Start your story in the middle of the action.

Posted in Short Story on Jun 16, 2023

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✍️ 69 stories

“Worthy Partners” by Paul Besancon

Submitted to Contest #203

A killing blow. That moment the eyes go nearly white, looking to the heavens as if that’s where their soul is heading. Not this one, Deacon thought, nocking another arrow on his black bow. The enchanted runes glimmered lightly in its upper and lower limbs. With every draw, he could feel the bow’s power easing the resistance, focusing the arrow. Loose. The arrow flew straight, as it always did. Another caravan raider dropped to the hoof-trodden ground, face tasting that disturbed soil. “Ha! A pedigree, a pedigree!” Deacon’s partner, Jarek Def...

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“The Other Portal” by Sarah Addams

Submitted to Contest #203

I was sprinting as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest. Behind me, I could hear the sounds of footsteps and shouting. I knew they were getting closer, but I couldn't stop now. I had been on the run for what felt like hours, darting through alleyways and across rooftops, trying to shake my pursuers. But they were relentless, and I knew that I couldn't keep this up forever. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw them gaining on me. They were big, burly men, with muscles bulging under their jackets. They were armed, too, and ...

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“ Necklace” by L J

Submitted to Contest #203

One year later-"Order in the court. Please rise! the Honorable Judge Marcus Walker presiding."Judge Walker banged his gavel, "you may be seated. Mr. District Attorney, you may present your first witness."Mr. Llewellyn stood. "Thank you, your honor, the state calls to the stand Ms. Katie Hoffman."A visibly distraught Katie took the witness stand, placed her right hand on the Bible and said, "I do". and slowly took her seat.Mr. Llewellyn placed his elbow on the witness stand and said "Ms. Hoffman, can you tell the jury what happened on the nig...

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“A Clock, A Thief, and a Dragon” by M B

Submitted to Contest #203

Farah the ferret thief scampered down the alleyway, the shouts of her pursuers echoing behind her. Even the best have to run for it on occasion, she thought, consoling herself. The rain was falling in sheets as she ran, soaking through her cloak, leathers, and down into her fur. “She went this way!” a coyote shouted. “Ugh, these idiots are annoyingly persistent,” Farah grumbled with flattened ears. The nimble ferret kept running, cloak flapping behind her. She briefly paused as she came upon a pa...

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“Going Over” by Nicki Nance

Submitted to Contest #203

Sky. Tree. Grass. Tree. Mud, Sky, Rock, Sky, Black.Sosy Michaels rolled, slid, and bounced to the bottom of the hill, and settled so close to the river that it drew her golden curls into long, lithe dancers gracefully moving to the music of the water. She was covered in blood, grass, and dirt.Silence, pain, buzzing, splashing. “You are the luckiest unlucky girl I ever met.”Sosy opened her eyes to a blue-eyed stranger in a flannel shirt and ball cap. She tried to push herself up, but a pain in her side gripped her. “I have to —”“Hold on there...

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“The Flight of Annabelle Jennings” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #203

Based on the 1866 Memphis Massacre, this story contains violence, sexual violence, and child abuse.I saw my daddy fall to the ground, his eyes staring right at me, looking like two marbles but deep like the endless night sky. I wanted to run to him, but I was frozen in terror, breathless. Fighting filled the streets, nearly trampling me as I stood there gazing into my father’s eyes. A stray bullet bounced off the ground, grazing my calf. The sting of that hot metal slicing through my delicate skin was enough to break the trance and the sound...

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“The Target” by Dane MillerHass

Submitted to Contest #203

The glare of the sun hit his opaque visor. The cyber cycle shot across the metallic highway, kicking up loose bits of steel here and there. The rider looked ahead, seeing the holosign that read "Exit 38A". Sweating profusely in his Scarab Combat Armor, he flipped up the cycle's rear view display. Nobody was behind him; just the empty stretch of freeway he had come down. Twisting on the cycle's handles, he careened down the exit, his tires going from the smooth silver of the speedway to the rough asphalt of the road. Sleepiness tugged at his ...

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“The Sum of It All” by Bethany Schoech

Submitted to Contest #203

“Who is that?” Ben had asked me. My ears turned red from embarrassment as the slow recognition kicked in. She walked, no, stumbled more like, to our table falling into the centerpieces along the way. I always wished to see my mother again. I just never imagined it would be like this. How could she show her face, drunk, clearly on drugs, and on my wedding day no less? I didn’t even recognize her when she barged in. “If it isn’t my little one.” she hiccupped. “Your father always said you’d make sumfin of yourself but, I never saw it.” She swip...

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“The Deadly Swipe” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #203

Myrah crouched as close to the ground as she could against the metal cylinder. She hoped they could not see her, but that also meant she could not see. She could smell the trash can beside her horridly, but she feared the horror that it would expose her to if she didn’t hug onto it. There was a breeze in the air and it was a sunny but not too hot day. Of course it was a sunny but not too hot day. No one goes to the local park if it is not a sunny but not too hot day and therefore. And on a sunny but not to...

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“Agua Rainha” by Jay DeBurgh

Submitted to Contest #203

Pulled underneath the water gasping for air, Jonah couldn't see what tightly gripped his ankles. He let out a huge bubble of scream with his last breath, while losing consciousness. "We need to wake him up and get him adjusted before the Queen sees him," the translucent-skinned woman said, prodding Jonah with a long finger as she glanced down her nose at him. The next human male to save their race. "Wake him, then test him. I want him to suffer like Grandpa did, it makes them grateful in the end." The junior guard nodded, and pres...

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“Fist-Fighting and Fine Dining” by Ethan Jarmush

Submitted to Contest #203

“Punch that rock.” Zenzu said Carl looked at the old man blankly. “Uh, no.” “Punch the rock, Carl. Only then will I know if you’re worthy of my teaching.” “You ask my family to send me all the way up here. I spend 3 harrowing nights trudging along only to be told to punch a rock when I arrive?” “Appears that way, yes.” Zenzu nodded. “How are you going to teach me the way of the…of the fiery…fist? What’s it called again?” “Way of the flaming knuckles,” Zenzu corrected “Yes that. How can you teach me if my h...

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“Only Madness” by Olivia D

Submitted to Contest #203

I feel the cool metal slide between my ribs and gasp. Pain explodes throughout me, pain I’ve felt before, but it is somehow different this time. Worse knowing that he was the one to put it there. My knees knock into the floor, a gasp releasing from me and a whimper from somewhere else. My hands go to the weapon in my chest, gripping it as hard as I can while it leeches strength from my limbs. I know not to pull it out, but it feels so wrong, an incorrect outcome, a falsity. My hands are too slick from the blood now freely seeping from my wou...

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“Smoking Section” by Aaron Tippit

Submitted to Contest #203

CLINK Jared flicked open his Zippo and flipped a flame to life. He sucked on his cigarette, coaxing the flame into it. He heard the sizzle and pop as the flame caught. He turned the suck into a pull and let the burn flow down his throat, relishing the break as much as the nicotine. It was a crisp fall day. There wasn't a breath of wind, and the world seemed shushed. Smoke and breath vapor hung in the air, unsure of what to do. Jared heard the crunch of the crash bar on the exit door that led to their smoking gazebo. "Puff, puff, puff, p...

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“ROCKET VS TANK” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #203

Hit, punch, kick. Hit, punch, kick, headlock. Rocket and Tank are going head-to-head. Rocket lands another hit. Tank lands a hit. Rocket lands another hit. Tank misses a hit to the head. Rocket lands another hit. Tank lands a kick to the leg. Rocket lands a kick to the leg. Tank misses again. He's getting pissed. Tank lunges at Rocket. Rocket ducks and lands a kick to the stomach. Tank bends over in pain. Tank punches Rocket. Rocket slips but gets back up. Tank is seething. He can't knock Rocket down. Rocket is quick. He's using his speed ...

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“Obliterated” by Angela Jewitt

Submitted to Contest #203

(Mild Sensitive content including: Death, Swearing, violent destruction) I struggle to hear the desperate shriek over the sound of helicopter blades above my head. So close I fall to the ground before it takes me off my feet. Why am I outside? “Where are you?” I try to shout as loud as I can, but the thick smoke sticks in my throat, threatening to choke me before I can reach them. Disorientated and with a pain in my side that I didn’t have a minute ago, searingly hot. No time to check it out. I am sure that was a child I heard! I heav...

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Start your story in the middle of the action.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“Worthy Partners” by Paul Besancon

“The Other Portal” by Sarah Addams

“ Necklace” by L J

“A Clock, A Thief, and a Dragon” by M B

“Going Over” by Nicki Nance

“The Flight of Annabelle Jennings” by Ty Warmbrodt

“The Target” by Dane MillerHass

“The Sum of It All” by Bethany Schoech

“The Deadly Swipe” by Madeline Honig

“Agua Rainha” by Jay DeBurgh

“Fist-Fighting and Fine Dining” by Ethan Jarmush

“Only Madness” by Olivia D

“Smoking Section” by Aaron Tippit

“ROCKET VS TANK” by Melinda Madrigal

“Obliterated” by Angela Jewitt

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story during which two conversations happen simultaneously.

Write about how a single event affects a seemingly unrelated area of a character’s life (their friendships, career, romantic relationships, etc.)

Write about two friends getting into a fist fight.

Write a story that experiments with tone — perhaps a difficult subject dealt with in a playful way, or an ostensibly happy scene that hints at darkness lurking beneath.

Contest #203

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: