Winner of the Zombie Fiction Contest announced

AzH · November 16th, 2008, 11:27 AM

After days of careful deliberation, a panel of Judges (myself, MNDF, Sierra Oscar and CAW) have reached a consensus on which of the 50+ entries into the Zombie Fiction Contest is the winner.

The prize of Left 4 Dead for the PC goes to Chesire for the awesome 'We Died There'.

Overall the judges were impressed by the ability of the author to set a scene and conjure an image in the mind of the reader.

Chesire please contact me to claim your prize.

Honourable mention goes to Quest for 'Infected in the Bayou'.

Thank you very much to all entrants and participants. The judges enjoyed reading through the submissions and found it difficult to choose an overall winner due to the high standard throughout.

AzH · November 16th, 2008, 11:28 AM

The winning entry:

We Died There.

The ambient lighting dialed in, shedding a cool, but comfortable light in the white walled room. A woman, about middle age sat with pen and paper in hand, recorder on the table, at the ready. She wore a conservative and unthreatening white blouse, and a partially unbuttoned p-coat. She looked at him with admirable but suspicious eyes. This man had done it, what everyone else who didn’t escape had tried. And all failed. Except this one. Now she had the chance to understand how he had done it, what made him different? Just then she noticed herself looking at his hip.

“What?” He said, pointing to his gun. “This?”

“Well…I can’t help but wonder why you need it.” She said soothingly.

“Mary, that’s your name right? Mary?”

“Yes.”

“This is part of me, this saved my life, this is as essential to my continued survival as my very beating heart.”

Mary was taken aback by this, and startled, he had said it with such intensity and aggression that she couldn’t help but feel intimidated. She looked for a moment into his steel blue eyes, cold, efficient, determined. Immediately a tingling, cold feeling crept up her spine and settled in her chest. And she knew, this man was a killer.

“So, you seem like a man of action, no nonsense…” She couldn’t help but stutter a bit, he was making her nervous.

“Not always.”

She paused for a moment, unsure of what he had meant.

“Not always?”

“Not…Always… That’s what I said.”

She couldn’t help but smile because this man obviously hadn’t understood what she meant.

“What do you mean, Not always?”

Again there was a pause, he merely looked at her, analyzing.

“I mean, I’m not always a man of action, sometimes I contemplate, and I froze once.”

“You froze…” She repeated, not sure what to make of this.

“And then I died.”

“Well you obviously didn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting here.” This petty attempt at humor was instantly mistaken, and she could visibly see the rage begin to gather in him. Every muscle in his body tightened, and he lost a bit of color in his face. And then it was gone. She glanced at the camera man, sitting a few feet away that had become nervous in that moment. But in the next, one could feel the tension leave and the man relaxed again. The cameraman sat back, visibly sweating, and relieved.

“I do wonder… How someone like you makes it past childhood.”

“Excuse me?”

“You escaped did you not? Maybe you lived eastward? Or maybe you’re foreign, and don’t seem the grasp the fact that this is not something you joke about.”

She found herself breathing heavily looking around the room as if to find an exit, when she noticed this she remembered what had landed her this job, she had a cool head for hot situations. But nothing like this…Not like this, something was different. Maybe it was the circumstances. Maybe it was the loaded Colt .357 Magnum holstered inches from what she could only assume was a madman’s hand. Maybe it was his eyes, His eyes! As far as she could tell he hadn’t blinked, and he always seemed to be half staring half day dreaming, like he wasn’t all there. It seemed like minutes passed, she decided just to let the blatant insult go and move on.

“So…uhm…How did you die.”

“Would you mind sitting in a different chair….I don’t like Maplewood…”

She gave him a sideways stare, wondering if he was serious, but ultimately determining that he was not one for jokes. She motioned for the cameraman to give her his chair, and he instantly ablidged not wanting the chilling stare of this man on him for any longer than absolutely necessary.

“Is this better?”

“I died, because I froze, and I froze, because I was weak.”

“How where you weak? You look like a strong man to me.”

And indeed he was, lean and built, like that of a hardened war veteran, and for good reason, he had survived something far more tramatic.

“I was weak because I could not protect all that I cared about. I let them down, and so, I had nothing to live for, and I died. He flat lined.”

“Who’s this he?”

“EVERYONE!” At this point the man burst out of his chair and sent it clattering it to the floor behind him. At the same time Mary jumped up and out of her own taking a few startled steps away.

And he was calm again.

“Bryce, Dustin, Casey, myself.”

The sound person who had flattened himself against the wall at the first sign of action hesitantly, fearing for his life, picked up the chair and put it back behind the standing man, then retreated to a safe distance. Without even looking at him, the man sat down, and after a few moments so did Mary.
She leaned in, showing her compassion and interest.

“Tell me…What happened to them.”

At this moment his eyes went from half focused to completely gone. A haze seemed to have gone over them. He sat back in his chair and breathed deep. Then waited for a moment.

“It starts out like everyone who has a plan about this sort of thing expects it to. You see some things on the news but you dismiss it. Then you start to see the signs, the birds all leave the dogs bark and throw themselves at the walls until you let them go. All you hear is the wind, and you can feel...Something…Is coming… So you sharpen your machete or you dig the old crow bar out of the garage, but still you don’t full accept it. But then…then, quarantine is declared in your area, and you know…This is real. Now you clean and oil your gun, and go to the meeting place you have with your team. Hopefully they will have seen the warning signs.”

He paused for a moment seemingly contemplating whether to go on.

“And they had, and I was so relieved. When I arrived at our sheltered forest hideout, there they were. Safe and unbitten, seemingly uninfected. As soon as I walked into the camp I felt tem all brief out at once, relieved that I had made it out alive as well. We all shared a long, happy embrace, my good friend Bryce, my best friend Dustin, and his wife Casey. All was well for the moment. So we counted out supplies and went over our priority checklist, exchanged petty jokes etcetera. And that’s where we stayed, for an entire month if I counted the days correctly. But as expected we were running low on food by this time, of course we were never low on water, we had chosen a spot close to a fresh stream. And so it was decided that we would go out for a scouting mission, find some food and see if the ordeal was over.”

Mary sat wrapped entranced by his story and his eyes, unable to take notes or look away.

“We made our way out of the forest, it was impossible for anyone to find out camp if they had not been there…So we weren’t worried about theft or ransacking. Everything was as we had left it. Quiet, silent even. Eerie in every sense of the word. We walked through city streets deserted; the flaming cars you always see in the movie had burned out long ago. We didn’t bother trying to clear buildings, from a survival sense that would be foolish. Let someone else stick there neck out for the greater good; we were only there for each other. Finely we arrived at a promising spot, a once super market. Without a word we bypassed the fruits and vegetables and meat, which by now gave off a horrid odor that would wake god. And head strait for the canned goods, beans, soup, peaches. Anything we wanted we took. We were relaxed, we could spend more time hiding in the forest now where everything was pristine, away from the apocalypse which we were sure had encompassed the entire world.”

Again he reminist for a moment.

“Unfortunantly….Before we would even reach the door again there was the sound of a terrible scream as one of THEM came bursting through a display window and befor we could even act was on top of casey vomiting and beating her. Dustin was first to act, He yelled something like “Son of a bitch!!” bringing his crowbar around with great force, the thing went limp and fell to the ground a few feet away. Instantly Dustin and Bryce where at her side and I was standing there trying to take it all in. I knew what was going to happen, but Dustin wanted to believe she was fine. He was trying to reassure her in her hysteria. And then she started to convulse and scream about the burning. Burning she said “I’m burning!” She started to through her arms around and hit Bryce and Dustin, the held her down and she merely thrashed about for a few moments then looked directly at Dustin with bloodstained eyes turned, and coughed blood directly into Bryce’s face, who fell back screaming clawing at his eyes and mouth. And then he went on about the burning. Before we could even react she had rolled over and now with a free arm, wrapping it around him and biting him square on the neck. And there was I, I knew in that instant that everyone was infected but me. Dustin didn’t make a sound, just looked at me, then at her, in utter shock and amazement as if to say “What’s happening, this isn’t how it was supposed to go.” And there I was standing over the 3 people I cared about most in the world. Now all convulsing and 2 of them screaming. Dustin just lay there letting the virus take hold, before bringing his pistol to his head and ending it right there. And that’s when I died.”

The focus came back to his eyes and he sat there quietly. Mary, looking back, now able to move again. She fixed her hair and gave a polite cough. Took a quick glance at her notes and realized she hadn’t written anything. Looked over to the tape recorder, which was rolling still. She put down the notepad and folded her hands in her lap.

“Tell me what you mean by that, in what way did you die.”

He looked back at her analyzing again.

“I…Did not die.”

She looked at hi quizickly.

“But you ju-“

He interrupted her

“Jack died.”

“Excuse me?”

“Who I was died there.”

“Then who are you.” She had put on a serious face. Jack chuckled for a moment.

“I am Jack.”

“But you just said jack died.”

“Who says he didn’t?”

She paused, stunned and unable to think of anything to say.

“I stood there unable to move, entranced still frozen. Casey began to stand up unsteadily and I looked at her, she looked at me…Screeched. She ran at me an din the same instant I brought this up and fired a single round through her brain.” He said pointing to the .357.

“I turned walked over to Bryce, stepped on his chest and did the same. And then I was alone. And everything was silent again.”

Silence filled the room and Mary felt she could hear the screams he was describing, she shuddered.

“No one that was left behind survived. Not intact. We are all lifeless, or in an asylum somewhere drinking sedative like water. We are all different now.”

Then he looked directly at her, his eyes piecing her soul.

“We died there.”

**Barlowe** · November 16th, 2008, 11:52 AM

Congratulations to Chesire for winning, and Quest for the honorable mention

**Metall_pingwin** · November 16th, 2008, 03:47 PM

Congratulations sir!

**saint_grafitti** · November 16th, 2008, 04:04 PM

Awesome story well done mate!

**S.T.A.L.K.E.R.** · November 16th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Congrats!!! Loved the story!

**MowsysWrath** · November 16th, 2008, 05:56 PM

I was depicted in "We Died There."

I knew I wouldn't beat the CheshCat. Gratz, Mango. Excellent work.

This is like that time you got honorable mention in that Leet World competition.

**Cheshire** · November 16th, 2008, 06:00 PM

WOW! Thank you all so much! There are some very gifted writers in this community, but I am truly grateful.

SEE YALL IN THE WAR TORN STREETS OF THE APOCOLYPSE!

**razman360** · November 16th, 2008, 06:27 PM

Dat was one of the only stories I DID read! lol

TBH, it was a damn good read and you deserved to win...apart from the decent plot and good description, one key thing attracted me to this story and kept me reading...the grammar was decent...if i see a story without capital letters and fullstop, etc, i won't read...that attracted me and everything else kept me going and made it a great read. Well done and enjoy your prize!!

**Dasutin** · November 16th, 2008, 06:31 PM

And thus, the master becomes the apprentice. I had a feeling as soon as you submitted yours that you were going to win. Good game, mango.

Originally Posted by MowsysWrath

I was depicted in "We Died There."

I knew I wouldn't beat the CheshCat. Gratz, Mango. Excellent work.

This is like that time you got honorable mention in that Leet World competition.

'cept this time he won.

**Focus** · November 16th, 2008, 07:42 PM

we have a weiner! grats =P
stephen king eat your heart out haha

**PsyK** · November 16th, 2008, 09:13 PM

Congrats Great Story.

**Silvah** · November 16th, 2008, 09:26 PM

Excellent story. Your skills are quite impressive and you have a good overall grasp on several literary devices. I think a good choice was made when your story was chosen out of the amazing selection various people had put forth.

Congratulations, and I'll be seeing you, lest you are left 4 dead.

**Thrashface** · November 17th, 2008, 12:19 AM

Congrats Cheshire.
Well deserved win.
Great story.

**leonrdstiltskin** · November 17th, 2008, 01:57 AM

great story, man. congrats

**GothicDeathVR2** · November 17th, 2008, 02:58 AM

congratulations Chesire. I cry now. I was hoping for at least honorable mention...
-sigh- I see my fatal flaws.

MyNameDidntFit · November 17th, 2008, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by Cheshire

WOW! Thank you all so much! There are some very gifted writers in this community, but I am truly grateful.

You deserved it, even reading your story again just now it still holds my attention the same way it did the first time.

Definitely a brilliant piece of work

**ranmafan** · November 17th, 2008, 04:59 AM

Grats! Guess I'll have to buy my copy now. :P

**MowsysWrath** · November 17th, 2008, 07:09 AM

I do think all entries should be left up as an honorable mention in itself to all who entered.

Congrats to the fine story that won the honorable mention also.

**Quest** · November 17th, 2008, 02:39 PM

Way to go Cheshire! And thank you for the honorable mention!

November 16th, 2008, 11:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
AzH fuck you Join Date: Jan 08 Location: Great Britain National Flag: Steam ID: AzH4Dead Posts: 2,394	Winner of the Zombie Fiction Contest announced After days of careful deliberation, a panel of Judges (myself, MNDF, Sierra Oscar and CAW) have reached a consensus on which of the 50+ entries into the Zombie Fiction Contest is the winner. The prize of Left 4 Dead for the PC goes to Chesire for the awesome 'We Died There'. Overall the judges were impressed by the ability of the author to set a scene and conjure an image in the mind of the reader. Chesire please contact me to claim your prize. Honourable mention goes to Quest for 'Infected in the Bayou'. Thank you very much to all entrants and participants. The judges enjoyed reading through the submissions and found it difficult to choose an overall winner due to the high standard throughout.
	Visit my new SWTOR: Star Wars MMO forum "Join now and together we will rule the Galaxy as father and Son"

November 16th, 2008, 11:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Barlowe Astro Zombies! Pewpew. Join Date: Oct 08 Location: Copenhagen National Flag: Steam ID: Barlowe Posts: 579	Congratulations to Chesire for winning, and Quest for the honorable mention
	__________________________________________________ Most people'll do anything if a cop tells 'em to. If we meet anyone, tell them we're cops. - Francis. Left4Dead Demo Vid // Steam Group // Forum Rules __________________________________________________

November 16th, 2008, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
MowsysWrath All Green and shit Join Date: May 08 Location: Illinois. Posts: 36	I was depicted in "We Died There." I knew I wouldn't beat the CheshCat. Gratz, Mango. Excellent work. This is like that time you got honorable mention in that Leet World competition.
	Last edited by MowsysWrath; November 16th, 2008 at 05:57 PM.. Reason: lolololol

November 16th, 2008, 07:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Focus L4D Forums Member Join Date: Nov 08 Posts: 36	we have a weiner! grats =P stephen king eat your heart out haha
Focus L4D Forums Member Join Date: Nov 08 Posts: 36

November 16th, 2008, 09:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
PsyK ~r00t // U53R Join Date: Nov 08 Location: Slough, UK National Flag: Steam ID: daemon660 Posts: 293	Congrats Great Story.
	Just when i figured out the meaning of life they changed it... Again.

November 16th, 2008, 03:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Metall_pingwin Call me Pingwin Join Date: Nov 08 Steam ID: Metall_pingwin Posts: 865	Congratulations sir!

November 16th, 2008, 04:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
saint_grafitti Another Survivor Join Date: Nov 08 Location: England Steam ID: saintgrafitti Posts: 50	Awesome story well done mate!

November 16th, 2008, 05:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. I eat Zombies brains... Join Date: Jan 08 Location: USA National Flag: Steam ID: ffxstalkerx Posts: 217	Congrats!!! Loved the story!

November 16th, 2008, 06:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cheshire A Grin Without A Cat Join Date: Jul 08 Posts: 37	WOW! Thank you all so much! There are some very gifted writers in this community, but I am truly grateful. SEE YALL IN THE WAR TORN STREETS OF THE APOCOLYPSE!

November 16th, 2008, 06:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
razman360 Weird-I Make It Look Good Join Date: Feb 08 Posts: 279	Dat was one of the only stories I DID read! lol TBH, it was a damn good read and you deserved to win...apart from the decent plot and good description, one key thing attracted me to this story and kept me reading...the grammar was decent...if i see a story without capital letters and fullstop, etc, i won't read...that attracted me and everything else kept me going and made it a great read. Well done and enjoy your prize!!

November 16th, 2008, 09:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
Silvah Dot Hacker Join Date: Nov 08 Location: #@5%4@#4$@52%. Steam ID: Silvah Posts: 52	Excellent story. Your skills are quite impressive and you have a good overall grasp on several literary devices. I think a good choice was made when your story was chosen out of the amazing selection various people had put forth. Congratulations, and I'll be seeing you, lest you are left 4 dead.

November 17th, 2008, 12:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
Thrashface Insomniac. Join Date: Nov 08 Location: Scumland. Steam ID: Thrashface Posts: 275	Congrats Cheshire. Well deserved win. Great story.
	XBL GT = soulsnatcher55 Project: Mayhem™ Click Here!

November 17th, 2008, 01:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
leonrdstiltskin Zompocalypse now Join Date: Nov 08 Location: off the map, PA Posts: 23	great story, man. congrats
	XBL: leonrdstiltskin

November 17th, 2008, 02:58 AM	#16 (permalink)
GothicDeathVR2 L4D Forums Member Join Date: Apr 08 Posts: 119	congratulations Chesire. I cry now. I was hoping for at least honorable mention... -sigh- I see my fatal flaws.

November 17th, 2008, 04:59 AM	#18 (permalink)
ranmafan Keeper of the Tomes Join Date: Jul 08 Posts: 29	Grats! Guess I'll have to buy my copy now. :P
	Ignorance is a terrible, terrible affliction. And those who refuse to be cured are the worst afflicted. Steam Nickname: DeFragged

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November 17th, 2008, 07:09 AM	#19 (permalink)
MowsysWrath All Green and shit Join Date: May 08 Location: Illinois. Posts: 36	I do think all entries should be left up as an honorable mention in itself to all who entered. Congrats to the fine story that won the honorable mention also.

November 17th, 2008, 02:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
Quest L4D Forums Member Join Date: Aug 08 Posts: 7	Way to go Cheshire! And thank you for the honorable mention!
Quest L4D Forums Member Join Date: Aug 08 Posts: 7	Last edited by Quest; November 18th, 2008 at 12:27 AM..

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