Set your story in a library, after hours.

Posted in Horror on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 254 stories

“The Door” by C O L L E T E M E L R O

Submitted to Contest #91

By - Collete MelroWell, it may be unexpected but this story starts in the back alley of the library. The weather cold and my breath is stiff. You may be wondering why here? Why not here its 12 am and I am feeling myself. And I want to break into the library and read my favorite book. Well, I just can't get enough of the romances the books, here have to hold, and I got kicked out of the library a while back. But this is where the story begins. I break in one of the windows and I grab some books and curl up.But then I spot a butterfly and it's...

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“Is Something Lurking Down There?” by Robert Consiglio

Submitted to Contest #91

“So, you are telling me that you’ve known for over a week that there is some kind of creature inside the University library,” says Paul McDonald, rector of Queen Anna University. “Yes,” says Guido Bertelli. “Although I’ve never seen it, I have found signs that there’s someone or something sneaking around down there.” “Down…” “In the library stacks, says Guido. “The library goes 8 stories underground, you know.” The rector stares...

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“After Hours...” by Elizabeth Anne

Submitted to Contest #91

“I got you Mrs. Baker, no problem!” Julie shouted at her boss, stacking up books onto her cart. The public library of Northern Wisconsin was closing. Typically Mrs. Baker stays with Julie as they clean up for the day, but she got a call from her son frantically asking her to come home. Mrs. Baker asked if Julie was alright to close up by herself tonight. Mrs. Baker smiled, grabbing her things. “I knew I could count on you. The keys are on the counter to lock up. I’ll see you tomorrow Julie!” The door slammed and Julie listened as her c...

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“Too Loud” by Kayla Wamslay

Submitted to Contest #91

I sat there feeling completely helpless. Staring at the empty document on my laptop the cursor blinking. I am trying to think, trying to write but I can’t. It was a cold evening and the leaves on the trees danced to the tune of the wind. I have been sitting in this exact chair in front of an empty page for over two hours already. “Think Fred, think!” I thought to myself. My best friend Daniel on the other hand was typing away. We had to write a 1000 word essay for english class and it's due tomorrow. Daniel was always smarter than me. In gra...

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“Night Life” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #91

“Anything? Have you noticed that this age of viruses and communal distancing is making our lives considerably more difficult. They used to leave, if not entire meals, crumbs at least. But now, nothing. I don’t see how we can continue to stay here if things don’t change.” “You may be right, but need I remind you; we are just a link in the chain of Scotts that have inhabited this building for the past 100 years. If you remember correctly, it was here almost sixty generations ago that Billibond Jeffries learned to read....

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“Hunting the Ghost of Fiona Diamond” by Elizabeth D

Submitted to Contest #91

The librarian watched from behind the circulation desk as a young mother and daughter, the last patrons of the night, approached the desk with a stack of picture books. Pasting on a cheery smile, the librarian checked out their books and sent them on their way. As soon as they passed through the double glass doors, she strolled over and turned the lock, reaching for the drawcord to lower the blinds on the quiet dark street beyond. Finally, she breathed, pressing her back against the mahogany doors. The cavernous great room of the library sp...

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“The Fruits of Our Labour” by Natalie Brundle

Submitted to Contest #91

The walls are charred to pitch, burnt books crumbling on the stone floor as the last tendrils of smoke crawl upwards from the curling pages and wisp away.It happened again. Pietro remembers to hide this time, setting himself behind the mahogany desk with his blindfold bound tight around his head, hands pressed against his ears. It took him a few times to get used to the sight, the blaze so wild and blinding it felt akin to barrelling towards an eclipse. The sound came next, the pop and crackle and fizz drumming in his skull, ricocheting...

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“Evening at the Elwood” by Taylor F

Submitted to Contest #91

Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep. The tiny sound of my digital watch notified me of the new hour, but I could tell it was way past leaving time with only the moonlight illuminating my corner of the library. Voices came from outside. I shifted to my knees and peeked through the window above me. “What are you boys still doing here?” It was Mrs. Henderson, the old lady who worked behind the counter. It was the first time I had ever seen her outside of the library. She was nice and all, but I always thought she lived ...

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“In The Moonlight Hollow” by Risha Tevins

Submitted to Contest #91

Moonlight.It shone an icy-silver layer of velvet over absolutely everything, bleaching out all distinct shape and colour and light from life until it appeared effectively as a clinical, slumbering world. Morbidly surreal in its new flatness, illusions conjured out of the darkest depths of the unknown mind, flesh abandoned nature, turning to polished stone and gravel until they lost their viscosity, becoming pools of mirrors laid flat against the palm of emptiness.Silence descended upon the edge of abyss, ensconcing the guarded area insi...

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“The Hunt” by Amy Sirawsky

Submitted to Contest #91

I ducked down below the shelf as I grabbed at the blood covering my leg. Ian squated next to me, holding his shoulder. The must of the air mixed with the ripeness of fresh blood, decomposing bodies, and the strange scent of their insanity. It’ll be fun. I let go of my leg and grabbed a thesaurus from the shelf. Ian grabbed me by the shoulder as footsteps neared. The clack of her boots stopped feet in front of us. I took a deep breath as my muscles tensed with adrenaline. “Shannon?” Her soft voice bounced off the ceiling and circled us like...

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“Before the Singing Could Begin” by Kate Gaston

Submitted to Contest #91

Our story starts with a phone call. The owner is out at the time, parsing her way through the decay of her garden, salvaging the remaining squash, cabbages and peppers. November has arrived. She hears the ringing, but doesn’t imagine it could be important, and she’s working against the weather. It feels like rain, the moistness all around her, the mist of the fog coming down the sound. Then the wind does pick up, shaking the leaves left in the trees and dancing to the tune of her wind chimes around the trailer. The first few drops fall....

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“Taking After Inspiration” by Jax S

Submitted to Contest #91

My backpack thudded against my back as I walked down the cracked sidewalk of the city. Drivers were impatient on the streets as they tried to weave through the 5 o’clock traffic to get home in time for dinner. Some of them wanted to get home to their wives and children. Some wanted to get home to a loving girlfriend. Some wanted to get home to a fluffy pet. And some had no one at home, but simply wanted to be rid of another boring day. I was closest to the last type. Although, not that close. While all of these people honked their car horns ...

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“The night at the library” by Abigail Marriner

Submitted to Contest #91

“Jack, I told you libraries are so boring. Why did we even come here?” Jack looks to Maria, smirking. “I told you, I have to do this research project for English.” Rolling her eyes Maria follows Jack into the library. They walk into the large building. “And what exactly are you researching?” Jack leads her into the research section of the library. “I have to do a paper on English literature.” Jack starts to look down the halls. “Sounds boring to me.” Stay here, I'm going to try to find a librarian or something. You can just look around.” Mar...

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“Darkness and Deep Secrets” by Moon Mason

Submitted to Contest #91

They sat curled up in a corner, backpack at their side. Eyes shut as the last sliver of sun slipped below the horizon. The pages brushed their palm when the book shut softly. Ghost woke with a shove. Courtesy of the walking, talking, stereotypical football player, Travis Lockwood. Their book fell to the ground and they flashed him a frown. He returned it with squinted eyes. Yawning, Ghost said, "What do you want Travis?" They rubbed their back and noticed the indents from the bookshelf they had fell asleep against. Travis looked around a...

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“The Annex” by Reese Blaise

Submitted to Contest #91

I wake up in the library. It’s the middle of the day. No. Wait. I wake up in the library. It’s the middle of the night. That’s right. The lights were off. The building was quiet. It was the middle of the night and the library was closed. That’s the last thing I remember. Then why do I hear people upstairs? Why does my phone say it’s 2:30 in the afternoon? Pause. Take a breath. I’m in the library right now. It’s the middle of the day. But where exactly am I? I’ve never been in this section of the library before. The building...

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Set your story in a library, after hours.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 254 stories

“The Door” by C O L L E T E M E L R O

“Is Something Lurking Down There?” by Robert Consiglio

“After Hours...” by Elizabeth Anne

“Too Loud” by Kayla Wamslay

“Night Life” by Joe Swanson

“Hunting the Ghost of Fiona Diamond” by Elizabeth D

“The Fruits of Our Labour” by Natalie Brundle

“Evening at the Elwood” by Taylor F

“In The Moonlight Hollow” by Risha Tevins

“The Hunt” by Amy Sirawsky

“Before the Singing Could Begin” by Kate Gaston

“Taking After Inspiration” by Jax S

“The night at the library” by Abigail Marriner

“Darkness and Deep Secrets” by Moon Mason

“The Annex” by Reese Blaise

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone going to extreme lengths to return an overdue library book.

Start your story with a stern librarian scolding two characters for making noise in the library.

Write about a character who meticulously catalogs everything in their life, until something disrupts their system.

Write about a character stumbling upon a library book that changes the course of their life, for better or worse.

Contest #91

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

770

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: