Stephanie Lyn

Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to these runner-up entries!

Since this year’s 2024 Halloween writing contest was filled with a myriad of amazing entries, it was hard to pick the most creepy and haunted submissions. Here are the seven runner up entries (in no particular order) that made the Bulldog Times’ staff amazed, and maybe with some chills down their spines.

Your Spooky Scary Story Runner-Ups:

“The statue watched me with lifeless eyes. I couldn’t blink. I couldn’t look away. Its stone fingers twitched whenever I flattered, inching closer. My eyes burned, lids heavy. I glanced down for just a second. When I looked back up, it was gone…but a cold breath grazed my neck.” – Isabella Garcia (12)

“I am in a flower garden, flowing my skirt around, excited to see where this adventure takes me. I go to a yellow and red flower and as I went down to smell it, I realize blood dripping down my cheek as I get back up. I never knew why.” – Nicole Ventura (11)

“In an old village, a peculiar statue of a child stood in the square. Every full moon, its stone eyes followed villagers. One night, the statue was gone. The next morning, a villager was missing. In their place stood a new statue, eyes wide with terror, forever frozen in stone.” – Alana Hernandez (11)

“Where am I? I could feel my legs weak and numb but I had to push on, It was chasing me. It kept on coming, why me? Nothing but endless roads; it had to be a dream. WAKE UP, WAKE-. I woke up. Clean padded rooms. Where am I?” – Makaelah Tamez (12)

“It isn’t fog. It’s white and transparent, obscuring old questions with a new truth. But it isn’t fog.You went outside and breathed in.You didn’t come back inside. You didn’t breathe out.I watch you from the window as you stand with all the others. It definitely isn’t fog. Boo.” – Dounia Othman (11)

“Drifting through the void, Sarah’s oxygen dwindled. A flicker of movement caught her eye; a slender, shimmering alien floated just outside her ship. Tapping on the glass, its eyes enormous and hungry. Alone and terrified, she realized the creature’s intentions were lethal. In space, no one can hear you scream.” – Matthew Gardea (11)

“Knock knock. / Someone… at the door? / Knock knock. / Who could be up at dawn hour four? / KNOCK KNOCK. / Can’t open my eyes, too sleepy. / KNOCK KNOCK. / Who could it be? Is it an emergency?  / “Knock knock” / Hisses a voice.  / I know I’m alone.  / Someone…, something / Was let into my hom-“ – Giselle Morales (11)

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Congratulations to these seven runner-ups and their amazing entries! You can check out the winners of the contest here. Continue checking the Open Canvas tab for any upcoming competitions!