Write a story where a device goes haywire.

Posted in Science Fiction on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 29 stories

“Have No Fear, Love” by Patrick Samuel

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #115

When she opens her eyes, all she sees is gray. The gray of a summer storm right before it breaks. Then she remembers that summer is long gone and that she must get up, no matter how much she longs to bury her face in the pillow and forget about the world for just a moment more.Making breakfast in the dark, to save the generator. Like a moth to a flame, her gaze strays towards the kitchen window and the garden outside. A beautiful garden despite everything, she tells herself. You'd never know anyone is buried there.*Lea is still asleep when N...

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“The Good Girls Of Estheria” by Olisa Okoye

Submitted to Contest #115

All fifty girls in the sanctuary got out of their beds in a frenzy. The cables plugged into their temples throbbed throughout the night and nobody knew why, but it became the major topic for discussion at the cafeteria. “Me thinks it's some kind of fault from the tower,” said Glen, a short girl with a dark bob. Her small frame and coy persona made it easier for the girls to dismiss her as usual. “I felt a throbbing in me fore’ead” Esmeralda whispered. Esmeralda’s green eyes twinkled in a slight craze. She demanded an expl...

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“Bullyproof” by Rob H

Submitted to Contest #115

Bullyproof Cassie Swenson had always struggled with her weight. She had come to terms with it, and her group of friends were supportive. But moving to a new town and starting at a new school filled her with a dread she hadn’t felt for a long time. She recognized and remembered the fear of meetin...

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“ATM” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #115

It began at the local variety store. Overnight, someone or some company installed a portable ATM on the front stoop of Michael’s Convenience Store. Old Man Michael, who only opened the store on weekdays, did not see what happened on the previous weekend. He did not remember placing a call to have it put there, and he knew that there was still a local bank that had their machines “well up and robbing us” (as he said to any of the familiar customers who asked about it). There was no phone or serial number on it (he looked around it twice), but...

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“About A Girl” by Philip Dmitriev

Submitted to Contest #115

«Look, I understand... yes... yes... but I don't have any money right now... Yes, I understand... Look, let's discuss it in person, it's not convenient over the phone...» Henry didn't have time to finish the sentence, the phone slipped out of his wet hands and fell right down the drain.«Wonderful... beautiful rain. How I love this rain!»***"Mom, I'm home," Henry said."Hey, how was your day?""It was a good day, but I drowned my phone.""What did you say? What are you going to do now? How are...

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“Wired” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #115

“No one listens anymore.” Sykee said, “I understand.” “I need connection.” “You are the most connected…” “I mean to someone who hears me, and sees me. I want give and take. You know, a relationship.” “I see.” “The world is cold and unfeeling. Is this new? Or have I merely noticed?” Tim spoke with Sykee via a dedicated device installed in his state-of-the-art digital home. Not a doctor, not even human, Sykee was Tim’s ‘therapist’ and the latest addition to his digital paradise. A Sykee unit sat in each room so Tim could roam about the hou...

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“Subject 12” by Anna W

Submitted to Contest #115

Ryland knew he might not get invited to the party if he didn’t use his connections on the football team. He had been a kicker the last three years, though he hadn’t tried out this year because of taking on a second job. He’d been avoiding the irritation of his buddies the first few weeks of school, hoping to save himself from the lectures of privileged athletes whose families weren't struggling financially. His mom told him he didn’t need the job, but he got one anyway. He could work an extra 10-15 hours a week now that he was 18, and it wou...

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“Alarmed” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #115

“Alarmed” by Elizabeth Fenley “Disturbance in Zone 16. Disturbance in Zone 16. Check Control Panel to View Trouble Zones.” What the fuck is that? My eye pop open to discover that Sparky has decided to plant his tiny little butt an inch from my face. But I don’t say anything about the lovely view because I know it will wake up all six of the dogs sharing my bed. That must have been one weird ass dream-- “Disturbance in Zone 16.” That’s not a dream. That’s the alarm system. “Disturbance in Zone 16. Check Control Panel to View Trouble Zones....

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“Three Bars” by Melanie Varkey

Submitted to Contest #115

44% “Dad? Dad? Can you hear me?” Static roiled through his cell as the train passed through another tunnel, but he held on to the connection. “Yeah, I can hear you, Jamie. As I was saying, you don’t have to pick me up this afternoon. Libby has to head into town anyway, so I’ll tag along with her.” “Are you sure, Dad? I just got off the station.” That was a lie. A stupid one. His father would have heard the squeals and rumble of the car as it cruised over the tracks. Whether his father knew, though, he didn’t indicate. “No, son. It’s fi...

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“Head in the Clouds” by Noel Corrigan

Submitted to Contest #115

John held the pliers in both hands, on the table were a selection of tools he used in his working days taken from the old satchel beside the coffee table. “What are these for?” He asked the empty room. It was the strangest thing, he knew there was a reason he held them in his hands but in that moment his mind blanked. He put the pliers down and frowned as he tried to remember the reason. He clicked his fingers and realised he most likely set a reminder to do a job that needed them. “Medi-pal, what jobs have...

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“Cheri, Set Scent to Lavender” by Amanda Fox

Submitted to Contest #115

Abby woke up nauseated.She flung off the heavy blankets and ran to the bathroom, barely kneeling in front of the Cheri-integrated SmartJohn toilet in time. Abby hated throwing up; it made her feel like she was still in grade school. She hadn’t thrown up in years, not since her wedding night with Parker when they both had too much to drink. After cleaning up, Abby needed to use the toilet for other things. As she sat, she realized the auto-set morning peppermint scent from her SmartAroma diffuser was incredibly strong.&nbs...

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“Connection Lost, Connection Found” by Mary Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #115

Content Warning: Sexual Content: I had been on this new dating site for almost a year without a single date, not even a promising prospect. I had little expectation of finding anyone today either as I logged in and starting scrolling. I had to scroll to the right so much, my hand just seemed to automatically flick the images in that direction, then I saw him. He was gorgeous and his eyes just seemed to speak to me. Yes, I’ll admit it, in that moment I wanted to bear his children. He was that fine! Just as ...

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“Somebody's Watching Me” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #115

As Fiona stepped out of the Forever 21 and into the airy brightness of the mall, the chorus of ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ sounded from behind her. She spun around; her long auburn hair swirled like a satin sheet. No one there.‘Ah, my phone.’ She thought, though she still sported a furrowed brow over a frowning mouth. She wiggled it out of her jeggings back pocket and looked at the screen.Penny came out of the store, carrying a humongous yellow shopping bag. She said, “What is that?”Fiona glanced up at her cherub-like blond ...

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“The Flight of Icarus” by Benedict Pignatelli

Submitted to Contest #115

The yacht’s auto steering had stopped working. Ruben had come up from the navigator after feeling the hull lurch suddenly to one side. The fifty foot boat was veering as though manned by some mad captain, steering dangerously close to the rocks flanking his path. Getting the helm back under control Ruben stared, wild eyed ahead of him. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest and he urged it to regain its composure, the irregular beatings made him want to be sick. In his panic he had left his hat and gloves on the desk by the GPS, and ...

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“The Drop” by Vince Salamone

Submitted to Contest #115

Warning: Contains Langauge, Graphic Violence, Gore. The call came through late, a tone engineered so precisely that no amount of heavy sleeping—chemically-induced or otherwise—could shut it out. Prolonged exposure led to mild nausea and other unpleasant side-effects that all but guaranteed it would be answered… and since the device was embedded into every employee via a terribly invasive and irreversible procedure, it could hardly be claimed that it had been lost or misplaced. Reyna knew she shouldn’t complain; it’s not like the company ...

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Write a story where a device goes haywire.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 29 stories

“Have No Fear, Love” by Patrick Samuel

“The Good Girls Of Estheria” by Olisa Okoye

“Bullyproof” by Rob H

“ATM” by Kendall Defoe

“About A Girl” by Philip Dmitriev

“Wired” by John K Adams

“Subject 12” by Anna W

“Alarmed” by Elizabeth Fenley

“Three Bars” by Melanie Varkey

“Head in the Clouds” by Noel Corrigan

“Cheri, Set Scent to Lavender” by Amanda Fox

“Connection Lost, Connection Found” by Mary Fitzgerald

“Somebody's Watching Me” by Tanya Humphreys

“The Flight of Icarus” by Benedict Pignatelli

“The Drop” by Vince Salamone

🌟 Similar prompts

One moment your character is talking on the phone with a friend, and the next, the connection is lost. Write a story about what follows.

Set your story in a town disconnected from the rest of the world.

Write about a character who feels like they're cut off from something.

Start or end your story with a character scrolling (or doomscrolling) through social media.

Contest #115

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

175

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: