ONLY A FEW HOURS LEFT TO ENTER! Cliffhanger Short Story Writing Contest - April 2018 Edition

Sponsor: Rickie O. Pauley (a.k.a. @Lymmerik)

Hello Friends!
A few days ago, I announced a short story writing contest. This contest is not an ordinary writing contest. I have been working on starting a 'different' kind of contest, and I think I have found it. The Cliffhanger!

CONTEST ENDS TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT PHOENIX, ARIZONA - USA TIME - GET YOUR ENTRIES IN SOON! PLEASE USE THE LINK HERE TO ENTER, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER ON THIS POST

See contest rules below. CLICK HERE TO ENTER NOW!

If you remember the late 1970’s TV show Dallas, the season finale (1979-80), ended with J. R. Ewing getting shot by an unseen assailant. 'Who Shot JR?' became a marketing catchphrase. It was a cliffhanger that left millions of Dallas fans wanting for months, until the Fall season began. Cliffhangers have been used many times on TV and in books written with a sequel planned to lure the audience back.

What is a Cliffhanger?

A cliffhanger, or cliffhanger ending, is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction. A cliffhanger is designed to ensure the audience will return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma.

Example: Please Read BEFORE Entering the Contest

Under A blood Red Sky

As you can see, this example that I wrote for STACH 199 Word Writing Contest # 23 has a cliffhanger ending of the first 'episode' or chapter.

Example of Resolution of Cliffhanger: Please Read BEFORE Entering the Contest

All Is Not Lost

In this example, again from a STACH 199 Word Contest # 24, the story resolves the cliffhanger of the previous 'episode' or chapter.

The Contest

The contest will consist of two (2) ‘episodes' or chapters of the same storyline. The entrant will write a short story with a cliffhanger ending for the first entry, as I did, in the first story, Under a Blood Red Sky.
Then, in the second contest, (see date below), the story you write for the second contest will resolve the cliffhanger from your first story, as I did in All is Not Lost

THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO (2) CONTESTS IN THIS TWO (2) PART SHORT STORY CONTEST.

This FIRST contest will run until Midnight, April 11, 2018, Phoenix, Arizona, USA time. Winners will be rewarded with the prize payout listed below on April 13, 2018.

The second contest will begin on April 14, 2018, and end at Midnight, April 19, 2018 Phoenix, Arizona, USA time. Winners will be rewarded with a prize payout listed below on April 21, 2018.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER OR POST YOUR SECOND SUBMISSION FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE CLIFFHANGER UNTIL THE SECOND CONTEST IS ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 14, 2018. (Doing so will disqualify your entry into BOTH contests.)

The Rules

Write the first part of your short story with the cliffhanger ending under follow THIS link to the contest post.
(PLEASE DO NOT write your second short story installment under this contest.) The second contest will be announced as stated above.
Your story can consist of no more than 301 words. More than 301 words will disqualify the entry.
Post your Cliffhanger Short Story, IN ITS ENTIRETY, AS A COMMENT, at the end of follow THIS link to the contest post. ALSO post a link to your post below your story in the comment!
Entrant may post your story in a separate post.
USE THE TAG #cliffhanger and #contest and 3 other tags of your choosing.
The first contest’s first and second place winners may or may not be the winner(s) of the second short story contest.
UPVOTE this post.
Your short story must be true to the PROMPT below.
Resteeming this post is not required, but appreciated.

The Prompt

Dark Treasure, Full Moon

The Prizes

FIRST CONTEST Begins with this post.

Best Cliffhanger - 5$ SBD

Runner-Up – 2.5$ SBD

SECOND CONTEST
Begins April 14, 2018 with a NEW post entitled: Cliffhanger Resolution Short Story Writing Contest - April 2018 Edition

Best Resolution to Cliffhanger - 5$ SBD

Runner-Up – 2.5$ SBD

When this contest gains some traction in future editions, I will expand the prize pool and the number of winners.

Judging

This contest and future contests will be judged my me, @Lymmerik

I am open to any assistance with prizes and judging, just let me know if you wish to contribute to additional prize money and if you wish to assist in the judging.

So, go on, get to writing and good luck to everyone!

Thanks again for taking the time to read my ramblings!

@Lymmerik