Unexpected Uncovering Challenge Winners

This Challenge inspired some incredibly inventive unexpected uncoverings! And we know this is no simple feat as it's never easy to destabilize a relationship in a fresh and new way. From serious illnesses to serial killers on the weekends to silly little traits that grow to become impossible to ignore, we never knew there were so many ways to be surprised by a partner.

Side note: We want to take a moment and thank everyone for continuing to participate so actively in our Challenges as well as for providing ideas for new Challenges. We are currently implementing your Challenge ideas, changing how we structure Challenges to better suit your wants and opening up select Challenges to our non Vocal+ members. We love working with our Creators and are always over the moon when we can collaborate on making Vocal a more inclusive and fun community!

Here are the winners of the Unexpected Uncovering Challenge and spotlight on one of the Runners-Up. You can check out the full list of winners HERE.

$1,000 Grand Prize Winner

L.A. Hancock for Crossing Paths

This story gave us everything we wanted from this Challenge and many moments we didn't know we needed! Our story begins with a calculated man, broken by death, suddenly he's not thinking clearly, making less rational decisions, allowing his emotions to lead his choices. And then a woman enters his life (literally) and he acts, well, as one does when they fall in love.

And then we have her side of the story. She's figuring her life out (aren't we all), she's only here for a short time, must get back to her busy life, but then something happens, unexpectedly, they both grow, but not how they thought they would grow, or how we thought they were going to grow.

This story is deep, deeper than at first glance, brimming with emotional depth and humanity. And the ending? Incredibly satisfying. We really enjoyed this one. Congratulations, L.A. Hancock!

$250 Second Place Winner

Marina Fortuño for The Scream

We loved this story because it blended the real and surreal so effortlessly. The author doesn't shy away from immediately giving us wrenching visuals and noises, eyes and screams outside a cabin window. And her husband is suddenly missing, but he's downstairs, in a work room, and then we are outside and the screams are a bird's but also the protagonist's.

This story felt like getting twisted up in mental bedsheets, writhing, relaxing, trying to understand where you are, if you're dreaming, whose voice is it, are you in danger? Ah, how well this story delivered on the eerie, unsettling feeling we so often crave from fiction. Congratulations, Marina Fortuño!

Honorable Mention

Rosie Ford for Duality

We don't want to say too much about this story except that we appreciate how difficult it is to pull off a twist like the one you'll find inside! There's nothing quite like the feeling of light confusion turning into total understanding. Well done, Rosie Ford!

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