Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.

Posted in Dystopian on Apr 28, 2023

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✍️ 50 stories

“Overlapse” by Charles Cook

Submitted to Contest #196

Billboards litter even the backroads. If a bird grows weary of flight he rests upon its perch. An elephant ready for a cool patch of shaded grass to lie upon need only drudge toward the enduring vehicular symphony. We all thought we could win the war for our attention by simply giving up cell phones and social media accounts, in exchange for good ole fashion paper letters by mail. We couldn't have been more wrong. Advertising campaigns seemed to get stronger in spite of our rebellion. The only way to get around this mirage of shallow allure ...

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“Steve's TimeLeap” by Steven Scott

Submitted to Contest #196

Steve had always been fascinated by history. As a child, he devoured books on ancient civilizations and dreamed of exploring lost cities and uncovering forgotten treasures. As he grew older, he realized that his passion lay not in exploration, but in sharing his knowledge with others. And so, he became a teacher. For years, Steve taught history at a small community college. He loved his job and was well-respected by his colleagues and students alike. But despite his love for the subject, he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the limitati...

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“Balancing the Ledger” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #196

As John Jordan turned over the first shovelful of soil at the groundbreaking ceremony for his new insurance office in the Rehobeth Beach Coastal Mall he struck an unusually hard object. Although it seemed like a rock, when John reached down to retrieve it, it felt like hardened cardboard. He had found some type of book, like a journal or diary. Badly-smeared ink scrawls revealed the entries on pages stuck together by what looked like dried blood. &...

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“Observing” by Oliver Skywolf

Submitted to Contest #196

The boy woke up as lights glowed into his bedroom. Vivid rays like bullets piercing from the cold night sky. He rubbed his eyes and left his room in search of what may be outside. His parents were asleep —their puffy eyes resting. In the backyard, the boy’s bare feet felt fallen leaves on wet grass. He stared up at something spectacular. A pulsing spaceship, its shimmering brilliance beaming at the boy. He gazed as the spaceship descended in front of him. The boy felt no fear at this sight. No feeling at all. His one reaction was an inst...

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“Broken Circle” by Trevor Lorance

Submitted to Contest #196

1942 “Pa, how’s music going to come out of that box?” Henry asked his father, brow furrowed. “Radio waves, son. Ask Mrs Leonard tomorrow in science class. Settle down now while I get this thing ready” the father warmly answered, stepping back to admire the new RCA console radio that sat proudly as the centerpiece of the living room standing four feet tall. Hands on either side of his department store slacks, oxford sleeves rolled up, doctor approved BMI, and not a hair out of place on his pomade styled head. He was proud. “You kn...

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“Quantum Superposition” by I Jones

Submitted to Contest #196

Quantum superposition is the ability of a quantum system to exist in two states simultaneously. In 1801, Thomas Young demonstrated this concept with his double-slit experiment. Shining light through two small slits would result in two distinct beams of light, were the trajectories of light governed by classical physics. The observation of an interference pattern showed this to be untrue. Photons of light did not go through one slit or the other but took a multitude of possible paths. Over the years, many people attempted to see how this ...

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“Alternative Timelines” by Tiffany Snyder

Submitted to Contest #196

Alternative Timelines: By Tiffany Snyder The year was 2073 and the use of technology rapidly took over the world. Humans became ten times smarter and more adaptable to the revolving but constant changes. They became more conscious of their health and financial needs and there were less broken homes in the communities. People focus most of their time on finding resources and unlocking the universe’s secrets. As life became easier to manage many humans became restless and extremely bored with their day-to-day routines. The governm...

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“A Cancer in Time” by Daniel James

Submitted to Contest #196

It had been a week since the incident, one day since the funeral, and my grandfather had yet to reach out. Every text and call I made to him went without response, and then today my phone finally dinged and showed his name pop up on the lock screen. He was coming over. I had considered going to his flat before hearing from him, but he had always handled grief in his own very specific way. Mom had once told me that when she was a child and she had first been diagnosed with ca...

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“Whale Watching” by R.M. Jansen-Parkes

Submitted to Contest #196

The sun was already shining when Memphis woke up, and his Mom was sitting on the end of the bed. She was smiling, though her eyes were wet and red.Memphis glanced at the clock on his bedroom wall. He hesitated for a moment, trying to remember which hand was the hour and which was the minutes, and jolted when he realized it was almost nine."Mom, it's…" he started, but she shushed him with a finger."Don't worry, honey," she said. "Don't worry.""But how am I gonna' get to…""No school today," she interrupted, a grin spreading across her face. "W...

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“Running Down The Empty Road” by PADMA RAMAKRISHNAN

Submitted to Contest #196

Jayne is running down the empty road towards her house, which is also empty unbeknownst to her. She enters the house panting and screams out for her family members one by one, each time her voice breaks a little more. This is her worst fear, she’d heard stories of this happening to other people, but she never thought it would happen to her. Now her best friend, their family, and her family are all gone. It was like they’d been taken away from her like her world had been ripped apart until she was left with no one. No one to trust, no one to ...

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“Visiting the Past ” by Rene Volpi

Submitted to Contest #196

How wonderful would it be to hop around to a different point in time from our past? I always wanted to visit the 6th C. BCE, have a chance to meet the Buddha in person or....Rumi, later on. Visiting the French Revolution to watch Danton going at it with Robespierre. Or to watch my parents meet for the first time and see my father enchanting Mom with his ever present, irresistible charm. He must have been a fascinating young man if the letters I found in the attic revealed the true sentiment of these women whom he enthralled. Mom ...

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“Aika” by Emory Pearson

Submitted to Contest #196

I was shaken out of my slumber by a dirty old man attempting to remove my boots. I jolted off the makeshift mattress I had assembled on the gravel surrounding the factory. I thought I had found a hiding spot to safely catch a few minutes of rest before attempting to find paying work. But who was I kidding, there were no safe spots to hide on the streets of Manu. I shoved the leathered old man away and he fell backwards with a crackle. The gravel was laced with broken glass, metal shards and other non-identifiable scraps of refuse that clatte...

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“Timekeepers” by Ashley Harper

Submitted to Contest #196

“When do you want to go to?” the timekeeper asked. The two girls looked at each other and then back at the tall man. “Last Friday,” one of them said. “Are you sure?” the timekeeper asked. The girls both paused. “Yes,” they both said confidently. “What is your purpose to travel then?” “To talk to our grandmother one last time. She died just yesterday,” one girl said. The timekeeper stood and stared straight into her eyes. The girl started to tear up. “You tell truth. Tokens please,” he said, putting his han...

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“At What Cost?” by Autumn Warren

Submitted to Contest #196

At what cost? By: Autumn Warren ⚠️Trigger warning; Mentions of suicide.⚠️ If. . . what a word. If I could only do both or be in two places at once. If only I did this. Do you think I could have stopped that? If I changed do you think he would love me? If, If, If. . . always if....

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“A news article from 2098 uncovering the origins of Earth's war with Planet 147B ” by Rita Enchanted

Submitted to Contest #196

The global devastations of the Third World War left the world in ruins. There were no victories, only people left traumatized. Major cities had been obliterated and many countries' governments broke down. There was a need for unity and a new world order, leading to the election of the president of Earth in the year 2054. Under the president’s leadership, the world was able to build itself back up and for the first time in human history Earth was completely at peace. This new form of world government proved to be very effective...

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Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 50 stories

“Overlapse” by Charles Cook

“Steve's TimeLeap” by Steven Scott

“Balancing the Ledger” by Bob Faszczewski

“Observing” by Oliver Skywolf

“Broken Circle” by Trevor Lorance

“Quantum Superposition” by I Jones

“Alternative Timelines” by Tiffany Snyder

“A Cancer in Time” by Daniel James

“Whale Watching” by R.M. Jansen-Parkes

“Running Down The Empty Road” by PADMA RAMAKRISHNAN

“Visiting the Past ” by Rene Volpi

“Aika” by Emory Pearson

“Timekeepers” by Ashley Harper

“At What Cost?” by Autumn Warren

“A news article from 2098 uncovering the origins of Earth's war with Planet 147B ” by Rita Enchanted

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character unknowingly experiencing a “sliding doors” moment. Write your story in two halves; what could have been, and what actually happened.

Write a story that includes the phrase “Maybe in another life.”

You’re walking down the street, when you spot a familiar figure. It’s another you. And they’ve come from an alternate reality to warn you about something.

Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.

Contest #196

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

279

Contest entries

149

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: