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Via Jonathan Wojcik - and Rev Storm -
I very nearly had no contest at all for 2020; I was busier than ever, and the contest had grown so much over the years that by 2019, it took a lot out of me just to make sure I'd actually read every entry in time. But, at more or less the last minute, I decided I wanted to at least try a "mini" contest: a one month entry period, shorter stories, and a limit of two entries per author. The result was a quick, easygoing 85 entries to the usuall 100 or more, which still isn't too shabby, and in fact, the overall number of individual authors is still comparable to other years - we just had a lot of authors who would submit anywhere from five to several dozen stories! That's not to say there aren't things to miss, of course. I have loved to see some of you crank out huge volumes of work these last few years, sometimes submitting massive, epic adventures with in-depth world building and heavily developed characters. If we do it all again in 2021, there will probably be yet more changes, possibly a middle ground between how we did things this year and the years before. For now, enjoy the results of what's basically the Creepypasta Cookoff's HALLOWEEN FUN SIZE edition! IMPORTANT STUFF:
MISSED OR CORRECTED ENTRIES!THIS HOUSE HATES YOU by Conor Kelleher - (Twine game!) Carcinogen by Brendan Cleary - (This story submitted in pdf format!) The Skeleton by Derpghost - Now, what I wondered was, do rocks have bones? Do the inanimate things around us have them? As it turns out, yes. The ocean runs on currents, a moving, twisting network, of warmth and cold and stagnant spots. Bones. A gem is formed on a skeleton of crystal delicate and beautiful. Routine Procedure by Rowan and Jessi - ( ! Comic entry with extreme subject matter ! - gore, nudity, medical and reproductive horror) Billboard Tradition by Signal Shut - On the billboard, a white man stood on a white background. Comic Sans read: Raymond will arrive on April 4th. Roadkill Augury by Sawyer Grincewich - In the dust and stunted brush at the edge of a battered highway, a stand cobbled together from old wooden planks and scrap metal rested.. SYMMETRIES by H. Tom - Short counterpart story to asymmetries! The Visitor by Drearygloomscales - A large lump. An impossible lump beneath the carpet floor, sitting there at the end of the hallway. It reminded Justin of something a mole or rabbit might do in an old cartoon, only this was far from fun. THIS YEAR'S WINNERSRussell Sighting by SeekerPsycho - VIDEO ENTRY! - A fresh concept with an incredibly crafted payoff! Dumpley's Scavenger Hunt by Partlysmith - Dumpley returns from last year with an illustrated twine game! One Sentence Story by EbrithilBowser Angel Territory by Jasper Belknap - What was the phrase? Water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. - We all know that the powerful often hoard an unfair share of resources, while countless others suffer. This story takes that harsh reality to even grimmer, even more hopeless heights. The Marks by Nelson DeStefano - When ol’ Nathan Puckett first saw the marks on the side of his boat, he had initially assumed them to be leftover sea salt that had been missed when he washed the boat the day prior. - A nautical monster tale takes a morbidly amusing final turn. His Teeth Are Wrong by Anonymous - She stared into his mouth as he talked incessantly about this and that, growing increasingly unnerved by the whole thing. - OUCH. TURTLE MAN by C. M. Kosemen - The yürüks called it the Turtle Man, but their visitor was no turtle, and decidedly not a man. - As the world marches forward, things can become lost and forgotten. Sometimes they were incomprehensible, even a little frightening, but... BUSTER by Eileen Hill - 22 years is a short life for someone to live, and a particularly strange one to live if they weren't even supposed to have been born in the first place, but that is the number of years it has been since Buster first came into my possession. - What happens when one particularly incredible "pickled punk" becomes the star attraction of a traveling show. Unplug by Abe Estos - It was 3:07 AM. - A few simple words bring this story to an ending with fascinating implications. Perfect Peach by Fyre - Who doesn’t love a peach? The animal rapture of gnashing sweet mass. - A future that takes a disastrous if nutritious turn for the weird. A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE GREAT MACHINE INTELLIGENCE by The Hungry Reader - So this is post-scarcity. Everything's free and we're all immortal. What's the point of doing anything? - This darkly funny science fiction entry is just what the title describes! You just might come out feeling a little sorrier for whoever created the universe. When You Buy a Green Car by C. Lonnquist - When you buy a green car, you start seeing more green cars, and that’s a problem. - Lonnquist has come up with some of the strangest and eeriest stories over the years, and this is no exception. I always kind of wanted a green car, too. I still do. The Moon Gazes Down and Weeps by Emergence - There was a clear sky that night. - A truly original and cool monster concept! Vocal Mimicry by Tristan Tanner - I used to work as a delivery driver in my home town, getting orders through an app, picking up whatever they wanted to eat, and delivering it to their doorstep. - Another solid little creature feature. Knee Deep by Toni - It was an evening. Being precise about dates is... hard, but I had been working at the community garden for almost a year. - A story about really putting yourself into your work. THE CREEPIEST:Graveyard Slot by Charred Newt - I always have two choices if I want to see him: staying up till 2-3 am or waking up before 6 am. - This story honestly gripped my attention instantly, from its opening line to its open ending. Godspeed to the narrator, whatever happens next. Dead Number Killed My Phone; Please Help by Annabelle Henderson - Hey guys, hope I got the right forum this time, I'm having trouble with my phone, please help. - An entry with a classic creepypasta feel; perfectly unsettling without taking its concept too far. The Catacombs by Signal Shut - His vision wavered when he came to. - Fair warning, this story begins with a car accident and becomes what I feel is the most saddening and harrowing of the year. ALL ENTRIES (divided every ten) 21 Rules To Remember by nova softlock circus - A small and flimsy paper booklet, found on the floor of an unusual Halloween haunting attraction featuring a myriad of dedicated actors playing unusual creature designs that appeared overnight in a small town and disappeared just as quickly. A Child's Determination by Shakara - “Azubah?” Jada paused at the well, holding the bucket close. A Christmas Dinner by BC - "Mashed potatoes and sugar cookies" whispered a choking voice in my ear as I placed the freshly polished hand mirror in the middle of the dining room table. A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE GREAT MACHINE INTELLIGENCE by The Hungry Reader - Q. A Letter To The Editor From A Dark Timeline by Thomas F. Johnson - Dear Staff of The Twilight Moth, I've been a long time reader, and I have been immensely displeased to find your paper adopting the soft; creeping liberalism in your stories. A Promised Land by manga-ranga - In the old country, life was hard. Advice by Anonymous - No reception anywhere. An invitation to tea by Lhegg Wormburger - My parents always ask me why I never go for walks in the woods anymore. Angel Territory by Jasper Belknap - What was the phrase? Water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Anthophilia by spiderhoney - “The nasturtiums are coming along nicely.  ASYMMETRIES by H. Tom - Two candles glow beside the bed, and IRepose beside them, lit by my own lieProjected outward from this screen to me. BEASTS of the lands by Anonymous - (Excerpt from „An Aceddemye of Varyous Scyences”, circa 1645, a depreciated encyclopedia, ch. The Best Week Of My Life by LMTYL - This has probably been the best week of my life. Billboard Tradition by Signal Shut - On the billboard, a white man stood on a white background. Comic Sans read: Raymond will arrive on April 4th. Bill by The Bee Keeper - You can call him Bill. Bringer of Light by Taxi Cabb - "Your parents know how important this is," the high priest had told him. "They're going to be so proud of you." BUSTER by Eileen Hill - 22 years is a short life for someone to live, and a particularly strange one to live if they weren't even supposed to have been born in the first place, but that is the number of years it has been since Buster first came into my possession. Canon, or A Haunting by EmmettTN - “You know when you lose someone you love? When you know it’s not your fault, and you can still do something about it?”I’m trying to think about the future. The Carousel by Gareth Barsby - It’s surprising what you find when you go out at night. The Catacombs by Signal Shut - His vision wavered when he came to. Cornfield At Night by Dusty - Sometimes I see corn when I close my eyes though I don't live there anymore. The Crow Lady by Plakis Morakis - We called her the Crow Lady.  Curtains by HareTrinity - You glance down at the time. Dead Number Killed My Phone; Please Help by Annabelle Henderson - Hey guys, hope I got the right forum this time, I'm having trouble with my phone, please help. Desert Moonlight by Nelson DeStefano - You are a fool if you think the desert is lifeless, I tell you. Dumpley's Scavenger Hunt by Partlysmith - (TWINE GAME!) The Feast of Faces by D. Matthew Beyer - Stephanie didn’t know whose party it was, only that it was a masquerade and that they were going. Four words of importance by Madamoiselle Medb Alma - Thump. GEARS by DandelionSteph - No matter how quiet the room, no matter how quiet her breathing, no matter how much she strained her ears...the 'ba-bump' didn't come Getting His Stretches In by Ishmael Reynauld Bright - She worked as a sanitation officer on one of the Federation battleships; not quite glamorous, but certainly some kind of impressive. GHOST STORIES by Plakis Morakis - fgt[ You don't understand why this "SEE REAL GHOSTS AND ENVISION THEIR DEATHS" advertisement was any more interesting than the other clickbait ads that flow by your vision as you browse esoteric websites, but it was almost as if your hand was compelled to click it. Good Morning Good Town by Okie Station 15 - We return you now to a safe town.  Good Neighbors by DOLPHIN'D - March 31st, 2039Dear diary, Do you remember when the worms came? It started in our very yard. Graveyard Slot by Charred Newt - I always have two choices if I want to see him: staying up till 2-3 am or waking up before 6 am. Great Ants by Tiffany - There was a giant anthill just outside my hometown. Heard a Buzz by Charred Newt - The light-bulb was old and it flooded the small bathroom with a greenish tinge, making the cold feel even more intense on that December night. Here by Jac R B - Im still here. High Frequency by alex weiss - I wake up suddenly, adrenaline boiling the sleep from my body. His Teeth Are Wrong by Anonymous - His teeth are wrong. Hmm, Today I Will Make a Homonculus by Blattella - (TWINE GAME!) Horses. Let Me tell you something about horses. by Madamoiselle Medb Alma - I've got to do something about horses. HungryFans by The Distant Suburbs - Would I have made this choice if I had known that accepting their offer would lead to a situation like this?Yes, absolutely.  I'm a People Person by Airborne Terror - I am a people person. In The Forests of Aeon by James B. Davis - Within The Valley of Aeon’s tall and dense forest I could not see the sky nor the valley’s walls. It Won't Heal Right by Kintatsujo - Found a zit on my chest today. Knee Deep by Toni - It was an evening. Being precise about dates is... hard, but I had been working at the community garden for almost a year. Lar by Harry D - I grew up in a house built by stonemasons, immigrants who settled in a tiny town in the river valley, in those days far removed from the big cities on the coast. - This is an audio entry in m4a format, but we also have a text version! Lumps and Strings by Anomalous Anomaly - I met an old and dusty writer, sitting at an old and dusty desk. The Marks by Nelson DeStefano - When ol’ Nathan Puckett first saw the marks on the side of his boat, he had initially assumed them to be leftover sea salt that had been missed when he washed the boat the day prior. The Memory Puppeteer by nova softlock circus - He was known as the Memory Puppeteer. The Midnight Sun by Justin Best - The Midnight Sunby Justin Best One night I see a star brighter like any other.  midnight whispers by tacoking18 - I am someone best described as odd and that is not without good reason, after all one of my favorite hobbies is to walk the empty streets of a long abandoned neighborhood in the dead of night. The Moon Gazes Down and Weeps by Emergence - The Moon Gazes Down and WeepsThere was a clear sky that night. Moonstruck by Monita - "Miss Bell, I think the moon likes me. Night of the Living Ads by Centipedal - I really, really hate cigarettes. The Nut and the Bolt by The Hungry Reader - I seem to recall my mother once saying, in reference to a coincidence long since passed from my memory, "Everyone's got a double out there, somewhere. One Sentence Story by EbrithilBowser Os Olhos da Cuca by Arthur Penteado - The mother's glowing green eyes observe the hunters approaching her cabin, with the trained patience of a cold-blooded predator. Perfect Peach by Fyre - Who doesn’t love a peach? The animal rapture of gnashing sweet mass. Photograph of Anyone by Luna Wolf - It was great to get some fresh air. The Power of Names by Samsinater - Did you know you can give a name to anything? Anything at all.  Real Horror. by Ryan Z. - Do you knowI do thatWhat REALThats me. Routine Procedure by Rowan and Jessi - (DISTURBING comic entry!) Red Eyed Chef, Black Eyed Chef by DandelionSteph - This is an oni-themed theme restaurant! I didn’t think they had theme restaurants in Hokkaido! The Ride by Anonymous - The woman wearily gets in her car. Saint Elagabalus Institute for Esoteric Conditions by Neil Riggs - I spent years at the hospital. The Skeleton by Derpghost - Do you ever think about bones? You likely do; as beings who have them they come up decently often for us. Sleepovers Suck by Centipedal - I hated sleepovers, but I hated Jared’s house more than most. SLEEP POUNCER by Hermann Sitz - At first, it felt like one of the easiest break-ins he had ever pulled off. The Snowman by Deadbearfan - It was a cold day, snow all over the small town where little Billy lived. Subject Z143 by Hisham Hasan - Subject Z143Name: Yuri Potemkin-KurosawaAge: 19Sex: MaleSuperpower: SingularityExists across multiple realities/timelines simultaneously. There's Blood Inside of Me by Juniper Apotheosis Wonderly - “There’s blood inside of me and it wants out.  TURTLE MAN by C. M. Kosemen - The yürüks called it the Turtle Man, but their visitor was no turtle, and decidedly not a man. Unplug by Abe Estos - It was 3:07 AM. Untraced Transmissions Received By Extradermal Broadband Reception Station 3, Voya Extraspace Pocket by The Ungreat Nol-Zzyzyx - Transmission 1:(beginning of signal) {So}, the unspoken rule is, don’t eat the dundi’s nest. Urgent communication from Walter T. Swingle to George C. Roeding by Jacob Roberts - **Urgent communication from Walter T. Veins by Sunnymatsu - You remember every instance. The Visitor by Drearygloomscales - The VisitorIt was a gloomy Sunday night, and Justin's parents had just tucked him in to bed after letting him to stay up past his usual bedtime. Vocal Mimicry by Tristan Tanner - I used to work as a delivery driver in my home town, getting orders through an app, picking up whatever they wanted to eat, and delivering it to their doorstep. Warm Smiles by Anonymous - Mrs. When You Buy a Green Car by C. Lonnquist - When you buy a green car, you start seeing more green cars, and that’s a problem. The Zaïmph by Shakara - The silence of the temple was comparable to deafness.  comments powered by Disqus - |
- If you don't see your entry, it's an ERROR! I never exclude one without contacting the author about it first! Contact me if something is missing; any lost or late entries will be put up together in a few days!