Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.

Posted in Fantasy on May 31, 2024

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✍️ 71 stories

“The Amulet” by Krislyn Lyon

Submitted to Contest #253

Trigger Warning: The following story contains themes of emotional abuse, as well as a tragedy involving a young child. The Amulet I looked down at my wrist. The amulet, snugly wrapped around it, radiated with magical energy. It was time. Tears dripped from my eyes. The child in front of me was perfect and peaceful, but eerily still. Grandma and grandpa should’ve watched him better. They always bickered over inconsequential drivel. She would titter on about the latest from church, over-explain basic recipes, or make sure I had all my husband’...

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“The Time Mender” by Lee Kendrick

Submitted to Contest #253

The Time Mender By Lee Kendrick I have always been interested in horology since I was eight years old. Back in London in the mid-60s, my Uncle Bill used to repair clocks and watches, sometimes, he would bring some home from work to repair for customers. When I would visit him and my aunt Betty with my parents I would pull up a chair and sit watching him tinkering with a clock or watch.I was so fascinated watching Bill using what he called his… Little people's tools …Miniature tools such as screwdrivers and pliers, while weari...

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“The Strings of Destiny” by Jordan Isaac

Submitted to Contest #253

It was the article by Doran Verdwallen that led me to make the decision…I had remembered every word of it.A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOMO DESTINSAn Article by ~ Doran VerdwallenThe creation of the Filum Trial, in 2185 — more commonly known as the Destiny Strings — was the experiment that irreversibly altered the world.In its simplest terms, life as we knew it was remodelled to sustain the advancements of the new technologies manufactured by the scientists of our Moirian Government. Its stated aim was to further understand ho...

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“The Demon of the Mist” by Kathy Frizzell

Submitted to Contest #253

(Note that someone in the story has concealed a desire for something greater for a significant duration.) In Raven-Wolf’s reality, there is a different world and a chance for her to test her skills.Keep backstory connected to current choices and actions: Hades is a {Vampire}, Heart-dragon spear, blades, vampire-blood, display the strengths and weaknesses of a vampire. Attire; Some of the traits are immortality, fearlessness, mysticism, and dreaminess, whereas weaknesses include dead-man’s blood, bluntness, and garlic. Blade, with his long bl...

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“The Worst Timing Ever. ” by Lark Malloy

Submitted to Contest #253

Reagan always knew she could freeze time, but she had never known the trigger of her mysterious ability. It wasn’t as though she could snap her fingers or simply focus her thoughts. There wasn’t a verbal command she could say or a hand motion she could perform that would provoke her powers. Despite this, she could occasionally tell when it was happening, because she always felt the same symptoms beforehand. At first, her hands would become clammy. Then, she would become dizzy and disoriented. A few minutes later, she would completely l...

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“The Fold” by Jordan Martinez

Submitted to Contest #253

Rick stumbles into his apartment, tripping over his coffee table and landing face-first on the hardwood floor. The cold floor felt nice against his red-hot face, though he didn’t enjoy the smell of alcohol coming from his breath. Reaching up, he hopes to hit the right button on his answering machine. A loud beep followed by a woman's voice saying; You have one new message, let him know that he succeeded.“Hello Rick, It's Jon. I'm calling to ask if you’ve received your final check." The man spoke with a deep and stern voice. "Just so you don'...

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“Time Spent” by Tommy Maximum

Submitted to Contest #253

John felt cheated. He asked for more time, but what he got was the ability to briefly stop time. He wanted more time to kiss his wife, to watch his son's soccer game, to embarrass his daughter by being an amazing dad to her friends, and most importantly, he wanted more time to enjoy being alive. Maybe if he had the ability to stop time when he was younger, he could have given himself more timeto think about all the mistakes, he made that got him here. Maybe then he wouldn't have gotten cancer. And maybe then, he wouldn't have to watch his fa...

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“They Do Run Run” by Dr. Jael Zebulun

Submitted to Contest #253

As you know, the wild woodland creatures have a race every few years to see who will rule the forest. The true rulers, however, rule from the shadows and do not change every few years. The two tree committees control the important decisions (it’s been alleged that sometimes they even help determine who the racers will be—but that’s just hearsay, for everyone knows that’s decided by vote). The tree committees are comprised of eagles, owls, a few hawks, and a leopard. Many feel the leopard should be ousted, though, because she wasn’t born in t...

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“The Question of the Question” by Joshie Livingston

Submitted to Contest #253

1 Thoreau once said, “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.” Wise man as he was, he could only fish in time. I can swim in it. It is not hard to stop time. All you have to do is feel how slow it is, and then feel it getting slower until it stops. When I was a kid, I felt bad for everyone else because they couldn’t live each summer day as long as a year. I only let the autumn semester come because I got bored of playing alone. Now I stop time when I see some injustice in the world, like a waiter about to spill drinks on my soon-to-be fia...

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“Killing Time” by Daniel R. Mangru

Submitted to Contest #253

Kristine Pendleton places a slice of Havarti cheese on the final sandwich for her three kids, before she tops each one off with a slice of whole wheat bread. It only takes a minute to bag up each of their sack lunches for the school field trip to the science museum. She checks her watch and begins to calculate, “They’ll be downstairs in a minute, the bus will be here in four, and it will take them another minute or two to put on their shoes and reach the bus stop. Just enough time to sneak in a quick goodbye kiss.” Kristine Pendleton has her...

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“ÅNG3L TWO FOUR” by Dennis Colby

Submitted to Contest #253

Amidst a bustling crowd of commuters on their way to work, Yuki Nakajima catches a glimpse of her own reflection in Yotsuya Station's large glass doors. Wearing a tailored black blazer she aims to exude an air of professionalism with a hint of style. Her hair, meticulously arranged in a low bun, is complemented by whimsical Jiji earrings - black lacquer cats, each suspended within a silver birdcage, swaying in unison like twin metronomes marking the beats of her day.Yuki boards the Metro Marunouchi Line, a shining example of Tokyo's exemplar...

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“Time and Consequence” by C. J. Payling

Submitted to Contest #253

‘Watch this!’ you shouted. You zipped down the halfpipe in the local park. You pushed off with your leg as hard as you could. You moved so fast I thought the wheels would fly straight off. You loved it too much. I remember when you first got your skateboard. It was your thirteenth birthday. I commented on how boring and generic it was to have a black skateboard with flames. Your smile was so big I thought your cheeks would pop. Your mum called it your cheek-split smile. ‘I know.’ Your eyes were large, you absorbed every detail about your new...

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“A Robin on the Windowsill” by Jordan Verner

Submitted to Contest #253

It was in the cluttered backroom of The Rusty Nail, a junk shop on Charlton Street, that he first saw it. The watch wasn’t particularly eye-catching among the sea of relics, but as David passed, it seemed to hum with a strange energy that drew him in. When he asked about it, Mr. McCaffrey merely shrugged. “Strange piece, that one. Found it in an estate sale.” McCaffrey muttered. A tremor ran through his eyelids, causing them to flutter open and shut rapidly, “ Doesn’t keep time but refuses to cease its tick. Like a heart that won’t concede ...

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“Stealing Time” by Jon M

Submitted to Contest #253

The blue-red lights flashed behind him, visible in his rearview and casting colored shadows along the dash. The cop took his license twenty minutes ago, but Mike wasn't worried. Another cop car rolled up, an SUV, instead of a sedan.“Doesn’t take two cops cars to write a ticket,” Mike said to no one and chuckled.The driver of the SUV looked at Mike as he rolled past, Mike smiled and waved.A cop walked up to the window, shining a Maglite in Mike’s eyes. “License and insurance.”Mike leaned his head out the window and peered to the left to get a...

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“The Time in Between” by Rob Jepson

Submitted to Contest #253

The Time in Between - Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time. “Why must she be so beautiful? Why must her voice resonate with my heart in such a melodic way to make it dance between beats?” The shadow of a young man was cast out from behind a not yet lit street light across from a local tea shop. He was standing, watching the one he knows is the love of his life, toiling her fingers, undoubtedly waiting for someone. Each and every day he waite...

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Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 71 stories

“The Amulet” by Krislyn Lyon

“The Time Mender” by Lee Kendrick

“The Strings of Destiny” by Jordan Isaac

“The Demon of the Mist” by Kathy Frizzell

“The Worst Timing Ever. ” by Lark Malloy

“The Fold” by Jordan Martinez

“Time Spent” by Tommy Maximum

“They Do Run Run” by Dr. Jael Zebulun

“The Question of the Question” by Joshie Livingston

“Killing Time” by Daniel R. Mangru

“ÅNG3L TWO FOUR” by Dennis Colby

“Time and Consequence” by C. J. Payling

“A Robin on the Windowsill” by Jordan Verner

“Stealing Time” by Jon M

“The Time in Between” by Rob Jepson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

Start your story with a character canceling their plans.

Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."

Contest #253

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

335

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: