflective strips around the bottom. His steel-capped boots were stained with the undeniable evidence of years of hard work. The logo on his shirt read … “Thomas Constructions.” After brushing his teeth, he crept silently into the kid’s rooms and planted a loving kiss on each of their foreheads as they slept. I waited in the kitchen wearing my dressing gown and slip...

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“A Death at The Hangman's Noose?” by Neil Dabb

Submitted to Contest #221

You probably have never heard of the Anti-Anonymous writer’s conference, and that is a dirty rotten shame, especially if you have ever had any desire to write. The price was right too, the worst piece of writing you've ever done. "You know Rick that just might work." Michael grinned, his teeth glowing in the dimly lit bar. "Might? There's no doubt about it," Rick said, his green eyes glowing with that cat-like stare of his. "Even old Cal over there lit up when I explained it," he said rising to his full seven-foot heigh...

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“Sila-pattikaram - ("The story of the anklet") ” by 2minutes-dharma *

Submitted to Contest #221

Sila-pattikaram ("The story of the anklet") I recently read an English translation of the above Tamil epic purported to be written in 1 CE . This epic relates the revenge the legendary Tamil woman Kannagi wrecks on the Kingdom of the Pandyan Dynasty in Southern India. While watching the mesmerizing ballet from an old film noir rendition, couple of weeks later , subtle furrows of my mind were dredged up and the following episode from back when I was an engineering student in the 70s surfaced. Some of you may be...

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“A Town of Ghosts” by Blake Taylor

Submitted to Contest #221

It was a literal ghost town. Yasu could see the apparitions gliding along their day thanks to the sturdy steampunk-looking goggles over her eyes. Children came out of their burial plots and skipped to the playground next to the cemetery. The bottles lying around, which were empty before, were filled with a glowing substance. Yasu didn’t want to think about how there could be ghost liquid. Next to her, her friend was in awe. “I didn’t know the afterlife could be like this,” Michael drawled in his Southern accent. “Makes death feel lik...

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Write a story where ghosts and the living coexist.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“Loreley” by Eugene McLean

“A Walk in the Hereafter” by Tim Benson

“New Beginnings and Spiritual Encounters” by Katherin Cole

“Fort Delaware, Very Alive” by Celia Bassols

“The Church and the Chatty. ” by Julie Grenness

“Death 101” by Nina H

“Ghost Friend: A Miller South Teens Halloween Story” by Tori L. Day

“Our Host is a Ghost” by Robin Hollars

“The Assembly Room” by Alasdair Perry

“Roommate” by Sarah Nieman

“Spirit Guide” by Evee R

“Don't Go Back” by Helen Anderson

“A Death at The Hangman's Noose?” by Neil Dabb

“Sila-pattikaram - ("The story of the anklet") ” by 2minutes-dharma *

“A Town of Ghosts” by Blake Taylor

🌟 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 about someone trying to raise the dead.

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 🏆

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