This week’s Writing prompts were picture prompts. I chose 4 of the 15 pictures offered.
Who Was She?
It was not the day that I had expected. I planned to go to the county fair, look for anything interesting I could purchase, and, since I enjoy people-watching, see if any unique personalities would make good characters for one of my stories. I just wanted to relax and enjoy myself. I wasn’t planning on going on any adventures.
Just my luck, the first unique character that I interacted with was looking to interact with someone, also. The difference being that she wasn’t looking to interact with anyone. She was looking specifically to interact with me.
“So nice to see you, again,” she said.
“Do I know you?” I questioned.
“Of course, you do. We have met on numerous occasions. I doubt you would remember, though. That’s another story. For now, let’s just say that I am very familiar with you.” And then she used my name, just to make a point of veracity.
I was totally confused and curious, but didn’t want to push the issue of our relationship. “Is there something that you want from me?” I asked, figuring that must have been the reason for her to seek me out.
“Naturally,” she responded, “don’t I always seek you out when there is something that needs to be done?”
Again, I wasn’t going to pursue that comment. I responded with a simple, “So?”
“Today’s task is to save a life. You’ll find what you need at the Old Cider Mill, on Glen Road.” And with that, she turned and walked away, blending into the crowd.
Well, if I were destined for an adventure, I might as well pursue it. I left the fairgrounds and headed for the Old Cider Mill.
It had been a while since I’d been there, as it had been shut down years ago. When I got there, the broken-down old wooden building with its tarnished, worn-out siding and its barren, weed-filled front entrance way just stood still. At least it should have looked that way. I noticed some smoke coming out of the smoke stack on the roof, and there was a light shining through the open window on the ground floor.
Curiosity, rather than fright, took control, and I inched my way toward the open doorway and looked in.
There in the back room, I saw three individuals. It looked as if they were doing some sort of chemistry experiment.
As I walked into the room, they all looked at me and began to panic.
“It’s not my fault!” screamed the oldest of the trio, “I warned them that it might be dangerous to get rid of our solution at the beach.”
“Sure,” said the second one, “but you didn’t stop us.”
The third one, who was just about to place something into the beaker, shouted, “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is; we have to get this antidote finished and pour it over the same spot before someone comes in contact with it, and all will be neutralized.”
The older one said reassuringly, “Not to worry, once the original solution sinks in the sand, it should not be dangerous to anyone, unless they try to dig it up.”
It was my turn to speak up. “Then you’d better finish that antidote quickly. I was told that I had to save a life, and it clearly is not one of yours.”
Even though they weren’t sure what I said was true, they endeavored to complete the antidote. Heck, I wasn’t even sure if what I said was true.
On completion of the antidote, we all rushed to the beach to the spot where the three had dumped their original solution. We were shocked at what we saw.
There, on the exact spot where we were going, were two boys. One of them was lying in the sand, motionless. The other one had dug a hole next to the immobile one and was attempting to bury him in the sand.
I called out, “What do you think you’re doing!?”
“I’m just burying my friend. We do it all the time. Doesn’t he look like he died?”
I didn’t hesitate. I pushed the boy with the cup of sand out of the way and felt for a pulse on the motionless one. It was barely beating.
“Call 911 right now! Give this kid the antidote and hope it works; otherwise, I think you will be facing some serious murder charges.
By the time the police and paramedics arrived, the poisoned kid was breathing on his own. He was taken to a local hospital for observation. The three chemists were charged with trespassing, possession of dangerous chemicals without a license, and reckless endangerment.
I was summoned as a witness. My story was that I happened upon the trio at the mill, and when I found out what they were doing, I made sure that they went back to the beach with the antidote. It was just luck that we got there in time. I failed to disclose anything about the woman at the fair that led me to the mill, and her prophecy.
Maybe we’ll meet again.
