The Imago Serum (This Flash Fiction piece tied in Eleventh Place in the Second Campaigner Challenge.)
After rappelling down, I swiped away the sweat stinging my eyes; the miasma heat of the tropical forest was deadly itself, let alone rappelling down the side of a waterfall during the worst of it.
The lacuna behind the falls is where they lived, the venomous coralflies, fresh from their imago stage. The suffocating heat helps them fully mature and secrete chemicals from their glands. If Jake can extract some, he can make the serum and save Lilly’s life.
The waterfall was like a mirror, showering me with my reflection as I reached through it, but couldn't feel any insects.Without hesitation, I took off my glove and reached back in.
Slimy and wet from their recent molting, I grabbed a few and shoved them in my bag before attempting to climb back up the slick rocks. When Jake noticed the bite marks all over my arm his mouth began to oscitate.
Which each pull on the rope, my eyes watered as the venom pulsed and raged through my body and was in synchronicity with each beat of my heart.
Jake pulled me over the ledge and my last thoughts were of my Lilly and her new chance at life.
2011 Alynza Smith
The lacuna behind the falls is where they lived, the venomous coralflies, fresh from their imago stage. The suffocating heat helps them fully mature and secrete chemicals from their glands. If Jake can extract some, he can make the serum and save Lilly’s life.
The waterfall was like a mirror, showering me with my reflection as I reached through it, but couldn't feel any insects.Without hesitation, I took off my glove and reached back in.
Slimy and wet from their recent molting, I grabbed a few and shoved them in my bag before attempting to climb back up the slick rocks. When Jake noticed the bite marks all over my arm his mouth began to oscitate.
Which each pull on the rope, my eyes watered as the venom pulsed and raged through my body and was in synchronicity with each beat of my heart.
Jake pulled me over the ledge and my last thoughts were of my Lilly and her new chance at life.
2011 Alynza Smith