Weekly Challenge #282 – Run

Welcome to the 100 Word Stories podcast at podcasting.isfullofcrap.com. I’m your host, Laurence Simon.

This is Weekly Challenge Number Two Hundred and Eighty-Two, where I post a topic and then challenge you to come up with a 100 word story based on that topic.

The topic this week was Run

And we’ve got stories by:

Thomas
Tom
Chris Munroe
Zackmann
Chris the Nuclear Kid
TJ
Liadona Rau
Norval Joe
Daniel
Planet Z

… and a musical madness constructed by Steven the Nuclear Man!

And if you want to spam your social networks with this episode, use the Share buttons at the end of the post.

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THOMAS

The run led around the gnarly toe gap, through shin promontory, up ankle tattoo, behind white bulging calf, across knotty knee, and on to smooth thigh and the hidden valley. Hidden valley was closed now, so time passed as the run ceased moving and waited for repairs. Eventually, there was a change, and all runs were at a standstill. The evening came, and another run began at the south side of hidden valley this time. The run zigged and zagged through forbidden territory, and eventually came to a halt near the giant fingers between the valley and bruised knee.

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It was his second dry run. This time, the solid propellant hadn’t combusted properly, and the burns on his backside hadn’t yet healed. He had not computed the mass flux and pressure of the combustion gases generated as a function of the surface area and burn rate, so Todd sautéed most of the skin on his behind and caused a fire, burning most of the trees and out-buildings on his Uncle Kenny’s farm. He’d try again, and had two more weeks at science camp before he had to get back home to Austin and the first day of middle school.

TOM

I run. The dust is gaining. It’s dark. Which way to the river? I stop hearing the screaming. If I stop I will… I go down hard. Was it pole or the back of a car, I can’t tell. How could it get darker? I get up. I try to run. Moving is harder, breathing is harder. Around my neck my camera holds the Pulitzer Prize image. My sister will accept that prize for me. It is black and I am running. An NYFD officer found me on the 2rd day. He can’t save me but he saves my camera.

CHRIS

You killed her, and didn’t know what to do, so you ran. And you kept running.

You fled town, changed your name and moved halfway across the country, but even then your past was right behind you. You couldn’t stop looking over your shoulder, couldn’t stop running.

It consumed you, became your whole life, your whole self. Running…

Eventually you even ran the Boston marathon. Did yourself proud, you came in fifth overall.

When the TV coverage went out, somebody from your old life recognized you. You were arrested three days later.

Never lose track of what you’re running from.

ZACKMANN

“Did we run the tests on the new product?” the boss asked. “Our new scientist promised no animal testing.” answered Chuck “Is that why I am no longer hearing the protesters?” said the boss. “I am a little worried that he is not a humanist and doesn’t considered the protesters animals but also a not a humanitarian.” Boss says “You sound crazy. Doctor did you do the clinical tests for the new medication?” “yes it was wonderful seeing the allergic rations on those peasants. I mean protesters” “Boss, I so told you not to hire someone calling himself Doctor Despicable ”

CHRIS THE NUCLEAR KID

“Red light!” Tom shouted. I, along with five others, stop. A kid named Joe stumbles. “Joe! Your out!” shouted Tom.

“Aw, shucks!” Joe said. He walked over to the side where the others who lost stood.

“Green light!” Tom shouted. I ran. “Yellow light!” ”Red light!” Tom shouted. I stopped. “Purple light!” Tom shouted. John and Pete ran. “John, Pete… You’re out!” Tom Shouted.

It was just me and Jacob. “Green light!” Tom Shouted. We ran, Jacob taking the lead. But not for long. In a sudden burst of speed I ran past him, Tom, and the finish.

I won.

TJ

OK, so I’ve taken all these surveys asking me for favorite movies,
favorite vacations, favorite shades of green, when is this annoying
Facebook survey going to turn into actual dating? *beep* Emily is
interested in you! Oh she is, is she? Emily is a 34-year-old bartender
who loves to laugh and reads Proust… well, now I’m laughing… Emily
is also into extreme sports, and has been catatonic since a traumatic
bungee incident in 2007. She enjoys watching “Weekend at Bernie’s,” test
patterns, and anything that’s put in front of her. So that would be a
run. Run like the wind.

LIADONA

Heel toe. Heel toe. Heel toe.

The mantra burned itself into her head.

Heel toe. Heel toe.

Over and over as she pushed herself further than she had ever pushed before. This time, however, she wasn’t racing herself or a friend. No, this time she was racing Gaia. Mother was mad and she was letting everyone know.

Heel toe. Heel toe.

“Just focus on the mantra and not where the path leads and maybe, just maybe, I can make Athena’s temple. Sanctuary.” Iona kept running, passing mossy rocks and trees.

Then a flash.

Lightning moves faster than a runner it seems.

NORVAL JOE

The Escalade drove through suburban neighborhoods and into the countryside.
Esmerelda Filch stared at Fly Paper Boy as if she expected him to speak. When he didn’t, she slid over close to him. As she did her skirt hiked up, exposing much of her thighs.
Fly Paper Boy stared, wide eyed.
“Do you find me attractive?” she asked in a husky voice.
“You’re as old as my mother,” he replied.
“Do you love your mother?” she asked and winked.
“Yeah, but not like that,” he exclaimed. He knew he should run, but was afraid to jump from the moving SUV.

DANIEL

“Run.” It licked its lips.

I didn’t hesitate, not that I stood a chance. Why did I think I was ready to summon a demon? Behind me, I could feel the rupture in reality as it pierced my feeble containment circle.

Running through the outer doorway, I felt a surge of hope – my destination was within view. I should’ve known better. Mere seconds from the church door, I slammed into an invisible wall.

Dazed, I looked around to see the fires of Hell on all sides. The demon stood before me. “This is how you create a summoning circle, child.”

PLANET Z

Long ago, sports were “clean” of drugs and implants.

But over time, the line between clean and cheating got blurry.

Those medicines an athlete used for recovering from injury made them faster and stronger.

A pitcher with a robotic arm.

A blind racecar driver with camera eyes.

A Navy punter stepped on a land mine. New Cyberlegs.

They said it was discrimination.

And the courts agreed.

Pretty soon, the performance enhancement manufacturers got into the consumer markets.

Run faster.

Play longer.

Hit harder.

What a bunch of crap.

Besides, I’ve got ballet tickets.

Swan lake, with human-swan hybrids.

Wanna go?