Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

You go to visit your neighbor. When you ring the doorbell, a stranger appears and tells you that your neighbor has been dead for ten years.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on May 8, 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.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 49 stories

“untimely Death ” by Huxley Giffard

Submitted to Contest #13

This morning I woke to the sound of my alarm and the sweet aroma of coffee I got out of bed and did my natural thing of having a morning shower then I would make my way into the sitting room to have my breakfast this morning it would be two medium rear fry eggs, toast and a three fry sausage`s and a cup of coco tea. All Prepared by Doreen oh did I forget to tell that Doreen is my wife and a fantastic cook as I take my place at the table, and go through the morning papers, and it was then that I came across a small column about a long tim...

1 comment 1
Read story

“If you go into the woods tonight” by Laura Moverin

Submitted to Contest #13

My name is Teresa, I’m sixteen and Halloween is by far my favorite time of the year but it also has some anxiety for me. You see my specialty is creating the costume, no sexy kitty for me it has to have references and it has to show skill. I’ve done the werewolf, I’ve done the vampire, I’ve done so many things it’s getting hard to think of what to do next.After much deliberation I’ve settled on the ghost this year. I keep quiet about this choice, not even telling best friend Jess. She and I go to the same high school and much as I ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“George” by Valarie Yong

Submitted to Contest #13

 The cold wind blew against my cheeks, making them ruddy red as I walked along the neighbourhood path littered with brown leaves.  A skip in my steps, lightly bouncing as I made my way to my neighbour's house, an aged man in his seventies', George.  He was a person who was grumpy because he was confined to a wheelchair, but he's nice. Everytime I visited his house, he may persued me to leave but when I insisted, I could see that he was happy that someone wanted to accompany him....

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Girl with the Cupcakes” by Kinsey Oates

Submitted to Contest #13

It seemed like I had made too many cupcakes again. I don’t know why I always bought the amount of ingredients that I did. I decided I would do what I did every time: take them to my neighbor.  I put a few in a basket and began walking to the door. I was taking the cupcakes to my old neighbor, Johnson. His wife had died a while back and he lived alone in this big house with his chihuahua. He was always sitting on his porch watching the cars drive by, so I was a little shocked to see that his porch was empty. I walked up...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Halfway Street” by Hayden Garris

Submitted to Contest #13

Dianne was an impressive woman. Strong, independent, and loving towards her two daughters. In her world she was a successful person. Working a nine to five. Cooking dinner every night. Reading bedtime stories. Hosting dinner parties for the neighbors every week. The only problem was with her and her husband, Mack. Repeated arguments had torn the couple apart. That years halloween couldn’t have been any worse. Mack was spending more time at the bar while Dianne had comp...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Conscience” by Bro Yaboi

Submitted to Contest #13

I feel the cold walls all around me, the hard bench behind my back. The little light that could come into the box doesn’t, it’s smartly avoiding the damp containment. An icy voice keeps calling into my cell, but I don’t hear it anymore. I know what it’s saying. How could I forget? My mind wanders back and...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Welcome Home” by Misty Naxxremis

Submitted to Contest #13

Sasha Ayala watched out the window of the taxi as it drove slowly through Hemmings Street, looking for the familiar Sugar Maple that stood in the yard of the duplex she and her best friend Miri owned.  It had been a little over a year since she had last visited. Six years since she had lived there.“I’m finally home.”  She breathed as the taxi stopped in front of her house.<...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The One's Who Disappear” by Jamie Hyman

Submitted to Contest #13

It was a cold and windy Thursday evening but not just any Thursday. It was Halloween night, one of the most celebrated holidays in the small town of Unionville. As could be expected, the trick-or-treaters were all dressed up and on their way to find as much candy as one could desire. All but the one and only, neighborhood dad, Mr. Frinkles.  Frinkles was on his way to pay a visit to his old friend, Carlos. Carlos lived exactly one block from Mr. Frinkles so everyday the...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Wreck” by Rebecca Shipp

