Begin your story with a character having a gut feeling they cannot explain.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 75 stories

“The Argument” by Garrett Addison

Submitted to Contest #127

“I have a gut feeling and I can’t explain it.” “What does that even mean?” “You know exactly what that means, Andrew.” “No, I don’t know what that means, Silas.” “God you’re insufferable.” “Me? I’m the insufferable one?” “Yes.” “Are you hearing yourself?” “It’s a feeling—” “Always with the feelings.” “I cannot explain this again to—” “For the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” “Will you shut up for one second?” “I have had enough shutting up for an entire lifetime.” “Are you mad?” “Oh my god, Silas.” “I’m just saying.” “I am trying, Silas. I ...

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“The Alchemy Tower” by Brian Thatcher

Submitted to Contest #127

This was the third night in a row that I lay awake, staring at nothing in the complete darkness of my dorm. The room was filled with the deep, rhythmic breaths of my roommates. Although neither of them were necessarily obnoxious sleepers, the sounds of their sleep eventually became unbearable and I left, as quietly as I could, to go on a walk. I wrestled with my shirt as I walked down the long corridor outside my room, the gray stone of the floor chilling my bare feet as I tip-toed down the stairs th...

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“Me and the Keyboard, the Keyboard and Me” by Kalina Atanasova

Submitted to Contest #127

I write “He walked away and closed the door, silently on his way. And then there was a line on the path they had shared, on the path they had walked together, on the way between their hearts. That highway had become obscured by smoke and words, slippery with mud and dreams and unlit from misconceptions long before it was abandoned.” and it feels right. I write “He hesitated. His lantern illuminated only a fraction of the dark in front of him. Its twin was gone before the door.” and it feels like my heart bleeds onto the page and yet I’m c...

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“Absurd Anxiety” by Minerva Noiropp

Submitted to Contest #127

I can feel the evil creeping, seeping through the walls.Of wolves in sheep's clothing. Plotting, orchestrating my downfall.To my face, they smile. They deny everything they've said and done.Gaslighting me in the name of sick perverted fun.Have you ever felt that gut-clenching, stomach squeezing kind of anxiety? It arises from an inexplicable source. Or, does it. Is it that your subconscious is registering every warning sign, while your conscious mind remains unaware? Is it that you are so used to being in a dangerous situation that the littl...

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“Hidden Senses” by Catherine Douglas

Submitted to Contest #127

There were still a few hours left until Private Liebermann and the rest of the guards of Stalag V C had to wake up ahead of the prisoners, and wake them up for roll call. Moving onto his stomach, Liebermann reached under his bunk, taking out a small clock and squinting in the darkness. It’s nearly three . . . I should get back to sleep. Shifting onto his back, Liebermann stared up at the boards of the bunk above.After a few long minutes passed, something started to feel off. Confused, Liebermann looked around the barracks. Every other guard ...

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“The Spotted Fawn Law Firm” by Rachel Aubertin

Submitted to Contest #127

Larth Redbinder looked up at the green sign with a golden illustration of a snow freckled deer and letters reading: “Spotted Fawn Law Firm”It swayed slightly as the breeze pushed golden leaves past Larth’s boots. He had a feeling this place would be different than the others as he lifted the latch and pushed open the heavy oaken door. A brass bell rattled as he entered.Inside was a spree of parchments and scrolls bulging on shelves with placards announcing the province each section pertained and a mounted scroll on either wall stating that t...

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“Stranger Than Fiction” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #127

Often, I have found truth to be stranger than fiction and the following story happens to be one of those I experienced. The names have been changed and the dates are approximate, but beyond that, the story is true. Throughout my life, I have had flashes of premonitions, but there was one I had in 1985, that far surpassed the rest. I was twenty-nine-year-old white male, working at a 7-Eleven store in a run-down part of Dallas. A mix of customers would come through the doors, which included workers from Love Airfield and a few regulars, who s...

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“Forbidden Grace” by Sage Rosell

Submitted to Contest #127

I am happy here. There are trees, some tall and some small, some with fruit and some with flowers. There are flowers in so many bright and beautiful colors and...the sun, it feels so good on my face. I like to lay in the soft grass and feel the sun on my skin, warm and tingly. I watch the birds fly across the sky, and land in the trees. They talk to eachother in different sounds--loud, sharp, and quiet. I watch the squirrels and the rabbits and the foxes and the fish in the water, but most of the time, I watch the horses. They run so fast a...

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“Dad To The Rescue” by Yvette Bennett

Submitted to Contest #127

My father-in-law lives with us now. He was diagnosed with cancer and had become very weak and frail. He didn’t feel safe living alone anymore, so we brought him to Texas to live with us. He sits in his room all day, saying that he is too tired to get up or that he is too weak to do things for himself. So, I cook for him every day, my wife bathes him, we take him to all of his doctor’s appointments and wait on him hand and foot. I had a gut feeling that he just wants to be taken care of. I believe that he can do things for himself, but he...

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“Destination Unknown” by Kristin Gartner

Submitted to Contest #127

The feeling was overwhelming, like a sudden collision with a freight train. She'd had them before—these unexplained feelings. Panic, fear, grief, for no tangible reason. Through the years, she had come to trust them. They happened frequently enough to know that whatever came next would be dire. That surety always terrified her. Through most of her childhood, she wished she knew how to control them. How to eradicate them. She tried praying, but God never answered. Once, she sought an exorcism, but...

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“GOODBYE 2021” by Eve Whittall

Submitted to Contest #127

Christmas had been a joyous occasion at my family’s ranch in Eastern Washington. Winter had arrived and with it, the landscape had changed from the resemblance of nut-filled brownies to a cake covered with white frosting. An old year was ending, a door to the past shut.“Time for my 2 PM flight,” I said. It was an easy drive in a four-wheel-drive pickup. We passed through a blue-white tunnel of snow on the freeway. And then, a turn off to the small airport, past the parking lot full of cars that looked like flash-frozen fish left in the freez...

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“Destined to win ” by Anuthmee Senevirathne

Submitted to Contest #127

Destined to winAs my mom and I strolled through our favorite park, I slowly closed my eyes and breathed in the aroma of the blossoming flowers. Then, after a few minutes, I gradually opened my eyes to view the stunning scenery in front of me. Out of the blue, I heard a person gasping for breath not far. I turned around, startling my mother. ' What is the matter now, Belle? ' , my mother questioned with impatient eyes. ' M . . .mom, there they are, I've always told you they trained here. Oh mother, let me join. Please. ' ...

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“Déjà vu” by Wendy Petrillo

Submitted to Contest #127

OK – Here it is, Doc: I feel like I’m living my life over again. I can’t recall every moment exactly, but every now and then I get this incredibly strong gut feeling that I’m doing something again. Like right now, for example. I know I’ve been here before talking with you. I know this office. I know that plant in the corner. I don’t remember exactly what we talked about, but I know we have already done this. No, it’s not that I’ve been in similar situations – although I have been – or that I’m imagi...

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“Windchimes ” by Abbey Ayre

Submitted to Contest #127

The day started out bright but veiled – clouds forming a tattered gauzy curtain over a bluest sky. The air was clear; the pitch of the backyard dove more soprano than coo this time. It was an easy morning made for a Sunday. Popping prosecco felt like as natural a move as brewing coffee. Coffee came first though, the beans saturated deep enough to fill the house with its earthy, steamy scent. When Jason finally rustled out of the bedspread, he was greeted by visions of Stepford wives and shiny Cadillacs. Nellie stood over the sink; cup envelo...

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“Silence is suspicious.” by Correen Robinson

Submitted to Contest #127

Cat sat in her car drumming her fingers on the well-worn steering wheel in front of her as her travel coffee steamed in the black and silver mug just to the side of it. She was early, not ridiculously so but early enough to give herself time to think alone in her car parked outside the secondary school and she didn’t like being alone with her thoughts. Pulling out the keys, grabbing her bag and cup then strolling across to the entrance would be so easy, it’s what she did everyday but today there was a queasy feeling in her stomach that ...

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Begin your story with a character having a gut feeling they cannot explain.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 75 stories

“The Argument” by Garrett Addison

“The Alchemy Tower” by Brian Thatcher

“Me and the Keyboard, the Keyboard and Me” by Kalina Atanasova

“Absurd Anxiety” by Minerva Noiropp

“Hidden Senses” by Catherine Douglas

“The Spotted Fawn Law Firm” by Rachel Aubertin

“Stranger Than Fiction” by Howard Seeley

“Forbidden Grace” by Sage Rosell

“Dad To The Rescue” by Yvette Bennett

“Destination Unknown” by Kristin Gartner

“GOODBYE 2021” by Eve Whittall

“Destined to win ” by Anuthmee Senevirathne

“Déjà vu” by Wendy Petrillo

“Windchimes ” by Abbey Ayre

“Silence is suspicious.” by Correen Robinson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character whose intuition is always right — until one day it isn’t.

Write a story about a problem with no good solutions.

Write about a character learning to trust their intuition.

Your character makes a living faking psychic powers. One morning, they wake up with real ones.

Contest #127

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

220

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: