Start your story with a student discovering a hidden room in a university library.

Posted in Mystery on Nov 3, 2023

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✍️ 77 stories

“Secrets of the Forbidden Room” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #223

Secrets of the Forbidden Room On one quiet Friday evening, Rutgers junior Jan Newsome sat in the still corner of the university library studying for her psychology final. She found it difficult to concentrate–that mysterious room a few feet away kept attracting her, as it had for each of the la...

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“The Currency of Knowledge” by Jade Lawson

Submitted to Contest #223

I was vibrating with the conflicting urge to hurry and the need to not draw attention to myself. Turning sharply down an aisle, I forced a smile and nod at the other student who looked up as he was flipping through a text before putting the book back. I breathed a little more easily once I reached the end of the aisle. This section of the library had less of a footpath lately due to them updating the electrical system in the study rooms. But things evidently have been slow going, making it much darker along this stretch. I glanced ...

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“Fate All the Same” by C. J. Peters

Submitted to Contest #223

The convergence of David and I could be considered nothing short of a cosmic inevitability, as unavoidable as an earthbound meteor. Something that would irreparably alter the bounds of life and death, the fundamental meaning of humanity, a concept to which I’d never truly become accustomed.Only months earlier, at the start of our freshman year, an instance of synchronicity had us standing in the same forgotten section of the campus library for the first time. He’d been seeking out the university’s selection of occult works, discarded in a lo...

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“Toby, the Magical Hero” by Diane Mason

Submitted to Contest #223

Toby, the Magical HeroA student discovering a hidden room in a university library would be hailed forever as a hero for generations to come. Toby, a compassionate and gentle individual with a touch of geekiness, had recently relocated to a new city with his devoted mother. Seeking a fresh start, his mom had embarked on a new job opportunity, bringing them both along for the journey. He was not very happy about starting at a new university in an unknown territory. As Toby prepared himself for his first day at the unfamiliar school, he couldn'...

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“The Hidden Room” by Simon Kailing

Submitted to Contest #223

It was early in the morning, and Philomena didn’t have class until ten. Therefore, she was justifiably upset when her boyfriend snuck into her dorm and woke up her at six in the morning. But then he said three little words, and her whole world changed. “I found it.” There was no confusion ab...

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“Cleopatra’s Mirrors” by Pinaki Kar

Submitted to Contest #223

The Discovery As Alex absentmindedly traced his fingers over the cool, metallic surface of the Sphinx bookend, the Egyptology scholar within him nudged him to readjust the figurine, aligning it with the traditional "East" instead of some arbitrary direction. Playfully turning it, he was astounded as the sphinx replica effortlessly spun on its base, securing itself with a satisfying click. Suddenly, the floor beneath him began to tremble, and a segment of the seamless granite floor parted, revealing a small, squarish opening. The light from t...

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“Bina’s Room” by Hilary Yelvington

Submitted to Contest #223

“Up here!” Terry shouted. Marcus followed the sound of Terry’s voice as he wove between rows and rows of bookshelves. Terry yelled again, and this time Marcus saw him, his belligerent freshman roommate turned friend perched high above, head poking out of an opening in the ceiling Marcus had never noticed before. “How in the hell did you get up there, Terry?” he yelled, before tripping and falling into one of the ancient wooden bookshelves. Marcus looked back at what he’d stumbled on, and the method of Terry’s ascensio...

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“Steps” by Andrey Trofimov

Submitted to Contest #223

I ran in and closed the door behind me. Thankfully, the kick didn’t rip it off the hinges, but I knew that the lock would be broken by now so I could only hold the door by pressing my back against it. I squeezed my eyes shut in anticipation of a powerful force to push from the other side. But nothing happened. I held my breath to better hear if more heavy footsteps were approaching. Nothing. The library was silent again. And once again the silence did not make me feel better. I was certain that all those, who were rushing to get me earlier, ...

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“Library of Secrets” by Luciano Cortese

Submitted to Contest #223

It was quite a thing to say that you’d practically grown up in the city’s biggest library and archives. Quail could still remember his younger years right after being adopted, as he tentatively explored the halls and wandered between bookshelves, checked maps, tried to find everything he could here. The King Library and Archives was a mysterious place, full of hoarded knowledge and forgotten things. If you were looking for secrets, you’d find plenty exploring its five floors, big enough to take up an entire city block and yet still seeming b...

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“The Awakened” by Kelly Mesenbrink

Submitted to Contest #223

“Ugh,” Hanna uttered under her breath. Her laptop charger had escaped the wall outlet yet again, as it had four times before that same day. Or was it night? She could not tell. As far as she was concerned, the library was her home now, its grayish-tan walls and dusty bookshelves emitting a strangely hospitable aura. Stretching like a contortionist, she maneuvered the plug back into the inconveniently-placed wall outlet. The charging light turned orange, and Hanna leaned back in her chair and sighed in relief. She looked at her watch...

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“Lukes meaning” by Max Hendrickson

Submitted to Contest #223

Prologue The book was an ordinary affair, brown worn spine with faded lettering, sitting amongst other drab works of olive and maroon. But to Luke, it was as though the book was a bright copper in a pile of bits. Something about the book spoke to him, whispering secrets in his ear as though it would tell him all he wanted to know and more. He stood in the middle of the library's east wing, duster clutched in hand, among the towering shelves of dusty tomes. And here in the farthest reaches of the library, against the very back...

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“Binding Lessons” by Angel Oquendo

Submitted to Contest #223

Two students walked along the shadows of Old Queen’s Way, the great statue loomed over much of the 10 mile courtyard, overlooking the mess hall, gymnasium, and the dormitory. One walked with an awkward gait leading his colleague to raise an eyebrow. “Herkal, you alright? You look like you shit yourself”, he said. The other man looked at him with a weak, embarrassed smile, “Huh? Oh yeah, these new pants were made poorly. Too tight in the waist”. New pants huh?, he thought. Herkal had them for nigh on half a year which made an alre...

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“Wayback When” by Jesse Baron

Submitted to Contest #223

I can't get my body to be still. My foot continues to tap to the beat of my twitching eye. Couple that with my rebellious mind with thoughts like starving vultures. They prey on my worry and ever growing anxiety. Funny enough my surroundings suit my countenance. In a universities library,pass midnight and stressed out;I am no different from any other student. Although every other student doesn't have to catch up on almost a whole year of work like me. It's hopeless,this feeling festers as I page through all the options to make up credits. I ...

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“The Book Brigade” by Sophia Torresan

Submitted to Contest #223

All was dark but the poor ochre light from a single bulb. Raindrops collected on the window, the street outside illuminated by the roadside lamps. It was useless trying to study now, and Maria-Jo’s eyes were beginning to strain. She stretched out in a sigh, enjoying the delicious silence in the Heidelberg university library, certain she was the last there. Conscious that her Grossvater may be waiting up, she deftly placed her books in her satchel, fastened her coat and turned off the light. There was still a dim glow of light from downstairs...

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“Now It Begins” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #223

Now It Begins My First Thoughts on Campus When I first walked onto the university campus after finally being accepted, albeit conditionally, I thought “Now it begins.” I will finally be moving ahead in my dream to be a professional writer, a published author. Some of my favourite books, and short stories have been written on these very grounds. Good writers have been inspired right here, perhaps where I am standing right now. I hope to become one of that number in my time here. In high school I wrote a few poems that g...

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Start your story with a student discovering a hidden room in a university library.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 77 stories

“Secrets of the Forbidden Room” by Bob Faszczewski

“The Currency of Knowledge” by Jade Lawson

“Fate All the Same” by C. J. Peters

“Toby, the Magical Hero” by Diane Mason

“The Hidden Room” by Simon Kailing

“Cleopatra’s Mirrors” by Pinaki Kar

“Bina’s Room” by Hilary Yelvington

“Steps” by Andrey Trofimov

“Library of Secrets” by Luciano Cortese

“The Awakened” by Kelly Mesenbrink

“Lukes meaning” by Max Hendrickson

“Binding Lessons” by Angel Oquendo

“Wayback When” by Jesse Baron

“The Book Brigade” by Sophia Torresan

“Now It Begins” by John Steckley

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about two rival academics pursuing the same grant.

Write a story in which a jaded academic makes an unexpected, rash decision.

Write about a student reporter uncovering a university scandal.

Set your story during exam season, when tensions run high and a minor incident sends your protagonist into a panic spiral.

Contest #223

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

184

Contest entries

84

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: