FF – Adapt or Die
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, the weekly 100 word story prompt hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo comes from Shaktiki Sharma.
I was going to do a Christmassy one, maybe with Santa in it, but the first thing this photo said to me was “death in the shadows” 🙂
To read this week’s other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Shaktiki Sharma
A scream, swiftly silenced, rang through the darkness. The humans shuddered and gathered closer to the light. Since the Awakening, things waited in the shadows.
They said there are no monsters.
They were wrong.
Graduk smiled to itself, pouring more energy into its bio-luminescent appendages. Its glow increased, drawing more of the bipeds close. “Adapt or die” was a favourite saying amongst them, it had heard. Those of its brethren, lurking in the dark places waiting for an occasional foolish meal, had not adapted.
Graduk had.
It increased its glow still more and awaited the unsuspecting feast.
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draliman on life 
That’s great. Love the voice!
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Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Graduk wouldn’t want to eat me, I’m too chewy.
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Me too. I don’t think he’s all that fussy, though 😦
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Dear Ali,
When you go to the dark side, you do it with an artistic flair. Fun stuff.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
Ali
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I always knew there was something sinister in those neon lights! Thank you for confirming my worst fears 🙂
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No worries. Stick to the shadows. Though that’s not all that safe either to be honest.
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Waiting in the shadows… those monsters would end up starving… Graduk sounds like an angler fish on land….
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That’s exactly what he is. And it’s working!
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Bon appetit, Graduk! Those silly humans are drawn to shiny things 😀
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Ooooh, shinyyyyy… crunch 🙂
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Well, that’s creepy! At first I thought – “There’s no way to adapt!” Thanks for proving me wrong – I think.
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Hopefully Graduk’s the only one who’s come up with this insidious ploy…
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Your second and third lines make the story!
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Thanks! I liked those lines.
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Yep, absolutely what Rochelle said 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I enjoyed this and the ingenuity of Graduk adapting his hunting strategy quicker than the foolish humans can adapt
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He’s a clever… whatever he is! I wonder if he can stay ahead of the humans as they adapt too? I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Oooh, sinister! Graduk has it sussed!
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He will eat well tonight 🙂
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Great story! Very chilling!
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Thanks! It was very chilling 😦
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Now I’m thinking of the movie “A Bug’s Life” – “Stay away from the light!” “But it’s soooo beautifuuuuulllll” Bzzzt!
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Sounds like you’d be first in line for dinner 🙂
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Ha ha!
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Excellent. You truly have a gift. Bone chilling and fun.
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Thanks! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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bio-luminescent appendages – that had my mind boggling!
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Just remember to stay out of range 🙂
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I guess it’ll be a long night for humans.
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Or a very short night for the unlucky ones.
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Brilliant post
Great
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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I’m staying in tonight. Can’t be too careful!
My tale is called ‘Oh Bother!’
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Wise choice. Until they work out what you’re doing and adapt again…
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The ultimate human hunter… a monster movie theater. Who can resist those lights?
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For sure. They’re all bright and shiny!
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I’m still in Christmas mode, I think. My first thought after reading this was “festive.” If we could all adapt to become our own Christmas lights, think how energy efficient that would be! Yeah, that’s not where you were going, right? 😑
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I was going more for “gruesomely yummed up in a most ghastly manner” but hey, it’s Christmas time. Let’s go with yours 🙂
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A chap’s gotta eat. And you might as well do it in a well-lit place.
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It’s nice to be able to see what you’re eating.
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That was fairly gruesome. Nicely done.
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Thanks! A pretty gruesome scene indeed.
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One of those kind that hates to eat and run. Or maybe not. Pass the salt.
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He prefers his meals self-delivered.
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Oh! A wrong light! Happens too often 🙂 Thank you for another great story. Happy New Year, happy blogging! xx
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story and a Happy New Year to you too 🙂
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Who needs Santa when you can have death in the shadows …. and I always thought there was something sinister about neon
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Maybe Santa is the death in the shadows… 😦
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You were right, Ali. The subject of death in the shadows is more you. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed my Santa-free story 🙂
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Wow, I really like this! It seems that Graduk had really studied human behaviour and adapted accordingly. I’ll never see a light in the darkness as a place of safety again. Now I can really sympathise with moths, flying unwittingy towards the moth traps. 🙂
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Just make sure it’s a lamp and not Graduk before seeking shelter 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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Time for a Happy Meal, huh… Purrfect! Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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Yes! Though I guess the human is a unhappy meal 🙂
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Scary stuff!
(I’m a bit of a wimp)…but still!
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A chilling bedtime tale 🙂
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that’s great post –
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Thanks!
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Creepy! Graduk is far too intelligent for OUR good.
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He certainly is. Better watch out!
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Very chilling! Hopefully Graduk is the only one of his kind to adapt in this way. Nicely done, Ali. 🙂
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We can only hope, but I fear the others are learning by example 😦
I’m glad you liked it!
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