Entry submission for the STACH Anonymous Writing Contest #2 has closed and we have a selection of 4 articles and now we need your votes to select the best 3 a share in the prize pool of 20SBD.
Below are the selected stories and we need you to vote them based on their contents, story line, delivery and word counts.
Type in the comment section with your choice, "Story 1" or "Story 2" or "Story 3" or "Story 4" or "Story 5."
- Story 1.
The only choice it seemed was to run, and I really thought I did though it felt like I ran on a thread mill - the farther, the nearer. I ran hurriedly through the dense jungle panting heavily and gasping for breath all the way as I prayed for help. Momentarily looking back to see how far behind he was only brought him steps closer. Could this day be my last? I wondered. I had never been that scared and hopeless.
Was I wrong to have gone alone? What human has face without eyes, ears, nose and mouth? My life drained quickly as these billion thoughts drenched my mind. It was a flash of death.
A mile ahead came a flickering torch light. Just like a runner approaching the finish I reached for the source as though my salvation was nigh. Help me please, he's got no eyes, ears, nose and mouth, save me! I said kneeling down and holding on to the stranger who replied - like this? - holding up the torch to his face. *Alas! I was face to face with a greater evil. He was Headless.
- Story 2.
“Fine!” Chuck yelled slamming the door shut. He heard shouting from inside the house. It just wasn’t his day; the boss wasn’t pleased with his latest project and now a big fight with his girlfriend.
The sun was setting, casting shadows from the tree line. Chuck always went into the forest close to his home to think and get things straight in his head. Walking on a tree-lined path, he breathed deep. The further he walked, the more the worries melted away. He resolved to do a better job on his next project and to apologize to his girlfriend.
As thoughts swirled in his head, the forest grew dark. Turning around to walk back home he heard the sound of twigs snapping. Fishing a small flashlight from his pocket he pointed it towards the noise. Nothing.
“Hey! Who’s there?”
No response. Chuck picked up his pace. Again he heard twigs snap.
“W-who’s there? Answer me!”
Chuck started jogging. Suddenly, he tumbled to the ground. Shinning the flashlight at the object he tripped on, he saw a body: mouth open, eyes bulging, face twisted and frozen. A dark figure appeared on the path. Chuck scrambled to his feet and turned to run. Two hands beat down on his back, sending him and his flashlight flying.
The figure jumped on him and wrapped its hands around his neck. Struggling, pounding his fists, Chuck started to lose consciousness. The hands squeezed tighter and tighter. Chuck slipped into darkness.
- Story 3.
Alicia's birthday party is one I'll never miss, it's always fun!
This year was not different, we all had the fun of our lives. About an hour later, her dad brought out a wine and served everyone present. Although the bottle seems so small, the wine went round the 14 of us. The taste was divine. The best wine indeed saved for the last.
Few seconds later my eyes suddenly became dim. The music sounded like noise and hurt my ear. I turned to call for help but all I saw were figures falling like trees. The cup dropped from my hand and everything went blank.
I woke up an hour later and struggled to keep my glued eyes open. I saw vaguely my other friends tied down. I tried to move then realized I've been tied too. My legs were tied and another cord hanging from the ceiling held my hands in place.
He already killed six people and I watched him smashed the next person severally on the head. I gasped! He noticed I was awake and turned towards me. His eyes glowed with wickedness as he dragged the baseball bat on the floor.
He raised it and was about smashing me then I heard a gunshot. It was Alicia, I heaved a deep sigh of relief. She came close to me as if about loosing the cords. She whispered softly into my hears, "I'm going to make it fast and painful. Dad wastes too much time!"
- Story 4.
Dear Saviour,
If you are reading this, it means you opened the message bottle I set sail on River Obalosu. My name is Adieme. I am a slave of the ‘evil ones’. Please help me.
We are the Kangamurans- a tribe living on the plateau of Mt. Andora. 1000 years before we came here, our land was inhabited by the Chamezures – giant hairy creatures half-human and gorillas. They are flesh-eaters who had a particularly large appetite for human flesh. They think we are a mistake in evolution. They hunted us. Killed us . Ate us.
Our wise old men planned a merger of the 4 clans of Kangamura tribe- Asizomgi, Fatale, Ohelaki and our own Ontapali. We did a surprise attack and conquered ‘the evil ones’. We chased them out of Mt. Evare. Far far away into the dark forest. We enjoyed years of bliss and days of plenty. But the ‘evil ones’ never forget. It was a countdown to our doom.
On the day of our ‘Iriri’ festival while we merried with ‘Okuwa’ the god of abundance, evil happened. Our men were drunk with ‘abor’ wine and our women sang ‘egom’ songs, Chamazure invaded us again. Streams flowed with my people’s blood. The air was filled with cries of terror and nose smelled burning flesh. I was chained and taken captive with more than 100 girls.
Now they have eaten most of us, raped the rest. I may be next. Help. Me.
Adieme,
About To Die.
- Story 5.
As I brushed my teeth, I thought I saw something through the mirror reflection pass behind me. It must be my imagination I thought. After I was done, it was about 11:46pm. so I went to my room to sleep. I was home alone, my sister and mother had travelled. I was scared, because this was my first night alone in the house.
Once the clock struck 12:00am, something weird happened. The lights started flickering.
I thought it was the normal PHCN wahala, till I heard what sounded like my name. Carl! Carl!
My body was now filled with Goosebumps. The voice was coming from downstairs. This was real scary, was someone playing a prank on me?
I ran and bolted my room door. Carl! Carl!! The voice came again. I couldn’t just leave a stranger wandering around, so I decided to head downstairs.
Immediately I opened the door to the living room, all lights went off, it was pitch darkness.
Bang!! The door behind me closed forcefully. This sent chills down my spine. I hurriedly reached into my pocket to bring out my phone and put on the torch. I flashed the light around and yelled "who is here?" No reply came. I had decided that I must find this prankster. Still in the living room, a hand grabbed me, it was very hot, leaving a burn showing the palm print.
Immediately I opened the front door and ran outside. There was definitely somebody, no something in the house.
So there you have it. 3 of these stories will share from the 20SBD prize pool and they need your votes.
STACH is supported by @Sndbox as a Sndcastle project.