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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#210: Is There Anybody Out... Here?

In the summer of 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi pointed out that 一 given the high probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy 一 it’s peculiar that we haven't encountered any of them yet. This paradox had many wondering whether we’re truly alone in the Universe.


The answer remains elusive to this day. But in recent events, a former intelligence officer testified under oath that the U.S. government possesses "non-human" biologics. If true, this suggests that not only are aliens real, but they might already be here on Earth.


In the absence of real evidence, most people have carried on with their daily lives. But what if it is true? How would this discovery alter the course of human existence? This week’s prompts are inspired by these timeless and unsettling questions.

🥇 Winner

“Sight Unseen” by Julie Clark

Sight Unseen Abraham Morgenstern reverently offered Sidra the Radio Shack catalog, as if it was his most prized possession. “This is the new one,” he said. “Shall we begin with the CB radios and then move on to the antennas? And please, call me Abe.” Sidra rolled her eyes, which fortunately Mr. Morgenster...

49 comments 49 WINNER 🏆
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⭐️ Shortlisted

“No More Elephants in the Zoo” by Michał Przywara

Anita Cable never seriously expected to come back from the dead. The forms Dr. Costa had her sign even said: they’d do their best, but the technology to reverse cryonic suspension just didn’t exist yet. And even then, there was still the glioblastoma. To her, it was all the same – bury, burn, freeze. A corpse was just a corpse, after she moved out. But it was little Molly that insisted, and how could Anita deny he...

49 comments 49 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“GAIA OS 2.88.13v” by Muthukumarasamy Vinodh

The year was 2048 A.E.M., and Gavin was on his last patrol before his shift ended. The street was quiet; only the buzzing sounds of neon advertisements filled the air. The tablet attached to the car’s dashboard buzzed – it was Linda from headquarters."God damn it, not her again," Gavin mumbled to himself, taking a deep breath before responding to the call. "Hi, Linda! How are you doing?""It’s Lieutenant Linda to you, Gavin.""Of course, Lieutenant Linda, it rhymes...

5 comments 5 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“Collision” by Amanda Vivilacqua

Dysus drove west, obeying the speed limit, and he trembled as he tried to light his seventh cigarette of the morning. His lips tingled around the filter. He smelled his own stale breath, captured in the palm he cupped around the lighter’s weak flame. He swallowed against the sticky thudding of the pulse that beat too high in his throat. The cigarette caught the flame and smoldered. Dysus cracked his window, and th...

12 comments 12 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“Love in the Time of Asthma” by Katy B

The mask swam elephantine and bug-eyed in the dark glass. After several years of passing the auto shop, whose empty windows were the only ones between the drilling fields and the motel left unboarded, Tommy still struggled to recognize the reflection as his own. He stopped absently to observe himself. It was dawn. The sun pink as a freshly peeled blister behind its film of dust cast downtown into streaks of gray shadow and warbled rose. It accentuated the muffled slurp of the mask, the clouds of dirt rising from the...

26 comments 26 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“[REDACTED]” by C. A. Janke

NOTE: The following documents have been recovered and organized in such a way as to give a chronological and contextualized view of the events that took place between OCTOBER 19XX – MAY 19XX. The information found within this dossier is accessible only to agents with minimum Level A5 clearance. The contents of this dossier are not to leave Floor XX Room XXX of the facility, be copied digitally or manually, and must be observed while in the presence of an agent with Level C7 clearance or higher. Failure to adhere to protocol will result in...

13 comments 13 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“Aliens on my desk” by Lyle Closs

16 January 2024 Dear MI5 I believe you handle external threats to the U.K. I am not sure how much of a existential threat they are, but aliens have arrived. They are on my desk. Let me tell you about them. They really are VERY small. When they stand to attention they look remarkably like half a match-stick. Their legs and arms fold into their tiny little trunks and almost merge into the surface. Th...

11 comments 11 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“The Messenger” by Debra Snyder

“Aakash, this just isn’t good enough! This is your third poor evaluation in as many weeks.” Ash studied the cracks on the conference room table. “Yes, Ma’am.” “You’re going to have to re-certify to prove yourself. Re-apply for the phone position, if you want it. As of now, you are downstairs working the messenger streams. I’m sorry, Ash.” Ash trudged down the stairs to the sixth flo...

6 comments 6 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“Visitor” by Mel Màkaw

VISITOR by Mel Makaw The more I got to know my new neighbor, the more I liked her. She was a little mysterious, you might say, but she was curious and enthusiastic, and she laughed easily. I thought we might become good friends. She hailed from somewhere in the Midwest. Iowa, I t...

9 comments 9 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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This week's prompts

Set your story after aliens have officially arrived on Earth.

Science Fiction – 102 stories

Write about a character who has to grapple with something completely alien to them.

Character – 48 stories

Write a story about a character who is trying to share groundbreaking news, but isn’t being taken seriously.

Dramatic – 30 stories

Make a mysterious message an important part of your story.

Mystery – 43 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “We’re not alone.”

Dialogue – 92 stories

Stories

“Sight Unseen” by Julie Clark

Sight Unseen Abraham Morgenstern reverently offered Sidra the Radio Shack catalog, as if it was his most prized possession. “This is the new one,” he said. “Shall we begin with the CB radios and then move on to the antennas? And please, call me Abe.” Sidra rolled her eyes, which fortunately Mr. Morgenster...

49 comments 49 WINNER 🏆
Read story

“No More Elephants in the Zoo” by Michał Przywara

Anita Cable never seriously expected to come back from the dead. The forms Dr. Costa had her sign even said: they’d do their best, but the technology to reverse cryonic suspension just didn’t exist yet. And even then, there was still the glioblastoma. To her, it was all the same – bury, burn, freeze. A corpse was just a corpse, after she moved out. But it was little Molly that insisted, and how could Anita deny he...

49 comments 49 SHORTLIST ⭐️
Read story

“The First Date” by Heather Blank

The sounds grew louder as I got closer to the tree. A loud, hiss-rattle sort of buzzing, almost impossible to articulate, but as familiar as my own voice. I stood beneath the crepe myrtle, no actual shade at all to protect me from the excruciating Texas sun, wondering where it was. Suddenly, I was smacked in the face with a fierce and angry flutter, as it scuttled off higher up into t...

45 comments 45
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“BEHOLD LOST POETRY – Part Two ” by Joe Malgeri

As previously mentioned: Consistently for over two decades my Aunt Sophie annually attended “The Lily-Dale, Upstate NY, Psychic Medium Community.” To celebrate my twenty-first birthday, my Aunt Sophie decided to invite me, her Nephew Patrick, along as her travel companion.    On our first day there, my Aunt Sophie and I observed the parapsychologist, Doctor Tarz, being an avatar for Kahlil Gibran. While i...

33 comments 33
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“The Visitation” by Howard Halsall

Hello, officer, I’m concerned about my neighbour’s safety.I’m Chris McNeill from fifty-two Galley Lane…His name’s James Ratcliffe with an “e”…Jim lives opposite me at fifty-three…I believe strangers have abducted him…They’ve got gold skin and black eyes…No, officer, this isn’t a prank call…Yes, I appreciate you’re busy but…Please, just allow me to explain…#Sherry and I aren’t nosey neighbours, however we couldn’t help noticing Jim’s house guests. They first appeared lat...

21 comments 21
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“Celestial Harmonies: Unveiling the Symphony of the Universe” by Turey Rosa

Poetic. As I set up my campsite in the verdant heart of El Yunque, Puerto Rico's stunning rainforest, I murmured to myself, "Alex, you've finally made it." Nestled near the captivating Río La Coca, a waterfall's ceaseless cascade echoed the rhythm of this untouched wilderness, hypnotizing me with its majesty. This journey was my self-prescribed sabbatical—an endeavor to escape the mundane and lose myself in the arms of nature's raw beauty. When dusk arrived, the rainforest filled with the soft symphony o...

14 comments 14
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“Pinder” by Nina Herbst

“Stop breathing on me,” Kerry said through gritted teeth.  “Technically, I’m not breathing. I’m filtering. But I suppose it means the same thing here,” Broggo said in reply.  “Ok, then stop FILTERING on me!” Kerry snapped and got up from the couch in a huff.  “I sense displeasure. And I believe it has been caused by me. Am I correct?” Broggo queried.  “Yes, it most definitely has been cau...

33 comments 33
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“Is Anybody Down There” by Mary Bendickson

Is Anybody Down ThereThe pilot aimed her craft toward the ocean surface at near mach one speed and effortlessly splashed through the rolling waves. Quickly passing all the scenic routes of coral reefs and colorful marine life within minutes the ship was cruising in the bleak abyss at about 16,000 feet below the deep blue sea.“Hey, watch out for that whale! How long have you had your license?”“Since before you were born, Petty Officer Pretty Boy. And what is a whale doing down this far, anyw...

43 comments 43
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“A Sunday Roasting” by Chris Campbell

“Wot’s this, then?” “It’s my new smartphone, Grandad.” “Wot’s it do?” “Lots of things.” “Like wot?” “Like, read emails, search Cyberspace.” “Wot’s Cyberspace - when it’s at home?” “It’s a superhighway of information available to everyone.” “Like a motorway?” “Yeah, sort of.” “Where’d they build it?” “It’s not something you can see. It’s mostly underground. But lately, it’s up in space.” “They’ve got motorways in space, like the Jetsons?” “No, they’...

28 comments 28
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“Take Me To Your Leader” by Chris Campbell

“Greetings! We come in peace. Take me to your leader.” James “Dinky” Murray stood motionless with his jaw dropped and mouth agape at the eight feet tall man towering over him on his front porch. Being seven years old and two-fifths the size of the stranger, caused him to strain his neck trying to look up at the man’s face, and the more he strained, the more his face distorted and stretched into a look of unintelligence. “Mom!” Dinky shouted – without breaking eye contact. “It’s for you!” “Who is it, dear?” D...

31 comments 31
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“The Apparatus ” by Michelle Oliver

“For God’s sake Mosley!”Jock Pendleton from Pendleton and Mosley ripped his spectacles from the bridge of his nose and mopped at his brow in frustration. Little Tim Mosley Junior stood before him with two halves of the whole apparatus resting in his open palms, his face a study of blank confusion.“If yer name wasn’t on the door, Son, I’d have given yer the boot long ago!”Tim’s munchkin face screwed up in dismay. His father had been a refugee from Oz in the early days of the Witch’s reign, ...

29 comments 29
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“Bedtime for Muriel” by Derrick M Domican

ANGELA“Cocoa! Warm not scalding! With pink marshmallows. And use a mug this time! I don’t need to lose any more porcelain by knocking it off the table in the middle of the night. Use your brain, for fuck’s sake.”“Yes, Muriel,” said Angela, nodding as she tucked the hummingbird-motif duvet around the octogenarian’s neck. “I’ll be right back, you just get comfy and listen to Barry.”“‘Listen to Barry’,” the old woman with the silver hair scoffed, shuffling under the covers as if in criticism of the way she’d b...

30 comments 30
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“Breadsticks” by Kevin B

The aliens were not going to leave the Olive Garden. Originally, they had no plans to try out any of the fast casual restaurants the world had to offer. They were on a very strict timeline-- Arrive on Earth. Bring together mankind under an umbrella of peace and kindness. Meet Paul Simon. Go home. Peace and kindness didn’t take very lo...

30 comments 30
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“Fresh meat” by James Larder

‘Why don’t you go back to your own planet? Ya gangly E.T cunt!’The alien waved back at the heckler, to try and diffuse his apparent distain and demonstrate that no hard feelings were held, but this appeared to make things worse. The alien still had not worked out why it was that humans got offended by the alien wave. Would the alien stop waving though? No. It was important to keep up with the local custom, as a sign of respect. Also, there was no way of them speaking Earth languages, just as it was not feasible for humans to speak ...

22 comments 22
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“Returning Home Without Ever Leaving” by Russell Mickler

Mars-Moon Transit Corridor. 2291. “Proximity Warning: object on impact trajectory.” “Time?” “Forty-seven minutes, six seconds.” Seated, Carlie Barnes flipped a switch above her head. The flight deck window depolarized to reveal the black of space backdropped by motionless, distant stars.  “I don’t see anything.” Charlie Broussard manipulated a three-dimensional model of local space on a flat screen. “Nothing’s in the queue; the schedule’s clear.” ...

27 comments 27
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$250

Prize money

315

Contest entries

115

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 11, 2023 EST

Won by Julie Clark 🏆

Title: Sight Unseen

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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