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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#115: Connection Lost

It’s hard to imagine our lives without the constant presence of social media: it's a place to mingle, a source of news (however unreliable), and a form of entertainment. The jury’s still out on whether this omnipresence is good or bad, but what’s undeniable is that when a social media giant like Facebook goes down, as it did earlier this week, many of us feel as if we’re cut off from something. Taking inspiration from the recent blackout, the prompts for this week’s contest are all about connections, and what happens when they’re broken.

This week's prompts

One moment your character is talking on the phone with a friend, and the next, the connection is lost. Write a story about what follows.

Thriller and Suspense – 42 stories

Set your story in a town disconnected from the rest of the world.

Dystopian – 36 stories

Write about a character who feels like they're cut off from something.

Angst – 54 stories

Start or end your story with a character scrolling (or doomscrolling) through social media.

Adults – 14 stories

Write a story where a device goes haywire.

Science Fiction – 29 stories

Stories

“THEN THE PHONE LINE WENT OUT” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #115

THEN THE PHONE LINE WENT OUT “Okay , then we can count that you will be here for dinner time” Alexia said. “ Yes, I really think so” Daisy confirmed. “Ah, listen, do you want us to pick you up at the station when you arrive?” Alexia asked, but there was no answer . Alexia now could only hear a light rustling from her phone, whose line had gone out. It was a mobile phone, so she thought it was a lack of coverage ( a lack of range), as it often happened with the mobile phone...

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“Lucy Searches for the Sapphire Tablet of Enlightenment” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #115

“Lucy, I’m out [extended static] didn’t find the shack.” Gwen’s voice shook over the phone. “Did you find anything?” “Don’t come out [static].” “The call is breaking up. What are you’re trying to say?” Lucy longed for clearer details. Chills permeated through her. “Fly [static] home, don’t come here. Stay away, don’t waste [extended static] contact you in a few days.” “Goddamn it, tell me what’s going on.” The call went silent. Lucy screamed. “Mother fucking reception.” Her heart pounded. Lucy slammed the phone down. The plastic recta...

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“In the Small Hours” by S. C. Muntsy

Submitted to Contest #115

Michelle Ryan sits in her bed, cigarette hanging from her mouth, back leaning on the headboard, fingernails clawing into the comforter. “Why doesn’t she call?” Her heart races, the thrum vibrates in her ears. “Where is she? God, I’m so sorry. I hope she’s all right.” Michelle tilts her head to the nightstand; a half glass of wine lies next to an empty bottle. Her eyes dig into the red numbers on her clock, 3:13 AM.Michelle’s shaky hand reaches for the wineglass. The phone rings, disturbing the beat of her thumping heart. Her mouth opens, the...

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“Just Trying to Hang Out” by K.D. Walter

Submitted to Contest #115

“So do you want to meet up tonight?” Patricio O’Higgins was talking into his mobile phone to John Fisher. There was a pause as John delivered his answer. “So right now is good?” Another pause. “Awesome, so are you at home right now?” A yet further pause. “John?” One more pause. “John, are you there?” Patricio looked at his phone. “Lost connection?” David Vallejo asked him. “Yeah, lost the connection somehow.” Patricio and David were sitting together in the living room of the O’Higgins house. It was a Friday afternoon, school had ended about ...

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“Not what I signed up for.” by G.S Rodson

Submitted to Contest #115

CW: Lost Child, Police Brutality, COVID *The following story was inspired by recent events in Melbourne, Australia and mixes events from my own life with dramatisation inspired by the story of former Acting Senior Sergeant Krystle Mitchell* For the desk of the Chief Commissioner, When I was a young girl, my father took me into the city. There was a parade on and he wanted to see the marching band. He and I got separated in the crowd and I couldn’t find him. I don’t remember how old I was. When Mum tells the story I was six, but when Da...

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“Doomscrolling Doomtrolling” by L.J Sunwing

Submitted to Contest #115

“Thomas!” A crack of skin and bones broke the silent chatter of the picnic. Alison felt her heart beat out of her chest as she saw her husband stand over her cousin who had been standing several seconds before her vision hit the pair. It was not the situation she wanted in a family gathering. Her cousin, Cass, was lying on the ground with a robust grunt coming out as he rose after Thomas like a striking snake looking at his prey. Alison felt the urge to grab her husband until another family member inserted himself between the two, effectivel...

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“Truth In Jokes” by Bria Pate

Submitted to Contest #115

After finishing a long day of work and taking a shower, I sat in my bed eating a homemade pita. I decided to then get on Instagram and see if anyone posted anything interesting. I scrolled past photos of my relatives, friends, and some of my co-workers. I liked a few posts and commented on one, but none of them really stood out to me. After being on Instagram for about 15 minutes, I was about to exit out of the app when I saw a post from someone I was extremely close to at the time...or so I thought. My supposed...

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“The lost conversation - What's up , What's up...” by Sainath Reddy

Submitted to Contest #115

The lost conversation- What's up, What's up... It was October 5th, 2021. Around 10:00 am Katherine unlocked her phone and saw a WhatsApp text from her friend saying, "it's urgent. Call me when you can." Kathy never saw this type of text from her friend, and there was a hint of suspense and anxiety in the eyes of Kathy. Kathy came to the patio and called her friend on Whatsapp audio call; after a few rings, Amy picked the call, and the voice was not audible. There was the wind blowing, and Kathy's hair was all over her face; she adjuste...

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“The Confession” by Julia Hatch

Submitted to Contest #115

The Confession The land line rang. John glanced at the clock telling him it was 5:00. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and then picked up the phone. It must be Chris calling, he’s the only one to call on the landline. It had started to rain. “Hello?” John spoke into the phone. As soon as Chris started to speak John knew something was very wrong. “Hey John. John, I have to talk to you. Something really really bad has happened and I need help,” he said in a much too loud voice. He was insistent and wanted 100% of John’s attention.“Sure man...

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“When the World Stopped” by Edward Savage

Submitted to Contest #115

“I know you’ll be back Friday Peter, but I’ve missed you. Will you be late…” Jenny’s voice was gone not even a dial tone from the cars speakers. I looked around wondering if I’d driven into some sort of dead zone when every light on the dash flickered on then off and the engine quit. The steering went heavy in my hands, the power steering no longer powered and the car started slowing. I hunched my shoulders expecting any second to be rear ended by the SUV that had been close behind me in the fast lane of the motorway. Instead of the mirror...

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“A Pale Siege” by Vince Salamone

Submitted to Contest #115

Warning: Contains Graphic Violence, Gore, Suggestions of Suicide “It’s just… I’m worried about the drinking. You know?” A gasp of static from the phone: a sigh, long and stratified. “Again? I thought she quit?” “She did, but…” A pause. How much to burden them with? It was a well-trod road, but she had no one else to talk to. And Obert at least could claim some experience in this department, coming into a decade of clean living—so long as one overlooked the smoking, that was. “You know it is hard for her, with her job and all—” Obert’s...

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“Dimly Lit Stars ” by Saadiq Smith

Submitted to Contest #115

Hello there, my name is Sindy. Yes you there the reader of this epic tale, now I know what you may be asking "why am I reading this story" well if you have to ask that question now dear reader then you must not know what you’re in store for. Because this is the story about me and my great amazing fantastical friend named Rosey-Sam, we both live in this township called disconnected falls ironic right my Rosey-Sam thinks it’s a little to on the nose about things here but I think it’s quite charming we live in this town completely disconnected ...

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“The Capitol Walls: Breaking In and Out” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #115

Felicia’s comm hummed in her lab coat pocket. Annoyed, she stripped off her gloves. “Hello?” “Dr. Hughes, is that any way to answer your comm? Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” Felicia chuckled. She walked to the break room and closed the door. “Yes, both of them did, Dr. Hughes-Myers.” “Daphne and I certainly tried. Did I catch you at a bad time in the middle of an experimental progression?” “No—yes, kind of.” Her job was to assist The Capitol’s agenda: manipulate the mitochondrial DNA, beginning in utero, to correct or prevent an...

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“Saint Eden's.” by Charles Dean

Submitted to Contest #115

Saint Eden’s.September 24th, 1949.To be honest, this feels weird but I must try and write. Doctor’s orders.My name is Valentin Bianchi, I am/was a demolition expert for the 301st Airborne back in the States.We are in-route to Saint Eden’s and if you’re wondering, where is that? I don’t know. I know nothing really.What I know is that I was framed for something I didn’t do. See, back home I had some…problems with my C.O. I tried to get rid of him, he did the same but nothing worked until last week. The platoon went out drinking to a bar nearby...

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“There is a Place” by Walinda Pollard

Submitted to Contest #115

Tossing, turning, sweating through the night. Waking up every morning listening to the news. Every day, every moment, every hour, and every second you will hear on the news a kid has die from a gunshot. Today was not the day. I cry out asking God why? Our children are born to die before they can live.Whatever happened to love, peace, understanding and helping a neighbor. So much hate I cannot stand it. There must be a way to save our children. I will plan a trip and invite fifty children to come. The name of the bus is Wings of Shield. We wi...

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$250

Prize money

175

Contest entries

118

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 15, 2021 EST

Won by Alex Sultan 🏆

Title: 28 Letters

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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