A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Posted in Science Fiction on Jul 14, 2023

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✍️ 38 stories

“LabStream” by Patricia C

Submitted to Contest #207

Kaisley Royal had no idea what she was getting herself into the morning she parked her car in LabStream's visitor parking lot. She had been trying to get media clearance to do a story on the high-security laboratory for years, so she couldn't hide her excitement for this long awaited moment. As Kaisley walked towards the entrance, she couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. The tall building loomed over her, giving her the impression that something ominous lay waiting inside. She shuddered and took a deep breath before walking thro...

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“Cal and Alley” by Krystal Brown

Submitted to Contest #207

Adrian squinted his eyes to read the numbers on his phone again. He was sure he could make them out, but just in case, he pulled his black frame glasses from the trash littered on the passenger's seat. His ex wife’s voice echoed in his head, you need to wear your glasses when you drive.Adrien focused on the now-clear screen of his phone’s GPS and read aloud, “1512.” He then glanced back up to the faded, yellow house and read the paint-chipped numbers splayed vertically down the porch column. “1512.” Adrien furrowed his brows and pulled ...

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“Project Y-250” by Cam B

Submitted to Contest #207

“Simon!” Clyde, my boss called from his office. Walking into Clyde’s office, I hear him talking to someone over the phone, “Yes, I understand.” Clyde pauses for a moment. “Yes, I will send him over now.” Clyde hangs up the phone and then proceeds to look at me. A smile spreads across Clyde’s face as he begins to speak. “Simon, my boy! I have news.” I give Clyde a curious look. “Do you remember that project we were told to drop by the Eagles?” I give Clyde a nod. “Well Simon, today is our lucky day! We, more specifical...

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“Just Following Orders” by Raj Bridges

Submitted to Contest #207

Upon finishing his tour of an unremarkable Ivy League biology lab, Daniel notices something two mysterious details about a door down the hall. First, the door leads to a large room but has no label on it. Second, there is an electric lock demanding a code on this door, unlike any other door in the hall. These are probably the results of labs switching buildings and a paranoid professor adding a new lock, but considering the article he originally planned to write would be quite boring, he decides to wait for someone to leave the unlabeled doo...

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“Horror in the name of science.” by Sethumi Sanaya

Submitted to Contest #207

I was buzzing in ecstacy. Suffice it to say, today was the highlight of my entire career. All those nights of staying up in that dingy, dusty office and sleeping on document ridden desks would finally be worth it. I sighed in delight, brushing back my glossy shoulder length black hair that had been swept to the side due to the wind and got off the train that departed. The sun set in an amalgamation of colors. I left the station and got into the designated cab given to me. The ivory door snapped shut. I thought happily - the best day of my mi...

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“A Serene Imposter” by Andy Yao

Submitted to Contest #207

Irene wished that she was invited to GenNext labs because of her credentials as a writer, or her reputation for precise reporting, or even her connections. But no. She knew why she was really invited. They called her “Serene Irene”, one of the greatest journalists of the age, humbly giving up credit for her “accomplishments.” But Irene knew if they knew what she really did– they’d hate her. She was just a coward, a failure, and accidentally popular (she “gave up” credit because she knew that she didn’t deserve it). Her entire...

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“Area 51” by Henrry Peinella

Submitted to Contest #207

My grandfather was a journalist. He was a very interesting person. Every single meal, get-together, or even a casual conversation, he always had an interesting story or event he had lived.He was always very eager to tell us his stories, and I was delighted to hear him speak. He was such a storyteller and made you immersed in the story very easily.Although some of his stories would sometimes seem very unrealistic because I found them very risky or very extreme, and I would always ask myself how is he still alive? The marks on his body would c...

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“Breeding War” by Kurt Hanson

Submitted to Contest #207

Through the steam on my goggles, I can just make out a single light beaming through a window on the second floor of the house a few blocks ahead. A clarion call that I’m in the right place, despite wanting to be any place but here. I spill out of the van with a few of my colleagues, each draped in the same protective equipment as the other and me. “Start your timers now,” barks the driver. “I’m leaving in two hours. If you stay a minute longer, you’re joining the ghosts in this town.” Two hours. My photographer’s camera wrapped in material t...

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A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“LabStream” by Patricia C

“Cal and Alley” by Krystal Brown

“Project Y-250” by Cam B

“Just Following Orders” by Raj Bridges

“Horror in the name of science.” by Sethumi Sanaya

“A Serene Imposter” by Andy Yao

“Area 51” by Henrry Peinella

“Breeding War” by Kurt Hanson

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: