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.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 42 stories

“Lucy Searches for the Sapphire Tablet of Enlightenment” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #115

“Lucy, I’m out [extended static] didn’t find the shack.” Gwen’s voice shook over the phone. “Did you find anything?” “Don’t come out [static].” “The call is breaking up. What are you’re trying to say?” Lucy longed for clearer details. Chills permeated through her. “Fly [static] home, don’t come here. Stay away, don’t waste [extended static] contact you in a few days.” “Goddamn it, tell me what’s going on.” The call went silent. Lucy screamed. “Mother fucking reception.” Her heart pounded. Lucy slammed the phone down. The plastic recta...

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“In the Small Hours” by S. C. Muntsy

Submitted to Contest #115

Michelle Ryan sits in her bed, cigarette hanging from her mouth, back leaning on the headboard, fingernails clawing into the comforter. “Why doesn’t she call?” Her heart races, the thrum vibrates in her ears. “Where is she? God, I’m so sorry. I hope she’s all right.” Michelle tilts her head to the nightstand; a half glass of wine lies next to an empty bottle. Her eyes dig into the red numbers on her clock, 3:13 AM.Michelle’s shaky hand reaches for the wineglass. The phone rings, disturbing the beat of her thumping heart. Her mouth opens, the...

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“Just Trying to Hang Out” by K.D. Walter

Submitted to Contest #115

“So do you want to meet up tonight?” Patricio O’Higgins was talking into his mobile phone to John Fisher. There was a pause as John delivered his answer. “So right now is good?” Another pause. “Awesome, so are you at home right now?” A yet further pause. “John?” One more pause. “John, are you there?” Patricio looked at his phone. “Lost connection?” David Vallejo asked him. “Yeah, lost the connection somehow.” Patricio and David were sitting together in the living room of the O’Higgins house. It was a Friday afternoon, school had ended about ...

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“The Confession” by Julia Hatch

Submitted to Contest #115

The Confession The land line rang. John glanced at the clock telling him it was 5:00. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and then picked up the phone. It must be Chris calling, he’s the only one to call on the landline. It had started to rain. “Hello?” John spoke into the phone. As soon as Chris started to speak John knew something was very wrong. “Hey John. John, I have to talk to you. Something really really bad has happened and I need help,” he said in a much too loud voice. He was insistent and wanted 100% of John’s attention.“Sure man...

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“When the World Stopped” by Edward Savage

Submitted to Contest #115

“I know you’ll be back Friday Peter, but I’ve missed you. Will you be late…” Jenny’s voice was gone not even a dial tone from the cars speakers. I looked around wondering if I’d driven into some sort of dead zone when every light on the dash flickered on then off and the engine quit. The steering went heavy in my hands, the power steering no longer powered and the car started slowing. I hunched my shoulders expecting any second to be rear ended by the SUV that had been close behind me in the fast lane of the motorway. Instead of the mirror...

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“The lost conversation - What's up , What's up...” by Sainath Reddy

Submitted to Contest #115

The lost conversation- What's up, What's up... It was October 5th, 2021. Around 10:00 am Katherine unlocked her phone and saw a WhatsApp text from her friend saying, "it's urgent. Call me when you can." Kathy never saw this type of text from her friend, and there was a hint of suspense and anxiety in the eyes of Kathy. Kathy came to the patio and called her friend on Whatsapp audio call; after a few rings, Amy picked the call, and the voice was not audible. There was the wind blowing, and Kathy's hair was all over her face; she adjuste...

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“A Pale Siege” by Vince Salamone

Submitted to Contest #115

Warning: Contains Graphic Violence, Gore, Suggestions of Suicide “It’s just… I’m worried about the drinking. You know?” A gasp of static from the phone: a sigh, long and stratified. “Again? I thought she quit?” “She did, but…” A pause. How much to burden them with? It was a well-trod road, but she had no one else to talk to. And Obert at least could claim some experience in this department, coming into a decade of clean living—so long as one overlooked the smoking, that was. “You know it is hard for her, with her job and all—” Obert’s...

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“Tonight, you belong to me. ” by Jayde Bennett

Submitted to Contest #115

*TRIGGER WARNING* swearing, violent themes, mentions death, mentions decapitation, foreshadowed torture*-present-"Don't be an idiot, Sara. Of course I didn't sleep with him! It was just a.. date, that's all." I huff out an incredulous laugh as a reply, my phone pressed to my ear by my left hand, my right holding out my car keys. The heels of my boots clacking against the damp gravel of the road, the night air smelling of rain, the obvious sign of the previous rainfall from earlier. "Oh come on, Kara! He was hot, had an arse that filled out h...

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“Fallen Angel” by Greg Kendall

Submitted to Contest #115

"Hello?" John answered his cell phone. "John, listen to me, this is David,"... "David, what's going on little brother?" John asked. "John, I don't have time to explain. Listen to me, something is about to happen. You have to get Katie and June out of there, now". John tried to speak, but David talked over him with a stern, seriousness. "You need to get in the car and head, north, to Willow Springs, Colorado. It's a two hour drive from your house. There is not much to the town, but there is a military installation on the west side of town. ...

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“Lucky Duck” by Catherine Burford

Submitted to Contest #115

TW: Brief mention of a hanging. Piper always played on the safe side. If you dared her to tiptoe through a path of broken glass, she’d suggest replacing them with Legos. If you invited her to a party, she’d only go if there was a cat or dog for her to interact with. If you invited her to go bowling with some friends, she’d make up some story of how she’s allergic to bowling balls. The only way to crack open that shell was to give her no other option. That shell finally started to crack when Piper spent the night at her friend Quinn’s hou...

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“'Night-time Cinema.'” by Matayo Ayegun-Watson

Submitted to Contest #115

Gwen Stefani preens from the stereo of Avery's car. There are fields on either side and a stretch of mountain far off; the moon is dark like a century egg. Avery, sat in the driver's seat, bobs her head to the latest pop idols on the radio. Her hands grapple the steering wheel, blonde hair pitching like a disco in the wind, arms tan and bare to the shoulder.A Tiffany and Co sweetheart chain glitters on her neck and a yellow tank constricts her chest. She smiles through cherry lips, shouting over the ruckus."Where did they say ...

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“Just Listen” by Erin MacKenzie

Submitted to Contest #115

“This storm is really picking up, I can barely hear you anymore.” “Ha, maybe it’ll be so bad my boss will cancel work tomorrow morning.” “Ugh, my manager would never, he’d expect us to be there even if the whole store was under water” Steph expected to hear some sort of response, even if it was just polite laughter, but the line was silent. She sat up straighter from where she was sunk into the couch cushions. “Emily?” She asked into the receiver. No response still, so she brought her cell away from face to check. The call had been dis...

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“Power” by K W

Submitted to Contest #115

I was talking to my sister on Facetime when the call dropped. I tried calling her back. Furiously tapping her name on the screen, hanging up, and repeating the process yielded no positive results. From the couch I looked towards the kitchen at the microwave. It was blinking 00:00. I put my hand to my forehead and rubbed my temples. It was a Friday night, and I had been making plans to go to dinner with my sister. Even though we lived in the same city, we haven’t seen each other through the pandemic. Now that we were both vaccinated, I was lo...

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“Lost Connection: Finding Ben” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #115

Aaliyah- I miss you. When are you coming home? Ben- Soon, I promise. Aaliyah- When you get home, there is something I need to tell you. Ben- What is it? Aaliyah- I have to tell you face to face. Ben- Okay. Aaliyah- Ben................... Aaliyah hears a loud boom Connection lost between Aaliyah and Ben Ben are you there? Ben answer me! Oh my god! something happened to Ben, that noise sounded like a bomb. No this can't be happening Ben promised me he will be okay. I have to call back. I...........I.........I don't know w...

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“Keeping Promises” by Avocado Universe

Submitted to Contest #115

I checked the call time, two hours and 13 minutes. I sighed, this was a great deal for the company if I could get the buyers interested. It was hard though because it was 6 in the afternoon and the longer I kept working the more of my daughter’s school performance I would be missing. I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands around the phone. I had promised that I would be there. I took a deep breath as my buyer turned on his camera and mic. I don’t know what happened but I think I heard young voices out of sight of the camera earlier and the...

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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.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 42 stories

“Lucy Searches for the Sapphire Tablet of Enlightenment” by Pako Dunwhile

“In the Small Hours” by S. C. Muntsy

“Just Trying to Hang Out” by K.D. Walter

“The Confession” by Julia Hatch

“When the World Stopped” by Edward Savage

“The lost conversation - What's up , What's up...” by Sainath Reddy

“A Pale Siege” by Vince Salamone

“Tonight, you belong to me. ” by Jayde Bennett

“Fallen Angel” by Greg Kendall

“Lucky Duck” by Catherine Burford

“'Night-time Cinema.'” by Matayo Ayegun-Watson

“Just Listen” by Erin MacKenzie

“Power” by K W

“Lost Connection: Finding Ben” by Melinda Madrigal

“Keeping Promises” by Avocado Universe

🌟 Similar prompts

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.

Write a story where a device goes haywire.

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: