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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

8690+ Suspense Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From bizarre characters to creeping threats, this collection of suspense short stories gives you an exciting array of bone-chilling tales.

Suspense Short Stories – Page 480 of 580

Time to smile again

Submitted to Contest #79

Funny how weather changes so quickly and suddenly. One time, the sky is painted with the vibrant colors of azure and yellow, the sun rising through the horizon-a picturesque, picture-perfect moment. Then without warning, the sky darkens and thunder rumbles. Torrential rain comes crashing down in a deafening roar-almost like it’s laughing at how weak and helpless you are-and very soon, a flood forms, a wave of destruction, washing down everything in it’s path, leaving nothing but sorrow and quietus. The flood were my tears and the weather is ...

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My Sister Jenny

Submitted to Contest #79

My sister Jenny has been envious of me ever since she found out I was going to be existing in her presence.She was the only child for 7 years before I came.Since she was the FIRST & ONLY child at one point my parents treated her like a princess.Brought her anything she wanted.She was involved in all of the extracurricular activities such as plays, ballet, singing, sports & much much more.But then one day my parents decided to have another child.they felt as though Jenny was bored with being the only child & that maybe it was time...

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Are You There?

Submitted to Contest #79

“Norman, are you in there?” ‘Oh for a moment of privacy. But no…’ The shards of a dream slipped through my fingers. “Of course Mother. Do you see me?” “No.” “Is the door shut?” “Yes…” “If it were open you’d be in here with me.” “Yes…” ‘How many times have we read this script?’ I thought as I sat on the edge of the tub. ‘Is there no other way?’ “I’ll be a moment…” “Yes.” I flushed the toilet so she wouldn’t pester me about what took so long. ‘The dream… I almost had it…’ Through the door, she said, “No.” “No what, M...

25 likes 9 comments 9
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It just keeps happening

Submitted to Contest #79

Why does it keep happening? And all I do is keep searching for the answer, directing all my energy and time exactly in the middle of the problem, targeting the very core, trying to stand on my two feet and support my bastard child. Fair enough, I agree that is harsh. It’s not her fault someone left her and I had a heart big enough to let her in. She was cold, how could I not. Now the cat has separation anxiety and I can’t even use half of my bed anymore. What a comedy my life has become. And it all started with one innocent call from my gran...

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The day I realised

Submitted to Contest #79

January 26th 2018. That date would forever be etched into my memory.  The flames grew wilder. The sweat and tears running down my face trickled faster. The shouts and screams grew weaker. I tried to save them. I really did. The night of the fire would forever be etched into my memory. We don’t know who started it and we don’t know the reason behind it. What I did know however was that it took out my whole family. My parents, my siblings, my grandparents. It was supposed to have been a memorable day for it was my grandpa’s 80th bir...

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The Big Rift

Submitted to Contest #79

AMETHYST Amethyst was a typical teenager. She went to school, did all her assignments, and practically lived a life as normal as a teenager's could get. She had a sister, Isabelle, and they got into the occasional fight once in a while, but it all turned out okay in the end. It was a Saturday. Amethyst whooped for joy. The long-awaited boarding school admission letter had just arrived! She was packing now. She would be leaving for boarding school in a month's time. Sounds like paradise, right?One year passed. All was fine. Amethyst...

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MOTHER..........OH, MOTHER

Submitted to Contest #79

The sweltering humidity dripped from the broad green leaves of the huge trees that blocked out the sun, yet did nothing to block the heat. Even the cries of the Macaws and the many species of monkeys, seemed tired and worn. A dugout canoe, old, patched and battered.. drifted slowly into shore... None of it's three occupants bothering to paddle... the native guide, Gre'gorycolmantz... a tribal elder from the Wa'syatchoo tribe, still very isolated in the deep Ecuadorian jungle... held his carved wooden paddle in the water, just to st...

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Soul Connection

Submitted to Contest #79

“Hiya” “Hi, may I help you?” “Yes, I lost my room key, are you able to give me a new one?” The sound of bubble gum popping. Then, after a moment’s silence, “Sure, name?” “Elisiana Tugab” The rhythmic tapping of acrylics on an old-fashioned, worn-in keyboard accompanies the usual din of a hotel lobby. The marble floors wink at me, reflecting the light cast by the majestic chandelier up ahead. Only one day here and I already know I will miss it when I leave in a week. Rio De Janeiro has invited me warmly, its city lights serving as a...

23 likes 25 comments 25
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Mother's Day? Father's Day? Why Not Brother's Day?

Submitted to Contest #79

“Why the evil eyes, what’s the matter with you two?” a cheerful Mum asked her two sons. “Keep smiling Mum, at least there is one lucky person, unbowed by grief. I haven’t seen Andy’s cheerful mug for weeks,” smirked Mart. “I’m sick of the sight of you if you must know, Mr Perfect, ha, nothing goes wrong with your life?” said Andy. “Big brother is not happy. I do not know what I’ve done to upset him?” said Mart, looking at his mother. “You two, please settle down, let’s have dinner with no more arguments. It’s so nice to have you ...

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Anchored

Submitted to Contest #79

“What mood is the sea?” My father would ask as we sat around the table in the early hours of the morning. On this particular day the steel blue waters of the Pacific Ocean surged outside our dining room window and rain drops raced down the glass as they did most days during the winter season. The charcoal gray clouds hid the sun and left no room for hope of seeing it any time soon. I sleepily held my head in one hand and spooned my sugary cereal in my mouth with the other as my 12 year old brain contemplated the question. “It seems fine.” I ...

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Tobacco Road

Submitted to Contest #79

I drive the truck of a dead man. A man I met over twenty years ago. A man that became a second father to me. One that would fish with you by dawn, and tip back the whiskey with you at dusk. That’s where I met him, actually, at Woody’s Tavern down by the swamps. I was twenty-one and barely legal. He had just moved to the area, hearing the fishing was good and he was looking for a low-key place to retire to. Maybe low-key was the soul connection I was needing, what made us fast friends. We sat at the bar that night, him crying in his beer over...

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The Perplexity of Kinsfolk

Submitted to Contest #79

Conflict and conquest. A life of atrocity and intermission. Orson stepped forth after his father fell to the hands of his foes, and took the rightful place of kingship, being the soul heir to the throne of the hollowed kingdom. A once greyscale palace stood before his very visage in the form of a glamorous kingdom, illuminated with the light of a thousand suns since the early modern period of England. Whilst most palaces lay above the ground on the elevated terra firma, the hollowed kingdom lay in sanctitude below the surface near enough to ...

13 likes 2 comments 2
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Sandy Owens

Submitted to Contest #79

As much as I have tried to move on--go to college, get married, have kids--I can't. And it will be fifteen years tomorrow. Fifteen years since my mother left me when I was sixteen. Sixteen! Put me in the foster system, for what? She couldn't bear two more years? I should have been the favorite child but I could never compete with the drugs. Or the alcohol. Or my personal favorite--marrying a new toxic boyfriend twice a year, claiming that this one was it for her, that he would give us a life of wealth and prosperity. He never did. Drunk ever...

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Nature's Fireworks

Submitted to Contest #79

My grandma was my best friend. She'd listen to my "issues" as a 6 year old. She'd tickle me, she'd have the most beautiful laugh that forever is held in my heart. She'd have the biggest heart of all of my family, and I'm glad that she ended up the way she ended her sentence with a period. When my dad was growing up, my grandma and my grandpa (biological) weren't in good shape. Their health was just so bad. My grandma battled with severe depression. She'd use alcohol to drown out the pain. She would abuse the use of prescription drugs. My ...

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Morri

Submitted to Contest #79

The house is quiet, like a needle, but sharper, and with all the tension of midnight in a bar with the windows shot out and one guy in the corner just watching the others fight and saying to himself, "Get 'em, son, you got 'em."The house is quiet, for once.Inside, a girl is eating ice cream from a Starbucks cup, her long legs crossed and propped up on the top of her table. The television sits a few feet away. No one's watching it. No one could watch it, even if they did feel like catching some one scene rerun. It's broken. Broken along with ...

80 likes 42 comments 42
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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