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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“Escapism” by Toby A

Submitted to Contest #196

“Get on the ground, now!”The man in front of me stumbled backwards, his sweaty back pressed up against me as the woman in front of him was tackled to the ground by an officer. The officer ripped a document from her shaking hands, and held it up to one of the travel officials. “It’s forged, sir—her Terms of Travel sheet. She never agreed to the real terms, and so I have reason to believe this woman intends to tamper with the butterfly effect.”The woman’s eyes widened in horror, and the travel official’s blank expression didn’t falter. He stoo...

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“The Stolen Colouring Book” by Cora Schlöglhofer

Submitted to Contest #196

As Heather wakes up from her visit to her son, her coffee machine is gone. This is alright, she had already figured that she would have to sacrifice something bigger. After all, her visit had lasted for a decent time. She checks her stopwatch. 2 hours 17 minutes. She just watched her son walk for the first time, so her coffee machine is a price she is willing to pay.She wipes a stray tear from the corner of her eye. Marlon had just taken his first steps, and when he couldn’t hold himself on his small legs anymore, she caught him in her arms....

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“Pullback” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #196

Jane sipped her milkshake and crunched down some fries. Burt was all lit up. “No, you can’t go back on your own timeline.” Burt continued. “When you go back, you’re actually in an alternate timeline that’s the same. I don’t know, my dad says going back in time creates an alternate timeline each time.” “The universe keeps expanding.” Jane said. “No. That’s something else. These are infinite realities, and you can never go back to the same alternate realty twice.” &nbsp...

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“Echoes Of Time” by Kenyatta Thomas

Submitted to Contest #196

The swirling vortex of time stood before me, its mesmerizing hues beckoning like a siren's call. I hesitated, my hand trembling as I reached out to activate the time-travel device. This had become a routine, a habitual escape from my own reality. But now, doubt crept into my mind, overshadowing the allure of exploration. Had I gone too far? Had I paid a price too steep for my insatiable curiosity? My name is Jonathan Hartley, and I was once a pioneer of time travel. In a world where the concept had been perfected, I had become an explorer of...

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“WellLorean” by Herbert Perez

Submitted to Contest #196

*light nudity in the story* “What are you doing, trying to catch the next boat to Staten Island,” as I texted Jessica “Oh man, you’re funny what are you doing aren’t you supposed to be working buddy,” are you working on your walk as you head into work, Jessica texts back. “Ha, ha, very funny I’m strutting to work see you in a few minutes,” I text back smiling. I laugh as I begin to strut down Broadway as the “Staying Alive” goes jingling in my head. It never gets old walking down the avenue of the world, whoa what’s the theme to Back...

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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

“Escapism” by Toby A

“The Stolen Colouring Book” by Cora Schlöglhofer

“Pullback” by David B Fraser

“Echoes Of Time” by Kenyatta Thomas

“WellLorean” by Herbert Perez

🌟 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: