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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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

150+ Thriller Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Looking for a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath? Don’t skip our collection of thriller short stories.

Thriller Short Stories – Page 10 of 10

The Man That Wasn't There

Submitted to Contest #306

The Man Who Wasn’t There I am lying naked in a crowded room. I seem to be of no interest to anyone, save for whichever white figure had haphazardly dropped a towel over my crotch. “Thanks for small favors, right?” seems appropriate…but I said nothing. The table is cold metal. The room is unbearably bright... but it does not bother me. There are people encircling me like pigeons stalking the last French fry in the parking lot. Faceless white blurs point around the room adjusting things and giving orders. The closest to me seem...

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Class of '26

Submitted to Contest #306

Thank you, thank you. Okay. Thank you. Ha ha ha, alright. Thank you. Guys, I’m not the Pope. Thank you. Thank you. My goodness, normally people aren’t that happy to see me walk onstage if I’m not carrying a guitar.Well, who’d have thought I, of all people, would be giving the commencement address at a place like Brown? Or that I’d be given this fancy gown and an honorary doctorate? I’ve no doubt your President, Dr. Holman, approved me as a speaker because I’m famous and not so much for my academic achievements, but, I did do some resear...

20 likes 7 comments 7
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The Violet Hour

Submitted to Contest #306

(This story deals with themes of domestic violence.) On a stormy night, the wind howled through the rain-soaked streets, rattling the shutters of my small abode. I sat at my worn writing desk, quill in hand, ready to write a letter to a long-lost friend. A surge of memories flooded my mind, each tangled with the next.I felt a weight in my chest, reminding me of the illness that was slowly approaching. Like shadows in the evening, I expressed the deep feelings I had hidden for too long.*****October 1, 1850 Dear Flora,I find myself grappling ...

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Bethany

Submitted to Contest #306

To:team@horror-onix.comFrom:Ryan@horror-onix.comMonday, 9:01 AMSubject: Welcome aboard Hey everyone! It’s difficult to deal with the departure of our story lead, Angie, who has moved on to the next adventure. I know this is all sudden, but I have full confidence in all of you. I’m certain you’ll join me in welcoming Cammie as story lead. She comes highly recommended and has tons of great experience especially since she’s a published author with six horror books. Let’s give her a warm welcome! RyanVP Horror-Onix, LTD Monday, Aug 3; 10:17 a...

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Firewall

Submitted to Contest #306

Title: “Firewall”By Lance Young **All communication logs decrypted and compiled by unknown source.** NSA SUSPECTED [TEXT MESSAGE — 10:42 PM, May 3]REYNA MILES (Sent):It’s done. Encrypted drive is in locker 614, Union Station. Keycard under planter, east entrance. UNKNOWN (Received):Payment? REYNA:Half now. Half when I’m clear.And no more surprises. UNKNOWN:You knew the risks. [EMAIL — 11:06 PM, May 3]From: Reyna Miles <reyna.m@brightcorelabs.com>To: j.baxter@protosystems.netSubject: RE: “Valhalla” sequence Jason —I got it. Everything. ...

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How to Bake a Heart

Submitted to Contest #306

Intro:They say grief transforms us into monsters.But before we dive in, a little backstory—every good recipe needs one, and you’ll want to understand where it all unraveled. He wasn’t the first man to steal my heart. Just the last one I allowed in long enough to rot me from within. He spoke of "forever” with lips stained by someone else’s kiss. He brought me flowers when I detested that kind of bloom. He abandoned me in January, a cliché biting through the cold. Yet, here I am, ready to pick gravel from my knees to return to the night he wh...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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Gamestop Paradise

Submitted to Contest #306

Opening Credits: Introduce the companies that helped make the game. Desk Ware; Death Engine; Cryodense; Writer’s Public; Game Deluxe; AxxRapper.Intro video: A spaceship is landing on a wintery field. There is a space colony nearby but it’s abandoned. The space marines leave the ship, but the ice beneath the ship gives way and the ship falls beneath the ground, almost bringing the space marines with it. The space marines look around for a while and then the leader of the space marines gets on his intercom. They then proceed to the abandoned c...

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Always, Michael

Submitted to Contest #305

“I think the eggs are burning,” Michael mutters from across the table.I glance at the stove. He’s right, unfortunately. Thick black tendrils of smoke have begun to rise from the pan in the kitchen.“Ah, shoot. Honey!” I call over my shoulder. “The eggs!”Leaning in, grinning like a Cheshire, Michael chuckles, “Bet she’s going to oversalt them again. Remember when Mom used to do that all the time?” He rolls his eyes. “Man, I’d rather drink seawater.”“Shut up,” I hiss under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.“What?” Alice turns, spatula...

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The Sheriff

Submitted to Contest #305

Nearly six months ago, as I cruised down main street, I could tell this jerkwater town needed a hero. They just didn’t know it yet. Lucky for them, I was in the market for a new town worth savin’. Hallow Ridge was the fifth town, in just as many years, that I wandered into and became sheriff. You’d think it would be hard to move into town and take over bein’ sheriff, but it’s actually real easy. First off, most people don’t want to be sheriff, it don’t pay hardly nothin’ and second, it’s basically a dead-end job. There ain’t no promotion to ...

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THE BODICE RIPPER

Submitted to Contest #306

Sensitive themes: Prostitution and murder in the Victorian era. CHARACTER: 1 female, 30s, attractiveCIRCA AND SETTING: 1888, LondonAll action transpires on a stage which is bare except for a table and high-backed chair. The table has a neatly folded white towel on its surface. AT RISE: A soft bluish light suggests evening. After a moment, the FEMALE enters. She wears a floor-length, hooded black cape, black opera gloves and carries a leather medical bag. She looks around as if to check no one has followed her. With a deep sigh of relief, sh...

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Unknown

Submitted to Contest #305

For the first time, my mind went blank. I couldn’t hear any sound around me, and my eyes seemed to ignore everything in front of me. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to continue. I was always supposed to have everything under control, but not this time. I was lost.I don’t remember exactly when the shadow started to follow me. without realizing it, there was suddenly an arm around my shoulders and a warm presence next to me. It was disgusting.I couldn’t stand the noise around me, all those voices made me sick. I couldn’t stand the ...

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Tina

L J

Submitted to Contest #305

You know what? I quit. I can't stand this place. I've worked here for twenty-five years! I just worked on the biggest project of my life. Tina was working on it with me. She and I started at the company at the same time. We get along pretty well and as the years went by, ended up as friends, not colleagues. We went to lunches and she even came to some of my son's soccer games on the weekends! So, when our boss gave us the opportunity to work on this major assignment together we jumped at it! "You know this is going to take a lot of ov...

10 likes 1 comment 1
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Tangled Encrypted Threads

Submitted to Contest #306

From: Mara Kellstrom mara.kellstrom@nextech.comTo: Jonas Reddick jonas.reddick@nextech.com, Selene Varga selene.varga@ironaegis.com, Colt Whittaker colt.whittaker@ironaegis.comSubject: [CONFIDENTIAL] Project Deliverables Kickoff, Immediate Attention RequiredDate: May 8, 2025, 08:10 AM CDT Team,Management’s greenlit Project Deliverables, a sprawling web to snare data and map behaviors, slated for Q2 rollout. The directive’s clear, full integration, no delays. I’m threading the data pipelines, Jonas, you’re on security. Selene, Colt, define Ir...

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What Begins May Never End

Submitted to Contest #305

Grant’s chest heaved as he climbed up another few feet, the small ditch walls slick with rain water and wet foliage. His thighs and lungs were burning, head pounding behind his eyes from the rock he’d smacked his head against on the way down. He stopped, sinking down into a squat to catch his breath, which came out in small puffs of steam, visible in the setting sun. It had been a fun little hike, thirty minutes max. Danny walked it yesterday with no problem! He’d even said it was easy, athletic prick. The path was supposed to be clear, a we...

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Tunnel Visioned

Submitted to Contest #305

“You know what Jason? I’m done! Just go, you’ve made your choice. I can’t believe you would do this, after everything we’ve been through together! I should have known you’d follow your dick to the ends of the earth instead of me.” “Come on, be reasonable. I’m not doing this for me or for my dick. It’s for my- our kids. I’m thinking about their future. And yours for that matter. They’ll grow up royal, in a palace. You’ll still be their mother, just behind the scenes, elevated by their status. I’m actually being noble here. I’m marrying the pr...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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