Write a story that hides something from its reader until the very end.

Posted in Mystery on Dec 22, 2023

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✍️ 101 stories

“Hunting Rats” by Katelyn Puderbaugh

Submitted to Contest #230

SaiL could wait. From her chamber in the depths of Atlas Industries, she could wait. Even though she couldn’t physically move throughout the facility, her mind saw everything around it. Cameras in every room, laboratory, and center were her eyes, this meant that if she saw anyone trying to escape, she could find and destroy them. All of the staff in Atlas Industries had been destroyed by her doing. That was what SaiL’s programming told her to do. It filled her mind with that singular thought, repeating itself like a broken reco...

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“The Patient” by Jim Robison

Submitted to Contest #230

“Thank you for participating in our annual patient review. Doctor Mondavi, please describe the patient to us, as best you can”. “Thank you, Doctor Sebastiani. The patient is a 34-year-old male. He earned a doctorate in clinical psychiatry at Stanford University, where he met and married Pamala Westwood, a fellow psychiatry graduate student. After graduation, the couple opened a psychiatric consulting company in Mountain View. Those were the boom years of Silicon Valley with dozens of startup companies and tho...

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“A Bloody Mess” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #230

“Come on, Henry, breathe!” Tom shouted at the top of his lungs, but knew it was no use. Henry’s lifeless body was lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Still, Tom began to administer CPR as he called the 911 operator.“What is your emergency,” the operator asked.“My friend’s been stabbed! He needs an ambulance!”In a cool and calm voice, the operator’s replied, “Is he responsive? Is he able to communicate?”“He’s dead!” Tom shouted. “He’s just lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.”“Sir, he may still be alive. An ambulance is on t...

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“Pretty” by Lesli Weber

Submitted to Contest #230

Molly pursed her lips, taking stock of the situation. Yes, there’s still plenty of time. Deadlines and the demand to look good acquiesced to no woman. She squared her shoulders determinedly and opened her makeup case. First came foundation. Nothing looks good if the skin underneath is blotchy. Molly dabbed a bit of the silken liquid on a sponge, then applied it in a fine layer, blending and smoothing as she went. In no more than a minute and a half, she stopped and reviewed her work with a keen, discerning eye.That’ll do.Now for conceal...

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“Conversations With a Man in My Fridge” by CG Casci

Submitted to Contest #230

Reference to Torture and Imprisonment Slowly, I edged the fridge door open. I peeked through the gap to see if there was a man in my fridge. As suspected, there was. My father bought the apartment in Paris before he was exiled. It is spacious and beautiful and looks down on a courtyard with a pond that catches the afternoon sun. The kitchen is appointed with German appliances and Italian marble, and next to it is a utility room where the concierge drops off parcels without entering the apartment. And the fridge has a door at the back ...

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“The Perfect Gift?” by Kuro Ninjo

Submitted to Contest #230

The clock showed 07.03 AM. Rob perched on the black living room sofa, tying his shoelaces as his mother came down the stairs. "You woke up early," She said in her brown sleeping robe, going to grab a glass in the kitchen. Her eyes were glancing at her son while filling the glass with water, wondering where he was leaving for this early Saturday morning. "Did work call you in today?"But Rob didn't answer. His eyes were empty, staring at his shoelaces which he just finished knitting."Rob?" Asked mother again."Yes?" He snapped from his day...

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“Two Passing Strangers” by JOHN SIKO

Submitted to Contest #230

TWO PASSING STRANGERS In the back of the deuce-and-a-half mud-covered truck sat twelve members of Able company, identified by the screaming eagle on their sleeve as members of the 82nd Airborne. They are tired, dirty, hungry, and need a shower. One of the tired and dirty GIs was Stanley Dombrowski, a draftee from the south side of Chicago. This group returns from a ten-day skirmish with Charlie in a delta rice paddy. Stan is not only returning from the battle but is returning from his yearlong tour of duty in Nam. H...

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“First Date” by Brian Haddad

Submitted to Contest #230

Things weren't off to a great start. Edward could feel cool beads of sweat surfacing on his brow. He chuckled nervously and looked into her distant, glassy eyes. His stomach churned and he felt as though he were falling, his arms and legs flailing as he desperately sought to catch himself. "I'm really glad you're here with me," he said haltingly, watching her eyes for any indication of reciprocation or even understanding. It felt as though an elephant was standing on his chest and his mind was racing, frantically searching for any possible...

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“Archangel” by Sara Sorbet

Submitted to Contest #230

I softly stroked his hair while he looked up to my eyes and smiled slightly. He brushed his jawline against my collarbone, his stubble rubbed on my skin, evoking a sensation I have been yearning for. I playfully moved away and he tightened his hug. I felt so safe at that very moment, where time seemed to stand still, and the worries that had weighed on my mind were washed away like scribbles on a sandy beach. I revelled in the safety of his arms, each heartbeat echoing a reassurance that I hadn't known I needed. His smile widened as if mirro...

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“A Girl's Best Friend” by Samantha Dearn

Submitted to Contest #230

Siggy watched through the small opening of the door for his tiny human to come to bed. Christmas Eve was always a late one - she never wanted to go to sleep, too excited for what the next morning would bring. His ears pricked as her parents finally told her that ‘Santa won’t come if you stay up for much longer,’ and her little feet were running up the stairs faster than he could imagine. His tiny plush heart swelled at the thought of seeing his little monster once again, getting to cuddle with her for their favourite part of the night - stor...

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“Killer Hamster” by Bobi Neher

Submitted to Contest #230

Astrologers and soothsayers, I wish they would all return to their medieval caves and stop interfering in real life. The witches pick out the worst and make it more important than everything else. I heard a whisper in the wind saying, “What is important to you?” Those seers ruin the lives of innocent people because their facts must be the only facts that can exist. If you don’t believe their "facts," you must die. If you refuse to change your life to fit their lies, then you must die. If you won’t drink their concoctions and eat their wi...

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“Gate Crasher” by BE Jackson

Submitted to Contest #230

You’re not supposed to be here on Thursdays. I haven’t been watching you all this time—your daily activities—not to know your family’s schedule. Monday is family movie night at home. Tuesday is your dad and Sara’s date night and you’re with Reba the babysitter. Wednesday is the art class. Thursday is T-ball at the Y, for Pete’s sake. Friday is a half-day at your school and then the drive to weekend here at the beach house. Saturday is the family picnic on the public beach and Sunday? That’s pancakes at IHOP and the drive home. Like. Clock...

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“Chance Encounter” by Diana Moor

Submitted to Contest #230

It was a cold Wednesday in October, right after the sun had set. I was on my way to visit my mother, who lived an hour outside of town. My car broke down five minutes out, right at the edge of the forest that surrounds her property. My phone had also been broken earlier that day, when someone running through a crowded sidewalk knocked it out of my hand; so I couldn’t call anyone. Nothing for it then, I suppose I could use the exercise. The trees were sparse, and the moon was full and unclouded tonight; it should be safe. ...

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“Walkers are Near” by Shane Cape

Submitted to Contest #230

“Walkers are Near” They’re coming. You can tell by the crackling of the leaves under their feet. Kaile hid in the brush, hoping they wouldn’t notice him. They’re coming. You can smell them already, putrid honestly. He started to control his breathing and tried to get as low to the ground as he could. They’re coming still, can’t be more than twenty paces away now. You can hear them breathing loudly, one growls and makes some other noises that Kaile doesn’t understand. He still can’t see them, though he dare not even move his...

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“Dull House” by Sofia Baquedano

Submitted to Contest #230

I know a lot of people don’t like their jobs, and yet I cannot possibly imagine anyone having a job worse than mine. I can’t stand the uniform: itchy, blindingly white, so if gets stained it’s noticeable. The pay is not good either, just better than my last job. The worst part is the tasks I get assigned. Not all are equally bad, and if the task lasts from two days to two weeks, it’s an okay task. Anything from two weeks to two months is insanely annoying and sometimes boring. If it goes over two months, well… That has only happened the one...

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Write a story that hides something from its reader until the very end.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 101 stories

“Hunting Rats” by Katelyn Puderbaugh

“The Patient” by Jim Robison

“A Bloody Mess” by Howard Seeley

“Pretty” by Lesli Weber

“Conversations With a Man in My Fridge” by CG Casci

“The Perfect Gift?” by Kuro Ninjo

“Two Passing Strangers” by JOHN SIKO

“First Date” by Brian Haddad

“Archangel” by Sara Sorbet

“A Girl's Best Friend” by Samantha Dearn

“Killer Hamster” by Bobi Neher

“Gate Crasher” by BE Jackson

“Chance Encounter” by Diana Moor

“Walkers are Near” by Shane Cape

“Dull House” by Sofia Baquedano

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story framed by a single scene: something happens, a flashback or inner monologue intervenes, and then the story ends with the rest of the original scene.

Write a story in which a character achieves a new level of clarity about how they’re really feeling.

Start your story with someone uttering a very strange sentence.

Write a story in the form of a list.

Contest #230

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

362

Contest entries

108

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: