Write a story that involves a mystery — it doesn't need to be crime-related, it should just include something that remains unexplained until the end.

Posted in Mystery on May 8, 2021

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✍️ 79 stories

“The Woman with a Locket.” by Cam Croz

Submitted to Contest #12

The clock ticked and tocked into the skull of the chief of police's head. The man doubted that there was anybody who could not have a headache after listening to it for more than thirty seconds. Sometimes he could think of it as soothing (usually only on days when there was nothing that needed to be done). But that rarely was the case. There was always something or other going on at all times. All the man wanted was some peace and quiet. "Mr. Chief Sir?!" a squeaky high pitched voice called over the loudspeaker on his desk. "Sir? Your ...

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“Forever ” by Maybe Jupiter

Submitted to Contest #12

There was a splatter of bird poop on the car window again. Jenine studied it with interest. It was the color of frosting that was used for the local supermarket’s carrot cakes, with a few specks of inky-black and chocolate-brown. It stood there for a while, and they watched each other.Jenine sighed, and slowly unfolded the stained tea towel.She rubbed it against the window, and in a second, it was gone.Just like everything else in her life was.Dear Heri, I wonder how you are doing. Life is so different without you, and so strange at the same...

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“The Missing Painting” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #12

Detective Mareau studied the empty, beautifully panelled wall, trying to discern where its previous occupant had gone. “It was an original?” he asked. “Oh, yes. All the way from the city. An antique. I do so like collecting them,” replied the rotund woman behind him. “Yes. I’d quite gathered,” he remarked, glancing at the gleaming, varnished wooden tables on either side of the blank space, all covered with antique plates and vases of all different shades of colour and style. The whole thing looked rather garish.“And this was the only thing s...

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“A cold, dead night” by Thea Doumit

Submitted to Contest #12

Raymond gripped his coat tightly as wind violently blew his way. Wincing to shield his eyes from whatever bits and pieces flew at him, he yelled out, "Monica! Monica!", yet his voice was drowned out by the wind and rain’s incessant ruckus. He desperately called out her name, but there was no response, no sign of life in the dark streets of Porter.He drunkenly stumbled his way around, the wind blowing so strongly it almost sent him flying. He retrieved his pocket watch and tried making out the time. It read two thirty-four in the morning, and...

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“Ronald Donald on the case” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #12

They call me Donald the Duck. Ronald’s my name and detecting’s my game. I’ve been keeping the streets clean of trouble in Maryville, dirtiest ditch in Southern California. Twelve years now I’ve had the tough task of finding lost dogs, lizards and husbands for birds of all shapes and sizes. Nothing has been too much and lately the dough was coming in painfully slow. At least that was before yesterday.Yesterday I was snooping in the alleyway of Seventh and Forester where I knew I’d find that final piece of the puzzle to the Morrison case.“Gotc...

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“A deal with the devil” by Marte Van Der Linden

Submitted to Contest #12

I met the devil at the crossroads of my life. He offered me my heart’s desire in exchange for my soul, and fool that I was I took him up on it. In my defence, I thought he was joking. I didn’t know he was the devil. He didn’t have a pitchfork or horns or anything. He was just some guy.We met in a dingy basement bar. I was six whiskies deep and hoping the seventh would bring oblivion when he plonked himself down on the stool next to me and said I looked like I could use some help. I snorted.“No, seriously,” he said. “I can help.”“Oh yeah?”“Yo...

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“The New Girl” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #12

Jade and Caron could see the heat rising off the concrete in front of them. They were heading nowhere in particular just racing. Simply something to do on a blistering summer day. It hadn’t rained for a minute. Grandpa and grandma were worried at the fact. Drought is the worst. Besides killing the crops and making the prices rise on fruit and vegetables, the trees fall over when the storms come. They heard them chatting in the kitchen. “I don’t want to spend another one thousand dollars to take down that tree, but we gotta do it,” grandpa sp...

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“Emotional Murder” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #12

“One of you…” I glared at my suspects. “Committed murder.”My lightning and thunder sound effect flashed and crackled outside the window. All my guests cranked their heads in suspense at it.Together, the three of us were all huddled around a wooden table in a castle I inherited from my recently deceased uncle. Mold bloomed from each and every crack, making it a HHS nightmare. That’s right, I know acronyms.“This is ridiculous!” Professor NutsWorth declared, slamming his hands down on the table. “I have an alibi!”“Okay, first off. This is hand ...

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“A Trucker's Long Night” by Steven Pittaro

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #12

7PM-6AM. That’s the truckers shift. Assuming the driver doesn’t take any breaks, and tonight, he isn’t. Richie’s the one on the road. Carrying a double trailer on the back, this one weighs 120,000 pounds. Richie needs to make sure the back is secure on the truck before he sets out on the road. That takes about a half hour, after which, he is soaring. He starts driving at 7PM. The sun is just beginning to set. It’s the summer, so Richie isn’t enveloped in total darkness yet. He loves watching the sunset while he drives. The sky is a pale...

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“Sarah” by Colleen Pinner

Submitted to Contest #12

The LibraryIt wasn’t such a big building, but it held so many books! Sarah Jane stood just inside the door and stared at the bounty before her. Clutching her new library card, she stepped up to the first shelf, and gazed at the titles. A label on the shelf boldly announced these choices were Autobiographies. She didn’t care, they were books. Books with stories. She carefully took down the firs six books. That was all she was allowed to check out at one time.One week later she brought those six books back and gathered six more from the same s...

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“Adelaide Sleeper” by Terry R Barca

Submitted to Contest #12

“I’m sorry Mr Bennett,” she didn’t look that sorry, “but a shared sleeper is all we have left. If you must travel on that day, you will have to share. If you can put your trip off for a day or two you can have your pick of the solo cabins — they are more expensive, of course.”“I have to be there on Friday, so it has to be the overnight train on Thursday. I’ll take the ticket, but tell them to stock up on decent whisky. I’m going to need it, and so is my sleep buddy,” said Sam“You will have some time to yourself because your fellow passenger ...

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“A Print in the Mud” by Will Smith

Submitted to Contest #12

Prologue: There was the sound of the door opening. A figure walked in through the door and proceeded into the hallway. The figure came into the light of the living room nearly was dark enough to conceal itself. The figure went past the living room into a darker hallway. The floor of the hallway was covered in drying cement, just barely far enough through the hallway that if he was going to pass it, they would have to jump, and it would be a close one. The figure took a few steps back, ran forward and jumped. With a squish, the figure landed...

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“Forever and Always” by Emma Chaffey

Submitted to Contest #12

The alley was dark as usual, the only sound the scuffling of rats and the soft breeze. At the end of alley was a lopsided tin shed. It reeked of rat poop and garbage, but I was used to it. After all, it was my home. Mother was waiting for me. Her eyes were dull and empty, her lips cracked and grey. She was once beautiful, with lush, blonde locks, sparkling blue eyes, and pink lips always wide, smiling. She would attend galas and proms in dazzling ball gowns, and dance with handsome young men who would propose to her by the end of the night. ...

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“Eden Fever” by Tom Never

Submitted to Contest #12

The spear goes through the boar and the beast stumbles. A few meters ahead, it falls and moves no more. We are going to have a meat feast tonight. Grognak has the best throw, rarely it is another to claim the kill. He knees beside the dead prey. He thanks the Great Mother and screams: "Grognak brings meat!" Everybody yells and cheers, spears in the sky.Grognak is chief, his word is law. The chief had another name before, we are forbidden to say it as we are forbidden to speak ours. He gave us names, new names. I am now Kaul, I know not the m...

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“The Hunter ” by Mandy Carp

Submitted to Contest #12

She liked the way his hands moved; smooth and powerful. The way the knife almost completely disappeared in them while he cut his steak. What else could those hands do? More paws than hands, really. Her stomach did a little dance as she clenched her teeth behind her lips to steady herself. To bring her wandering mind back around. Jesus. Am I saying the right things? “Mmm,” she nodded while she chewed. He was going on about his recent trip to a small village in Panama, and how he felt fortunate to have taken a little Spanish in ...

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Write a story that involves a mystery — it doesn't need to be crime-related, it should just include something that remains unexplained until the end.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 79 stories

“The Woman with a Locket.” by Cam Croz

“Forever ” by Maybe Jupiter

“The Missing Painting” by Crystal Lewis

“A cold, dead night” by Thea Doumit

“Ronald Donald on the case” by Tim Law

“A deal with the devil” by Marte Van Der Linden

“The New Girl” by Laurentz Baker

“Emotional Murder” by Lily Kingston

“A Trucker's Long Night” by Steven Pittaro

“Sarah” by Colleen Pinner

“Adelaide Sleeper” by Terry R Barca

“A Print in the Mud” by Will Smith

“Forever and Always” by Emma Chaffey

“Eden Fever” by Tom Never

“The Hunter ” by Mandy Carp

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that takes place in a small town where news travels fast.

Write a story about a character with a sidekick.

Write a story featuring a protagonist with a knack for getting to the bottom of things.

Write a story that features an ensemble cast of characters.

Contest #12

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

175

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: