Start your story with the words “Everything was ready for the ritual.”

Posted in Horror on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 48 stories

“Recess Beckons” by SYDNEE LEAH

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. Kylie smashed up three slugs and Daniel stirred them together with the weird looking mushroom he found behind the tetherball court. The book also called for salt, worms of the earth and the blood of the enemy. Kylie and Daniel argued that we should use Jimmy Penley’s blood, because he skinned his knee at recess sliding into first base. “He pulls Kylie’s hair everyday,” Daniel said. “And he blamed that stinker in math yesterday on Daniel,” Kylie said. “You’re thinking too small,” I argued. “Maria ...

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“Our Turn ” by Alyson Hutchinson

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. And there were what seemed like hundreds of people stuffed into my house. I stand on the front lawn my hand gripping a plastic cup as I stare at the front door. People were still arriving too, all dressed in costume, with varying degrees of effort put in. A body pushes past me and I shove back, the guy stumbles and looks back. “What the fuck bro?” he’s annoyed. “And what are you supposed to be a bitch?” he snarls as I frown at him. I chuckle at his choice of words; he’s pretty close. The rude man in the c...

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“Casseroles and Serial Killings” by Ben Pierce

Submitted to Contest #117

TW: BloodEverything was ready for the ritual. The civic center’s basement was swept, the dark robes were ironed, and the potluck had gone off without the hitch. The residents of Shady Grove had begun to recognize perceived threats to their way of life, and thanks to the diligent organizing by PTA president Jaclyn Crosby, the ritual was prepared. People in dark robes and khakis milled about the room, making small talk about the high school’s football team, their kids’ college searches, and whatever else distracted them from the unconscious te...

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“The Summoning” by Maxina Storibrook

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. I had drawn the star to the best of my ability, placing the candles at the points. All I could afford were those pillar candles with Jesus Christ on the front, but oh well. Being squeamish of blood, I couldn’t do the animal’s blood part, so I did the best wine I could get my hands on with my latest paycheck. Maybe it will like wine more? Taking a deep, steadying breath, I nearly choked on the cloying scent of the strong incense and herbs I had burning in a bowl on my end table. My last resort at even a sl...

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“Moonshine Manor” by Alicia Coggins

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual and finally, after months of preparation and planning, she found herself standing at the kitchen counter gazing out into the backyard where everyone would soon be gathered. Checking over her list again, her breath fell hard and she sighed deeply, she had indeed checked everything off. Now all that was left was to wait until the festivities began. Checking her watch she silently gauged the time she had to freshen up until the guests would begin to arrive. Only six hours left to wait for the miracle to be co...

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“Kirzin's Revenge” by Shelby Baertl

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. Kirzin had gathered all the ingredients: some toe of frog, some lizards’ legs, an apple, some salt, and a small chunk of rainbow obsidian. He had raised an eyebrow at the last ingredient, but hey. He had learned by now that certain demons had certain wants and that it wasn’t always the best idea to question them. Especially not when it came to the likes of what he was about to summon. “Sor’Lazn, Creator of Chaos,” the half-disintegrated (but fully ominous) page read. “Do not summon under any ...

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“Seeking to Scare” by Brooke Allen

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the Ritual.Sarah’s fingers twiddled against the cold, grey chair that creaked at every movement. The sky, gloomy and brewing outside, looked in from the expansive windows at Wistmond High School. Janet and she had been planning this for months – their last year at school, their last Halloween hurrah. It would be extraordinary and Sarah was so, so ready.Thus far, the day had felt long and silent sans their classmates lowered, hushed tones. Though Janet and Sarah were the only ones truly in on it, everyone in their gra...

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“The Devil's lease” by Danielle Cole

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. Now to bring the mortals. This was his favorite time of year! Thursday, October the thirtieth Becky stopped by the local grocery store to pick up yet another free apartment guide. To her surprise there were none left. She searched around in disbelief, because she had never, ever seen them low on apartment guides. In fact, they often had so many extra that ...

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“The Winding” by Ben Rounds

Submitted to Contest #117

“Everything was ready for the ritual… everything was… ready… for the ritual… for the ritual everything was ready for… the ritual, the titual, the snitchual, the ritualeablez… the rit… u… al… for the….”Alex signed and pinched the bridge of his nose, unconscious of the slight hum resonating from the corner of the room as the airfryer whispered itself up to 350 degrees. Sliding his hands down till they reached his mouth he compressed his lips, pushing in till the pain ceased to feel good. The daily curse of men rasped against his fing...

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“Broken House Rules ” by Brenda Butler

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. The thing about it was that Leaf Cole could not recall how he became a part of it, at least not yet. His only assignment was to go down and take pictures of this small town in Massachusetts for a possible movie. He rented a place from the Slices when he arrived. The Slices included Bryan & Lucy the parents and John the oldest son and two daughters who where away. The room he rented in the Slices home was nice. It wasn’t empty but it did have some decent thin...

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“Wake Up” by William Chen

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. From what I can hear, the materials are ready, and the people have already prepared themselves for the attack. “Here they come!” People shouted. I looked out of the window. They’re here. Thousands of pumpkin heads floated outside our barrier of defense, which is only a few meters of iron wall. I knew that I would die there, so I looked to the site of the ritual: several evisolpxes are gathered at the center of the circle, while they are prepared to be lightened with the sacred burn. The evisolpxes glitte...

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“Saving Gracie” by Gill James

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. I'd been as meticulous in my preparations as I always was. The chalice that would receive the blood had been cleansed with boiling water. The herb infusion that would take away her pain was ready. I'd made it particularly strong this time. Hopefully she would pass out before I even put the knife to her neck. She would feel nothing. The bed of soft grasses and sweet-smelling flowers was ready for her death. I'd been particularly careful this time to make it as grand as possible. This year's child was ...

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“See You at Tomorrow’s Annual Spectacle!” by Leon Moss

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything was ready for the ritual. My name is Xix. I am 23 years old, a member of the Longagolongago tribe and I cannot believe what I am looking at. My tribe lives, and has lived for hundreds, maybe thousands of years on the banks of the Amazing River. I am the only member of the 300 strong tribe to have received an outside education, thanks to the wisdom of King Ommigosh who is no longer alive. I have a degree in ‘Tribal History’ from Harvard. This means, of course, that I speak perfect English and I use a computer. It also means that...

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“An Unexpected Visitor” by Mary Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #117

Everything is ready for ritual. My altar was decorated, my quarter candles were glowing warmly in my ritual room and my ancestor connection meditation was ready to go. I was excited about this ritual. It was Samhain, the only day of the year when the veil between the worlds was thinnest. I was excited to see who would show up. I lit my altar candles and cast my circle. I stood before my altar and made my offerings. I was invoking my Viking ancestors as I left my offering of a thick medium-rare T-bone a...

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“Hello, Moon” by Brad Johnson

Submitted to Contest #117

HELLO, MOON by Brad L. Johnson Everything was ready for the ritual. It looked, well, dusty was the word, I guess. The moon, I am talking about the moon. As my gaze lingered, I could feel the moist earth etching it's image on my white crews. A symphony of frog song, hundreds I was sure, rose to crescendo then fell only to rise again stronger, and stronger still. Swirls of the scents of eucalyptus wafted past, around and dissipated. The compost pile teased at my gag threshold then drifted away, replaced by ...

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Start your story with the words “Everything was ready for the ritual.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 48 stories

“Recess Beckons” by SYDNEE LEAH

“Our Turn ” by Alyson Hutchinson

“Casseroles and Serial Killings” by Ben Pierce

“The Summoning” by Maxina Storibrook

“Moonshine Manor” by Alicia Coggins

“Kirzin's Revenge” by Shelby Baertl

“Seeking to Scare” by Brooke Allen

“The Devil's lease” by Danielle Cole

“The Winding” by Ben Rounds

“Broken House Rules ” by Brenda Butler

“Wake Up” by William Chen

“Saving Gracie” by Gill James

“See You at Tomorrow’s Annual Spectacle!” by Leon Moss

“An Unexpected Visitor” by Mary Fitzgerald

“Hello, Moon” by Brad Johnson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who uses a night where everyone’s in costume as cover for something sinister.

Write about a missing person nobody seems to know or remember.

Set your story at the boundary between two realms.

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

Contest #117

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

153

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: