Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Message Board Game Room

Mar-19-2008 09:26

The Idea: Using a given opening line, you must write a story that uses 50 words or less. The opening line does not count toward your word total.

The Rules:

* I will give a total of 5 opening lines. You may choose whichever line(s) you wish to use.

* There are two ways to enter: (A) single paragraph stories and (B) extended stories. You may either enter (A) or (B). The only way to enter both is to use only three or four starting lines for the extended story entry, and use the remaining one or two for the single paragraph stories.

* To enter (A): You may write an entry for as many of the opening lines as you like, but only 1 story for each line. So, your maximum number of entries is 5. If you only like 3 of the opening lines, then write 3 stories. However, the stories should not be related.

* To enter (B): Again, you may use as many of the opening lines as you like, but only once each. They should all be submitted as one entry, creating an overall story, although each separate paragraph with opening line should be able to stand alone as its own story.

(If you have not seen last year’s contest, please check out this thread and see how the entries were submitted: http://noir.playsleuth.com/map/cityhall/post.spy?id=22695)

* Your story or stories must make sense. It/they also should be mystery-related, or be mysterious with a really interesting twist.

* Spelling and grammar DO count. Please. Spellcheck is our friend.

*All entries must be posted no later than 11:59 PM server time on March 29, 2008.

Prizes: YAY! We love prizes. The winners will receive a two-month subscription and some Sleuth cash.

Your opening lines:

1. Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there’s no evidence.

2. Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn’t talking.

3. The small box was as full as it could be.

4. I never assumed the search was done.

5. Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech.

Mar-25-2008 19:30

" Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there's no evidence", but then what if there was and " Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn't talking" since she knew"The small box was as full as it could be".

But "I never assumed the search was done" since " Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech".


There, hope that fits the rules

Mar-25-2008 22:21

Here goes. My first contest submission. Different stories, common theme.

-----------

Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there’s no evidence.

“I’m serious,” said Raph, “Where’s the pizza, or so help me…”

“Easy, dude,” said Mike, stilling Raph’s arm with his nun-chucks, “you know you’re only making this harder on yourself, Leo.”

“You’ll never get them,” said Leo, “not you, not Don, not the Rat. They’re gone.”

“Teenagers,” sighed the Rat.

-----------

I never assumed the search was done. My hound looked up at me mournfully as my partners returned to the vehicle. “There’s something awfully funny about that roller-coaster conductor,” I said. Grabbing the conductor’s hair, I pulled to discover Mr. Whithersbee sans rubber mask. He would have gotten away with it, if not for us meddling kids.

-----------

Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn’t talking. Who knows if she would, after Patty was shot.

“It’s no use, Charlie,” said my partner, wiping his brow with his blue handkerchief, “she’s a wreck. We should just go home.”

I turned to leave and saw the shadow of Lucy vanish behind a fence. It just became football season.

-----------

The small box was as full as it could be. They didn’t call him Sly for nothing. He tucked it under his arm and turned.

“You best leave that and let them go, Gato,” said a small voice.

Sly gulped. Was his nemesis really that fast? He opened the box. In a flurry, twenty mice raced home to their fiestas.

-----------

Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech.

Suddenly, the walls shook with her howls. I raced to her room, but it was too late, and now I had to clean up the mess.

I returned to her playpen with some cleanser and a new diaper. No more Elmo for you, Tilly.

Mar-25-2008 23:11

so great to see some new faces having a go!!

Mar-26-2008 23:15

These look great!! Keep 'em coming, guys!! ;-D

Mar-27-2008 08:36

The small box was as full as it could be.

It was stuffed with all kinds of ancient Egyptian amulets.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, amazed.

"You're asking too many questions, gumshoe," hissed Leo, "just like Tilly. But you won't live long enough to hear the answers."

Suddenly I heard a deafening shot, and the world went dark.
------------------------------------------

Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech.

"Like an Aladdin's cave, isn't it?" said Leo, lovingly touching the marble bust. "And it's all ours!"

"You can't keep it!" She was on the verge of hysteria. "We must report it to the authorities!"

He slowly lifted the bust.

"Leo!" There was a thud, an unbearable pain... then nothing.
-------------------------------------------

Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn’t talking.

She lay in a deep coma, her white face immovable like a death mask.

"Don't worry, darling," I whispered softly. "I'll get that brute Leo if it's the last thing I do."

Did her eylids flutter, or was it just my imagination? I'll never know. She died later that evening.
-------------------------------------------

I never assumed the search was done.

I had never put much trust in the local cops, but the Chief Inspector's words reassured me.

"Yes, we found the place, but he had already moved his loot somewhere else. Unfortunately, there's no sign of the man."

"Trust me, Chief Inspector," said I, gnashing my teeth, "I'll find him."
-------------------------------------------

Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there’s no evidence.

"You'll never prove it," he sneered. "There were no witnesses, it's just your word against mine. And who would believe you?"

"Tilly regained consciousness before she died," I lied, "and she named you."

He suddenly crumpled to the floor.

"But how?" he stammered. "I thought I'd committed the perfect crime!"

Mar-27-2008 18:02

heck'n if I didn't post this in the wrong place first time...

Y'all can call me Bucky.

..................................

2. Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn’t talking.

Dang, if it 'were' true, where did Hezekiah, Granpappy's flea-bitten ‘coon hound, get himself a pair of them big ol' dentures.

Little Lerlene, she smiled a secret smile, as wide as the ‘sippi. Dawgs needed teeth for bitin’ and a huntin’, and her Uncle Billy-Bob… well, he weren’t no dawg.

Mar-27-2008 22:45

LMAO. Those are wonderful!! ;-D

Mar-28-2008 09:48

Publish and be damned ;)

Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there’s no evidence.
He hadn’t counted on my sharp senses and powers of deduction. There was a stench in the air and I just couldn’t ignore it any longer.
“It’s just you and me,” I growled at him, “you could have waited until we were outside the elevator!”

Mar-28-2008 09:56

I never assumed the search was done. They had interviewed many people but now they had called in my client, Tilly. I could not live with myself if they got the wrong person. I had to carry on hoping. It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.

Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn’t talking. Patricia, the Stage Manager in Shanghai, had clammed up. She wasn’t my usual contact, but she was the only one who could say it was Tilly.
“Come on Patricia, don’t play dumb. You saw everything,” I pleaded.
“O.K. but it’s gonna cost you,” she replied, her face like granite…

Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech. This is where it had to end. After all the assurances by the agency that they would look after her, now it was curtains.
He plunged the knife into her heart, "Eh bien, damnée!"
The elation never showed on her face as she fell down, dead.

The small box was as full as it could be. The whole gallery of the Shanghai Theatre were on their feet, applauding as she took her curtain call. Tilly’s performance as Carmen in Bizet’s opera had made her a star. Patricia played hardball with the fee after the audition, but in the end everyone was happy.

Mar-28-2008 13:57

Hello everyone!I thought I'd give it a try and participate in the contest too:).As I see , Icy Brit is here as well , hey Boss!So I will go for the first category , 5 independent paragraphs:)Good luck to everyone:) ***Dedicated to TIA and her***

******************************************************************************************
Leo smirked like a guilty man who knows there's no evidence. Then, an old photo of a young woman was given to him with her nickname in the back.."doll". At that, he burst into tears knowing everything was over. He thought she was dead and there were no witnesses....

******************************************************************************************

Nobody knew if it was true except one person, and she wasn't talking. It was a bloody crime scene, typical of the Colombian cartel. The slit throat is their trademark. Suddenly, an investigator raises a small plastic bag containing some white powder.."You know what they say, drugs will kill you!"

******************************************************************************************

The small box was as full as it could be.20kg of the finest crystal meth all ready and packed, two mobs of Cosa Nostra captured but Inspector Fines couldn't celebrate yet!That was only the tip of the iceberg!There was war ahead...

******************************************************************************************

"I never assumed the search was done....
At least for me it wasn't...After so long,I feel free again my love! Your killer will never haunt you again!"
James put a white rose on Lisa's grave...
"I will see you soon in my dreams..."

******************************************************************************************

Tilly watched every move he made, ready to break out into a loud screech. Through his half open shirt and his unbuttoned sleeves, his mark of devotion could be seen; a real horimono. The Yakuza had found her and that could only mean trouble...