Drew slowly dragged the bloody corpse of the beast out of the trailer by its two rear legs. It took quite a while before he was able to gather the courage to approach the corpses. He had seen too many horror movies where the monster only seemed dead and when the careless protagonist approached, it proceeded to eat their face off.
After he placed the heavy corpse outside into the bright morning light, he tried to identify it. The beast was large, about the size of a bear, yet had a lean long face with great fangs. It had a longer neck, like a weasel or ferret. The hair was either incredibly short or was non-existent, which showcased its toughened hide.
Drew knew that there was no animal that fit this description. If it were a quarter of its size, he could possibly imagine that it was an escaped rare animal that he never heard of. However, only a few animals existed that were this size. The fact that there were three of them was evidence against some freak mutation as well.
Where did they come from?
Drew quickly snapped a quick picture of the three corpses with his phone and the bloody sand they lay in.
Better have proof or nobody’s going to believe me.
Sudden horror filled him as he realized he was currently vulnerable without a loaded firearm.
What was I thinking?
Drew raced inside to load his magazine. After a good two minutes where he fumbled the ammo and swore under his breath, he finally inserted his magazine and pulled back the slide of the pistol to chamber a round. Drew paused for a moment.
Better safe than sorry.
He ejected the magazine once again, and loaded one last round into the nine round mag.
There’s ten shots Drew, remember you have ten shots.
Now properly armed, he set off to his closest neighbor. Rick was an old man, even compared to Drew. Now in his early 80s, Rick was frail, had a long white beard, and was missing his left arm. According to Rick, he had lost it at the start of the Vietnam War.
Maybe he’ll know what those things are.
Rick’s trailer was built in the 70s, and currently had a tarp over the roof to protect it from sun and water damage. After all, while this was the desert, it still rained from time to time. Nothing killed a trailer faster than rot from a water leak, and the sun destroyed all rubber and caulk given time.
The off-white camper was a good quarter mile away, so it would take some time for Drew to reach it. Along the way, he kept watch for monsters and rested one hand on the butt of his pistol. As Drew approached the old trailer however, he saw that the door was flung wide open. There was no sign of Rick.
“Hey Rick,” he yelled. “Anybody home?”
Drew climbed the short steps and poked his head inside. It was dark inside the trailer, but there was no mistaking the smell or grim sight before him.
Oh no!
He stumbled back out of the trailer as the smell of flesh and blood assaulted his nose. Bile threatened to come up from his stomach.
I can’t believe he’s dead! I have to call 911!
He checked his phone again, but there was still no signal. Drew put the useless device away and set off toward the last remaining neighbor.
Maybe they’ll have some reception, or know what's going on.
Drew had never talked to the aloof owner of the silver Airstream camper. He had never once even seen them outside. The only reason he knew someone lived there was the light that danced through the curtains at night.
A few hundred feet away from Rick’s defunct camper, the rounded aluminum siding shone brightly in the morning sun. Originally, when he first began his adventure, he hoped to purchase one of the retro style aluminum trailers. That hope lasted right up until he saw the price tag. Even after being used for thirty years, they sold for more than most brand new trailers.
“Hello, is anyone home?” he called out cautiously and approached. Common camper courtesy dictated that you announce yourself rather than knock. It was more than likely a waste of time anyways. Campers have horrible insulation, the owner could probably hear the crunch of the gravel beneath his feet from thirty feet away. Drew himself could hear people who approached his door long before they arrived.
“Stay right there or I’ll call the police!” a woman's voice yelled.
Drew stopped twenty feet away from her trailer and responded, “Actually, I would really appreciate it if you did call the police. Rick… uh… your neighbor is dead. I think those uh… animals, or whatever they are tore him apart in his trailer.”
After a short pause where she processed the information, she asked warily, “How do I know you didn’t kill him or sick those dogs on him? I heard gunshots!”
“Well, the shots were from me. It had to put down those wild animals. I dunno what they were, but they definitely weren’t dogs. They looked like a cross between a weasel and a bear.” Drew shook his head and continued, “ It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not, just call the cops like you said, and they’ll sort it all out.”
After a short pause, she replied, “I …. can’t. I don’t have any signal.”
Drew swore under his breath.
What a bust.
Before he could ask a follow up question, she interjected, “Uh, there’s nothing on TV or the radio either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every station is nothing but static except a few and those are just emergency tones. There's no recorded message playing either.”
“Well, I guess I’ll have to head into town and find the local sheriff’s office. Assuming there is one anyway.” With forced cheer, he added, “I already miss Google!” He thanked her for her help and made his way back to his camper.
As Drew neared his trailer, a glint of light inside one of the corpses caught his eye. Within the body of the shredded animal was a shiny object. Curious, he approached and cautiously kneeled down in front of it.
The chest was ripped open and ribs were cracked. Beneath the half-broken ribs was something smooth and hard, a faceted deep-red crystal pulsed with light like a beating heart.
What’s that?
The pulse seemed to grow r as he leaned in closer to inspect it. His head began to feel fuzzy and his vision dimmed around the edges as he stared with wide eyes at the blood-stained stone that flashed hypnotically. Drew’s shaky hand slowly reached for the bloody gem and wrapped around it.
The red crystal was warm to the touch and slippery with blood, but easily came loose into his hand. Drew was surprised at how little it weighed. It was slightly transparent and its interior had a strange swirl.
So pretty.
He moved it closer to his eyes so he could observe the whirls within. Fascinated, he continued to stare at it with hunger.
Hunger?
Confused by the errant thought, he momentarily broke the trance before it quickly overtook him once again.
With the crystal so close, he could smell the metallic stink of blood. For some reason, the glowing crystal reminded him of a hearty meal. Like a meal, he slowly drew the object closer to his mouth. Before he could even realize what he was about to do, he opened his mouth and swallowed the marble size stone.
Warmth spread from his belly and he suddenly felt energized. His body warmed from within and he began to sweat. His nerves lit on fire and he screamed in pain. Slowly, over the course of a few minutes, the feeling dwindled and he eventually came to his senses.
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Oh my God! What the hell am I doing?
He instantly spat out the taste of copper from his mouth. When that did not work, he rushed inside his trailer and poured himself a cup of water. He gargled the water, spat, and repeated the process until he could no longer taste blood. A sudden realization turned his thoughts to horror.
That thing’s in my stomach? I’ve gotta get it out!
Drew heard stories as he grew up about kids who swallowed a quarter and required surgery to extract it. The gem he disturbingly ingested was the size of a marble, much larger than a quarter.
Immediately, he tried to vomit and eject the foreign object. However, no matter how long he tried, it refused to come up.
There’s another reason to go to town. I need a doctor.
Drew looked down at his blood stained button down shirt and decided he needed to clean up before he left. It would only take a few minutes and if nothing else, it would make him feel better. His chest had already started to itch from dried blood, and he wanted it gone.
He ripped open the ruined shirt and extracted his arms. There was no way he could get the blood out of the shirt and he would not even bother to try.
His gray chest hairs were flecked with dried blood, so he headed to the restroom to wash off. Drew scrubbed himself down until his chest was clean and the sink was dyed red.
After he finally finished, he felt refreshed and went to his closet to grab a new shirt. He quickly began to button the shirt together, distracted with thoughts on his trip to town.
First I need to head to the emergency room and find out what can be done about the stupid gem I swallowed. Second, I need to find the Sheriff’s office and report Rick’s body and the animal attack.
Drew felt a little bad about prioritizing himself over Rick, but it was not like his neighbor’s body was going anywhere and he was freaked out. As he fastened the bottom button of the dress shirt, he paused in shock as he realized what he had done.
My hands aren’t shaking!
Drew extended his arms with his hands flat. He stared at his hands as they stayed perfectly still.
How is this possible?
Tears filled his eyes as he realized how bad things had become. The sudden absence of pain and the steadiness in his limbs hit him like a truck. He sobbed in relief.
In recent months, it had taken longer and longer to button his shirts as his hands began to shake ever more violently. What took only thirty seconds five years ago had turned into a long morning ritual. Somehow, it had taken him only fifteen seconds this morning.
After his tears of relief eventually dried, he composed himself and finished getting dressed. The entire time, he held a great smile on his face. Even after the awful events of that morning, he could not help himself. He was healed, or at least he hoped he was. His smile suddenly dropped as he had realized it could be a temporary reprieve.
Was it the gem that somehow healed me? If so, I’ve got to find more!
The wild notion took over all of his thoughts. Like an addict, all he could think about was finding another gem.
Was it the gem that fixed me? I have to know!
Of course, he made the assumption that he could find another. Drew resolved himself to find out for sure.
He pulled a steak knife from the kitchen drawer and headed back outside with determination. The other two beasts did not have their chest cavities ripped open, so he would have to open them himself. He didn’t have a butchering knife to dress the corpse, nor the skills to do so, but Drew would make do.
He first tried to make a horizontal incision beneath the creature’s ribs as if he were using a scalpel. The knife slid across the rough hide and did not even leave a mark.
Ok, don’t be dainty about it, put some effort in!
He flipped the knife around and held it pointed downward like he would to stab someone. With a grunt, he slammed his knife down into the beast’s gut with the full force of his body. The knife bounced off a rib before it found purchase and fully sank into the stomach.
Once the blade was through the toughened hide, he tried to saw through the skin to open the wound further. His effort was only slightly successful and the process took far more time than he expected. To make any real progress, he found that he had to slam the knife down repeatedly. He was forced to stab the beast in a line in order to make it past the heavily muscled chest, which blunted most of his effort.
Luckily, only a minimum amount of blood splattered onto him. It had been dead for around an hour and its blood had already started to pool from gravity. Drew paused after he inspected the opening he just made.
Ugh… I’m going to have to reach my entire hand inside that thing?
Drew gathered his courage and pushed on with his grisly task. He winced as his hand slid inside the gutted beast. The corpse was no longer warm, but it was not really cold either. He aimed his hand under the rib cage where he found the crystal from the first animal and blindly searched.
Eventually, his hand hit something hard with smooth sides. He grasped onto it and pulled his hand out with a squelch. His hand dripped blood onto the ground, but in his elation, he did not even notice
I found another crystal!
The red gem pulsed with light and once again he felt himself drawn in, hypnotized. With great effort, he closed his fist around the gem and entered his camper to wash it off. Drew had already decided to swallow another, but the thought of blood in his mouth only sickened him.
Why not try again? After all, if they have to cut open my chest to extract it, they can grab the second one at the same time.
His misplaced priorities were disturbing, but he was still barely able to hold himself back. After he thoroughly cleaned his hand and the gem, he studied it further. It was red and pulsed with light from within. Drew held it up to the light that shone through his camper window. While it reflected the sunlight back onto his wall, he still could not see through it. He continued to stare at the crystal to admire it. The urge to consume it filled him again and he brought the crystal closer to his mouth. At the last second, he paused.
This is stupid. What am I doing? There’s no way the last gem healed me. Come on, I was just worried about getting my stomach sliced open to get the last one out and now I want to swallow another?
Drew continued to stare at the gem while he berated himself for his stupidity. However, the longer he stared, the more he became entranced. Before he could second guess himself, he closed his eyes, dropped it in his mouth, and swallowed it.
The familiar warmth filled his gut as he sat down beside the small table. An electric pulse flushed through his body and he felt like his body grew healthier and younger. He was wracked with sudden pain from the change, but he pushed through. His mind was stuck on how good he felt in his twenties and he hoped the magical crystals could deliver. Eventually the pain faded and he opened his eyes.
Holy crap! My gut! It’s gone!
He lifted the now loose shirt to peer at his stomach. Where before existed a tire of fat which cascaded over his pants, was now only a slight lump of pudge along his waistline. Sure, it was not a six-pack, but for decades he held forty extra pounds around his waist. The change was massive.
I can’t wait to check the third beast! Come on, come on, come on.
He manically repeated the phrase over and over as he butchered the last corpse. Visions of health and immortality consumed him as he ripped apart the beast. Drew no longer hesitated and rammed his arm inside the corpse with glee. After he searched for only a moment, he pulled out a third gemstone in triumph.
Yes!!!
Drew was ecstatic as he rushed inside and hastily cleaned the crystal. He felt like a kid at christmas.
Good enough!
Drew swallowed the miracle crystal without any caution and fell backward into the uncomfortable chair. The now familiar electric pain overwhelmed his nerves, but Drew pushed through it. The pain was intense, but he was so focused on how young it could make him feel, he barely noticed it
Eventually the feeling faded and he inspected the changes to his body. He opened his bathroom door once again and stood in front of the small mirror to admire himself.
Oh my God! My face looks so young again! My wrinkles are gone!
His button down shirt draped loosely over his shoulders, more a poncho at this point than a shirt. He pulled it over his head and it slipped off without the need to unbutton it. A huge grin lit up his face as he took in his new appearance.
I have a six pack! Yes!!!
Drew danced around the cramped trailer and accidentally slammed his elbow into the wall. He barely noticed, all he could focus on was how great he felt and how young he was. Drew had never had a six pack, even back in school when he religiously lifted weights and played football.
This is so amazing!
Every stone he swallowed had further improved his health. The first had cured his illness, the second had made him feel younger and gotten rid of years of sloth, and the third turned him into an athlete.
I have to find more!
The urge to improve his body overtook everything and he no longer even thought of any surgery that may be necessary. He was so excited, that he assumed ridiculous poses to show off his new muscles.
Drew was ashamed to admit it, but he spent ten minutes in front of the mirror admiring himself before he was able to regain control.
What’s wrong with you?
Rick’s body was torn apart in his trailer, and Drew still needed to contact the authorities. Drew reassessed his todo list and decided a trip to the emergency room was no longer necessary.
What would I even tell them, some magic gems made me young and healthy again?
Even though he saw and felt the effects himself, the notion was ridiculous, and he had no desire to end up in the loony bin. Before he contacted the authorities however, he needed to change as his clothes no longer fit.
After he searched through his drawers, he settled on a stretchy pair of jogging shorts and an old shrunken tee-shirt. It was still too large for his slim new body, but was good enough to go out in public. Luckily his feet did not change, and his shoes still fit.
Throughout the entire process, he had to forcibly keep himself on track. All he could think about was his new desire to obtain more crystals.With bounce in his step he grabbed his keys and entered his van.
It’s time to find out what's going on, and hopefully find more beasts!