I never did well with endings.

the last person's idea sounds similar to my h.e.r. project's: the end but flattened and flipped.

The smoke is clearing as the sun is slowly returning from it's silent retreat. My greatest fear took over at last. Not only is the first day of my life beginning, but his last day is here in the barrel of this gun. Raising the revolver against his forehead, I'm straining to maintain composure, ignoring the pain. The pain of holding the gun to his brain. The stains of dark red blood all over my white blouse; two hours ago it was immaculate. How did I end up here? I'm ignoring my body, numbing my mind, and pulling the trigger.

@Chahalg

Had to be 100 words or less.
I don't think that's below 100 words.

It hurt.
Her body, her mind, her choice, his words... She had never felt more alone; more empty. "But you deserve to be" hissed a voice. She defied her instinct when she didn’t immediately turn around to identify the source, for she already knew that the voice had stemmed from the withered walls of her mind, that voice that had sounded just like his after he had found out; angry, betrayed, hurt.
“No,” she whispered “You don’t get to make me feel guilty. It was you! I had to do it! You were going to kill them all! It was my mission.” She was screaming now, her voice paving its way around the mangled bodies that decorated the now crimson floor. “You were my mission, that was all that you were, Dammit!” She swore as she pounded her calloused hand, denting the church’s wall. She hadn’t looked at him yet, she didn’t want to. Because she knew that his once sparkling green eyes, the eyes that had challenged her whenever they engaged in their daily banter, the same eyes that had laughed at her the time she had clumsily tripped into his arms, and had tried all that morning to unsuccessfully convince him that she had tripped. God knows, the last thing that boy needed was something to make his ego bigger than it already was. Those same eyes that had once looked at her with longing, when she had started to forget the true reason for her joining of the society, they were eternally closed. And it was because of her.
 “Caley,” this time, it wasn’t her mind. “Caley.”
The crimson tipped stake dropped from her shaking hands when she ran to his side, forgetting that the council would be there at any minute to “dispose” of the carrion. She didn’t speak as she held him in her arms, or as the tears that had built up behind her lids started to fall freely onto his tattered shirt. His green eyes, paling from the lack of blood, still projected his sincerity, his honesty when he said his final words to her.
“I still,” his body twitched and his eyes fell as he finished “love you.”
The pain and the regret that attacked what was left of her heart was unbearable. Her head reluctantly tore from his chest when she heard the footsteps echoing through the halls behind the door. They were here. Her now free eyes bore into the stake smiling at her from the floor.
The doors were kicked open as the council stormed in. Jay looked proudly at the dead vampires that littered the floor, hand signing to the rest of the council that the perimeter was clear, as he called for his sister,
“Caley, you did it! It’s over. They were the last of the society, we’ve finally won-”His voice caught in his throat as his eyes rested on the vibrant red hair that he could have recognized anywhere. The joy turned into incredulity and terror as his eyes saw the stake that protruded from her as she lay on top of the society’s leader.
She didn’t hurt anymore.      


First time writer and new to the site! please R&R :) !

It hurt.
Her body, her mind, his words... She had never felt more alone; more empty. "But you deserve to be" hissed a voice. She defied her instinct when she didn’t immediately turn around to identify the source, for she already knew that the voice had stemmed from the withered walls of her mind, that voice that had sounded just like his after he had found out; angry, betrayed, hurt.
“No,” she whispered “You don’t get to make me feel guilty. It was you! I had to do it! You were going to kill them all! It was my mission.” She was screaming now, her voice paving its way around the mangled bodies that decorated the now crimson floor. “You were my mission, that was all that you were, Dammit!” She swore as she pounded her calloused hand, denting the church’s wall. She hadn’t looked at him yet, she didn’t want to. Because she knew that his once sparkling green eyes, the eyes that had challenged her whenever they engaged in their daily banter, the same eyes that had laughed at her the time she had clumsily tripped into his arms, and had tried all that morning to unsuccessfully convince him that she had tripped. God knows, the last thing that boy needed was something to make his ego bigger than it already was. Those same eyes that had once looked at her with longing, when she had started to forget the true reason for her joining of the society, they were eternally closed. And it was because of her.
 “Caley,” this time, it wasn’t her mind. “Caley.”
The crimson tipped stake dropped from her shaking hands when she ran to his side, forgetting that the council would be there at any minute to “dispose” of the carrion. She didn’t speak as she held him in her arms, or as the tears that had built up behind her lids started to fall freely onto his tattered shirt. His green eyes, paling from the lack of blood, still projected his sincerity, his honesty when he said his final words to her.
“I still,” his body twitched and his eyes fell as he finished “love you.”
The pain and the regret that attacked what was left of her heart was unbearable. Her head reluctantly tore from his chest when she heard the footsteps echoing through the halls behind the door. They were here. Her now free eyes bore into the stake smiling at her from the floor.
The doors were kicked open as the council stormed in. Jay looked proudly at the dead vampires that littered the floor, hand signing to the rest of the council that the perimeter was clear, as he called for his sister,
“Caley, you did it! It’s over. They were the last of the society, we’ve finally won-”His voice caught in his throat as his eyes rested on the vibrant red hair that he could have recognized anywhere. The joy turned into incredulity and terror as his eyes saw the stake that protruded from her as she lay on top of the society’s leader.
She didn’t hurt anymore.

