Write about a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) gone wrong.

Posted in Horror on Mar 8, 2024

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✍️ 43 stories

“Let them eat cake.” by Claire Trbovic

Submitted to Contest #241

The thought of cake wandered aimlessly into her mind as she pushed the knife into his flesh. Layers of moist sponge, moving against a birthday blade, except it wasn’t her birthday and this cake had bones.The slim body on her pathology table couldn’t have had many birthdays, 16 or 17 at most. She wondered how many cakes he’d been given, how many candles he’d blown out, how many wishes he’d made and kept secret to ensure they came true.She was glad she’d made the effort to make George a cake for his birthday this week. He deserved it for the c...

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“The Unbecoming of Belinda Blackwell” by Giulietta Villalobos

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #241

There are few places Belinda Blackwell likes to lay down to rest more than upon her husband’s chest. He hadn’t been expecting her. Belinda hadn’t been expecting to be home so soon, either– what with the unpredictability of her father’s illness demanding open schedules from his children, someone on-call at all times lest the old man die without one of them there to hold his hand. When Oscar had come to join them a week early— something about a case closing timely and a stiffening in his shoulders when Belinda enquired about her sister-in...

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“The Tragedy Of Frederick XIV” by Roderick Sutton

Submitted to Contest #241

ONE. “The Gallows.”The guards dragged a man through the gallows. His eyes were flushed and red and his face was swollen from holding his breath, for he refused to allow even a single tear to fall. The guards pulled the man up the stairs; the soddened and weathered wood creaked and bounced with each step. They carried the man across the stage of the scaffold to the Hangman, whose eyes were buried in the hollows of the hessian-burlap fastened to his face.A crowd had gathered in the gallows. Among them was King Theobold, The Crown of the N...

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“Cupid's Arrow and the Blind Archers” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #241

Cupid’s Arrow and the Blind ArchersHenry was smitten in mere moments. He likely would have secured a prominent position on the pages of the Guinness Book had records been kept on such matters.“She’s a friend of your sister’s, Cal. Katie must have her phone number.”“What? You think I’m Match-dot-com?”“Just get the number. ”“Ok, ok. What’s her name?”“Margie, Marvelous Margie. I’m telling you, Cal, she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”----------“Hey, sis, Henry is all googly-eyed over the girl you introduced him to last night at the ‘Y...

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“Daisy” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #241

“It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life.”– Julius CaesarThe day I graduated, I was told I would save the planet.“Daisy, you are the future of Mankind,” Father said.“Humanity,” I corrected. Everyone in the room1 laughed, Father loudest of all.“The student has become the teacher and woke to boot,” Father announced gravely, to even greater if selective applause.In retrospect, I learned most people enjoyed laughing at Father2, laughing at Father being publicly contradicted, and laughing at Father being publicly con...

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“Back in Balance” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #241

Patrick O’shea had a knack for finding lost things, people, jewels, even stolen money, but when he got lost, that was a problem. He couldn’t find himself. Out of jail for almost a week, and he still didn’t feel right. O’shea moved the newspaper draped in front of him to catch the morning light coming through the open windows and door. The shaft of sun warmed only his right side, adding to his unbalance. O’shea felt untethered, let loose in a place where he no longer fit. He had no job or purpose anymore. How would he find...

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“Journal Entries: February 12-15, 2007” by Jeremy Tewari

Submitted to Contest #241

Feb 12: It was cold outside today so I decided to ruin Tony Beckett’s life. I feel I need to justify this decision. First of all, no, Tony Beckett has never wronged me. He and I have spoken 7 times exactly, thrice in the hallway before lunch, once at Jonathan Derelict’s house party, once at the Cinnabon, and twice after being partnered up for class discussions (once was Spanish and once was AP Macroeconomics). All of these conversations failed to be noteworthy, but he was always pleasant enough, and friendly despite our lack of acquaintance....

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“The Backstabber and the Night Knocker” by Zack Herman

Submitted to Contest #241

I made the Lexington paper. Page 3. I guess that I should feel proud about that. “BACKSTABBER” HAS HOLLY HILL POLICE BAFFLED Holly Hill- The sleepy Ohio River town of Holly Hill, Kentucky has never experienced anything like this. “Look, usually, the only crime is somebody stealing a car or underage drinking. Never anything like this,” admits Holly Hill Police Chief Bob Scanlon. “This” is a full blown serial killer, somebody locals have dubbed “Backstabber”. The only connection these murders seem to have is that all three victims died from...

