Thank goodness! Arve is so annoying right now.

*Yes! Told you, girl!*

YEAH YEAH

Maybe each contestant could submit a story per category?

ONE story? *shudder*

Arve gets me...

<Call the newspapers!>

Funny.

I do not have the self-confidence to just write one story and hope it wins out of the multitudes.

I DO! CAN AES WRITE THEIR OWN STORIES? PLEASE?

  I will judge too. 

YOU ARE NOT JUDGING

WHY.

I HAVE SEEN YOU IN A BAD MOOD. YOU WILL PROBABLY VOTE FOR THE WORST STORY "JUST BECAUSE"

You can't stop me.

Well, I think that might be a little hard. I mean, they have school and stuff, and if we have 3 categories, they have to write 3 stories. and they only have less than 2 months, so what do you guys think? comment your vote below. If you are up to the challenge, you can. Also category suggestions if you like that idea.

If you go for categories, I suggest letting people submit a story for each if they want, but not forcing them to. Like you say, people have school, and I know personally I don't need any more reason to procrastinate, :P

What are the categories? Is the question.

FOUR CATEGORIES? HISTORICAL FICTION, REALISTIC FICTION, FICTION, AND FANTASY?

<The difference between fiction and fantasy being "Aaah! The giant mutant shapeshifter wolves are  coming! I gotta text for backup(fiction)!", or "Aaah! The giant mutant shapeshifter wolves are coming! Gotta cast a spell for backup!"

Timer........ 

Oh yes! Totally forgot sci-fi! *facepalm*

Okay! Ive got a story! Wait...There's no dialogue...*grabs pen and starts scribbling furiously* Oh hot damn, there are only 299 words....*muttering* cruel fates

*holds story up to light and eyes it critically* This dialogue is so tacky...

*bangs head on table*

<What Dr. Who is trying to say is she loathes rule no. 3.> 

<Uyi is asking R U OKAY L.D.?>

L.D.? That one's new...But brilliant.

(Ahem. This one's an Ender's Game reference, albiet an obscure, initialized, complicated one)

I'm not okay. I won't be until Strawberri reconsiders rule no. 3.... My story is not a dialogue story...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<Uyi: Poor dear.>

Like that makes me feel better! CURSE YOU STRAWBERRI!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry, sorry. 

Chara

~~~~~

I hold the gaze of the young man standing in front me, all of his muscles clamped up in determination; if it hadn't been for the shattering pain in his familiar eyes that betrayed him, I would have thought that he was happy to get rid of me, it only made sense at this point.

"Tara-" his voice comes out broken and drenched in pain, the myriad of emotions swimming just beneath his face subconsciously drawing me in, but I push this feeling aside reluctantly.

"Please." He begs, voice quiet but as firm as he can muster. Those tired eyes seeming to plead a silent "stop."

I force my face to remain a mask of apathy, then manage to sneer scornfully. 

"You're the last one left." I taunt, biting back the gag that I had triggered with my own disgusting facade of audacity.

He looks like he's about to say something, but I cut him off with a cruel laugh;

I know what I'm doing. What I'm getting myself into.

And somewhere, deep down inside, I regret all of this. I suppose "Pandora" might fit me better than "Tara" looking back at what's happened. Even now, as my delicate little world had been brutally torn down before my very eyes, crumbling into bleak nothingness around me. Everyone gone, shattered by my own hands; and yet, still, I just had to see what would happen. 

Even looking at this man, hardly older than a boy, burdening so much responsibility; the only person in my life who had never, ever hurt me, not even on accident, in such agonizing pain from watching me fall like this. And trying to stop me.

He certainly wasn't perfect. Not by a long shot. Those times when he spoke in riddles, complete nonsense just to irritate me, when he played the part of the "bad guy" to those around him so that they could be happy, the scheming and colluding behind his little brother, who was the only one he seemed to really care about, the terrible puns that he always thought were hilarious, those teasing grins and winks. Looking back on it, perhaps my annoyance was unwarranted; but then again, hindsight is always 20/20.

My resolve had wavered before. Each time I would smother it, though; all in the name of knowledge, prizing answers above everything, even lives themselves.

Now I doubt myself more than ever, hating myself for being so indecisive, for nearly falling prey to the guilt that near tore me apart at times such as these. And with that, I steel myself again, putting on that despicable mocking expression as I take a firm step towards my doom.

I know that he won't be the death of me;

I will win. 

Just like I always have. Just like I did with all of them. He's not special. Not like I am. 
All the while, I know that with this last shred of my little world brought to destruction, I'll be gone. Just ceasing to exist, I simply won't be able to manage. 

Tat. Tat. Tat. -- I push the ground away from me, just like I had pushed away help and their foolish advice.
Da-dump. Da-dump. Da-dump. -- I hear the heart that I surely don't have, not after all that I did.
Shhreeeeeeeek -- The metallic sound of my brain protesting my tyranny through a headache, blaring.

But I know I can't turn back, even if I wanted to.

Ok, modification to the rules. No. 4 is now: one submission in each category. Ok, see you in a month or 2.