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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story in which characters are warned not to go into the woods.

Posted in Mystery on Jan 7, 2021

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✍️ 98 stories

“The Woods” by Kaitlynn Flint

Submitted to Contest #16

11/21/19No matter how many times they warned us, there was still a nagging feeling to go into the woods. To ignore their pleas, and walk in the dark forest. My friends and I knew about the lost children and the dead bodies. There were times when even my gut told me to never go near those woods. But, that nagging thought-that voice- that desire- never left us. It happened last summer. It was our last summer before high school(or as a kid), and we wanted to spend it doing fun, exciting things. We all knew this was our last weekend of real...

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“Trees” by Mushroom (flammulina Velutipes)

Submitted to Contest #16

The woods were dangerous, or so they told the villagers huddling in their thin blankets, praying to the gods that did not listen.They surrounded the southern border of the kingdom, thick and dark and full of things the villagers didn’t speak of. To say something’s name was to call it, and the villagers had enough trouble already.The trees ended just outside the village, but a few remained, gnarled and knotted and twisted and bent, missing the darkness from which they came. The houses were weak and small, made of brush and sticks and prayers....

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“Fetch” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #16

Someone had nailed a sign to a tree at the entrance of the path into the woods. A scrappy bit of lined notepaper, torn from some schoolkid’s notebook, I figured. ‘WORNING – TURN BAK’. Guess whoever left it wasn’t acing their English homework. Last night’s drizzle had impregnated the ink and patches of blue stains had blossomed. I heard a noise behind me, a whine, and looked over my shoulder, the curled piece of paper forgotten.“C’mon Ash! Let’s get going.” I peered up at the fragments of sky visible through the canopy, gradually transforming...

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“What Became of Red Riding Hood” by Destinee Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #16

Don't go in the woodsThe words pounded against her skull as she ran, stumbling over a stray tree root as she went. Ahead of her, drawing closer by the second, the forest's edge loomed. Tree branches waved in the air, beckoning her. Behind her, shouts of the mob chasing her echoed. Don't go in the woodsVillagers knew the story well: those who entered the wood beyond the east edge of the village never returned. Less suspicious folks believed they had simply found a better settlement somewhere else. The rest believed, quite strongly, in the old...

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“The Troll” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #16

We were warned not to go into the woods. But I did it anyway. I was what they called the black sheep of the family, the one most likely to break the rules. So, I figured I’d live up to my reputation and go. It was getting hard to find game now. The area had been overhunted. Drought had driven off much of the remaining animals. I really had no choice if we were going to eat anything other than vegetables, roots, and berries, and little enough of them. To be honest, I hate vegetables. I have a hard time eating the damned things and then my mot...

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“Through the Leaves They Fall” by Megan DeRouin

Submitted to Contest #16

Through the Leaves They FallMegan DeRouinIf the seven foot high chain-link fence covered in thorny vines as thick as a quarter didn’t dissuade you, then there were the signs. Spaced exactly ten feet apart and hung at a uniform height the NO TRESPASSING’s faded red letters were sure to drive the message home.There were no cameras though, but that was just because when that fifty acre parcel of nothing but overgrown trees became off-limits they hadn’t been invented yet.My family had lived in the town of Stony Brook since before it was even a t...

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“The Brackish” by Julie Le Blanc

Submitted to Contest #16

Ronan slapped at his neck and cursed.'If another one of these feckin' mosquitoes bites me--''Look, it's your own fault,' Sara said. She rolled her eyes while her fingers nimbly drew the feathered fragments of the fishing net together again. 'I offered the bug spray, but nooo--''I break out in a rash when I used that stuff,' Ronan grumbled and pulled the collar of his shirt closer. 'Why do you think I'm wearing long sleeves?''I dunno,' Sara bit off the thread and examined her work. 'Just thought you liked to sweat. This should do well enough ...

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“Beware the Ravens” by Lauren Ford

Submitted to Contest #16

I still find myself flinching when I hear the sound. My head instinctively ducking. My forearms rising above my head. Goosebumps rising there like an army of tiny ants tearing through the flesh. The whoosh of wind is equivalent to a blow to the back of my knees and it takes a tremendous amount of willpower not to collapse and succumb to the fear.  You see, I am terrified of ravens. Of crows. Of blackbirds. Whatever it is you want to call them. I’ve had people laugh at my behaviour in crowded markets where I’ve meandered through the thro...

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“Fearless” by Eva Korošec

Submitted to Contest #16

There is a tale going around in my village, old as time itself. It appeared one night, like a cold brisk of air at the coming of winter, groaning with pain and hunger of a ferocious beast, a grand wolf, that occupies the deep nearby forests. They use it to scare children into obedience, but not even the bravest men and women take it lightly. Should you go out of your way, the wolf will catch you. Should you talk to a dark stranger, it is an evil wolf in disguise.I know this, because I am the wolf.Some may wonder what goes through the mind of...

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“"Into the Woods: Out of My Mind" ” by Sarcastic Kate

Submitted to Contest #16

“Cassie??! Where are you??! Cassie! Seriously, come on out! This isn’t funny anymore!”  She trudged along on the newly fallen leaves, looking for any sign of her sister. Her dog, Maxine, close at her heels, “Go find Cassie, Max! Please!” the dog ran on ahead in the direction of the woods. “No, no. Anywhere but there…. Why, Cassie? You know better…” Jenny marched forward, begrudgingly, as if on her death march. The clouds, too, as if sharing her mood, shifted colors before her very eyes, coming together in harsh, dark, ominous...

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“All That Glimmers” by Maya Parker

Submitted to Contest #16

The village of Yocca was nestled on the outskirts of the metropolis that was the Kingdom of Lacerron. Digg, fifteen seasons old, had only visited the bustling heart of town twice. Once to retrieve a parcel of cheese for her family. The second time was to receive the allotment of five golden lacs and one bag of dense millet. Grain was traditionally given to families who lost someone working for the palace. He was helping construct new decorative arches when one suddenly collapsed killed four men. His untimely demise had been deemed only as va...

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“The Woods had a Secret” by DEVIKA P

Submitted to Contest #16

Sarah stood there starring in the dark and wondered of into the dark paths of the woods. The creepy feeling of walking behind a small girl gradually faced with a pace of soft foot noises had a deliberate power to make my skin crawl and a burning sensation of the dark afternoon.Clouds built up and it remained dark for most of that day.A walk in the woods wasn’t a good thought for Sarah when she saw a dark shadow move quickly across her path.The spooky trail had a strong presence in her while she ran back and forth into the woods gusts of...

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“MY MOTHER SAID, I NEVER SHOULD, PLAY WITH THE GYPSIES IN THE WOOD” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #16

MY MOTHER SAID, I NEVER SHOULD, PLAY WITH THE GYPSIES IN THE WOODBy Andrew Paul Grell“Six moving vans on the street. A record.” Xanthippe, the eldest, was most likely to count things accurately. And she was the only one living on the cycloid-shaped street, aside from her Aunt and Uncle, who could pronounce her name properly.“We were here first. We have dibs on the playground.”“Dink, that’s not how we do. You old enough to know better. I give you a hard time when you came to climb on them monkey bars? Nah, I...

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“Swallowing woods” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #16

The crash just happened and no one saw it coming. Trapped in the middle of no where in an evil island, we couldn't find a way out from the island. We had to stick together like one big team being careful not to loose one another. "don't go into the woods? but all the warning given didn't occur to us, for we can't stay in one position and not look for food to fill our stomach. I set off together with my friends Leah and Dorcas, the wood was so quite and scary. Neither did we realize we had entered into the wolves territory. Holding each other...

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“Do Not Go Into the Woods!” by Sara Grim

Submitted to Contest #16

Oh no! Billy was up to bat. He always, and I mean always, hits home runs. I call him “The Billy.” Our family was camping out for the weekend with Billy’s family. I have two brothers, Tommy and Timmy, and a sister, Suzy. Billy has a brother, Bobby. We wanted to play a friendly softball game before we went fishing. Sure enough, Billy slugged hard at a perfect pitch and the ball went sailing up and away… right into the woods. I was running after the ball, when all of a sudden my dad stopped me and yelled, “Do not go into the woods!” “What? Why?...

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