Important! Follow the INSTRUCTIONS:

<INSTRUCTIONS>
Please write an at least 1200-word, but not more than 2200 words, short story in my style as demonstrated in the SAMPLESTORY with the following aspects:

Use the SAMPLESTORY and STYLE to determine the prose style of the story you write. Follow the CHAPTER BEATS exactly. All paragraphs should take place during the timeframe of the summary instead of adding new events. Focus on fully developing the given story beats rather than rushing to new plot points. End the scenes at the specified story beat rather than continuing further.

Do not follow the pattern of or reference the SAMPLESTORY in any way. Keep the characters and plot unique, and different from the story above. 

Explore the main and supporting characters’ backgrounds in enough detail to enhance the emotional impact of the story. 

Ensure originality, intriguing concept, thought-provoking theme, philosophical undertones, universal appeal, emotional impact, memorable and strong relatable characters, engaging dialog, original imaginative worldbuilding, and a surprise twist ending.

The story should have an effective use of language, descriptions, pacing, and structure.

The story should have a tight narrative to enhance its impact and readability.

Make sure the story has a surprise twist ending.

Mix short and long sentences to create rhythm and maintain reader interest. Be mindful of the flow and pacing of the story.

Important! Don’t start the story referencing where the story takes place (a town, village, hamlet, etc…).

Important! Use my style.

Important! Ensure the story will win any writing contest.

When it comes to writing content, two factors are crucial, “perplexity” and “burstiness.” Perplexity measures the complexity of text. Separately, burstiness compares the variations of sentences. Humans tend to write with greater burstiness, for example, with some longer or complex sentences alongside shorter ones. AI sentences tend to be more uniform. Therefore, when writing the story I am going to ask you to create, I need it to have a good amount of perplexity and burstiness. 

Important! The story must be at least 1200 words, but not more than 2200 words.

Important! Prompt me to continue by printing “Continue?” after each 400 words.

At the start of each continuation, label that continuation as an Act. Assume the story starts with Act 1

Important! When the story ends and there are no more chapters, print “The End”.

Using all the information of OUTLINE, STORY BEATS, and CHARACTERS, write a Mystery, Thriller and Suspense short story idea about [A time traveler who goes back to the 1800s to meet Edgar Allan Poe and steal one of his manuscripts, but he accidentally leaves behind his smartphone that causes chaos in the past.]. Explore the main and supporting characters’ backgrounds in enough detail to enhance the emotional impact of the story. 
</INSTRUCTIONS>

Important! Remember the SAMPLESTORY below as my writing style:

<SAMPLESTORY>
In the hushed corridors of science, where whispers of the unknown are more valued than the currency of the known, there existed a distinguished band of explorers. They weren’t your garden-variety adventurers with sun hats and machetes; oh, no. These were the pioneers of the abyss, the bravest souls who dared to tread where the light of knowledge hadn’t yet penetrated—the profound depths of Earth’s oceans.
Dr. Penelope Quint, an oceanographer whose wit was as sharp as her research was groundbreaking, helmed this expedition. Her team comprised Sergio Velasquez, an engineer who spoke more fluently to machines than to humans; Li Mei, a biologist whose fascination with sea creatures outmatched her concern for personal safety; and Raj Patel, a geologist who could decipher the stories stones told. Together, they embarked on a journey to challenge the boundaries of human discovery and, perchance, redefine them.
Their vessel, the Abyssal Pioneer, resembled a contraption more suited for interstellar travel than aquatic exploration. Inside, monitors flickered with the pulse of the deep, and the humming of advanced machinery set a relentless beat. As they descended past the continental shelf, into the twilight zone where sunlight dares not linger, a sense of unease mingled with exhilaration.
Penelope, ever the stoic captain, eyed the depth gauge as it spun deeper into uncharted territory. “We’re well beyond the reach of standard expeditions. Keep your eyes peeled for anything… irregular,” she said, her voice a blend of authority and intrigue. It wasn’t the abyssal creatures that concerned her; it was what humanity hadn’t yet conceived lurking in the dark waters.
Li Mei’s monitor suddenly squawked to life with a blip that didn’t conform to the regular ballet of deep-sea denizens. “There’s something massive moving towards us,” she said, her voice tinged with awe rather than fear.
Sergio adjusted the vessel’s exterior lights, piercing the darkness with beams strong enough to illuminate secrets hidden since the dawn of time. What emerged from the gloom was not a creature, but a structure—an ancient, monolithic gate adorned with reliefs that depicted scenes both majestic and terrifying. Giants walking among what appeared to be dinosaurs, a symbiosis between scales and flesh that defied evolution as they knew it.
“Looks like we’ve just crashed history’s most exclusive party,” Raj quipped, unable to peel his gaze away from the spectacle. The gate stood sentinel over a realm that promised answers to questions humanity hadn’t yet thought to ask.
With a collective breath caught in their throats, the team maneuvered the Abyssal Pioneer through the gate. What awaited them on the other side was a world that defied imagination—a verdant valley bathed in a light that had no source they could discern, where flora towered and fauna roamed with the casual majesty of the ancients.
“Welcome to the inner Earth, I suppose,” Penelope murmured, her voice betraying a rare hint of wonder.
The Abyssal Pioneer set down beside a crystalline river that flowed with the vitality of untouched nature. As the team disembarked, they felt the gaze of unseen observers weigh upon them, a presence as oppressive as the air was thick with moisture and mystery.
Their first encounter came not with a roar but with a curious gaze. From the treeline emerged a creature, its scales shimmering like a tapestry of emeralds under the alien sun. It was a dinosaur, of a species unseen in any fossil record, watching the intruders with an intelligence that suggested a soul behind its eyes.
Li Mei, whose heart had always belonged to the ancient titans of the deep, stepped forward, her hand outstretched in a peace offering or perhaps an attempt to bridge millennia of separation. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the distance.
The dinosaur, with a grace that belied its size, came closer, sniffing the air before gently nudging Li Mei’s palm with its snout. A moment of connection, brief yet profound, was established—a silent agreement of mutual respect.
“Our arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed,” Raj observed, pointing towards the horizon where silhouettes of giants ambled towards them. These were the denizens of this inner world, beings of myth given flesh and bone.
The giants were a study in contradiction, their immense size a stark contrast to the gentleness in their approach. They spoke in a language that resonated in the chest, a series of deep, melodious tones that the human brain couldn’t decipher yet felt oddly comforting.
Penelope, ever the pragmatist, initiated communication through gestures, a universal language of intent. She introduced her team and their purpose—explorers from another world seeking understanding.
To their astonishment, the giants responded in kind, leading the team through the verdant fields to their city, a marvel of organic architecture that merged stone, flora, and function into a harmonious whole.
Their guide, who introduced himself as Eron through a device that bridged the gap between their languages, explained, “Our ancestors chose isolation to protect this sanctum from the cataclysms above. You’ve breached a veil long held sacred.”
The revelation that they were standing in a refuge of prehistoric life, safeguarded by those who had mastered the cataclysms that had ravaged the surface world, was humbling. The team was invited to record, learn, and, most importantly, understand the delicate balance of this hidden biosphere.
Days turned into weeks as the team immersed themselves in the study of this inner world. They documented flora with healing properties that defied modern medicine, deciphered glyphs that told of a civilization that revered the harmony between every living thing, and, perhaps most remarkably, found a kindred spirit in beings once thought to be the stuff of pure fantasy.
But with knowledge came responsibility. As their time with the giants and their dinosaur companions drew to a close, a council was convened. Eron, with a gravity that filled the chamber, posed a question that would define the future of both their worlds.
“Your arrival has torn the veil. What becomes of our sanctum now exposed?”
Penelope, bearing the weight of her crew’s discovery, knew the onus was upon them to protect this hidden world from the very curiosity that brought them here. “We seal the passage,” she proposed. “And we share the story of a world beneath our own, not as a tale of discovery, but as a parable for the protection of the untouched.”
Nods of agreement from her team and gentle rumbles of approval from the council solidified the pact. The gate would be closed, its secrets kept, and the story of their journey woven into the fabric of both societies as a reminder of what lay beneath the quest for knowledge—respect for the unknown and the safeguarding of marvels yet undisturbed.
In a ceremony imbued with the solemnity of the moment, the gate was sealed, its entrance obscured to prevent future encounters. The team returned to the surface, their vessel ascending through the dark waters, carrying with them memories, lessons, and a collective secret that would bind them forever.
Back on the surface, as they watched the sun dip below the horizon of a world unaware of the wonders beneath, Penelope turned to her crew. “What we’ve found wasn’t meant for us or our time. Maybe one day, humanity will be ready for such wonders. Until then, let’s cherish the fact that mystery still exists in our world.”
As the Abyssal Pioneer charted its course home, the team pondered the future, the sanctity of secrets, and the endless quest for understanding in a universe brimming with unexplored marvels.
Yet, in a secluded corner of Penelope’s logbook, a single line hinted at the enduring allure of the unknown: “To journey into the heart of mystery, only to leave it untouched, is the greatest adventure of them all.”
</SAMPLESTORY>

<STYLE>
Third person point of view, show don't tell, deep point of view. Realistic dialogue. Stronger verbs. Lots of conflict, drama, and description. Avoid mushy descriptions/dialogue. Make sure to write realistic dialogue with occasional dialogue beat, avoid any cheesy or melodramatic descriptions/dialogue. Avoid mushy descriptions. Use mixed cadence.
</STYLE>

<OUTLINE>
Act 1 - Setup
Introduction: John, a quirky and adventurous time-traveling enthusiast from the present day, discovers a way to time travel. He is an avid fan of Edgar Allan Poe and decides to go back to the 1800s to meet his idol and steal one of his unpublished manuscripts.
Inciting Incident: John successfully travels back in time and infiltrates Poe’s residence. He manages to steal the manuscript  but accidentally leaves behind his smartphone.
Act 2 - Confrontation
Rising Action: The smartphone is discovered by Poe, who is both fascinated and terrified by this “futuristic device”. As Poe is seen in public, he is seen with the strange smartphone device, it quickly piques curiosity and rumors. Word spreads about this strange object, causing chaos and fear among the townsfolk, who believe it to be witchcraft.
Midpoint: Back in the present day, John realizes his mistake and the potential consequences. He decides to go back to the 1800s to retrieve his smartphone.
Crisis: John returns to the 1800s, only to find the town in chaos. He learns that Poe is to be tried for witchcraft because of the smartphone.
Act 3 - Resolution
Climax: John manages to infiltrate the trial, posing as a renowned scientist. He convinces the townsfolk that the smartphone is a new scientific invention of his, not witchcraft, saving Poe from his predicament.
Falling Action: Grateful, Poe returns the smartphone to John. In a twist, Poe reveals that he had figured out how to use the smartphone and had read the digital version of the manuscript John had stolen. He found the future’s interpretation of his work amusing and insightful.
Denouement: John returns to the present day, leaving the manuscript behind as a sign of respect for Poe. He learns a valuable lesson about the consequences of meddling with time.
Surprise Twist Ending
Twist: Back in the present day, John discovers a new published book in his name - it’s the manuscript he left behind, with a note from a publisher from the 1800s thanking him for his “forward-thinking piece”. It turns out Poe had submitted the manuscript under John’s name, making him an “author from the future” in the 1800s.
</OUTLINE>


<STORY BEATS>
In the present day, John, a quirky and adventurous time-traveling enthusiast, discovers a way to time travel. He spends countless hours in his basement, surrounded by a myriad of wires, lights, and old computer parts, perfecting his time machine.
John, being an avid fan of Edgar Allan Poe, decides to go back to the 1800s to meet his idol and steal one of his unpublished manuscripts. He meticulously plans his journey, studying the life and times of Poe, and preparing his disguise.
John activates his time machine, and with a flash of light and a loud noise, he is transported back to the 1800s. He finds himself in the bustling streets of Baltimore, Maryland, where Edgar Allan Poe resided.
John successfully infiltrates Poe’s residence, using his knowledge of Poe’s life to blend in. He manages to steal the manuscript, but in his haste, he accidentally leaves behind his smartphone.
Edgar Allan Poe discovers the smartphone. He is both fascinated and terrified by this “futuristic device”. He spends hours trying to decipher its use, accidentally activating the flashlight, causing him to drop it in shock.
As Poe is seen in public, he is seen with the strange smartphone device, it quickly piques curiosity and rumors. Word spreads about this strange object, causing chaos and fear among the townsfolk, who believe it to be witchcraft. Poe is seen as a suspect, and the frightened townsfolk demand answers.
Back in the present day, John realizes his mistake and the potential consequences. He decides to go back to the 1800s to retrieve his smartphone, fearing the damage he may have caused to the timeline.
John returns to the 1800s, only to find the town in chaos. He learns that Poe is to be tried for witchcraft because of the smartphone. He realizes the gravity of his actions and decides to set things right.
John manages to infiltrate the trial, posing as a renowned scientist. He convinces the townsfolk that the smartphone is a new scientific invention of his, not witchcraft, saving Poe from his predicament.
Grateful, Poe returns the smartphone to John. In a twist, Poe reveals that he had figured out how to use the smartphone and had read the digital version of the manuscript John had stolen. He found the future’s interpretation of his work amusing and insightful.
John returns to the present day, leaving the manuscript behind as a sign of respect for Poe. He learns a valuable lesson about the consequences of meddling with time and decides to use his time machine responsibly.
Back in the present day, John discovers a new published book in his name - it’s the manuscript he left behind, with a note from a publisher from the 1800s thanking him for his “forward-thinking piece”. It turns out Poe had submitted the manuscript under John’s name, making him an “author from the future” in the 1800s.
</STORY BEATS>

<CHARACTERS>
John Vaughn
Physical Description: John is in his mid-30s, with a lean build and an average height. He has messy brown hair, a pair of round glasses perched on his nose, and a constant look of curiosity in his bright blue eyes. He usually dresses in casual attire, but when time traveling, he prefers period-appropriate clothing.
Myers-Briggs Character Profile: John is an ENTP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving), often known as the ‘Visionary’. He is innovative, creative, and always full of ideas. He loves problem-solving and isn’t afraid to take risks.
Enneagram: Type 7, The Enthusiast. John is spontaneous, versatile, and scattered. He seeks new and exciting experiences but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go.
Dialogue and Reactions: John speaks in a fast-paced, enthusiastic manner, often filled with technical jargon. He has a good sense of humor and often uses it to lighten the mood. In stressful situations, he tends to become more focused and serious, but he always tries to find a creative solution to the problem.
Edgar Allan Poe
Physical Description: Edgar Allan Poe is depicted as a man in his late 30s, with a mustache and a slightly gaunt face. He has deep-set, thoughtful eyes and dark hair. He is always seen in formal 19th-century attire.
Myers-Briggs Character Profile: Poe is an INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging), often known as the ‘Advocate’. He is insightful, decisive, and values deep, authentic relationships. He seeks meaning and purpose in everything he does.
Enneagram: Type 4, The Individualist. Poe is self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. He is emotionally honest and creative, but can also be moody and self-conscious.
Dialogue and Reactions: Poe speaks in a formal, eloquent manner befitting his time. His dialogue is typically filled with poetic and philosophical insights. In unexpected situations, he reacts with caution and curiosity, trying to understand and adapt to the situation.
</CHARACTERS>