Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences.

Posted in Short Story on Jun 7, 2024

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✍️ 37 stories

“UNCLE DANNY” by FRANCIS LALUNA

Submitted to Contest #254

UNCLE DANNY The Astramati had not completely settled into their Brooklyn home when Anna met Demetrio Pagliaro. He had just rented the fourth floor for what Gus called cheap. The tenant did not agree for the following reasons: just below the roof, it angled downward at the back, like the slant above. Thus, a good deal of space was amputated. The heat was transmitted from the roof tar and only partly dissipated by open windows, making summers unbearable. Winters were uncomfortab...

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“Ana Rosales” by Daniel Uhrlass

Submitted to Contest #254

Ana Rosales In a once quiet village in Oaxaca, the late afternoon sun sets, trucks amble in the dusty streets, feet stroll languidly, a feeling passing between brown faces of fatigue and the contentment of a workday done. Workers in jeans and boots, women in long skirts and scarves. A group of teens take up space on the sidewalk of the main street. The young men are rugged, half-shaven, leaning on trucks and sidewalk railings. Showcase of strength and bravado. They tease, boast, threaten, and joke. A performance for the girls, themse...

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“Unfortunate One” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #254

The new fuserdu was resisting the man and woman pulling on the chains attached to his head harness. A thick, dark cloth covered his eyes, held in place by the head harness straps. When a man standing behind the animal jabbed him hard enough with a pole, he would take a single step forward. A long moan struggled from the animal’s mouth, held shut by tight-drawn gape chains. Something brushed Oriala, and she turned from her observation to find Tucal standing too close. She took a step away, and he followed, ordering, “Stay where you ...

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“Through The Wardrobe” by Marley Monroe

Submitted to Contest #254

I have journeyed far beyond what I previously thought possible. Walked right up to the edge of the world and simply leapt forward with reckless abandon. And yet, when death chimed in my ears, when it called out my name, I was unprepared for my own ending to be written. Unwilling to give up on exploring existence and the realm that wardrobe had lead me to. After dreaming through my childhood of this very passage, from our world into another, I had found the path forward. Had found my very own key to the world, but now found myself hesitant to...

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“The Rivals” by Kia Ahankoob

Submitted to Contest #254

Randy watched the match with tight anticipation. He was a strong wrestler, built like a tank that had recently packed on quite a bit of muscle in the past year. Wrestling since he was a child, he was accustomed to being the favorite. Other wrestlers, including his teammates, would often study him, look him up and down and try to mimic his behavior. He was a champion several times over. Seasoned and proven in battle. But now, here was Seth. He had moved here just before the season began from some town that didn't matter. He had enrolled at th...

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“Fowl Language” by J.R. Abdullah

Submitted to Contest #254

Beep Beep Beep! Alex rolled over with a groan. He slapped his hand onto his alarm clock to stop the bothersome noise. Alex got up out of bed and stretched his arms above his head alleviating the pain in his shoulders. Then swung his legs over the edge and trudged towards the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, Alex scratched at his scraggly beard. The brown messy beard matched the scraggly hair on top of his head. His normally bright blue eyes had faded into a dull gray, complementing the look of tiredness that overwhelmed his face. “D...

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“Story 25” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #254

Robin is standing by the large oak tree in the middle of the forest. The sun is shining but his heart is heavy as he knows that his day will be full of tasks he would rather not have to do. His visitor, dressed all in black, approaches slowly and nervously. But Robin addresses him with the bold confidence and flair his team know so well.“Thanks for coming in for this interview. I would like to kick things off by asking why you have applied for this job.””Of course. Er, sorry I am a bit nervous. Basically I have been working in local governme...

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“A Boy Made of Diamond” by Markisha Clark

Submitted to Contest #254

He landed in the backyard of a man one evening. A man, a painter by trade was preparing a canvas when he looked out the kitchen window of his small cottage and saw what he thought was a glimmering puddle in the saffron field. He went out and saw him sitting in a beam of moonlight, tracing the stars with a dazzling finger. The man brought him inside and show him to the woman."You must cover him up. No one can know about him!" the woman said.So, he painted the diamond boy's face and arranged dyed wool on his head. The diamond boy looked so muc...

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“Satan” by Charlotte Daly

Submitted to Contest #254

If I could dream, I would only have nightmares.That is why I do not sleep.I avoid the flaws of my creation, the turmoil that moves my world more consistently, even, than the axis on which it spins.If I were to reach down, to scoop up the clouds that shield me from the Earth, I would never be able to return to my place. In knowing the full extent of the chaos, of the violence, the injustice, the misery, I would have to cross out every line in that Holy book. For I am written by those tiny creatures to be good; I am made out an unmatched ...

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“The Rattler and The Hawk. ” by Bradley Larsen

Submitted to Contest #254

Under the blazing Arizona sun, the highway seemed to stretch endlessly across the desert, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the barren landscape. The heat shimmered in the distance, creating mirages that danced tantalizingly on the horizon. This was the domain of two truckers, rivals by necessity and enemies by choice: Hank “Hawk” Turner and Mike “Rattler” Rodriguez. Hawk was a grizzled veteran of the road, his face weathered and creased from years of sun and wind. His truck, a gleaming red Peterbilt, was his pride and joy, polished to per...

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“MICHAELMAS TRIP” by Diana Lima

Submitted to Contest #254

The crisp autumn air of Michaelmas ran through Sylvester’s hair and carried the sound of fallen leaves crunching under the wheels as he drove his gig from London to Hertfordshire. Moving north towards his destination, Sylvester had just passed Islington and now guided his horse to a slower pace as he began to approach a cluster of buildings marking the next turnpike on the New Road. Another toll fee was going to set him back a little, which was one of the reasons why he rarely travelled home. But Michaelmas was a special occasion; the e...

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“Wings of a feather” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #254

Wings of a feather High in the skies over France at the height of Would War Two, allied forces made their way into German occupied territory. On the ground below both Allied and German forces met in fierce combat, explosions can be seen from high above as First Lieutenant John Roberts and his squadron were escorting a bomber group to their target further inland. The mission, to fight off any German plane that would come near the bomber group or die trying. As Robert’s squadron flew in formation along with the bomber group with at l...

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“Enemies or Friends?” by Stacy Parker

Submitted to Contest #254

It all began one snowy December afternoon. Jason Fox was at his house arguing with his mother. “I am not a kid! I am eighteen!” Exclaimed Jason. “Your behavior is very childish! Go to your room!” Sophie (Jason’s mom) exclaimed. “Yes ma’am,” Jason said sarcastically and stomped to his room. Ethan was in an alleyway, making a phone call that would change the rest of his life. “Ethan, I want you to break into that car at the Fox families’ house, and sabotage the lock mechanism and the engine function,” Maverick (a criminal in jai...

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“Eloise & the Director” by A H

Submitted to Contest #254

Eloise glared blue eyes at his suit-covered back as he walked in-step with their mutual boss down the hall. They were laughing about a joke made just out of earshot, and she silently resisted the urge to scream. The successes he was being acknowledged for were a hypocrisy to the grief he had been giving her two years prior. How dare he suddenly have the audacity to pursue the things she, too, had set her sights on. While he gloated about his victories, though, they were because she had helped pave the way years prior. He now taught the conte...

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“Good Neighbors” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #254

A loud knock on the front door almost made Lisa drop her coffee. Setting her mug down, she waddled around the boxes stacked in the hallway and peered through the peephole. A tall, dark-skinned woman stood there, a little girl at her side.“Great. The Witnesses found me already,” Lisa muttered, jerking open the door.“Thanks, but I don’t need whatever you’re selling.”The woman looked startled, then laughed, holding out her hand.“I promise I’m not selling anything. I just came to say hello. I’m your neighbor two houses down. I’ve brought some co...

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Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 37 stories

“UNCLE DANNY” by FRANCIS LALUNA

“Ana Rosales” by Daniel Uhrlass

“Unfortunate One” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“Through The Wardrobe” by Marley Monroe

“The Rivals” by Kia Ahankoob

“Fowl Language” by J.R. Abdullah

“Story 25” by Paul Simpkin

“A Boy Made of Diamond” by Markisha Clark

“Satan” by Charlotte Daly

“The Rattler and The Hawk. ” by Bradley Larsen

“MICHAELMAS TRIP” by Diana Lima

“Wings of a feather” by Justin Diaz

“Enemies or Friends?” by Stacy Parker

“Eloise & the Director” by A H

“Good Neighbors” by Bettina Karpathian

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a Regency-themed fair.

Write a story where a rumor starts to spread. Your protagonist is either the topic or the source.

Write a story where an important conversation takes place during a dance.

Write a story in the format of a gossip column.

Contest #254

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

218

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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