Volatis

Prologue

  The light bulb hanging overhead on the cement roof doesn't provide much light, but it did highlight the rotting flesh and dried blood stains on the decayed corpse. It illustrated quite clearly the feeding maggots slowly poking through her cheek, the bite marks from rats which scattered her. Perhaps the most notable thing was the faded inked marking which enveloped her nude body. Black and red thorns and vines which encircled her limbs and extremities. Most notably the large pine tree which decorated the entirety of her torso; where the supposed roots led into her nether area. Though it was her expression which caught the eye; one frozen eternally in absolute fear. It was an interesting expression. One which could only be experienced if one has ever seen the face of death himself. Or perhaps a monster akin to the devil himself. One that perhaps caused the gentlemen that stood in front of her observing to feel remorse for the circumstances that had befallen the girl.

But alas that emotion which could only be visible through the moisture which filled their eyes fled as quickly as it had come. To them, it was customary, more than that it natural: a mechanism of survival for them to forever ensure they remained on top of the food chain. The top predator or at least the top one in this circumstances. They entirely knew that they answered to an even greater predator one which could wipe them out without an ounce of effort. Despite the horrid things they took part in, self-deception had led them to believe they killed out of necessity not out of enjoyment. However, the arousal which sprouted in each of them whenever the hunt began was inevitable and it made the man feel as if they were gods themselves. The high - unfortunately - never lasted very long and they often found themselves lusting for it once again. It being a violation of natural law only seemed to make them want it more. Perhaps it was the wrongness of it all that made all the more enjoyable to them.

The young girl in front of them would not be remembered. She was a harlot whose family had lost their social standing and in a town such as this - that was worse than death. An investigation would occur of course, but it was simply courtesy so as to not draw attention. Unfortunately, the body did have to be disposed of. No need to have the maid accidentally stumble upon it and cause an outcry, they had already had a situation similar to that play out and it did not end well for anyone involved. Throwing her in the woods might cause a stench and would lead to unrest among those who resided there; well only one option it seemed.

No one spoke a word, it was better this way. The men were respectful in a sense; they knew better than to disturb the dead in their eternal sleep. It wasn't until the loud chime of the cedar wood grandfather clock echoed through the halls of the residence above and made its way through the secure corridor behind the parlor and into the second basement that one of the men spoke, his words clear.

"Burn it."

And so, the corpse went up in flames and the men waited patiently until nothing but ashes and crisped bones remained. The fumes lingered through the air and the stench would have remained if not for the strong scent of pine which overpowered it. One by one the men proceeded to climb up the narrowing stairs until not a single living entity remained. Leaving behind the remains which would be collected in the early morning tomorrow before the sunrise. One of the men chose to linger in the staircase, a cold air seemed to suddenly envelop the entirety of the basement, chilling him to the core. His grey eyes quickly darted to the bottom of the stairs where what he saw stirred his very soul. He raced up the stairs in an attempt to escape, but when he reached the door discovered it had been locked. His screams echoed throughout the basement, yet outside in the parlor, nothing could be heard except for the last chime of the grandfather clock.