Start or end your story with a character who gets trapped inside a museum overnight.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Mar 15, 2024

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✍️ 38 stories

“In 1898 - Trapped in the Ship's "Museum" ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #242

Waves splashing against the ship “Pacific Odyssey” echoed in the dark hold beneath the decks. It was anchored off the shore near the Mystic Lighthouse and the year was 1898.A musty smell wafted in the still air. Dark shapes of the captain’s collections from faraway places created a twisted labyrinth. A rustle sounded from deep in a corner. What was that? A rat?From the shadows one of the shapes began rising. It became taller, wider.Slowly it moved closer.What was that? Where was the way out?Elsie stopped breathi...

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“Dancing to the Paintings” by Hannah Lynn

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #242

They were back. Clicking their hard nails on the wooden floor, panting as they grew closer. She assumed position covering herself with her coat and closed her eyes. She heard her mother’s voice as if in the darkened room with her. “Play dead, Shana.” Did she remember to lock the door? Not that it mattered, a small flimsy lock wouldn’t keep them out. She heard their footsteps approaching, knew the vicious dogs were leading those men in black boots straight to her. Angry German voices filtered into the...

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“Trapped” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #242

Screaming, screeching, banging, shattering, pain. Rolling, discombobulation, darkness.Fog without air. Light without sun. Depersonalized.“Hello?”“Hello, hello, hello, hello,” I hear in return.I walk. The fog gives way to Greek architecture and marble floors. High ceilings and roped off exhibits.The first exhibit that comes into sight is a statue. It’s of my mother breast feeding me. I’m swaddled tightly, held delicately. She looks at me adoringly. Her hair is long, and her face is young. Not how I normally envision my mother, but that is her...

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“The Last Supper Surprise Party: Murder/Mystery” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #242

This is a complete satire, not intended to mock religion. I meant to enter this in: Write about a gallery whose paintings come alive at night. oops!On the evening of April 6th, 30 AD, chaos ensued during an impromptu farewell dinner party. A hidden underground chamber hosted a jubilant soirée beneath the renowned Louvre Museum. The celebratory evening took a sinister turn as it transformed into a horrifying murder scene. The guests, driven by an overwhelming desire to uncover the culprit among them, were determined to solve the mysterious c...

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“ Wandering Weird Loo-vres” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #242

***The Banters have finally been prompted to bicker-banter again as they move toward their goal of getting enough banters together for a little book. Inspiration sure takes its time striking these days LOL.*** Hey Matthew. You won't believe this! What wouldn’t I believe? Well, this just seems so ridiculous. Like, how do people get locked in museums overnight? Um…they were taking a dump in the washroom when the museum closed? Oh, aren’t you the clever one? Now, how did you figure that out? That, apparently, is one of the most common reasons....

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“ECHOES OF SOLITUDE: A NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #242

"Hey! Can anyone hear me?" Dave pounded the door with all his might, his blows echoing through the museum's empty restroom. All attempts to escape the awkward situation were in vain. The silence in the restroom only heightened the anxiety he felt at being unable to exit. The intense sensation of fear gnawed at his nerves, with no way out. To exacerbate matters, there seemed to be no reason for the restroom door to be locked; it was a public facility accessible at all times.The museum's restroom sprawled out expansively, its spaciousness echo...

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“Eyes of the beholder” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

Submitted to Contest #242

The bell rang as the door opened and the moment she heard the thump, thump, thump from feet shaking off the snow on the mat, she knew it was him. None of the other customers brought the snow inside. They cleaned their shoes on the doormat outside. But not him. Susan could not work out why he did it, if it were to annoy her as he knew she was the one that would mop up the water once the slush melted on the wooden floor. She turned just as he brushed the snow off his hat and hung it together with the coat on the stand. He rubbed his hands toge...

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“Pay it Forward” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #242

Archie knew he had a problem, but he also had another problem that compounded that problem. Firstly, he was in the habit of not listening. But what made it worse was that even in knowing that he wasn’t listening and that this was increasingly becoming a problem, he did nothing about it. “You can’t do this,” Archie said as he was manhandled from the car and walked to the back door of the huge edifice of a building made ominous by the dark shadows thrown by street lamps that stood well back and avoided the less salubrious parts of the city. “A...

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“The island museum” by Krissa Svavars

Submitted to Contest #242

When I was 8 my dad took me to see the movie “Night at the museum.” It captivated me and since then I have been in love with history. So much that I became a professor of history at the University of Columbia. Professor Daniel McNeal, it has such a beautiful ring to it. Especially after how hard I worked to become a professor at such an early age, only 24, but I made it. It was the happiest day of my life. Until now that is. They invited me to a soft opening of the new Norwegian Viking Museum at Klosterøy, or Monastery Island as it’s somet...

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“The one who enters, stays. ” by S.L Neptune

Submitted to Contest #242

“No no no! You can’t take it!” I panicked as I saw a team of black suited men start to pack artifacts into foam padded boxes. Two men picked up a large stone wall that had hieroglyphics inscribed on it. I ran over, tripping over my feet as a bit of panic sets in. “No please, I still have so much to learn. I haven’t translated this text yet. Please, I was supposed to have the full 2 months. It has only been 6 weeks.” I wiped my brow, the hot desert heat radiated off of the government cars. A man in a black suit walked up to me,...

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“Midnight in the gallery” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #242

It was the second time that I volunteered at the gallery that I managed to get myself locked in overnight. This was a night that I was never to forget. I am ashamed to admit that I fell asleep sitting in one of the cubicles in the Men’s public toilets. It was an exhausting day. The whole time was spent walking round, answering questions from the customers and directing them to the café and the toilets. By the time the gallery closed to the public at 6.30pm I was exhausted and decided to have a quick nap in the end cubicle of the toilets down...

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“Vincent” by Joseph Citta

Submitted to Contest #242

Vincentby Joseph CittaMy brother died a month ago. The word devastation does not even hint at the way I felt - and still do. It’s like a claustrophobic cloud has surrounded me, preventing me from taking full breaths. A mind altering headache has been raging since his funeral. My head feels like it’s in a vise getting tighter and tighter. Crushed. Before this, God was never something or someone I had ever trusted in, but now I needed him. My brother was younger than me. He had grown to be my guru - ever since he came into this world when I wa...

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“The Leap” by Cynthia Lara

Submitted to Contest #242

“Please call someone! I am trapped inside the National Art Museum and my phone is ab- -” You whimpered as the battery of your phone died. How did you get lost in the museum you have known since you were a little girl? Your hands tremble, but little by little, fear transforms into excitement. There’s a new exhibit on the Mayan culture and your heritage is calling. Your grandma always told you you had to learn about your ancestors, but you never made the time. Today you miscalculated your museum itinerary and got distracted by the natural...

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“Museum of the Mind” by Douglas Smith

Submitted to Contest #242

Please note this story touches on mental health, domestic abuse and self harm subject matter. These subjects are not treated lightly and are not explored at length but are referenced within the overall story. Whispers. It always started with the whispers. The room was crowded but slowly emptied as wandering thoughts faded away throughout the day. Moments in time carefully captured and curated throughout the course of my life were cautiously displayed within the museum of my mind. Some moments sheltered memories other oppressively contained h...

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“When Past and Present Collide” by David Willett

Submitted to Contest #242

The corridors of the Capital City Museum were draped in darkness. They were an endless labyrinth of stone pillars, statues, and paintings by long-forgotten artists without living descendants. Occasional strobe-like light illuminated the depths. Johnathan assumed the latest flash was lightning as he turned down another cavernous hallway. He investigated every surface, every signpost, and every restroom for an indication of an exit or human life. Instead, all he found was more emptiness that felt as dead as the taxidermy wildlife that haunted ...

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Start or end your story with a character who gets trapped inside a museum overnight.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“In 1898 - Trapped in the Ship's "Museum" ” by Kristi Gott

“Dancing to the Paintings” by Hannah Lynn

“Trapped” by Ty Warmbrodt

“The Last Supper Surprise Party: Murder/Mystery” by E.L. Lallak

“ Wandering Weird Loo-vres” by Viga Boland

“ECHOES OF SOLITUDE: A NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Eyes of the beholder” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

“Pay it Forward” by Jed Cope

“The island museum” by Krissa Svavars

“The one who enters, stays. ” by S.L Neptune

“Midnight in the gallery” by Paul Simpkin

“Vincent” by Joseph Citta

“The Leap” by Cynthia Lara

“Museum of the Mind” by Douglas Smith

“When Past and Present Collide” by David Willett

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a gallery whose paintings come alive at night.

Write about someone who accidentally destroys a museum’s most valuable artifact.

Write about an art thief who is struggling to commit the perfect heist.

Write about two characters who meet and/or fall in love in a museum.

Contest #242

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

264

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: