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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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

Posted in Halloween on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 26 stories

“The Great Pumpkin Massacre ” by Daniel R. Hayes

Submitted to Contest #117

(Content Warning: Blood, Gore, Murder, Violence, Spooky terror.) It’s Halloween once again, and soon the kids on Dead Wood Street will be out trick-or-treating. The night will be full of imagination and wonder as sweet treats are handed out. The old can be young again as they watch the little ones stagger around in costumes of fright and glorious splendor. Indeed, All Hallows' Eve is a night of spooky pleasure and merrymaking. It is believed that ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and demons can walk among the living on this day. Others thi...

9 comments 9
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“1-800-Spiritual-Specialists” by Laura Pamenter

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #117

1-800-Spiritual-Specialists Laura Pamenter There is no weather in the phantom realm. Just a gust of wind of every time a new ghost transports to our world, leaving behind their first home.  The banshee-like howl of the wind woke me today. It tore through my bedroom window like a hurricane, sharp and ferocious. They say sleep isn’t necessary for us anymore, but I still like to keep my schedule intact. What else is there to do for the hours between my work shifts, other than stare out my window into an...

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“Emergency” by Christina Marie

Submitted to Contest #117

“Full moon tonight,” nurse Mary Bennett remarked, tying the strings of her paper gown with raw cracked fingers. The rest of the night shift stirred uneasily. Louise kissed the delicate silver crucifix that hung around her neck and muttered a prayer to the ceiling. Michael re-tied his shoelaces three times. Shelley lifted her face shield to chug the remains of a Red Bull. Superstition always flicked its forked tongue in the face of science on nights like this.   Outside, the fluorescent EMERGENCY sign shivered awake. A splatterin...

4 comments 4
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“Lights Go Down” by H. Lee Russell

Submitted to Contest #117

"So, tell me what this is again?" Heidi asked with the crabby tone that was typical for her nowadays. She scratched at the messy bun atop her scalp, a frock of red hair barely held together by a pink scrunchie. "It's an event I get paid to do," said David, brushing his thumb over the laptop's trackpad. "What, did you forget all the gigs I've done over the last four years?" "If by gigs, you mean hitting play on a Spotify playlist, then no, I haven't forgotten." Heidi kicked at a blue pebble, watched it skip into the street. "Har de har har...

5 comments 5
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“The Broken Dollhouse” by Darlene McDonald

Submitted to Contest #117

I dropped the bloody ax to the ground and dragged it behind me down the hallway. This eerie thudding sound caused the couple in front of me to glance nervously over their shoulders and pick up their pace, feeling along the walls as they went. I knew they couldn’t see me in the darkness. They had just been semi-blinded by bright lights in the last room they were in and I was dressed all in black, with even my face shrouded.  I also knew they were about to run into a dead end.  As they felt along the wall and real...

2 comments 2
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“Day of the Dead, Night of the Reaper” by Heather Johnsen-Gisi

Submitted to Contest #117

"Do I really have to go?" I smile compassionately at the young man in front of me. "No Son, you have fortunately died on a very special night and can take your time." The young man looks around the mess of the car crash and gathered observers to the pumpkins in the yards beyond. He looked back at the people. "Why can't they see us?" "You are no longer here, my friend. Not your flesh and blood anyway. Now stop wasting time. Go see your family for I will be back at midnight." The eighteen-year-old, still dressed in a skeleton costume, nods and...

2 comments 2
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“The Curse of Blackwater” by Rik Lelic

Submitted to Contest #117

(Trigger Warning: Rape, Abortion, Violence) Ages ago, when petty kings fought for dominance over the land, lawlessness and cruelty were sovereign. Chaos was most rampant in the neglected countryside, far removed from the trappings of civilization. The Lords, busy with their squabbles, cared naught for the common folk. They waged war as long as there were boys to be taken and armed for their hosts. One such Lord, a knight no less, was a man of bravery but also fierce temperament. His victories in war made him rich both from its spoils, as...

2 comments 2
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“The Busiest Night of the Year” by Edward Savage

Submitted to Contest #117

The chair creaked and moaned as he dropped into it with a heartfelt sigh stretching his legs out in front of him. He pulled off his leather gauntlets and dropped them on the side table then pushed his hood back and rubbed his face in an attempt to rub his fatigue away. There was a clink as a full tumbler of whisky over ice was set down on the table.  “Thank you, Michael,” he said, his voice full of the fatigue he felt. “Your welcome Samael. Rough night?” “I really hate All Hallows Eve,” he replied, picking up the glass and taking a h...

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“The Ones” by Omar Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. The crowd sought out the individuals. For tonight, the teens three, Explore our realm and be free. In Spookville, its projected A theme of darkness, demented. Spirited demons and ghoulish hosts, A lively bunch of passionate ghosts. In Spookville, the ceremony would mean A new way to cross in between. Two worlds would be connected. Once passed, not be rejected. On All Hallows Eve, Those appointed to leave Are tasked to perceive Something sweet to retrieve. Upon their return, They apprise what the...

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“Mask and You Shall Receive” by Aitazaz Asrar

Submitted to Contest #117

When you’ve been a bespoke costume maker for as long as I have, you don’t normally get surprised. I’ve pretty much seen it all. But one letter sent by a potential customer three days before Halloween night perplexed me more than any other I’ve ever received. The letter read: Mr. Robert, I require a mask made from the photo attached below. Make it as realistic as possible. My head measurements are written on the backside and so is my address. Have it ready by the 30th and leave it outside the door of my house. Your payment is enclosed.&...

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“Beautiful Souls” by Emily Snyder

Submitted to Contest #117

“You ready?” I ignored the question. I’d seen enough war to understand what was coming and Gabriel should know not to expect an answer. I watched the earth turn beneath us. Soon the hour would come for us to return, but for now we were safely beyond the boundary line.  There was a disturbance in the air. A plane was headed towards us. Gabriel moved out of it’s way, but I let it pass through my translucent body. I wanted to see the passengers inside. I studied the indifferent faces of those who were unaware of my existence. The dog in ...

2 comments 2
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“Halloween in New Orleans” by Alexandra Burt

Submitted to Contest #117

Prologue It was a partly cloudy Friday night in October around 8 p.m. There was a light breeze that stirred the multicolored leaves on the trees and ground in little whirlwinds. Big puffy clouds were floating lazily on by. The parking lot of the Bee and Jay Supermarket was shining brightly on the cars and people strolling about, either looking for their cars because they forgot where they parked or getting out of their cars to shop for Halloween goodies and costumes with their families. Once inside the “Market”, as the locals enjoyed callin...

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“Halloween Justice” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #117

TW: Suicide, Child violence / pedophillia mention. You’d be surprised how many suicides occur on Halloween night.I can’t take credit for all of them—by that I mean Vatzio and I can’t. Some kill themselves without meeting us. I cannot speak to their guilt or innocence.What appears to be a huge bull mastiff with me is a Sin Hound. They sense the sins within people, and their physical contact draws it out of them. I’m not what I appear to be either. Humans don’t adopt Sin Hounds from local rescue groups and use them like discarded hunting dogs...

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“Mostly Treats” by Mikayla Mahan

Submitted to Contest #117

Ding, dong.  Ding ding ding, dong.  Ding ding ding ding, dong. Tommy huffed to the door. “There’s no reason to ring more than once, mongrels,” he grumbled to himself. He repeated his utterings when he opened the door. Fat fists clutching plastic pumpkins, twin dinosaurs looked up at him expectantly. He plopped an ice cream scoop full of tuna salad in their baskets and slammed the door shut, not waiting to see the rugrats’ shocked expressions. Rubbing his back, Tommy hobbled back to his folding chair that sat in the fo...

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“BONES ARE US” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #117

I rolled my eyes, shook my head repeatedly, while mouthing a most definite NO, as I held the phone away from my ear. This latest request was over the top and more sinister than anything I've ever encountered to date. Our business was seeing an increase in many things that seem to be popular at this time of year. We had to be mindful and cautious of who was asking for our select items, what certain products they felt were necessary, and the large amount they wanted to purchase. There were only so many morgues across the country where unclaime...

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Contest #117

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This week's theme: All Hallows' Eve

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Ended on 23:59 - Oct 29, 2021 EST

Won by John Merino 🏆

Title: Sleep Story

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