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

Posted in Short Story on Sep 13, 2024

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✍️ 47 stories

“A Cocktail of Truths” by Arthur Ingham

Submitted to Contest #268

The sterile scent of disinfectant clung to the air, cloying and thick, as I blinked back into consciousness. It felt like swimming through fog, my senses slowly returning, dragging my mind along with them. The world flickered into focus in pieces—the glaring hospital lights overhead, the cold white tiles beneath me, and the low hum of a machine somewhere nearby. Pain threaded through my body, sharp and immediate. My mouth was dry, my limbs stiff, and each breath was like sandpaper scraping against my insides. But I was alive. I blinked, tryi...

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“Past Imperfect” by Helen A Smith

Submitted to Contest #268

TW: mentions of mental and physical abuse.Bill sat bolt upright in the hotel bed, heart pounding to a familiar refrain. The dream had reasserted itself with a vengeance.From the moment he’d seen the updated list of people attending the conference, one name had stood out: Dake Scratchard was the name of the boy who’d haunted Bill Brown’s life more years than he cared to remember. Dreams fuelled by past memories disturbed his nights when equal amounts of dread and fear surged through his veins, rendering him helpless.As always, the nightmare w...

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“Out of Hand” by Tommy Goround

Submitted to Contest #268

All right, the omnipresent omni-powerful phone thing is getting out of hand. I mean a guy can’t even take a girl out anymore without her trying to wrap his phone in a wad of tin foil. They follow us into the restroom on the first date. Not to make sure we are washing hands but to make sure we do not defile the stalls with the lust which is founded in the Wall Street Journal. “I can see your feet!” Olivia is screaming at me and I thought it was a private place and the waiter understood. He would fill her cup with iced tonics...

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“Captured by the Past” by Chris Sage

Submitted to Contest #268

It was the priest, Padre García, who met the newcomer first. A thin man, wearing a heavy coat in the dry heat of midday that hung off him like he was a frame filled with air. “You look like a man who has made a long and desperate journey,” he pronounced solemnly. The Padre had a habit of making all his conversations sound like sermons, which tended to make many villagers avoid casual conversations with him. “May I offer you some help?” The man smiled, a weak smile, like sun on a frosty day. “You could say that, yes,” he said in faintly accen...

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“Days of Past's Future” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #268

Roland sat on a chair inside the door of his brother-in-law’s home, his legs straight out and arms folded. He didn’t have to wait long. Tatenai burst in. Roland had never seen him so furious. “This outrage is unforgivable! Rosheen is devastated. You’ve left your poor sister, a widow.” He trembled, his face red and twisted.Roland glared at him like a lord to a wayward villein. “Yes, she’s a widow. Her child’s father is dead. But if you thought I couldn’t avenge my sister and protect her from being manacled to such a monster, you know not...

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“Trial by Egotism” by Joseph Ellis

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #268

The Honorable Judge Harold Bribar strode to the bench bearing a coy smile. The court knew that smile well, as did millions watching on viewscreens all over Mars. As did tens of millions back on Earth who wouldn’t get the feed for another hour or so. They also knew the arch of his thick gray eyebrows, the well-trimmed salt-and-pepper hair he’d gracefully let recede, the petite spectacles he wore when reading, and the mild way he cleared his throat to bring the whole courtroom to attention. In offense to all known theories of jurisprudence, Ju...

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“Lions In The Woods” by Kami Zim

Submitted to Contest #268

“I think there’s lions in these woods,” Ko said. “Lions, Ko?” Robinson nervously scanned the line of trees. He was sitting on the left tire of their overturned vehicle; desolated in a meadow of tall grass. “What do you mean lions?” The sun was beginning to set, darkening Ko’s face. It was impossible to read his eyes, only Ko’s silhouette stood out against the melting sky. A shotgun was strewn around his shoulders, the barrel pointing towards the horizon. Robinson could barely see the glint of Ko’s blade, he was sharpening a...

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“The Life Of A Sexual Assault Victim ” by Ruth Vaneiken

Submitted to Contest #268

Not long ago, I was sexually assaulted by someone I thought was a friend. Everyday I would blame myself as that's how they made me feel. I would try everyday when I passed the person to forget about it. The constant questions in my head, "did I say the wrong thing? Was my shirt too low cut? Were my pants too tight fitting? Did I give off the wrong impression?" I would always wonder if it was my fault in any way. I remember my instructor, when I told him the look on his face. I remember the exact words he said to me that made me want to break...

