Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 52 stories

“Housing Problems” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #66

Whenever I tell people something that really happened to me, they always say I’m making it up as I go along. I am the Poster Girl for “Tell the truth, and nobody will believe you”. I spent my summers in what the townsfolk called the Ancestral Mansion. To me, it was just Nanna’s House – a rambling building built on a hill, with a whole wing preserved as it used to be in bygone times. There was just one room that was out of bounds – a room that was said to be haunted. This room was always cool in summer, and warm in winter. Whenever anyone ...

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“A big pack of jelly babies, and a tiny result-altering plastic bag.” by Sam Reeves

Submitted to Contest #66

Suzie arrived at the school’s athletics track to chat with her friends before tonight’s training at the Running Club. She had known the four of them since their first day at school and they’ve been inseparable ever since. John and Ernie were long-distance runners and always excelled at the annual cross-country. Lily and Rob were the cutest couple of the school, always joined at the hip. By the sounds of their constant, but mostly harmless, bickering they sounded like an old married couple! “Hey guys. I just remembered the 400m race is two ...

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“'Marketed ignorance'” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #66

Your Honour, Judging from the state of everything in this state, I strongly move the motion that the slogan of this state be changed immediately. It is certainly contributing its own quota to the backwardness of the State. All manners of evil is happening here and no force is curtailing them. Home for all. Could you imagine a name like that? member representing Nnewi south said. Your honour, we are in 21st centuary, we must by all means stop corruption that has taken roots here especially among us politicians. The problem of the state...

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“The Final Plan” by Threese Belivett

Submitted to Contest #66

“You’re afraid. You’re afraid because in the end that position is meant for me.” My jaw clench while fiercely staring at the woman across my seat. “I don’t compete with someone much younger than me.” She sip her coffee looking in a different direction. “That’s the point. I am young. And you? You’re old. What ideas do you think you can share.” Smiling as if I can see my victory. She laughed and sighed. “You have lots of confidence. This is all about her, right?” She began to irritate me. I’m about to say a word but she suddenly stand ...

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“WTF” by Alexander Katz

Submitted to Contest #66

The WTF—World Twister Finals—is held every ten years, and never in the same place. Now hidden within Omaha, Nebraska's dark dredges, this year’s WTF competition is perhaps the most anticipated since the 1976 Castle Classic. Rodrick “Rocky” Wilson stood in the alley next to an inconspicuous door, a smile plastered across his face. The door looked like any other in the alleyway, except for the four circles of red, green, blue, and yellow freshly painted above it—the WTF crest. Rocky brushed his fingers across the circles, feeling the nerves in...

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“Opposite of Optimistic” by A O

Submitted to Contest #66

Oh my god, we are here. In the biggest art competition in the United States. I should clarify that we means me, Scyla Jackson and my best friend Maraya Thomas or, as I like to call her, MayMay. We are both artists which is how we became friends. We are best at painting which is why we are walking toward the table saying PLEASE SIGN IN FOR PAINTING CONTEST!!! in colorful letters.We arrive at the table say our first and last names to the lady, she gives us two name tags, one to put on our shirts and one for our bags, and a number, and says tha...

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“Sanctuary, eh?” by A H

Submitted to Contest #66

The yellow lines on the highway sped by in a blur, and we flew through the night, and we felt free. But we weren’t, and we knew it. We were running away from something, and running away was never the path to freedom. I thought about telling John to turn back. I thought about suggesting to stop at the next Rest Area because I really had to piss, but I know he’d just toss me an empty container and sarcastically say: “You’re welcome, dude.” Besides, I’m sure all the Rest Areas were closed. I decided to bypass that conversation with him, so I ju...

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“I Am The Champion” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #66

Octava put on his leather suit of armour and placed his sword in the scabbard on his hip. He stood straight, feet slightly apart, feeling strong before the match. Broad at the shoulders, a muscular body, standing six feet six inches tall.His aides, after helping him with his suit of armour, were putting the final touches to it. Smoothing it down over his back and chest. Checking if the pads were protecting his shoulders correctly. Tightening the belt that pulled in an already slim waist.The smell of greased leather was in the air and the arm...

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“The Surf to Safety” by Tiffany 🌻

Submitted to Contest #66

The annual Maverick Shore's surf competition came around at the end of each summer here in Hilo, Hawaii. I was entering to be able to take that prize of $1,000 and the title of Mercury beach champion. The only problem was that I would be competing against Josh Campus, the known pretty boy/bully of our neighbourhood who's been training for years, just like me. When I stepped barefoot into that soft sand, I saw Josh stretching just in front. I glared at his curly blond hair and evil smirk as he stared at the dark ocean. The sea was dar...

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“The Chalice Trials” by Katelyn Burdo

Submitted to Contest #66

In my culture there is an object said to hold immense power, and object that can cure the most deadly diseases, cure the incurable, and even bring the dead back to life without consequences. This object is known only as the Chalice. Every 12 years there is a series of trials a handful of the townspeople participate in, but only one is ever bestowed the gifts of the Chalice. No one knows what takes the trials will hold since they change every time, but it is rumored that only those who are pure of heart will be able to make it through. This ...

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“Opportunity Knocks” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #66

Paul was a large boy, and about a hundred pounds overweight. As such, he was horrible in gym class, and never picked for teams at recess. Usually, he would bring out his Beast Tamers cards and mess with them at recess. The gym teacher usually gave him worksheets or little odd jobs to do, rather than subject him to the torture that the other kids would inflict upon him. Timothy was a small boy. He was short for his age, underweight, and asthmatic. As if this wasn...

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“The Price” by M R

Submitted to Contest #66

"Hey, bud!" Eric greeted his former gym buddy Paul, who used to work as a Membership Ambassador in other gym and is now a member of C24 Fitness Health Clubs. Paul put down his duffel bag on the floor of the coffee shop. "Sorry, had to do a full workout today after a vacation. Been here for long?" "No, maybe less than 15 minutes. Is your friend coming today?" "He's meeting his team today. He's the head of pharmaceuticals, you know." Paul went to the bar quickly to grab something. Ten days remaining before the final evaluation. Three o...

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“Do I Do it?” by Tameka Wilson

Submitted to Contest #66

We walk out of the bus and line up in front of a grand, dramatic house. There are 10 of us, all waiting to meet our bachelorette. My palms are sweaty and my forehead is shiny. I quickly wipe my hands on my shirt and dry my forehead. The other guys looked equally nervous except for HIM. The obvious winner of this competition, Dylan. He's tall, handsome, and a charmer. I am not bad looking myself, just a very nervous wreck. "Do you think you'll win?" one of the guys beside me asks. I give him a shrug. "I don't stand a chance." he whispers. All...

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“Desperation” by A K

Submitted to Contest #66

Hayley didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t understand why she was even considering such an awful option, but she was starting to get desperate. And that scared her more than anything. If only there was another way that she could guarantee that she’d win. Use the skills that got you all the way to the finals! One part of her was screaming. Yes her skills had gotten her all the way to where she was now, but she needed something more assuring that she’d win. She had to win. No. Matter. What. Her own thoughts were embarrassing her. She wa...

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“Cheater's doesn't win.” by Adi Peter

Submitted to Contest #66

CHEATER’S DOESN’T WIN. Jamie Scot was a young boy, he was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Scot Anderson, his parent were very poor living in a ghetto area was unbearable for Jamie. Jamie was so intelligent and hard working, he does his assignment without the help of his parent because they were illiterate, he performed well enough in all his subject in the school an...

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Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 52 stories

“Housing Problems” by Tanja Cilia

“A big pack of jelly babies, and a tiny result-altering plastic bag.” by Sam Reeves

“'Marketed ignorance'” by Philip Ebuluofor

“The Final Plan” by Threese Belivett

“WTF” by Alexander Katz

“Opposite of Optimistic” by A O

“Sanctuary, eh?” by A H

“I Am The Champion” by Barbara Burgess

“The Surf to Safety” by Tiffany 🌻

“The Chalice Trials” by Katelyn Burdo

“Opportunity Knocks” by Monica Chaddick

“The Price” by M R

“Do I Do it?” by Tameka Wilson

“Desperation” by A K

“Cheater's doesn't win.” by Adi Peter

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Contest #66

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: