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If you like to write, and haven't tried this 3 prompt challenge, you are missing out on a fun exercise. Here's the explanation by Weekend Freewrite creator @mariannewest:

This is how the weekend free write is different. You get 3 prompts and write 5 minutes on each prompt creating one story. Each prompt is in a separate post. No peeking!! The First Sentence prompt will always have the green graphic.

The second prompt is- The interference. It will direct your story into a new direction. Write for 5 more minutes. The second prompt will always have this graphic with a yellow background.

The third part is a dramatic twist. Continue writing where that prompt takes you but still creating one story. Write 5 more minutes.
The Dramatic twist prompt always has this purple background graphic.

When you have finished your story you post the link to you story in comments on the #3 prompt post. You can find all three of @mariannewest's posts here:

Post 1 with first prompt

Post 2 with 2nd prompt

Post 3 with 3rd prompt; comment with your entry here

If you want to give this contest a try - STOP HERE and don't read anyone else's story yet. The idea is to be surprised by each new prompt and then have to incorporate it into the story you have already started!

Here is my entry, and the prompts used are in bold print.

Ill Fated Picnic

There were snakes in the old stone place, but the grass grew so green that it lured unsuspecting picnickers to the wonderful meadow. Little did they know that the nearby ruins harbored such danger so close.

Erica and Bill spread the blanket under the shade of a gnarled oak tree and settled themselves on the luxurious softness of the grass under the blanket. Erica soon had all the goodies out of the basket and arranged them while Bill wrestled with the corkscrew to release their celebratory wine from the bottle.

Bill poured them each a measure into the plastic tumblers and they toasted each other with big smiles followed by a warm kiss. The touch of their tongues alive with the taste of the wine almost made them forget about the food they had so lovingly selected and packed for the occasion.

But the moment was allowed to pass as they looked at each other with a promise in their eyes for what would come later.

"Caller, are you there?" Suddenly, another voice came on the line.

Bill almost shouted into his tightly gripped cell phone. “Yes, I’m here! You need to get the ambulance sent here right away. Her ankle is swelled to twice its size and the redness is running up her leg!”

“Sir, a snakebite can be a very serious thing. Do you have any idea what kind of snake bit your wife? It makes a big difference in the antidote if you know the kind of snake.”

“I know that,” panted Bill. “I wasn’t able to kill it and it got away but I have a picture of it. I’m sure it’s a rattlesnake though, I heard the rattling just before it struck. And the thing was HUGE!”

“Erica, honey, just hang on, the operator is sending help. They can track our location from the GPS is my phone.” He dabbed a wet cloth across Erica’s forehead and checked on the tourniquet he’d placed above her knee.

Bill was very worried about Erica. She had a cold last week and her immune system was a little stressed from that. He wished he had listened to Erica when she said she wanted to go to their favorite restaurant for their anniversary instead of this picnic. In the distance he could make out the siren approaching. Thank God. Help was finally arriving.

The ambulance pulled up the rocky entrance road and the paramedics jumped out and ran over to Erica lying on the ground. One of the paramedics started an IV for fluids and the other one administered the anti-venom shot. After taking her vitals, the young blonde man frowned and looked worriedly at Bill. “Her blood pressure is exceedingly high and her breathing is very labored. How long ago was the bite?”

Bill looked at his watch and replied, “It’s been about 30 minutes. I had to carry her back from those stone ruins over there where we had been taking a walk.”

As the ambulance pulled away and Bill followed in the car, he vowed to take Erica to the most expensive restaurant they could find. No more anniversary picnics!

If you enjoy writing short fiction stories (less than 1,000 words) I'd love to have you join me on Narrative. Here's a link directly to my page featuring Flash Fiction:

Join me on Narrative

Get in on the ground floor and see what it's all about. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments.

[credit@EdibleCthulhu]

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Get your copy of our current book "Voices in the Darkness" here. A new book will be coming out June 1st!