Write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder… except there’s no evidence that a murder took place.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Jul 23, 2021

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 218 stories

“Through The Mist” by Joe Sauers

Submitted to Contest #67

Jaunty merriment danced along the crisp night air like autumn leaves of song soaring on the bitter breeze. Across the water in Boston harbour, through the darkened streets and over the roof tops, the sounds of festivity issuing from The Whaler tavern could be heard by all who cared to listen. The ale was cold, the peanuts were fresh and the sport was true. Liam Cleary, Edward Shaw and William Reilly were surprised by the communal roister. Their usual, quiet haunt was overtaken by a throng of locals currently in the throes of celebration. Fro...

4 comments 4

Read story

“A Hard Day's Night” by Mustang Patty

Submitted to Contest #67

The sound of the key slipping into the lock echoed throughout the empty street. Darkness surrounded Lisa’s feet, making it hard to see more than two feet in front of her. Figures they still haven’t fixed that light. I told Mario what three weeks ago? And no one even bought a light bulb. I hate my job. I hate my life. Strolling, Lisa finally came into the arc of light from the street. Once she could see her feet, she walked briskly. Midnights weren’t a good time to be alone around here. Why on earth did I train as a chef? Didn’t I reali...

5 comments 5

Read story

“A Darker Timeline” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #67

Your head is spinning and your vision is blurred. Red and silver dots flicker before your eyes, and you feel as if a steamroller has been through your brain. You put your index fingers on your temples and start massaging. The veins along your forehead are throbbing fiercely, threatening to explode any second now. You concentrate harder.You realize you are crouched on the floor. Trying hard not to lose your balance, you extend your right arm forward and grab onto the first thing it touches. It is smooth and hard, and gives you a sense of stab...

46 comments 46

Read story

“Soup From a Stone” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #67

For Fe, for all her support and love.Once in a while it happens that there is a witness to a murder, but subsequently no evidence of a murder can be found. At least one noir novel must have used this motif. Nothing is more disturbing than a murder that disappears, of course. Those of us who like murder mysteries need to know how the crime was committed, to savor the gore (just a little), and to see justice carried out. That is the usual template for fictional killings.We should not, however, discard the possibility that a murder can be creat...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Unluckiest Living Thing Alive” by Amy Utami

Submitted to Contest #67

Hi, I am Elaine and I just witnessed a murderer. My dad did it, but I could not accuse him. Since mom won’t take it seriously. None of those adult beings believed in me that it’s a crime. I wonder if it’s all related to my age? I’m nine and big, a very big-big girl. Big girl with a big brain and big courage and a big bed of my own and a big bag for school and big baby sister. Even though big didn’t make you an adult. But I was always serious, my dad is a criminal and no one accused him of his sin. WHY???I don’t understand this situation. Whe...

12 comments 12

Read story

“The Face I Couldn't Read” by Rachel Hume

Submitted to Contest #67

I looked outside, waiting for today’s Amazon package to be delivered. It was a book Mom ordered for me and a new sleeping bag with three Disney Princesses painted across the front. The familiar gray truck with blue letters was stopped across the street, and I watched the delivery man as he sat; gathering his thoughts before delivering packages to every house on the block. I looked at him closer, trying to read his expression like I did with everyone. “Scared.” I said out loud, to no one in particular. “Sweetheart, what did you say?” ...

7 comments 7

Read story

“My Lost Comrade, Lyza Ziner” by Rachel Cerbito

Submitted to Contest #67

I was so jealous of those joyous birds and butterflies that scampered in the far-flung places. I wish I could be like them. They witnessed the beauty of nature. Actually, for me everything was mundane. Nothing new at all, but there was one thing that made me feel special, the twilight. I saw the light from the sky appeared diffused and often pinkish. I was mesmerized by the sun that was below the horizon. Its rays were scattered by Earth's atmosphere and created the color of twilight, it made my day. Until one day, I found o...

10 comments 10

Read story

“Vent by the Door” by Amelia Bowen

Submitted to Contest #67

If she pressed her ear to the vent next to the door, she could just make out the sound of whispering. It was high-pitched, like it belonged to the human equivalent of a feather boa. It was the ripple of maple leaves on a summer afternoon; breathy, like a horse’s hooves on pavement. She heard another voice too, like a top hat. It was low and measured, sounding like it drank tea in the mornings instead of coffee. She imagined a porcelain mug. He wouldn’t use teacups, no. He wasn’t like that, she could tell. The cool metal of the vent’s rim cut...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Murder to Come.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #67

He was struggling, but it was no use. There was a familiarity to the man being attacked, I couldn’t quite place him, but I knew I had met him at some time. The assailant plunged the knife into the man many times in his frenzied attack. Then stepping back, he let the mortally wounded man sink to the ground. Seemingly complete with his task, the attacker turned and let the knife fall to the ground and stumbled away. The scene faded before my eyes and once again I knew I was witnessing what would be, not what is now. But this time I was motivat...

8 comments 8

Read story

“A Delicious Adventure” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

Submitted to Contest #67

It was a very cold night at Perseus. A chilly wind was breezing through the desolate streets and even the normal barking sounds of the dogs sounded like some haunting music. Somewhere distant, the bell in the clocktower started ringing twelve times, indicating the hour of midnight, the bewitching hour. Yes, you have guessed it right! I am trying to create the setting for a scary story. Buckle up folks, and get ready to go on for a delicious (and slightly creepy) ride with the protagonist of our story, Prudence! Prudence, a twenty...

15 comments 15

Read story

“Status Quo” by Marissa Yates

Submitted to Contest #67

The day I witnessed the murder was the day I wore my favorite flannel for the last time. It had white paint speckles over the right arm from my sloppy attempts at painting the kitchen, the front pocket was torn down one seam and mostly held on by the button, and the collar was wrinkled and folded in on itself. Finding a good flannel is impossible these days; I swear they're made from sandpaper or tissue paper. But this one, this flannel, had achieved that perfect balance. Three years of washing had broken down the stiff fabri...

9 comments 9

Read story

“Right Under Your Nose” by Rexy Rexy

Submitted to Contest #67

It’s cold, so cold, ah, ah, aaaaah…. And dark, so dark that I can’t see a thing. What time is it? Where am I? Wait, I, I can’t move! Why can’t I move? I’m scared. What’s happening to me? What... Suddenly I heard a heavy thud and pull followed by a screeching sound then more scratchy sound. It sounded like someone just lifted up a hefty lid of a freezer that hadn’t been opened for some time, the frost clammed to the thick rubber seal and someone was trying to remove it in order to open the lid more. Luckily there was light, very dim though,...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Odessa” by Michael J. Conroy

Submitted to Contest #67

At nine-pm on a cold Wednesday night in Odessa, the small Alaskan city thirteen miles North of the city of Fairbanks, Liz Sanford bid her last customer of the night a merry Christmas and advised him on the treacherous last step to avoid spending the holidays in the hospital. While Matt Lojewski – Odessa’s resident Santa Claus – climbed into his Subaru Outback, Liz killed the front lights and cast a shadow on the Skyline Diner’s chrome exterior. A moment later, she was the other side of the counter, massaging her...

0 comments 0

Read story

“That’s not how I remember it. ” by ℂ𝕁 𝕄.

Submitted to Contest #67

Author’s note: I’m dedicating this book to a boy named Aiden, his birthday is on Saturday, November 7th! He was my best guy friend back in kindergarten, but then moved away at the beginning of 1st grade, after five years, he moved back and we were recently reunited! Though we aren’t as good of friends as we were back then I still remember all the fun murder mystery games we used to play with our other friends. Happy birthday Aiden!Two years ago today my best friend died during a so called “shooting” so many people are still muring about what...

7 comments 7

Read story

“The Apartment” by Carrie O'Keefe

Submitted to Contest #67

The Apartment by Carrie O’Keefe Staring through the darkness of the room out the window waiting to get a glimpse of the night sky through the smog and clouds. Mark sat down his empty glass on the window sill that still had the lingering sent of whiskey. A chill ran through him when he noticed that a window apartment building across from him had flashes of light and went dark. He stared at the now dark window in a trance. Hairs stood up on the back of his neck as he noticed that the apartment was lowly lit. Just enough to where he could m...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a pirate captain obsessed with finding a mythical treasure.

Adventure – 144 stories

Write a romance where the characters pretend to be dating each other in order to win a reality show.

Romance – 70 stories

Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.

Dark – 171 stories

Write a space adventure story that features a visit to an alien marketplace.

Science Fiction – 123 stories

Contest #67

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: The Great Escape

$50

Prize money

726

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 13, 2020 EST

Won by Deidra Whitt Lovegren 🏆

Title: Your Poor Rick

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder… except there’s no evidence that a murder took place.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 218 stories

“Through The Mist” by Joe Sauers

“A Hard Day's Night” by Mustang Patty

“A Darker Timeline” by Bianka Nova

“Soup From a Stone” by Kathleen March

“The Unluckiest Living Thing Alive” by Amy Utami

“The Face I Couldn't Read” by Rachel Hume

“My Lost Comrade, Lyza Ziner” by Rachel Cerbito

“Vent by the Door” by Amelia Bowen

“Murder to Come.” by Len Mooring

“A Delicious Adventure” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

“Status Quo” by Marissa Yates

“Right Under Your Nose” by Rexy Rexy

“Odessa” by Michael J. Conroy

“That’s not how I remember it. ” by ℂ𝕁 𝕄.

“The Apartment” by Carrie O'Keefe

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a pirate captain obsessed with finding a mythical treasure.

Write a romance where the characters pretend to be dating each other in order to win a reality show.

Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.

Write a space adventure story that features a visit to an alien marketplace.

Contest #67

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

726

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: