Will the Plague Be Cured?

There is a plague outbreak, and I’m the only one who can help. I’m in my science lab, with medicinal liquids and capsules surrounding me. I grab a bottle but the label is slightly smudged. Everyone is desperate, so it sweeps off the shelves of local markets. I grab the newspaper, the headline reads, “Cure Harms Population!” Did I add something poisonous? I don’t want to be caught or imprisoned. I have an unfinished bunker underground a few miles away, so I’ll go there in the meantime. I receive a message that the police are searching for me. Can I stay uncovered? 

Vivian White, Grade 9

*Vivian White's Flash Fiction "Will the Plague Be Cured?" was published in the 2025 Stranger Sagas anthology