It kicks off on a yacht with the delivery of an important letter.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 35 stories

“As It Ends” by Joshua G. J. Insole

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #14

1 Sally didn’t see the nukes explode. She’d been sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Portland, Maine. A short, doable stretch. Training. Preparing for something bigger. In her heart, she knew she wanted to do an around the world trip, in the memory of her mother; raise some money for breast cancer awareness whilst giving herself some much-needed thinking time. Win-win. Oh, Sally knew if she did sail the world her father would worry about her, especially now that his wife was gone. But he wouldn’t stop her. And the proud smile he’d flashed ...

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“Code Names” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #14

“Code names,” Caesar began. “Code names are important and we are going to be using them for the rest of this voyage.” I started to pace around the room. “Now, you all received a letter, inviting you onto my yacht, I would like you to open those letters and reveal your code names out loud.” “Marcus.” “Junius.” “Brutus.” “And I…” Caesar loudly declared. “Am Caesar.” Marcus crumpled up his letter into a ball. “What is this all about?” Caesar stared off longingly into the distance for dramatic effect. “One of you… is going to murder me.”“What?” ...

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“ON THE DECK OF THE BETSY SUE” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #14

I am almost an old man, thought Roddy Merchant, as he sat on the deck of the Betsy Sue, listening to the familiar interplay of the lapping of water and the creaking of timbers; to the squawks of seagulls and the half-heard conversations of the others on Blackford Wharf as morning slipped into afternoon. I am almost an old man, and it seems to have happened without my quite realising it. He took a sip of the strong tea he had convinced himself he liked, and wondered what the next step in the renovation of the yacht that (as he liked...

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“Glass” by Morey Guntz

Submitted to Contest #14

"Hello?" Heavy boots pound on the deck, and the yacht sways on the waves. I hurry up the stairs. "Is anyone here?""Coming," I yell as I throw open the door that lead to my living quarters. A tall, thin boy turns when he sees me. He glances down at the clipboard in his hands."Is this your boat?" I nod, wondering what he's getting at. "Then you're Lydia Thatcher?" I nod again. "W-well, Miss Thatcher, a letter for Gemini Glass got to the post office about three days ago, and we sent it up to her aunt, but she sent it back here, saying Miss Glas...

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“Crimson Instinct” by Liz Bennet

Submitted to Contest #14

It was a sunny afternoon in the south of Italy. Delilah Frey had just had her lunch, a plate of lasagna, her late husband’s favorite. She stood in the cabin of his yacht, staring out at the great blue Mediterranean sea. She thought of how much he loved this boat and how he had designed it himself, taking care of the simple details that made the yacht into the beauty it was today. He drew sketches of the white modern interior making sure it was as clean cut as could be. She clutched the locket in her necklace that contained his image, closing...

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“Finders Keepers” by Debbie Rae

Submitted to Contest #14

I was staring at the pool by the stern when she shrieked. I pressed my fingers to my temples, waiting for the ringing in my ears to die down. How I hadn’t gotten used to Sophie’s random squeals was in itself chafing, especially as I’d been her servant a whole twenty-two days. Normally that was enough time for me to adapt. ‘Well?’ came a man's gruff voice, this time from close by. My head jerked to the right. Chef Kojo stood there, his crinkled brows hooding already sunken eyes. ‘Go!’ Biting back a sigh, I hurried down the h...

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“The Secret He Took” by Randi W

Submitted to Contest #14

Seattle, 1953 He walked briskly down the long pier, his strides long and filled with a rushed purpose. He pulled his hat down in an attempt to shield his face even more; his eyes shifted from boat to boat. "Almost there." thought Jack nervously. Before long, Jack turned down another long stretch of pier and headed as quickly as he could to the yachts section. His stride quickened the closer he got, his heart pounding faster and faster. Jack could finally see his yacht; 'Walk, don't run! Don't give them any reason to come after you!' panted J...

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“THE PENULTIMATE CRUISE OF THE HONEY FITZ” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #14

THE PENULTIMATE CRUISE OF THE HONEY FITZ BY ANDREW PAUL GRELL It wasn’t much compared to today’s Leviathan one percent of the one percent boats. Horseshoe bow, square stern, cabin windows directly facing the promenade deck, but more than enough cabins for all the clam bake activity aboard. Today it would be a pretty decent party boat for a precision machine tools company CEO. Not only did it never have to worry about not being too tall to fit through the Panama Canal, it could have easily plowed under the yardarm of a Netsc...

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“Money” by Bro Yaboi

Submitted to Contest #14

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this letter!” I give him the letter anyway, I’m so excited to see the looks on their faces as my games begin. Jerry, the announcer, has no idea what’s going on but he keeps doing whatever I tell him to. I paid for his wife to have surgery to live, he had to do what I say. The envelope in his hand was stained on the edges with coffee and folded in random places. - - - “Welcome everyone to this fun trip! I’m sure none of us know why we were chosen to come have a ride on this expensive yacht, esp...

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“Stormy Waters” by Carol Coupland

Submitted to Contest #14

Carol CouplandHe looked out across the water in the bay. It was supposed to be his time away with his daughter before she went back to her mother for the school term. Just as he was about to pull anchor a man’s voice hollered out his name and came running towards his yacht. He was slightly overweight and puffing by the time he had reached Aidan, but he managed to get the message out between breaths of how urgent the letter was. He knew Aidan from the cafes he frequented and patted him on the shoulder.‘See you on your return. ...

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“acceptance of the night” by Trevor Pence

Submitted to Contest #14

The U.S.S Luna let out loud music fly from all sides. Women in gauzy blue and purple gowns danced and flocked a bow filled with tables with bottles of wine and beer that were being replaced like weeds in a garden. Colors blossomed through the crowd like proud strutting peacocks in full mating bloom. Men in velvet cloaks and dapper tuxedos goose-stepped through the crowd, stopping for the occasional exchange of sweet talk. One teenage girl strutting around had a swarm of people trying to get a look at the large jewel in her forehead. Sta...

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“IN THE TWINKLE OF AN EYE” by Peace Abayomi

Submitted to Contest #14

A beautiful breezy twilight setting on a yacht sweetened by the ebbing sound of the orchestra playing a melodious heart-warming tune on the beach and a glass of chilled champagne as an appetizer was the last thing I enjoyed on my vacation. I smiled beatifically and closed my eyes as I enjoyed the way my blonde curly hair swayed according to the motion of the light wind. What could ruin this special moment?“A letter for you, ma’am.”…well, that spoiled it. A man on another yacht close to the one I was in stretched out his hand and handed...

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“The Important Delivery on a Yacht” by Rachel Frankki

Submitted to Contest #14

The Important Delivery on a Yacht by Rachel Frankki “Really it was just an excuse to drink publicly, or I wouldn’t have gone,” I stated angrily while my interrogator stared into my soul in hopes of figuring out my buried secrets. We had been in this small and smelly room for what seemed like hours now. The only problem was he wanted answers that I genuinely didn't have. “There’s countless places to drink publicly. What specifically drew to this party?” “I mean, yachts are cool and always full of rich people.” “So your attraction was ba...

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“Loveless to Loved.” by Sasha Walden

Submitted to Contest #14

“Ponzio, you’ve got a letter, it’s from your mother.” I find the sulking man on the deck of his new yacht.“Bonifila! Come, come, have a drink with me. It’s my birthday, celebrate!” he turns slightly, enough for me to see his pale green eyes and his smirk.“No, my job is to protect you; not have wine while neglecting our duties.” and his smirk falls slightly.“Must you always be so serious?”I refuse to dignify him with an answer to that, just holding out the letter so he can fully see it.When he turns fully towards me, he sees my stotic express...

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“Fancy A Game” by Leumas Llewtnac

Submitted to Contest #14

“He’s not here,” said Ronald Altas, detective. Hanover managed to pull his head back over the railing, “He has to be. It’s a large boat, sir. We’ll find him.” “No, we won’t,” said Ron, without looking at him. “How do you know, sir?” “Because, Hanover, Corporal Churney is heading toward us in a paddleboat.” Hanover frowned out at the small figure approaching them from the shoreline. “Must be urgent,” he said. “Especially if he’s paddling that fast,” said Ronald, lowering a match into his pipe and sending out a few puffs. “That can only mean ...

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It kicks off on a yacht with the delivery of an important letter.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 35 stories

“As It Ends” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“Code Names” by Lily Kingston

“ON THE DECK OF THE BETSY SUE” by Deborah Mercer

“Glass” by Morey Guntz

“Crimson Instinct” by Liz Bennet

“Finders Keepers” by Debbie Rae

“The Secret He Took” by Randi W

“THE PENULTIMATE CRUISE OF THE HONEY FITZ” by Andrew Grell

“Money” by Bro Yaboi

“Stormy Waters” by Carol Coupland

“acceptance of the night” by Trevor Pence

“IN THE TWINKLE OF AN EYE” by Peace Abayomi

“The Important Delivery on a Yacht” by Rachel Frankki

“Loveless to Loved.” by Sasha Walden

“Fancy A Game” by Leumas Llewtnac

🌟 Similar prompts

It's about a photographer, who is a rookie.

It's a literary fiction story about growing up.

Someone in the story has a lot of hard lessons to learn.

And there's a twist! It actually all took place in the past.

Contest #14

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

175

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: