Write about a character who’s stuck in an elevator when the power goes out.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 252 stories

“I HAD A REASON NOT TO. ” by Alvin Makau

Submitted to Contest #58

I followed the movement of the clock hands eagerly waiting for school day to end by the ring of a bell. My patience would soon be no more as time moved slowly and the teacher wasn't making the lesson any better for me. It was as if he was talking to himself. I wasn't the only lost student in his class. History class was the most boring class. All we had to do was sit down and listen to the teacher mumbling about the past as if he existed then. All I cared about was the future and what it had in store for us either bad or good but ...

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“Is there anyone out there?” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #58

“Is there anyone out there?” “Is it safe?” I said, as my shoes squish underneath my weight, catching everyone's attention toward my untimely last-minute arrival aboard this crowded cage. “Sardines,” I mumbled to myself as I fell into ranks with this silent collective: strangers held together in such an unnatural habitat. “What floor?” the balding man said with a slur, his dull gray eyes peering down at my shoes. Keeping my eyes down, I said, “The eighth floor, please.” His stubby finger presses the button, &nbs...

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“Elevator Ups and Downs” by Matthew Salzer

Submitted to Contest #58

“13, please”, I answered. The older man gave a nod, and pressed the unlit floor number. He slowly turned his back to me. Ah, elevator silence; a cherished ritual. I looked down at my toes. Beige flats; pretty boring, but comfortable and versatile. It’s New York, a girl has to budget. Floor 7...The elevator stopped, and three women walked in, aged twenty-something to thirty-something. “Can you believe Brad looked at me that way!” “Oh my God, he’s so into you! He is!”, one of them said, giddily, but unconvincing. “Well I can’t be sure, b...

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“Staying rational” by Savannah Lewis

Submitted to Contest #58

2:05pm. Not only am I late but I’m going to die. An irrational fear. That’s what Allison called my fear of elevators. Irrational. I stare at the dark paneled walls that had been a vibrant orange when I first entered the elevator. Now, in the dark, it was hard to see what color they were. I keep imagining what they looked like with the dim yellow light illuminating them, to keep my heart from exploding out of my chest. But like everything else it’s too hard to think about. I ran my hand through the once shaggy carpet a...

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“Falling ” by Sam Roulston

Submitted to Contest #58

A high-pitched ping echoed throughout the empty lobby. The elevator doors opened with an arduous shudder. Michael, eyes fixed on his phone, took a step forward. He retracted his foot at the sight of the elderly woman and her dog that live on his floor. The woman wore a knee length, black dress, floral pinafore, knee-high stockings and pink slippers. She stared at Michael through thick glasses and smiled. The little white terrier gazed up at Michael and let out a little yip. Michael took a step to the side and nodded at his neighbour. Both do...

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“Going down” by Jenny Legacy

Submitted to Contest #58

How can this be happening to me! Amber Allen always feared getting stuck in an elevator, but she usually avoided them and took the stair, but today was a different story. She was running late, forgot her runners, and there was no way she would do the ten levels to the office in time for the 8 am meeting. Amber hated to be late; even fifteen minutes was too close for comfort, but today she took the chance, and karma got her back. Not even thirty seconds into the ride, the cart stops and the lights dim, with an alarm sounding. It had to be tod...

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“Lights Out: The Elevator to Hell” by Ariel Cross

Submitted to Contest #58

Wallace Arnton, the civil criminal defense attorney, was far from an innocent man. His place of work was a predictably ostentatious skyscraper, with the sort of fancy elevators that played classical music and accurately announced the current floor and direction of their pending motion.Most unfortunately for Wallace, one of the elevators was about to malfunction.As the workday ended and Wallace stepped inside the sliding doors, a pleasant voice said “going down”. Naturally, Wallace worked on the top floor and was accustomed to the long descen...

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“Memory Chip” by Catalina Maravilla

Submitted to Contest #58

Susan’s mind obsessively repeated the opening phrases of her presentation. She walked at a brisk clip through the corridor, her sensible pumps making light taps on the tiled floor. She knew her work, she was prepared with a stellar presentation. She knew she was going to impress the board with her findings. Research was her thing. She was good with numbers and graphs and correlating meaning into the results. Her most recent work with the Biotech group had been intriguing and highly successful. She wa...

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“Mind your thoughts when you are alone” by S Afrose

Submitted to Contest #58

Mind your thoughts when you are alone Don’t need to fear It will be over soon Be calm and be patience Linda is a smart girl live in this city.She has finished her graduation. Very soon the result will be published. She is very much confident about the result. So no more worries, just chill and enjoy every seconds in the ongoing time. She is an intelligent one. Making friends is her best choice. She likes to help others. She always tries to inspire others. When there’s any needy one,she cannot hold herself,not to go t...

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“Little Red Riding Hood” by Stephanie Frank

Submitted to Contest #58

An icy chill crawled up my spine like thousands of tiny spiders as I stepped out of the cab. The cold New York wind nipped hungrily at my flesh and I grinned as a group of pre-teens ran screaming when they caught sight of me. The oldest -- a girl wearing a pointy black hat, a long black robe and pointy black shoes -- clung to her young sister's hand as she pulled her along the crowded sidewalk and through the throngs of people, the small child preoccupied only with the candy inside her pumpkin-shaped pail. I couldn't help but smile knowing...

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“Elevator” by Henry Farley

Submitted to Contest #58

Elevator I thought the most important thing in the world was to get to the meeting on time, even though it was starting late in the day. Everyone was walking out of the building as I checked in with reception and they gave me directions to the meeting room. Going through the formalities seems to be expected, although I’d visited the company many times over the last few years and had a pass to get into their offices. Why the rush? There’s nothing that can’t wait until the next day, but everybody has to be so efficient these day...

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“Stuck” by Mathias Nobel Hadberg

Submitted to Contest #58

Charles Reed strides into the lobby of his workplace. The receptionist waves at him and he returns the gesture, albeit without pausing in his pace. He has a long day ahead of him and a lot of work. Time spent talking could be better spent writing the next contract draft. “Yes Jimmy,” Charles says into the Bluetooth earpiece attached to his ear, “I’ll write the Bennysons contract draft today, you’ll have it on your desk by tomorrow morning.” “You sure, Reed? The first meeting isn’t for another two days.” Jimmy replies. Reed can hear Jimmy’s ...

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“Caught in the elevator powerless” by Louis Simon Gaweseb

Submitted to Contest #58

CAUGHT IN THE ELEVATOR &nbsp...

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“Overcoming Terror Together” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #58

“Hold!” Mila cried out as she ran for the zip-lift at the end of a crazy day that had made her late leaving the high-rise on Irola. “What a day to be late!” “Why?” Judea asked as she joined him. “Do you have some hot date tonight or something?” “Something!” Mila replied, not wanting to tell him that she did have a date with attractive Ton who worked on the floor below them. And now, it was quite likely that she wouldn’t even have time to shower. She should just cancel. She sighed as she pushed the button for the street level, wishi...

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“Running Late” by Eirinn Cunningham

Submitted to Contest #58

It’s 3 in the afternoon, and I’m running late for my board meeting with Mr. Shaw from BioCorp. I enter the elevator, looking at my phone. I jab the close door button repeatedly. The stainless-steel walls of the elevator reflect light and I can see a hazy image of myself in them. “Come on, come on!” The door refuses to close. A hand appears. The hand belongs to a man in his late twenties with slicked back dark hair and a grey, primly pressed suit, and a red tie. There’s a pocket square to match. He embodies every bit the office professional....

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Write about a character who’s stuck in an elevator when the power goes out.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 252 stories

“I HAD A REASON NOT TO. ” by Alvin Makau

“Is there anyone out there?” by Carol Keefer

“Elevator Ups and Downs” by Matthew Salzer

“Staying rational” by Savannah Lewis

“Falling ” by Sam Roulston

“Going down” by Jenny Legacy

“Lights Out: The Elevator to Hell” by Ariel Cross

“Memory Chip” by Catalina Maravilla

“Mind your thoughts when you are alone” by S Afrose

“Little Red Riding Hood” by Stephanie Frank

“Elevator” by Henry Farley

“Stuck” by Mathias Nobel Hadberg

“Caught in the elevator powerless” by Louis Simon Gaweseb

“Overcoming Terror Together” by Lori Svensen

“Running Late” by Eirinn Cunningham

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who purposefully causes a power outage.

Write a story where the power goes out on a spaceship or submarine.

Write a story about someone feeling powerless.

Write about a family who decides to camp out in the back yard during a power outage.

Contest #58

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

880

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: