Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Posted in Mystery on Feb 10, 2023

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✍️ 46 stories

“TABITHA'S PROBLEM” by Sherrice Williams

Submitted to Contest #185

Missandra jiggled the key in the padlock until it clicked. Her heart thudded. She had no idea what she was about to see behind this door but even if she did, nothing could’ve prepared her for what she was walking into. Well, that was a lie. She’d grown up in that house, she knew what it was like. But since she’d walked away so many years ago, she had no idea the monster this had grown into. Even though she’s still kept in contact with her mother, Missandra, or Missy as everyone called her, refused to ever set foot back in that house, so she ...

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“The Man from Unit 41” by Jacob Weber

Submitted to Contest #185

The door to 716 Jefferson Avenue closed with a barely audible click, this miniature percussion marking the end of another heartbreaking chapter of the Man’s life. His fingers held tightly to the tarnished brass doorknob, body and mind alike holding to a bygone fantasy of love and absolution for a few more precious moments before finally releasing their grip. He finally turned, wintry heart doing its best to match the wintry gloom of late February as he stepped away from the cozy warmth of what he had once foolishly believed to be his new hom...

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“Don't Peek Inside ” by J. E. Sanchez

Submitted to Contest #185

On the way to the warehouse, the scenery changed from a bustling city to a grassland devoid of trees, from dawn to dusk. Luther Fernando, a young clean man, got out of his mediocre car, perched on the brittle road, and made his way toward the thundering iron fence surrounding the warehouse. The gate was open so Luther headed right in.The warehouse was an enormous brick building with no dents or scratches on it. By the warehouse's overhead silver door stood Mr. Gardner, a wrinkly old man wearing a leather garment and was the one who offered h...

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“The Family Legacy” by CATHERINE ALLEN

Submitted to Contest #185

Crossing the cattle grate into Willy’s Self Storage Unit lot Lucy unleashed a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. Hearing the rhythmic sounds of gravel crunching under her truck tires as she drove down the gravel path she braced herself for the unavoidable, awkward encounter she was anticipating. A month earlier, Lucy received a past due notice from Willy’s Self Storage Unit in Valdosta, Georgia. The bill, which was in her name, said she owed $120 for her 10x15 storage unit. The standard $110 a month charge was upped...

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“The important stuff” by Marlise Pienaar

Submitted to Contest #185

I was standing in front of a storage unit with a ruby-red roller door. Number 87 B. I had a key in one hand and a letter in the other. I read the letter again. It was dated nine years ago. My darling Nina, If you’re reading this, it means I’ve finally moved on. Don’t be sad. I’ve had a long, full life. I left this storage unit and the secrets inside to you, as I know your mother would not handle it very gracefully. It’s strange how one’s offspring can be so different from you, but that you can find a kindred spirit in a grandchild instead....

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“Storage Unit 420” by Douglas W. Carr

Submitted to Contest #185

One fateful night in New Castle, Pennsylvania, an elderly married couple was traveling home from the grocery store when their vehicle was hit by a truck that had run a red light at an intersection near their home. It was determined that the driver of the truck had suffered a heart-attack and had lost consciousness just prior to the intersection causing the violent and fatal crash. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene and so was the husband. The wife however was transported to the local hospital and placed on life support ...

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“The End of the Case” by Penny Whiting

Submitted to Contest #185

Howard’s pen scratched the paper as he wrote. It was the only sound in the room, apart from his own occasional breath. He didn’t even have a clock, because knowing the time caused him to rush, and you just couldn’t rush this important work. Even after nearly thirty years, he still took the same amount of care with his paperwork as he had done the first time he had sat down to fill it out, thinking through every paragraph with meticulous thought. He flipped the page over without making a sound and continued writing. The desk Howard sat at was...

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“Nobody Knows How to Say Goodbye” by Arpad Nagy

Submitted to Contest #185

Nobody Knows How to Say Goodbye These walls have seen it all, from the beginning to the final call. I was there when you had nothing. Barren and waiting to hold everything in my bosom, ready to feed your dreams, support your ambition, and sustain your ego. Day after day, I stood solid, never failing, steady in temperament, cooling you when you boiled over, giving you respite with my silence when the war became too much—patiently listening while you planned your attack—giving you space to breathe and work when you had nowhere else t...

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“Containment. ” by Charlie Bille

Submitted to Contest #185

Everyone in his life told him that it was a stupid idea, though he truly hoped otherwise. From his mother who all but screamed about how stupid of an idea, it was to his co-worker who told him off in his drunken stupor. They and many, many others had gotten the point across, that this was a truly terrible idea. However, he had inherited his father's stubbornness, and when he made up his mind about something no one would be able to change it. Stubborn as a mule had his friends say - well actually everyone says it. James had stubbornly decid...

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“The Curious Case of the Rescued Toys” by Kevin V

Submitted to Contest #185

They slid open the storage unit to reveal it stuffed completely with what appeared to be all children's toys. From what Frank saw, no open space existed anywhere. "It'll be like that all the way to the back," Tom said. He owned the storage units. "I can't rent this one because it's always filled. I empty it and it fills up again. Mostly toys, stuffed animals and games. Always kid's stuff." Everything Frank saw looked like kid stuff. "And you have cameras in here." Tom pointed to where they were all mounted. "Twenty-four hour surveillan...

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“Tesoro” by Anne Riley

Submitted to Contest #185

Stanley salivated as the metal grate flew swiftly upwards, giving a clear view of the treasure that awaited behind it. A collective sigh of disappointment spread through the crowd surveying the 2 dozen or more boxes, some labeled, others blank. To the naked eye, it didn’t appear to be the treasure trove they had hoped for. Some shook their heads and walked away. Others scanned the boxes with little interest. The true players remained transfixed, knowing that fortune sometimes lay where it was least expected to be. Stanley’s trained eye sca...

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“The Long Con” by Meredith McNown

Submitted to Contest #185

TW: Death I didn’t know how Janet found out about the unit in the first place. Maybe Mick had mentioned it at some point or maybe she had found the key at his place. She was probably the first one to go over there, managing things, cleaning up anything that had the potential to cause trouble. We had never liked each other, Janet and me, so I didn’t really understand why she bothered to bring it to my attention at all. Janet was one tough lady. She was mean and hard and blunt, and she always had one eye aimed warily at me. I think she saw...

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“The Good, The Bad, and The Tiny” by Erik Brun

Submitted to Contest #185

*Content Warning: Mild foul language, physical violence, mild sexual themes* Cody Cole scanned the horizon from atop the summit of boxes labeled “CDs”. No movement appeared through his scope. From his perch in the corner of the room, the entire expanse could be seen. Somewhere, amongst the various boxes of forgotten items, was his target. And he couldn't hide forever. The light would shut off at any moment now. Tonight's caretaker would be leaving soon. Probably taking a piss or something before he locked up for the night. For the ...

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“Chasing the Truth” by Jesse Upchurch

Submitted to Contest #185

“I know that it’s in here somewhere.” I pulled another box from the stack. Greg stood just outside the door, keeping lookout. “If you don’t hurry up, someone’s going to catch us. I could lose my job for this, man.” I let out a laugh. “Your job? If we get caught, it won’t be Mr. Kilpatrick this late. It will be someone else looking for the same thing I...

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“The Long Weight” by David Baldwin

Submitted to Contest #185

Warning: Contains Strong Language; Homophobic attitudes‘Go down the store and get us a long weight, some glass-fibre welding rods and a tin of tartan paint.’‘What for, Sarge?’‘You’re gonna build a raft to get your sorry arses over this lake, so use your fuckin’ initiative, Sapper.’Fucking moron. I’m not sure if I was thinking this, or Sgt Browne was bellowing it, but the phrase rattled around the inside of my skull as I headed off.The store was a ten-minute walk away, across the vast, tarmacked expanse of the parade ground, behind the burnt-...

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Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 46 stories

“TABITHA'S PROBLEM” by Sherrice Williams

“The Man from Unit 41” by Jacob Weber

“Don't Peek Inside ” by J. E. Sanchez

“The Family Legacy” by CATHERINE ALLEN

“The important stuff” by Marlise Pienaar

“Storage Unit 420” by Douglas W. Carr

“The End of the Case” by Penny Whiting

“Nobody Knows How to Say Goodbye” by Arpad Nagy

“Containment. ” by Charlie Bille

“The Curious Case of the Rescued Toys” by Kevin V

“Tesoro” by Anne Riley

“The Long Con” by Meredith McNown

“The Good, The Bad, and The Tiny” by Erik Brun

“Chasing the Truth” by Jesse Upchurch

“The Long Weight” by David Baldwin

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Start a story with someone saying, “It’s mine, and you can’t have it!”

Write about a dragon who doesn’t know what to do with their hoard anymore.

Contest #185

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

138

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: