What a long, strange trip it’s been. We started with sixteen stories, which were quickly winnowed down to eight. Eight became four and four became two and, well, I think you can see where this is going. In a matter of mere hours– 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, at one second to Midnight, the door slams shut on Deathmatch voting and a new Champion will stand before us, battered but not beaten, bloodied but unbowed. Right now ‘Sick to Death of Stories’ by P.D. Walter seems like a shoo-in, but don’t count out ‘Failure to Cooperate’ by Susan Read just yet. This is, after all, The Deathmatch and as we’ve seen this year, anything can happen: from comment board dust-ups to computer meltdowns to The Rise of The Lizard People. So VOTE! You still have time! Unless you’re reading this after Midnight, in which case… THAT’S ALL, FOLKS!
It’s been a wild ride, y’all. Thank you for taking it with us. Thanks so much to everyone who submitted a story for consideration. Thanks to our sixteen competitors for agreeing to enter the Deathmatch Arena. Thanks to everyone who commented, critiqued and kept it lively on the comment boards. And a big, big special Broken Pencil thank you to our sponsor, Seneca College!
Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow as we unfurl the scrolls, open the envelope, watch the smoke rise from the chimney, tally the ballots and reveal the winner of Deathmatch 2017!
And then get started on your stories for Deathmatch 2018. Enter… If You Dare!