Write a story set in a city where the power suddenly goes out, leaving everyone in darkness.

Posted in Horror on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 187 stories

“The lunar eclipse” by Santina Forlenza-Pihuličova

Submitted to Contest #92

In a world where light was powered by the Sun and stored by the Moon, a lunar eclipse was the blackout. * The right night to catch the wild animal had come. The Shaman told them. “Why?” One of the hunters asked. “Because Silver Ball is full. Look how perfectly round it is! Look how it floats in the blue-dark waters above your head,” the Shaman said. “You will see, when its silver claws will stretch on the wild animal; you will catch it, wherever it will try to hide,” he added rubbing his hands greedily. The hunters moved among low bushes and...

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“Why Your Dog Is Better Than You” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #92

I do not understand the humans. Let me explain: I am “Rex” to my human, but “Steven” to my friends. I have had my human for over three years and it is a pleasant relationship, as long as I can understand the things that we are both supposed to do. I chase out the birds and squirrels, guard the space when the human is out, and make sure that this space is safe. Yes, make it safe, and keep it safe. And this is why I am still confused. One day, in the middle of an evening, when fewer squirrels were about and I had not much to do except wai...

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“Exchanges With Mina” by Sharmila Shankarkumar

Submitted to Contest #92

Three days into the blackout it was pitch dark inside and outside. I was contemplating my next move.It had been 6 years, 3 months, 4 days and 7 hours since I'd last left the apartment. I lived there, all day, all night, every day of the week, every week of the year. It’s a nice enough apartment. It’s right on sixth avenue and I don’t have a set of eyes right across the street, peering in at me. There's no rear window situation. There’s a little distance between us, because of the triangular park they built on the street below a long tim...

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“Pitch Black” by Kirrtanaa Thanesh

Submitted to Contest #92

Charcoal City was a city like no other. What made it different from others was the sky. Every night, instead of the usual dark blue sky others would have, the sky in Charcoal City would be black. Not just any black, pitch black. Light was an important source for the city. Joey and his little sister Ellie lived in a normal house with their parents and their grandmother. Ellie was much loved by everyone as she was a sweet, kind little girl. One day, Joey’s parents needed to attend a conference meeting at...

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“Out of Darkness” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #92

Bing and Wing first met in the waiting room of the Vision Center. They each happened to have an appointment. A great friendship began that day.Bing heard her talking with her driver. He recognized her voice.“Excuse me, aren’t you Wing?”She turned to the sound. “Yes. Who are you?”“Your voice is familiar. You read at the Poetry Jam, last month. I’d know your voice anywhere. I love your poetry.”She paused and said, “You sound familiar too. Do I know you? Are you a singer?”“I sing. Yes.”She smiled. He heard it in her voice. “Will you sing for me...

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“Enemies Turned Friends” by Ash S

Submitted to Contest #92

The Entertainment Capital of the World, Sin City, City of Lights.Yes, I’m talking about the one and only Las Vegas.Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world visit this place. The weather here is phenomenal and there are endless options for entertainment, shopping, and dining. In a nutshell, this city is spectacular. Even the workaholics quit work, come here and relish this city.I was a huge Disney fan growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina. There isn’t a movie I haven’t seen, and I own nearly all of the Disney merchandise. To b...

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“Coruña Blues” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #92

She had walked all over the city of A Coruña, or so it seemed. The population of nearly a quarter of a million was rather daunting because she’d grown up in a small town. You know that old saying, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. She always preferred to travel anonymously and walk the streets where she was without being forced to ask for directions. That meant she wouldn’t go certain places. It also meant she would be her own mode of transportation whenever possible, avoiding getting c...

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“The City that Never” by Alex Auclair

Submitted to Contest #92

Have you ever wondered why they call New York the city that never sleeps? It’s because the lights are always on; because if the lights ever go off they come out. I don’t know how long it's been since the black out, but my phone isn’t charging and I have no signal. The power loss seems to have affected the entire city. I look out the window at the brick building across the street and see the faint glow of a candle passing by. Given enough time, that light will be extinguished too. This is the exact reason why there are so many failsaf...

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“The Only Light” by Cheyenne Wilson

Submitted to Contest #92

The day could not have gone better. Everything seemed to lead to the moment we could finally see each other again. We had planned this outing for a while now, ever since Purina announced the sponsoring of the ice rink again. It's been almost a year since the vaccinations rolled out and became a yearly event for us all, and despite all the happy things to come along with the reopening of our home, she was still hardly around. I often think to myself how alone I am and how did I let this happen? I sigh, looking at the time and the excitement r...

