Write a story where a character has to decide whether to press the button or not.

Posted in Science Fiction on Feb 3, 2023

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✍️ 70 stories

“All the Lonely People” by Michelle Oliver

🏆 Winner of Contest #184

MONDAY I tap my foot nervously on the shiny marble floor as I watch the numbers descend. I’m going to be late… again. It really wasn’t my fault. I’d had my hours swapped with George this week, so he could leave work in time to pick his kids up from school, while his wife recuperated from surgery. I now needed to be in the office by 10.00 instead of 8.30. You’d think that would make me early. However, since I was finishing later, I’d tried to get to the gym in the morning. Well that was a mistake. It was either shower and be late, or ski...

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“Just Oregon” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #184

The alien vessel’s bridge fell silent as Kz’Rrr’s mighty scaled tail thumped the floor repeatedly, its owner lost in thought. He tapped the panel twice then addressed his second-in-command: “AND YOU SAY THERE ARE EVEN MORE EXAMPLES THAN ALL OF THOSE?” Pryr. Jtt was nervous about relaying the scope of his findings at this late stage, but he was otherwise prepared with his remaining data. The fates of them all – as well as the financial legacy of their distant civilization – relied upon him illustrating the issue in such a way that the su...

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“Technically Crewed” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #184

For Lars, landing an industrial steward role straight out of school was like winning the lottery – or at least a scratch card – but it turned out that babysitting a deep space cargo ship was sublimely boring. “Good morning, Lars,” said Stella, the ship’s AI, in her robotone voice. “Morning, Stella.” He plopped into his seat in the command globe and took a sip of his piping hot triple-cream cinnamint coffee, completing their morning ritual. The command globe had awed him when he first started the job eighteen months ago. It was a tiny raised ...

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“I'll Stay Up All Night With You ” by Liv Chocolate

Submitted to Contest #184

cw: foul language I close my eyes to sleep, but the bright, flickering light of a Liberty Mutual commercial passes through my eyelids. Suddenly, I’m awake. My heart jumps to my throat, and my face flushes hot. Still half-asleep, I take a moment to collect myself, to gather what has happened.It turns out, my husband has done it again—turned on our bedroom TV after I’ve already gone to bed. I consider turning it off point blank, or at least changing the channel to something more palatable. It’s 1:06 in the morning, and he’s chosen&nb...

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“Love's Labors Cast Aside” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #184

Formula: infidelity, swearing, heartbreak, singular mention of suicidal thoughts. “This is the last time,” she told him. His lips left her neck. The lust inside him was dampened by curiosity. “The last time?” he asked. “I can’t keep lying to my husband. I’ve handed in my notice at work already. I’m moving away. This will be the last time you see me.” She drew the covers up around herself as armour. “Say something.” Every assumption he’d made about their relationship imploded. He’d built his happiness on their stolen moments. He wilted, an ...

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“Title 93% Loaded...” by Edward Latham

Submitted to Contest #184

A blue, rectangular box popped up in the middle of Michael’s vision. He skimmed over the white text:Metaverse update patch 13.21- Improved A.I. for non-playable characters and personal assistants- New hairstyles and apparel available!- Bug fix to dance emoticons Download CancelHis eyes landed on the ‘cancel’ button...

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“The Pros and Cons of a Super Position” by Luke Mitchell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #184

PROS AND CONS OF PUSHING THE BUTTON By the One Who Pushes PRO: The world has never (not even once!) ended. Neither as a direct result of your having pushed the Button, nor in any other way. This is optimal. CON: The world (your world, that is) has indeed never, not once, ended (nor even changed in the slightest) as a direct result of your having pushed the Button. And not to be too down on yourself and your sad life and everything, but let’s be honest: This is suboptimal. (You need friends.) PRO: The people you pass on the str...

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“The Babysitter and the Red Button” by Douglas Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #184

“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s quite capable. She’s one of our best grad students. She should have no problem looking after the compound for a short while.” Edna is adept, in her professional manner, at making the best of a Zoom call. Perfectly framed in the monitor, in an executive chair set against a bookcase sparsely filled with artfully arranged books and pottery, she almost seems to be there with Harold, holding his hand. But Harold does worry. He worries about the security cameras, the automated feedings, and the environmental contr...

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“On Little Cat Feet” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #184

On Little Cat FeetYou’re watching my fingers tapping on the keyboard. Those luminous green eyes are fixed on the movement… Mesmerized… mesmerizing… Help, Cat! Give me inspiration. The Naming of Cats is a great poem—but how am I going to write an essay on it? Eliot must have known cats. He used great characterizations. Why did I choose that particular poem? And speaking of naming cats…I need to name you.I already have a n...

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“BUTTON 28” by Chris Mueller

Submitted to Contest #184

Ding! The evaluator's doors opened. Tammy shuffled in with the rest of the nine-to-five mob. She glanced at the button panel and spun around to watch the duel doors close. The smell of the electric motor and the lubricant used to keep the steel box moving up and down reminded her of childhood. Every third Sunday of the month, she and her mom would go shopping in the big city. It was their thing. They would skip church and go on mommy-and-daughter dates.&...

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“Under New Made Clouds ” by Alexandra Peel

Submitted to Contest #184

“So, what’s it going to be Mr Jones?” His finger hovered over the innocuous green knob. Superconscious of all the eyes staring at him. Unblinking. Some wide with expectation, others narrowed as though suspicious. He didn’t look at them, no matter how hard they bored into the back of his neck. He only had eyes for the button in front of him. The size and shape of a Tunnock’s tea cake, but green – and inedible of course. Plastic. Everything here was plastic. Even the potted ferns in the reception area he’d entered three hours ago, were pla...

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“The Box” by Jacob Weber

Submitted to Contest #184

CW: This short story contains a couple of lines about severe depression and self harm/suicide.It seemed an oddity that such a monumental moment in my cycle should be dictated by such a simple little object. Before me stood a square, waist-height table, its ostentatious mahogany top a testament to the wealth and the reach of this frontier station’s original benefactors. I ran my fingers along the deftly carved lacquered relief on its surface; winged serpents and hoofed men dancing between depictions of nebula and blazing suns, a perfect ...

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“DO NOT PRESS!” by Tamarin Butcher

Submitted to Contest #184

As they descended, Maggie stared blankly at the live video feed shining forth from the closed elevator doors, her permanent, slightly befuddled smile fixed firmly on her face. The feed showed The Button, gleaming under bright lights in it's carefully guarded lair. DO NOT PRESS! Seriously. This button will totes for realsies end the whole entire world! Maggie thought that the person who'd written the warning was trying too hard to convince everyone that it was a real danger. But, at the same time, it was exactly the sort of thing that the...

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“Steak Diane” by Niki Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #184

And tonight I remembered all over again that some things are more important than finishing the last drag of your cigarette while staring out at empty space.Yes, or no.Like remembering you feel haunted.By spiders in your hair. Rats in your apartment you never realised existed. Until after a prolonged stay on Base Alpha that you never planned for.By memories you never got to have.From a past you never knew you’d regret.From a childhood you never knew you’d wanted.A gross sense of ennui that you’re not about to let diminish and swell into panic...

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“Masquerade” by Claire Clayton

Submitted to Contest #184

Masquerade men in masksEmotion, toil, pain,They’ll just reach for a flask to make it all go away.Everything to lose and nothing to gain,They’re drowning in that pain.Masquerade men in masks.The world goes numb and fades awayWondering if they’ve been led astray.Just waiting and praying and fading awayMasquerade men in masksThey let nobody show them the sunWhy did they throw the sun away?The dark defeats the day.Masquerade men in masks.Why do they wither Why do they let themselves shiver?Is it the mask?Is it their past?Masquerade men in m...

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Ended on 23:59 - Feb 10, 2023 EST

Won by Michelle Oliver 🏆

Title: All the Lonely People

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Write a story where a character has to decide whether to press the button or not.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 70 stories

“All the Lonely People” by Michelle Oliver

“Just Oregon” by Wendy Kaminski

“Technically Crewed” by Michał Przywara

“I'll Stay Up All Night With You ” by Liv Chocolate

“Love's Labors Cast Aside” by Graham Kinross

“Title 93% Loaded...” by Edward Latham

“The Pros and Cons of a Super Position” by Luke Mitchell

“The Babysitter and the Red Button” by Douglas Hamilton

“On Little Cat Feet” by Cindy Strube

“BUTTON 28” by Chris Mueller

“Under New Made Clouds ” by Alexandra Peel

“The Box” by Jacob Weber

“DO NOT PRESS!” by Tamarin Butcher

“Steak Diane” by Niki Smallwood

“Masquerade” by Claire Clayton

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone saying “Houston, we have a problem.”

Set your story during a complete city or nation-wide blackout.

Write a story about a character who is experiencing glitches in their reality.

Write about someone who has chosen to disconnect and live an analog life.

Contest #184

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: