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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story in which someone finds a secret passageway.

Posted in Mystery on May 1, 2021

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 68 stories

“Every Library Has a Door ” by Dobby's Sock

Submitted to Contest #30

It was chilly but the heater was on. His legs though tiny little sticks, had been cramping from yesterday, when Donald had given him a race when challenged, and given him a drubbing at it as well, a mighty one, to rub it in. And on top of it, there was nothing but cold where he sat. Despite his complaints which reached Miss Pansy's ears but failed before her heart, he was made to sit where he was and nowhere else. It was the defaulter's seat, and it was his first time. As much as he thought of it, for the life of him he couldn't underst...

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“The Darker Alley” by Mia Hunter

Submitted to Contest #30

“I have been on this street for as long as I can remember… all I know is that I just have to live… live till the day I die.” By, The Homeless manThe evening sky frowns down at the somewhat busy main road of Koramangala. Cars gliding, people rushing and a whole lot of lights flashing; the usual city chaos.A homeless man sits on the footpath, on a rugged jute sac, with his back pressed against the stone wall of an old temple. His once white shirt has turned khaki and a blanket of dust rests on his shredded, black pants. He hums a tune to himse...

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“Questionable Truths” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #30

The clacking of the type drowned out the feeble sobs. In the corner of the cavernous basement, behind the vast machines, the sound existed in a bubble of its own existence, pushing rebelliously at the pressure of the noise. She was alone, but solitude is subjective.Above . . .Laughter filled the small room, making brighter the dim light of the chandelier. Outside, the night was deep. Here, the windows are either squares of black or blocked by splendid drapes which are the color of foreign suns. Glasses jangle against bottles and trays. There...

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“What it Doesn't Say on Trip Advisor” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #30

It was one of those hotels full of character that made Alison Henderson feel a sudden surge of yearning for the nearest Travelodge or Premier Inn – except she had a suspicion that the nearest Travelodge or Premier Inn was probably at least 50 miles away. She had half-expected it not to look quite how it did on its website – hotels never did, any more than they ever had in brochures, even when there was an actual photograph and not an artist’s impression.      But she hadn’t expected it to be – well, quite l...

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“The Golden Kingdom” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #30

“Unfortunately, my dear Scheherazade, the time has come for you to die.”The mighty sultan beckoned the executioner who carefully checked the sharpness of his scimitar.“So be it, o honorable sultan,” Scheherazade replied, “but grant me an answer to one last question.”The sultan showed the palm of his hand to the executioner and nodded to his temporary concubine. Scheherazade’s question surprised him: “Do you know the story of the Golden Kingdom?”“I can’t say that I do,,” he answered. “Would you care to tell me that story before you go?’ ...

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“Clockwise” by Kylia Castello

Submitted to Contest #30

Old books have always captured my interest. From personal diaries to ancient maps, finding unfamiliar, old records on paper has been my hobby. Once, when we visited my great uncle’s farm, I found a slip of paper sticking out of the bathtub shower head. I reached up and tugged it out of place, marveling at how old it seemed.How it never got ruined, I have no clue.   But as I gazed at the wrinkled paper, trying to decipher its writing, someone banged on the bathroom door, yelling at me to hurry up. That scared the bejeebers out ...

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“Colors and Trapdoors” by Katie Garr

Submitted to Contest #30

My mother never had a “thing” like most people do. We moved from house to house almost yearly, so she never had the time to pick up a real hobby. My childhood consisted of watching her go from one interest to the next: knitting, sewing, painting, mandala drawing. You name it, she’s probably done it. The walls in our childhood home were covered in doodles upon doodles of hers, painted in swirls and curves. The house ended up abandoned, the massive amount of renovations and additions needed to make it worth anything dissuaded most reasonable b...

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“Imagine a door” by Tanya Roberts

Submitted to Contest #30

I am writing this at great personal risk. Some things should never be told. Better to lock them away. I read something once about how acknowledging evil opens a conduit. A doorway. So yes, better to keep some things in the dark where they will wither and die, except some things thrive in darkness and may grow teeth. That’s why you’re reading this now. I locked it away, or tried to, and now it’s chewing it’s way out with maturing, malignant fangs. May as well open the door while there may still be enough left to hide behind as it escapes. ...

3 comments 3
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“THE ECOLOGICAL NICHE OF TAMIAS STRIATUS IN THE BRONX FOOD WEB” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #30

THE ECOLOGICAL NICHE OF TAMIAS STRIATUS IN THE BRONX FOOD WEBBy Andrew Paul GrellI find myself at the southwest entrance to Van Cortland Park, the entrance with the 1938 statue of the last coyote in New York City. There has been no update, yet, acknowledging the new crew of Canidae seeking balance in the current environmental conditions. How I came to be here, this bright day amidst joyful park visitors, somehow escapes me. Presumably, I took the #1 train to its terminal station, since the steps leading up to the iron horse we...

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“Summer at Gramma’s” by Sarah Butland

Submitted to Contest #30

Gramma’s house was the last place I wanted to be yet the only place I could go. The summer before my final year of high school would be sent hours away from my friends looking after Gramma Trudy and I had no say in the matter. Don’t get me wrong, Gramma Trudy was my favourite of all gramma’s, actually the person in my family, extended and immediate, that I loved the most but things were different now. I was 16 and in love with Charlie. With just days left of grade 11 and a week left before my escape to solitary I filled my remaining pag...

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“Mary's Place” by Aisha Hashmi

Submitted to Contest #30

Mary was lost. She had walked around the mall now for over two hours,  and was panicking.  Her mom and dad told her to meet them at the food court and she just could not find her way back.  Seeing a man standing by a water fountain in front of Sears, she approached him to ask for directions, and as she walked closer to him, he turned and she saw he had a phone up to his ear, listening.  She turned to look for someone else to ask.  She saw a lady with two crying children, and a man talking to his daughter.  She ...

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“Dreamland” by James Offenha

Submitted to Contest #30

Mommy and Daddy own a waterbed, which is supported by a wooden bottom, with drawers on each side, but between the drawers is a one foot by one foot door, which can’t be opened with my paw, but I’m working on getting in, even though Mommy and Daddy don’t want me to, which is why they closed the door. I try scratching the door and smelling the door. I can’t get in by scratching, but I smell it and it smells like burnt umber. Sometimes I use my nose to try to open the door, and one time I almost wedged it open, but then Mommy said it...

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“The Cabin in the Woods” by Dawn Rae

Submitted to Contest #30

The writing wasn’t going well. I’d spent the morning listing reasons why until finally I gave up, closed my laptop and stared into space. Even my mind was too lazy to wander.           That’s when I noticed the corner floor boards didn’t quite match. There was a hand-sized piece added in, with a gap just big enough for a screwdriver. I knelt on the floor, wondering what the others at this retreat would think if they saw me. But they were probably all busy writing a chapter of their next ...

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“The Neighbour” by Paige Lauscher

Submitted to Contest #30

"What an exhausting day." I thought to myself as I sauntered up the cement steps of my apartment. I had just moved in to the building a week ago so these stairs were going to take some getting used too. There were 8 floors; I live on the 7th; and there was no elevator! Can you believe it?! No elevator in an 8 floor building. But the rent was affordable, it was close enough to work that I can walk it AND I have a ridiculously handsome upstairs neighbour. Which is always a positive in my eyes. Ah the neighbour. I've spent almost every night ...

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“The Forgotten Princess” by Michael Speicher Sr.

Submitted to Contest #30

By: Michael Speicher Chapter 1 :    Mary Masters was only 10 years old when her life changed forever. See mary was a normal little girl that lived a normal life. She went to public school and had to do choirs at home. She got grounded and had a bedtime. She was normal, well at least she thought, until that one crazy night. Mary kissed her mom goodnight like she did every other night. Then she went to her bedroom to lay down. She was tired but for some reason could not sleep, she laid there for what seemed to be hours, tossing...

6 comments 6
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