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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#62: Forward Thinking

Last week, we took a trip down memory lane. This time, we’ll be looking forward: to the future, and all the infinite ways it can unfold.

Of course, in the real world we can never know exactly what will happen — that’s what makes it both exhilarating and terrifying (or sometimes both at once). And while you as the author may know exactly how the story will end, the characters are just as ignorant as the rest of us.

This week, we invite you to dig into your characters’ hopes and dreams for the future. Do they long for it, or dread it? How are they trying to prepare? Who knows, maybe they’ll even get a glimpse at events still to come…

This week's prompts

Write about a character who can suddenly only “remember” their future, not their past.

Thriller and Suspense – 129 stories

Write about a character who’s had their future foretold from birth — but isn’t sure if they believe it.

Fantasy – 152 stories

Write about two characters on the verge of a life-changing event, but one has rigged the outcome.

Dramatic – 90 stories

Write about a character preparing to go into stasis for decades (or centuries).

Science Fiction – 108 stories

Write about a character putting something into a time capsule.

Science Fiction – 141 stories

Stories

“Attached to a string” by Radhika Diksha

Submitted to Contest #62

I loved the ghungroos on the string, it reminded me of all the good times I had in my life. ARYAMAN had made it when we were in Kashmir. When we visited here, he would become a full time Romeo. Making bouquets, biryani, thupkas and sometimes even ponchoe for me. In the day he used to be busy writing songs and in night he would sing them for me. He wasn't ARIJIT SINGH but the rawness in his voice was like honey to my ears. Now this cottage is empty, but is filled by chilled winds. It was not easy for me to make the decision, it was never easy...

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“A Question of Satisfaction” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #62

By 1859, Captain Trueshott had defended his wife’s honour so many times she invested in a pair of duelling pistols for this purpose. The days of the flintlock were ending, but as a weapon of choice for the habitual duellist, it was second to none. Agatha chose a pair of beautiful handmade weapons presented in a plush velvet-lined oak box. The 10-inch pistols fired large, heavy lead balls weighing half an ounce that travelled around 830 feet per second. They could therefore inflict severe wounds over the 30 paces between two adversaries. Desp...

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“The Dawn : Nona” by Amy Utami

Submitted to Contest #62

I walked through what I called summer breeze. I wonder, what was autumn felt like? The tropical islands like Indonesia didn’t have one. This island was forcefully trapped under two seasons that’s fated for all lands passed by equatorial line. But once in a year, you might able to witness some trees turn to its golden leaves and let it blew by the wind, a scenario that’s only could be seen by eyes. I was incapable to capture it into a paper of long-lasting memories. A paper that let you traced an old moment once again. The golden leaves, old ...

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“Kings & Queens 👑 part four” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #62

Delvin’s POV:The redhead that’s staring at me is really cute. But there is something strange about him. The taller one, who looks like me, walks towards me, but I put up a hand.“Wait.” I say. “You might know me, but I can’t remember you.”He looks confused. “But...” “I still know who you are.” I tell him. Maybe I should explain. “I’ll explain on the way.”“The way to where?” He demands.I smile. “We’ve got to go get the elves, don’t we?” 👑I tell them how, about five hours ago,...

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“Time Capsule” by Echo Sundar

Submitted to Contest #62

"Hurry!" I exclaimed, willing my mom to drive just a little bit faster. She sighs and rolls her eyes, "I still don't get why you guys do this aren't you a little too old?" Ignoring her comment I scan the road, looking for a blue Prius, red truck, silver slug bug or a green bike to my pleasure I see none. My mom pulls up next to the forest telling me when I need to be home, telling me don't do this, don't do that but I tune it out and sling my bag over my shoulder, I wasn't going to be in the lead for long. "Bye!" I exclaim, jumping out of t...

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“Saving Billy” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #62

“How long do you plan to keep putting this off?The words pierced through Marie Stanford's peace of mind, threatening to suffocate her. These intrusions always gave her the same sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.Though the sudden interruption rattled her inside, she kept lacing her brand-new saddle wood boots, which had just arrived by UPS. After she finished, she glanced up to give the man an eye roll, letting him know she wasn't pleased.The strangers always found them. She and her husband, Gary, finally ended up returning to Stone Plai...

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“Seer of Nova Valley ” by Aaliyah Kamal

Submitted to Contest #62

SEER OF NOVA VALLEYThe world was growing increasingly indifferent, non-compassionate and barbaric. In such a world, small acts of kindness had become practically non-existent. I reflected on this as I hurried through the red bricked lanes of Nova Valley, my hands buried deep inside my pockets, the collar of my coat wrapped tightly around my neck.The alley was dark and I was startled when a voice called out from the shadows. It took a moment for me to spot the dark silhouette of a homeless man, hunched over on the pavement with a ragged blank...

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“Stars” by Mia Rigini

Submitted to Contest #62

On the day my daughter died, the stars smiled down at me, in their beautiful but sad way. I asked myself how the stars could look so happy on such a sad day, and looked up. It was almost as if they looked back at me, the way a mother looks at her child, comforting, loving, and quiet. The stars kept me going through it all. Even as a young child, I had always loved the stars and how they twinkled in the sky, formed pictures, told stories. I loved how whenever I was feeling down, I could tell myself, “Look, Orion. The stars will come out tonig...

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“Kings & Queens 👑 part one” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #62

Please give me feedback for this story!Christopher's POV:"Do we really have to do this?" My older sister, Allison, asks me.I roll my eyes. "No, the really huge, super important ceremony that mom just said is mandatory, doesn't matter at all.""Enough with the sarcasm, Crissy." She says, dropping on my bed.I sit in my desk chair, and throw an eraser at her head. "Don't call me that."My name is Christopher Micheal Reynes, but I go by Chris. The ceremony we're talking about is when we’ll find our soulmate. Our mom, the Queen, met our father that...

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“Kings & Queens 👑 part two” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #62

Salvor's POV:What is happening? What's this string? Why is it glowing? What is happening?The red string drags me into the ballroom of the castle. I hear gasps, and I look up.Oh no. The soulmate ceremony was today, wasn't it? Am I going to have to marry Princess Allison?The string pulls me to the front. A servant boy with frizzy hair is already standing by Allison. Does that mean...I look at Christopher. He looks horrified. So do the Queen and King. And my dad, who's standing by them.This is not what was supposed to happen. The string is...

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“Drip, Drip.” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #62

*Content Warning: sexual assault and violence*I look down at the object in my hand, watching the blood drip, drip, drip from the cool silver blades to the tile floor, the white stone now stained with red––“Ava, are you all right?” Mrs. Mullen looks at me, her eyebrows furrowed and raised in concern. “You’re quite pale, dear. Do you need to go to the nurse?”“I’m not… sick…” the words sound strained. Agonizing.I blink, and then squeeze my eyes shut. The blood is still there. The white tiles. I open my eyes. Mrs. Mullen still stands over me, bi...

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“Déjà Vu” by Emmanuel Olaleye

Submitted to Contest #62

"Ring... Ring... It's time to wake up!""Ring... Ring... It's time to wake up!"Fred's eyes slowly opened to behold the behold the beauty of a new morning sunrise, as the repetitive voice of his alarm clock ushered him back to consciousness. He got out of bed, killed the alarm clock and hurriedly began to get ready for work.In about twenty minutes time, he was standing in front of the large mirror placed directly opposite his wardrobe and just right beside his study table."Today is great day..." he began saying, talking to his reflection in th...

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“A Sky Full of Seashells” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #62

“Are you ready?” Kate beckoned her daughter to come near. She was sitting cross legged on the turquoise rug in the center of the living room. The floor was covered in books and various household items, and in the middle of it was a fairly big stainless steel box which was currently empty, it’s lid wide open like the mouth of the Cookie Monster expecting to fill its stomach with treats. “Yes, coming—” five-year-old Ashley replied, trailing after her a big colorful fabric bag.“Let’s see. What do you have there, love?” Her mother inquired curio...

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“For Posterity” by JASON PARKER

Submitted to Contest #62

The sweet, coppery tang of blood hit my tongue as I gazed up at my aggressor. A brown leather eyepatch covered one eye but the other was just lovely: verdant green like the Welsh hills. Hair the color of ginger ale framed her face beautifully; a face with the most agreeable smattering of freckles. Her mouth was a shiny oyster: slick and wet in the moonlight. Her nose was that of a Pre-Raphaelite painting: long and slender with flared nostrils. When she exhaled, I half-expected to see steam spit out of her, as though she were driven by a coal...

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“The Apple of The Future” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #62

His eyes are ocean-blue, deep, mysterious, and focused tightly on me. Shaggy brown hair is pulled away from his face, tangled in the back like he cared not for how it appeared. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know where I am.“Do you see it?” I pulled away, his breath stinking heavily of peppermint failing to cover up the smell of smoke. His fists clenched with such an intensity, I felt small and insignificant and unworthy of his attention. I found my mouth to speak, my throat so dry I couldn’t remember the last time I spoke. In fact, if...

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$50

Prize money

620

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 09, 2020 EST

Won by A.Dot Ram 🏆

Title: No Hard Feelings

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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