Blue Skin Disorder

Note: This blog serves to help you in coming up with ideas to write as a short story/novel/script/whatever. Please note that some of the ideas in the blog are downright silly and not meant to be taken as is. You can get the gist of the entry and alter it any way you want, for any purpose whatsoever.

The Plot:

Robert is a medical researcher trying to find a cure for a rare disease called Blue Skin Disorder, characterized by a bluish mottling of the skin, usually on the legs. He travels far and wide to find a cure, or else his family, held hostage by a prominent clan in Nigeria, will die.

His journey leads him to a medieval African village called Makawakakei, inhabited by indigenous and unfriendly residents. According to legends, the land where the village stands has the right conditions to perhaps house the rare plant Kilaguchi, whose roots are powerful enough to prevent blood vessels from swelling.

The Hanger:

While the village indeed houses the plant, Robert needs to gain the trust of the people of Makawakakei and their elephant guardians before he could even study the plant. The story revolves around human interactions with different cultures and Robert fighting his inner instinct to grab the plant and immediately leave so he could save his family, or befriend the locals so he could study the plant properly in peace.

The Twist:

In the end, Robert finds that the plant can cure the disease, however, only one such plant remains in the village (hence, being guarded tightly by the villagers and elephants) and perhaps the entire earth. Here’s the kicker: a child villager, who Robert has become friends with, also suffers from Blue Skin Disorder.