rubber-duck-mania
In a dystopian future, an acidic flood reigns and the only signs of old life lie in the deep. Alex -an outcast with an inquisitive mind and a set of strangely specific skills - must navigate a world where she is shunned from the safety of the domes and stuck in the water.
One day, while exploring a set of deep-sea ruins, she is haunted by a mysterious spirit; a spirit that seems to be warning her of something. The problem is, this ancient being doesn't seem to have any memory of its previous life. With a newly-possessed fish at her side, she must now uncover a secret organisation, find out what it means to do and save both humans and spirits from their plans.
---
This is my entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026.
Prompts used: 93, 86 (I have listed them in the author's note)
---
#1 oceanpunk | 19/2/26
#1 explorer | 19/2/26
#1 deepsea | 23/2/26
#1 flood | 10/3/26
#2 climatechange | 1/3/26
#2 acid | 10/3/26
---
© 2026 | This is original work. Any references to other persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please do not adapt in any way without the author's permission.