{"submission_id":"2177433","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"120543","keyword_name":"lockdown","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8"},{"keyword_id":"5294","keyword_name":"pandemic","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"28"},{"keyword_id":"326","keyword_name":"panther","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"5547"},{"keyword_id":"126720","keyword_name":"quarantine","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"25"},{"keyword_id":"7556","keyword_name":"virus","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"477"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"0","create_datetime":"2020-06-08 08:01:51.28619+02","create_datetime_usertime":"08 Jun 2020 08:01 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2020-06-08 07:59:54.977558+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"08 Jun 2020 07:59 CEST","username":"Chaon","user_id":"9321","user_icon_file_name":"12026_Chaon_avatar.gif","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/12/12026_Chaon_avatar.gif","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/12/12026_Chaon_avatar.gif","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/12/12026_Chaon_avatar.gif","file_name":"3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","files":[{"file_id":"3160109","file_name":"3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3160/3160109_Chaon_pandemic.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"2177433","user_id":"9321","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"db5dd92e408b0159424ed0b3170bd6d4","full_file_md5":"db5dd92e408b0159424ed0b3170bd6d4","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2020-06-08 07:59:54.977558+02","create_datetime_usertime":"08 Jun 2020 07:59 CEST"}],"pools":[{"pool_id":"60040","name":"Writers Crossing Prompts","description":"writing prompts","count":"7","submission_left_submission_id":"2034020","submission_left_file_name":"2938837_Chaon_yggdrasil.txt"}],"description":"And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night.\nAnd one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the\ndespairing posture of his fall. And the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay.\nAnd the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable\ndominion over all. ","description_bbcode_parsed":"And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the
despairing posture of his fall. And the life of the ebony clock went out with that of the last of the gay.
And the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable
dominion over all. ","writing":"Pandemic - \n\nThat had been what the media labelled it, back in the heyday when newscasters were still keeping abreast of the situation. Back in the days when it seemed like every week brought some new drama for network vultures to pick apart and sensationalize: the ever-climbing toll of deaths and infected, the protests over unemployment and economic downturns due to quarantine, the ludicrous attempt of the administration to hold both of these in check... What had the last report been, before the stations closed and the news stopped coming? When had it been? A month ago? Two?\n\nSearching his recollection, Horatio finds that he does not know. It is something to ponder while idly swirling the dregs of drink anticlockwise in its exquisite champagne flute. Yet another one of the rituals; the social conventions from the Time Before. One thing they are not short of are rituals. \n\nThey are everywhere he chooses to look: in the cacophony of gunshots and explosions from the home theatre in the rec-room to the slurred conversation enfolding them all. Islands of normality in a sea of uncertainty; misguided attempts to hold onto some echo of civilization now lost. \n\n``Ratio! They're waiting, dude! Speech! Speech! Speech!'' \n\nJudging from the unsteady gait of the panther before him, Gideon has already had more than a few. He wonders if he should say something; ultimately decides not to. They weren't in any shortage of alcohol, and stone sober wasn't an appealing state to face things. Gid definitely had the right idea. \n\nThey eye him expectantly as he addresses them - forty of Prufrod Prep's best and brightest: athletes, cheerleaders, inheritors of obscene millions...heck, some were even all three. Other than Gid, Horatio is oddly surprised to find that he cares not a whit for any single one of them. Back before all the nonsense had started, he'd opened the family manor promising the biggest bash any high school cub could possibly imagine. What had been the harm, after all? Horatio's parents were out of the country, out on one of their endless fundraisers and not expected to return for at least a fortnight - time enough for all signs and evidence of a party to be swept away. \n\nThen the virus had erupted, engulfing the nation. Officials had appraised them of the situation. No, they had no idea when Horatio's parents could return. No, the risk of transmission was too great to allow partygoers to leave the mansion. In short, they were to be left to their own devices without adult supervision in a luxury manor packed with food and amusements until further notice - news that a slightly inebriated crowd of thirteen-to-nineteen year olds took with the usual tact and decorum. \n\nAs for the party - well, that had carried on ever since. \n\n``Friends, Normans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...'' there are sniggers at this; he is mildly surprised to find this does not bother him. At some point he was certain it had. ``Thank you all for attending, eating me out of house and home, and throwing up on our upholstery,'' \n\nMore sniggers. In the distance Horatio thinks he hears the sound of one girl doing exactly that. He suppresses the urge to rub his temples. ``As you all know, we're stuck here until further notice - ''\n\nSomebody hurls a glass in the young lord's direction. Not missing a beat, Horatio neatly sidesteps before soldiering on, ``...but that's no reason we shouldn't make the most of things. If we give in to despair, the virus wins. We're not letting that happen. If there's anything I can do...''\n\nApparently a mistake - this only leads to a flood of demands.\n\n``Turn down the air conditioning! It's like an icebox in here!''\n\n``Someone made a mess in the bathroom!''\n\n``Weed.'' The speaker is vulpine, some cheerleader-or-other whom Horatio does not recognize. In all the weeks of quarantine, he has never bothered to get to know them or put any effort into learning their names. Seeing this vapid wreck only affirms his conviction that this was the right decision. ``Give us weed,''\n\nThe other concerns he can sort-of accommodate, but not this. ``Some of us are underage,'' Not that she cares, of course. ``My parents installed a smart purifier that scans for contaminants in the air. We don't keep any in the house. Sorry,''\n\nSnorts and grumbles. Horatio decides he can live with this. He is not surprised, however, when the intercom chimes. \n\nIMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY\n\nDamnit. Stupid crackheads and their stupid addictions. Someone had set the system off smoking something they shouldn't have. And was it hot all of a sudden? Oh - raised the thermostat; that's right. \n\nA scream startles him from his reverie. Screams are not unusual from time to time in a party of this magnitude of course. But there is something about this one that sends a chill down his spine. Something that conjures images of primal jungles, being hunted, and...\n\n--death. It is too late for the victim however, splayed out in the bathroom in a pool of her own sick with an expression of desperation on her features. Horatio vaguely recognizes her as the vixen from before, the one who had asked for weed. And above it all the damn intercom keeps repeating its message like a broken record\n\nIMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY\n\n``Yeah, no shit Sherlock,'' Horatio is definitely not in the mood for this. ``Gid, shut the bathroom door and lock it, will you?''\n\nA crowd is slowly beginning to gather, drawn by the scream of whoever had found her. Keeping the door closed would stave off the curious ones, maybe even preserve the crime scene in the meantime. If there was anybody who even cared about that when lockdown was lifted anyway. Not that it was much of a crime scene; given the heavy smell in the air and the nagging notifications of the intercom accompanying it. Silly bint kept a stash on her person and OD'ed in the bathroom. Case closed. \n\nOr so he thought...until the next body was found. \n\nNo screams this time. Gideon had been the first on scene,and the one to bring it to his attention. The look on the victim's face echoes that of the vixen from before. Neither of them is trained in first aid and are unable to find a pulse. There is no blood, no outward signs that might have caused this. ``Anyone know who this guy is?''\n\n``Tim,'' The name does absolutely nothing to help Horatio, however. He doesn't know any `Tim', dead or otherwise. ``He's from - was - from the football team,''\n\nAh, a jock - one of those hulking Neanderthal types with more muscle than sense that for some reason all the girls were drawn to. No big loss. ``We'll put him in the bathroom with whats-her-name,''\n\nIf Gideon is shocked by this display of callousness, he has the sense not to show it. ``I'll need help moving the body. Dude weighs a ton,''\n\n``Sure. After I distract the crowd,'' the littler cubs among their number definitely should not see this. \n\nOne Disney DVD and a bowl of microwaveable popcorn lighter, Horatio returns to assist his buddy. ``You were here. What happened?''\n\n``I...don't know,'' the panther speaks in pauses, but that could either be due to evasion or merely exertion from lugging the carcass. ``He was fine when I saw him last. Talking to some girl, then they went into the room. Heard something fall, so I went in and he was...collapsed,''\n\n``Nobody else in the room? What about this girl Tim was talking to? You said they were together?''\n\n ``Not that I could tell. I didn't exactly search the place though. Called you soon as I...couldn't wake him,''\n\nIMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY\n\nGreat. Things kept getting better and better. Two deaths and counting, yet that stupid intercom didn't know when to give it a rest. He wonders if it'd keep repeating its canned message until the lockdown is over. Something like that would get old in a hurry. Already its getting on his nerves. ``Don't tell anyone. Last thing they need to know is that somebody here might be a killer psycho. We don't want to spread a panic,''\n\n``Is it...IS it a killer really, though?'' Gideon sounds strangely subdued. ``We've been here for months at least. If there really was a maniac among us, you'd think we would've noticed sooner than this,'' \n\n``Honestly? I don't know. Maybe they didn't crack until recently? Quarantine does strange things to people,'' Ain't that the truth. As far as he was concerned, Horatio had no qualms treating both deaths as isolated inconveniences that had absolutely nothing to do with him. \n\nHalfway through the screening of Pig Hero 6, another scream forces him to revisit these sentiments. \n\n``Found her in the kitchen,'' Gideon seems to be warming to his new role as bearer of bad news. ``Sara says she was talking to someone and they left together. We saw her like this,'' \n\nWhy `Sara' had neglected to accompany her girlfriend to the kitchen as well was anybody's guess, particularly since Horatio's limited knowledge of teenage girls suggested that they tended to travel in posses and were joined at the hips. The lass is convincingly shaken, however. ``Did you get a good look at the other person, Sara?'' \n\n``N-no. He w-was...he was dark and wearing a cloak. That's all I saw,''\n\nWait...he? Earlier, Gideon had said he'd seen a girl. Was this the same person, or did they have to worry about copycat killers on the loose? Come to think of it, why had Gid reacted the way he did when Sara mentioned the mystery person's gender?\n\nThere is no time to be worrying about details like that at the moment. Despite their best efforts some of the younger kids have seen the aftermath and news is spreading like wildfire. There's sure to be an uproar of some sort if he can't get them to settle down. ``Can you hold the fort for awhile, Sara? While me and Gid...'' \n\n``Oh! Um, would you mind if I stayed for awhile instead, Horace? I'm not up to...up to,'' she swallows and audible gulp, still gazing at the lifeless shape in horrified fascination. \n\n``I'll keep her company, `Ratio. You go,'' Gideon places a protective arm around the trembling teen. ``Don't worry about cleanup, she...she's lighter than Tim was. I'm sure I can manage,''\n\nWell...when he put it THAT way... Truth be told, Horatio was not looking forward to hauling another corpse. Having an excuse to delegate is a welcome change. If he has to stay here and listen to the booming intercom any longer he is sure he'll go mad. ``Thanks, mate.''\n\nA couple hours and another unexplained death later has him regretting these decisions. ``Sara? Dead? How?'' \n\n``We don't know...''\n\n``She...talking to someone...''\n\n``Some guy...black fur, wearing a cloak...''\n\nAgain with this guy! Whoever he was... That was two eyewitness accounts at least that agreed with each other, outweighing Gideon's own. Somebody in a cloak, black fur... And as far as he knew, there was only one panther in this party. \n\nWhatever. He is in way over his head. This is above his paygrade, so to speak. If he even has one. Either Gideon is suddenly a crazed axe murderer or he is not. But Horatio is certainly not taking any chances. \n\nHe locks himself in the panic room. All good mansions and rich families have one, in this Horatio is no exception. Refuses to come out, no matter how much his `guests' carry on or plead. His only companions now are the closed-circuit cameras that keep unblinking watch on the scenes. His only concern is withdrawing himself from the list of targets being systematically hunted one at a time. \n\n``'Ratio, mate - you gotta trust me. I had nothing to do with it. I'm not a killer, I'm your friend!''\n\nFriend...yeah, right - as if any of them out there really qualified. It had been a mistake to throw the party in the first place, surrounding himself with socialites all jostling for position atop the social ladder. None of them had been his friends, they all wanted something from him. It was his family's money that was the attraction; he sees that now. Even Gideon - surprising how he specifically denies something that Horatio hasn't outright accused him of, is it? Certainly suspicious, but at least he is wiser from the experience.\n\nIMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY\n\nNow if only that blasted intercom could shut up... \n\nThere is little to do in a room by himself so he devotes attention to the screens, hoping to catch the mystery killer in action. What he sees confirms his suspicions. Gideon is the only panther in the mansion and there is nobody else in attendance who fits the description of `black fur' - \n\n...or so he thinks, until the next victim is identified. Distracted by a sudden fizzle of static across one of the screens, Horatio turns back to see a familiar shape unresponsive on the ground surrounded by increasing numbers of horrified onlookers. There is no bearer of bad news to accompany the fact this time however, for the bearer is indisposed - lying crumpled in a heap with the same expression of desperation that marked all the faces of the others; an expression Horatio is beginning to know and loathe. \n\nIMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY\n\nGods above, he has no time for this. ``I KNOW about the impurity, damnit!'' He really is losing it right now, reduced to arguing with a computer. Enough is enough. He's in the control station after all, surely there is something that he can do to make the dumb thing stop its notifications. Isolate the impurity, identify it, close the case for a start... That way he could focus on the more important issues without being driven half mad by repeated warnings. \n\nCOMMAND CONFIRMED> ISOLATING...\n\nCOMPOUND FOUND: COVID-22. STATUS: WIDESPREAD. SITUATION CRITICAL\n\nAnd that is all he registers before finally noticing the little tickle in his throat, the sudden shortage of breath, before darkness takes him.\n\n-----\n\n``Bad business, innit...all those rich kids? Gone! Just like that...''\n\n``Yeah, I'll say. Just goes to show, even money can't do anything against a pandemic. Anyone know what happened?''\n\n``Some hibernating strain of the virus apparently. One of the cubs brought it in with them, but it was inactive at the time because they had the AC on, I think that's what the eggheads said? It needs warm temperatures to incubate and spread, and so...''\n\n``...so when one of `em raised the thermostat, that gave it exactly the kind of conditions that were needed. Nothing that could be done, not in the end,''\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Pandemic -