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“Cali's Sudden Darkness” by Lakendra Jackson

Submitted to Contest #92

On Christmas Eve December 24th of 1999 was when it all started. See this day was suppose to be a happy and amazing day for the families in California. When kids are allowed to open one present that day. But what people didn't know was that something big was coming. And it was going to change everyone's Christmas. Here's how it all happened. It was late-night Christmas Eve when a mother of 4 including a newborn, went downstairs to fix the baby a bottle. But when she went to turn on the lights there was nothing. She didn't know what was goin...

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“In The Dark” by Serena Johnston

Submitted to Contest #92

When Kayla Nicole Morris was 10 years old, the electrical power of her whole city suddenly went out one overcast, dismal, happiness-dampening day, plunging the area into darkness so black, the darkest squid's darkest ink couldn't have been blacker. No one could explain it, and no one could prove that anything had happened, except for the obvious fact that there was no light, or that anyone had done anything to cause this major issue. That was a dreadful, scary, disturbing time, even for Kayla, a mature ten-year-old, 'going on 21', as her dad...

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“Rave On” by Charlene 🧙‍♀️✨ Boyce

Submitted to Contest #92

I see the blood arc over the lemon just before the lights blink out all over. Pitch black. Sudden silence. Lola’s yelp is harsh. I jump to where the dishcloth should be, call out, “I’ve got the towel, keep it elevated, hold on, where are you?” I hear a slosh, a gulp and then another shriek. “I have lemon in the cut! Hurry! Maybe tequila too. I feel faint.” I bark at her to slide to the floor as I reach her, find her arm and wind the towel around her hand. “Stay here, I’m going to light a candle. Why is the stupid power out?” I stand, whac...

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“Gone Wrong (Part 1)” by Kylee Haverty

Submitted to Contest #92

¨ Come on, we are going to miss our flight.¨¨ I´m coming, hang on a sec.¨My sister runs to catch up with me, holding much too many bags.¨ Here, let me help you.¨She gingerly hands me two big bags full of who knows what.¨ I am going to open these bags, and I am going to hope that I do not find a body in here.¨She rolls her eyes and I unzip the first bag. It was full of clothes, trophys from her dance competitions, brushes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.¨ Emily..¨¨ What?¨¨ This bag is clear.¨Emily nearly pushes me over but I hold my ground.As ...

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“Darkness Good” by Piotr Parda

Submitted to Contest #92

“Where is the flash light? It was right here in the drawer!”, Josepi said. There was a hint of panic in his voice.“… .. … ….. ….”, said the girl.“Could you please speak up, sweet pea?”, said Josepi.The girl took her C-3PO mask off.“I said, it’s in the Death Star!”, she repeated impatiently the way kids do when grown ups are too slow to get what they’re saying.“Don’t take things out of the kitchen, my love! You never know when daddy might need them…”“But daddy! I need my light saber!”“Oh! In that case, young Jedi, I AM YOUR FATHER!”, Josepi c...

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“Shadows in the Snow” by Eddie Ihlan

Submitted to Contest #92

Power is fickle at the best of times where Uncle Harvey’s house lies out in the country. Being well over an hour from any major city and several miles from even small country towns makes maintenance for the roads and powerlines difficult to say the least. Any major weather threatens to shut the whole thing down, and it can take days for someone to come out and repair the lines. Knowing I can be stranded without power at any time, I keep a generator and a stock of fuel in the barn in case of emergencies. Emergencies like this one. When the p...

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Write a story set in a city where the power suddenly goes out, leaving everyone in darkness.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 187 stories

“The lunar eclipse” by Santina Forlenza-Pihuličova

“Why Your Dog Is Better Than You” by Kendall Defoe

“Exchanges With Mina” by Sharmila Shankarkumar

“Pitch Black” by Kirrtanaa Thanesh

“Out of Darkness” by John K Adams

“Enemies Turned Friends” by Ash S

“Coruña Blues” by Kathleen March

“The City that Never” by Alex Auclair

“The Only Light” by Cheyenne Wilson

“Cali's Sudden Darkness” by Lakendra Jackson

“In The Dark” by Serena Johnston

“Rave On” by Charlene 🧙‍♀️✨ Boyce

“Gone Wrong (Part 1)” by Kylee Haverty

“Darkness Good” by Piotr Parda

“Shadows in the Snow” by Eddie Ihlan

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that begins in the light and ends in darkness, or the other way around.

End your story with a truth coming to light.

Set your story in a countryside house that’s filled with shadows.

Write about a character who thinks they have a sun allergy.

Contest #92

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

1051

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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