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

“You Can't Run from Karma” by Kim Dyas

Submitted to Contest #259

When opportunity knocks, you have to be ready to take advantage of that opportunity. That’s what Dad drilled into us, and in a small town, you grab any opportunity that comes your way with both hands.Our family have been living out on the land for the last 3 generations. It’s tough. Drought, floods, bushfires, we see it all out here. It can be soul destroying, especially when a natural disaster comes along and wipes out everything you have worked for. It brings you to your knees let me tell you. I’ve seen my Dad, the toughest man in existenc...

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“A Candle Burns” by Hannah Simpson

Submitted to Contest #259

The tiles had discoloured since Meryl had last set eyes on her uncle’s cottage. As the bus puffed out black smoke along the country road, she felt for the handle of her heavy rucksack and grunted as she put it on her back. Gravel crunched underfoot and a thin layer of dust settled on her already battered trainers. She could see the building at the crest of the small hill, just beyond The Carpenter’s Arms. Meryl stifled a yawn and began to walk, the events of recent weeks weighing on her as much as her belongings.She could feel the querying g...

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“Prosperity's costs” by Neena Albarus

Submitted to Contest #259

"Rica, you've been cocooned in luxury your entire life, blind to anything beyond your own gilded existence!” The enigmatic woman had the gall to sneer at me with chilling familiarity. Indeed, my existence had been steeped in material opulence. My lineage traced back to the illustrious founders of Syphon – visionaries who had transformed a wild expanse of trees into a bustling town of prosperity, complete with well-kept homes, sleek vehicles, and a skyline punctuated by lofty buildings. My family’s wealth and influence were interwoven into th...

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“Twin Adventures: The Secret, A Curse, A Monster” by Claudine Bailey

Submitted to Contest #259

The Richardson, the wealthiest family in Linstead, Jamaica, had decided to host a barbecue. Twins, Sean and Sadie were arguing over which juice to take from a cooler when a car swerved into the driveway.A woman came out of the old station wagon, with rollers in her hair and yard slippers on her feet. "Trevor! Trevor!"“Let’s go to the back,” Sean said. The back was where the other kids were, playing water sports.Sadie wanted to get in on the action. She pushed through the throng of people that had now encircled the woman. “Trevor, what d...

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“A Simple Ordinary Town” by Maili Steward

Submitted to Contest #259

In the town of Crossroads everything was simple and plain, the people lived their lives, the farmers tended the fields nearby, and the children played. In the town of Crossroads, the Jones family bakery made the best bread and treats, the fisherman’s widow and her children never failed to bring in a good haul for the market, and the Clawstone blacksmith made the best of the best for whoever asked. I live in that town, always have, I grew up playing in the roads and learning at Miss Ann’s schoolhouse. I grew up watching the simple lives...

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“Castle Colossus” by Dana Orr

Submitted to Contest #259

Stalking down the stone path rapidly, I take a moment to gather my spiraling thoughts and emotions. They shouldn’t cloud my judgment and force my hand. Justice should alone. Hood up, weapons tucked. I hear faintly in the mess of thoughts in my head. My thoughts swirl around once again. Feelings of anger not so foreign to my history flood them, pushing what control I did have, down until it almost doesn’t exist. With my cloak flapping in the wind, pants hugging every curve, and knee high leather boots concealing a knife or two; I ...

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“Ghostly Image” by Radmila Djurica

Submitted to Contest #259

When the photographer captures the unexplainable image, it is his duty to be initially puzzled. A small, picturesque town nestled among rolling hills, where locals are content with their simple lives and familiar routines. But, beneath the surface of this idyllic community lies a chilling secret guarded by the town's most influential family. The outsiders, a journalist and his photographer with a reputation for uncovering hidden truths, arrived in the town, hoping to get a story about the oldest wine basement in the county. They both’ve hear...

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“On The Road to Shambala” by Shelley Dawn Siddall

Submitted to Contest #259

On the road to Shambala“I was wrong,” I said to my friend Candance. “This is not a one horse town. If it was, that’s one productive horse.” I could hear her chuckle then the sudden lilt at the end of her laughter.“What do you mean by productive?”I looked around the gas station where I was sitting on the wild grass covered curb. “As far as the eye can see is poop. Horse manure everywhere. If one horse did all this, then it must have exploded.”“Gross. Why do you tell me these things Heidi? You know I have the weakest stomach in the world ...

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“Where Do People Go in Magnolia” by Elijah Colon-Mendez

Submitted to Contest #259

Not much takes place in the small town called Magnolia. Besides the common bar fights, petty thievery, and weird cases of missing people. Events like these were expected to happen with the lack of security that the people had then. Problems and crimes were to be swept under the rug as many people and good deeds were frowned upon as it showed someone trying to be another piece of meat on the chopping block. It was an unwelcoming place, especially to those that weren’t a part of the family. This was something a stranger couldn’t see the moment...

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“The Tale of the Cooks” by Joshua Urrasio

Submitted to Contest #259

There was something about the town of Fallkirk that Corrin Akermane had found peculiar since moving there. Something about the way the people seemed to always be looking over their shoulders, despite how safe and happy they appeared to be. Something about the way parents would hold their children close whenever they strolled down the streets. The they in question would of course be the Cook family. They were the ones who ran this town. Tybalt Cook, the patriarch of the family, was the owner of a shipping company called Sailstar, which brough...

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“A Loose End” by Anders Kjaer

Submitted to Contest #259

A Loose EndBy Anders Kjaer The windshield wipers whiskered back and forth, barely being able to clear the windshield before it got blurred out again.“This is officially lost territory” I thought to myself while glancing at the highway atlas on the passenger seat. The dark mountain road slithered its way through the pine forest, and the long into British Columbia had really taken a toll on my energy.I barely saw the old rusty and moss covered sign up ahead reading Pine Creek Valley and a few 100 yards later I took a sharp turn rig...

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“Didn't see that coming” by Neil Daly

Submitted to Contest #259

Steven Arnot was 21 when he met 20-year-old Alice Bailey at Springvale's local nightclub, Lazers, which was part of the Waltzing Matilda Hotel. After meeting each other through friends, the pair got on very well, and when they were both slightly drunk, they ended up ‘pashing on’ for a while before exchanging telephone numbers.Alice was a petite local girl from Dandenong North. She was the second eldest of four children. When they met, she had been a nurse at Caulfield Hospital for two years. Their relationship grew, and they enjoyed each oth...

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“The Dark Inheritance ” by Camille S

Submitted to Contest #259

SAYWARD Sayward is a small village, of 206, on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. In order to have status in Sayward, you have to have a few things: Land, enough money for beer, and you have to be in the rivalry between the townies and the country bumpkins. There is however, one family who is respected by both sides of the village. THE BOLTONS The majority of the people in Sayward live in groups of two; a husband and a wife. Only a few homes are lived in by families. There are the C...

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“Small Towns” by Jide Fadairo

Submitted to Contest #259

Vanessa hadn’t planned to stay in Seaside Fault much longer; leaving tonight in fact. She hated small perfect towns with their houses too symmetrical and people who fit together too nicely. Order of this magnitude stunk of dancing fingers and puppet strings. A farce of serenity.It reminded her of home.No, Vanessa didn’t plan to stay here. She had finished her work handling whatever were-things were roaming in the local woods–people dropping off abominations was a worrying trend this year–and was finishing a small lunch at a local diner.&nbsp...

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“The Outsider (Word Count: 1,467)” by LC Munro

Submitted to Contest #259

(The following story contains some mild use of period language).England, 1810Well-worn boots crunched on pristine white gravel as the young man made his way towards the magnificent red-brick facade of Gracebourne Manor. The youth stopped for a moment and gazed around him in wonder at the luxury he could never imagine in his wildest dreams. On either side of him, perfectly manicured lawns stretched away towards the horizon, disappearing behind the house. He carried on towards the covered entrance at the top of a short flight of s...

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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

“You Can't Run from Karma” by Kim Dyas

“A Candle Burns” by Hannah Simpson

“Prosperity's costs” by Neena Albarus

“Twin Adventures: The Secret, A Curse, A Monster” by Claudine Bailey

“A Simple Ordinary Town” by Maili Steward

“Castle Colossus” by Dana Orr

“Ghostly Image” by Radmila Djurica

“On The Road to Shambala” by Shelley Dawn Siddall

“Where Do People Go in Magnolia” by Elijah Colon-Mendez

“The Tale of the Cooks” by Joshua Urrasio

“A Loose End” by Anders Kjaer

“Didn't see that coming” by Neil Daly

“The Dark Inheritance ” by Camille S

“Small Towns” by Jide Fadairo

“The Outsider (Word Count: 1,467)” by LC Munro

🌟 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 🏆

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