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“Abasement” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #268

Patient: James Thomas Jordan, 22 years oldDate: September 23, 2013Status: 1st stay at New Life Recovery (voluntary)Comments shared at first group thereapy session: “Hello, my name is James Thomas Jordan and apparently I am a drug addict, although I don’t really feel like I am. And I know I look like some over-privileged country club kid, and that’s basically because I am, and I also have three first names so if anyone wants to trade a last name for one of mine just let me know. I can throw in a pack of smokes if you have a good one.“Anyway, ...

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“When the moon shines brightest” by Renate Buchner

Submitted to Contest #268

There is a disturbing mumbling, the words unintelligible; he presses his hands against his ears; his upper body moves up and down. A woman's scream echoes through the night sky covered with bright stars.He took his hands away from his ears and slowly sat up. People from the village rushed up to him, some storming into the barely furnished house. Shortly after, he heard a high-pitched scream—but not from the woman before. The screaming turned into crying and lamenting.The man turned around, his eyes empty, his face pale; as if in a trance, he...

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“The Khar D’ashia” by William Richards

Submitted to Contest #268

I sat with my mother-in-law in silence. My wife's idea and I would do anything to make her happy: to have brunch with her mother and her mother’s friends in the rest home dining hall, waited upon by nurses. If I told you it was the happiest moment in my life, I would be lying. We sat at a drab table-clothed table, four of us having the privilege of spending time together. There was a faint damp smell in the air like the carpets had been specially cleaned for the occasion. One diner at our table was an old man, maybe from India, who didn't s...

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“Confession” by Kellasandra Ferrara

Submitted to Contest #268

I should have looked around one more time. You never think of these things of course until it’s too late. I parked the car in the garage as usual, stepped out of the car with bag in hand, putting it down next to the door, a seamless gesture that is done automatically, daily, so many times before. I turn around and walk up the driveway towards the mailbox, waving at a neighbor in a passing car. Should I have looked up at the sky to see the approaching sunset? Should I have noticed the people walking their dogs or the kids playing all around. ...

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“Evil in Retreat” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #268

Jordan Smith had worked his way up in the aeronautics industry, becoming CEO of Wingcraft Innovations at only 47 years old in only seven years. The climb up the corporate ladder from line mechanic to the top spot had brought him more success than a kid from the ghettos of Newark, NJ would ever have expected a few decades before. He loved the social connections, the perks of his office and, of course, the many previously-clos...

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“Doll Food ” by Han Ly

Submitted to Contest #268

TW: Substance abuse, eating disorder, hints of DV. In biology 101, we learned about dopamine receptors, our feel-good hormones. Millions of those things are activated when we play games, use social media, and drugs. Now I'm curious—how many dopamine receptors will fire when I eat this jelly donut?The shiny, glazed pastry stares back at me from my desk , pencil spinning between my fingers, a rare positive trick I learned from dad. I suppose homework could be done after I eat. I can't think when I'm craving. It's only my second one, the first ...

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“A Calculated Risk Escape Clause” by Suzanne Jennifer

Submitted to Contest #268

I have often wondered if I’d have been better off with a different name. Bronson Steele. Sounds like the name of a double agent in a spy novel. A daring, chivalrous, sword wielding hero who faces the enemy and rescues the people from doom. My parents may have believed in the power of a name, hoping I’d live up to it. I must admit I've let them down.Thrill seekers to the max, my parents lived up to their names. The Steeles, Rowan and Jade. Outdoorsy. Adventurous. They were the couple who did every extreme adventure that came their way. Skydiv...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 47 stories

“A Cocktail of Truths” by Arthur Ingham

“Past Imperfect” by Helen A Smith

“Out of Hand” by Tommy Goround

“Captured by the Past” by Chris Sage

“Days of Past's Future” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

“Trial by Egotism” by Joseph Ellis

“Lions In The Woods” by Kami Zim

“The Life Of A Sexual Assault Victim ” by Ruth Vaneiken

“Abasement” by Thomas Wetzel

“When the moon shines brightest” by Renate Buchner

“The Khar D’ashia” by William Richards

“Confession” by Kellasandra Ferrara

“Evil in Retreat” by Bob Faszczewski

“Doll Food ” by Han Ly

“A Calculated Risk Escape Clause” by Suzanne Jennifer

🌟 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.

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

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

Contest #268

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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