If You Catch It

Go here for the prompts and challenges. I chose to do activities one, two, and three in the adult genre.

MY PITCH

The isle of Rihn is home to a rare, contagious muscle disease. If you catch it, you’re dead. Rihn’s inhabitants are trapped there, the bridge connecting them to the mainland long ago destroyed and the surrounding water a great incubation place for the disease. The people live in squander, the outside world forgotten in favor of surviving this one. But, when a plane crash gifts them with Julio, a world renowned engineer, repairing the bridge suddenly seems possible. The only thing is, if they leave their little island, the muscle disease of Rihn might not be so rare anymore.

-99 words

MY FLASH FICTION

          Julio watched his boy roll the ball up and down the stable section of the ruined bridge. A high-pitched laugh drifted on the wind. He pushed the long strands of wet hair off his forehead and glanced at his wife. She stretched out, her leg held away from her body. Her eyes met his and she smiled.
           “Don’t worry, Julio. It’s not that deep.”
           His gaze jumped to her torn leg. “Maria, you know exposed muscle triples your chances.”
           She pushed herself up on her elbows. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to catch it.”
           He picked up a handful of the rough sand, let it fall. “I told you not to dig in the trash heaps.”
           “Would you rather Javier did it instead?” She said, her soft fingers twisting through his.
           “We can survive without eating garbage.”
           She snorted. “And how do you suppose we do that? They’re never going to rebuild the bridge, Julio. The world has abandoned us from fear.”
           A splash cut through the silence. He jumped to his feet. The white ball rode the ripples caused by his son’s fall.
           He ran, knowing it was too late.
           The disease had struck.

-195 words

MY POEM

run, run, run
a s f a r ,
asfast,
as you can

run, run, run
away from the body
away from the Disease

because,
though you’re the one in front
you just might
catch It

-36 words