7260+ Adventure Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From riding the high sea to climbing behemoth mountains, there isn’t any action that’s out of reach when it comes to adventure stories.

🏆 Winning stories

“Lost and Found” by Jonathan Page

🏆 Winner of Contest #240

On my last shift as a lighthouse keeper, I climbed the seventy-six spiral iron stairs and two ladders to the watch room, the number of steps the same as my age. The thwomp and snare of each step laid an ominous background score. Something wasn’t right. At that very moment, Richie Tedesco was pointing a fire extinguisher at the burning electrical panel in the engine room of his boat a few miles offshore.The placard in the watch room read “Marge Mabrity, Lightkeeper—First lighted the depths on March 2nd, 1985, and hasn’t missed a night.” Alrea...

129 likes 119 comments 119

Read story

“The Lantern of Kaamos” by Jonathan Page

🏆 Winner of Contest #232

The melting Arctic is a crime scene, and I am like CSI Ny-Ålesund. Trond is the anonymous perpetrator leaving evidence and clues for me to discover, like breadcrumbs leading back to him. “Jonna,” he had said, the day we first met at the research institute, “If you are going to make it up here, don’t lock your doors.” It seemed like a life philosophy, rather than a survival tip.It is ironic. Out on Kings Bay, the coal miners came first, then the science outposts. Trond was already out here mining the Arctic when I was sti...

89 likes 63 comments 63

Read story

“Cell 3.47” by Kate Hughes

🏆 Winner of Contest #219

Cell 3.47 was situated on the third floor of B wing in Stocken Gate prison, slap bang in the heart of London’s east end. Known as The Gate, the prison had a reputation for being a tough place to do time. The inmates behind the doors at The Gate endured long cold winters in the Victorian slammer that had been condemned many times but had always escaped closure. It was harsh, it was hard, and it was overrun by rats.Paula Pritchard was the sole resident of cell 3.47, but due to the rodent crisis she ...

124 likes 63 comments 63

Read story

⭐️ Recommended stories

“Protector of the Stars” by Serynsatina Song

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

Low clouds swelled over splashes of gold-flecked vermilion sky on the sunset eve of my sister’s death anniversary. The air tasted of winter-chilled pine, piercing tiny needles into my lungs as I inhaled. The pain was electric, filling my head with a low buzzing. It was better than feeling nothing at all, and for that I was grateful. I trudged towards my apartment, nano-rifle swinging awkwardly against my hip, taking in the sights of my city awash in crepuscular glow. The sharp, clean lines of pewter architecture cutting austere shadows over ...

16 likes 7 comments 7

Read story

“The Interior Life of Ruck” by Ajay Sabs

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #243

I backpack. Named Ruck. Store person put me on shelf. She say I “handsum”. I not know what it mean, but she make happy face when she say, so must be nice thing.  Nothing to do while I sit here but lots to look at. After I see sun come up from outside window two times, I feel little bored. I feel little empty, like I hungry. But I not wait long. Young man come, he look at me. He lift me from shelf, take me to store lady, who ask him if he want me “in a bag”, which make them both laugh. We go outside, he sling me on back. What a feeling! ...

27 likes 33 comments 33

Read story

“Souls in the Sky” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #232

Zack Kaudjak was crossing the open snow laced fields of the Yukon River with his fourteen dog Iditarod sled team as the sun began to set below the birch tree line at three in the afternoon.  The days were short during the first week of March which meant the temperature would be dropping nearly forty degrees below zero.  He was prodding the team hoping to make it to the Galena rest stop by dinner time. Wrapped i...

23 likes 14 comments 14

Read story

Introducing Prompted, a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE.

Download

✍️ All stories

“Match Point” by D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #246

It was set point. I lost the first one—I can’t lose this one, too. I laser-focused onto Alex across the net at the baseline, took a deep breath, went into my Zen-mode, and sent him into slow-motion. I could read his serve like it was a kid’s picture book. High ball toss about a foot out into the court, deep knee dip into a low crouch, body swiveled under it, trunk and shoulders coiled. He’s going for the slice—I leaped right and straddled the alley. Slo-mo ended—WHAM! No! He pronated the racket at the last second—blasted it down the T! He ac...

16 likes 6 comments 6

Read story

“It's the Little Things” by Emily M. Reiser

Submitted to Contest #246

Over the years I’ve learned to be careful. I am good at what I do and I cover my tracks. I pull off my jobs and I take special care to not draw too much attention to myself.  But eventually, despite all the planning and the caution, there comes a time when you need somebody to do you a favor. The caveat being that you then owe them one in return. Being in somebody’s debt creates an itch under my skin that never goes away until I can look them in the eyes and shake their hand.  I am not necessarily a woman of my word, but I know the...

5 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“Hide and Seek” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #246

Trigger warning: Themes of illness and death. On the fifth round of Hide and Seek, that’s when Eddy found it—a secret room at the end of a long, sloped closet. The closet was in the room where five-year-old Eddy and his six-year-old sister Carli shared a bunk bed. If you only looked in the closet, dark and jumbled, you couldn’t see the room. But Darkness was there all along, waiting.The four Manderley children were running out of good places to hide. Ten-year-old Adam was It now, and Eddy was in a panic—that’s why he clambered over boots and...

6 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Roll for Initiative” by Magnum Tenebrosum

Submitted to Contest #246

In the shadowed rear of "Legends & Lore," a quaint comic book store on the corner of an otherwise forgettable street in downtown Oakwood, a small, dimly lit room buzzed with excitement every Thursday night. The flicker of overhead lamps did little to illuminate the corners of the space, which was packed with shelves brimming with dusty role-playing game manuals and classic fantasy novels. Amidst this backdrop, a sturdy wooden table served as the weekly battlefield, sea chart, and mystic landscape for a group of tabletop role-playing enth...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Dancers of the Sea on the Mystical Coast ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #246

The flow of the watery world on the Mystical Coast brought a sense of wonder to those who lived there. It was a sunny day in June of 1898 along the rainforest wilderness coast.Near the river bar at the ocean the black and white whales leaped and splashed, joyfully singing and dancing in the waves with squeals, whistles and hums in their fun ocean playground. The games stopped when short, sharp, quick distress calls came from the six month old whale calf. In the dialect of whale language the calf cried for her mama.Nuzzling the calf...

39 likes 34 comments 34

Read story

“Smoke” by Hannah Polis

Submitted to Contest #246

The children were chasing along the banks of the river, their feet kicking up the dirt that had settled along the edges. It hadn’t rained in weeks now, and the scorching July sun had made the water vanish, leaving behind only dust and rocks in the river’s empty bed. The heat of the summer rested like a heavy blanket over the small town. It was Annie who ran ahead of the others, her long blonde hair trailing behind her, her laughter loud and high-pitched. “Bet you can’t catch me!” She jumped over a rock and fleetingly glanced over her shoulde...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“It's All Fun And Games” by Odessa Baltensperger

Submitted to Contest #246

“It’s all fun and games-” “Oh, would ya shut up with that, jackass?” growled Cordelia with a frown, “We’ve been walking for hours and all ya’ve been talking about is these damn games-” “I haven’t been talking about games, dummy. If you’d let me finish the sentence-” Theodora tried to reply, her hands on her hips in defiance as her travel companion growled at her. Never trust a fae that could shapeshift, her father warned her, and yet here she was. But, then again, Cordelia was the first lead she had. So, she had to distract her from realizin...

6 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Reeling by the Wind” by Togo F

Submitted to Contest #246

      “Pass me the line.” Shouted Josh, tinkering with the rod. I knew nothing about fishing. The term “line” held no significance to me, aside from it referring to a rope-thing. His backpack contained all sorts of trinkets, tiny toys, metal balls, worms, all neatly organized in separate canisters with transparent lids. Their purpose and use unclear to me, I brought him the entire bag.           “Thanks man. Finally, I got you out of that hole.”  &...

19 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“The Slide Between Worlds” by Noted Moments

Submitted to Contest #246

The playground was deserted, a silent witness to the fading day. Curtis and Jane sat on a creaky swing set, their hands intertwined yet their hearts worlds apart. The conversation took an unexpected turn. Both spouses were hovering over the prospect of bringing a new life into a world that seemed to be crumbling. Jane was unable to look Curtis in the eyes; she was hurt and misunderstood. "I just don't know, Curtis." Jane's voice was low and meek, lost in the evening breeze. "The news, the chaos, so much death... it feels selfish to even con...

10 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“The Stones” by Jeffrey McDonald

Submitted to Contest #245

The cross-shaped standing stones of Callanish in the isles off the west coast of northern Britain have become the focal point of Saint Augustine’s mission to spread Christianity throughout Britain. Tradesmen, immigrants, and legionaries traveling from Rome had brought the religion to Britain by the late third century, but it never took root. Then Rome fell, their presence dissipated from the remote lands, but it was not gone. The mighty Roman empire crumbled under weak leadership and misguided ambition, but like the Phoenix from the ashes, a...

2 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Fright” by Irene Cornwell

Submitted to Contest #246

The trip to Hot Springs was an annual joy. Being with my grandparents balanced the fact both of my parents were very preoccupied people.T To my Grandmother Daisy, I was a special child. She had one child in an era when women might have a dozen. Her sister Maud had nine children. She knew loss during pregnancy and even death of a babe upon birth. I was her second chance victory over fate. What I liked best was she was always glad to see me walk into a room. Joining her and Grandpa Yeisley staying in a cozy cabin in the State of Monta...

6 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Eclipse Escape” by Eric Smith

Submitted to Contest #245

The rust-colored Mustang sped down the road. Although it didn't look like much from the outside, its small block V8 purred along smoothly. The stereo blared loudly, providing melodies that went along with the rhythm of the engine.   "Hand in hand in a violent life. Making love on the edge of a knife. And the world comes tumbling down…"  With the top down, the Mustang sped along. The driver and his passenger's black hoodies and cargo pants stood out against the duct tape and off-white cracked vinyl interior. Behind the wheel, C...

3 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“The Colour of Stars” by Noel Morrison

Submitted to Contest #245

The night sky unfolded above the calm waters, a canvas dotted with twinkling stars. Among the crew of the merchant vessel Seapearl, flowed an air of ease as they sailed, their destination the bustling ports of the southern continent. Amidst the chatter and laughter of the sailors, one figure sat quietly on the deck, his gaze fixated upon the celestial display above.The man of curly mess for hair, took out a wooden box, and just like the ship smoothly glided over the ocean, so had his hands gracefully flipped this box open, revealing a set of...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“You are going the wrong way” by George Wallace

Submitted to Contest #245

The ship is sailing in the North Atlantic, it is getting close to Greenland on its way across the Atlantic to Canada to go into the Great Lakes. Our captain is an old sea dog, Marshall Blake, who has been around for donkey’s years, and thinks he knows everything. But this is not always the case, some of these up-and-coming young pups as he likes to call them know more that he does already. But he will never admit it. Who am I? I am the ship’s head cook; I have served under Captain Blake for fourteen years. Even although he has made very...

2 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Protector of the Stars” by Serynsatina Song

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

Low clouds swelled over splashes of gold-flecked vermilion sky on the sunset eve of my sister’s death anniversary. The air tasted of winter-chilled pine, piercing tiny needles into my lungs as I inhaled. The pain was electric, filling my head with a low buzzing. It was better than feeling nothing at all, and for that I was grateful. I trudged towards my apartment, nano-rifle swinging awkwardly against my hip, taking in the sights of my city awash in crepuscular glow. The sharp, clean lines of pewter architecture cutting austere shadows over ...

16 likes 7 comments 7

Read story