Submitted to Contest #13

“Oh. Hi. Is Vince here?” I peer around the gray haired woman, searching the house for my best friend and neighbor of twelve years.“Vince?” She looks at me with pity in her eyes. “Oh, Honey, I think you need to come in for a few minutes.”“Okay...” I step through the door with a bit of reluctance. I don’t know who this woman is, or what she’s doing at Vince’s place. Maybe he invited her to dinner too.“Come on in to the kitchen, Jeff.”I stop, a chill running up my back. “How do you know my name?”“Don’t you ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Mystery on Treetop Lane” by Beverly Hudson

Submitted to Contest #13

Mystery on Treetop Lane     Penny and I loved to take off shopping, especially during the holidays. The Halloween season was fast approaching, and there was a lot to work out. Every year we host an old school Halloween event, with all the traditional favorites. Apple bobbing, tasty apple cider, a Halloween costume contest, Mrs. Witard’s sugary cookies formed into ghosts and goblins, Mrs. Grunlee’s pumpkin pie and Halloween themed games, are all a part...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Resident” by Octavious S.Manor

Submitted to Contest #13

Ike flew out of the backdoor as fast as he could. Would he come after me? What would he do when he caught me? Would he kill me? Ike thought as he desperately prayed to God. The man had a gun, while Ike was defenceless. Ike reached his hiding spot, the one that had kept him hidden for so many years.Ike could see a window from here. He didn’t want to look inside, but he mustered up some courage and looked. Inside, there was the bodies of his parents. They were still hugging each other, the way they were when they died. Tears...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Who Zeked Roger Johnson?” by Robert Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #13

Roger Johnson is very tired; it’s Friday afternoon and it’s been a long week. He’s looking forward to the weekend; there’s a baseball game he’s taking in with his son, his co-worker and his daughter. But first they must wrap up work; there’s a rumor that both men are duty-bound to check out.           It’s almost Halloween of 1953; the weather has turned cool quickly and fall is definitely in the air. Maryland in the autumn is a fine place to be and Roger’s wife Betty has be...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Mrs.Bloomer” by Zita Bowzski

Submitted to Contest #13

I was five when I first met Mrs. Bloomers. She was sitting in that wooden rocking chair. I never liked that rocking chair, there was Just something...off about it. Little did I know seven years later, on that very same day, would be the last I saw of her, and her rocking chair. It was late October, and everyone was getting ready for Halloween. I walked down my block to Mrs. Bloomers' house, and was suprised to see a light grey minivan parked in her always-empty driveway. I was confused at first, wondering who's car that ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Tea with Miss Crisp” by Kat Bybee

Submitted to Contest #13

My mother once told me that if something didn’t make sense I should sit down and write about it. I should write the whole thing down, and then I would be able to make perfect sense of the matter. I fear my dear mother shall be proved well and truly wrong in this particular instance, but as I am under constant observation and have nothing else to do in this place, I suppose an attempt to make sense of the last twenty-four hours might be of some value. It cannot do any more harm—that much is certain.

0 comments 0
Read story

“Billy's Crutch ” by Mike Davies

Submitted to Contest #13

 Warren Styles is an excellent neighbour, many times he’d bail me out of my latest self- inflicted mess. I have many issues that are far too complicated to discuss now. Suffice to say, Warren is discreet and loyal, I couldn't hope for a better neighbour, he was also my friend. I relied on him a little too much, in fact, he was my crutch. As frightened and confused as I was, it was now my turn.    The night seemed to have drawn in quicker than usual. It was full dark, no visible clouds, no moon or stars...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone spending the night in an old Victorian home-turned-hotel on Halloween.

Halloween – 46 stories

Write a story about someone who sees a black cat cross their path... for the tenth time that day.

Mystery – 40 stories

You go for a walk and accidentally bump into someone. They feel the bump, but the person can't seem to hear or see you.

Thriller and Suspense – 52 stories

Write a story about an eventful evening of trick-or-treating.

Kids – 37 stories

Contest #13

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Spooktacular

$50

Prize money

224

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 01, 2019 EST

Won by Zilla Babbitt 🏆

Title: Queen Cymbeline

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!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