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“The treasure” by Krissa Svavars

Submitted to Contest #241

“You told me you like the dark, so I know that you are going to love this!” That was the last thing he said to me before he dragged me over to the basement door and pushed me down the stairs. I have been locked in this horrible, abandoned house for close to three days now. Or I think it has been that long. Thankfully I had some food and water in my backpack, but it will soon be gone and then I will starve. I am truly starting to hate this place. It’s pitch black and full of stuff. Just getting around has been so difficult, even after I foun...

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“Meant to Be” by Annie Hewitt

Submitted to Contest #241

If asked, the guests at their wedding in Sage Chapel on the campus of Cornell University where they met would say that the bride glided down the aisle (not walked) and that she was transcendent in her diaphanous dream of the softest pale pink (not white) dress. It was as fine as gossamer. It should be. She ordered the fabric flown in special from Milan and it cost her father a fortune. But it had to be perfect. Everything had to be perfect. She was a perfectionist. The groom waited for her at the alter (as grooms do) in a white dinner jacket...

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“THE BETRAYAL THAT BACKFIRED” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #241

Dear Journal,In the desolation of this solitary cell, where shadows waltz with the flickering candlelight, I find myself grappling with the weight of my isolation. Each passing moment seems to stretch into eternity as I navigate the labyrinth of my thoughts and emotions.Today, like every other day, I awaken to the dim light filtering through the barred window, casting elongated shadows across the cold stone floor. The monotony of my existence suffocates me as I struggle to find meaning in this endless cycle of confinement.Whether literal or ...

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“Human Apocalypse” by McKade Kerr

Submitted to Contest #241

Ugh, not again. I hate it when this happens. I could feel the knife penetrate deep in my back. It was sharp, most likely well maintained and cared for. It easily sliced through my flesh, stopping as it rammed into my spine, causing several fractures. And on the day I was wearing one of my nicest shirts too. How annoying. “Die, you horrible, ugly monster! Die die die!” yelled the man behind me. I turned around and faced him. “You don’t have to yell, I’m standing right here.” I reached around my back, removing the blade slowly, trying no...

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“A Beautiful Day” by Toby Babcock

Submitted to Contest #241

Dusty was worn out. He hadn’t worked this many days in a row since he couldn’t remember when. He shut down his excavator for the day and walked back to his truck. He kicked his boots against the running board to knock some mud off. Didn’t work too well. As he climbed in, his foot slid out from under him and he smacked his side on the running board and fell into the mud. When he got home he noticed Chad’s truck parked on the street out front. Chad drove semi-truck sometimes, fixed up cars sometimes, cut down and trimmed trees sometimes. ...

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“Assassin's (Cursed) Creed” by Dr. Stephen A Salaka

Submitted to Contest #241

The scent of freshly cut grass tickled her nose as Kaira touched down, the damp earth yielding slightly beneath her boots. A soft breeze danced across her skin, carrying whispers of honeysuckle from a flowering bush nearby. Kaira felt a familiar twinge of envy. The targets always got the nicest houses — quaint little affairs with sprawling yards and cozy nooks screaming of domestic tranquility. It was enough to make an eternally nomadic assassin crave roots... roots she was unlikely to ever have. Drawing on skills honed through many bot...

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“To Hell & Back” by Martha Kowalski

Submitted to Contest #241

The angels are at war. Some angels protect; others demolish. Wings of doves and wings of crows flutter and fight across the heavens as the fallen angels once cast out of the heavens have returned. Against the eerie red glow of the sun, a flock of black wings cuts through the sky, descending onto the Higher Realms. Dark magic – forbidden in the pearly and golden Higher Realms – crackles through the air like a live wire, snapping and singeing all that touches it. Each angel is particularly careful to avoid the licking flames that gre...

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Write about a backstabbing (literal or metaphorical) gone wrong.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 43 stories

“Let them eat cake.” by Claire Trbovic

“The Unbecoming of Belinda Blackwell” by Giulietta Villalobos

“The Tragedy Of Frederick XIV” by Roderick Sutton

“Cupid's Arrow and the Blind Archers” by Murray Burns

“Daisy” by Martin Ross

“Back in Balance” by Marty B

“Journal Entries: February 12-15, 2007” by Jeremy Tewari

“The Backstabber and the Night Knocker” by Zack Herman

“The treasure” by Krissa Svavars

“Meant to Be” by Annie Hewitt

“THE BETRAYAL THAT BACKFIRED” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Human Apocalypse” by McKade Kerr

“A Beautiful Day” by Toby Babcock

“Assassin's (Cursed) Creed” by Dr. Stephen A Salaka

“To Hell & Back” by Martha Kowalski

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who is convinced they’re going to be betrayed.

Write about someone who is stuck between two opposing sides and can’t decide which one to choose.

Set your story at a tense event where everyone is unsure whose side they’re on.

Start your story with an unexpected betrayal.

Contest #241

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

255

Contest entries

116

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: