The results are in! What results you ask? Why, the results from our Hint Fiction Contest. It wasn’t easy, but we have selected 20 of the most intriguing entries and are publishing them here on A Reading Life. If you aren’t familiar with Hint Fiction, it is basically a story of 25 words or less that suggests a larger, more complex tale. So without further ado, here are the 20 entries selected by Everett Public Library staff from our contest. Enjoy!

Last Tasks by Steve

Saundra stroked the rosewood box.

“Take it.”

Mitchell slid the box from her.

“Are you sure?”

A flickering smile.

“Let the dead bury the dead.”

The Other Way Down  by Sean

The reflection wasn’t his. Perhaps the mirror lying. Or had he changed into something unrecognizable? He looked at his ragged hands. ‘What have I done?’

Woman in Orange by Theresa

“Susan hated orange; she wouldn’t be caught dead in it.”  Hysterical giggles shook me as I realized that is exactly what had just happened.

Sailing to the Unknown by Espen

It laid there in the gathering light, beckoning me to push it to the water, to sail it into the brightening dawn—into the unknown.

Slough by Kyle

A Matryoska, once twisted and pulled apart, will reveal its secret, that within it resides something  different- more fragile, perhaps, that perpetuates its storyline.

Dé·mo·dé by Steve

An old man and dog, palsied, stagger into the shop.

“Company quit making replacement parts,” said the technician.

The dog can’t lick its chrome crotch.

We Began Again by Celeste

Ma turned the radio up and adjusted the rearview mirror, catching sight of the smoldering house again.
“He can’t stop us now.”
She headed west…

Just Listen to My Voice by Celeste

Ten, nine, eight… inhale deeply.
Seven, six, five… exhale slowly.
Four, three, two…

“Don’t panic, don’t panic!”

One… you are calm.

“There’s too much blood!”

The Art People by Joann

There were 35 survivors of the bus crash, we called them the Art People.  Today there are only 3. The others disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

Seduced by Steve

“He stole my heart.”

“How romantic!”

“No.” Taking her friend’s hand, she placed it on her chest. Their eyes met. “I want it back.”

Louise and the Errand by Bryn

After Louise finished her oboe lesson, she strolled delightfully next door to look at the faded historical romance novels at Dunlynn’s used bookstore. Pure bliss!

Zack of All Trades by Ben

The thing who was once the man Zack sniffed the grave. Once repulsive he robbed graves now without remorse. This was the cost of survival.

The Mystical Guardian by Alex

Before disappearing, my dad gave me a weird bowling ball and said,
“If you keep it safe, it’ll keep YOU safe.”
So far, it has.

Fahrenheit 1.5 by Carolyn Agee

Fingers flushed, cold, and numb, she kicked snow onto the road, wondering where he could be as sirens wailed in the distance.

Extinction by Charles

They caught one – a three-year-old female. She cried and banged the bars before tiring and crawling into the desperate solitude of captivity.

NEIGHBORS by Susan

They look different.
I know but you should be nice, anyway.
Why?
Because you look different to them.
I’m nice.  Maybe they are, too?
Yes!

The Day After by David

Dragging out the pool cover he stopped. Too late now. Just drain the damned thing.

Will Power by David

Why did he always fall for guys named Will? And this one turned out to be a Bible thumper.

The Prospect in Peach by Bryn

It was not sales, but seduction. Clarence would ingratiate himself with a 1950’s housewife.  He listened to Mildred coo as she stroked the Buick’s upholstery.

The Same by Roger

As George Simmons awoke one morning from a deep slumber he still found himself to be a gigantic cat. Life is good, he thought. Servants?