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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#58: Lights Out

Whether it’s a summer storm or a blizzard, we’ve all had the “pleasure” of going about our day when suddenly the lights flicker out. No matter what you were doing before, it’s fair to say your plans are now disrupted — and may be for quite some time.

In the modern era, electricity is the backbone of pretty much everything we do. From keeping our food fresh to helping us stay connected, it powers our daily lives. These days, it’s even how many of us get to work.

This week’s prompts invite you to consider what happens to your characters when those routines are broken. Do they flounder, or do they thrive? And what lengths will they go to in order to return to normal?

This week's prompts

Write about someone who purposefully causes a power outage.

Thriller and Suspense – 146 stories

Write a story where the power goes out on a spaceship or submarine.

Adventure – 86 stories

Write about a character who’s stuck in an elevator when the power goes out.

Thriller and Suspense – 252 stories

Write a story about someone feeling powerless.

Narrative – 284 stories

Write about a family who decides to camp out in the back yard during a power outage.

Funny – 111 stories

Stories

“Colonists-362” by Anshika Goyal

Submitted to Contest #58

I hear the thumping footsteps as I stand on the concrete floor surrounded by electric wires in complete darkness. “Young man, step aside-” his face penetrates the flashlight, “Wallace?” He raises his eyebrows and his face contracts like a pitiful old man. I stand speechless as my dad, ignoring my existence, joins back the huge wire to the supply. The fault is easily found- ah the advancement these days. Even louder and speedy footsteps come towards this slowly-coming-back-to-life room. “Robert! Thank god you fixed it before much damage...

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“Falling Into Lucidity” by Ryan Lieb

Submitted to Contest #58

January 11th First time I’ve had the elevator dream since Doc told me to start this journal. Fourth time I’ve had it total, I think, maybe fifth. It’s always the same.In the dream, I’m just getting off work, except it’s later than usual and I’m the only one left in the office. I fill out my timesheet, set my desktop to sleep mode, and head toward the elevator. I’m the only one on it, and instead of starting from the 33rd floor, I’m on the 400th floor. I press the button for the lobby and the elevator begins its slow descent. It beeps as...

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“As The Stars Blink Out” by Ava F

Submitted to Contest #58

The wind blew through my window, and my room was so quiet, I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I gazed out into the night sky. It was like a staring contest with space, but of course, it always won, except for the many small times it would wink and twinkle when it knew you had been staring too long. When you desperately needed to get some shut eye. It was like even the stars knew. And they did know. I had guessed no one could relate to what I did nightly, but there was something about the way that the one girl...

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“Lustering Lights” by Rudielyn Lenlen

Submitted to Contest #58

Singing along with the melody of music in my heart is the only thing I can do during this night. It pacifies myself as it removes all the undesirable things in my surrounding. Tranquility is wrapping my body— one of the finest feelings I ever had. “Lynnea! Can’t you hear me? I said come here.” I groaned as my mother pulled out my big white headphone on my ears. Sluggishly looking at her, I grabbed my thing back. &nb...

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“Embers” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #58

Simone Lewis was brought up by Kurt and Corey, a couple in their mid-thirties. The boys had been together for ten years, before they seriously thought about a child. A mutual friend named Gracie, offered to be a surrogate. The little girl was born on the 7th of July 1990. She had Kurt’s bright blue eyes.It never bothered Simone that she was being raised by men. She lived with two loving and supportive parents. That was more than she could say for some of the kids she knew. Her best friend for example, only had her mother Harley. Neither of t...

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“An Act of Civil Disobedience” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #58

At a conference table sat two FBI agents. It was a beautiful day outside but neither noticed for looking at a tablet. “These are the interviews with the three suspects," said the woman. "Got to say they were-interesting."“Thanks Jane.” Tom reached for the lousy stuff they called coffee these days. He hated it but today he needed the caffeine. He drank, winced, and looked at his colleague. “You know what amazes me? They're not throwing each other into the sea to get a deal.” “No. I'd expect Sebastian to be protec...

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“Power On” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #58

Warning: Mature themes. Discretion advised.Her name was D0T-3000. Master called her Dot.He had bought her one year ago, and the first night was the worst. He had seen the ads and heard the ravings from his friends – but he’d never had one for himself before. So, he tested.“Power on,” he said. Dot blinked, and Master smiled. There was no light in his eyes.Dot was the latest model. The makers were good, but they did not know everything. For instance, Dot could not feel. Not yet. Her sensors registered when something brushed against her arm, ye...

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“Bitter Rain” by Maya W.

Submitted to Contest #58

Kioko sighed heavily, each step she took a little weaker than the last, until she finally reached the elevator. She was exhausted, but ready for another day at work, though she toiled away each day at her office. It was hard, but she enjoyed what she did, to an extent. The elevators had large windows that reflected the skyline of the beautiful Tokyo, the glistening sun bouncing light from the buildings, reflecting onto the glass. Kioko smiled as she stared out the window, her exhaust briefly wavering. She always enjoyed the sunshine. ...

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“Mona” by Lola S.

Submitted to Contest #58

MonaClaire had always had a penchant for mysticism and all the unknown morsels that lurk in the shadows of homes with cryptic histories. She loved working this temp job of readying houses on the market in this historic town of Northworth because it gave her a glimpse into lives and ways of living she had never encountered before. She would drive by the waterfront properties on the way to visit her father, in her high school years, from her mom’s house. Since the divorce, this had become a welcomed regular occurrence. Drive to see dad and dre...

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“"As Planned"” by He!do I.A.P.N

Submitted to Contest #58

"Everything will go exactly as planned."Those haunting words kept circling lazily through Lieutenant Commander Thomas Bartlett's mind as he frantically pounded on the keyboard, trying to find a loophole, a way out, an answer.The screen at which he was looking at was anything but impressive, the opposite of which seemed to be the main trait aboard the Magnificence III. It generated a weak light, as it was being powered by the double back-up generator, lighting the lieutenant commander's drawn facial features in a sickly way. “Come on Mag...

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“The Tank” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #58

Bubbles felt refreshed. The water was cool and clear; Mr. Ronald had taken to emptying it that very afternoon. Cleaning day was never the most comfortable – Bubbles really hated that bag – but it was worth it. Not a speck of dirt in the tank, no sir.The tank was small. Just some purple and green rocks, a couple pieces of seagrass and a tiny stone castle. Bubbles had nibbled on the seagrass first-thing when Mr. Ronald dumped him in the tank. He was furious to discover it was plastic and proceeded to spend the next few minutes giving Mr. Ronal...

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“Schrödinger’s Parakeet” by A.Dot Ram

Submitted to Contest #58

When the world as we know it stops, the time on the oven clock reads 4:37 before the spindly green numbers disappear with a loud warning beep, a tritone harmony of appliances announcing a power outage. My first guess is a fire, since it’s August and it’s hot, and the light out the window has taken on that familiar surreal yellow tint, the trees casting anemic lavender shadows across the lawn—a false dusk. “Where do you keep the lanterns?” Simon calls from his den. We have over three hours until sunset. I’m more concerned with the p...

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“The day my life changed” by Katina Foster

Submitted to Contest #58

Author’s note: Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects 1 out of 2,000 Americans and 3 million people worldwide. On average, it takes 10 years from symptom onset to diagnosis. About 75% of these cases are classified as Type 1: Narcolepsy with Cataplexy. This is my diagnosis and for me the journey took 12 years. This story is a combination of real life events that eventually led to my diagnosis 10 years ago. I’ve included more links and information in the comments if you want to learn more. ***My clumsiness has officially becom...

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“The Long Walk Home” by Stephanie Albright

Submitted to Contest #58

It was Friday morning and I was headed to the break room for my coffee, then back to sitting in an office with two women that hated each other. I was almost back to my office when the lights flickered, then went out. “Well, shit,” I muttered. I made it to my office with the light coming from the front windows. I took a large drink of the terrible coffee and sat down. As I picked at my doughnut, I realized how quiet it was. I grabbed my flashlight and headed out to the front of the store. There were no cars moving out on the street. A few pe...

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“Unplugged” by KarLynn Erickson

Submitted to Contest #58

Ally pulled the van up to the house and let out a disgusted breath. “Every light in that house must be on.” The craftsman style house was what she and her husband Jake had always dreamed about and worked for. They met in college. He was a business major and she was in design school. Neither of them came from money, so they spent time finding joy in things you don’t have to pay for. She loved the house and neighbor hood they chose to raise their family in. These days though, they had little time to enjoy anything.&nb...

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$50

Prize money

879

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 11, 2020 EST

Won by Julie Bissell 🏆

Title: In the Dark

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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