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

6210+ 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 291 of 415

OF MEMORIES

Submitted to Contest #68

It had been twenty four years since she'd last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. Even though the bridge had lost all its color, it was still strong and passable. Moss and mould like plants had grown on the rails. The river was still the same narrow one with pebbles dancing along the clear water. Kids down the river were splashing water on each other. It reminded her of how they used to throw little pebbles into the water. The owner of the pebble that landed farthest had the privilege of an ice cream,that was the rule back then....

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Time travel, 2080

Submitted to Contest #68

It was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives as it was Jack’s birthday, and he was turning 18! But, of course, we all must make ends to meet. Although Janet never went anywhere in the morning, she was an early riser to wake up her sleeping son who was a heavy sleeper. “Wake up Jack,” she called hoarsely. She couldn’t go to work due to her breathing problems caused by the excessive vapor in the factory, and once they found out that she can’t work any longer, she was terminated. He looked at the time on the multipurpose screen and fou...

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My Best Friend

Submitted to Contest #68

The art of lying is not about body language or which words you use. It’s about believing. To be a good liar one has to repeat the lie over and over until it becomes a fact. So when Katherine wrapped her arms around my neck and confessed that she was very glad about me finally accepting her as a friend, I just hugged her back. I am her friend.  “I have to tell you something,” Katherine said taking a step back and looking straight into my eyes. “I’ve always admired you. You are the coolest and most amazing girl in our class. I wish I coul...

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Vietnam War. (R18)

Submitted to Contest #68

2 young men watch the sunrise. The day was beautiful while birds take their flight for today's share of food. The one with the moustache looked other with the Glasses. Their expressions were bright as the day after they said farewell to their family and head for Vietnam. "Big brother James, thanks for coming along with me," Young Sargent said to his colleague brother. "Do not worry, we will win this war!" James replied to Thomas boldly. James Hoover didn't sign for Vietnam recruit. However, Youngman demanded to come along with his young brot...

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My Silly Neighbor

Submitted to Contest #68

Start your story with someone admitting a secret and end it with someone telling a lie. “I have to tell you something,” Shelby said. “Okay,” I shrugged, “Go for it.” “Do you know my neighbor? That weird, old lady next door?” She asked the questions, I nodded. I could sense a hesitancy in her voice; she kept looking past my shoulder at her front door. I expected her story to be exaggerated and dramatic, like most of her other stories. But I, being a story-lover, always enjoyed hearing the drama of another person’s life, even if it meant ...

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The Perfectly Imperfect Proposal

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Vander awoke merrily just as the sun rose from beneath the luminous clouds. Today was proposal day. Not for them, of course. For their beloved son, Theodore - or Theo, as he liked to be called. Elliot had no idea that she was going to be proposed to, and the Vanders had gone bonkers in attempting not to spill anything. But the day had dawned upon them and they couldn’t be happier. Mrs. Vander hugged her husband snugly - a rare action - and gave him a sloppy kiss on the che...

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Dangerous Love

Submitted to Contest #68

“I’m guilty. It was me. It was all me, and I was too scared to tell anyone.”  “Bryan, what did you do?” “I killed him. I’m so sorry Pearl. I didn’t mean to, but I pushed him. I thought that we were on the second floor. You have to believe me. I was out of my mind.” Bryan sounds frantic.  I had just walked into Bryan’s dorm room, and I was terrified.  “Okay, Bryan, I hear what you’re saying. Tell me exactly what happened so that maybe I can help you.”  “He woke me up. The masked man woke me up, and I was scared. I th...

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A Day To Remember. A Day To Forget

Submitted to Contest #68

           This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, but fate had other plans for the bride and groom.            The weeks that led up to their wedding day were spectacular. Beth had been fitted with a beautiful silk and lace wedding gown, strapless and elegant, while her five bridesmaids were dressed in chiffon gowns with V-shaped necklines and a slit up the left leg.         &...

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The Eternal Bond

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. They’ve known each other ever since they were kids, and later on they became each other’s first love. They had been together for years, when Ron finally popped the question, to which Alice said yes, and a year later, they held a wonderful wedding. It was love of the purest kind. A love that binds two people together eternally. In a bond that not even death could tear apart. After their beautiful ceremony, they should have deserved a happy life together, but things don’t always work out...

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End of the Line

Submitted to Contest #68

Gold sliced through the light pink like a knife. The gold exploded where it was, filling more of the sky.It looked fabricated, too good for the conditions we had been facing. I knew it wasn’t though. It was a perfect time to die. While the sun was still young.“Wow,” the girl next to me murmured, her hazel eyes widened and her eyebrows raised.I laughed at her, and she turned to me, laughing too. “Haven’t ya ever seen a sunrise like this?” I asked her.“Yeah,” - she nodded and slapped my shoulder, her lips pursed - “course I’ve, idiot! But this...

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Meeting Tyler

Submitted to Contest #68

This was supposed to be the happiest days of their lives. After seven years of trying, the resilient couple finally accepted the fact that if they were to start the family they so longed for, the child just wouldn't be theirs. So, they picked up their pride and head down to the adoption agency determined to settle down for the rest of their lives. "Mr. and Mrs. Hudson?" The pair looked up in anticipation. "It's time for you to meet Ty." Prilla looked into her husband's eyes. "This is it Danny, this is the start of the rest of our lives." Dan...

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Two characters watching a sunrise and end it with one of them seeing the moon reflecting off a lake

Submitted to Contest #68

Sunrise was slowly but delightful today. Sky was smokeless and shining with gold colours and joyfully dancing to the music of a morning breeze. The sun was looking like a ring of fire. Snow wrapped mountains were glittering with sunrise and sunrays were reflecting in a lake. Birds were flying in the sky. Dews on the leaves of trees were glittering like a diamond in sunrise. Surroundings were naturally beautiful and awesome. Holding eachother's hand sitting on a small mound, Hira, a young boy and Naz, a beautiful blue eyed young girl, were se...

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Memory Gap

Submitted to Contest #68

It has been twenty four years since I'd last seen it, but the place looks exactly the same. My grip tightens around the seat belt, as we pull up the driveway. My stomach churnes. I fear the Burritto, I got from the drive through, would be on the carpet of my Toyota Tacoma. Breathe Catheleen. Breathe. "I was so happy when you called yesterday. I couldn't believe it..." Except, I don't remember. I don't remember calling her or asking her to bring me back...here. Was I drunk again? That would explain why I was passed out when she came...

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Ill-Gotten Gains

Submitted to Contest #68

It didn’t seem right, threatening such a pretty young woman, but Harrison’s plan allowed no room for sentiment.The bank teller—Samantha, so her nametag said—glowed in the fluorescent light. Her dark hair and pale skin, her brick red lipstick and white smile topped with a cheery greeting nearly derailed his resolve, but he refused to melt. He had his note at the ready, simple instructions written left-handed with a number two pencil. He had but to slide it across the counter and wait. Returning her smile, he did just that.She read it, frowned...

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Delirious

Submitted to Contest #68

1482 wordsRated 12+; violence"I've never said those words. Not once!" she screams.Our sun has been giving us life for 4 billion years. Small organisms felt its heat and made oxygen. In another 4 billion years, it'll explode and destroy us. The whole galaxy is gone. A spark of pain, and then nothing. That's how Clarke feels right now, standing on a hill, staring at the city, next to Laurelie. A first, a pain so great it can't be fathom it, then nothing.Laurelie pulls her hand away from Clarke. Her eyes are masked with shame, but undernea...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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