A package arrives at your character’s house, but they didn’t order anything. Write about what happens next.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 59 stories

“The Package” by Shelley Delmage

Submitted to Contest #122

Amy heard footsteps thump up the stairs at the front entrance before the doorbell rang. Her little dog, Zippy, barked once and ran to the door, tail wagging, expectantly looking back and forth from the door to Amy. “Coming!” She called out as she eased out of the recliner. She had been sitting for way too long and her bones creaked and ached like a woman twice her age. She was she healing from a car accident she’d been in a couple weeks ago and wasn’t moving anywhere fast these days, with her heavy casted leg and crutches. Lim...

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“The Fairy Lure” by Cej After

Submitted to Contest #122

He would not have seen the package until Thursday had it not been for the screeching of tires in front of the house. For anyone else, an ominous sound, but one that he feels attracted to like some masochistic moth to a constant, dull flickering torch. Shuffling down the entryway, he cracks the door and peers out onto the silent street. He knows what he heard, even though there isn’t a car in sight. The sounds of his most recent trauma: screeching tires, crunching metal, sirens, voices over police radio, have become the shibboleths in the lan...

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“The Case of the Mysterious Air Fryer” by Amber Fox

Submitted to Contest #122

The names in this story have been changed. The holiday season had arrived and all the hustle and bustle that came with it. The smell of orange peels and cinnamon sticks simmering in water on the stove filled the cozy home on North Pinehurst Avenue. Ember and Jenna were busy wrapping princess dolls and race car tracks while "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" played in the background on the flat screen T.V. It was indeed, the most wonderful time of the year for both of them who shared the love of decorating and festive carols. Jen...

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“The Burning Candle” by RJ O’Hara

Submitted to Contest #122

**TW// This story involves a person who becomes severely paralyzed. Anyone who has personal experience with this kind of tragedy should be advised.**James Dufont lived an ideal American life. He had a nice, three story house, a loving wife, three beautiful children; the quintessential, traditional western life. He was a cheerful figure; always friendly and talkative. He would uplift anyone who was near him by his mere presence alone. He was religiously devout, stressing the teachings of the New Testament to his children, and always leading h...

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“Freedom in a Box” by Gayle Hammond

Submitted to Contest #122

FINDING DANNY"Mum you got a package" yelled Danny from the front door entrance. Through the front gate a skinny woman in black jeans and t-shirt was exiting toward a custom built motor trike holding a man in black leathers wearing a helmet."I didn't order any thing." responded Karen as she walked toward the entrance. Standing in the doorway, she recognised the deliverer.The old grey bearded male took off his helmet and informed the boy the parcel was for him. "It belongs to your dad."Karen tried to rip the parcel from Danny's hands but he tu...

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“A voice from the grave” by Kathryn Davis

Submitted to Contest #122

A voice from the grave Memories take me back to 1965 at the time of my fathers' dearth. My father's funeral was just last week, and the conversation within our home continued to resonate as stories from the past provided a calming background to those he left behind. He was not a particularly friendly man, born in 1894 when social interactions were kept private, even within the confines of the family. Also, since he was a professional man, as a pharmacist in a small country town, his reputation was his most treasured possession. ...

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“WE ARE YOUR MASTERS” by Aaron Thompson

Submitted to Contest #122

Warning: Highly sensitive topics including depictions of physical violence and substance abuse.Montgomery Lewis awoke instantly in his usual state of ritualistic despair by a continuous thrashing at his front door. His sleep had been restless and dreamless, and the sheets were damp. After several grunts and heavy sighs, he glanced at the alarm clock atop the mahogany bedside table to his right.8:12Flurries of rain water danced against the windows as if they were being targeted by sprinklers, and the wind howled and wailed like a child who st...

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“Forever Fred” by Olivia Jackson

Submitted to Contest #122

Annie had always thought the holidays were a beautiful time of year. She had not always viewed them as surviving them. There were happier times; times when she looked forward to the Thanksgiving turkey with family and friends around her table, but those times were long gone. Black Friday took on a different meaning now. She didn't participate in the shopping of that day. There was no joy in this time of year anymore. Her life had felt quite dark since he’d gone. She and Fred had been together for such a lo...

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“On My Doorstep” by Mary Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #122

My doorbell rang, as I opened the front door, I expected to see the Amazon delivery guy scurrying back to his truck. There was no one there, but they left a small parcel on my doorstep. I picked it up and looked at the name and address, it was indeed addressed to me. It was in an unfamiliar hand and someone had taken great care in wrapping it and addressing it. I unwrapped it carefully and found small leather-bound volume of Shakespeare's&...

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“The Invasion That Fizzled” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #122

The Invasion That Fizzled John Pritchard sat in his living room waiting impatiently for his buddies to arrive so they could start watching the Giants football game. He had laid out the snacks, put the hors d’oevres in the oven and stocked the freezer with plenty of beer. Then, all of a sudden, someone rang his doorbell--and it wasn’t one of the gang John expected. In fact, he didn’t se...

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“For Fear Of It” by Nix ♞

Submitted to Contest #122

I hear the doorbell. I hear a voice. I hear plop.I'm assuming it's a package. Is it a package? Why would it be a package? I haven't ordered anything, have I?I go to my laptop and sign in to my account.Email or mobile phone number:XXXXXXX@yahoo.comPassword: XXX-XXX-XXXXI click on Orders.Nothing.The last thing I purchased was a non-ticking light-up clock for bed. My old one was dim, loud. The ticking... the ticking put me on edge. The darkness... oh, the darkness hurled me off it.Tick. tick. tick—But enough. The point is I haven't ordered anyt...

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“Daughter of the Lake” by Jami Henry

Submitted to Contest #122

Jami Henry November 30, 2021 I’ve never been much of a talker. Maybe as a child, when my words slipped from my tongue carelessly; when the red wire beneath my mother’s pillow didn’t sting as bad, and district units weren’t obstructed by the malicious Tyek Thane. But now, the quiet of midnight is my only escape. Times like these, I have no recollection of her hatred for me or the unsettlingly stillness of our bland corridor. Though, as painful as the lashings were back then, the blindingly loud thoughts in my head interrupt the calm and revi...

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“An Angel's Gift” by Bernice Cabral

Submitted to Contest #122

Smack dab near the center of a small town in middle America was a blue house. Not too big, or too small. The sort of house in which middle class couples raise their families. Well-kept, unpretentious. It's pretty front door usually decorated with a pretty wreath, color and foliage based upon the season. Helen Carter opened her particular front door, on this particular day, to exchange her particular wreath from autumn's crimson, gold and rust leaves, pumpkins and gourds, to one of white, silver, and blue in recognition of the impending Chris...

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“Black Friday Mystery Package” by RJ Johnston

Submitted to Contest #122

The alarms went off at the same time, the one on the night stand blared "It's THAT time of year again!" and "Black Friday Sale STARTS NOW!" then; "Trust Us! You'll Want This Deal of A Lifetime!"The ads were relentless, escalating in fever pitch with each one, the voice sounding more manic...Black Friday had Finally Arrived!!! He thought just as the ad synced at the same time and shouted with almost religious fervor. Weird, he thought groggily trying to wake up. He reached over and slammed his hand down on the OFF button...Too damned early fo...

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A package arrives at your character’s house, but they didn’t order anything. Write about what happens next.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“The Package” by Shelley Delmage

“The Fairy Lure” by Cej After

“The Case of the Mysterious Air Fryer” by Amber Fox

“The Burning Candle” by RJ O’Hara

“Freedom in a Box” by Gayle Hammond

“A voice from the grave” by Kathryn Davis

“WE ARE YOUR MASTERS” by Aaron Thompson

“Forever Fred” by Olivia Jackson

“On My Doorstep” by Mary Fitzgerald

“The Invasion That Fizzled” by Bob Faszczewski

“For Fear Of It” by Nix ♞

“Daughter of the Lake” by Jami Henry

“An Angel's Gift” by Bernice Cabral

“Black Friday Mystery Package” by RJ Johnston

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who’s stuck in a shopping mall.

Start your story in the middle of a traffic jam.

Write a story about a limited edition item going on sale.

Write about a character who won’t (or can’t) shop for the holidays.

Contest #122

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

149

Contest entries

104

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: