Set your story in a library, after hours.

Posted in Horror on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 254 stories

“Theif” by Seth Berg

Submitted to Contest #91

Dellin melted out of the wall. “Finally,” He thought, “I was starting to think that they would never leave.” The room that he found himself in was huge. All around him, giant shelves rose up towards the high ceiling were thick wooden rafters held up the structure. Over the shelves in front of him he could see the balcony of the second floor. Or maybe balcony wasn’t quite the right word, since walls of metal shelves went from the floor of the second floor up to the ceiling, blocking it from sight completely. “You need to be more pati...

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“The Janitor” by Shahed Ebesh

Submitted to Contest #91

The janitor’s job is to sweep the floor, mop the hardwood, clean the counters, and lock the doors on his way out. He has done this job for four and a half years this August, ever since starting his senior year of highschool. It only takes him an hour to get through the entirety of Halbrook Public Library, three times a week, and it’s a nice change of pace. It pays alright. He pushes a heavy sanitary cart past automatic open doors. With noise cancelling headphones on and a somber playlist queued up, he begins. He spritzes surface clea...

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“THE FLEA and THE GNAT” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #91

THE FLEA and THE GNAT_____ The last to leave had been that big woman, Gabriella, whom he, Ringo Round, which was a keen observer cat, also equipped with antennae beating, in terms of capability to perceive, even space probes, could not suffer. Ah, he found her too grimace, too petulant, not to say of her habit to use industrial quantities of deodorants and perfumes, which made the air not breathable , making his nostrils pinch and his eyes water. However it was she, th...

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“The Bright Spots” by Christina Wooten

Submitted to Contest #91

The restroom reeked with the pungent smell of Lysol mixed with aromatic bathroom freshener. The single bulb that dimly illuminated the room blinked on and off, on and off, like an oscillating fan, in a dizzying, inconsistent cycle. Adam had gotten used to the winking of the light and paid it no heed as he swept. Back and forth, back and forth, with the same tedious repetition as the flashing bulb. Sometimes, to amuse himself, Adam would attempt to time his sweeps with the light. But usually he wanted to finish working as quickly as possible ...

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“Lights of the Night” by Alice Watson

Submitted to Contest #91

My breath hitched as I heard the old librarian move around the bookshelves. I moved silently behind another shelf and crouched down. I tried to contain my excitement, but I could feel my body beginning to shake in anticipation. I watched quietly as the old woman scanned the rows of books, looking for movement. I saw a look of exhaustion on the woman's face as she finally sighed and moved towards the front door. I kept moving as well around the bookshelves, easily staying out of her line of vision. The woman turned the...

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“The Little Girl in The Aisle” by Rex Baker

Submitted to Contest #91

Joshua let out a long sigh. He had signed up for overtime and now had a mountain of paperwork and late books. He knew what he was getting into from the start, that doesn't mean he enjoyed it. In fact, he hated his job a lot. It was boring, he should've chased his dream of being a doctor. Joshua brushed off his want for another job, instead deciding to make the best of his current job. But as Joshua finished up another long paper, he heard something. It sounded like a thud, which immediately alarmed Joshua. No one else was in the building.....

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“The Library After Hours” by Darrelle Beaudry

Submitted to Contest #91

It’s such a cold night; the snowflakes are pretty though. How I love the different seasons. What am I thinking, in this moment, oh yes, how important it is to live life with all five senses. A slight smile tiptoes across my lips. Suddenly, my pocket vibrates, what I’m thinking now is how much I hate cellphones but it’s my sister from Tennessee. She can run hot and cold so it’s hard to ignore a call when I get the honor of receiving one. “Hello.” Her greeting never changes, “What are you doing?” I can be too honest sometim...

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“What Lies Underneath” by N K

Submitted to Contest #91

Dear Robert, Thank you so very much for your letter. Don’t let it get to your head, but I might’ve even liked it better than the shirt signed by Michael B. Jordan. Possibly. Speaking of that dreamboat, I read that they’ve cast Angela Bassett to play his mom. Please, please, please get me her autograph. I’ve got one page left on that autograph book we got at Disney World and I’ve already reserved it for her. Before you think up an excuse, I can imagine you and the entire crew are barely spared a moment for such frivolous activities as fulf...

