PHOTO PROMPT © Claire Sheldon
Day 6.
Daniel continues to exhibit unusual behavior. He’s convinced that he sees penguins everywhere he looks. One is always lying face down, killed by the other, who is usually hiding behind something.
Day 7.
Daniel’s condition has not improved, and may be contagious. Several others have reported seeing Daniel’s penguins.
Day 8.
They’re all dead. Everyone who has seen the penguins. Even one of the nurses. All with their eyes seemingly pecked out by some kind of bird. I’ve no idea what to make of it. I don’t want to believe in the penguins, but it’s hard not to.
—
Those penguins kept calling out to me, but it took me several days and many, many failed attempts to see any kind of half decent story there. For better or worse, this is what came from all the hassle.
Written for Friday Fictioneers.
Click here to see stories from the other Fictioneers.
Adam Ickes 
July 7th, 2017 at 10:13 AM
This was a challenging photo this week, that is for sure! Funny, I hardly noticed the penguins when I looked on the photo. (Does that mean I’ll be safe? I’d hate to end up like Daniel.) I was stuck on those staples. Why would somebody save those?
July 7th, 2017 at 3:42 PM
I was wondering that myself… And it would take forever to get a collection that large, at least for me.
July 7th, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Yay, you got the killer penguins in there! And they seem to be some sort of dark force too… nice one!
July 7th, 2017 at 3:43 PM
It wasn’t easy, but somehow I managed to work those murderous little buggers in there!
July 7th, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Brrrr. Death by penguin. Chilling.
July 7th, 2017 at 3:44 PM
That can’t be a pleasant way to go out. That’s for sure.
July 7th, 2017 at 1:30 PM
This was trippy.
July 7th, 2017 at 3:45 PM
Question is: are the penguins real or is something else going on? The world may never know.
July 7th, 2017 at 11:02 PM
Well done. Move over Alfred Hitchcock; we have a new version of “The Birds”! 😎
July 7th, 2017 at 11:15 PM
This was a fun take… I liked it.
Stay. Away. From. The. Penguins!
July 8th, 2017 at 4:56 AM
Adam, you knocked this one out of the park! I’m happy you struggled. I looked at the pic I as read and laughed very well. Without it, the story is a different experience. With it, it’s funny.
Five out of five dead Chilly Willys.
July 8th, 2017 at 6:33 AM
Dear Adam,
Some people see paperclips,while others see killer penguins. Like Alfred Hitchcock, you’ve taken an innocuous bird and turned it into something sinister. Good job!
Shalom,
Rchelle
July 8th, 2017 at 11:01 AM
I found it easier to focus on the staples… but attacking penguins is a bad thing to see.
July 8th, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Oh! For the better. I like the format you chose for your story ~ plus the penguins. They caught my eye, too.
July 9th, 2017 at 1:01 AM
I had difficulty this week as well. I love your take. Creative!
July 9th, 2017 at 8:31 AM
I agree with Kent. You hit a home run in my opinion. Very imaginative and entertaining.
July 10th, 2017 at 5:29 AM
They look so innocent! *Checks to see no penguins are lying on my desk*
July 10th, 2017 at 6:45 AM
Good story and really creepy, Adam. I’m fairly sure I have no penguins in my flat. I love the form it was in, that daily note. Good writing as always. It reminds me a bit of the Twilight Zone but a bit more gruesome.
— Suzanne