Start your story with someone saying, “We’re running out of time.”

Posted in Middle School on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 77 stories

“Just One More Time.” by Derrick Behm

Submitted to Contest #154

"We're running out of time!" Fifty-seven seconds left. "Of course, we're running out of time. You always seem to be running out of time when you try and stop a bomb it’s stomping a Bomb 101." Paul kept up with Calvin as they jumped to the sub-level floor. "Remember, pull the wires from their ports. Blue, yellow, purple, then green in that order." Calvin mumbled to himself as they landed on the floor. "Fifth door on the left. About thirty seconds left." Thirty-six seconds left. The corridor seemed endless by the time they reached the door....

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“1st Attempt” by Zi Poromon

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time!” “Please, tell us what’s going on!” “Madame, you need to stay back in the waiting area. We’ve got it from here.” “I’m not leaving her side until you tell us!” “Madame— Nurse Patel, can you please take the family to the waiting area. We will update them soon.” Update on what? An update on how much closer to death I am? The desperation in their yelling and pleading lower in sound, and I am left to wonder about who the voices belong to. Oh God, I swear if this didn’t work… “She’s losing a lot of blood...

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“Didact in the Playhouse, or I'm Game” by J K Mactavish

Submitted to Contest #154

NOTE. One mention of a body part. We act and play in simulated realities but not for keeps. Thus no urgency even though on the world's stage, "Let's get outta here" is arguably the most frequent line spoken. So from this mark to the next on today's, or this evening's, stage we act or are acted upon; and it doesn't matter whether we have confidence and command of our lines or feel our wordless cameo appearance but irrelevant fluff. Or does it? With that prologue, attend. "We’re running out of time," Janie said to Alice. "We've got a bab...

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“The Ruined Lighthouse” by A.T. Westbrook

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time,” the nurse muttered as she recorded my father’s vitals in her folder. She finished scribbling her notes, clicked the pen with a satisfied nod, and then, remembering that I stood across the bed from her, offered, “I suggest if you have anything you’d like to say to him before he passes, you do it soon. Otherwise, you might be too late.” I watched as she waited for my response, her eyes bulging at my placid expression. I nodded to release her from her state of indignation. Now freed, she raised her eyebrows and sp...

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“Warm October Rain” by Adam K.

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time”, Luke muttered, looking out of the rounded windows of The Capitol Limited. The October sun was beginning to set as the train churned up the tracks past Cumberland, Maryland, turning the leaves yellow and orange, a sign of their impending death as winter approached. At the age of nineteen, Luke just had one of the best weekends of his life.Lost in thought, he turned and looked back at Jesse, sitting in the seat across from him. A bottle of Coke sat between Jesse’s legs; his bold green eyes were looking do...

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“The Voice” by Swetha Sankameswaran

Submitted to Contest #154

“We are running out of time” soft but cold feminine whisper echoed. “We are running out of time” the gentle voice reverberates. Couldn’t figure out where it is coming from or from whom it was coming but there is a hint of terror in the warning not in a way that frightens me. Instead, I could empathize the fear in the voice. All I can see was tons of tunnels around me all equal in circumference also big enough for me to squeeze through, no ends or beginnings. But each has a different appeal to it, few have a rough inner surface and is pi...

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“Tarnished Gold” by Joseph Monachino

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time”, said Jack to Sam. Jack was aware that the ticking time bomb had to be deactivated in less than 5 minutes. The consequences would be that it would blow up and destroy a trailer that contains 2 million dollars of gold bars. --- Sam and Jack had been plotting this heist scheme for over a week. It’s amazing how they got their hands on such a valuable lot of goods. The partner, who became aware of this lucrative haul of goods, was Sam. He is employed as a security guard at a rich oil executi...

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“After Time is Gone” by Trinity Kjelden

Submitted to Contest #154

"We're running out of time!" I felt the lights glare down on me but I can't open my eyes. The blur of voices- what was going on? A pulse surged through my body. Again. Again. A long beep stilled the room. "I'm here! It's okay!" I shouted. Why didn't they hear me? I sat up and my eyes opened. The white wall and the bright lights stung my eyes. Strangers stood around me; some had their eyes closed while others just looked at the floor. My heart broke as I saw my lover sobbing on the floor. I threw the sheet off me- only it didn't move. The air...

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“NEWS - MISSING: 19-Year-Old Comp Sci Undergrad” by Audrey K

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time.” I nudged Johnny with my foot. The heat of the sun had been drumming delirium into the back of my head for the past - very expensive - three hours, and the strength of my kick came out so poorly calculated that Johnny almost teetered off his feet. Johnny squatted next to the casket in front of us. A green goo was oozing from it, pooling around his boots. He shielded his eyes from the sun to stare up at me, then thrusted up an arm, “buy more.” I heaved an exasperated sigh, about to hit him with a mo...

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“Storm Runners” by Cassie Varney

Submitted to Contest #154

"We're running out of time!" Giana said, as she hurriedly packed what little belongings we had into our backpacks.Ever since they started changing the weather things have been different. The storms grow stronger everytime they come and don't stop for days. They bring tornados and floods. At first, everyone thought they were normal. We were happy to have rain where there was usually droughts, sun where it was usually cold. It was supposed to be a good thing. They promised our world would be great, no hunger because crops could grow bigger tha...

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“Witch Craft” by Nicole Clem

Submitted to Contest #154

We are running out of time, I yelled upstairs to Anna. We need to hurry, there is only five more minutes until I leave without you. Anna being her perfect self, always must look her best when she leaves home. Like whom is she trying to impress? She already has the perfect slim body, long golden blonde hair, long beautiful eye lashes and bright baby blue eyes. Standing tall at 5-foot 5 inches and maybe 130 pounds. Never works out, eats whatever she wants. I hate to admit it and I would never tell her to her face how jealous of her I am. ...

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“Wrongfully accused” by Angelia Grey

Submitted to Contest #154

We’re running out of time” Sky said grabbing her best friend/ PI partner by the hand to force her to run faster through the vineyard which was muddy and slippery. “We need to get this evidence into the police before they arrest the wrong man” Sky was saying pulling her partners hand, not realising she was causing her to become off balance. Next thing she knows she is being pulled down to the ground. “What the hell si!” Sky yelled as she went splat onto muddy grounds. She looked at Si to growl her for slipping and dragging her down too,...

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“Decisions ” by Hope Froh

Submitted to Contest #154

“We are running out of time. You need to make a decision. Are you in, or are you out?” How did I find myself here? Standing in the pouring rain under a flickering streetlight staring into the very face I had asked to help me so many years ago. His arm is outstretched with the hand I shook again reaching out for me. The car door is open and he is half leaning from its depths. I can see the determined expression on his face even with my eyes closed. This question I have been running from for the past ten years. This very question is where my...

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“Time Flies” by Xiomatli Diaz

Submitted to Contest #154

"We're running out of time!" "Yes, you've been saying that quite frequently for the past twenty minutes." Vinny was speaking through clenched teeth, trying not to think about what her hands were doing while at the same time very focused on her task. She had barely any concept of time in her current position. "Are you sure Finx even ate a bird today?" Vinny huffed again. While she was trying not to let the concept of lost time burden her search, she could feel her nervous itch beginning at the tip of her nose. The urge to scratch it was...

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“Time” by Suni Nelson

Submitted to Contest #154

TIME “We’re running out of time” “What do you mean?” “You have a decision to make.” “I understand that part, I think. But you said ….we.” “Does my decision affect you somehow?” “Of course, it does. I’m your guardian Angel. I go where you go. Either here, ……or there.” “So, your not just a temporary assignment for me?” “No.” “ Do you always have to follow me?” “Yes.” She tried to decern his tone. That Suttle lilt that could convey information unintended. Yet, he gave away nothing. In all the time they had spent communicating, whether it was ve...

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Start your story with someone saying, “We’re running out of time.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 77 stories

“Just One More Time.” by Derrick Behm

“1st Attempt” by Zi Poromon

“Didact in the Playhouse, or I'm Game” by J K Mactavish

“The Ruined Lighthouse” by A.T. Westbrook

“Warm October Rain” by Adam K.

“The Voice” by Swetha Sankameswaran

“Tarnished Gold” by Joseph Monachino

“After Time is Gone” by Trinity Kjelden

“NEWS - MISSING: 19-Year-Old Comp Sci Undergrad” by Audrey K

“Storm Runners” by Cassie Varney

“Witch Craft” by Nicole Clem

“Wrongfully accused” by Angelia Grey

“Decisions ” by Hope Froh

“Time Flies” by Xiomatli Diaz

“Time” by Suni Nelson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who feels increasingly irrelevant.

Write a story — romantic or not — about two characters who can’t find the right timing.

Write a story about an object that has been around for centuries or passed down generations.

Write a story featuring an element of time-travel or anachronism.

Contest #154

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

112

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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