Scribe's Hollow Halloween Horror Anthology 2024

The Maxim

Short story by Propet40.

Content warnings: Parasitic depictions/descriptions, animal cruelty, short descriptions of gore.

***

Erwin was never happy. He always found himself some melancholic activity to occupy his mind. It was difficult to say it was always much his fault, some people simply fit into a loner category. And, there he was alongside his friend Mochlan. It was a slightly humid, but pleasant day in an overall pleasant summer. The weather had played wonders for the outdoor life of a myriad of people, one such being Erwin's own father, who's fishing past time was elevated to the only thing he wanted to do; It wasn't too bad, as with his father's better mood Erwin was allowed to venture out into the forest, into a small abandoned cabin he and his friends used as a hideout.

He picked up his backpack after finishing his breakfast. The background noise of the morning news could be considered the background noise of this household, a morning routine of sorts. The occasional barks of their big white furred dog Ruff breaking the anchor's drab readings.

"Onto the recent reports of-" His father turned off the TV.

"Damn, I have to be early! My boss was in a good mood yesterday and told me to come early today. I'm definitely getting a promotion" He said as he hurriedly picked up his jacket.

"Darling, I don't in fact mind some quiet from the news." Erwin's mother smiled.

"He's been finally realising the worth I bring to the company, soon we'll go on that trip to Korea you've been talking about."

"Maybe we will, someone certainly is not missing out on exotic fishing trips." She mockingly imitated throwing a fishing line.

"Hey, that was work!" He pointed at her "The big guys we closed the deal with were there too." He raised his hands, shrugging in comedic fashion, before opening the front door. "Bye honey!" he shouted.

"Bye darling, I'll have your dinner at eight." She shouted back.

"Bye Mom." Erwin said as he followed his father.

"Be careful at school!"

Erwin was dropped off at school, his father hurriedly departing for work after saying his goodbyes. A small wind blew, taking with it a handful of leaves. Various personalities rushed past Erwin, who stood motionless for a second after exiting his father's car. The glass and wood double doors that led into the main hallway of the school building were just a few dozen feet from him. Broad range of ages attended this school, Erwin himself at one of the last steps of this arduous process at fourteen years of age. He felt an uncomfortable sensation, he rubbed his fingers together; A small ritual he permitted himself, a vestige of weirdness he still hadn't ironed out. The air was fresh as he took a breath in and headed in.

Just a year ago this simple act would induce Erwin with annoyance, and a headache. An event that Erwin couldn't have ever imagined before had flipped his world around.

"Hey" It was Mochlan who started walking next to him.

He was reserved. His very presence could be mistaken for a ghost- His very movements were timid. They all knew each other since kindergarten, and Mochlan was more energetic before but as they grew up his vigour seemed to fade away like the passing of seasons. Mochlan paved his way through life with the steady pace of a growing flower. Erwin always liked making these observations about people, a past-time he developed in the many hours he had spent alone. He didn't exactly know when this particular hobby began, or when he noticed it but he never rejected it nor found it weird. He was most intrigued with investigating his friend, whose gradual change had fascinated him. Mochlan gave off an absentmindedness, but yet he often made very poignant remarks for his age. There are moments where Erwin found himself enamoured by the noble-like behaviour that he gave off, though that captivation that held onto Erwin also held within it a small jealousy, especially towards Mochlan being able to go through life like a leaf in the wind going wherever the wind carried it.