Twitfic Challenge #2 – The Shortlist

The shortlisting process was extremely hard. We deliberated for hours. Literally. There was so much to choose from. Some of you used the required phrase in incredibly inventive ways, others wrote stories that were completely absorbing, still others blew the 140 character limitations out the water with the sheer quality of their writing. Short and sweet or taking full advantage of the 20 tweet allowance, all stretched our understanding of what it is possible to achieve creatively on a medium like twitter.

All who entered deserve congratulations. But, there have to be winners, so, now the time comes to present the finalists for you to peruse and, if you feel so inclined, vote!

Yes, vote! Please do, for it is the best and most democratic way to choose an overall winner.

Oh, did I mention prizes?

The winner will receive a bountiful collection of goodies from our own MassTwitFic Vaults Of Awesomeness™ (Did I really just say that? Sorry.)

First off, we have: A genuine one-of-a-kind MassTwitFic T-shirt created especially for this Challenge by one of our own humble minions. The one at the back there, with the exaggerated limp. *points* (Give us a wave love, no? Alright then, moving on…)

In addition to this, two, yes two, vouchers for you, one for the supremely entertaining compendium of all things geek ThinkGeek, and the other for the ever-dependable writers’ haunt of Amazon.

And, (no really, we love you that much) a selection of delicious gourmet lollipops from the geniuses at lollyphile. Including, Wasabi-ginger, Bourbon, Pomegranate-Tangerine, Real Coffee, and the shockingly mind-bending Maple-Bacon.

Vote!

Without further ado, here are the finalists:

Yes, we really are leaving it up to you to choose the overall winner. Democracy all the way! (What do you mean we’re Socialists? Shush you.  Someone drag that minion off for re-education please? Thank you.)

In case you need reminding

Here are the entries, in no particular order:

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The Ack

by Scolefiction:

Everyone was worried about The Ack. The summer months had thawed the fear in the town and the thing in the woods.

So far, since the trees bartered back their greenery for the beast, two one teenage boy & a small girl had been claimed by The Ack.

Men from town had found the undesired anatomy remaining from the two scattered throughout the woods .

A kid in my gym class said his brother saw it last summer, when I was preparing to start high school & falling in love with Tony.

“Something like a boy, but a porcupine. Its eyes were yellow or black either with no pupil or all pupils, I don’t remember.

“It was dark and wet, smelled like mold. Its teeth didn’t fit in its mouth.

“And it drug tree branched along the ground. Though, it could just be that his claws reached the dirt.”

I had my own problems to worry about with summer approaching. The Ack, frightening as it sounded was no match for first love.

Tony and I had been high school sweethearts all that year, but as the weather warmed, I noticed his wandering eye.

Beth was the name of the girl I was worried over. Tony had several classes with her and seemed to bring her name up too frequently.

The invite to Beth’s end of school party came as no surprise to me. Tony looked forward to it with extra anticipation.

The Ack was no match for Beth.

The last day of school came with a particularly sinister heat wave. It lingered in the air as Tony & I drove through the woods.

And the sun went down behind the silhouettes of trees as we reached the party. My classmates, beer-spirited and silly.

I tried to drink my own apathy as Tony quickly abandoned me for lovelier creatures. I smoked with subtle tears on the cabin steps.

The ominous heat and darkness permeating from the woods around us eventually made me seek in innards of the cabin for comfort.

I realized,even in my lubricated state,fear is a stupid emotion. No matter if you fear or not, if something is to happen, it will.

Tony and Beth were in deep embrace when I reached the living room. I noticed the looks from those around who understood

My heart left me then. & my fear. Do I stay here & watch this display, or run home in tears, through the woods, The Ack somewhere?

I chose to leave. The thing in the woods could take me if it wanted that porcupine thing. I left the cabin door open on my way out.

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One Night A Year.

by wildfeather:

“In t bleak midwinter,frosty winds may moan.Earth stood hard as iron,water like a stone..”"Leave it out Roger,miserable enuf as tis”

“I’ll say. Water like a stone? My feet ‘ave frozen into my bloody boots!” “I’m pretty sure my toes are rotten…”

“Mine’d need a brillo pad to get the caked-in mud off” “Quit yer moanin you lot, it’s blinkin Christmas!” “Yes sarge.”"Sorry sarge”

“What’s that?”

“Stille nacht, heilige nacht, alles schläft einsam wacht…” “Ere, Jerry’s singin’!” “I know that one, Silent Night, int it?”

“It puts tears in your eyes boyo..” “Bet you could sing better, Welshy!” “Hey, let’s give em what for!” “Best Sunday voices lads.”

“..round yon virgin mother and child..” “They’re cheerin!” “OI, JERRY,ANYONE GOT ANY KIERSCH?” “Was? Was ist?”"What you doin Ed?!?”

“GIVE US A FAG WOULD YA?”"Shhh!That’s the bleedin enemy you idio–”"I can have fußball engländer?Wir has bier!”"Now u’ve done it”

“INCOMING!!!” *duck*

“It’s a bottle! It’s…a beer bottle!”"Dont! it’s probably poi–soned, too late”"Ohhh Thats good that is”"Yeah?”"Yeh,hits the spot”

“Give us some!” *clink* “Haben Sie ein fußball Tommy? Eh?” “Sarge?” “Hmmm..” “Oh go on sarge.” “Alright, seein as its Christmas.”

“Hoorah!!!” “Last one over the trench is a.. uh, nevermind.” “They aint gonna shoot us are they?” “Only one way to find out…”

*shrug* “We’ll probably be dead by Boxing Day anyhow” “Orlright Jerry, WE’RE COMIN OUT!” “Guten Tag! Guten Tag! Merry..”"Christmas”

“Christmas!Ja!Ja!” “Blimey Jerry,you look as cold as we are!” “Ich, ich kann nicht verstehen..” “Nevermind, let’s have a kickabout”

“I’m in goal!”"Your pointy helmets make great goal posts gents”"Watch the barbed wire”"Now then,now then,anyone want some whiskey?”

“3 cheers for sarge!” “Hip Hip…” … /Dear Bessie, ta very much for the socks.Just what I need.It’s so cold here,you’ve no idea./

/Today we played rugger with the Germans.Yes,really.Roger fell into a crater head 1st,I laughed til I cried.&The German beer, oof!/

/They’re no different than us really, same trenchfoot,same woes,same photos of families in their breast pockets,same homesickness/

/Met this guy Mael-got a girl looks just like u.&a tot like our Freddie.Only,all chubby.Was like meetin ur double.Made me kinda sad/

/At four we toasted the Christkind, the birds sang and the sun went down. It was *inkblot* We’ll be shootin them again tomorrow./

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Angst Observed

by JimGleeson:

Jasper clicked off the TV, rose from the couch and brushed off potato chip detritus from his sweat shirt. His eyes, dry and craggy.

He couldn’t hear the sound of giggling from the other room. It was late though, even for a Friday night. Still his senses probed.

Silence. He felt a wash of voyeuristic guilt. Still though he felt that other familiar feeling as well. The tendrils of yearning.

He went to the second door on the left and wheeled into his room, the door was cracked open, thin lcd illumination leaked through.

His bare foot hit the left corner wheel of the bedframe, his toe shocked by cold steel. He grimaced/cried out. Time staggered.

Losing balance, he stumbled onto the bed, all knees and elbows. A form on the bed cried out. A faint smell of lavender.

Jasper’s eyed widened. One word registered “Kim” Sprawled over her, he felt her arms slapping his back/his side/other body parts

Instant replay. His mind reversed to see if he had made a wrong turn somewhere. But the surroundings were familiar/they were his.

“What-” was all he managed to say. She screamed, pushed him aside and rose from the bed. He rolled over watching, grasping..

She made for the door, rubbing her shoulders from where part of him collided with her. “Wait.” he said. She hesitated.

But his mind was like bike pedals that had lost its chain. No traction. His opportunity hermetically sealed in failure.

In his mind, he heard/saw “and the sun went down” fading to credits. The end. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Objects in motion tends to stay in motion. <-thought seemed to laugh at him as she was in mid stream of achieving escape velocity.

His mind was a crashing hard drive seeking anything: fragments of song lyrics, movie lines, in store buy one get one free coupons.

“Jas,” she said to stop any forthcoming deliberation. As if she could see these thoughts like a hacker perusing his facebook page.

Then like an application opening a file he was able to speak “You lost?” She turned around. Was he also smiling?

“I can smell this place from a mile away.” She wrinkled her nose, but her feet were planted. Fight or flight was not in play.

What was in play?

He positioned his feet on the floor and stood facing her. Kim. Inside he trembled. Inside was fire. But he would not waver.

Her mouth mirrored his, eyes locking, and they found themselves in tandem. Hearts interlocking like legos in the night.

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The Returning

by ExplodingDragon:

Okay, here it is. My entry for the #twitfic contest!

I kick the door open and step inside. There can be no hesitation. They’re up and facing me before I enter striking range.

One tries to close the distance first, but jumps back hurredly from the light coming through the open door. They look worried.

They know there’s no escape for them, I have them trapped in their lair. They must face my blade or perish in the light outside.

“Who are you?” one hisses. A delaying tactic, but I indulge them. “My name is Bakuretsu Ryuu, I hunt your kind. Shall we begin?”

They charge with unnatural quickness, trying to bite or claw me. But my blade is quicker, and they are soon in pieces on the floor.

I gather up the pieces in a sheet and drag them out to the back garden. Uncovering them they set alight, as is their curse.

Watching them burn I consider my own curse. As a slave not to the sun, but satelites in orbit, that connect to nanites in my brain.

I have to pay off the debt of blowing up my employers former base, even if it did wipe out a horde of zombies.

I do this by hunting, or my head explodes. And I like breathing, thank you very much.

Time passes. Back in the car I hit the beacon to confirm I survived. It beeps and gives me a location.

No thanks, no congratualtions, not even cake, just another target. *sigh*

And the sun went down before I could start the car. I can’t even drive into the sunset.

There’s that feeling there should be crappy poetry again. “I am grace, I am death, blah blah blah”

My name is Baku, I hunt demons and associated undead. Because I’m good at it. Because someone has to. What else is there to say?

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Why The Moon Wanders

by ZAmmi:

The following is my first attempt at a #twitfic for the @MassTwitFic challenge — a sort of Just So story..

Arrayed in splendor,she danced across the endless night;against a backdrop of stars glitterin&gigglin at her passing”Cant catch me!”

Callin her by name,they enticed her on..&she sped after;at a speed that left the world breathless;hopin someday to reach the centre

That shimmerin swirl of light where all the galaxy danced together in brilliant,complex steps.Planet&star,cloud&void.&livin things?

Maybe.

She could hope.

Even as she chased,she was pursued.T clouds raced to meet her,reachin w their curling,billowy tops to touch the fringe of her skirt

Flowers turned their heads to gaze upon her as she passd.Men covered their eyes,dazzled by her beauty.Skies beamed blue&blushed red

All loved her. All? Yes.All. No,not all. As she crossed a deep ocean she saw it turn to answer to a different summons. Astonishment

The way it turned its back on her, rolling away, spurning her with its cold,blue shoulder made her shudder.Its indifference smarted

She called;it did not answer.She blazed anew;it wasnt moved.She sang;yet it continued on its weary way,unaffected by her siren song

“I will go &speak with it if I can,”she said. And the sun went down, to kiss the blue horizon,&exchange winsome words with the deep

It swelled&surged at her coming, revelling in its own might&power.”Why do u turn from me ocean?Do I not shine bright enough for u?”

Its voice returned; all cymballent, like a thousand sailors all shouting at once, and the hiss of the watersnake merged into one.

“Your light cannot reach my depths.”"I’ll shine brighter!”"You would scorch the Earth”"I have failed you then”she sighed. “Perhaps”

Hot tears dripped from her eyes & boiled with volcanic fire as they touched the waves.”Do you not love me?”"Another moves me more.”

“Who?” “The Moon.” it said with a sigh. “It reaches to the very abyss.” She turned her gaze upward. “Moon, is your light brighter?”

“Never!” cried the Moon. “You move the ocean!” “It moves me.The Earth too.” “Then,do you not love me either?” the Sun began to weep

“Sweet darling mine! I chase you across the sky,I linger when I should set,to see u rise.I rise early to see u set the world aglow”

“If I could but catch you, you’d be mine forever. You are my sun, my star.All who love me love you.” Luna bent to caress her hand.

Sol’s eyes sparkled, her sadness forgotten. She spun, her garment fanning out in rays & sped away. “Catch me then, if you can.”

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…For The Last Time.

presenting an original work of twitter fiction, by konewt:

He, Bored and without any Light, Created the Sun.It rose in the Dawn, lingered at Noon, wavered until Dusk, and the Sun went down.

Recharged and Seeing the Good,He Created it All,each Day.The Sun,a Favorite,It reveals All,but It needs rest,and the Sun went down.

It was a perfect Harmony,the rhythm of His making,the ever Forever Cycle,the seesaw of Life,the Sun came up, and the Sun went down.

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Nightmare.

by Metruis:

I’m answering the #Twitfic challenge. Which, btw, was HARD. Got away with no abreviations, though! 20 tweets follow,

Five in the start, but now there were three. Three hopeless, tattered, haggard humans caught in the glare of a roseate sunset.

Fogard didn’t know where the other two were. Probably dead. These ones wouldn’t last much longer. He could smell their fear.

He sat under the shadow of a wildly branching tree and let it obscure his stygian face as the three humans stumbled down the hill.

They must have given up hope, he reasoned. That would give the three reason to expose themselves. They wanted to give up and die.

He didn’t expect the call. “Nightmare!” the oldest screamed with a cracked and ever so strained voice. “We seek a trade.”

Fogard frowned and rose… and rose… and rose. Soon his shadow swallowed that of his tree. The three drew back in fear and shock.

“A trade, is it?” His voice was a low whisper but it thundered deep into the earth. “And what would you trade?”

“Sien was taken…” the eldest stammered, running his fingers through his blond hair to avoid making eye contact with the entity.

“And what would you give in return for your friend’s soul?” Fogard snarled. The human found the will to make eye contact again.

“What do you want?” the human replied boldly. Fogard smiled and the sun went down.

Silence fell. Not even the humans’ breathing could be heard. This was Nightmare’s domain:nothing but a hum amidst velvet starlight.

The hum exploded outward with a cry of “What do you want?” Fogard smiled to himself. The human was strong. “Anything you want!”

“I want to live again,” the Nightmare whispered into the human’s ear. “Bring your friend before sunrise and I will restore her.”

“In return,” continued the breath of dreams, “I will prey on your minds eternally. Do we have a deal?” The human exhaled sharply.

“Yes.” Light exploded outwards and the night was as normal: preying shadows, feathery monsters, and taunting nocturnal cries.

They dragged the body under the tree just before dawn, when the dark was deepest. Her body was little more than a shell.

She sat up with night’s deep blue in her eyes when Fogard touched her forehead.They had tears and joy to share, even as he watched.

“Remember,” Fogard warned, “the fear of the night is now yours.I have given you hope, now you will give me back what is mine.”

“What is yours?” Sien asked shakily. But Fogard didn’t answer, vanishing deep into the shadows of the dawn. They were now his.

He gave them back hope,and they would give him fear.For what were dreams made of if not the tiniest bit of both hope and fear.[fin]

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~ by masstwitfic on February 2, 2010.