Behind Every Door Challenge #5
April 28 - May 11
In 2025, Microzine will share various door prompts, and it’s up to you to decide what (or who) is behind them. Perhaps a beast waiting for you? A family having a squabble? Lovers taking advantage of being alone? A knight suiting up for his next battle? An old woman waiting for a visit…from you…? A room of missing treasure finally discovered?
The possibilities of what, or who, one might find behind a closed door are endless. Step right up. Knock and enter. If you dare.
THE CHALLENGE
Using the above image as a prompt, write a story selecting one of the following stipulations:
Must be exactly 6-words, 25-words, 50-words, or 100-words in length. Title is never counted towards word count OR
a StoryStack that follows the rules outlined here:
NOTE: Put your story title & word count in brackets first, followed by your story.
Ex. [Story Title, 100]
An added element to this challenge is the deadline. Any story put in the comments AFTER the date listed below will not be considered for digital/print issues.
DEADLINE: May 11, 2025
DIGITAL/PRINT ISSUE OPPORTUNITY
Only stories shared in the comments section will be considered for digital and print issues. Stories only shared in Substack Notes will not be considered. If you put your story up on your own publication it will not disqualify it from consideration.
Good luck!
(Trophy Wife 100)
Quasimodo Anathema is a sacrificial offering. He built the door to hold secrets within the tower. He unlocks the door. Sits on the bottom of spiral stairs. A girl weeps. His heart cries. Old letters burned. Empty hallways haunt. Love arrives, invisible furious. The candle's short fuse silently stalks, quickly dies. The girl leaves to become a woman. Quasimodo remained twelve. She befriended. But he touched the untouchable; lost trust. Secrets remain, gather dust. No wiser, only honest feelings; bought her gifts, silver fingernails that matched her bracelet. He strayed. Beauty left a burdened beast; He waits for her return.
It's your fault. Never come back. [6]