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The air was dry and cold. And the tree rustled in the brisk wind. It stung his nose, his skin felt dry and tight and far too cold.
They’ve been here for hours. Wandering aimlessly in these woods. They’d lost the main path, and now were lost. They were lost.
“I’m sure it’s just up here, Avid.” Elle looked back at her partner, her confident look unwavering despite the circumstances.
“You’ve been saying that for hours…” He replied, less enthusiastic. His body trembled with a mix of the chill and his own fear.
They were lost in the mountains. A dense forest deep in the mountains.
They were lost in the mountains! Where bears and creatures of the night can just jump out and pounce without warning.
He couldn’t even remember why they were here in the first place, Something about a rumored crypt holding ancient tomes being in this area. It wasn’t relevant. It didn’t matter anymore.
They. Were. Fucking. Lost.
“Why didn’t you bring a map!” He snapped, stomping up to his partner.
“The townsfolk gave very detailed instructions, I didn’t think we needed one!’
“Well, we clearly did! We’re lost! In the woods, Elle!” Avid gestured wildly around him. To the imposing trees, and the even more imposing darkening sky. “And it’s almost nighttttttt!”
—------------------------------------------------------------------
It was 5 days later. At least he thinks.
They were still lost. They were thirsty, filthy, tired….
….hungry.
So, so hungry.
The type of hunger that grips your throat and makes bile rise.
The type of hunger that you can hear. That you can taste.
He sat by a tree, knees pulled up to his chest, eye wild and filled with a primal look of starvation.
Elle came back to their little “camp” — which in reality, was just a tarp on a few branches and a small fire.
“Still no food. I haven’t seen any animals around here” She sighed, sitting opposite of Avid.
He just let out noise. Not a specific sound, just a noise.
Her lips formed a line. The silence was deafening.
“I’m so hungry, Elle….”
“I know, Avid. Me too.” She let out a breathe. “But we have to have hope.”
Another undefinable sound escaped his mouth, and his stomach growled with hunger.
“We’ll be fine…I just know it…” She continued. Ever so positive.
“I’m so hungry….”
“Yes..I-..I know, Avid…”
—-------------------------------------------
It was….later. He guessed. Definitely later. Not sure by how much but time has passed.
He thinks?
His eyes were crusty and his face was rough with bug bites. He groaned.
It felt like his body was eating itself.
Which it probably was.
He looked over at Elle. She was curled up in a pile of leaves, still. So still.
Too still.
Why was she so still?
So quiet.
She wasn’t breathing.
Why was she not breathing…?!
He crawled over to her, shaking her still body.
She was cold. And tense. And her skin was a dreadful grey that made his blood run cold.
He could feel his heart in his teeth.
Bah-dum…..bah-dum…..bah-dum
How long had it been? How had he not noticed?
“E- Elle….! No no no no….!” He hiccuped, tears and snot beginning to trickle down his face. He choked on his own saliva, lip trembling as he cried. “No no…”
He pressed his face into her chest and wailed when he heard nothing. Silence. The only noise was his insistent weeping.
A cry tore through his throat, a sound he didn’t know he could make.
So animalistic.
It hurt.
—----------------------------------------
He was hungry.
So, so hungry.
Bile burned his throat, and his eyes and nose stung from crying.
He just stared.
He stared at Elle’s body.
Hungry.
So. Fucking. Hungry.
He let out a pained noise, falling to his knees.
His hands moved without command, tearing at her dirty blouse and cotton vest. Dirt crusted nails scratching at cold grey skin.
He tore.
And ripped.
And ate.
Blood sticky and dark as it curled in his gut, making him gag and gasp.
He forced handful after handful of old dead meat into his maw, hardly chewing.
Chewing meant he’d have to taste it more.
It tasted like rot.
Bile rose in his gullet, making him shiver and groan.
“Nghh…” A whimper escaped his throat, tears running down his crimson cheeks.
His gore encrusted hands continued to maim and maul, Ripping at the delicate sheet of tissue that separated the skin from the organs.
The intestines fell to the ground with a wet noise. He recoiled and fought to keep from vomiting.
It hurt.
He wiped the snot from his nose, smearing the brown-red blood across his face even furthur.
More cries bubbled up from his mouth.
Hands shaky. Coated with blood.
His partner’s blood.
He was a monster.
A disgusting demon.
A devil,
He stared at the sky.
The clouds. The birds. The canopy.
And thy devil reared his head unto heaven.
And wailed.