Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Posted in Horror on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 41 stories

“Graduation” by Lucy Barnes

Submitted to Contest #119

Ga Gong. . . Ga Gong. . . Ga Gong.My eyes flutter open at the sound. The gong only sounds one day a year and before it’s never really mattered to me. But today I shutter at the sound.Ga Gong. . . Ga Gong. . . Ga Gong.Todays the day I’ve been awaiting and dreading my whole life. My graduation.I stare blankly at the ceiling and recall learning about graduations on Earth. Kids walked across a stage wearing large robes, shaking hands, giving speeches, and getting diplomas.This graduation won’t be anything like that.My name is Tyler Scholes and t...

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“The Beasts in the Garage” by Emma Hernandez

Submitted to Contest #119

I’m blissfully taking my afternoon nap when I hear a noise I did not recognize. It was a high-pitched shriek. Or squeal. I couldn’t really tell. I lift my head, listening. I try to focus on the area I heard it from. What was that noise? I look around at my surroundings. The couch across from me seems normal. The pillow I like to chew on, still in the spot I last left it. My favorite stuffed animal, tucked in next to me. Was it a car? Are they home? I decide it’s worth it to investigate. Stretching my lengthy legs as I ris...

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“Breath of the Briefcase ” by Lyndon Jones

Submitted to Contest #119

It came from my dad’s old briefcase. Not much to say about the thing. It was an old, sleek, black leather-bound briefcase. One of the few things he left me after his death. Along with a bucket of questions. Such as: “Is that briefcase breathing?” Breathing, as if it is alive. Fear jumps from my legs, up my spine, to the base of my head. It’s just like him to leave me with a literal object of fear. It’s been 2 weeks since he passed, I’ve been ready to look through his belongings. I often wondered if he liked messing with me. There’s ...

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“The Whisperings of an Old House” by Keyleigh Perham

Submitted to Contest #119

I couldn’t figure out what that bloody noise was. Eek. Eek. Eeeek. It wasn’t quite a screech, nor a squeak, but some strange hybrid mix of the two. And it was driving me crazy. It had been exactly two weeks since the big move. The upheaval from the suburban life of London’s outskirts had been mostly my mother’s doing. “It’ll be good for us, Sam,” she had promised as she boxed up what little remained of our life back home. In all honesty, I knew she had moved us for purely selfish reasons. It meant she could have her fresh start with...

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“The Boathouse” by Tristan Ryan

Submitted to Contest #119

I woke up to a strange gurgling sound. Waves crashed into the boathouse and moved it from side to side. I assumed the noise was just normal sounds the water makes all the time. I decided to ignore it and go back to sleep. But I couldn’t. Now that I was awake, I realized how badly I had to use the bathroom. As the waves rocked the boat back and forth, I carefully made my way down the tiny spiral staircase. It was easy to lose your balance when the boat was moving so relentlessly. There must be a storm coming, I reasoned. I descended the sta...

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“Fish Food” by Holli Walsh

Submitted to Contest #119

I reached into the chip bag and ate a chip as I looked over my study notes. Nothing was being absorbed, I was tired, but I couldn't sleep yet. I needed to get this information crammed, or I was screwed on the exam tomorrow. I groaned, rubbing my forehead; the sound of a truck made me turn to the window. It sounds like one of those garbage trucks, but it wasn't garbage day? How strange. I stood up, went to the window that overlooked the front house, and drew the curtains. Sure enough, an average garbage truck parked in front of the neighbor...

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“War Of The Lights” by Lee Kendrick

Submitted to Contest #119

War of the Lights The paranormal team had stepped through the front door, into the hallway, thankfully taking shelter in the manor house from a heavy downpour and blustery wind. Suddenly there was a terrible metallic sound of a ship’s bell ringing, vibrating throughout the Cotswolds 18th century Courtly Manor, shaking the whole building to its foundations. Upon hearing the menacing din everyone instantly dropped their luggage and equ...

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“Cacophony A world of noises” by L. Elie Zameski

Submitted to Contest #119

Cacophony A world of noises By EZLiving A life in jest August 1996 “Whirrrr”... the sound reached my ear. I sidled up next to Mom and put my right hand into her left elbow crook. “What is that noise?” I asked. Mom asked me to describe the sound I just heard. “It’s a Whirrr noise that seems high pitched”. I pointed to my left as we crossed the busy intersection in downtown Charlottesville, VA on our way to Little John’s Deli. “Oh wow, I cannot believe you can hear that. That sound is the air brakes of the car that just went through th...

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“HER TIME” by Pamela Brown

Submitted to Contest #119

HER TIME A short story by Pamela Brown I came home from work yesterday to the unusual sound of the buzzing of chain saws and the old tree was half down. They are finishing it today. My husband said it was time. This past summer brought us several severe storms. Trees were torn from their roots and damaged a lot of the homes surrounding our community. The neighbors on our street decided it was time for theirs. So, it must be time for mine. The old Silver maples were planted by the lake over 100 years ag...

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“In The Woods” by Jeff Otken

Submitted to Contest #119

In the Woods Jeff Otken It was howling that woke him. Permeating his dreams, and slowly drawing him from slumber. He didn’t mind so much; he had hoped he would get to hear the wolves this trip. The memory of the eerie howl echoed through his mind, but he had been so soundly asleep he couldn’t tell how far away it had been. He lay with a patient eagerness in his sleeping bag, awaiting the reply that would undoubtedly echo back across the forests and mountains any moment. It was one of the rare treats of his weekend excursions into the moun...

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“The Sound from the Sea” by Michael Bishop

Submitted to Contest #119

“What was that?” The salty wood of the cliff side cabin creaked as the wind sliced around it, pushed in by the dark sea below and beyond. All candlelight in the cabin had turned to slow rising smoke in the now blackened house. A fisherman who was brought to his knees and elbows in shock peers through his window facing the vast stretch of water. He holds himself still waiting for an answer to come to him for what has brought him terror in his own home. Carefully peering through his window facing the ocean the fisherman's eyes scan the horizon...

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Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 41 stories

“Graduation” by Lucy Barnes

“The Beasts in the Garage” by Emma Hernandez

“Breath of the Briefcase ” by Lyndon Jones

“The Whisperings of an Old House” by Keyleigh Perham

“The Boathouse” by Tristan Ryan

“Fish Food” by Holli Walsh

“War Of The Lights” by Lee Kendrick

“Cacophony A world of noises” by L. Elie Zameski

“HER TIME” by Pamela Brown

“In The Woods” by Jeff Otken

“The Sound from the Sea” by Michael Bishop

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).

Write a story that involves eavesdropping.

Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Contest #119

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

232

Contest entries

160

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: