WRiTE CLUB – Round 7

Just six more chances remaining to make it to the semi-finals of WRiTE CLUB and it's going to be rough.  There are more submissions than open slots, which is a good thing because it's an indication that WRiTE CLUB has been successful, but it also means that some dang good writing will never have the chance to duke it out in the ring.  Blame it all on the random number generator.   

There were no new submissions last week, so both contestants will come from the open pool.  Are you ready?  Got your popcorn and soda? Without further ado....

Here are this week's randomly selected WRiTER's.

Standing in the far corner, weighing in at 249 words, please welcome to the ring……..

GARGOYLE BEAUTY

The week before school started, we drove down to visit my grandparents.   The yearly visits were fun when I was younger, but I needed to go back home and hang out with my friends.  My older sister, Audania, wanted to stay for the whole trip.

Girls!  Ugh!

I figured I was stuck since my parents always listened to her over me.  Not this time.

Home was an hour’s drive away when we ran into rain.  It quickly turned into a drenching downpour.  I peeked out the front windshield, gasping.  Lightening streaked through tumbling cloud castles in the sky.  Thunder roared.  I jerked against my seatbelt as it crashed overhead.   There was no road, only a whirling funnel of rain.

Each second dragged on.  Mom mumbled something, I don’t know, a prayer maybe.  Her lips moved fast.  Dad clenched his jaw.  Audania reached across the backseat and grabbed my hand.

Time crawled to a standstill.  Bright headlights appeared before us on a collision course.  Dad yanked the steering wheel hard to the left.  Our wheels lost traction.  My stomach lurched into my throat.  Metal crunched, whined and moaned as we toppled end over end.

The next day I awoke in the hospital, a tube in my arm, no pain anywhere.  My grandparents told me I was the only one left of my family.  Nausea wracked my stomach and I puked, just missing grandma. And I screamed – from the loss, the confusion and from knowing what happened was all my fault.

And in the other corner, weighing in at a mere 239 words, let me introduce to you ……..

TERRI  LEE

I’m running as hard as I can weaving in and out of the trees, with only the moonlight illuminating my way.  I can barely see, but my heart tells me the way.  The trees sparkle silver in the moonlight, dancing in the wind, taunting me.  Their branches lick across my face and I feel the scratches they leave behind.  Anticipation consumes me; I have to make it there in time.

Hearing sounds of a fight, I turn in that direction. Suddenly, I am sprawled on the ground. Getting up on my haunches I look around. Then I see it. Then I see him. His eyes are pure black, empty, soulless. My breath hitches in my throat and I shuffle back to escape this thing. Coming up against what I tripped on I can’t move. My hands feel warm and sticky. Tearing my gaze from my nightmare,  my heart beats painfully loud, I glance at what I tripped on. No, not what, who. Raising my hand to my face I see grey, but I know, it’s simply a trick of the moonlight, it should be red. Blood, his blood, then I look at his face. I try to scream, but no sound leaves my mouth. Tears stream down my face, as my heart crushes in my chest. No, it can’t be him. Looking up I see my nightmare take a menacing step toward me. Now, finally, sound leaves my mouth.

Which one will it be?  In the comments below leave your vote for the winner of round 7, along with any sort of critique you would like to offer.  Please remind your friends to make a selection as well.  The voting will remain open until noon Sunday. Remember, you can throw your pen name into the hat anytime during these last six weeks by submitting your own 250 word sample.  Check out the rules by clicking on the badge below…then come out swinging!

Remember, here in WRiTE CLUB, it’s not about the last man/woman standing, it’s about who knocks the audience out!

Where words are the true knockout!