Writing Challenge -- Day 20

The instruction for Day 20 of the 30-Day writing challenge:
“…Write a story that will make your reader afraid to turn off the lights at bedtime tonight…”

My excuse for an implausible story this time is that scary stories have never appealed to me, so I have not really read any books or seen many videos or films on the subject. My knowledge is limited to Dr Who-type scary stuff. My original tale involved a mutated Daddy Long Legs spider. It sounded too implausible, hence this version…

Don’t Turn Off The Lights
At university I met Zeke over lunch in the students’ hall. Lunch was the standard huge plate of oily floppy deep fried chips drowned in a house-brand tomato sauce and a huge mug of black coffee. Whilst we had no scientific subject lectures in common, we were both enrolled for English 601, which is a technical course aimed at enabling scientist types to write properly, to research and formulate papers for publication.

Zeke was studying butterflies and entomology and microbiology  and such things. He collected all sorts of specimens and had a variety of live “pets” ion his rooms, including, apparently, a gang of rare scorpions, as well as a Puff Adder. I declined his frequent invitation to come to meet his zoo pals.

Last week, while shopping in the city centre, quite coincidentally, I ran across Zeke at the restaurant in the department store. He called out to me, and invited me to join him at his table. He hadn’t changed much in appearance, and judging by the trend of the conversation he hadn’t changed in his interests. Apparently, he had graduated and was now a top nob in a government health department.

After catching up with stories about out lives post-university, he stirred his coffee thoughtfully, and then confided, “There’s something you may want to know. But, you didn’t hear it from me, you understand… know what I mean?… It’s something that isn’t out there as public knowledge, ‘cos the solution must still be found…”

I could see that the fellow was serious and perturbed. I nodded and looked at him attentively.

“You know about Bubonic Plague which was known as the ‘Black Death’ from the centuries ago. It is caused by a bacterium called ‘Yersinia pestis’ and is more or less unknown as it was when it killed all those millions. But…” Zeke took a breath, as if thinking how to phrase his sentence.

“It appears that a genus of small mouse is carrying a mutated version of the bug, YPN which is Yesrinia pestis nova, making it a hundred times more dangerous than the original one. This is cause for major concern, and the authorities are working flat-out on production plans for efficient medication against the mutated YPN. This could be miles more dangerous that HIV and H5N1, if appropriate steps are not taken…”

He paused and took a drink of his coffee, then continued, “Somehow a colony of these creatures have arrived in our city from an import of manufactured goods from an Asian country. We just don’t know how widespread their distribution is… they multiply like rabbits, and the YPN can be transmitted to cats and dogs as well…”

I nodded without comment, as he continued.

“ Naturally, the government is worried about terrorists using such a creature as what Bush and Blair called Weapons of Mass Destruction – remember that? But there is some very good news from the University. A colleague has identified a vital weakness: the mouse has extremely poor genes associated with its eyesight. They avoid bright light at all costs, as their vision is permanently destroyed if they are caught in strong artificial light.”

I asked, “So, if…. these critters can only survive in the dark… and, if we stay out of the darkness, then  we will not meet…”

“Precisely, Doctor Watson, you learn fast.”

He reflected on how laid-back human society had become over the past few decades, and that other creatures, also fighting for survival on our planet, were still evolving and adapting themselves. The results were scary…

Zeke glanced at his watch, left his coffee unfinished, and jumped up. He grabbed my hand in a firm greeting, “I must run, old boy. It’s been good to see you again. Stay in contact, hey, and whatever you do, don’t turn off the lights…”

 

The instruction for Day 21: 
Your character's dream in life is to be a celebrity. He/she is not particularly talented or successful at anything, so he/she will have to find a different way to become famous...