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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of adventure short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

8490+ 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.

Adventure Short Stories – Page 6 of 567

The Airplane Problem

Submitted to Contest #296

7:07 AMEthan’s fingers hovered over the radar screen, tracing two blips hurtling toward Logan’s single runway—Delta 722, an aging 737 with a catastrophic hydraulics leak, and KLM 143, a packed A380 crippled by an engine fire.The situation was simple: one plane would get the runway; the other would need to go down someplace else.Following landing protocol, the choice was clear: Delta 722 had entered Logan’s airspace seven seconds earlier than KLM 143. Ethan opened the comms.“Delta 722, Boston Tower. Cleared to land Runway 22L, wind 270 at–”An...

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Operation Save The World

Submitted to Contest #296

Astra stumbled forward her breath coming in sharp gasps as she navigated the crumbled remains of the facility. The metallic smell of rust and decay filled the air with the iridescent smell of something burning in the distance. The emergency lights flickered, casting a shadow on the cracked wall as if the building itself was screaming a warning for her to turn around and go back. She didn’t have that luxury.Somewhere behind her the hunters were closing in. Astra pulled her jacket tighter around her trying to fight off the bitter cold. Her bo...

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The Last Page… The First Word

Submitted to Contest #296

BookCity was built on silence; on stories; and on secrets. A city completely isolated from the whole world, stretching beneath a criss-cross of bridges in a seemingly endless maze of dusty bookstores. To move around, the citizens had to walk on the roofs of the stores, and jump from roof to bridge and back again. Even though there were escalators, they rarely worked, and when they did, they groaned under the weight of the people; and the stairs leading to the top were no different. People moved around in the labyrinthine corridors, looking t...

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Saturday Adventure

Submitted to Contest #296

Note: This story contains sensitive content including substance abuse, physical violence and abuse. Saturday morning arrived and after they finished their meal, brothers Jack and Billy would set off on their weekly adventure.Jack thought the cold and meager breakfast reflected everything about their accommodations and reception at the inn.“Billy-Bill,” Jack said, using one of his many pet names for his brother. “What news have you for our quest today?”Billy peered over his bowl and grinned, liquid running down his chin. “I’ve heard tell the ...

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Dealing in the shadows.

Submitted to Contest #296

Detective Clara Miles had sworn she would never cross the line. She had a lot of pride in what she did. Clara believed in the law, justice, and doing everything correctly. But when the bodies started getting missing, and a lead on Azazel Bates led to dead ends, she realized something—playing by the rules would not solve the case. That was how she planned to enter the life of Nathan’s best friend. Nathan was a member of one of the prominent crime families, but no one knew where he was. He was mostly seen with someone associated with many high...

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Because You Asked

Submitted to Contest #296

Because You Asked**Warning: This containts references to violence and blood please be aware prior to reading ** You Asked My blazer tugged open in the vacuum of air from the massive glass doors swinging shut. Entering the Meta Building, I glanced behind myself to ensure it had closed. I ran my right hand through my tousled hair, dipping my head in the direction of the security guard. “Good Morning Dave,” I greeted the man cheerfully, like all people should, in my opinion. “Morning Bradley! Good to see ya,” he responded with as much gusto...

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Turtle Shell

Submitted to Contest #296

Turtle ShellIt’s always a standoff with Dax. So cliche. He’s about thirty feet from me, swinging his spear around like some circus performer. His flowing white robes billow with the angry wind that pulls on my armor. He twirls his spear around effortlessly, the tip sparking every time it hits the cobbles. The electric spear has a massive legacy throughout the kingdom as not only the most lethal weapon invented but also just overkill. It fits Dax. His nickname should be overkill. “Finally we meet!” He yells, his Chesire smile sending chills d...

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Sleeping Nightmare

Submitted to Contest #296

(Warning: Suggestive themes, suggested violence, mild blood)Everyone knew the stories, the rumors, the legend, but only a few ever endeavored to venture further than the whispered words. Because those who braved the ruins of the sleeping castle never came back the same—If they came back at all.Decades had come and gone, and still, there was no boon to be won. Yet, it was not treasure that Ser Marcus sought.It was a heart–the heart of the slumbering beauty who had been placed under a curse nearly a century ago.After all this time, she should ...

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In the Heart of the Wilderness - A Tale of Survival

Submitted to Contest #296

The dense canopy of the Amazon rainforest loomed overhead, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Amidst the cacophony of exotic birds and the rustle of unseen creatures, a lone figure moved with wary precision. Alex, a seasoned explorer, had ventured into this verdant labyrinth, hoping to uncover an ancient, lost civilization, but now faced the harsh realities of the untamed wilderness.Days melted into nights as Alex trudged deeper into the jungle’s embrace, each moment a testament to their resolve. The path was visible, a trail marke...

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A Bad Decision.

Submitted to Contest #296

A Bad Decision. The air smelled of burning tires and something sweetly rotten; it could be overripe mangoes left to fester in the sun, maybe, or it could be a body no one has found yet. Patricia pressed her back against the crumbling wall of an abandoned shop. It was becoming hard for her to breathe; she needed to rest. The gunfire had stopped for the moment, but that meant nothing. The rebels may have moved on past. She could hear their voices fading into nothing. But she knew they would be back. Her cameraman, Elias, lay sprawled in the ...

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The Åströms' Chronicles: Eleanor

Submitted to Contest #296

Dense fog filled the streets of Tromsø and refused to leave even after the day crossed its middle.Snowy-white, it looked thick enough to eat, reducing visibility to nothing, making it harder for the eagle to observe the people in the tiny apartment at 718 Vestregata Street.Finally, he sighed and took off—anyway, he barely heard or saw anything there.It was better to observe the area, to be prepared in case something bad happened.Which was often the case when it came to venstres and høyres.***Ari turned on an espresso machine and checked his ...

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The Wooden Door

Submitted to Contest #295

Rebeka walked into the living room and flipped on the TV. She sat on the sofa, an oversized, high-back, comfy couch. It took her a while to find it in 1962, but she did. Black and white material, she called it the Holstein. Within a few minutes, she became enthralled with the program she was watching. It was about the election of President Trump for the second time. She thought about the year 2024 and realized she was not born yet. The program ended, and she thought she needed to go to bed. She had work in the morning, but her shift started...

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Take My Hands to Sollazo

Submitted to Contest #295

“The warrior knew the only way to return home was to find the door. The only problem was that the door could be anything and anywhere. His little heart was crushed by knowing he might never get home again. He didn’t belong in this world. He belongs on his plant with his Mother and sister, and they await his return.” My brother’s soft snoring made my Mother and I look at him. My Mother chuckled, “Alright, kiddo, it’s time for bed. We can finish the book tomorrow night.” I sighed and threw myself back onto the bed. “Why can’t we finish it? Nat...

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“A Vampire’s kiss goodnight.”

Submitted to Contest #295

This is a true story. The names have been changed.:Ava saw on The Book of Faces that her friend Joyce needed some volunteers for the Vampire Ball that she and her partner were hosting in a month’s time. She hadn’t been to an event in a long time having moved to Montana for the last two years, and she wanted to reconnect to things she used to love doing and help, so she messaged Joyce, saying she was free to assist her with the event. Joyce was exceptionally happy to have her on board and granted a VIV (Very Important Vampire) badge and she s...

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Sardine and the Tires

Submitted to Contest #295

A cat the color of smoke with bright, orange eyes, weaved its way through a narrow path somewhat devoid of debris. Turning slightly, it jumped over a small tin box that smelled faintly of rotting sardines, and settled on a small patch of decaying grass. The cat was familiar with the area, frequenting the landfill to make shelter underneath shelves of corroded plastic and rusting sheets of metal. A trail had been etched within the earth created from small paws and large imprints of heavy boots, stretching out from each side of the junkyard. H...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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