Write a post-apocalyptic story triggered by climate change.

Posted in Adults on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 134 stories

“Route None” by Joseph Lombardi

Submitted to Contest #60

Gerald Finch was waiting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on America’s latest 20-lane superhighway, Route None. The massive road stretched from upstate New York where it met Canada’s equivalent to southern Texas and a wide dirt path that continued from there southwards. There were no tolls nor speed limits on Route None-- after all, nobody wanted to be there, not when the sun came out. He surveyed those stuck with him from the relative comfort of his vehicle. Gerald had to crane his head around the giant chromed blower sticking through h...

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“A Life of Lives” by S.N. Beale

Submitted to Contest #60

“…L-Let’s get behind that ridge…make camp. This liquor is really…hmm..."“I gotta wash all this blood off…c-change clothes, at least. It was a good fight. He did well, d-don’t ya think? Got me a bit-"“…No, I’m l-limpin’ because I limp, and I’m hurt because I hurt…s-shut your mind up. Ugh, this guy’s blood reeks! …I-It’s more his than mine.”“Yeah, well, I guess we all smell now, don’t we?”“…H-Have to say…super grateful for this whiskey. Hm. D-Don’t look at me like that. Who-who knew when I said, I’d’ve killed for a drink that it’d end up true....

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“Outside the window” by J W

Submitted to Contest #60

There was only one window, but it could not be opened. Her mother barely allowed her to carry out the lightest chore, but Jo insisted on helping to clean the window. Every morning, she would wipe away the dust from the inside, as carefully as one would dust a treasured porcelain figure, and her mother would scrub the grime off from the outside on Sundays. Every morning, Jo would attempt to wash the dishes or do the laundry; but she had to do it quietly and almost surreptitiously, as the smallest clatter would bring her mother to her side w...

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“The Lost” by Patrick Hurley

Submitted to Contest #60

“¡Ayúdame! ¡Por favor!” “Help me, please! My family is inside, and I can’t get back in to save them.” The sound of the rushing water almost drowns out the desperate pleas of Marco’s friends and neighbors, but he can hear them nevertheless. He feels guilty (how could any human not feel guilty in times like these?) but at the same time he knows that he and his sister have no real shot at giving help to any of these thousands of people in dire need of it. Suddenly a louder voice comes from behind Marco, breaking through the never ending...

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“The Bunker” by Mx Crane

Submitted to Contest #60

It feels as though the air is aflame, fiery ash and burning rubble. Burning like all the towns before had, all the towns built tall of wood and stone, trapping the heat until it finally combusts and destroys all it can. The sun blazes cruelly overhead, and all he can think about is the towns he passed and left behind, many years ago.There is this buzzing in his ears, an unending and crudely vibrating hum, an aching and dull roar of an engine trapped behind his eyes. He can no longer think, breathe, move. He lies in the dirt, arm thrown over ...

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“The Way to Eden” by Deborah Landers

Submitted to Contest #60

There was a tune always running through her head, but Blue could never remember the words. They were important somehow, a secret she was supposed to know, but every time she tried to focus on it, the burgeoning sensation on her tongue died away. It always happened near the surface, though. When she went up to the pontoon platform she'd managed to create for the scavenged solar panels she'd found, the tune would slip into her mind like a curious and cautious guppy. She thought maybe it had something to do with the brightness of the Sunlight Z...

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“Weather ” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #60

- There is a weather forecast saying that it is going to rain heavily today – warned Julia, the mother of my kids, but not my wife. - Really ? – I asked her, trying to get some little time before I wake up from a night spent between two bottles of whiskey. - Yes. So you better be careful when taking the kids to school. - Don’t worry. I am as sober as a priest. - Fine. In five minutes they are ready … - Neither am I. - Go and wash your face. Take some coffee. You know I have to go to my job. - Ok.I am going, I am goi...

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“Acceptance ” by Janelle Hammonds

Submitted to Contest #60

Bryan mutters to himself as he makes his way up the stairs to his three floor apartment. He sticks his key into the lock, the school issued lanyard dangling from the end. “Hey,” Bryan greets, kicking off his sneakers, knocking them into the corner by the door. He drops his arguably unnecessarily heavy backpack to the floor, his books rustling around within the canvas, courtesy of his relentless reading assignments. He drops onto the couch, the motion slightly shaking his roommate, Iven, in the process. “What movie is this?” he asks, knocking...

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“Space Bound” by Moon From Earth

Submitted to Contest #60

Waves of hot and cold fought for dominance of Erika’s skin. Her suit worked tirelessly to protect her from the harsh temperatures, but a little still trickled in. The little fan connected to a chilled tank whirred loudly in protest, but the hardest part was yet to come. It was only hours ago that Erika and her husband had left their home. Now, they were heading toward a shuttle that would take her to the first experimental space station. The thought sent butterflies through her stomach. “Ready?” Russel...

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“The Cabin” by Bob Ivey

Submitted to Contest #60

“Daddy, I want to go home,” Amy said as she pulled weeds and harvested zucchini from the raised garden bed she was working on. “I miss my friends and I miss going to school.” Working on another garden bed with his back to her Paul said, “I know you do sweetheart, but this is our home now and we have to make the best of it. Besides, I thought you enjoyed coming to the family cabin.” “I did when it was only a couple of weeks in the summer, but now I can’t even go swimming in the lake. It’s so dried up that I have to walk out a half mile th...

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“Alone in the Universe” by Isabelle Haahr

Submitted to Contest #60

Theodosia had been watching the world fall apart for as long as she could remember. She remembered researching climate change for a forensics competition in high school. Her generation had been adamant that climate change needed to be fixed sooner rather than later. However, no matter what they did they were unable to convince the adults of the dire situation. Finally her generation came to power, but by then it was too late. &nb...

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“A World Of Water” by Shon Rakestraw

Submitted to Contest #60

The year is 7020. All ice on earth has melted. The planet is officially ice free. The air became toxic, polluted with all sorts of chemicals. Over time our human lungs could no longer take in oxygen. With all the continents deep under water our bodies eventually mutated to support life below the sea that was now our world. Most of us lived in caves. The water was no longer cold in any part of the world. The government had fallen and the people were self-governing for a time. However, over time it re-established itself and things were much wo...

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“The Year 2050 ” by Kathryn Wilborn

Submitted to Contest #60

The world has become a dark and grim place. The year 2020 had wiped out a large portion of the world’s population. Birth’s were not able to keep up with the death rates. This lasted for about five years before some college kid in his basement discovered a vaccine. The scientist around the world were baffled. Ever since then the World Health Organization had begun to fund anybody that might have an idea of how to defeat a deadly virus. I was only two in the year 2020 so most of the stuff that happened are just things that I had read in histor...

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“The Last People on Earth” by Robin ✿

Submitted to Contest #60

It was winter, and it was snowing. The snowflakes of it's different directions was a beautiful cold compass. And Owen was in his house looking out at his window. It was lovely to see the shining snowflakes of winter sparkling down to the ground. His little sister, Mary, was in her red scarf and making a snowman. All the cotton candy snow were piling up on everywhere. The snow settled itself on the roof Owen's house. Night fell. It was still snowing, and the stars in the sky matched lovely with the winter season. There were hardly people outs...

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“Tower of Death” by Rae H

Submitted to Contest #60

It’s the year 2214. Climate change has rapidly progressed over the past century and, despite scientists’ and world leaders’ best efforts, the Earth is nearly dead. The surface is a bleak wasteland ravaged by severe storms that leave death in their wakes. 33 years ago, new incurable diseases began to break out across the globe. Scientists stopped trying to save the planet and started looking for a way to leave it. Although another life-sustaining planet was never found, several space stations were built to orbit the Earth. Only society’s Elit...

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Write a post-apocalyptic story triggered by climate change.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 134 stories

“Route None” by Joseph Lombardi

“A Life of Lives” by S.N. Beale

“Outside the window” by J W

“The Lost” by Patrick Hurley

“The Bunker” by Mx Crane

“The Way to Eden” by Deborah Landers

“Weather ” by Sandra Claros

“Acceptance ” by Janelle Hammonds

“Space Bound” by Moon From Earth

“The Cabin” by Bob Ivey

“Alone in the Universe” by Isabelle Haahr

“A World Of Water” by Shon Rakestraw

“The Year 2050 ” by Kathryn Wilborn

“The Last People on Earth” by Robin ✿

“Tower of Death” by Rae H

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a funny post-apocalyptic story.

Write a post-apocalyptic story that features zombies.

Write a post-apocalyptic thriller.

Write a post-apocalyptic romance.

Contest #60

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

762

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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