Dead Air

The Prompt

The radio picks up a station that isn't there. Your phone rings from a number that can't possibly be calling. You find a recording of something that hasn't happened yet. Or maybe, after hours of static, someone finally says your name.

For this challenge, start with a signal that shouldn't exist and follow it wherever it leads. Your transmission can come through a radio, television, phone, voicemail, tape recorder, livestream, emergency alert, or something much stranger.

Who sent it? Who was supposed to receive it? And once you've heard something you were never meant to hear, what do you do with it?

Whatever is waiting on the other end, make us afraid to keep listening.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• Between 600 and 3,000 words.
• Submitted to the Horror community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before October 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $1000
• 4 Winners: $200 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $15 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 600 and 3,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until October 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Dead Air Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.