[Write the Story] An Interrupted Journey

Prompt: An Interrupted Journey

Words: butterfly effect, vulture, cramp, industry, purge, scruple, snorkel, snitch, warning, unless

Story
“What happens when a butterfly effect is more along the size of a vulture?” Patrick asked as he dumped water out of his snorkel. “I mean, I don’t want to cramp anyone’s style, but if we’ve changed history, this could be very bad.”

Jeri rolled her eyes. “Now you get the inkling of a scruple? Give me a break. You knew what you were signing up for.”

Patrick suddenly turned and purged the contents of his stomach in the weeds on the water line.

“A little warning next time!” Jeri jumped out of range of the vomit. Then she paused. “Wait, that shouldn’t happen. It’s never happened before. What’s wrong?”

Patrick wiped his mouth. Jeri didn’t like the slightly gray-green tinge to his skin. “I don’t know. Nausea wasn’t in the industry literature?”

“Are you going to be all right to finish the mission?” Jeri dub into her pack and handed Patrick a medicine kit. “We need to go.”

They only made it a few yards before Patrick retched again. This time he broke out in sweat. Jeri bit back a curse.

“The snitch’s information was clear…” she said. “We’ll have to abort.”

“Unless you go without me.”

Jeri hesitated then shook her head. “Together or not at all. We abort.”

“And history remains unchanged.”

Word Count: 215

Written: 5/2/2019

Tags: fiction, flash fiction, Piccadilly, time travel, Write the Story