That had been what the media labelled it, back in the heyday when newscasters were still keeping abreast of the situation. Back in the days when it seemed like every week brought some new drama for network vultures to pick apart and sensationalize: the ever-climbing toll of deaths and infected, the protests over unemployment and economic downturns due to quarantine, the ludicrous attempt of the administration to hold both of these in check... What had the last report been, before the stations closed and the news stopped coming? When had it been? A month ago? Two?

Searching his recollection, Horatio finds that he does not know. It is something to ponder while idly swirling the dregs of drink anticlockwise in its exquisite champagne flute. Yet another one of the rituals; the social conventions from the Time Before. One thing they are not short of are rituals.

They are everywhere he chooses to look: in the cacophony of gunshots and explosions from the home theatre in the rec-room to the slurred conversation enfolding them all. Islands of normality in a sea of uncertainty; misguided attempts to hold onto some echo of civilization now lost.

``Ratio! They're waiting, dude! Speech! Speech! Speech!''

Judging from the unsteady gait of the panther before him, Gideon has already had more than a few. He wonders if he should say something; ultimately decides not to. They weren't in any shortage of alcohol, and stone sober wasn't an appealing state to face things. Gid definitely had the right idea.

They eye him expectantly as he addresses them - forty of Prufrod Prep's best and brightest: athletes, cheerleaders, inheritors of obscene millions...heck, some were even all three. Other than Gid, Horatio is oddly surprised to find that he cares not a whit for any single one of them. Back before all the nonsense had started, he'd opened the family manor promising the biggest bash any high school cub could possibly imagine. What had been the harm, after all? Horatio's parents were out of the country, out on one of their endless fundraisers and not expected to return for at least a fortnight - time enough for all signs and evidence of a party to be swept away.

Then the virus had erupted, engulfing the nation. Officials had appraised them of the situation. No, they had no idea when Horatio's parents could return. No, the risk of transmission was too great to allow partygoers to leave the mansion. In short, they were to be left to their own devices without adult supervision in a luxury manor packed with food and amusements until further notice - news that a slightly inebriated crowd of thirteen-to-nineteen year olds took with the usual tact and decorum.

As for the party - well, that had carried on ever since.

``Friends, Normans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...'' there are sniggers at this; he is mildly surprised to find this does not bother him. At some point he was certain it had. ``Thank you all for attending, eating me out of house and home, and throwing up on our upholstery,''

More sniggers. In the distance Horatio thinks he hears the sound of one girl doing exactly that. He suppresses the urge to rub his temples. ``As you all know, we're stuck here until further notice - ''

Somebody hurls a glass in the young lord's direction. Not missing a beat, Horatio neatly sidesteps before soldiering on, ``...but that's no reason we shouldn't make the most of things. If we give in to despair, the virus wins. We're not letting that happen. If there's anything I can do...''

Apparently a mistake - this only leads to a flood of demands.

``Turn down the air conditioning! It's like an icebox in here!''

``Someone made a mess in the bathroom!''

``Weed.'' The speaker is vulpine, some cheerleader-or-other whom Horatio does not recognize. In all the weeks of quarantine, he has never bothered to get to know them or put any effort into learning their names. Seeing this vapid wreck only affirms his conviction that this was the right decision. ``Give us weed,''

The other concerns he can sort-of accommodate, but not this. ``Some of us are underage,'' Not that she cares, of course. ``My parents installed a smart purifier that scans for contaminants in the air. We don't keep any in the house. Sorry,''

Snorts and grumbles. Horatio decides he can live with this. He is not surprised, however, when the intercom chimes.

IMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY

Damnit. Stupid crackheads and their stupid addictions. Someone had set the system off smoking something they shouldn't have. And was it hot all of a sudden? Oh - raised the thermostat; that's right.

A scream startles him from his reverie. Screams are not unusual from time to time in a party of this magnitude of course. But there is something about this one that sends a chill down his spine. Something that conjures images of primal jungles, being hunted, and...

--death. It is too late for the victim however, splayed out in the bathroom in a pool of her own sick with an expression of desperation on her features. Horatio vaguely recognizes her as the vixen from before, the one who had asked for weed. And above it all the damn intercom keeps repeating its message like a broken record

IMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY

``Yeah, no shit Sherlock,'' Horatio is definitely not in the mood for this. ``Gid, shut the bathroom door and lock it, will you?''

A crowd is slowly beginning to gather, drawn by the scream of whoever had found her. Keeping the door closed would stave off the curious ones, maybe even preserve the crime scene in the meantime. If there was anybody who even cared about that when lockdown was lifted anyway. Not that it was much of a crime scene; given the heavy smell in the air and the nagging notifications of the intercom accompanying it. Silly bint kept a stash on her person and OD'ed in the bathroom. Case closed.

Or so he thought...until the next body was found.

No screams this time. Gideon had been the first on scene,and the one to bring it to his attention. The look on the victim's face echoes that of the vixen from before. Neither of them is trained in first aid and are unable to find a pulse. There is no blood, no outward signs that might have caused this. ``Anyone know who this guy is?''

``Tim,'' The name does absolutely nothing to help Horatio, however. He doesn't know any `Tim', dead or otherwise. ``He's from - was - from the football team,''

Ah, a jock - one of those hulking Neanderthal types with more muscle than sense that for some reason all the girls were drawn to. No big loss. ``We'll put him in the bathroom with whats-her-name,''

If Gideon is shocked by this display of callousness, he has the sense not to show it. ``I'll need help moving the body. Dude weighs a ton,''

``Sure. After I distract the crowd,'' the littler cubs among their number definitely should not see this.

One Disney DVD and a bowl of microwaveable popcorn lighter, Horatio returns to assist his buddy. ``You were here. What happened?''

``I...don't know,'' the panther speaks in pauses, but that could either be due to evasion or merely exertion from lugging the carcass. ``He was fine when I saw him last. Talking to some girl, then they went into the room. Heard something fall, so I went in and he was...collapsed,''

``Nobody else in the room? What about this girl Tim was talking to? You said they were together?''

 ``Not that I could tell. I didn't exactly search the place though. Called you soon as I...couldn't wake him,''

IMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY

Great. Things kept getting better and better. Two deaths and counting, yet that stupid intercom didn't know when to give it a rest. He wonders if it'd keep repeating its canned message until the lockdown is over. Something like that would get old in a hurry. Already its getting on his nerves. ``Don't tell anyone. Last thing they need to know is that somebody here might be a killer psycho. We don't want to spread a panic,''

``Is it...IS it a killer really, though?'' Gideon sounds strangely subdued. ``We've been here for months at least. If there really was a maniac among us, you'd think we would've noticed sooner than this,''

``Honestly? I don't know. Maybe they didn't crack until recently? Quarantine does strange things to people,'' Ain't that the truth. As far as he was concerned, Horatio had no qualms treating both deaths as isolated inconveniences that had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Halfway through the screening of Pig Hero 6, another scream forces him to revisit these sentiments.

``Found her in the kitchen,'' Gideon seems to be warming to his new role as bearer of bad news. ``Sara says she was talking to someone and they left together. We saw her like this,''

Why `Sara' had neglected to accompany her girlfriend to the kitchen as well was anybody's guess, particularly since Horatio's limited knowledge of teenage girls suggested that they tended to travel in posses and were joined at the hips. The lass is convincingly shaken, however. ``Did you get a good look at the other person, Sara?''

``N-no. He w-was...he was dark and wearing a cloak. That's all I saw,''

Wait...he? Earlier, Gideon had said he'd seen a girl. Was this the same person, or did they have to worry about copycat killers on the loose? Come to think of it, why had Gid reacted the way he did when Sara mentioned the mystery person's gender?

There is no time to be worrying about details like that at the moment. Despite their best efforts some of the younger kids have seen the aftermath and news is spreading like wildfire. There's sure to be an uproar of some sort if he can't get them to settle down. ``Can you hold the fort for awhile, Sara? While me and Gid...''

``Oh! Um, would you mind if I stayed for awhile instead, Horace? I'm not up to...up to,'' she swallows and audible gulp, still gazing at the lifeless shape in horrified fascination.

``I'll keep her company, `Ratio. You go,'' Gideon places a protective arm around the trembling teen. ``Don't worry about cleanup, she...she's lighter than Tim was. I'm sure I can manage,''

Well...when he put it THAT way... Truth be told, Horatio was not looking forward to hauling another corpse. Having an excuse to delegate is a welcome change. If he has to stay here and listen to the booming intercom any longer he is sure he'll go mad. ``Thanks, mate.''

A couple hours and another unexplained death later has him regretting these decisions. ``Sara? Dead? How?''

``We don't know...''

``She...talking to someone...''

``Some guy...black fur, wearing a cloak...''

Again with this guy! Whoever he was... That was two eyewitness accounts at least that agreed with each other, outweighing Gideon's own. Somebody in a cloak, black fur... And as far as he knew, there was only one panther in this party.

Whatever. He is in way over his head. This is above his paygrade, so to speak. If he even has one. Either Gideon is suddenly a crazed axe murderer or he is not. But Horatio is certainly not taking any chances.

He locks himself in the panic room. All good mansions and rich families have one, in this Horatio is no exception. Refuses to come out, no matter how much his `guests' carry on or plead. His only companions now are the closed-circuit cameras that keep unblinking watch on the scenes. His only concern is withdrawing himself from the list of targets being systematically hunted one at a time.

``'Ratio, mate - you gotta trust me. I had nothing to do with it. I'm not a killer, I'm your friend!''

Friend...yeah, right - as if any of them out there really qualified. It had been a mistake to throw the party in the first place, surrounding himself with socialites all jostling for position atop the social ladder. None of them had been his friends, they all wanted something from him. It was his family's money that was the attraction; he sees that now. Even Gideon - surprising how he specifically denies something that Horatio hasn't outright accused him of, is it? Certainly suspicious, but at least he is wiser from the experience.

IMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY

Now if only that blasted intercom could shut up...

There is little to do in a room by himself so he devotes attention to the screens, hoping to catch the mystery killer in action. What he sees confirms his suspicions. Gideon is the only panther in the mansion and there is nobody else in attendance who fits the description of `black fur' -

...or so he thinks, until the next victim is identified. Distracted by a sudden fizzle of static across one of the screens, Horatio turns back to see a familiar shape unresponsive on the ground surrounded by increasing numbers of horrified onlookers. There is no bearer of bad news to accompany the fact this time however, for the bearer is indisposed - lying crumpled in a heap with the same expression of desperation that marked all the faces of the others; an expression Horatio is beginning to know and loathe.

IMPURITY DETECTED IN VICINITY

Gods above, he has no time for this. ``I KNOW about the impurity, damnit!'' He really is losing it right now, reduced to arguing with a computer. Enough is enough. He's in the control station after all, surely there is something that he can do to make the dumb thing stop its notifications. Isolate the impurity, identify it, close the case for a start... That way he could focus on the more important issues without being driven half mad by repeated warnings.

COMMAND CONFIRMED> ISOLATING...

COMPOUND FOUND: COVID-22. STATUS: WIDESPREAD. SITUATION CRITICAL

And that is all he registers before finally noticing the little tickle in his throat, the sudden shortage of breath, before darkness takes him.

-----

``Bad business, innit...all those rich kids? Gone! Just like that...''

``Yeah, I'll say. Just goes to show, even money can't do anything against a pandemic. Anyone know what happened?''

``Some hibernating strain of the virus apparently. One of the cubs brought it in with them, but it was inactive at the time because they had the AC on, I think that's what the eggheads said? It needs warm temperatures to incubate and spread, and so...''

``...so when one of `em raised the thermostat, that gave it exactly the kind of conditions that were needed. Nothing that could be done, not in the end,''

","pools_count":1,"title":"Too soon?","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"0","rating_name":"General","ratings":[],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"f","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"0","views":"1","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}