Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Posted in Narrative on Jul 19, 2024

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✍️ 105 stories

“Murderer among friends” by Ellen Bailey

Submitted to Contest #260

Well, Alex investigating but nothing's working. Of course not, said Lisa lazily. Who are going to find out who's killing everyone on our own. We need to contact the police, said Rita. NO! said Lisa. we need to deal with this on our own we don't no who this murderer is, and if this person (whoever he or she is) finds out we could endanger ourselves and those around us. Take Eliza for instance, said Lisa with a sad face. Yeah we cant risk that happening again, said Alex. All of them bowed their heads sadly. One of them was less talkative. It w...

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“Daymare” by Connor Lindsay

Submitted to Contest #260

Sensitivity Warning: Mental Health, Physical Violence, Abuse, Self-Harm, Suicide, Substance Abuse. “Hapi!” He banged on the front door, it’s wood groaning from his weight, “I’m done playing with you, get out here now!” He screamed, he wouldn’t stop screaming. I couldn’t move. My butt was set to the top steps as if I’d sat in a fly trap. I couldn’t see him anymore. I wouldn’t. And then I couldn’t see myself. Just my father, the smell of stale beer, the sound of sticky stomps. Hapi! My father yelled, slurring the a and i into an unrecogn...

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“Rude Awakening” by Daniel R. Mangru

Submitted to Contest #260

Gary Pinkerton reaches across the passenger side to shield Laura Tate from impact as his sporty sedan launches high into the air in an arc towards a large oak tree rooted at the bottom of a ravine. The guardrail does little to keep the car on the road as an oncoming distracted driver causes Gary to swerve and lose control.Laura covers her face and screams out just as a thick branch, full of large wet leaves, pierce the windshield like a lance, and jams itself into her chest. There are tiny water droplets scattered all about the inside and Ga...

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“It Was All a Dream” by Simona Sordoni

Submitted to Contest #260

Brooke sat with her brown hair tucked behind her ears, her green eyes watched her friend’s text, and her fingers flew across the keyboard just as fast. She wasn’t even listening to her idiotic teacher, Mrs. Myers. Brooke was texting her friends under her desk because later that day, she, Logan (her boyfriend), Cassie (her best friend), Liam (Cassie’s boyfriend), Sarah, Lyla, Athena, Finn, Mason, and Ryan were going to the beach house in Casco Bay. It was about an hour's drive from Portland, ME. “Everyone, you know what to do, get behind my d...

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“Devil's Game” by Grayson Chilcote

Submitted to Contest #260

“Hey.” David awoke with a start. He furiously looked around the room as he shot up from the place he was laying down in. And what he saw when looking around could be described as nothing short of the dream of any man above the age of forty. It was a room made of the smoothest wood you could imagine, coated and sanded to the point it felt like it was already paper. The walls were lined with glass shelves housing aged wines and the finest whiskeys from all over the world, and there were plenty of cabinets on the bottom of the shelves with the ...

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“Nocturne” by Parimmaphatra W.S.

Submitted to Contest #260

I experienced a bizarre event that no one would believe unless they had seen it themselves. And even I find it hard to believe.When I stumbled out of that building, instead of feeling the brutal heat of Thailand, the air suddenly turned icy cold, and every breath felt like a knife cutting through my throat. The sky was gray, as if shrouded in a low-lying mist.It was a city I didn't recognize. The buildings, all red rectangular boxes with window slits like silent eyes, lined the streets. The signs were in a language resembling English, but I ...

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“My Mind is the Axe” by Sofia Lin

Submitted to Contest #260

My shoes squeaked on the wood floor, and the repeated whispered mantra, "hurry hurry hurry shit," bounced around in my brain. I nearly tripped over the door way as it slammed shut behind, and in one smooth rhythm, jammed the key into the hole and ran down the stairs. I could hear the rumble of the car, parked at the edge of the sidewalk and waiting for me."Sorry, I know, I'm late," I gasped, tossing my bags into the backseat. I threw open the passenger door and slid in, sighing as the cool air blew into my neck."What took you so long?" My da...

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“Deep Red Relief” by Nevada Gay

Submitted to Contest #260

Sensitive content; substance abuse, physical violence, gore. "They'll call you in soon," said the receptionist. "You can have a seat wherever you'd like until then." "Thanks," I mumbled. The waiting room was empty, except for one young woman who sat in the center. She was a brunette with clear skin and didn't look older than nineteen or twenty. I remembered when I was that beautiful. Before my eyelids got puffy and my hair began to shed. I made my way to the seat in the corner, the least visible in the room. My eyelids were heavy. My head ...

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“The Great Baby Bust: Operation Newborn” by Josephine Damm

Submitted to Contest #260

Sergeant Milford stood on the sidewalk, staring into nothing. The site was bustling with officers; diverging oncoming traffic, making calls, and – like Milford – just standing there, scratching their heads, throwing careful glances at the bus parked on the street. When the call first came in he’d had to check his calendar but, as it turns out, April Fools Day had come and gone three weeks ago. "I’m just repeating to you what the woman calling in said to me," the operator had said, irritation glazing every word. "She’s likely a code 43. ...

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“The Weatherman's Elephant” by A. Lea Frost

Submitted to Contest #260

*This story contains themes of death and injury. I died. Cold entered my bloodstream, injected with the hardness of an iceberg covered in blood. The weatherman said it would be hot and humid on this mid-summer’s day in Europe? Mexico? Southern California? I give up. Where am I? They were never right. It was cold. Very cold. Tundra cold from where I lay on the concrete. Cars race around my silhouette, warming the pavement. I can smell the heat, intertwined with the tainted rubber, rising. Still cold. “Hey, mister, are you okay?” A bent over ...

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“Closet. Mahogany. Keyhole.” by James Kulp

Submitted to Contest #260

It was all a dream. The fashion model. The singing competition winner. The ballet dancer on the stage. They all slowly faded as she opened her eyes to a feeble ray of sunshine on her face. Ellie could still feel the silky straps on her shoulders as she walked down the runway, could still hear the melody of her winning song, could still taste the rapturous applause as she gave a graceful bow after the ballet performance. And, of course, Trinity was there. She was always there, helping her put on makeup, adjusting her dress, encouraging her, a...

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“Mary” by Catherine Robertson

Submitted to Contest #260

Bright green leaves the size of his hands rustled overhead. Spanish moss swayed lazily as if there was a breeze. They were draped over the massive branches of an ancient oak tree this kid managed to conjure. He was impressed. The entire scene was incredibly detailed. Unlike the typical blurry color blocks and vague shapes people usually created, content to add the minutiae in their own minds. Bugs moved in the dirt, the leaves had shapes and veins, and the tree itself was tall enough to block out where the sun might be. He couldn’t quite tel...

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“Filling in the Blanks With Giraffes” by Alex Rohling

Submitted to Contest #260

A room of chilled recycled air, soft buzzing electricity, chemical sanitation. Windowless. Harsh white lights.Three gather around the Simulacrum Screen. Below, a brain is submerged in translucent amber fluid. A wire runs from the brain to the screen. A tube runs from the brain to a pouch like an IV drip.The brain has been stained so that its purple vein highways contrast with the dull grey flesh. On another screen, neural lightning bolts flash and fade."Progress, Ambrose?""We tried love this morning.""I told you to try fear.""It's too soon. ...

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“The Greatest Dream of All” by Eccles Garstang

Submitted to Contest #260

Do you ever have that thing where you know that you need to get up early for something, like to catch a plane, and your body will NOT let you relax? So, instead of getting the restful sleep you need ahead of a big day, you wake up every hour on the hour, stressing that you’ve overslept? Did you know that’s called ‘Disrupted Rest and Excessive Awakening Malady’? And yeah, I’ve got that malaise big time because first thing in the morning is the most crucial event of my career.It's the Annual Associate Acceleration Convention. This is a hu...

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“Deep Waters” by Alan David Pelcastre Trejo

Submitted to Contest #260

Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of being a sailor, I guess this desire was due to the admiration I had of my father, he used to tell me stories about his adventures during the voyages he was part of; I was captivated while listening to him, how could I forget those stories?, the one when he had to take care of some exotic birds they brought from Africa; the time when the crew witnessed a combat between the Royal Navy and some pirate ships; I still remember when he told me that one, when he saw a big pod of orcas following the ship for a ...

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Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 105 stories

“Murderer among friends” by Ellen Bailey

“Daymare” by Connor Lindsay

“Rude Awakening” by Daniel R. Mangru

“It Was All a Dream” by Simona Sordoni

“Devil's Game” by Grayson Chilcote

“Nocturne” by Parimmaphatra W.S.

“My Mind is the Axe” by Sofia Lin

“Deep Red Relief” by Nevada Gay

“The Great Baby Bust: Operation Newborn” by Josephine Damm

“The Weatherman's Elephant” by A. Lea Frost

“Closet. Mahogany. Keyhole.” by James Kulp

“Mary” by Catherine Robertson

“Filling in the Blanks With Giraffes” by Alex Rohling

“The Greatest Dream of All” by Eccles Garstang

“Deep Waters” by Alan David Pelcastre Trejo

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story with a big twist.

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Contest #260

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

429

Contest entries

131

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: