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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

“Building Bonfires and Families” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #58

“Hey, Baby-Cakes!” Callie Baros cooed as she peeked into the bathroom of her student apartment that she shared with three other sophomores where Cake Flores was doing their hair. “Can you please not use so many electric appliances at once? Thank you~” “Hey, Callie~” Cake said in an imitation of Callie’s voice, “Can you not call me Baby-Cakes? It’s not my name, Cake is.” “Sure thing, BC. And remember to unplug.” She winked, then left. Cake rolled their eyes, then plugged in an extra hair dryer and turned it on just to spite Callie—bringing...

14 comments 14
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“Headed to the Top” by Taryn Holmes

Submitted to Contest #58

My high heels clipping against the limonium floors, I wove through the crowds of people in the lobby. A cup of coffee in one hand and a small purse swinging on my shoulder, I cut a quick path to the shining elevators across the room. As I neared the silver doors I could see a man tapping the button, then stepping back to wait as the “up” symbol lit up. Even though I could only see the back of him, dark black hair cut short against his neck and the top plastered with gel,, a clean navy suit settled across his broad shoulders and a solid gold ...

2 comments 2
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“The Power Outage” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #58

Rick looked into Jill’s eyes. “Once we leave, there’s no turning back.” “Uh huh. Meaning what again?” “We’re off to the wilderness and we’re dependent only on what we can carry with us.” Jill sounded skeptical. “You mean the wilderness out in our back yard?” “Right, ‘til tomorrow. The contractors promised. They need the power off for twenty-four hours to finish.” “And excepting bathroom breaks.” “Of course. We’re not barbarians. Plumbing, yes. Electricity, no… Let’s do a quick inventory and get a move on. Are the kids all packed?” They were...

7 comments 7
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“Love Will Never Die” by Aubrey Maria ✌

Submitted to Contest #58

“Don’t leave me.” She whispered, ‘I need you.” And that’s all she needed to say. As the minutes trickled by, Raphael stayed sitting across from her unmovable. No words, movements, or facial expressions. Meg thought he would say something. After all, wasn’t being vulnerable a hard thing to do when it felt like static in return? Then he moved.  His steps crunched underneath the colorful array of leaves and he came closer. Raphael slipped closer until their faces were inches apart. She saw his breath in the air stand still and she leaned t...

3 comments 3
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“Hope.” by Marsha Webb

Submitted to Contest #58

Trigger warning: abuse   Suzanne was not feeling well, she dragged her body out of bed battling against every fibre of her being that wanted to pull the blankets over her head and stay there warm and protected all day. She forced herself to shower and dress hoping it would make her feel better but it did not. Her head ached and she felt queasy, just get the essentials you need from the shop then you can come home and put your feet up she told herself in an effort to keep motivated. Suzanne picked up her keys and purse and forced herself...

2 comments 2
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“The Journey of Marlia” by Rose CG

Submitted to Contest #58

Topic: This is the story of a teenage girl's journey into adulthood, who must choose between her self-respect and the husband she once trusted and loved.**************************** Mild Domestic Violence*************************Marlia's terror of abandonment overwhelmed her leaving her empty as a broken egg smashed on a hot sidewalk. She clung to the edge of a pillar on the steps of the front porch weeping silently. The sun began to sink into the horizon as she watched her husband drive away for the last time. She held back her tears with a...

4 comments 4
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“Conversation with Kara” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #58

I tap my foot awkwardly, shifting my eyes around the dimly lit elevator, and try to ignore the painful silence that lingers between me and the other passenger. Just two more floors til floor five. She’s getting off there too, but most likely heading in a different direction. Just a few more seconds to go, and then this cringeworthy silence will end, and you can get in your car and leave the parking garage and go home.  There is no idiotic elevator music. I can’t tell if that’s good or bad. The space is cramped, lined with a musty bluei...

14 comments 14
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“The Approach” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #58

‘So, what do we do now?’ That was my brother, the last one out of the house. My mom was still arranging things on the wooden picnic table we had outside and dad would be home later. Doug just wanted to act like an asshole because he could not play videogames until he fell asleep at the computer. Another Friday... I wanted to check my email and research some things for my homework, but that was done for the moment. I thought that it would only be for a few hours. And it was still bright out, so I did not think that ...

9 comments 9
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“A Waiting Game” by Mushroom (flammulina Velutipes)

Submitted to Contest #58

We're drifting. We've been drifting for a long time - that's how we save fuel and energy, especially if we don't have any specific destination, but it seems our conservation efforts haven't been enough because Rust is telling everyone not to panic and saying that we'll all be fine if we just remain calm. Outside, a scattering of stars is reflected in my glasses - a thousand globes of fiery plasma hanging in an ice cold vacuum. There's silence out there - silence and peace and darkness and a surprising amount of dust. Space isn't as clean as ...

14 comments 14
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“Hollow Fury” by Sam W

Submitted to Contest #58

There is so much hollow fury inside me.Hollow because the lights are out. There used to be lights inside of me but I short-circuited, and they all went out.Nobody knows how much fury I contain because there is no way to express it.A year of my life has dripped down the drain before it even had a chance to start.It happens, during power outages. Things break. Things fall.I am still falling.I was going to spend a year in Germany. I was going to work, I was going to meet new people, I was going to gain independence and I was going to learn. So,...

11 comments 11
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“It'll Be Fun, They Said” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #58

Though she is only fifteen years old, the Martinezes are the twelfth foster family that Rainey has lived with in the endless orphan shuffle she has been caught in since she was found abandoned in a Jmart parking lot when she was only three. As far as foster families go, the Martinez family is kind and loving, although hopelessly ignorant and naive. While scrambling from the ravenous undead who are now feasting on their lifeless bodies, she realizes she might actually care for them, despite their mental shortcomings.Rainey stalks her way thro...

17 comments 17
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“The Empty Space” by Thistle Arellano

Submitted to Contest #58

When it happened, the only person on board was lying in her bunk, staring at the white paneled walls above her. The lights from the rest of the spacecraft shone through the black curtain surrounding her. She had to admit that she was homesick; she loved space, not to get it wrong, but she missed the feeling of dirt beneath her feet and the brush of wind against her cheek. She probably should have turned back two weeks ago, when they told her too, but alas, her ambition had gotten the better of her. She just wanted to see beyond the stars, to...

3 comments 3
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“When Your Light Went Dim” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #58

     What can one do when the one they loved the most was sufferings? No matter what you try, how much money you send, and how much hope you have, you know that there is nothing you can do to save them.          Wilhelmina stood over the limp form of her husband and held back a sob. She pressed a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. He could not die. She needed him too much.          She bit her lip and forced herself to calm...

2 comments 2
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“The Prison That is Panic” by Katherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #58

My breath comes fast and heavy, sobs rack my chest, and tears stream down my face to a point where I can’t even see my phone screen. I try to breathe but can’t. I try to calm down but can’t. I am on the verge of succumbing to the darkness clouding the edges of my vision when I realize what I need to do. I dial her number from memory, and she picks up on the first ring. “Hey boo, what’s up?” Her soothing voices washes over me, and I calm down enough to choke out a few words. “Help, please… my pills, medicine, out” I manage to sputter out be...

3 comments 3
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“Staycation on a Trampoline” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #58

“Now this is new,” Mom said as she walked around the tent. “I've heard of yurts and teepees, but a trampoline tent?”The tent was built on top of a trampoline, with metal support bars at each corner, meeting in the center above the tent. It would've needed better insulation if it had been winter, but thankfully it was only early Autumn. The walls were opaque enough to provide privacy to those inside the tent. A short, inflated ladder led up to the tent's entrance.“It's something new that I learned about online,” I said. “Do you want to see th...

34 comments 34
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$50

Prize money

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Contest entries

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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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