Greetings, Friday Fictioneers! Thank you to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting the group and for choosing my photo this week. Thanks so much! The challenge is to write a 100-word story based on the photo. All are welcome to join in. Here are instructions.
One would think that you if offered a photo, that you might have a story in mind. Not so! I look forward to reading what everyone came up with.
A little background on the photo: (If you don’t want to read this, skip to the story!) I took this in La Jolla near San Diego, a rather upscale beach neighborhood in a trendy shopping area. I found this site in an alley as I was walking through a few of them. Many of them were very quaint. This rundown stairway seemed out of the ordinary, so I snapped a photo. I didn’t go up the stairs…

(100 words)
Patient Zero
“It’s not condemned. It’s a ruin,” said Tony, putting on his mask. “A regular tourist trap.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? If you’re stupid enough to come here, no one’s gonna miss you,” said Chuck.
“Someone’s being dramatic,” said Tony. He touched his finger to the faulty rail. It wouldn’t help him on the cracked stairway, choking on overgrown ivy and debris.
“If you come back out, I’ll join you,” whispered Chuck.
Inside Tony witnessed cats roaming on mutant paws, flashing green eyes, encircling him. They slashed him with their claws until their mouths filled with blood.
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Click here for more stories from the Fictioneers.
Should the whisper not come from Chuck?
Because…I would say he’s the smart one!
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Yes, thanks. I had it that way. It got turned around. Thanks so much for telling me!
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My pleasure! It’s as I was commenting that I realised I was writing the wrong name!
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I’m just glad you were there to catch it early! Thank you. I appreciate you telling me.
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Betwixt buddies…😘
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I always tell people, because you know it happens so easily when you’re changing things around.
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For sure. It’s the least we can do for our community!
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Yes! And I would always rather know.
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Ooh, that’s nice and dark. And gory. 🙂
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Thank you, Carrie! I’m pleased you like it.
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O.K. That made me say “Ew!” right out loud. Well done.
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Ha! Ooh, yeah! Glad I got a reaction. Thanks, Alicia. 🙂
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what a twist. should be curiosity killed the cats, but not this time around. 🙂
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You got that right, Plaridel. These cats are beyond that phase. Thanks.
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Blood, gore, and sleazy characters! Are you turning into Quentin Tarantino? All I can say is: keep it up! Oddly quirky and intriguing piece.
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You call me Quentana. haha. I guess I was in the mood for a little gore and sleaze. I need to get it out of my system. Thanks for the kind praise and encouragement, Perry. Appreciate it!
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I love the idea of a reversal of behaviours! Man is more curious than cat. And looooovvveee the overall horror feel of ending. 😄
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A reversal, right you are! I hadn’t thought of that. And now the cats have endless lives. Oh, thanks so much, Melony! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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This story is not for cat people. Good thing you didn’t go up those steps.
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I am a cat person, but I can pretend! I know. I might never go up another flight of stairs again.
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Don’t be a scaredy cat.
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Haha
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Great story. You caught me out – I thought Chuck would be the one who missed out, by being a wuss. In the battle of conflicting proverbs, ‘look before you leap’ was more apt than ‘he who hesitates is lost’ on this occasion.
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Right you are, JS. I don’t think Tony got a chance to look long enough, because once you get circled by cats…Thanks so much and for your email. I’ll respond soon. Sorry for the delay.
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Well that took a very dark turn…
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Yes, and I suppose it could have gone anywhere. Thanks, Carol.
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Dear Amy,
I’ve had cats and I suspect this came from the mind of one. 😉 Those stairs have spawned quite a few dark ones this week. Nothing like a little blood and gore to go with my coffee this morning. Good job.
On another note, although I often use photos of my own, rarely, if ever to I have a story in mind. Often I’ll stare at the photo and wonder what possessed me to choose it.
Thanks again for a great photo.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I am a cat lover so I don’t know what got into me! I could see a bunch of cats hanging out here….and you know, of course they’re mutants. I did run into a colony of cats once and it was surreal and strange. There must have been close to 100 cats in this grove. Some of them were mutants, but they didn’t attack. 🙂
Good to know about the photo. I wonder. There must be something about the photos that draws them to you. You just never know what you’ll write until you put the words on the page. Thank you for choosing my photo. It’s an honor!
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Nice picture and eerie story which desperately needs more. But … you didn’t go up the stairs?!?!?! Not even the first few just to peek around the corner?
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Thanks, Mark. It was fun story to write. Glad you liked it. No, I didn’t go up the stairs and now I wish I had. But right when I saw it, I thought “prompt.” That doesn’t happen that often and maybe for that reason I didn’t want to clutter my mind with the real image. Now I want to know!
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So the zombie apocalypse begins with cats?! I believe it. I’m not a cat person. I’ve always thought those creatures are susceptible to the dark side.
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Sure, they’re zombie cats and they started the whole zombie apocalypse! It’s all their doing. I actually love kitties. I have three of them. But I can see them going to the dark side.
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Yikes!!
Great gory story.
Interesting photo too.
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Thank you! Glad you liked it and I hope the photo gave you some inspiration.
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G-ross! No one likes cats…
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T-rent!! I actually love cats! I just thought they might like to hang out here. I also ran into a colony of cats once. It was wonderful and eerie at once. Many of them had mutant paws, too. No joke!
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What on earth is a real-life mutant paw??? Did you take pictures?
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Well, nothing particularly alarming. You know, extra digits and missing tails! The usual. This particular hub of cats had a lot of that going on. Maybe there was a lot of inbreeding?! No pics. I saw it years ago before I even had a camera. But, I remember it well.
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Love this!
http://fashionforlunch.net
Instagram : @labelsforlunch (I just hit 30k!!!)
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Love the mutant claws. Chuck had a lucky escape.
(Is the La Jollo near San Diego – the art galleries there have the most amazing pieces on sale – at the most amazing prices? Nice pic.
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Thank you, Patrick. Chuck is one lucky fella.
Yes, indeed. It’s the La Jolla near San Diego (I just added that in my post. Thanks!). There are many nice galleries. I stare at things from the window, too afraid I will break something if I go in! Glad you liked the pic.
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Ew… you had me at mutant paws. Very intense (and fun).
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Mutant paws are potent. Thank you, Gah. Glad you enjoyed it.
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So, patient zero – is Tony going to come back with green eyes and mutant claws to start the next epidemic? They always look for the first person to catch the virus (zombie/mutant disease?) so i can only assume… anyway, very nice.
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I left it open. It’s anyone’s guess. I envision that Chuck rescues poor Tony and the cats vanish before he sees them. And anyway, yeah, then he’s infected. But Tony is Patient Zero and I bet he will have green eyes and claws. Thank you!
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Usually with flash fiction people do leave it up to everyone’s guess, but with that title, that was my first thought of, that Tony must be Patient Zero.
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Yes, you got it! You are absolutely right. I thought you were asking for an explanation and how the story might progress. 🙂
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Well, in ways I was, but I know it’s always up to the reader’s interpretation.
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I knew there was a reason I’m terrified of cats. Well done (and gory!) 😀
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Thanks, Dianne. With all those scary spiders in Australia, I’m sure you could handle these cats! No problem. 😀
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Despite what he says, I suspect Chuck will miss him.
Great story! I hope you’ll read mine here.
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I think Chuck will miss him if he lives long enough. Thank you, Alice! I’ll be over.
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Oh, that went downhill fast! …You’d never expect mutant colony of cats with this photo… 🙂
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For some reason, I saw a bunch of cats hanging around up there. Glad I could surprise you, Adam!
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Yeah, mutant cats!
It sounds like it’s a good job you didn’t go up the steps after snapping the photo. You have more sense than Tony 🙂
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I suppose I do! I don’t know what I would do if I found a colony of mutant cats….RUN!!!
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That would be the epitome of terror for me. Damn, cats! I always knew they would be our ruin with those creepy eyes and sharp claws. This is the stuff my nightmares are made of.
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Ooh, it would be pretty creepy, Michelle. Thanks for reading and I hope you don’t have any nightmares. 🙂
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Wow! Chilling and gory, as others have noted. In not getting to stories until Sunday, I fear I often sound repetitive! The imagery really is scary, Amy. Nice photo for inspiring us all, and La Jolla is one of my favorite places to visit!
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Thanks, Dawn! That’s ok. My FF process takes at least 3 days. I’m commenting at the end, too. No worries. Say whatever you like. Glad you liked the photo. I never get tired of La Jolla!
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Great photo and story, Amy. Didn’t see the graphic scene coming!
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Thanks, Brigitte. Glad I could surprise you!
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Ouch! Oh no
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Thanks, Solo!
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Tourist TRAP… with capital letters… I think cats should be cute and furry… not like this at all..
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Yes, quite the trap. I actually love cats quite a lot, Bjorn. I just saw cats up there.
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You know I love kitties – don’t want to think of any of them as mutants, but I will let this go because I know it’s just your fabulous imagination at play! The twist really hit me hard on this one!
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Oh! I actually love kitties, too. They’re little angels. I’m sure they would never do this, Kelly…at least not to us. 🙂 Thank you.
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That’s right! We would be safe! They can sense those things and wouldn’t mess with us! 🙂
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Gruesome! Chuck better get out of there! Great story. 🙂
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I have a feeling he didn’t. Thanks!
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Sounds like my kitten if you take his favourite toy away!
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Uh oh. I’m staying away from your kitten!
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Yes, pretty gory. Ya made me flinch!
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Thank you, Dawn!
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Mutant paws and flashing green eyes! Would scare anyone, even cat people. 🙂
Lily
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I scare myself, Lily. I love cats. This couldn’t possibly happen? What have I done!
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YUK … I like the good side of cats. Congrats on getting your image selected to serve as the basis of the story.
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I actually do, too, but sometimes the dark side comes in handy for a story. Thanks. I should offer more of my photos, Frank. I always think about it and then get too busy.
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Ooh, sounds like alien cats, bloodthirsty alien cats at that. That should be a warning to anyone going up a stairway like that. Thanks for the great picture, Amy. Who would imagine that stairway would be in an upscale area? It seems the area is old mixed with new. Maybe those stairs have a history. If not, we gave them more than one. Well done, Amy. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You never know what’s on the other side. I guess that’s my angle on this photo, but there were many other ways to look at it as seen in all the stories this week. I’m glad you liked it, Suzanne. It struck me as odd right away.There is a good mix of old and new in the area. That’s very true! Thank you. 🙂
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Ugh… sounded like a tryst until the cats! Did you see Alien cats when you took the picture?? he he he! Great story! 😉
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Well.. not a tryst exactly! I was trying to be funny… that didn’t translate well! ha ha! Sarcasm rarely does in text
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No, it is funny! I laughed. 🙂
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No, I didn’t see any cats, Courtney! For some reason, I could see cats up there. Thanks.
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ha ha ha!! Well good!! 😛
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How did I miss this?! Fantastic. And the photo is delicious. Nice composition and framing. See that staircase in the background? That makes it special.
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Thanks so much, Mark! Oh, so nice to hear. I’m glad you liked it. I didn’t get it out until Friday pm, so I can see how you missed it. Thanks. I like that staircase, too. I think you’re special for noticing.
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Whoomph! That knocked the breath out of me. A terrifying tale and a great photograph!
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Why thanks! I’m so thrilled you liked my story and my photograph.
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