Plague
Spooky Micro
There was only one rule: don’t open the door. Even the youngest ones knew it. So Grey’s suggestion made no sense. He must have finally gone batshit…
They reminded him of the story he told so many times: about the plague that depleted their numbers long ago, after which survivors went through the door in search of freedom. All were captured. Now, Grey wanted them to do it again.
Grey frowned. ‘It’s differen’ this time.’
‘We have food and shelter here...’, they said.
Grey snorted.
‘But are we safe?’
Of course they weren’t. The door opened regularly. A giant paw would then reach inside, grab and remove them one by one for some new torture. Sooner or later, everyone suffered in the White Giants’ hands. Many never returned. Some did, which was worse. Because they came back changed.
Grey was the scariest example. His unnatural head bulged, the exposed brain hanging down on both sides. Metal spikes rose from it like a grey aureola, earning him his nickname. No one could look at Grey without a shudder.
Others were maimed too, with deep wounds, missing limbs or additional ones sprouting in random places. The price of surviving in the Giants’ realm.
‘Ahm tellin’ you, Ah been watchin' Them. They won’t be there.’
Apparently, he noticed a promising escape route last time They took him. But did it really lead to safety? Even Grey didn’t know what awaited Outside.
The discussion lasted long into the night.
Two days later, Grey opened the latch. They dashed through the darkness illuminated by a greenish light of the sign above their cage. The sign read BIOHAZARD but none of them could read.
One by one, lab rats climbed into an uncovered ventilation duct – their road to freedom.
Their whiskers trembled with anticipation.
***
About the Creator
Katarzyna Popiel
A translator, a writer. Two languages to reconcile, two countries called home.
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
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Comments (18)
Congratulations on your top story!!🎉🎉🎉
This was a wonderful perceptive flip K, I love that this was told from the POV of the rats. It kind of reminded of my "the secrets of nimh". Great story and congrats on Top Story!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this the twist the build up to the final line And yep that pic goes so well with the story Congratulations
Nice piece!
Oooh that mouse , great take on the challenge
Excellent! I had a feeling after the part about the White Giants Hands that your characters weren't human. I hope they end up in a rats' paradise like NIMH or the sewers in Flushed Away.
Lab rats? 🤯 I got Rats of NIMH vibes 😁
Wow! What a surprising story! ✨Katarzyna
an amazing story, very intriguing well done
This was a most surprising story, great read!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Nicely done! Definitely a fresh take on the micro challenge :)
That was great, and the ending, that was a surprise. I'm feel sorry for them though, and the world they're escaping into. Congrats on the TS.
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Great tail, Katarzyna! The mouse pic is adorable. It looks like a Mad Max rodent!
Oh noooo, those poor rats 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Nicely done! That looks like a punk rat!
Oh good job! I wasn’t expecting them to be rats.