11 Comments
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Kimberly B🌴👻🌴's avatar

This reminds me of the Doomsday Clock if some higher power took control of it. Even typing that after reading your story is unsettling because....what if. I especially loved the siren. Haunting imagery!

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John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

It was even creepier in my dream. That one stuck with me.

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Neural Foundry's avatar

This is absolutely haunting work. The iterative species testing idea reminds me of those late night thoughts about whether we're actualy living in some cosmic petri dish. What really gets me is the Council's patience tho, watching twenty failed attempts suggests theyve got time scales we cant even grasp, which makes the whole thing feel even more futile for us. The quiet acceptance phase before the end felt painfully plausible.

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John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

Appreciate your comments. Thank you.

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Hawtorn V. Rabot's avatar

At this point is it bad to say I welcome it?

KIDDING.

Loved every line. I felt it fully.

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John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

Cheers!!

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williamphaynes/elliott's avatar

As far as the human race goes/Better luck next time😁

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John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

I don’t fancy their chances.

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Cynthia Harris's avatar

This reminds me of WWII and the dropping of the atomic bomb, except a much further reach.

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John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

This one was actually a dream I had a few years ago. It has stuck with me ever since. It was so incredibly vivid, all the way down to the sound of the voice reciting the message.

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Cynthia Harris's avatar

Dreams are like and often come out of nowhere. I think this short story could be extended into a novel.

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