Set your story in a library, after hours.

Posted in Horror on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 254 stories

“A Rose , a book and life .” by Fatima Zahra

Submitted to Contest #91

As Rose wandered in the alleys of knowledge as she called them, she felt at home, among her friends that truly loved and cared for her unconditionally .In the library halls she felt the most fulfilling sense of belonging .She could spend hours and hours reading to the point that everything loses meaning except for her existence and that of what she is reading .Funny enough, that made her encounter some troublesome situations at home and school .People nowadays are too narrowminded to appreciate how precious and enriching reading is .They pre...

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“Blood Blossoms” by Paloma Sharma

Submitted to Contest #91

There was no talking allowed in the library. But even outside it, the silence of the night hung heavy with words left unsaid. It was unusually warm for late June. Purple-grey clouds swirled above the three-storey public building. The smell of salt rose from the mangroves nearby. The distant bustle of trains chugging through Mira Road Station was absent. As was the constant buzz of Friday evening shoppers, swarming stores and street-vendors alike on Poonam Sagar Road. Amidst strict night curfew, the lively satellite suburb with its bulging po...

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“Sweet Immersion ” by Marianna Mills

Submitted to Contest #91

The first hour of my shift is the best. I love the stillness, the dimmed lights glowing above the the shelves of books. I tie my hair back, pull out my cart to begin work, cleaning the library. I don't mind my job, it's a job and it pays the bills, I work hard. Stretching before pulling the vacuum, I am starting with the aisles, humming gospel while I work to distract myself. An hour has passed, one more before I get my break, I will have my tea in the lounge with the security guard, Jamail. Now there's a reason to work here. His beautiful d...

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“Halls of the Forgotten” by Lucas Baptista

Submitted to Contest #91

“First day, huh?” “How do you know?” “You are about to enter the Halls of the Forgotten instead of the Forgotten Halls. Common mistake. Fatal, too.” “Haha, okay, okay I see it. You’re just fucking with the new guy.” “Do I look like I want to have intercourse with you?” “That’s not… what I meant.” “I know. Now I was fucking with you. But seriously, don’t go through that door.” “Why? What’s there?” “I've no idea.” “And don’t you feel curious? I thought knowledge was our muse and mistress around here. It is a fucking library after all, what cou...

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“Sorting” by Trixie Pereira

Submitted to Contest #91

It was past nine at night and Yukiko Fujihara was barely done re-organizing the books. In fact, she only managed to arrange the self-help section, and it was the smallest area in the library. Yukiko sighed and pulled her thick purple hair out of the ponytail and tied it in a messy bun. Then she stared at the piles of books in front of her and adjusted her glasses. Perhaps she should not have sent her mother away. Yukiko shook her head. ‘Not tonight,’ she thought to herself. Her mother had worked all day and needed space and privacy. Yukiko h...

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“Ghosts in the Library” by Ireland Densmore

Submitted to Contest #91

My girlfriend and I were reading and I was finishing up. I said, "Hey, are you almost done reading?"She replied by saying, "Yes, how about we use the restroom before we leave.""Okay." I replied. We walked through the cozy library into a dark bathroom. It was old and it was weird because the rest of the library was so new. We were finishing up when I heard the front door of the library close and lock. We looked at each other when we realized the library was closed. I said, "Did you hear that too?""Y-Yes." she said, sounding terrified."Why are...

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“History Aisle” by Katrina Veloso

Submitted to Contest #91

“I’ll call you again after my shift. I just gotta close up,” Chloe whispered quietly into her phone, “please call me back.” Chloe slid her phone into her plaid midi skirt pocket and returned to her post inside the library. Her desk was full of books, all returned and due to be reshelved later that day. Pat, who was normally in charge of reshelving checked out books, had been out sick all week, so Chloe had to extend her work hours after closing up to reshelve the books herself. She had an otherwise organized desk — pens coupled in a craft...

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“Amber” by Julia Sara

Submitted to Contest #91

The library, just a few blocks away from her small apartment, was the most beautiful place her eyes had ever witnessed. After the old lady had retired from working at the library, it was clear that she would get the job, yet her eyes still filled with tears and excitement when Ms.Talin, the head of the library, offered her the job. It was beautiful, especially after 8 pm, her work time, when the sidelights were the only source of light, and the low hum of the AC mingled with the silence. She would finish cleaning up quickly, not that she did...

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“What's That?” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #91

Mrs. Johnson turned off the lights to the library and locked the doors like she did every evening. She wondered to herself what happens inside the library when everyone is gone. Shrugging her shoulders, Mrs. Johnson headed home to her husband and a relaxing night of TV. As soon as Mrs. Johnson and the rest of the humans had left the building, Charles stretched his left leg. The book that Mrs. Johnson had just put onto one of his shelves fell to the floor. “Oops,” he said with a laugh, “did I do that?” Marybelle looked at the old wooden s...

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“Don't Get Caught” by Austin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #91

They couldn’t catch him in the library. It was against the rules. No dragging anyone from class, no dragging anyone from the library. Five minutes to closing time they paced around the only exit, inspecting every face that passed as if he might have disguised himself. They no longer looked like they were having fun. When they’d chased him to class that morning smiles had cracked their faces. They thought they had him. He escaped because he hadn’t spent the night before drunk. During class their heads poppe...

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“A Window Between Worlds” by Geeta Boodansingh

Submitted to Contest #91

The library had been closed for a while.The window at the back still does not lock properly. Even after all these years, it was never fixed. Can you believe that, Anne? So many renovations, but that shitty lock never changed. It is still easy for me to open it and climb through. I suppose I could have used the front door. The building has been sold, Anne, and guess what? I'm the new owner. But I enter through the window. Old habits.Shelves, mostly empty, stand waiting for me. They knew I would come. How could I not? There are some old tomes,...

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“After Hours” by Siobhan Mulalley

Submitted to Contest #91

The clock struck 17:00 and Mike ushered the last of the visitors out of the library, closing the door behind them. In the scheme of things it had been quite a busy day for the library. There had been a steady stream of people to use the free computers and they had made several pounds in printing fees. They had the usual Friday meeting of the over 60s Literary Appreciation Society and the lunch time story time for toddlers. The latter event was a busy one and the noise levels had caused Brenda one of her migraines and she had left to go hom...

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“It's True, What They Say About Librarians... ” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #91

“Hush!” The dark corridors seemed endless. The room itself was large, meaning even the smallest sound could carry, but in the darkness, it felt like a veritable cavern. The rows upon rows of books did something to dampen the sound a bit, but it didn’t stop the feeling of paranoia that lent itself to being somewhere they shouldn’t have been. Enveloped in near pitch-blackness, the smallest breath sounded like an exaggerated gasp. Two figures crept silently along the ceramic tiled floor on worn leather soles. Two clicking sounds of headwear ...

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“That night in the library.” by Leila BunnyLover (Kinda Inactive.)

Submitted to Contest #91

(This is all fake, and fiction. NOT true events..) "Okay, be quiet, we made it," Tommy whispers. "Now we need to find a place to be unnoticed.." "I get it. Tommy, why are we doing this again?" I say. "Shhh! We are doing this because I don't wanna look like a chicken to Gabe and his 'minions'. Okay?" "Ya ya, I get it. You know you didn't HAVE to say yes. You should've just ignored him." I say sleepily "He triple dog dared me though." Tommy whines. "SO!? Ignore him! It's that simple." I respond, a bit loud. I hear an echo. "Why did you have t...

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“Midnight library talks” by K. Andrews

Submitted to Contest #91

The library was magical at night. The fairy lights lit up the dark corners making the book's golden covers shine like the sun itself were hidden in the binding. The smell of fresh-baked cookies wafted through the building even though no food was allowed in this room. Ari didn't care though she skipped into the soft light waving the picnic basket around her arm and holding the checkered blanket tucked under her armpit. She unfurled the blanket onto the ground and plopped down like a child. I let out a tiny laugh as she smiled at me devilishly...

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Set your story in a library, after hours.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 254 stories

“A Rose , a book and life .” by Fatima Zahra

“Blood Blossoms” by Paloma Sharma

“Sweet Immersion ” by Marianna Mills

“Halls of the Forgotten” by Lucas Baptista

“Sorting” by Trixie Pereira

“Ghosts in the Library” by Ireland Densmore

“History Aisle” by Katrina Veloso

“Amber” by Julia Sara

“What's That?” by Ruth Smith

“Don't Get Caught” by Austin Diaz

“A Window Between Worlds” by Geeta Boodansingh

“After Hours” by Siobhan Mulalley

“It's True, What They Say About Librarians... ” by Amy Jayne Conley

“That night in the library.” by Leila BunnyLover (Kinda Inactive.)

“Midnight library talks” by K. Andrews

🌟 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: