In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. One day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it.

Posted in Mystery on Jul 12, 2024

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✍️ 47 stories

“Concordia Comes Home” by Derrick M Domican

Submitted to Contest #259

It came at her with a high-pitched wail and thick froth foaming from its mouth, black eyes wide on bald head, stubby limbs flailing as tainted feathers slipped from its wings.“Scelus!” she gasped, as the prune-skinned not-child crashed into her, knocking her into a wall that wasn’t a wall. Grasping the pair of swallow-small wings protruding from the creature’s shoulders, she tried to hold it back while it pawed at her chest. “Get off me!”The ‘wall’ behind her shifted and two pillar-like arms shot forward, one of them clamping around the todd...

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“Tallow” by Empress Jester King

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #259

I spotted the village from the train window. It emerged from grey fields, its houses crooked upon the short slope of a hillside. Tallow - that was its name - possessed a certain sadness, as if it longed to be forgotten. A manor, with its many wings and porticoes, loomed over the houses from the hill’s peak. There were few signs of life when I exited the train. No one walked the streets and all the curtains were closed. It stunk of old cabbages and sulphur. In the distance, children played, but no school or playground existed ...

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“New Hamburg” by Brian Haddad

Submitted to Contest #259

Out of order. Of course the ATM would be out of order. Steve sighed and peered in through the bank's huge windows at the long line inside. A light, clean breeze danced around him and lifted the "out of order" sign, giving him a peek at the outdated keypad and sunbaked screen beneath. The machine had to be at least thirty years old.He glanced over his shoulder at the car. The car. He growled impatiently. He needed gas. The only gas station in town was cash-only. He wouldn't make it another mile up the mountain without filling up.Steve took a ...

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“Reaping Window” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #259

Along the coast in the dreaming town of Rosley Harbor, where the salty tang of the ocean permeated the air, a legacy of whispers hung heavy. The Marsh family, an old and esteemed clan, cast a long shadow over the community, their presence a chilling reminder of a forbidden truth. My name is unimportant as you, my engaged readers, are not here for that. You are reading this article because I have become the first journalist in known history to be granted an interview – schedule...

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“A Long Walk to Red Ridge” by Keba Ghardt

Submitted to Contest #259

"Wait!" cried Big Bill Oarman. "I can make you rich, fast, but not if I'm dead!"Slim Kasance, called "Jerky" by anyone on his bad side, kept the revolver pointed at Big Bill, and added to it a suspicious squint. "Buster, you're slipperier than an eel in axel grease. Ol' Slim hates a card shark, and you ain't nothing but a poker-faced thief!""Exactly!" insisted Big Bill. "Look, you shoot me now, you ain't never seeing that cash again. It's paying for the room, a bladder full of beers, and, well, Becky, here." He nodded to the terrified lump o...

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“Dark Waters, Darker Secrets” by W. H. Goodwater

Submitted to Contest #259

The Scottish Highlands greeted me with a misty embrace as I got out of the car. I was unsure of what to expect upon arrival, but I could feel the chill, the dampness, the entire landscape whispering secrets I was eager to uncover. My cottage was little more than an old bothy, and while I appreciated the historical authenticity of the space, it did feel a bit cramped. I've rented it out for the next six months while I gather data. It was in the perfect place, nestled up close to the vast, somewhat foreboding (now that I take it in), bog.From ...

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“The Road From Cabazon” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #259

The trail leading into Los Rios Ranchos was dry and dusty, it being August and not a drop of rain had fallen in over five months. The temperature was high even for this time of year and Diego’s horse, Alejandro, was moving slowly, in need of water and shade and more. Diego himself was well aware that his own body felt much the same way. He was encouraged to see the village not far up ahead and even more so when he reached the stables behind the saloon. Alejandro was well-lathered and clearly worn out by then, in need of rest. It had been a l...

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“AMBER AND THE SECRETS OF CEDAR HOLLOW” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #259

A young and adventurous fox arrived in Cedar Hollow on a chilly autumn day. Amber had a sleek, agile frame with vibrant reddish-orange fur glistening in the autumn sun. Her sharp, curious eyes had a deep amber color, matching her name, and they sparkled with intelligence and determination. Bushy tail, tipped with white, swayed as she moved, and her pointed ears were always alert, twitching at the slightest sound. She wore a small satchel over her shoulder, filled with notes and small trinkets she had collected on her journey. The air around...

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“No Dogs Allowed” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #259

No Dogs Allowed Fred, a newcomer to town is walking his dog early on his first Saturday morning there, when he notices something about the street signs. He informs his dog about what he has seen. He often talks to her, as he lives alone, and she is a good listener. “Martha Berger, Leonard Berger, Leonard Berger, Stephen Berger, and Pearl Berger. What do you think girl? The Bergers must be a very important family in town.” The two of them walked on, with Frank looking for a park where he can let his dog free to run. He is...

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“Deadly Secrets” by Dita Dow

Submitted to Contest #259

Jake pulled his beat-up Ford Taurus into Millbrook, the engine sputtering as he parked on Main Street. He got out and stretched, his back cracking after the long drive. He looked around, taking in the quaint storefronts with faded awnings and American flags hanging limply in the still summer air. An old man sitting on a bench outside the general store eyed Jake suspiciously. "You lost, son?" the old timer called out. Jake shook his head. "Nope. Just got into town. Looking for a place to stay." The old man jerked his thumb down the street. "...

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“Kisses” by Sarah Jo

Submitted to Contest #259

Monday, September 17thDear Diary, I made a new friend today—an actual real-life friend. Her name is Agatha, and she just moved here from Chicago. 17 is such a sucky age to move to a small town in Pennsylvania. I feel really bad for her, but that's not why I decided to befriend her. I'll tell you the story. We had first period together. Calculus. Gag. And while all the other smarty pants in the class were working away at the assignment, Agatha whipped out her bottle of O.P.I. black shimmery nail polish and started painting away. I actually la...

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“Commune” by Alex McColm

Submitted to Contest #259

Sheets of rain streaked across the windscreen as Robbie Smith weaved through the winding country roads at a speed less than safe for his continued wellbeing. In his desperation he figured he needed a two or three hour head start on the police in order to avoid apprehension. He was well known in and around Inverness - petty theft , burglary , minor assault - mostly but he needed to escape the trap and armed robbery was a major step up for the delinquent. What did he have to stay for anyway? His dad disappeared a long time ago , mum chain...

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“Zip it, Locket” by Kelly Bellucci

Submitted to Contest #259

“Hello, are you Mrs. Ceiver,” the friendly voice asked, standing on the well-manicured porch of 55 Iris Lane. She was tall and thin, most likely underweight for her height and age, and wore a plain, cream colored dress which appeared to be two sizes too big. The woman stood still with a smile on her face, almost as if she were made of plastic, yet her eyes seemed to tell a tale of great pain behind her perfectly put-on facade. For she wanted to play the role of somebody else, to appear faultless despite the coffee stain across her left bosom...

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“What Happened to Tommy?” by Anna Creel

Submitted to Contest #259

The Johnson family; how would I describe them? Well, in 3 words actually; mysterious, rich, and famous. A reporter named Donna Cross, obsessed with finding the truth about what really happened to the youngest member, came from the next town over. She introduced herself to the Johnsons. The family consisted of 6 people. Sarah; the mother. Joseph; the father. Then there are the kids; Janice, Stephanie, Harry, John.There used to be 7 members, but the youngest member mysteriously disappeared.Tommy was just 4 years old when he went missing. After...

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“The Ambrasio Hotel” by William Michaud

Submitted to Contest #259

There weren’t two ways to go about it. Sophie had to make a decision. She had arrived in town yesterday afternoon. She was on her way to a scientific convention, when her car had decided to give up. It was an old red car, gifted to her by her dad. He had used it for years as a detective, and she had kept driving it despite all its rumbling and fits of nerves. It was almost a human being at this point. But she couldn’t stop herself from giving it another chance each time. She was so attached to her little red queen, especially since her...

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In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. One day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 47 stories

“Concordia Comes Home” by Derrick M Domican

“Tallow” by Empress Jester King

“New Hamburg” by Brian Haddad

“Reaping Window” by Nicholas Thomas

“A Long Walk to Red Ridge” by Keba Ghardt

“Dark Waters, Darker Secrets” by W. H. Goodwater

“The Road From Cabazon” by Thomas Wetzel

“AMBER AND THE SECRETS OF CEDAR HOLLOW” by Darvico Ulmeli

“No Dogs Allowed” by John Steckley

“Deadly Secrets” by Dita Dow

“Kisses” by Sarah Jo

“Commune” by Alex McColm

“Zip it, Locket” by Kelly Bellucci

“What Happened to Tommy?” by Anna Creel

“The Ambrasio Hotel” by William Michaud

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two people who aren't admitting their true feelings for one another, despite it being obvious to outsiders.

Place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening.

Write a story that includes the line, "Is nobody going to say it?".

Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

Contest #259

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

295

Contest entries

143

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: