Blinky, the Great Halloween Fish
Melissa L. Webb
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Melissa L. Webb
Discover other titles by Melissa L. Webb:
Dark Flutters: Stories For A Moonless Night
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This story is dedicated to all the children in my life. Whether they be young or young at heart.
Charlie sat the plastic bag containing the fish on top of the water in the aquarium. It bobbed there, like a bubble on the breeze as the little orange fish swam around and around.
The child beamed proudly at his Halloween carnival prize. “Now, you wait there, Blinky,” he told the fish. “Mom said you can join the other fish in a while.”
The fish blinked back at him in response before the little boy ran off, because, really, what else can a fish do? He floated in his bag, looking around at his new world through a plastic haze. Would he be happy here? Would he finally have a real home now that he wasn’t sharing a bucket with the rest of the living prizes?
The other fish swan up to him, watching him silently through his plastic bag.
“Hello,” he told them, eager to make friends. “My name’s Blinky. I’m new here.”
A larger blue fish flicked his tail. “Of course, you are,” it said as it swam around the bag, trying to get a closer look. “You wouldn’t be in there if you weren’t.”
“Oh,” Blinky said with a chuckle. “I suppose you’re right.”
A green fish rolled its googely eyes. “You’re not very bright, are you?”
The third fish, a bright white one with long fins, peered closer. “What do you expect? He’s a goldfish.”
The blue one swam back to the others. “He’s a tiny one, too. We could practically eat him.” Laughter filled the space around the bag.
“So, what pet store did you come from, kid?” the white one asked.
Blinky puffed up. “I didn’t come from a pet store. I was a prize at the Halloween carnival,” he told them proudly.
The three fish exchanged knowing looks. “Oh, he’s a carnival fish. Don’t worry, we won’t have to put up with the kid long,” one said as they all turned their backs on him and swam away.
Blinky sat there; saddened by the way he’d been treated. The fish in the prize bucket had never been mean. Why were these so different? Why didn’t they want to be his friends? He swam back and forth, tears joining the water already around him. What had he done to cause so much hatred towards him? He sulked in his misery until Charlie came back and freed him from his plastic prison.
“Here you go, Blinky,” the boy said, dumping his bag into the tank. “Welcome to your new home. Have fun with the others.” Charlie watched the little goldfish swim down into the tank, yawning absently. “I’ve had a long day of trick-or-treating and carnivals. I’ll visit you in the morning. Happy Halloween,” he called to all the fish, as he disappeared down the hall.
Blinky swam close to the other fish. Maybe they weren’t really that bad?
“Go away, squirt,” they called. “We don’t befriend carnival creatures.” Their laughter rang throughout the tank.
Blinky let his fins droop in despair as he swam off, looking for somewhere to hide. He found a fallen log and swam inside, seeking shelter from the dark tunnel it offered. He settled there, letting his eyes close, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.
A noise stirred Blinky from his slumber. Opening his eyes, he looked around, trying to figure out what it was. He heard hushed whispers coming from the other side of the tank. Slipping forward through the tunnel, he peered out from the log. The other fish were huddled together, eyes huge with fear.
“I don’t know what it is,” the green fish told the others. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“It’s some kind of monster,” the blue one said. “I’ve heard stories about them.”
“Yes. It’s true,” the white fish said, slinking farther into the shadows. “It came for our humans. But it won’t be happy until it claims every living thing. Including us.”
Blinky watched them, puzzlement in his eyes. He’d never heard of anything like that. Was there really something that could scare the other fish out there? He had to see it for himself. He swam over to the front of the tank and pressed his face to it, peering out into the room beyond.
“Don’t draw its attention, kid,” one of the other fish called. “Are you crazy?”
“I told you he wasn’t very smart,” one of the others informed him.
Blinky ignored them, staring out, trying to find what the others were seeing. Something stirred out there, coming closer to the tank. It was murky white, almost translucent. Its eyes stared into the tank. Two glassy black orbs, shinning impossibly in the lack of light. The little orange fish gasped and swam backwards from the glass.
“It’s too late, little fish. You have doomed us all,” the trio of fish cried from behind.
The white monster moved closer, looming over the tank.
Blinky shuddered as he watched the thing. This was something nightmares were created from. He realized how much danger they were in. It was going to take them, then go after the people in the house. It would go after the little boy.
That thought frightened Blinky more than the thing standing before him did. He couldn’t let it take the boy. He’d been the only one to show him any kindness here. Charlie was his friend. He couldn’t let the monster get him. He just couldn’t.
So he did the only thing a fish could do. He flapped his fins and blew bubbles, all the while thinking of how much he loved his new friend. He felt love wash over him, causing warmth to spread from nose to tail.
“Well, what do you know,” he heard a voice whisper in awe.
Blinky opened his eyes and looked around him. He was glowing. Neon orange lit the night as it pulsated through the tank, spilling out into the room. The neon glow touched the monster, smoke rising up from it as it did.
The monster hissed, rolling its black eyes around in its head. It tried to move, but the light held it in place as it danced across the creature’s body. Letting out a growl, it looked at the tank one last time before its body turned into a puff of smoke. Snuffed out by Blinky’s light.
Blinky blinked in shock. He destroyed the monster. His little boy was safe.
“How did you do that?” the blue fish asked, coming up behind him.
“I don’t know,” Blinky told him. “It just happened. I couldn’t let it hurt anyone.”
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” the green one said, joining them.
“No, it’s not,” the white one disagreed, swimming up. “It’s a Halloween miracle.”
“Come on, kid,” the blue fish spoke. “Let me show you around the tank. After all, it’s not every day we have someone here as special as ‘Blinky, the Great Halloween Fish.”
Blinky smiled as he followed his new friends. He was going to like his new home after all.
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About the author:
Melissa L. Webb is a writer of fantastic things. She currently lives in Northern California, with her dog, Buffy.
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