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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story about someone who keeps coming across the same stranger.

Posted in Mystery on Jul 10, 2021

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 182 stories

“Thicker than Time” by Marc Hayot

Submitted to Contest #37

“Are you sure the test is positive?” George said into his cellphone.“It’s a pretty easy test to read George. Of course, I’m sure,” said his girlfriend Stacy on the other end.“Man, I’m so not ready for this,” he said.“You’re not ready? Hello, who do you think has to carry it for nine months?”“Alright,” George said trying to calm her down. “What do you want to do with it?”“Do with it? It’s a child George, of course I’m going to have it,” Stacy replied. “The question is what are you going to do?”George sat silent on the other end.“Well?” Stacy ...

3 comments 3
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“The Man with the Three-Legged Dog and the Pet Raven” by Alexandre Affonso

Submitted to Contest #37

“See?! There he is again!” announced the excited boy from across the living room. “Come see or you’ll miss it!” Jimmy kneeled on the brown leather couch while calling out for his big brother; Guibs laid on the head rest beside him while barking at the stranger. “I’m coming, relax,” mumbled Patrick as he sauntered towards the window. “Come, quick!” Patrick continued to walk at the same speed until he reached the window. He opened the curtains wider and looked at the street outside—empty. “Who are you talking about?”The boy star...

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“The Cowboy” by Chuck Thompson

Submitted to Contest #37

I love her. She means everything to me and has since I first met her at the Newark airport. She just arrived from Europe and I just arrived from Arizona. Who says baggage claim can’t be auspicious?Anna Draco, what a name! European light complexion, waist length rich brown hair, light dusting of makeup, that red-red lipstick that only a few women can carry off. I was in love.She knows me as Clark Dale.Turned out we were staying at the same hotel across from the Jersey version of the Mall of America. She liked to ...

3 comments 3
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“Lightning Blue Eyes” by Lydia Freeman

Submitted to Contest #37

Leanna didn't care where she went―she just didn't want to be here. She couldn't deal with the pitying looks coming her way and the insincere apologies. She might have been overreacting when she ran out of the huge church, crying―but she couldn't help herself. Her brother had just died after all.She found herself wandering around into a park. With the swings and seesaws and monkey bars, she was supposed to feel better that there were no more people surrounding her―maybe even peaceful―but she didn't. The park gave her an eerie feeling―and it d...

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“A Matter of Choice” by Chrystel Roberts

Submitted to Contest #37

I was a virile young man of eighteen; he was a feeble old man, well into his seventies; he definitely was no match for me!I pressed my back against the wall and waited for the old man to come round the corner; as soon as he did I grabbed him. I could feel his skeletal body beneath his clean but well-worn grey striped t-shirt.Speaking in Afrikaans, my mother tongue, I screamed "Wat wil jy he, ou man?" What do you want, old man? I gave him a good shake.  He looked petrified. Who wouldn't be? Not only was I a strapping young man but a...

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“A visit from guilt” by Laura Watts

Submitted to Contest #37

She had seen glimpses of him many times before, but now he followed her day and night, with a purpose. He was different to the last time she had seen him, morphed into the likeness of someone she had betrayed. She knew why he was here, though she pretended she did not. She was guilty.I saw him again today. He follows me. In the drab, dull streets of London. In my horror filled dreams of death. In my imagination’s fun play. In my cozy, familiar home. He is everywhere. I can’t stop seeing him. He visits me when I am wrong. ...

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“The Staring Man ” by Mia Bond

Submitted to Contest #37

Vincent Marchant was staring. He tried his best not to. Unsuccessfully. Hugo Petrich was staring. There was a man who was just staring at him; not that it was unwanted attention. The man was perched, rather uncomfortably on a park bench. His trousers were slightly small, Hugo observed. They rode up past his ankles and crinkled at the bend of his knee. In comparison his shirt was slightly large, he’d rolled the cuffs up and the sleeves bunched at his elbows. It hung around his chest and shifted rhythmically in the gentle morning breeze. ...

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“The Phenomenon In Manhattan” by Anvita Bhogadi

Submitted to Contest #37

It was just another morning, to be precise, just another Monday morning, irritating, lazy and drabby. One can not really imagine a happy and bustling,on-swing mornings can they? Life was the same and the Clarke household. It was the same breakfast consisting of milk, bacon, and cereal. Not to forget the squeals of Arabella’s sister trying to multitask watching a television show and finish a due assignment.Arabella Clarke, the eldest child in the family,did not really want to go to school but, well, they were just the familiar Monday morning ...

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“The stranger ” by Casey Farley

Submitted to Contest #37

"Why did you come here?" inquired Alice. "You guys kicked me out." She was in her room with her former bandmate Molly, who was staring at her in confusion. She sat down, cross-legged on her bed. "You’re the one who began hanging out with Ethan," said Molly. Her wide and green eyes fixed on her. Usually, Alice would see Molly with her gothic outfit. This time she wore a plain white shirt and black pants.  "Mike kicked me because I sucked at singing," Alice replied. "Did you come here looking for seducing advice? Well, you ...

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“Spectral Strangers” by Stephanie Safiros

Submitted to Contest #37

       The first time Akira came across the man, it was a rainy Sunday evening, and she was already running late. Deadlines were fast approaching, and if she wanted to be able to put out cupcakes on the table, she'd have to hurry up. She almost missed the man, about her age, if not slightly older, in the grey dress shirt and nice dress pants. There wasn't anything about his features- his dark hair that resembled dark chocolate in form and colour, or his inquisitive grey eyes, or his high but filled cheekbon...

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“Capture the Flag” by Julia Li

Submitted to Contest #37

 It all started when I decided to clean out the closet. Sunday mornings were sacred——the rumble of New York City hadn't quite started up just yet, and my entire flat was silent—just the way I liked it.   With a cup of my homemade matcha latte in one hand, I attacked the monstrosity of my closet with sheer determination that I reserved only for Sundays. I pushed open the two, white doors of my walk-in closet. Daring red heels and black pumps lined the bottom racks whereas my various jumpsuits and little black dresses scatt...

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“Haven’t I Seen You Somewhere...?” by Joseph Worrell

Submitted to Contest #37

Arla stepped off of the bus onto the sidewalk, her coffee perfectly balanced in her left hand, laptop case hanging in the other. Her office building was a few blocks away but the bus did not get any closer to her building than it already was. There was a slight breeze that gust past, causing her to feel more present as she put each foot in front of the other. Another gust sent her beautiful dark brown hair sputtering into her face. She paused her stride and laughed to herself as she attempted to get the strands of hair out of her eyes and mo...

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“Destiny” by Varshitaa T

Submitted to Contest #37

It's her! That woman!The same woman who had been stalking her for 15 days and a half. Yes. She was keeping count.The woman was hiding half behind the large lamp post. She was wearing a weird assortment of clothes that definitely did not belong in this century. A dark leather corset over a long sleeved white undershirt and tight pants that looked like they were squeezing the life out of her legs. A long overcoat with a hood and buttoned over her waist completed the ensemble. She dimly thought of how the lady looked absolutely striking when sh...

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“The Crappy Chandelier” by Allison Darke

Submitted to Contest #37

They say that your whole life flashes before your eyes before you die. I wonder if that’s true. Probably not because I’m not seeing anything right now. Just this awful chandelier. It was one of those “modern” chandeliers that is small enough to fit in an apartment. Looking at it intently right now, it seemed to go against the room. I try to not think about the chandelier. Instead, I try to spend my remaining time trying to understand what led me to my demise.I first saw him three tables away at a coffee shop. I was editing the draft on my se...

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“Seeing Ian” by Donnalee L V

Submitted to Contest #37

Seeing Ian    “It is a Great evening for a walk downtown. This is fun Matt!!” I said.Matt is my boyfriend.   “Look--there is a bucket band playing down the block. I have watched them before. Would you like to walk down there and watch them for a bit?’ said Matt.   “Yes--let’s go!” I said.    We walked towards the bucket band. There were 2 guys with drumsticks hitting various sizes of buckets. There were about 10 people standing and watching. One guy caught our attention. H...

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