Write a story where someone’s paranoia is justified.

Posted in Mystery on Jan 20, 2023

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✍️ 78 stories

“Embracing our Differences” by Bruno Veiga

Submitted to Contest #182

Sometimes we wish everyone was just like us. We wish they thought the same as us, we wish we had the same beliefs, and agreed upon the same things, but do we want that? How fun would the world be if we were exactly equal?Being different at times becomes the motive of so much worry to us. We worry that we might be wrong, or inadequate, or that we are going to be judged or laughed at. We worry about how others perceive us, and we feel self-conscious. It is a feeling as if all eyes are on us, as if we are the center of attention.Would we have t...

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“I’m Getting Pretty Tired of Getting Knocked Out” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #182

The slot machines seem to clang “goodbye, sucker” in unison as Chick Goldsby stumbles toward the casino’s exit. He nearly plows into a cocktail waitress. The stunning blonde gives him a bright smile, saying, “Tough night?” “The house always wins.” Reaching into her costume, the waitress hands him a silver dollar. “It’s lucky. It helps make empty lives worth living.” “Great, I’ve lost my girl, and my motivation and the real estate market in Nevada is tanking,” Chick replies. “It’s a pleasure receiving a gift from a woman whose beauty riv...

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“All Eyes Open” by Zack Peloquin

Submitted to Contest #182

“That’s it! This is the last time I’m smoking that stuff!” screamed Mikayla as she burst into her dorm room. In front of her lay three sets of blank white, terrified faces. The bloodshot in their eyes was as red as the exit sign behind Mikayla in the hallway. The three girls dressed in mismatched sweats and baggy t-shirts from Universities they have never visited before and likely will never go to, sat there guiltily on various chairs and bunks as Mikayla exclaimed. “I can’t even throw these pizza boxes away without feeling like I have the...

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“Eyes on me ” by Robert Cook

Submitted to Contest #182

My name is Clara Rising for about as long as I can remember I’ve felt as though someone was always watching me even as a kid. I don’t know why but, the feeling was just there even when it was clear that I was alone. I am 23 years old I live by myself as a writer that’s somewhat accomplished I wake up this morning refreshed after my late night gaming session. I love playing overwatch it’s easier to climb than I thought with the right people. I check the clock 7:00am huh? If I remember correctly I have a book signing today at Barnes & Nobl...

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“Right To Be Paranoid” by Keith Maynard Jr

Submitted to Contest #182

His day starts as usual with him standing in front of the full body mirror he has. Admiring his milky smooth white skin, the crimson shine of his eyes and his flowing jet black silky hair. A gift that God gave to him to be loved by all the women. At least that’s his thought anyway. Getting dressed, he heads out to his appointment. Stepping outside he has a feeling of being watched, so he stops and looks around but sees no one. Still the feeling is still there but it soon disappears. People are standing around looking at him as he stands by...

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“The Flight Attendant” by Andrea Condo

Submitted to Contest #182

It was a cool October day in Maine when I headed down the stairs of the Saab 340 aircraft I called my home for the past 4 days as flight attendant for that group of trips between Bangor and Boston. I had just finished wiping down the blue leather seats and checking the seat backs for anything left behind when I exhaled a tired sigh of relief that I could finally head home for my three days off before starting the grind again. I hopped in one of the familiar taxis to find one of my regulars at the wheel.“Headed home?” Joe asked.“Thank God, ye...

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“No Rest for the Watched” by Jewleena Taylor

Submitted to Contest #182

Warnings: Vague mention of rape, Animal cruelty, Stalking, and Police negligence.I woke up to the sound of my alarm buzzing continuously. I groggily sit up to turn it off. Bane, my black cat, was already meowing loudly, for her food. I get up and go into the kitchen, making myself a cup of coffee. Stilts was running in circles around the couch, I wish to have that much energy this early. Then, I started to get the animals' food. Orange bowl with dog food for Stilts, red bowl with cat food for Bane, I put some food into the cage for my snake,...

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“Walter's Sad Ending, Or Was It? ” by RICHARD SEELY

Submitted to Contest #182

Walter's Sad Ending, Or Was It? How long Walter lay awake that night he couldn’t guess. Another night of pure torture with a kaleidoscope of threatening images racing nonstop through his mind. The most terrifying was his divorced wife Polly scratching his face with surprising strength and then that deafening cloud burst of her rantings in his ears. Walter winced, his head slowly clearing from the previous evening's liquor. He searched for the details of those ...

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“The Beau....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #182

Yippee! Hilary, aka Hilaria, at first did not believe her eyes. But there they were, all her lotto numbers had miraculously rolled forth, right onto her ticket. Ben, her snoring husband, even woke up to wonder what she was so excited about. While she was doing her victory dance in the lounge room, Ben was already browsing luxury car catalogs on his phone. There she sat in the driveway, the red Ferrari of Ben's dreaming. Hilaria,of course, drove it first, all the way to her Christian fellowship prayer group at her local church. There were so...

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“Now Watch This” by Samm Murphy

Submitted to Contest #182

I am a six foot tall blonde female with broad shoulders and a cackle that can be heard across any room. I have a broad smile that has been described as disarming, genuine and toothy. I also have a 9mm strapped to my left hip, plainly visible under my gauzy beige blouse. Not sure which quality makes people go the other way when they see me coming. I have no problem walking into a situation others would call “dicey,” except for today. My goosebumps never lie and I walk briskly down the road until I spot a prop...

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“Waterlogged” by Kevin Hopson

Submitted to Contest #182

“Daddy,” Gabrielle said, her brown ponytail twirling through the air as she turned to face me. “Someone’s here.”I stood from my kitchen chair to get a better view, my eyes bulging at the sight as I peered through the window.“Damn it,” I muttered.“What is it, Jacob?” Amy asked, seated at the kitchen table.I looked to Gabrielle. “Go to your room, honey.”“Why?”“Just do it please.”Gabrielle nodded and soon disappeared from view.“It’s Caleb,” I said, meeting my wife’s gaze.“So,” she replied, her chocolate eyes unflinching.“I’m late on the payment...

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“Look Busy” by Katie Johnson

Submitted to Contest #182

Lena picked at the skin around her fingernails. Her mother had always told her it was a bad habit - unsightly. But she wasn't doing enough. She'd look lazy and her boss would fire her. She circled the dining room again. One man was halfway done with his French toast. A woman typed away on her laptop and sipped an almost-full cup of coffee. The skin around her fingernails burned as she made eye contact with her manager and scurried outside. Nobody was outside. Jordan had already written her up for under-performing. She'd lost every job ...

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“King Jeremy the Wicked” by Zach Martz

Submitted to Contest #182

“They – they did that to you again?” Dr. Hector sat frozen in his armchair, gaping at the sequence of events that his patient was retelling with panic and fury. “Yes. It’s the fifth time I’ve been unable to eat my lunch at school this month. I couldn’t even munch down on an apple this time.” “I’m so sorry to hear that.” “Yeah and it gets worse.” Jeremy Phillips cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry – you wouldn’t happen to have any sweets would you? My blood sugar is getting dangerously low.” “Of course, I have but...

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“Counting Cardinals” by David Conway

Submitted to Contest #182

This happened in the early nineties when I was thirteen years old; living with my grandparents in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. My bus stop was two blocks from my house, and I would enjoy the walk home with my little sister and her friend Margie, who lived eight houses down. It was more like four, looking back, but for reasons I do not understand, that distance to Margie’s felt so far as a child. Our house was in a cul-de-sac with a dipping driveway to the garage that connected to our basement. A box garden and a thin but loud creek in the back...

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“Insoles” by Jenna Fournel

Submitted to Contest #182

Inside the cobbler’s shop, it is just a few degrees cooler than the August heat on the other side of the glass door. It is a small space, crowded with dusty and well-worn equipment, every surface stained and worn. A large sheet of plexiglass hangs from the ceiling separating the woman in front of Elaine and the man behind the counter. The woman pushes two small purses through the space between the bottom of the plexiglass and the top of the counter. Both purses have broken straps that hang limply over the edge, their ends split. Stretched to...

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Write a story where someone’s paranoia is justified.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 78 stories

“Embracing our Differences” by Bruno Veiga

“I’m Getting Pretty Tired of Getting Knocked Out” by Michael Jefferson

“All Eyes Open” by Zack Peloquin

“Eyes on me ” by Robert Cook

“Right To Be Paranoid” by Keith Maynard Jr

“The Flight Attendant” by Andrea Condo

“No Rest for the Watched” by Jewleena Taylor

“Walter's Sad Ending, Or Was It? ” by RICHARD SEELY

“The Beau....” by Julie Grenness

“Now Watch This” by Samm Murphy

“Waterlogged” by Kevin Hopson

“Look Busy” by Katie Johnson

“King Jeremy the Wicked” by Zach Martz

“Counting Cardinals” by David Conway

“Insoles” by Jenna Fournel

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a home alarm system going off.

Set your story in a society where everyone is constantly aware of unwanted surveillance.

Write about a character who wishes they could just disappear — and then they do.

Start your story with someone entering a taxi and saying ‘follow that car.’

Contest #182

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

237

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: