You thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of you on the street, smiling at you.

Posted in Mystery on Jul 15, 2021

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 412 stories

“Incubo” by Spider Baby

Submitted to Contest #52

Trigger warning: upsetting images, depictions of assault Piper hadn't slept easily since that horrid night. Images of horns and raining blood—the spine-chilling sounds of Blake's horrifying shrieks as he got incinerated—and the awful way, he curled his retractable claws—still ravaged and plagued the nine circles of hell of her brain. When she slept as much as even a compact wink—she was suddenly accosted and blinded with incandescent dreams of malignant spirits and frightful fiends. If the young Catholic priest had been r...

13 comments 13

Read story

“Old Friendly Visitor” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #52

“Do you want to stay at my place tonight?” I asked. “Nah, man,” Matty replied. He sounded calm in his voice, but his eyes showed fear. “It’s no problem if you do, Matt, my mom will understand,” I tried to assure him, “Besides, my dad doesn’t have to work tomorrow so he can take us fishing in the morning down at Salmon Creek.” &...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Déjà vu” by Rita Janela

Submitted to Contest #52

It was probably the rainiest day of the year and here I was, back and forth, still running minor errands for the great Johanna Miller, such as getting her coffee, when I have been working for her for almost six months now... When I saw in the newspaper an advert saying they were looking for a junior personal assistant for Johanna Miller, I thought that God had finally listened to my prayers… And after beating hundreds of candidates and landing one of the most coveted jobs, working for the editor-and-chief of Stiletto Magazine, I was sure ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Cold-Hearted” by Emily K

Submitted to Contest #52

There’s this one road in my hometown that’s like no other. It’s completely surrounded by eerie forest and rarely occupied by other drivers. It gives occupants a sense of relaxation and comfort, as it stretches in one direction for miles. Most nights, I would go out on that road and speed down it. I would blast music and open the window, letting the wind flood into my car and whip my hair around my face. The streetlights would glare down on the road in patches, and the road would glow a yellow-orange with the light. You could only see ...

10 comments 10

Read story

“Saul's Greatest Act of Love” by Natalie M.

Submitted to Contest #52

Saul? It can’t possibly be. I wrote his obituary over eight months ago. I spoke at his funeral. This cannot be happening. This man in front of me has glasses and shorter hair, but it is him. It has to be, right? Mindy, you must really be losing it. Saul Ians was a man I had the pleasure of knowing for eleven years. The day I turned eighteen, I started to beg my parents to tell me more about my older brother. Throughout the previous years, that whole discussion was quite the taboo topic in the family. I had no idea Saul existed until I was tw...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Choice” by Catinca Urseanu

Submitted to Contest #52

‘He was standing across the street, looking at me. Smiling that easy smile of his. I knew it well. He used to save that smile for me - he knew it made me happy. ‘And it made me happy to see it then. ‘But how was that possible? How could he be standing there? ‘I decided then and there that my mind was playing tricks on me. That the downward spiral I had lost myself into had finally thrown me over the edge. ‘You see, he could not be standing there. For he had died two months before. I should know, I'd seen it happen. I can still feel his blood...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Pretty Woman Walking Down the Street” by Jamie Limbaga

Submitted to Contest #52

She loves the sound of her heels on pavement. Each confident stride echoes a steady staccato of reassurance and repeated mottos to convince her that her life, like her shoes, are great. Click clack. My heels match my dress and purse- Clack click. -which I bought with my own money and- Click clack. -money I earned and didn’t get from him- Clack click. -because I don’t live with him anymore and I have seized control of my life from his clutches and- She shakes herself from her thoughts, re-pasting her smile onto her face and ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Shroud the Past” by Jacey Lee

Submitted to Contest #52

I thought he was dead. I truly did. But yet there he was, standing in the middle of the street, face illuminated by a streetlight, smiling his smug smile I had once hated so much. Some people are brought into your life to fulfil a certain role, to assist and guide you through the journeys you will embark on, to meet a need that you might have expressed, and to aid you emotionally or physically. Some others, well, they bring life into your world, and their only goal is to make you laugh, grow, and e...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Cold Lake to Bayfield” by Marilyn Carter

Submitted to Contest #52

Cold Lake, Alberta With tears slowly dripping down her cheeks, Molly holds in her hand the one thing that Donny couldn’t give her before now. He did everything in his power to provide for her and to give her what he thought she wanted and needed, but this one thing he couldn’t do for her, until now. She’d give anything, including this cheque she held in her hands, if it meant she could have her Donny back with her, sitting here at her side. Holding her, loving her. She’d give anything to hear his laughter on...

2 comments 2

Read story

“My Twisted Existence” by Courtney Haynes

Submitted to Contest #52

February 24, 2010It’s crazy. It’s like everything hangs on him. The palpitations of my heart. The hair on the back of my neck. The complexion of my day. Whether I’ll go to the coffee shop on the corner or the bakery on Peachwood pivots on his whims.It’s Wednesday so he’ll be there. The twenty-sixth Wednesday. I don’t know whether it’s the lack of space or a sincere attraction to me, but he rests his legs right next to my body and I can instantly feel the heat radiating from the thickness of his thighs.Should I speak? Should I smile? Sho...

0 comments 0

Read story

“You supposed to be dead” by Milica Pajić

Submitted to Contest #52

Finally Saturday! Now I can go home and sleep all day, because tomorrow is my off-day. But before I go home, first I need go to baker-store. I get in and greeted old, nice lady, who serves me ,,One bread and bagel, please'', I said with smile ,,Of course'', she said with big smile and start to pack my order. ,,Anything else?'' ,,No, that would be all'' I got out and headed to apartment, ready to sleep all day. But what I saw next, I definitely didn't expect. ,,Well, hello pretty'', he said in his deep, but beautiful voice. But... he should b...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Train through the Mirror ” by Starlight Tucker

Submitted to Contest #52

Dreams feel like a different set of senses that allow me to feel what is beyond consciousness in the real world. Remember, there is so much complexity in our own reality. Its aspects are explainable, but its origin and the nature of its abnormalities are not. Dreams have been known in religious texts as spiritual messages. My dreams have taken me on endless tours of another world. I feel like I'm on the edge of a breakthrough, so close to finding meaning in these dreams, but I can't stop wandering. My sunny bedroom was located at th...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Midnight ” by Michelle Bynum

Submitted to Contest #52

I run down the slick sidewalk getting ready to cross the street. Holding my briefcase above my head to catch as much of the rain before landing on my face, I clutch my jacket closed in front as the zipper broke. I don't wish to be soaking all the way through my top. Of all days to forget an umbrella I can’t believe it was this one. It seemed today was the day for everything to go wrong. I spent all day in court. Forgot my tennis shoes this morning and now I have to run and get to the subway in killer high heels, at midnight no less. Only to...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Like an Unshakable Mosquito” by DERRICK CHU

Submitted to Contest #52

I stared in terror. “W-what are y-you doing here?” I stammered. He chuckled. “Fancy seeing you here, Jack.” Who is he, you ask? He is the ancient lord, Kliviere. The problem? He was supposed to be dead!!! I saw him die with my own eyes!! Actually, I was the one that killed him!!! A few years ago, Kliviere was the strongest person ever. He had acquired all six of the Paladin Crystals. What are the Paladin Crystals? They are crystals that grant you powers. The first one gave you super strength. The second one gave you the ability to fly. The ...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Redemption Road” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #52

The first couple months after I killed Kevin Whatcomb I saw him everywhere. It was the first time I pulled my weapon in the line of duty, and the first time I ever killed someone. I made sure it was the last. I quit the force right after. Still, for a couple months I saw him everywhere. At the grocery store, in line at the theater, riding the bus, driving the car next to mine.... He wasn’t really there, of course, my mind just kept inserting the object of my guilt on everyone I saw.Since then I’ve worked road construction. The hot, hard...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Twenty minutes before you are about to get married, you find your mother and your fiancé kissing passionately.

Romance – 112 stories

Every year, one person is sent to the moon. This year, though you hid in terror, it is your turn to enter the rocket.

Science Fiction – 125 stories

"Come with us,” two burly men in gray suits say, grabbing you by the arm and handcuffing you. “You know what you did.” But you have no idea.

Horror – 112 stories

You are the only one in the supermarket during a blizzard. Feeling creeped out, you decide to leave, when suddenly you find a baby abandoned on the floor.

Winter – 197 stories

Contest #52

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: In Reverse

$50

Prize money

958

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 31, 2020 EST

Won by Natalie Strawbridge 🏆

Title: intro to disaster preparedness

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

You thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of you on the street, smiling at you.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 412 stories

“Incubo” by Spider Baby

“Old Friendly Visitor” by Chris Buono

“Déjà vu” by Rita Janela

“Cold-Hearted” by Emily K

“Saul's Greatest Act of Love” by Natalie M.

“The Choice” by Catinca Urseanu

“Pretty Woman Walking Down the Street” by Jamie Limbaga

“Shroud the Past” by Jacey Lee

“Cold Lake to Bayfield” by Marilyn Carter

“My Twisted Existence” by Courtney Haynes

“You supposed to be dead” by Milica Pajić

“The Train through the Mirror ” by Starlight Tucker

“Midnight ” by Michelle Bynum

“Like an Unshakable Mosquito” by DERRICK CHU

“Redemption Road” by Sjan Evardsson

🌟 Similar prompts

Twenty minutes before you are about to get married, you find your mother and your fiancé kissing passionately.

Every year, one person is sent to the moon. This year, though you hid in terror, it is your turn to enter the rocket.

"Come with us,” two burly men in gray suits say, grabbing you by the arm and handcuffing you. “You know what you did.” But you have no idea.

You are the only one in the supermarket during a blizzard. Feeling creeped out, you decide to leave, when suddenly you find a baby abandoned on the floor.

Contest #52

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

958

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: