A character’s life of deceit unravels as their past catches up with their present. What are the consequences?

Posted in Short Story on Sep 13, 2024

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✍️ 40 stories

“Intergalactic Unfairness” by Mono Liso

Submitted to Contest #268

The remains of approximately seven hundred trillion, five hundred and thirty seven billion, four hundred ninety seven million, and 7 living beings lay scattered around a now desolate and more importantly, lifeless part of the universe. The reality however was that this scene wasn’t nearly as gorey as you might immediately imagine. Any signs of the remnants of life were completely overshadowed by the instead massive chunks of beautifully colored rocks, once intact planets, now floating around still drifting further apart from the impact. All ...

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“Even the Devil Should be Afraid of Karma” by Todd Williams

Submitted to Contest #268

There is a beautiful poison inside of Gregory Coleman. It is a toxic blend of charm, charisma and confidence. Although he comes equipped with sharp fangs, he very rarely needs them. People are naturally drawn to his venom and are willing to suck it from him like desperate leaches hungry for his approval. Throw in green eyes and a radioactive smile that arches ever upward over a cleft chin and you have yourself a genuine, gorgeous predator. It is the rare man who can have ninety-nine out of the hundred ladies in the room and be unsatisfied. T...

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“Lies in the End” by Kirsten Schuder

Submitted to Contest #268

This story contains sensitive content about death and dying. Reader discretion is advised. Before my husband John made me a widow, we spent all our time deceiving ourselves. His condition, his disabling chronic pain, worked with him to hide the truth. Chronic pain had no issues with maintaining the ruse. John blamed the chronic pain to explain why the doctor was wrong when he tried to get him to take heart medication. The doctor was incompetent, he would say. John gets stressed at doctors’ offices, so he reasoned his blood pressure always go...

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“The Ripple Effect” by Josey M

Submitted to Contest #268

Gary could hear everyone laughing as he strolled up to the table of the small Italian restaurant called Vinnie’s where they met up, on a semi regular basis.There were about 20 tables, and they were always put at the back because, as the night progressed, they would get louder.Gary knew why everyone was laughing, Zac (his cousin) was in full swing telling one of his momentous stories no doubt. There was a time when Gary would have come bounding in to sit at that table and join in what always felt like a big party, not anymore. Looking around ...

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“Road Runner” by KIM JEFFRIES

Submitted to Contest #268

“Oh my goodness, I didn’t get anything to drink”. The food was so satisfyingly tasty, the mere thought of setting it down to quench her thirst, was not an option. The one thing that Carla did forget to do, while in the kitchen, would alter her mood tremendously. “An ice cold flavored seltzer water would top this meal off wonderfully”. She thought. As the tomato sauce ran down her chin, the yellow pepper that protruded out of the side of a golf ball side meatball, stained her smock like gown. The yellow pepper appeared to eject off of her o...

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“The Station” by Fiona Southworth

Submitted to Contest #268

I like to describe us as avid urban explorers, the thrill of finding a place that hasn’t been disturbed can be exhilarating. It’s like uncovering a hidden treasure that very few have seen, a sense of wonder in seeing a place frozen in time, with objects and structures left exactly as they were and it can feel like stepping into a time capsule. Each room and item tells a story that sparks curiosity about the lives of those who once occupied the space, a journey of piecing together the past. Untouched buildings often have a serene, almost sacr...

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“Don't you want to forget?” by Rylen Serben-Oliver

Submitted to Contest #268

CW: This story contains depictions of violence, including descriptions of war, blood, and physical harm. It also explores themes of war trauma, guilt, and emotional distress.Killing was never easy. Maybe that didn't mean much, in the long run, but he still somehow felt a little better knowing the hesitation that trickled into the dark creases of his brain when the time came to pull the trigger was proof that he was still capable of some form of emotions, some kind of compassion that he had long since tried to leave behind. Not that anybody o...

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“Clueless” by Ryan Peruta

Submitted to Contest #268

[Content Warnings: Contains mentions of blood, gore, suicide and murder.] Marida Martinez flinched as Detective Blinds snapped his fingers. “So, you all are wondering why I gathered you here. Does that sound about right?” He chuckled as he loosened the bowtie from his pink and yellow Hawaiian shirt. “Sir, did you figure it out? You deduced the culprit?” the large, hun...

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“Fool Me Once” by Cat Lockhart

Submitted to Contest #268

1. Miranda Curlew, 1840. Wednesday Miranda Curlew had prepared with utmost care for her church entrance in the hope eligible men would be on display in St James Chapel By-The-Way where locals were known to sometimes shelter around lunchtime from the shrill wind which screamed through the village of Babbinton, where the ancient stone houses were built in rows of such tight proximity as to provoke long and mean wind tunnels even on a good day. The heavy door resisted before creaking inward. Miranda allowed her blac...

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“Sylvia” by Octavia Kuransky

Submitted to Contest #268

by Octavia Kuransky Sylvia had been lying to her therapist for weeks now. The agreement had been that she would tell her therapist everything and always the truth. But she – Sylvia – had set aside this agreement from the start. She had not only lied, she had also hid things. For example, there was the glass of wine she swallowed along with her antidepressant. Strictly warned against. Then there was the stealing which Sylvia had not copped to at all. “How are the meds treating you?” the therapist asked. “You’re remembering not to tak...

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A character’s life of deceit unravels as their past catches up with their present. What are the consequences?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“Intergalactic Unfairness” by Mono Liso

“Even the Devil Should be Afraid of Karma” by Todd Williams

“Lies in the End” by Kirsten Schuder

“The Ripple Effect” by Josey M

“Road Runner” by KIM JEFFRIES

“The Station” by Fiona Southworth

“Don't you want to forget?” by Rylen Serben-Oliver

“Clueless” by Ryan Peruta

“Fool Me Once” by Cat Lockhart

“Sylvia” by Octavia Kuransky

🌟 Similar prompts

Your character gets everything they ever wanted — only to realize the true cost.

Write a story about someone seeking forgiveness for their past actions.

Start a story with someone receiving a message from their past self, warning them of the consequences of their actions.

Center your story around a character’s attempt to escape a bad situation that inadvertently leads them back to the source of their problems.

Contest #268

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: