Write a story about a character who gets lost at a carnival or festival.

Posted in Horror on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 189 stories

“Daughter (The Locket: Part Two)” by Sasini Athapaththu

Submitted to Contest #93

Emily looked around her; she didn't know where she was; the only companion she had was darkness. She cautiously took few steps forward and a distant crying made her stop. She listened; the crying was becoming louder as if it was coming closer (or she was going nearer) and eventually grew into a deafening scream. She cupped her hands on her ears and closed her eyes (not like closing eyes would lower the noise, but somehow it felt better).Realizing that the noise stopped, she slowly removed her hands from her ears ready to close them back agai...

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“Lost and Found” by Charli Britton

Submitted to Contest #93

Something about this morning is different. I can't quite place it.I push myself up from the damp forest floor and brush off the twigs and dirt that had stuck to me overnight.I'm used to this whole sleeping outside thing, and I hate that.The crisp, early morning air kisses my cheeks and I breath in deeply. But the fresh scent of pine needles is rudely interrupted by the sour smell of body odor.I groan as I furiously comb out the long, straight orange tangles from my hair.Somehow, I was going to have to find a place to wash up soon.There was a...

21 comments 21

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“Upstairs” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #93

Whoever heard of a garden party being held at night, thought Rosie, or at any rate whoever had heard of it being CALLED a garden party? And it was dark, too. It was late September now, and they had waited until nearly nine o’clock for it to start. Well, come to think of it, she knew who would think of such a thing, knew perfectly well. Edwina and Henry, for their engagement party. Rosie could still remember a teacher she’d once had, who had a way of letting pupils down gently when he was sure they’d done their best, but a piece of work or a ...

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“When The Carnival Is Not” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #93

Cold raindrops propelled by the wind strike like nails to my face. Who in their right mind would visit the carnival with the wind howling its contempt at their existence. And it is in my right mind that I am not sure. But here I am, shivering, muddy, and wet, trying to figure out how I came to be here. The rain is prominent, but the sleet fights to make its presence known. A carnival. What kind of carnival is this? It flickers between every spike of rain⎯every blink of the eye; it lights up the night sky then disappears into darkness...

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“Colors” by Monica June

Submitted to Contest #93

I’ve always loved when the festival came to town. Ever since I was a girl, Mother and Father would let Nanny take me for just one day, and it’s always the best day of the year. There’s something mystical about it. The whole scene is bright and exciting during the day and at night, the flickering candles and lanterns become hazy- almost dreamlike- against the dark of the sky. The festival has always felt like a dreamy light blue- which is why I chose that color dress to wear tonight. Every year, I get to the fairgrounds as early...

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“Little Annie” by Sachi Shah

Submitted to Contest #93

It was a peaceful day in the house. A small wispy figure drifted aimlessly through the rooms, basking in the soft moonlight that peeked through the gaps in the curtains.She sighed softly, reminiscing of days gone by.Once upon a time she had been little Annie – a fearless creature that jumped in muddy puddles without a care in the world.All was well, until the Carnival arrived.The dazzling lights; the cloying scents; the heat of the crowd; the screams from the rides.One moment Granny was there, the next she was gone.Annie stumbled through the...

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“The Bizarre Evening” by Anam Ahamed

Submitted to Contest #93

It was a jolly evening filled with the gladness of the New Year and the entire atmosphere had become thick with the cries of the children. It was a perfect time for James to step out of the house as the clock was already ticking seven. James, a fifteen-year-old lad who always used to step out of the house with his warm and gentle mother, that day he was quite nervous and apprehensive to go to a New Year Carnival as he was not ready to spend another second of his life socializing with his type of beings, he was ready to spend his entire day w...

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“Know-it-all?” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #93

Emma has a prologue: She knew better, or should have known better. Should have known better because she knew she had a problem. A very serious problem. A problem that could develop into, or already was, an illness, a disease, an addiction, a cause for stress and distress. She wasn't sure, but she knew, oh she knew. She should have known. She was lost. If we had known, we might have been able to stop her. We didn't know. Emma has a plot, or a plan: She had heard about the event that took place in Galicia every May 17. They didn't do t...

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“As lost as Atlantis ” by DEACTIVATED ACCOUNT

Submitted to Contest #93

(Author's note: in comments)As lost as Atlantis I try to focus on the lights… or to at least appear as if I am focusing on the lights. I didn’t want to come. Our conversation is still stuck in my mind. But the full friend circle was coming, and I am too inferior to disrupt the completion. But… why are your words ringing in my head like this? The lights are blurring and your words, not your voice, are ringing,… like chimes. Maybe my brain wants to find a loophole? I know that I do, but I don’t think that it’s right to want tha...

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“Bloody Endings (Pick a Path)” by Chase .

Submitted to Contest #93

You can’t believe what's happened to you, you are lost in the middle of a carnival. It is completely empty and a 6 metre thick, 20 metre high concrete wall surrounds you. Everyone in the world has forgotten all about you, to sum it up, you’re trapped. As you get ready to give up you notice two suspicious looking paths, could they get you out of here? One goes under the Ferris wheel and the other goes past the roller coaster. You think for a moment, which one should you take?Under the Ferris wheel - Page 1Past the roller coaster - Page 2Page ...

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“Lost Little Girl” by Kirrtanaa Thanesh

Submitted to Contest #93

Ellie fumbled in the dark. A million thoughts raced her mind. She never felt this scared in her life. “Joey?” she called out. All was silent. Suddenly, she heard some shouting. It sounded faraway but it gave her hope. Ellie headed towards the direction of the shouting. A few times she would bump into something. Ellie was lost in the darkness and she didn’t know how to get back to her family. Suddenly, there were light- colourful lights. And music. Ellie found herself in a crowded place with lots of stalls and ov...

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“One Too Many” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #93

Content Warning: suicideI wind my way through the labyrinth of sweaty people who cheer as if their lives depend on it. All that useless shouting will only reward them with sore throats and a weakened immune system. I huff at their ignorance and lengthen my steps through the packed French Quarter.My arms swing by my sides and hit my legs in pairs of three at an even tempo. Three, my favorite number. Each step is fueled with anger, remorse, guilt, despair, and helplessness. I never thought it possible for all five (another perfect number) emot...

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“Staked” by H L McQuaid

Submitted to Contest #93

They say dead men tell no tales. But Edwin Rotherhithe sits opposite me on a green leather club chair in his personal library, telling me the excruciating details of his life before he was killed. I don’t know how he looked in life. In death, the folds of flesh on his corpulent face conspire to push his brown eyes further into their sockets, like gophers retreating to their dens. The silver buttons of his brown houndstooth vest look ready to pop as they strain to maintain the burgeoning belly beneath.“...that was back in the summer of ’46 wh...

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“Lost in Time” by Nancy Drayce

Submitted to Contest #93

Present: I do not know what is worse, getting lost, or getting forgotten. I got both. My story lingers among the dimmed sky, forgotten and lost like I was once, and like I am now. Past: July seventeen, ten pm. A seven-year-old boy. He was holding his mom’s hand. It was shaking. He believed it was because of the second cigar box she used that day. He was squeezing her left hand while she was holding the cigarette with her right. She held it between her lips, puffing the smoke she would suffocate herself with. Present: He took a puf...

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“The Stranded Soul” by Karubembe Junior

Submitted to Contest #93

Meeting Dorcas and making her my girlfriend was among the best decisions I ever made in my life. She was a simple african girl who totally believed in pure love and never believed in selling her heart in exchange for money. "Karubembe,when I tell you I love you,just believe me.When I tell you I truly appreciate us being in love,just trust our love process"She once told me one-day as I took her back home after a long day together. Her words always seemed so strong and real to me and just like any romantic man would do,I wrote them in my...

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Write a story about a character who gets lost at a carnival or festival.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 189 stories

“Daughter (The Locket: Part Two)” by Sasini Athapaththu

“Lost and Found” by Charli Britton

“Upstairs” by Deborah Mercer

“When The Carnival Is Not” by Laurentz Baker

“Colors” by Monica June

“Little Annie” by Sachi Shah

“The Bizarre Evening” by Anam Ahamed

“Know-it-all?” by Kathleen March

“As lost as Atlantis ” by DEACTIVATED ACCOUNT

“Bloody Endings (Pick a Path)” by Chase .

“Lost Little Girl” by Kirrtanaa Thanesh

“One Too Many” by Valerie June

“Staked” by H L McQuaid

“Lost in Time” by Nancy Drayce

“The Stranded Soul” by Karubembe Junior

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a party that has gone horribly wrong.

Write about a reluctant party-goer who ends up being the star of the show.

Write your story about two characters tidying up after a party.

Write a story about a character who’s nervous to attend a party - their first in a long time.

Contest #93

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: