A Bloody Smile In The Dark

Some of us are destined to be outlived

"If I back down now, it's over"

An iron woman doesn't give up easily but you'd think being crucified and beat senseless to a tee would make you call it a day, minimum. But Calinda's bar is set much higher than it is for common mortals, that's why a few drips of hydro saline and a protein bar later, she was back in action with the rest of the hobbling team, dragging the bastard ninjas' other victims out of their nightmares.

"Back-up. Back-up! We need back-up stat!"

The chest in the warehouse hid dozens of corpses stashed one above the other like trash, each with a single gun shot to the head and an arrow carved on their left arms. As we inspected the rest of the building we discovered a wooden door right behind the butcher table i was on, behind which played out a scene straight from a Saw the Jigsaw movie, you pick your favorite. Nine huge metal rack shelves, three by wall, towered over us packed with copious glass jars containing various body parts belonging to god knows who, swimming in conserving liquids. However, the master behind this meticulous work decided to mock us in the most artistic way he could come up with; a skeleton, complete with dangling skin shreds, was sitting on a plastic chair with jaw wide open, his meat wiener saluting politely and a pair of black sunglasses on, perhaps a sly poke at our boss.

"It's all clear, sir!"

None of us found the guts to lay finger on such masterpiece; something we couldn't avoid to do with the one just outside. A very noticeable steel sheet attracted our attention literally calling our name. It was exactly twelve steps away from the depot but the voices coming from beneath were muffled this whole time by the thick panel. Panel that we managed to remove not without annoying hassle, as it was firmly nailed to the ground. Unsurprisingly, the interesting gimmick reserved one last trick when it came to making Cal and i deliver a dramatic splash into the impromptu bloody pool they'd set up.

"Hurry up! We've got more down here!"

We were welcomed by a mix of dead, moribund and deliriously vital humans of all ages, who wound up there all but casually. The first to be rescued were a pregnant woman who went into labor shortly after and a teenage girl who would have screamed like everyone else if it wasn't for the worms and roaches in her mouth. We couldn't do much afterwards though. After draining the pond we sadly realized the other preys couldn't be saved anymore; much less the children, all no older than ten, who had been thrown in there after having been horribly embalmed post mortem.

"It's you. All this is because of you. It's your fault. Look around and soak it in. It's you"

I was zipping a kindergartener up in his body bag minding my own when his eyes banged open, his two dilated black holes staring at me in an hypnotizing manner. His blue complexion lured me closer gluing my hands to him; I couldn't let go. As he spoke those confusing words to me, a cocky grin spread across his sleek cheeks and I swear I heard a fat laugh echoing in my ears.

"Good girl. Keep looking. It won't end. It's you"

As the echo got louder, i realized the pleased voice belonged more to a man, not certainly the little boy now inches from my face. His grin is now a full smile showing rotten teeth and a thick red and green tongue making its way to my nose, licking its tip.

"It's you"

The single creepiest whisper invades my brain, shutting my vision.

undo these chains my friend

I bolt from the couch after smashing my forehead against the small table in front of it, feeling dizzy and quite moist. Yeah, the sensation it gives is just as terrifying as the word itself.

i'll show you the rage I've hidden

I pat myself all over to awaken every part of me that might still be dreaming, finding out my nose is bleeding heavily.

perish the sacrament. swallow but nothing's forgiven

And this is why I don't do sleep.

"Hello?"

"Hey! Hi. It's me, Ryland. I...i was wondering if maybe you kinda...yeah if you wanted to come over at my place for some dinner..uh..yeah.."

"Wait. So you cook too now?"

"Eh. You'd be surprised to discover what else I can do with these hands"

"Dude"

"Oh shoot. No. Not in that sense"

"Let me try your food first"

I haven't been in this house two hours that I've already turned the better half of downstairs into a gorish crime scene. When life imitates art... Or when a clumsy gal just lets her freaking nerves take the wheel. I'll be more gentle with Wolfie's pad.