Yo, Cribbers!!!😁🎊

We are back again, with the fourth batch of

I can literally feel the excitement in the air😌🔥

Get ready for another set of mind blowing stories and be prepared to VOTE!🔥

Without much further ado, let's take a look at our four contestant for Group four.

008 Nutcracker

019 Pink

025 Tsuki

032 Delphinium

JUDGES REVIEW

Let's begin, shall we?

With a clapping ovation, let's welcome our first contestant.

008 Nutcracker

Prompt Title: Area Kids

Story Entry:

“Groundnut! Groundnut for sale!"

I called out as I weaved my way through the Lagos traffic. My feet ached as the sweltering tarmac bruised my aching soles through my worn out slippers.

It was rush hour again and the streets were packed with danfos and okadas. "Groundnut for sale!" I breathed heavily as I stopped by one of the crowded buses. The smell of sweat lingering in the air.

"You girl! How old are you? You no pass thirteen. Go to school and stop begging for scraps." A woman in a yellow irò and buba hissed.

She kissed her teeth as she creaked the window close.
"I am fifteen.” I whispered as the okada zoomed past.

I made my way back to the side of the road where I found Nifemi shining shoes.

I sat beside him lowering my tray onto the ground. "How much did you sell, sister Ifoma?" He asked.

I didn't miss the hope in his voice but I only shook my head at him. "I still have ten bundles left." I muttered.

"How come things are slow Sister?" He asked. I guessed the gods were just particularly cruel to us.

"They call it ‘subsidy’. Now finish up and go home." I explained before smacking his head lightly. I watched as he pouted as he packed up his things.
"School again? You know Madam Nnena doesn't like it." He warned. I rolled my eyes at him. "She is our father's sister, call her Aunty. And I will be fine, I will be home later." I promised, discarding my groundnuts and handing him my tray.

He looked towards me with worry for a moment longer before leaving. As soon as he was out of sight I rushed to my feet following the familiar path to the children's school.

I perched myself by the window looking in as the teacher, a tall woman dressed in a dress, cleaned the board. She hummed the goodbye song she sang for the small kids.

I hummed as well, getting distracted, causing me to trip and fall. I let out a scream but covered it quickly hoping she didn't hear me. But when I looked back into the classroom she was gone.
I was about to leave when I heard a voice stop me. "Hey little girl." I turned around struck with nerves.

"Afternoon ma'am"

"I have seen you around here a lot. Don't you go to school here." She asked. I only shook my head.

"Do you go to school?" She asked, causing me to shake my head. We fell into silence before she retrieved something from her back.

My eyes widened when I realized it was a book. "I see how you look at my books. You can have this one. ‘Chike and the River.’ Maybe next time I can teach you how to read it?" She asked.

I took the book shakily into my hands. The sun had begun to set and I panicked knowing I was in trouble. Before she could react I ran preparing myself for the punishment that awaited me.

...

The clouds lay thick in the sky as the thunder cracked above. My heart raced against my chest as I moved through the clustered shacks.

As I approached our shack I heard yelling coming from inside as the door was flown open. A slender Anty Nnena marched out gripping a whimpering Nfemi tightly.

She threw him onto the mud floor before flinging our ghana-must-go a few inches beside him. I rushed towards the scene as I knelt down beside Nfemi and glared up at Anty.

"What is happening?" I asked desperately. She kissed her teeth. "Your father is dead. Which means no money for your upkeep. You are no longer my concern." She hissed.

My heart shattered at the revelation that our father had passed. I held onto Nfemi tightly as he sobbed. "Where do we go?" I asked her in a shaky voice.

"Anywhere but here." She hissed as she slammed the door in our face. The rain pelted our skin as we struggled to our feet. I held onto our ghana-must-go tightly as Nfemi trailed beside me.

We walked aimlessly for hours until I spotted what looked like an uncompleted building. The ceiling had caved and the space was flooded but it would have to do.

I pulled Nfemi inside as we huddled together in one of the corners. I pulled open the ghana-must-go retrieve our mother's shawl as I pulled it around Nfemi.

"We're going to be okay." I whispered as the rain soaked my clothes.

...

"Chi-ke w-was el-leven," I struggled to read.

"Sissy, I am hungry." Nfemi whimpered.

Instinctively my stomach rumbled as I stood to my feet. "I will find something for us to eat." I muttered.

"But we don't have any money. How are you going to..." He started.

My gaze fell on our mother's copper necklace in our small pile of clothes

I grabbed it quickly. "I will find a way."

With that I made my way to yanya night market.

"I will give you five hundred naira. Last price." The elderly woman said. I looked over my possession one last time, kissing it before handing it over shakily.

"Now run off. I want to close shop before the rain worsens." She hissed and threw me the 500 naira note.

I hoped to find some food for Nfemi as I began to walk aimlessly but soon enough the rain began to pelt heavily against my skin.

"I pity anyone without a solid roof. This rain go destroy house." I heard a man chastise.

Nfemi.

My heart pounded against my chest and began to race home. I could barely see through the heavy rain but I cared about, was my brother.

I raced over the low fence of our patchwork home only to find that the ceiling had caved and it was flooded. The water reached my knees and Nfemi was nowhere to be found.

"Nfemi!"

I cried out watching our few clothes float atop the murky water. My soul shattered as I watched his body float to the surface.

Still clutching my book in his hand.

...
I raced through the sludge, my feet bruising against the wooden splinters that lay at the bottom as I pulled my brother's lifeless form into my arms.

My cries rang through the night as it felt as though the last piece of my heart had been ripped out of me.

As I made it onto the busy streets, the rain clouding my vision, I didn't know where to go there was nowhere to go.

Everyone had turned their backs on us.

For a second my mind drifted to the teacher who had been kind to me and I realized maybe the school would shelter us for the night. As I came to a stop in front of the gates I finally let go of Nfemi pulling him onto my lap.

"Nfemi! Please no you can't go! I-I will take us far away I promise. I won't disturb you with my reading! J-just please stay with me!" I sobbed as I shook his frail form. But his body remained cold as his skin began to turn ashy.

I cried until my throat went dry and by the time the sun came up I was numb. My body shivered against the morning wind as I held onto Nfemi with one hand and the tattered book with another.

It was the only act of kindness I had received in this town.

"Oh my poor child." I heard a voice call out. I shakily raised up my head to find the teacher.

"I tore the book." I cried. She kneeled down beside me.

"We can get you another. The world has been cruel to you. But you have me to lean on now." She promised.

Commentator: That was just the first piece, Cribbers. Has it gotten your vote already or Nah?👀

Let's give it for the next contestant.

019 Pink

Prompt title: Happy

Story entry:

April 3rd, 2017

There was a knock on the door and I stirred awake. I looked around to see it was already late evening. I guess I had fallen asleep as soon as I landed on the bed without getting to change out of my uniform. Probably because I had been crying.

The knock came again before mum peeked in "Chichi?"

"Yes, mum. Good evening." I yawned.

She sat herself on beside me where the sun shone directly on her golden brown skin, making her look even more angelic

"I know I'm undeniably gorgeous and you can't help but stare, but at least, answer my question." She bragged jokingly.

"Sorry oh." I laughed, shaking my head. There was no use denying it cause just like she said, her beauty was undeniable. "What did you ask?"

"Did anything happen at school today?" Her question instantly reminded me of the incident I would much rather have forgotten and my mood sank. "You seemed down. I concluded it was because of stress but you didn't even greet me."

I didn't want to tell her but I couldn't not tell her. She was basically my best friend. And it was pointless hiding the truth from her with the way her hazel eyes bore into mine.
So I summarised the story. From how my 'friends' actually hated me to them stabbing me in the back.

"Then they said that's why… that's why dad died. That he couldn't bear to spend the rest of his life around me and that I was slowly killing him." I concluded, making sure to leave out the part where they said mum was going to die next.

"Don't tell me you're dwelling on their envy-driven words." Me avoiding her eyes was a clear answer. She sighed. "Chinyere, you are a blessing. You're a strong, beautiful, brave, fabulous, outstanding, free-spirited, exceptional, clever, noble, outstanding, gifted, irresistible… " She paused, smiling, as I laughed.

"What I'm saying, Chichi, is that you're a brave and enthralling lady. The best there is. And anyone would want to stand close to you. And your dad was and would be proud of the girl you were and are." She finished, caressing my cheek.

I learned into her palm with a tender smile spread across my face. "Thank you, mum."

She smiled warmly at me.

"No need to thank me. I was just saying the truth." She got up from the bed. "All I need you to do now is just be happy, okay? No matter how hard things get, there's always something to be happy for."

I nodded.

"And ignored all those haters. Don't you know you're going to be famous one day? How will you manage?" She prodded then immediately added, "Oh well, you'll have me by your side of course."

I got up from the bed and bowed exaggeratedly. "Of course, Manager Ezinne."

She waved me off, laughing.

"Go take a shower and join me downstairs, please. I can smell you from here." She snorted as she made her way out of the room.

"Ahh! You're lying-"I took a sniff of my underarm just to be sure. "Yh, you're lying!"

"Hmmp! Ewooo!" She exclaimed, rushing down the stairs. "Go and baff. Go and baff. When you are done, come and wash the bitter leaf."

"Ooh!" I yelled and threw myself back on the bed.

"Ehn!" She hollered from downstairs. "Hurry up and bring your laptop with you so we can watch Friends."
As soon as she finished her sentence, I sprang off the bed and rushed to my wardrobe to pick out what to wear after my shower.

Our movie nights were one of the few things I ever looked forward to.
Just the two of us huddled together on the couch, usually with a bowl of ice cream and a bag of chips.

I knew we weren't complete and we were never going to be. But we made each other whole. We had each other. And that was all that mattered.

September 29th, 2023

"Excuse me ma'am?" A male voice called out from a distance.

"Ma'am, wake up." The person tapped me awake.

"Are you okay?"

I squinted up at the cemetery caretaker looking down at me with concern.

"Yes, I am." I replied groggily and sat up on the cold slate.

"Did you sleep here through the night?" He asked almost frightfully after observing the situation.

I turned my attention to the gravestone beneath me without answering.

Ezinne Angela Mbode, October 1st 1977 – September 29th 2022.

"Happy death anniversary, Mum." I muttered.

"Oh… I'll let you be then." The caretaker muttered and quietly left.

I drove here last night causeI had a lot bottled up that I needed to let out but last night. For some reason though, I ended up not saying a word and ended up crying myself to sleep.

But now, I could feel the words burning at the tip of my tongue, begging to be let out.

"Hey, mum." I puffed out a heavy breath. "You know, I still haven't been able to go to church since you left. I know if you were here, you would have dragged me by the ear. But no one is here to drag me. Because God–" I scoffed as tears pooled up in my eyes.

"I'm still here holding on to the past cause I'm afraid to forget us. I can't bring myself to move on. I can't. I get jealous when I see people with their parents and get mad when they complain about them. That makes me a bad person right?"

Sighing, I picked at the grass growing between the cracks. A painful lump was forming in my throat. I tried to swallow it but to no avail.

"Remember you told me to be happy no matter how tough life gets? That there's always a bright side? But really, where's the bright side to this? How can I be happy without you here?" My voice resonated through the cemetery.

"Why the fuck will I be happy when you're gone?! If you wanted me to be happy,you should never have left! If you really loved me, you should have stayed. You should have stayed for me. If you really did love me then why'd you leave–"

My voice broke as well as my restraint and the tears came rushing.

"Why did you leave me?" I whimpered.

"Who's gonna pick me up when I fall down? Who's gonna wipe away my tears when I cry? Who's gonna put me back together when I break apart? Who's gonna be there when I've got no one? Who?" I clenched my teeth in agony. "Please come back, mum. I miss you. I can barely get out of bed each day. I lay in my tears in bed every night. Why did both of you have to leave me?! Why-why do I have to be alone?

"You told me you'd be here. That you'd be here always. That's what you said. You promised to get me a car after I graduated from university. You promised to walk me down the aisle when I finally found the perfect guy. You promised you'd help me take care of my kids when I'd be too busy. But you broke every single one of them! Well apart from the car one. I'm driving yours now, thank you." I added the last part bitterly.

"I'm such a bad person. Maybe I was too greedy. That's probably why God took you too. Because I still yearned for a father even though I had you. Was it bad to wish? Maybe if I'm ungrateful for being alive He'll take my life too. If he even fucking exists… " I trailed off, a part of me regretting saying the last part.

"I just want to wake up to the smell of your pancakes again." I sniffed

"I need you, mum. You told me you were going to be fine. You said we were going to celebrate your birthday after you got better. We were going to rewatch our favourite series. We were going to be happy. We were going to be whole.
"All that's left is a gaping hole in my heart and it hurts s–so much, mum." I howled, hitting my first against my chest in a bid to ease the overbearing pain. "I can't keep pretending I'm okay. I want nothing more than to see you smile again. Your smile was always enough to brighten up my whole day. And you always smiled whenever I smiled. I'm sure I'm making you very displeased right now.

"I'm sorry, mum. But what else am I supposed to do? Laugh ecstatically as my heart bleeds out?"

I lifted my head up to the sky woefully.

"…I didn't even get to say goodbye, mum."

They say the hiraeth one feels for the dead wanes with time but I could beg to differ.
It never weakens nor leaves. You only become numb to the pain.

So how can one be happy when they are unfeeling?

How can I be happy when a part of me is dead?

Commentator: This was quite interesting, don't you think?

Has this piece changed your mind, on who you are voting?👀 Or you are still sticking with your favs?😂

Let's welcome, the third contestant for this group.

025 Tsuki

Prompt title: ANGEL

Story entry:

What could have ruined someone who seemed so perfect? What ruined you, Angel? Who hurt you, Angel?

The girl in the photograph had everything you had, including your face. She was you. The wide grin was yours, so were the bright starry eyes. The perfect image of a happy child, the happiest in the world. She looked like an angel, living up to her name. She was you but she was so different. How you looked now, what you looked like these days, was very different. You weren't talking about the bodily changes. You locked your phone and your reflection stared back at you.

Your eyes were so lifeless, so dull. Your lips were down-turned in an almost permanent frown. Your brows were furrowed and your forehead was beginning to wrinkle. You thought back to the days when you used to be happy, when you knew how to smile and laugh, when you felt emotions other than anger and sadness. Days before him...

You missed yourself.

Angel who hurt you?

You could not say. If you had someone to blame for all your hurt, then maybe you would have felt better. There wasn't actually a person to blame...

-

You felt him on you, his warm skin against yours, ripping and shredding clothes. You had made sure to lock your door and cover up very properly. You wore pajamas and underneath them were layers and layers of clothing. You wrapped yourself up with a large blanket and slept under your duvet.
But when he came, he got past those layers so easily. You felt helpless, so ravaged, so used. You wanted it to stop, you wanted everything to stop. You hated the pain each time he bit your shoulder. You hated how he gripped your waist as he thrust
inside you. You hated yourself for not crying out. You hated that you could not cry out. What the fuck was wrong with you?!

"Angel. Angel. Angel. Angel." You wanted to throw up as he sang into your ear. "Heaven wears your halo..." Stop! You wanted him to stop ruining that song. But he didn't stop..."Your flaws make you, Angel." You looked up at the face. He looked so much like you. No, you looked so much like him, only younger and more feminine. "Daddy's little angel."

You woke up from your nightmare, wrapped up exactly the way you slept. Though you felt suffocated and sweaty in all the layers of clothing, you removed none of them. You stayed awake till daybreak before you got off your bed to prepare for school. Your eyes were heavy but you couldn't shut them. You didn't want to shut them. He came in your dreams, whenever you were sleeping.

"Why are you looking like this?" your mother asked when you entered the kitchen. You murmured a greeting. "You didn't sleep again, ba?" You didn't say anything. Were you to explain that her late husband was molesting in your dreams? There was no need saying bad things about the dead. Besides, which wife would believe her husband slept with his daughter? Her mother would even blame her, as she blamed her for his death sometimes, "Every time you're reading Wattpad. Even on exam week. Come and fail again this term because of Wattpad. You'll tell me if Wattpad pays your fees." You hissed silently and boiled hot water for your tea.
Like you even wanted to go to school...

-

You had scribbled down what you remembered, and that was enough to give you a B in your paper. What you were struggling with was trying not to fall asleep in the exam hall. Your eyes were closing on their own but you didn't want them to. There was no water around and you knew you would not be able to leave the hall, even to was your face You stared at your open mathematical set, eyes drooping.

You fought to stay awake because you knew that the moment you shut your eyes, he would come for you. Your eyes caught the glinting if the divider's sharp pins and an idea came into mind. You grabbed it too quickly and, the math set fell to the ground with a loud crash. All eyes turned to you as you got off your seat to pick the contents. You placed them back in their positions, all except the pair of dividers.

You made sure no one was looking. You tested the sharpness of the tip on your skin, smiling at the prickly feeling. You were feeling less sleepy already. You placed your left hand on the desk, palms facing up. You raised the dividers and brought them down on your hand. "Angel Okorie!" Your eyes watered as you felt the pain.

The pain was eroding your senses and you felt woozy, but you still turned to the person who screamed your name. The shock on your classmates' face made your heart palpitate wildly. What were they looking at? You followed their line of vision to your hand. The dividers were sticking out of the wrong place. You had stabbed a vein. You pulled the tool out and the last thing you saw was your blood pumping quickly out of the two holes and staining your paper.

-
You woke up mildly energised for the first time in a long time. You recognised where you were━the infirmary very close to your school. You had been to the place way too many times not to know how it looked. You didn't bother looking around your private ward. Your eyes were on the while ceiling as you processed what happened. That was when you came to realisation...

He hadn't come for you. You slept but he hadn't come for you. You smiled. You didn't feel tired, your body didn't feel sore. You felt alive. You laughed; you laughed and almost cried. The last time you felt this happy was when you were the surviving member of the accident that took your father's life. He had deserved that death.

You got off the bed and removed the IV cannula connecting your arm to the blood bag. Walking wasn't easy but you managed to get to the tray where a couple of syringes were left. After accessing what happened, you decided to try again. If pain made you black out, if pain would make you not to see your father in your dreams, then pain was what you needed.

You suddenly felt hopeful. You would get back to being how you were. That happy child would return. You had found one reason to smile and you would soon find others. You picked up the syringe, its sharp needle glinting against the white light. You lifted your hospital gown and stabbed your thighs, smiling at the intense pain. You repeated the action on the other thigh.

You collapsed to the ground, breathing a sigh of relief as you shut your eyes.

Angels make a way somehow...

Commentator: What do you think about this piece?
Is it a yeah? Or a Nah?

Let's give it up for our last contestant

032 Delphinium

Story entry:

Silence echoed in the courtroom—growing louder by the second—a deafening pitch which only existed to taunt me. I clamped my lips shut the moment the judge overruled my objection and slumped back into my bench.

The defense counsel resumed speaking, his voice dispelling the silence that had taken residence in the courtroom.

"Your honour, it's clear to see that the prosecutor only made these claims against my client out of malicious intent. The girl in question had stepped out that day wearing next to nothing. No one can blame my client if he was moved.

"It's obvious she was trying to seduce him and she got what she wanted. Her lie of being raped is not one to be believed."

I tried to keep my butt glued to the seat but in no time, I sprang up.

"Objection your honor, this isn't even supposed to be a point! It was already made clear that my client had been dressed in a turtle neck sweater and jeans that day, even draping her hijab. But let's assume that she actually dressed—inappropriately."

I held the urge to air quote the words. "That doesn't make it right for anyone to force himself on her." I gestured to the defense counsel. "He's practically admitting to his client commiting the crime. It's ludicrous and—"

"Objection overruled."

My hand fell to my side temporarily and I stared at the judge in utter disbelief. It took a moment for it to sink in and I nodded slowly, understanding what was happening.

"How much did they pay you?"

The judge's perfectly carved brow shot up and she pinned me with a lethal glare. "What!?"

"How much did they pay you?" I repeated, not flinching. I was done with this bullshit. "I know you're not blind. A girl is fighting for her life in the hospital after being gang raped by a bunch of beasts."

I tried to hold myself together as I spoke but my body kept vibrating.

"The others had fled and only one was caught. She was left lying in a pool of blood and if she had been discovered a minute later, she would have been dead. It's a miracle she's even still alive.

"The hospital reports were presented. Heck, you even saw her with your own eyes!" It came as a surprise that the judge had agreed to go and see her in the hospital—not that it made any difference.

"Her father"—My trembling finger managed to point towards his direction—"has no one. He came here because you're the one with the power. He believed that you could give him justice!

"Place yourself in his shoes. If your daughter had been—"

"ONE MORE WORD FROM YOU AND YOU WILL BE HELD IN CONTEMPT!"

I pressed my lips together, nodding. I returned to my bench, trying to keep my tears from falling. It grew harder every time I pictured Haliyah lying on the hospital bed, her whole body tattooed with bruises.

Her bursted lips, blind eye, almost lifeless body. I tried not to think of the first time we saw her. With the amount of blood draining out of her body, it was hard to believe she was still alive.

I clenched and unclenched my fist as the defense counsel continued speaking. Involuntarily, I turned to where her father sat. His shoulders were slumped and he stared ahead with a blank look.

My heart broke for him. Haliyah was his only daughter and she had just returned home. She was in her second year in medical school and usually held free JAMB tutorials for those in her neighborhood.

She had gone out that same day as usual but when it got late and she hadn't returned, her father phoned me. A whole day passed before we found her lying by the roadside.

He only let me speak to Haliyah once after the incident. It was hard to get her to speak and finally, she broke down. It didn't help that the evidence in police custody miraculously got burnt. I had still assured her that I would get her justice.

I scoffed, holding the urge to laugh. I had forgotten that we lived in a dead country. Of course the judge didn't care. It wasn't her daughter.

All she cared about was filling her greedy stomach at the expense of someone else's life. Several rapes happened around the country but only a few got reported. Because fear of ostracism aside, what was the assurance of getting justice?

There was no assurance, there wasn't even a fragment of hope. It was surprising that this case concluded so quickly. Usually, in five years, the case would still be nowhere near being solved.

The judge didn't ask for my closing statement before the court was recessed.

I tried to concentrate when the court was reconvened as the judge read out the verdict. I already knew the outcome.

I closed my eyes praying to God that a miracle would happen for once, that the system would prove me wrong. But I forgot that miracles seized to exist long ago.

". . . for a want of evidence, I therefore find you not guilty of the offense . . ."

At that point I felt numb. Haliyah must have watched this. I could only imagine how she would feel. I almost didn't stand when the judge was exiting the courtroom. I slumped back into my bench for a few minutes before I snapped back to reality.
I looked around the almost empty courtroom and found Haliyah's father seated on one of the chairs, his face buried in his hands. I rushed to him and placed my hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"We'll appeal to a higher court. Your daughter will get justice," I said, finding it hard to believe my own words.

"What's the use?"

His voice was broken, his stare almost empty as he stalked past me. I was about to go after him when the loud voice of a woman halted me.

"Don't mind them o! This is how their generation behaves. She opened leg for him to enter and now she's accusing him of rape. Abeg, that one is her business."

The busty woman was conversing with another woman who should be in her late forties. My fists balled as I glared at the both of them.

"Not everyone is a whore like you, madam!" I said before I could stop myself.

They both stared at me in shock. I left before they could get over what I said. I looked around for Haliyah's father when I left the courtroom.

I didn't find him and I almost panicked. I finally found him outside and just as I was about to go to him, I noticed he was with someone.

My blood boiled when I saw it was the son-of-a-bitch who just got released. I started heading towards them. If that motherfucker was threaten—
"You made the right choice," he said to Haliyah's father, halting my thoughts.

He was smirking while Haliyah's father just bent his head. I furrowed my brows. What was going on?

I almost gasped when he handed her father a wad of cash.

"Just get your daughter to remain shut. If she remains a good girl, I can even get married to her. I did have fun and her body is just—"

Haliyah's father glared at him but he didn't say anything about his derogatory comment. The motherfucker only chuckled before leaving.

I blinked trying to process what just happened. It all made sense now. They had only let me see Haliyah once and during my stay, her father stayed around. He must have compelled her not to speak.

In long strides, I walked towards him, all my self restraint dashing into the air.

"You sold your daughter's dignity for a few naira notes?"

My eyes watered as I tried to comprehend how a father could be this brutal to his own daughter. All my life I had known Haliyah. She was like the younger sister I never had.

I knew how much she adored her father.

"Y-you won't understand. He'll marry Haliyah and she'll have a good future b-but if we continued the case . . ."

His words blurred in my head and I just shook my head refusing to believe any of this. I had to get out of here. I walked out while he was still talking.

The drive to the hospital was long and painful. It didn't help that the traffic was worse than ever. A light drizzle had started by the time I exited my car and headed into the hospital.

The first thing I noticed on entering Haliyah's hospital room was the stilling silence. I felt a chill run down my spine but I waved it aside. The heart rate monitor had always been faulty anyways.

"Haliyah! I brought your favourite!"

I didn't know if she was allowed to have cookies but I thought it would cheer her up.

"Haliyah?" I called, walking further into the dark room.

The temperature in the room had dropped considerably and soon I was hugging myself. Just when I was about to call out her name again, I noticed her figure on the bed.

The lights came on at that moment and the box of cookies fell out of my hand. She lay limp, her right eye wide open. A reddish orange foam flowed out from her mouth and a bottle lay next to her hand, it's content spilling out on the bed.

Commentator: That's it for all the entries. I am sure your minds have been made up, on which contestant is getting your votes.

Let's take a look at what the judges think.

JUDGES REVIEW

JUDGE JK ROWLING

Congratulations, all four of you: 008 Nutcraker, 019 Pink, 025 Tsuki, and 032 Delphinium. You all did a great job in different ways. Although, Pink, I think you should try to me more creative next time. E remain small for your work to be basic. You tried tho. But trying is not enough. You can’t win a contest like Project Pen by ‘trying’. Put in effort next time to make your work stand out. Nutcracker used another encouragement trope, ngl it was sweet. You did well, 008. Delphinium, you were probably the best. Your work triggered me… but it was clear that you aced the theme. Poor Haliyah.😪 And Tsuki.😂❤️ My best friend in PPEN.😂😭❤️ I think I was a bit harsh on you last stage and yeah I felt kinda bad afterwards, but I saw effort. It still isn’t enough🔪, but yes I saw effort, and I applaud you for that. I want you to go far, I want to see more from you. Always remember to think outside the box; I know you are good at that, but you didn’t do much of that in this stage. You tried nonetheless, but I still need to see more from you.

JUDGE WILLIAMS SHAKESPEARE

This group is mine own most wondrous so far.  Nutcrack'r and pink.  Pink most especially.  Thee madeth me caterwauling.  I didn't coequal knoweth at which hour drops of sorrow did start dropping out of mine own eyes.  Tsuki, thy w'rk wast well enow, but i didn't receiveth much from t.  Delphinium, i hath felt ev'rything.  Ang'r most prominent.  I wast very much did please to feeleth something else aside from dry sorrow.

This group is my best so far. Nutcracker and Pink. Pink most especially. You made me cry. I didn't even know when tears started dropping out of my eyes. Tsuki, your work was okay, but I didn't get much from it. Delphinium, I felt everything. Anger most prominent. I was really pleased to feel something else aside from sadness.

JUDGE MAYA ANGELOU

I’m not sure what to say about this set. Only two people tried, and that’s TSUKI and Delphinium. It’s not as if they both did remarkably well and had outrightly perfect works, but I saw what you guys were trying to do and I understood it. Nutcracker and Pink… sigh. Nutcracker, your story had potential but your execution was poor. That ending just wasn’t it. Did Nifemi die? She seemed to care more about torn book than Nifemi. Pink, you also tried, but you could have done so much better. The emotions just weren’t there.

JUDGE JAMES HARDLEY CHASE

Only one person in the group impressed me, its more like the rest of you escorted that person to this stage. Because some of you are just joking here. You have forgotten this is a competition, stage four to be precise, and 5 persons are getting evicted. Maybe I should remind you all. Nutcracker keeps crushing me. Pink is just there. Tuski, I liked your entry a little bit, Delphinium, you tried.

JUDGE ARUNDHATI ROY

Nutcracker, your story got me🥲 it tugged at my heartstrings for reasons I don’t even know but really, it was able to provoke all emotions and feelings in me and I love it. Pink, your story did exactly what Nutcracker’s story did to me. Tsuki, great writing, not so good storyline, it almost bored me. Delphinium, your story really did provoke everything; from anger to hurt, to madness, to despair, and to sadness. Generally, you guys’ batch is the most impressive so far.

JUDGE ACTION BELL

Ngl, some of y'all managed to evoke my emotions. But omo, there's already so much sadness in this life. I just wish some of y'all had evoked happiness.😭 Life's too hard. Make us say "awww" at least. Thank you.😭

JUDGE JANE COREY

Ahhhhh Delphinum kill me 😭😭😭😭 I legit cried in this group. Why the fuck is the world so wicked. And the fact that the stupid Judge was a woman! Bitch what if it was you? What if it was your daughter? And that useless woman who made that comment, I pray your caughtet gets raped. Yes, I know this is a work of fiction, so she'll be raped fictionally. Rape is a big taboo and any one who is found guilty needs to be sentence to death by firing squad 😭😭😭. Pink, i so love your entry. I know what it means to loose your loved ones, you parents for that matter. Guy, it hurts like a bitch 😭😭😭. And Nutcracker, I hate that woman who yelled at the little girl from the bus, madam, if you take her to school is it bad? Nonsense. But I don't hate her like I hated the aunty, Shebi the aunty knows that the blood of the brother is in her hands (If he died). In conclusion LIFE IS CRUEL!!!

JUDGE KAREN KINGSBURY

Mmh. Delphinium! That story evoked o! Ah, it evoked. Come on. That was just sad and annoying and wow. If you know the grade I gave you ehn? You're the highest so far, to me, because you wowed me and evoked. Oh no, you evoked. Kilode? Clap for yourself, please, and smile. Smile that smile o. You used your words wisely and wow. That story... Anyway, before the other ones start eyeing me and saying, "It's you that know." Lemme touch on theirs. Pink, no. Tsuki, Tsuki, Tsuki, y'all are using this trope so much it's starting to lose water — is that the right phrase? Let me not type rubbish English. But you get my point, right? I'm not now feeling pity for those that cut themselves. However, there's a however, you did evoke something in me, so, you can smile. Nutcracker, I get what you were going for. 🥹🫠 I really do. But you didn't execute it that well. It seemed very rushed, dear. Like you just wanted to drag them through the worst situation possible.

JUDGE DANIELLE LORI

Tsuki's story was my favourite in the group. Pink and Nutcracker's stories were mundane and predictable. And as an SVU addict, delphinium's court case scene was enough to make me discontinue reading... but I'm glad I finished because the ending made it all worth it.

Commentator: The Judges have spoken. Your favs still have a chance to get to the next stage, through your votes.

Remember to go back to The Main Crib for the voting link for this batch, as it would be sent to y'all as usual.

Stay tuned for the last group 😁💕