A lot was lost in the battle, very few still stood standing. The field was covered with blood and already smelled of rotting corpses. But we had won and to my friends thats all that mattered. But how did I feel? Loooking around my stomach began to turn deep within the depths of my body. "What have I done?" was all I could think as I walked slwoly through bodies of my enemies and my own.
  "Alaric, we have done it" said my friend caleb as he ran toward me. Yes we had done it but death was not the answer I was better than that I needed to be better than that. I couldn't help but feel the anger build up within me. I was the last of my kind and the most powerful and I couldn't help but feel that these people, my supposed friends were using me to get what they wanted.
    "Alaric whats wrong my friend?" asked Caleb.

   "Nothing Caleb, lets try to find the others".

Caleb took off searching for survivers of my furry. A deep hatred grew within me, bruning like a flame grwoing hotter by every minute.
"Saraphinna how i need you now" I thought to myself as I headed west towards the castle. "I will save you even if it takes so much of my power that it kills me you will be free my love."

To post, press the "Start a New Chapter" button. That way you'll get feedback, ratings, and be entered in the contest.

Jody’s fingers put a lot of pressure on my lips. If I could bite down hard on a couple of his fingers, that might do the trick.  1, 2, 3, I forced my mouth open and bit down hard on two fingers.  I must be partial vampire for I drew blood again.
“OUCH, you wrench.  You bit me hard.” With that he pushed me over onto the boxes and started to jump on top of me when I heard a shot.  He went ahead and landed on me with his arm covered in blood.  Next thing I knew, I saw black.

Jody’s fingers putted a lot of pressure on my lips. If I could bite down hard on a couple of his fingers, that might do the trick.  1, 2, 3, I forced my mouth open and bit down hard on two fingers.  I must be partial vampire for I drew blood again.
“OUCH, you wrench.  You bit me hard.” With that he pushed me over onto the boxes and started to jump on top of me when I heard a shot.  He went ahead and landed on me with his arm covered in blood.  Next thing I knew, I saw black.

The horse’s hooves dug into the rain soaked earth as they cantered along the dirt road. He could feel Elizabeth’s arms tighten around his torso. It was impossible to believe the two of them were free. To him, all the moments to this point were like a horrible nightmare from which he could not wake. But the droplets of water dancing on his cheek were real, Elizabeth’s soothing scent of lavender was real, and their freedom was pure reality. He was free, he was with his love, and he was the boy with no name.

He couldn't even be bothered to wipe the sweat from his brow; he just sat at the edge of the bed, trying to catch his breath. Alex crawled over, and kissed the back of his neck, where his spine met shoulder.
He wondered what everyone would think, now; his family, his parents, his Emily. It was finally done.
Jason's body lay cooling on the floor, blood pooling in the dim blue light of coming dawn. "We had to," Alex said. "There will be peace, now. It's over."
No. Now there would be a reckoning, and questions.
It was just beginning.

I brushed the blood off of my armor, smirking as I beheld the Count, slain at my feet. Another hit, another bounty, and another Kingdom saved. All in a day's work, I suppose. And now to go straight, make a living as a farmer and marry Alena.

I rose a hand to my face, shielding my eyes from the light coming through the Count's stained glass window. Another day, and the pay would soon be mine. I imagine you, the reader of this tale, may be scoffing in your apparent saintliness. A man's got to make a living, right?

   I’d failed them. Their mother was gone. I couldn’t go get her because I didn’t know where to look. Lexi was lost to me. She was gone. But I couldn’t give up. Not yet. Joel and Kate couldn’t live without someone they recognized as their parent. And so long as they called me “Daddy”, I would always be here for them. I made another promise. One that I hoped I could keep.
    Cole and Lexi, I promise I will take care of the children. I won’t let anything bring them harm. Their lives will be as you two wanted: happy, safe, and full of love. They won’t suffer as you did. They’ll live the way you would’ve wished it. I will be their protector until they no longer need my help.

   My name is Aiden Schultz, and I promise to be the Protector of America.

Tone/Voice:
She lay up on the pedestal.  Her cascade of pink roses surrounding her beautiful body. My mother was gone. They did not know she didn't care for pink or roses.  She loved purple carnations. I was her only daughter and out of six children two of us cared for her. Ma's last letter requested I send her good tennis shoes and  hair ribbons. From then on my mother was free and mine to mourn for.   She looked so peaceful, beautiful and content. Now at peace from the cancer that took her life and the children who had hurt her feelings.

This has been a great challenge for both readers and writers!  I've thoroughly enjoyed reading some of these entries and offer critique for anyone who sees fit to do the same for my project.

“Just leave me alone! Please, for once could you just shut the fuck up?” She screamed so hard she felt her jaw click.

For once, he actually did as she asked and stayed quiet for the remainder of the night. Miracles can happen if you know how to read them—or don’t expect them to be very big.

They plodded along in silence, a slouching girl bundled in a lead cloak of sorrow, a rose clenched in each fist like velvet cudgels; and one threadbare monkey, picking at a loose string dangling from the end of his nose.

A mild breeze picked up, trading the stale air for a fresh breath, and a bouquet of assorted flowers fell from the podium, rolling to a stop at the foot of the coffin. Zoe picked it up to set it back on the podium. As she did, a pair of flowers fell away from the rest. Two roses landed on her foot: one red, one white. For unity, Zoe remembered. Jeanne had told her that once. She lifted her face to the sky and smiled. “I love you, Jeannie,” she said, and walked away. She kept the roses.

I now have two submissions up and am willing to give feedback on submissions to anyone who comes and checks out my submission. I appreciate all the feedback :)

Emily threw her arms arm around Eric's neck, laughing,
"Yes yes yes!" she her words were muffled by his shoulder,
"Of course I'll marry you!" her grin was infectious, and he mirror it, and he grinned even wider when he saw tears sliding down her cheeks,
"I didn't want to make you cry," Eric said brushing her tears from her face, she smiled again, and laughed,
"I'm crying because I'm ha-" She felt the baby kick and stopped,
"Was that a kick?!" Eric asked putting a hand on her belly, she nodded, kick, kick, kick.
"Wow..." he breathed,
"This kid is gonna kick ass just like daddy!" she said, before giving Eric a kiss.

Joseph burst through the door, there she was. Mary stood centered on the floor, her gaze indifferent and her posture almost casual. Joseph's bloodshot eyes welled, his knees collapsed to the floor as he gripped the bloody, loose flesh of his side. It was over. Joseph's vision became progressively blurred into a state of surreality as Mary slowly paced towards him, her scarlet velvet dress with the burn at it's right sleeve, his mother's emerald necklace, and the most painful; Bernard's rosary gently gripped in those lovely long fingers. She smiled, "here you are" and place the rosary before him.

1932, Canada: Adele is pregnant.  Her sister died leaving her brother-in-law, her husband’s twin, Jacob a widower. Then an accident killed one brother.  He hasn’t yet told her that it was her husband.
‘I’m so sorry that you lost your brother. ’ Adele rested her head on his shoulder. 
He breathed in her hair.  It smelled of campfire, of Annie.  He held her hand until her trembling ceased.  ‘What are you thinking?’  He stroked her hair.
Adele placed his hand on her belly, ‘If it’s a boy, we can call him Jacob.’
Jacob erupted into raw sobs.  ‘Thank you.’

I'm in disbelief. I never thought I'd be sitting here and another woman would be standing next to you at the altar. Life at times can be so cruel. You looked in my direction giving me a faint smile. It was hard but I manage to give one in return. I'll admit this is the hardest thing I'll ever have to do in life. I had to see it with my own eyes. I always said that if I didn't make you happy, I hoped you'd find someone who could. You wanted something I was not ready to give.

General:
Twilight is always followed by daylight isn't it? Or have mornings and afternoons been bundled up, crumbled, and smashed to tiny bits of vivid color that seems to replace the morning sun on these endless nights? The night time rainbow seems to bring freedom and beauty unlike the past where one only sees black, red and torture. Though being here for a few months my fears have been somewhat calmed. Yet nightmares still haunt at times but they are lessening color by color. With a breath of relief i look up to the lights one last time and enter the cottage.

 

   

Plot:
Having been striped of of rights, Genev is sent to the concentration camp. In there she finds a way to escape and move to alaska where she knows that the Natzi will never be able to find her.

Character Development:
Geneve- A young jew forced to flee from the terrors of Hitler.

Guy had a dream that he was on a beach with his girlfriend. she was laying there and they were watching the waves and they were drinking champagne together.
He woke with a start, it was Suzy, his girlfriend, she was shaking him to wake him. Suzy had a smile on her face he looked at her then asked 'What's up sweety?
Suzy then started to explain that she entered a comp and won. he asked ' Where?'
'Spain' she said.
They were to leave in a couple of days.
So his dream was coming true after all.

                     I know my destiny is bound with Sean’s.  Our life paths crossed for a reason we have yet to understand. 
         I thought of all I gained from the past year's experiences.  Solitude is a gift, not a punishment.  I recognized giving should be unconditional, with no expectations,  and only what I can afford to lose.
                      My success is not measured by material or financial gain. Being a successful human being is the most important goal I can achieve. 
                      The fearful child, afraid of the world and all its inconsistencies, is gone.  Whatever is to come—I am ready.

The shadows cast by night's tumble into dawn created a silhouette of the tree line across the pasture.  Ann sat quietly on her balcony sipping coffee,  watching the grazing mares and foals emerge in the grey light, and thinking about how so much had changed so fast.  She smiled softly and wondered what Grandma Liz would have thought about how everything turned out.  "I'll miss her"  Ann whispered, "everyday of my life."

How is it decided who appears at the top of the challenge list under "start reading"? And how did some ppl get their photo posted next to their entry while others did not?

As Jennifer walked away Jim felt a familiar breeze pass through him. He thought to himself “Was it really him? No, it could never be him, he is gone forever”.
        Jim began to walk up the concrete stairs of the park; crushing orange and yellow leafs under his boots. Wearing the same old stained, brown trench coat, he began to cross the street and heard the same whisper he heard a just one year earlier and at that moment he stopped, distraught. It was then that Jennifer heard a terrible screech, the same screech she heard just one year earlier.

Cherry blossoms fall like pink snow, with the sweet taste and scent of cherry on the air.  I look out over the ocean to see the Sun closing in on the horizon for what will be Earth's final sunset.  Once we're gone, there will be no "legacy".  An entire planet vaporized by a man made wormhole.  What a way to go.  Humanity truly is too smart for it's own good.  We wanted to explore the universe, and the universe decided we had seen enough.  This is my final wish, to be with my beloved ocean, sitting against this cherry tree, alone.

Glad to hear Note #1 - I felt the low ratings gave the opening-paragraph challenge a huge low note :(

I found myself running. The grass seemed so thick and pointlessly difficult, and yet it blew past me like ribbons of sea-green. I felt strangely breathless and aerial, as if I wasn't really running at all, but flying- flying into the orange-cream promises and lucious dreams of dawn. And as I soared through the fields, I heard the autumn wind singing a song of life and no longer of death: "Dolan."

I reached the palace and swept into a musty, dank corridor. Somewhere, there was soft light and music. I opened the doors before me.

He was playing the piano.

Plot: A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the story focuses on a girl named Rose, the destruction of her family, and how she learns to rise above her broken past and forgive her transgressors. When the ugly, weak-hearted Rose captures the attention of the prince, her embittered, abusive father sells her off to a hideous beast. Yet, through him, she learns to find true beauty in others and discovers how to forgive and seek forgiveness from her family.

Character Development: Rose progresses from a shy, adventuresome girl to a self-conscious, emotionally needy teenager, and finally to a pure-hearted and responsible young woman. Dolan, the beast, also progresses from self-destructive and bitter to noble and forgiving. It's safe to say that there are no truly stagnant characters in the story.

Structure: Takes place over twelve years and follows Rose from 6 to 17 in part one, 17-18 in part two, and 18 in part three. Each part ends with a mini-climax of sorts, leading to the eventual climax of the Beast's death and resurrection.

Tone: Rose's tone changes from depressed and self-pitying to sympathetic, loving, and mature. The final chapter, especially, is filled with euphoric happiness and love.

To post, press the "Start a New Chapter" button. That way you'll get feedback, ratings, and be entered in the contest.

  As she walked slowly down the rock pathway, I reached out my arm, wishing that she would come back. Tear streamed down my face but she didn't look back and see. Never did she stop and run back to me like I hoped. I wished with all my heart that she would believe me, that some how we could beat the odds and become friends again. And yet it seemed impossible. How could we find trust in a sea of dissapointment?
  She had believed in me but when I had been framed so long ago, it had all been changed. Now as she dissapeared down the road, farther and farther away, it was all over. There was nothing I could do...Nothing.

General:
  The sky was overcast on the verge of a storm. Karma stared willingly  up into the smokey sky with a sudden sense of knowing and a belief that her purpose in Badlam had been fulfilled.  She heard faintly in the distance the chattering of several of her allies, as they, too stared up into the sky. They knew that they had much longer to go.  Karma realized this, but she also knew that today she had accomplished what no other elem before her had.  It was then that lightning split the sky and she felt Divinorum for the first time. 

Plot:
  Karma is an elem amoung the many thousands that make up the earth.  Above all of the elems is the two Balancers, Divinorum and Malium.  Malium has been plotting to overthrow Divinorum for thousands of years.  When this finally happens, will the elems be able to restore the balance of their own selves?  Or will Evil conquer all?

Character Development:
  Karma is the deliverer of Justice and the self-controlled and empathetic elem who is the main character.  She achieves "Divinorum" by sacrifice and self control.

Malium is the evil that represents the devil, per say, that plans to conquer all good.  He is manipulative, corrupt, and power hungry.

Divinorum is the good, just, caring, and selfless figure, that becomes weak under the unbalance of powers. 

Other minor characters include other elems such as the children of malium and divinorum... yinna and yanga, etc.

Structure:
  The elems undergo challenges that test their true character and strengths.  They must think freely and quickly, as well.  They learn team work, trust, love, friendship, self control, sacrifice, and many other virtues. 

Tone/Voice:
  The Voice is omniscient and the tone is biased towards the good side and with a slight sign of dark and evil, that represents the evil in every human being.

Plot:
So now we have it, the greatest secret has been revealed once and for all.
But, its up to YOU on how you use your newfound Knowledge, Be it good or be it evil.
You Choose..

The lightning struck hiding the crack of the gun. I watched the flash, but it didn't matter. I knew that Edward was dead. The end was finally here and I would no longer live the nightmares that had haunted me the past few years. I collapsed to the ground, the gun still in my hand and relaxed, one hand resting on my protruding belly. I hoped that Warren would be proud of me. I understood everything he had tried to protect me from. James' hand moved and covered mine and I knew that we would have that happily ever after.

Well I couldn't resist saying that this last entry before mine, has obviously 'Gone With the Wind' and landed here instead of in its own sub - Oh well tomorrow's another day, or perhaps the author just doesn't give a damn.

The warm morning wind blew over the wheat in the field. The birds began waking up, unaware of the girl curled up on the ground. The sound of each stalk beating against eachother soothed Johan.

It was dawn at last. With a tear glistening in her eye, she looked over at the burned down house, now reduced to smoking shambles. All the memories from that hellhole were burnt alongside with it. It was over. The ghosts of the past would no longer haunt her. She stood up, facing the field and thought about the long road ahead.

Dawn at last.

Are we allowed to put in multiple entries and pull all but the best just before the end of the challenge?

Omg! So doing this! great!

Love this challenge!  Now, here's mine.  Can you find the twist in what might not be considered original?  Good luck!

I don't like this whole idea.   If people already know how the story ends, why would they then pick up my novel and read it in the first place?

As always, it is my policy to critique those who critique me. So, if you don't get your feedback within two days, please, please, please message me. It was an over site. My ending is the third one - Being Bompsy Carleffa - Epilogue. Please check it out and leave a comment.

Thanks.

Further thoughts:

Believing I'd gone over this story gazillion times, I figured I could just copy and past it onto the competition. Not so. I had to work at trying to polish this baby and am very open to suggestions for improvement. I guess we all spend more time on the beginning than the ending. Thanks for another helpful challenge.