Write a story that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying, “Please, don’t do it.”

Posted in Sad on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 95 stories

“Please, don't... ” by T.M. Kehoe

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it.” The disembodied voice of the AI echoed through the computer lab. It was a male voice, soft tenor, pleasing to the ear. As designed. Everything about the AI was by design… except what it had become. The designers had never bothered giving it a cute name or acronym. It was just “the AI.” Artificial Intelligence, the search for the impossible. Man playing God and creating a true intelligent being. As with all AI, it began its learning by following the online human stream of consciousness. Chatrooms, forums, social media....

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“Every thing, all at once” by Jennifer Anderson

Submitted to Contest #150

I woke up in a tent but it wasn’t my tent. It was nicer. Bigger. Brighter. I let my head clear for a minute, then sat up. I’d been looking at this tent on my phone for months. It was one I couldn’t possibly get but fantasized about nonetheless. Why? How? Next, I realized the cot wasn’t mine. Nor the heavy quilt, nor the battery-powered lanterns, nor the tarot-themed tapestries hanging on the far walls of this enormous waterproof structure. The rug wasn’t mine and the ultra-light backpack in the corner certainly wasn’t mine but my clothes a...

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“Alexia, Turn off Devices” by Melody Newman

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it.” I beg into the couch-side Alexia speaker. “Did you say, “Delete your profile?” “Alexia! I did not say to delete my profiles.” Silence. “Got it. Deleting your profiles.” “No!” I scream, tearing at my hair. I thought technology was supposed to be getting smarter. I grab my phone to see what just happened. I tap in my screen lock code, but nothing happens. Then my phone vibrates and I think I must’ve gotten in, but instead of going to my home screen a notification pops up, saying that I sent an email, wh...

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“Role Model” by Chantel Bernal

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please. Don’t do it.” My sweat sheened hands are shaking as I grip the phone tight, begging him not to leave. I was met with soul crushing silence. My heart thuds louder. “I love you, John! Why are you doing this!” I plead into the receiver. The phone abruptly disconnects, and I am left listening to the echoing ring of the dial tone, tears silently streaming down from my swollen eyes. I sense that I am not alone and glance to my right. I see Robo, the...

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“Dark Rings” by Jared Lenover

Submitted to Contest #150

[ “Please, don’t do it.” ] The triple bacon cheeseburger hovered in front of my open mouth. My brow furrowed. It would have been nice to get this message before I bought lunch. “Explain,” I subvocalized so that only my Neural earpiece could hear. [ “Ongoing high cholesterol food intake in the past two weeks is negatively affecting health trends.” ] That’s fair, I thought. But you need to learn to warn me before I drop $20 plus tax. I chomped into the cheesy, cholesterol-ridden monstrosity. Endorphins designed to motivate a more primiti...

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“For After Your Little Blue Heart Explodes” by Todd Johnson

Submitted to Contest #150

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,The sheep is in the meadow, the cow is in the corn,Where is that boy who looks after the sheep?“Lying in the cornfield,” he mumbles, head mashed against the stall door in the men’s room of the Brown Bear Bar & Grill, “fast asleep.”But the boy hadn’t been asleep, and Russell was forced to accept this fact the moment he found his son, Sawyer, sprawled face down in the spongy earth.It was 2034. His wife Moni was in town getting her dirty-blonde hair permed and nails lacquered in creamsicle orange, and Ru...

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“The Bookstore” by L. E. Scott

Submitted to Contest #150

"Please, don't do it." I blush as I realize that I've said this aloud. Two of my employees give me concerned looks and one customer glances up in bewildered amusement. I continue my prayer silently as I watch you through the glass, hoping you don't notice or recognize me. I am working, but I am also watching to see if you move.You have stopped and seem to be surveying the store. Are you remembering a youthful dream spoken excitedly underneath twinkling stars? Are you thinking of me? Do you realize that I have made that dream my reality? Mayb...

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“The Whisper and the Rocket” by Jimmy Burke

Submitted to Contest #150

Yuri had his bags already packed and neatly organized by the door of the house. After a few seconds of silence, he looked at Akari. His had one hand nervously scratching the back of his head. "We both new this day would come, you know? We've already known for a while" he said with an attitude that almost sounded like he was going out of his way to make things sound lighthearted. Akari looked at him and then looked off to the side with one hand going behind her back and holding her other arm. "I know" she said quietly Akari continu...

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“Decisions” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #150

‘Please, don’t do it.’ Luthar begged, eyes dancing nervously from Edryg to Connell. ‘He attacked a sworn knight of Peccothia, Lord Wedderburn’s court mage, and two squires whilst preaching heresy. He deserves to die.’ Sir Connell replied, face set with the grim determination of a man about to do terrible things. Flint stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Luthar, sword in hand. Luthar was grateful for the backup, Connell was a fearsome fighter and had proved himself during their days on the road together. ‘As far as I rec...

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“Endgame 2.0 ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please don’t do it.” His voice was high pitched as he spoke. Fear resonated in his voice, terror mirrored in his eyes. It was only a game after all, wasn’t it? It was just like all the others that I had spent God knows how much money for a few hours of entertainment. I had spent over two hours at the mercy of the bad guy in my newly purchased game called Endgame 2.0 in which I had used every trick I knew to outfox him. It all came down to pressing one button and once I did there was a possibilty that I would oblit...

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“Project 86-DEEVIS Terraforming ” by Scott Dutkus

Submitted to Contest #150

“Please, don’t do it. Please don’t shut down my life support system, I can fix it, I know I can, I just need more time and you not to think you know the right answer since your computer brain said so. Percentages and statistics can lie and if you would just listen to me, I can show you.” Rex typed furiously at the keyboard trying to bypass the computer’s artificial inference and circumvent its predictive modeling. His life and the success of the GLG-22 Terraforming Experiment on planet 86-DEEVIS depended on it. The ...

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“A Probing Question (working title; not happy with it)” by Michael McCarthy

Submitted to Contest #150

The United Terran Space Command’s finest Scientific and Exploration Vessel (SEV), the UTNS Charles Babbage, has been pushing Mankind’s boundaries for almost three decades. This current crew, this current command has seen those boundaries continue to expand, although the majority of discovery has come in the way of cartography more than anything else during this particular deployment. The UNTS Charles Babbage, aptly named for whom history calls “The Father of the Computer,” has been responsible for expanding Man’s mind more than oth...

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“An Angel's Scheme” by M M

Submitted to Contest #150

I sat on the edge of the building, listening diligently, as I observed the sounds of the busy city just below my very own feet that swayed off of the structure. I stretch my arms behind me as I leave my hands out to support my figure, tilting my head back slightly to feel the breeze of the fresh air. My eyes steadily shut whilst my lips part to release a soft sigh. The music faintly sounds through my ears with my headphones resting upon my head, as the hair attached flows along with the current of air. My mind empties its thoughts and drifts...

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“Why is the Escape Button So Small?” by Leon Moss

Submitted to Contest #150

This is the third day I’ve been sitting on this small rise wondering how long it will take Tommy to understand that he should hit the ‘escape’ button. Perhaps it will never dawn on him, I think, in my darker moments. Then I correct myself; he is my grandson after all. Of course he’ll get it. I am still stunned at finding myself in this barren place, which I assume to be Sunnyside. There is nothing here but trees, shrubs, rocks, wild grass, and a few straggly goats. My wife and I had been looking forward to our overseas trip to visit our s...

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“His Hold on her ” by Anna Sheriff

Submitted to Contest #150

No, I cannot change who I am!! I won’t let it!! You will NOT win. this is it! the devil pulls at her. Flashes of red, blood dripping off her pale face... a wicked smile peaked on plump ruby-stained lips ... it's too strong... the angel in white fighting for her soul attempting to bring her back in with images of her past... a past that is now so foreign to her..., the want... the need to kill pulls her back to the darkness... thirst for blood pulling at her throat. Setting flames to her past... a tall dark figure standing over her. She let o...

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Write a story that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying, “Please, don’t do it.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 95 stories

“Please, don't... ” by T.M. Kehoe

“Every thing, all at once” by Jennifer Anderson

“Alexia, Turn off Devices” by Melody Newman

“Role Model” by Chantel Bernal

“Dark Rings” by Jared Lenover

“For After Your Little Blue Heart Explodes” by Todd Johnson

“The Bookstore” by L. E. Scott

“The Whisper and the Rocket” by Jimmy Burke

“Decisions” by James Grasham

“Endgame 2.0 ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Project 86-DEEVIS Terraforming ” by Scott Dutkus

“A Probing Question (working title; not happy with it)” by Michael McCarthy

“An Angel's Scheme” by M M

“Why is the Escape Button So Small?” by Leon Moss

“His Hold on her ” by Anna Sheriff

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who is convinced their computer is conscious.

Write a story where an algorithm plays an important role.

Write about a character who has access to a powerful new technology before anyone else.

Write about a character, human or robot, who no longer wishes to obey instructions.

Contest #150

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

237

Contest entries

124

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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