Themillenialcontestna Stories

For a while, my only interactions with the gods had been brief chance encounters. That changed a few months ago. It was the beginning of a hot summer, I was twenty-two, and I had already given up on love. So when Artemis invited me in her girl gang, its only rule being to take a vow of celibacy - no boyfriend, no husband, forever - I said yes. ________________________________________________________________ Third place in the NA + Cupid June Millennial contest Prompt: "You don't trust your dating choices...simply because you've gotten involved with several fools in a row, and now you are taking a break - maybe a permanent one. What happens when you encounter someone in the most unexpected place you thought love never existed?" Total word count: 2 494

"The howls got louder. Hands trembling, she strengthened her grip on the door knob and turned it, not knowing what awaited on the other side...." 18 year-old Valentina Parks wasn't what you would call outgoing and fun. She avoided every gatherings and parties were one of them. Valen's friends, then, persuaded her to go to a party. She never wanted to go but gave in to their antics. But something went terribly wrong, something that Valen might have to risk her life for. ~☆☆☆☆☆~ Author's notes : I give full credits to the owners of the images in my book cover and in the story.

Twenty-one year old Hera Kingsley has had a difficult time with love. Juggling trying to survive a pandemic and find someone to really suit her interests has left her burned out. When she turns to a last-ditch effort to rekindle the romance in her life, she is unexpectedly catapulted into a dystopian world of science, intrigue and romance when she meets the entity Cupid herself.

In the name of joy, Gracia unwillingly agrees to join a party her friends invite her to. But, in a moment, everyone disappears. In what felt like a dream,she's locked in the room with no trace of her friends. In hopes of finding them, Gracia continues to gather every clue she finds. However, her desperate search stops when a red door suddenly appears, promising mystery, distress and answers. As she tries to enter, the mystery becomes a nightmare, and Gracia is faced with a troubling decision : her friend's lives or her own. With bold letters, she notices a message engraved onto the door. 'Save your friends or let them die? Warning, you might not come back alive.' Plunged into the unknown, Gracia weaves through mazes of dead flowers and meets the magical creature, Ember, whose intentions are unknown. While her friends- Stacey and Elora- remain trapped, she continues through the obstructed paths and illusions. Will Gracia face the challenges, or will her friends become a memory under the soil? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ • NA contest 3rd place winner•

'Should I save them or let them die in that room? Should I? 'Cause in the first place, I don't really care at them. Yeah, I call them friends but is it worthy to risk my life?'

Text written for the Cupid Contest - Unexpected Love! Charles is a wannabe Troublemaker who unexpectedly meets his match when he least expects it...