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

“Alone at the museum ” by Gerardo Fierro

Submitted to Contest #242

Must be some mistake, when he read the museum's business hours on the internet this morning, Jesus was certain it closed at 8 pm. The paintings at the corner caught his eyes and attention; neither did he realize the time or it getting dark nor notice he was all alone, all other people having left. This is bad. Gee, his biggest concern an hour ago was being able to proclaim his love to Adele and now that chance is gone. She will be at the café across the street at 8:30 and think he stood her up. She will leave town on Sunday to start college ...

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“The Museum” by Wendy Rappeport

Submitted to Contest #242

Ron was derisive, mean, tormenting. He had been my husband, but I never dreamed he would find me again, as I had changed my name and moved three times since I had received his last abusive, angry letter. His re-entry into my life filled me with terror.I was shopping, in a large shopping centre near the Art Gallery and Museum. I had come to the city early, to see a new exhibit at the Museum, and after that I ate lunch at the Museum café and then returned to my shopping. The noise of a thousand voices filled the air, and people of all shapes a...

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“Little Boy Blue and His Striped Balloon ” by Leilani Velazquez

Submitted to Contest #242

“Lilia. You’ve gotta think. Where did you see Thomas last?”Lilia sighed heavily, staring blankly down at her palms. “We went to the museum.”.“What … museum?” “In the woods. Oh, ma. I’m sorry. I really really am.” Lilia scrunched her face and sat weeping in her chair. “Officer Rick”“It’s pronounced Rick-ee, ma’am”“Officer Ricky, You’ve gotta believe I had NO idea about Lilia and her friend sneaking off into the woods like this. I wouldn’t have allowed it. We’ll talk about this later young lady, but you need to give us more informati...

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“Exhibition” by Olivia Scates

Submitted to Contest #242

“You ready, kiddo?” Mickayla looked up at her dad, his hand poised to open the door. She was just sorting through her backpack that was laid haphazardly on their leather couch, trying to find the notebook she had stuffed in earlier. “Yeah, just give me a second.” Mickayla shoved her hand deeper. “Aha! Here it is!” She pulled out her worn, leather journal with a sheepish smile. “What? You never know, I might meet Betye Saar, and I have to be prepared.” The circular glasses that engulfed his warm, almond eyes traveled down his angular nose as ...

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“The Curator's Conundrum” by Elina Feliu

Submitted to Contest #242

On this blustery early March evening in New York City, the weather played a sudden game of contrasts. In the early twilight, the sky dramatically changed into a pensive and brooding one. As Maximillian Bancroft from The Metropolitan Museum of Art rounded the corner to return to his job as Senior Curator, the sky also mirrored for him a night of what's to come. A night shrouded in turmoil, mystery, terror, crime, and utter clumsiness.As he walked closer and closer to the museum, clouds gathered in a sinister congregation. Their edges blurred,...

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“Captivating Art” by Dave Barnard

Submitted to Contest #242

In the Buttler Institute of American Art, in Ohio, Marc stood in a long hallway wondering what to do next. He missed the bus back to school. He was stuck in an art gallery. “I could call on my cellphone. That would be OK. By Dad's rules it would be a necessary use.” He got the phone with detailed directions about what was legit and what was not. “What if I just camp out here for a while? I’ve only camped out in fields before. No bugs this time. The scenery is easy on the eyes.” It was late Spring....

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“Locked Away” by Sarah McCormick

Submitted to Contest #242

Locked AwaySarah McCormick What do you mean? “This is all my fault!” Well, you said you wanted to go to the escape room in the haunted house at the museum. And you said you felt we were drifting apart and needed some more time together. Yes, I did, do you not agree? No, babe, I think we’re doing ok all things considered. Besides, you said your friends had the keys to this place. They do! It is not my fault that the entire block lost power and the vault door locked! Ok, so again, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE? Babe, I’m s...

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“Life on the Dead Planet” by Dan Can

Submitted to Contest #242

Zyrik wiped the sweat from his brow depositing a comet tail of white loam across his dark forehead. The skeletal remains of a once bustling civic center stood around him in a perfect circle. Dust devils danced amongst a sea of jagged rock outcroppings that rolled eternally across the plane like waves frozen in time. The digger-bot sat perched on the edges of the crater. A blemish scored into the landscape like a footprint in fresh snow. Zyrik watched ponderously as the sky blue robot -the only splotch of color on as far as he could see...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“Alone at the museum ” by Gerardo Fierro

“The Museum” by Wendy Rappeport

“Little Boy Blue and His Striped Balloon ” by Leilani Velazquez

“Exhibition” by Olivia Scates

“The Curator's Conundrum” by Elina Feliu

“Captivating Art” by Dave Barnard

“Locked Away” by Sarah McCormick

“Life on the Dead Planet” by Dan Can

🌟 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: