@mc5punk 22 April 2025 more from that month

Short story: The Mystery of the Fatal Cheese

In the heart of a town whose tranquility had been a shield against the maelstrom of the outside world for decades, stood the San Miguel Pizzeria, known for its pizzas overflowing with exuberant flavors. It was here, between worn wooden tables and walls decorated with sepia photographs of yesteryear, that a group of friends decided to celebrate Carla's birthday.  The night was tinged by an eerie calm. Outside, an icy wind caressed the deserted streets, while inside the pizzeria, the warm light hanging lamps gave the faces an illusion of life that, the next day, would begin to crumble.  Carla was beaming, with her dark curls falling over her shoulders and an infectious laugh filling the air. Next to her, Ana served as a spontaneous hostess, making sure that the guests were comfortable, while Luis did not miss the opportunity to joke:  - I hope this place doesn't try to compete with my kitchen. My lasagna is still undefeated.  "If you mention it one more time, Luis, I will ask for your expulsion," Anna replied, with a mocking tone.

The moment was interrupted by Don Miguel, the owner, who arrived with a steaming tray, covered with two pizzas overflowing with melted cheese and a heavenly aroma. Spontaneous applause from friends accompanied the scene.  "This recipe is new," Don Miguel said proudly. A special cheese, brought from distant lands. I hope you like it.  At the first bite, Luis narrowed his eyes, like an implacable critic, and finally said:  - He has something... different. But it's delicious.  The evening continued with laughter, toasts and more of that pizza that seemed to carry with it an indescribable magic. However, none of them noticed the elongated shadow that seemed to slide through the restaurant window, as if fate itself was watching.  When the sun rose weakly the next day, the joy of the previous night was transformed into an atrocious misfortune. Carla was the first to feel it. A sharp pain in her abdomen suddenly woke her up, forcing her to slouch over the bed. With trembling hands, he reached for his phone and dialed Ana.  - Ana... something is wrong... I feel... like something is eating me up inside…  Ana, who had ignored the vibration of her phone at first, finally answered in a weak voice:  - Carla... me too... I can barely get up... What's going on?  Meanwhile, Luis, who was alone in his apartment, was struggling to stand. She staggered over to the bathroom mirror, watching her own reflection with reddened eyes and a cold sweat covering her forehead. He mumbled to himself:  - The cheese... was that it? It has to be…  Within hours, the news spread like wildfire through the town. More than a dozen people, regular customers of the pizzeria, had fallen prey to the same symptoms. The health authorities were summoned and Dr. Pérez, an older man with a serious countenance and a shrewd look, took command of the situation.  "The cheese is the culprit—" he declared after a few hours of analysis, holding a piece of the contaminated food with gloves. A corrupt batch, infected with bacteria that should never have reached our tables.  Don Miguel, upon learning the result, presented himself in front of the group of affected people, accompanied by the doctors and some officers. His face, once full of pride, was now marked by the traces of guilt and remorse.  "I never imagined..." he stammered, his voice breaking. I have always taken care of every detail, every ingredient. This cheese was a mistake... an unforgivable mistake. Although Don Miguel's words carried sincerity, the damage had already been done. The pizzeria closed its doors indefinitely, its facade slowly becoming covered with dust and neglect. But for the villagers, and especially for Carla, Luis and Ana, the memory of that fateful night would not be easily forgotten.  Even months later, some swore that when passing in front of the ruins of the San Miguel Pizzeria, they could hear whispers in the icy wind:  - The cheese... the cheese... never forget the cheese… Source of the images. Image created with Starryai.