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“Evernight Library” by Giselle Anastasia Asra

Submitted to Contest #91

Death is the ultimate end to any person. It is one of the common constants between any person no matter what gender, race, or social class. What happens after death is a question that most people would have thought about at least once, perhaps in passing or even pondering upon its imminence late at night. I never thought that life after death would like this. My afterlife is cold and quiet. Endless halls surrounded by darkness, unable to do anything but wander aimlessly. It's lonely. I can't believe this. I'm a ghost and for some reason, ...

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“I See Him” by Theodore Gerbot

Submitted to Contest #91

She held a finger up to her lips. I responded and ceased whispering to her. We were crouched behind a bookshelf, as we had decided to hide in the library until nighttime. We had hoped to explore the vast expanse of shelves. A glance at my watch showed me that it was approaching midnight. The realization sent a chill up my spine. The last librarian should have left at least three hours ago. However, not even ten minutes ago, we heard footsteps echoing throughout the library. I grabbed her hand, and as her eyes flew open, I shoved my wrist in ...

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“Love Is Built On Books And Bread” by Cyndi Hunt

Submitted to Contest #91

The last visitor slipped out the library doors, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong today, and I was more than ready to kick my shoes off and finish up a few tasks before heading home for the night. The old, worn wheels of the cart squeaked softly as I pushed it down the aisles, pausing only when I stopped to place a book back in its alphabetical spot on the shelf. I have always loved this part of my job. The calmness of an empty library is so peaceful and serene. Only my thoughts and the deligh...

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“The Library” by Chris Culpepper

Submitted to Contest #91

Little Macy loved going to the library. Exploring all the shelves of books both fiction and nonfiction could easily occupy an entire afternoon. But today's trip would be different. Today's trip would change her life. Looking back, she should have recognized this trip would be different. Normally, she and her mother would end their Wednesday errands by stopping at the library. Her mother enjoyed coffee and a good book while Macy went from shelf to shelf picking her favorites. "Remember, Macy," her mother would remind her, "only 3 boo...

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“THE GIFT OF READING” by Julia Corliss

Submitted to Contest #91

The young librarian walked the lower floor making sure all was tidied up from patrons using the reading areas during the day. She returned to her desk and manipulated the security screens to check the upper floor. All was empty and quiet. She picked up her purse, put on her coat, took her keys, and locked up as she left for the evening. On the upper floor there was a slight creaking sound as if someone was slowly pushing open an old door, except there were no old doors on the second floor of the town library. At least, there were no ...

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“Awake” by Gale Parks

Submitted to Contest #91

The new book arrived just like all the others before it. Mrs. Granger paid no attention to it. She had just closed the library and really didn't feel like putting away all the new donations. All she wanted to do was go home, make some dinner, and curl up on the couch with a book, some cocoa, and her cat, Mr. Fudge. So, she shoved the books into the closet and turned to go. She opened the door, locked it behind her, and drove away. She suspected nothing, as on all the other nights. However, this was no ordinary...

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“Haunted” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #91

Haunted Suzanne Marsh “I double dare you to stay in the library all night.” “How much do you want to lose?” “Ten dollars.” “Bet.” Friday night I walked slowly toward the library. It had a mansion before Angus MacIntosh willed it to the library. Every kid that lived here knew the stories about the library being haunted. Just what made me do this foolish stunt? My pride in not being afraid of ghosts, I was not afraid of anything. I entered the library around seven thirty. It was almost dark which made it seem cree...

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Set your story in a library, after hours.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 254 stories

“Theif” by Seth Berg

“The Janitor” by Shahed Ebesh

“THE FLEA and THE GNAT” by Mara Masolini

“The Bright Spots” by Christina Wooten

“Lights of the Night” by Alice Watson

“The Little Girl in The Aisle” by Rex Baker

“The Library After Hours” by Darrelle Beaudry

“What Lies Underneath” by N K

“Evernight Library” by Giselle Anastasia Asra

“I See Him” by Theodore Gerbot

“Love Is Built On Books And Bread” by Cyndi Hunt

“The Library” by Chris Culpepper

“THE GIFT OF READING” by Julia Corliss

“Awake” by Gale Parks

“Haunted” by Sue Marsh

🌟 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: