Spooky writers’ challenge

“When  Sophie told me about this challenge, I laughed. Surely, she was joking. The woman is known for her flair for comedy. But then the day arrived and to my absolute horror, I discovered that she had been uncharacteristically serious. To add insult to the many, many injuries about to incur, I had to venture into the deep dark first. A natural leader, I did not weep or bargain, but bravely strolled through the door with a strategy focused on SPEED. I was already in first place, and I intended to keep it. And then...

As I was reading the instructional signs, I tumbled down the stairs. No idea how that happened. I most definitely did not get spooked. When I gracefully hit the floor, I set off what felt like a million shriekers. I stood up, dusted myself off, and proceeded to get heroically lost. As I bravely cowered in a corner, I got out my bread so I could heal the damage from my staircase entrance. I opened my mouth, but before I could fill it with carbs a scream escaped because a warden ended my very impressive run at 1 minute, 58 seconds.”

Sofia Dankis

“You might call it 'strategy', but to me, it was a matter of survival, an instinct so strong that it went from 0 to 100 the moment I set foot in that wicked, maze-like gauntlet. Normally, I’m quite the competitive person, always ready for a fight. But in this moment, I was so terrified my well-shaped cuboid legs turned into jelly! How could they not, knowing that someone… something… would be out there, waiting for me in the deep dark... waiting for me to make my presence known. Oh, how I wished I could’ve pulled a ‘Sofia’ and speedrun through entire course on my wobbly gelatin-filled legs. But alas, I chose to tread carefully – one step at a time.

A few steps later (17 593 to be exact) I realized I was lost. Thankfully, I remembered that I had an inventory of items at my disposal, in which my old trusty friend, the dirt block, was available to me. I spared no time and quickly built a pillar of dirt to ascend towards the roof, as well as the goal of the map – the chest! Imagine my surprise when I opened it to find a whole bunch of diamonds, as well as a pair of elytra wings. The diabolical torturer map creator Sophie had blessed me with a safe passage home. Shame I had no idea how to use them.

It was around this time that the light around me started to flicker, and otherworldly sounds surrounded me from all directions. Finally, I managed to do what every person should aim for once in their life: I channeled my inner Sofia and ran like no writer has ever done before. The rest is something of a blur. All I know is that I made it back in one piece – a few diamonds richer, but several sanities poorer."

Per Landin

“I started this challenge the same way I live my life: with no plan but great anxiety excitement. After triggering the first (hidden!!) sculk sensor, my enthusiasm turned into overwhelming fear. But my pride wouldn’t let me turn back, so I chose the second most humbling path: a painfully slow crawl to the diamond.

Many ticks later, I somehow arrived at the chest. Unfortunately, an unnamed fellow challenger had decided to, for some reason, almost completely encase the chest in wood blocks, which made it even more difficult to get the diamond, but I did it! I had a brief moment of joy before I realized that I need to return as well. Luckily, the chest also contained a pair of elytra wings that I didn’t really know how to use.

Deciding to wing it anyway, I found a high point and off I was! Flying like a Minecrafter that doesn’t live in a dirt hut. Did my rough landing set off a shrieker and summon a warden? Yes. But was my sprinting fast enough to reach the base unscathed? Also yes. The doors were locked though, not sure what was up with that…”

Cristina Anderca