Stranded With The News

20251004

Written for Bradley Ramsey's "First Indulgence" event, in connection with Mina Howell's "Ophiocordyceps" series.

Funny. When Fran moved to the island she’d lamented the lack of connection compared to the big city. Now…
Fran sipped at her coffee, her troubled gaze fixed on her phone. Checking in on her family. As soon as that interview with the doctor went viral her attention had been split between her loved ones' social media updates and the news.
Both were… worrying.
In the field at the end of her garden, sheep were playing tag. Birds sang merrily in the hedgerows. And, one ferry ride and a few hour’s drive away, people were scaling buildings to turn into fungus clumps.
How long until the fog spread?
She didn’t even have a mask, and trying to buy one now would be futile. Delivery out here was shaky at the best of times. Had to get Christmas presents ordered four months in advance.
How many people would be left, by Christmas?
Her hand was trembling. She put down the coffee, just in case.
Nobody had heard from Dan in a few days. Which was perfectly normal, but right now nothing was normal.
One of the twins was in hospital. Not with… whatever this was. Just a broken foot. But Marie was terrified he’d end up catching it, so was trying to get the doctors to send him home. The family was divided on whether this was a good idea.
Nanna, who’d always passionately lectured about listening to doctors, was silent. Her updates were all small, personal things - the usual “here’s breakfast” and other highlights of the nursing home. Though her rosary was featuring far more.
Thinking about nervous habits made Fran realise that she’d gnawed her thumb cuticle to the quick. Damn. She grimaced and wiped it off on her skirt, then wrapped her hand around the mug again. Even if she didn’t trust herself holding it up, holding onto it at least kept her hand from her mouth.
The general shop sold cigarettes. Something she hadn’t thought about since moving here. After all, realising she no longer noticed those beguiling packages was when she celebrated truly quitting. But now the knowledge pressed against her mind.
It wouldn’t help, she firmly told herself. It just feels like it helps, then makes everything worse.
But she needed to do something.
Going for a walk would mean watching the sky the whole time. And the thought of running into someone - which was practically guaranteed, it was a small island - left her stomach in knots.
She looked over at the sheep. Wondered if they could catch It. Poor John would be heartbroken. Reviving the breed had been his life’s work.
Still no news from Dan.
The house was already spotless. Late last night insomnia had driven her to dragging furniture around to clean underneath. The place probably hadn’t been so clean since it was built.
She’d thought she’d shed “Fretting Fran”. Turns out the fear had just been brewing. Waiting.
One of Marie’s coworkers had just been reported missing. Fran couldn’t bring herself to tap on the video update.
She shivered and looked up at the sky. Those were just normal clouds. She was sure of it.
Maybe she’d walk to the general store after all. Just to check if they had rosaries.

Prompt was "Write a story based in the first few days of the Ophiocordyceps series."