“Where are you?” A deep breath. The sun has finally set over the horizon, the moon coming to take its place. Sitting in a small apartment, cigarette balancing on his lip, a man dressed in a black tee and jeans stares down at his phone, the only light illuminating his face. An outgoing call shows on his phone, addressed to someone simply titled “Boy”. The man leans back in his wooden chair, groaning as the simple voicemail message plays. He takes a drag, staring up at the ceiling, letting his eyes adjust to the dark around him. It had been a long time since he’d been able to relax in the dark. Every second felt as though it were excruciatingly pulled from the hands of some pestering death god. Even now, the only feeling coursing through him, besides one of worry, was that the ceiling could possibly come falling right down on him. He considers the idea, harder than any normal person should, scoffs, and closes his eyes.
“Hurry up brat.” As if on cue, his phone buzzes in his hand. Silently appreciating the distraction, he holds it up, seeing a message from his latest client. He’d been a pretty bothersome one, especially considering the simplicity of his wish. Still, a gig is a gig, so client’s can get away with a fair bit of pushiness. “You already paid, what else do you want?” Tapping the notification, he sees something unexpected.
A video. A video of a hotel, surrounded by police tape, onlookers watching as black bags are pulled out from the entrance. Most concerning was how similar it looked to one he’d been shown during him and the boy’s briefing. He focused up.
What is this?
The man grits his teeth.
“Unusual…don’t tell me he got caught up in some kind of nonsense.” A response to his question arrives soon enough.
Police are saying everyone inside was found in pieces. Apparently someone heard a scream and called em.
What does this have to do with me? The typing icon grows more and more annoying every second he has to spend watching it.
I thought I’d make sure your boy wasn’t one of em. This place was the meeting spot and all. Confirmation.
“Fuck!” Up in a flash, the man grabs his coat and throws open the door, surprising a passerby.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“S-sir, you shouldn’t smoke i-” He grabs their water bottle out of their bag and twists it open, throwing the thing inside.
“Much appreciated.” He hands them their water bottle back, before returning to his rush, running faster than he’d ever imagined he could. He throws himself into the elevator, hitting the ground floor button.
“If you really die on me, I’m not gonna make it a peaceful passing punkass.” As the doors close, he feels his fists close up. “So…be alright.”
…
“Sir…what the hell happened here?” Holding in the urge to vomit, a lower rank addresses his superior officer as he shines a light on a man’s torso, tied to a hook via their own circulatory system.
“No clue. Just…focus the light so I can clean this guy up.” His superior managed to choke out before gagging, scooping up entrails into a trash-bag.
“How do you know you’re even picking up the same guy?”
“Wishful thinking.” The conversation fizzles out soon after that.
“...That kinda looks like a mouse.”
“I think that’s a lung actually.”
“Is that what they look like?”
“Did you take Biology?”
“Dropped out, remember?”
“Fair enough. No, it’s not a mouse.” Carefully scooping up the organ, the man places it in the bag. “You know what, you get a bag too. We got another 30 rooms to clean, and no way any other officer’s coming to tag you out. The faster we’re done the better.” The lower rank nods, grabbing a bag when he hears something. A voice, echoing from the left hall.
“You hear that?” Moving his light to the other hall, he saw nothing. “Is someone there?!” His superior gets off his knees, taking out his gun.
“This is the police! If someone is there, we need you to show yourself, hands up! You understand?!” His voice was full of gusto, but his hands were shaking. The voice seemed to keep quiet. “...you sure you heard something?”
“He did.” The superior turned his head to find his lower rank’s head on a pike of bone.
“A-AHH!” Falling backwards, the officer finds himself slipping back. The floor had become a slope. He ended up in a roll, watching his partner’s head leave his view as further and further, he fell into the darkness of somewhere unknown.
The hall was now empty of all but a head. To the onlooker, it would seem a grisly enough sight. They would be unaware of the racing mind in that head, waiting, waiting for its partner to return and save it.
It would be waiting for a long time.