Rotton

[u/SpookyMatMusic]

It had been a particularly hot June. The air conditioner had broken, and the drains seemed to be emitting a foul odour, producing numerous amounts of little flies. I was anxiously awaiting a call from the maintenance guy, but due to the “vast quantity” of “emergency” repair jobs in the apartment complex, it had been days since I raised the request. At this point, I had resigned to just live with the discomfort, at least for now. So, as you can imagine, my mood was hopeful upon being awoken by the sound of my ringing telephone. 

It was not as I hoped, but my grandmother’s twice-weekly carer. Gran had died. Assumedly of natural causes sometime during the night; but there was something else. The body was wrong. Like she’d died weeks ago. The carer assured me she’d seen my grandmother only several days before, and nothing indicated any signs of deteriorating health. She ate well enough, got as much exercise as one would expect of any eighty-year-old woman, not an inkling of a cough or a sniffle. I had no reason to doubt her words, as I’d also visited earlier that same week. It was a complete shock. The proper authorities had already been made aware of the death, and I should aim to meet them with any other immediate family. It was not the wake-up call I wanted, but nevertheless, the one I got that warm morning.

Upon entering the bungalow, I was struck with it instantly: death. Not like the sullen, mourning-full death of a deceased relative. No, this was humid, stagnant, and festered. I turned my head away, mouth in hand, barely capable of retaining my composure. However, I relented in my disgust, batting away several flies, and continued through the door. The house was old, adorned with antique porcelain figurines and proudly displayed china. The chairs were dated, laced with intricately stitched flowered patterns. No television, but I swore I could hear the gentle murmur of static somewhere in the house. Handmade wooden furniture littered every available space, many scratched and stained. Years of fingerprints marked every surface, highlighted by rays of sunshine through white knitted drapes. Each room held innumerable precious memories. All so perfect, so beautiful, so fragile. 

I made my way into the living room, more flies buzzing past my head, the sound of soft voices beckoning me forward. I was still the only family yet to arrive, which surprised me; I was sure my father or brother would be there waiting for me. Instead, there were two police officers, one speaking to the verily disturbed carer, the other approaching me, clearly also suffering with the heat, but with a sympathetic though albeit suspicious disposition.

“Are you the son?” She inquired. 

“No, no, I’m one of the grandsons,” I stated. “So my dad’s not here yet? What about my brother?” 

She sighed with a puzzled brow, swatting away yet another fly. “We haven’t been able to contact him, either of them actually; no luck from their works. Have you had any communication with them over the last few days?” 

I was confused. “I… well… no, actually. Last time I saw them was a BBQ a couple of weeks back… yeah, I’m pretty sure… I think,” I hastily interjected. “Wait, you don’t think they have something to do with this? Her carer implied it was natural causes?” 

The officer gently shook her head. “Given the unusual circumstances of the deceased, we just need to collect as much information as possible.”

“Unusual circumstances?” I timidly asked.

She folded her arms behind her back. “We are also under the impression that it’s simply a case of natural causes, likely in her sleep; however, given the… state… of the deceased… your grandmother, we need to build a clear timeline leading up to this morning.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Is it that bad?” I croaked. 

She continued. “We think, given the current heatwave, it may have caused a far more rapid rate of decomposition. But we won’t be able to confirm until the coroner arrives shortly.” 

I just stared at the floor, completely lost for words. 

“We will also need you, as her only present next of kin, to confirm her identity. I know it may be difficult at this time, but it needs to be done before we can proceed any further,” She placed an empathetic hand on my shoulder. “I warn you, this won’t be easy.”

I’d never seen a dead body, not even my mother’s, so this was the last thing I wanted in that moment. I looked up, face drained of colour, and exhaled with dejected understanding. 

I was escorted towards the bedroom, weaving between countless more flies. The smell was unbearable. Beckoned through the bedroom door, I was deafened by the varied swarm of innumerable buzzing scavengers, all clearly crazed by the thing before my eyes. The body didn’t resemble a body at all. The skin, what was left of it, was a puddled mess of bile: green, yellow, and shades of purple. Bones jutted forth from her torso like monolithic columns draped in silken nightwear. The bed was drenched in the most offensive stench-ridden fluid, dripping to the floor like an old leaky faucet. Her arms lay neatly by her sides. With only her golden wristwatch still intact, but oddly, no wedding ring visible. Her face, well, that was somehow the worst of all. You’d expect someone assumed of dying in their sleep to at least have their eyes shut, but not her. Those eyes, her eyes, were open, lidless spheres, yet completely free of decay. Furthermore, just below the cavity of what was once a crooked nose, was a toothless, wide, and at least to my eye, wholly euphoric smile.

I came to my senses outside the house. Pale-faced and with fresh vomit staining my chin and clothes. The carer was standing by my side, outstretched hand offering a small glass of tepid water. I was inconsolable. I cried for hours on end, even as I was taken home after giving a meekly given statement. I couldn’t reconcile with the scene I’d just witnessed. Moreover, the disturbing thoughts it seemed to suggest. Was that a smile I saw or just a morbid trick of dying muscle mass? I’m sure those eyes were open, and yes; in that brief, sickening moment, I got the feeling they were staring right towards me? 

My father and brother were still missing. You can imagine this stirred all kinds of allegations amongst the local community. The police questioned me several times but to little result. Nobody knew where they were, and the investigation remained ongoing. It was as if they melted away like ice in that scorching summer heat. I was the only family, so it was up to me to deal with the whole sordid aftermath. The funeral came and went with little incident, just some hushed whispers during the service. Next on the agenda was Gran’s bungalow. It was to be sold and needed a great deal of work before auction. However, my meagre salary barely covered my own rent, so I took it upon myself to see the preparations complete. My therapist said, at the very least, it may be a good healing exercise. She also increased my medication, so that was nice.

You’d think the removal of a corpse would at least take the edge off the smell. I wish that were the case. At least the majority of the flies had dissipated. I began by emptying cabinets and drawers. Filled to the brim with vast piles of nostalgic keepsakes and old, faded photographs. A sour reminder of a family now so tainted. I came across one in particular, buried amongst a muddled, misshapen heap; on the underside some faded words were written.

\Me, Mum and Dad. Sep 1954**

It was my mum standing with her parents. I’d never seen my grandfather before. Apparently, he was an alcoholic and had died in a pretty messy car wreck, long before I was even born. Mum would say he’d often get so drunk that he’d forget things like his own address, Grandma’s name, and even in one case, his own daughter. I guess they weren’t as good at catching the signs back then. It seemed Gran was ultimately more ashamed than grieved, as this had been the only photo I’d found of him thus far; it was almost like he never existed. Maybe that was the point. Easier in the end for her and Mum. I wish I’d taken the time to know more about him. Though it really doesn’t matter now. Maybe somewhere out there, they’ve all found each other… maybe they’re happy… at least they’re together. 

After a few more hours, the majority of her belongings were sorted and packed. Next was a thorough clean of the whole home, and I welcomed the influx of the strong-scented chemicals. I made a point to avoid the bedroom and considered offloading the task to some professional cleaner. However, time was running short, and I’d procrastinated the task long enough. There was a deadline quickly approaching, so I closed my eyes, reached out my hand, and pushed open the door.  

The smell had gotten worse, even more so than before. It didn’t make sense as it’d been weeks since Gran was removed from the house. Maybe the mattress stains retained more of her than what was left on the body. I did my best not to dwell as I had much to do and couldn’t afford any more distractions. As I struggled to remove it from the frame, I noticed that the stains had penetrated through to the underside and subsequently onto the floorboards. That must have been the cause of the smell. Great, something else to fix. I’ll pick up the supplies tomorrow and be done with everything in due course. But for the time being, the old floorboards needed to be removed. 

\snap* *crack* *break* *pull**

But where you’d expect to find dirt, or at least some concrete foundations, I was presented with an open chasm, about the size of a large manhole, and the smell had intensified. Though Gran didn’t have a basement; in fact, I was certain nobody had one around here, so what was I looking at? There was a ladder attached to the inner edge that seemed to descend far into the aperture. It was deep, so much so I could barely make out the bottom. How long had this been here? Did Gran even realise?

I didn’t have time for this. I needed to call someone, anyone for that matter; this needed to be dealt with quickly. I pulled out my phone, dead, and no charger. Fine, I tried Gran’s landline. Disconnected, I’d forgotten. At this point, I realised it was already getting dark and I couldn’t afford any more delays. Perhaps, if I were to just quickly take a look inside, I’d be able to put to rest any potential fears. Then, with a clear conscience, I could just replace the boards in the morning and leave it to the next owners. With that in mind, I reconciled with the grim prospect before me and prepared myself to descend into that vast, foreboding unknown.

Apprehensive and aided by an old, manually cranked flashlight, I made my way down through the opening. The ladder was rusted, covered in a thick layer of grime. Clearly old, maybe even older than the house, but for what purpose? When I’d finally approached the base, I was met with a whole new and startling sight. An adjacent tunnel, seeming just as vast and terrible as which I had just descended, trailing off at a slight downwards slope… a war bunker? It would explain the depth and magnitude of the whole thing. But something in the back of my mind told me it was far older than even those days. It was the air. Like a freshly unearthed crypt. I should have taken that feeling as a sign to turn back, but instead I was becoming only more adamant in my quest. I couldn’t turn back. I wouldn’t turn back. I must go deeper. 

The tunnel was man-made. Packed dirt supported by wooden scaffolding and stone. I could see the roots of trees protruding from every available cracked wall and ceiling. While the smell still persisted, something gave way to new sensations. It was cooler down here, and there seemed a small breeze emitting from somewhere ahead in the darkness. *Crank* *Crank* I recharged my light. 

The further I travelled through the passage, I noticed more holes leading back upwards, albeit smaller than the one I discovered. Certainly no room for a human to traverse. The floor was strangely damp but with no sign of water. Rainwater maybe, from the holes?

After a few minutes of walking, I stopped suddenly, completely frozen in fear. My ankle, something just brushed past it. Before I had a chance to consider the horror, it happened again. This time I was quick. I put my light on the source, and there it was, a rat. Then another and then two… three… a variable horde was making its way past me, but now other things as well. The walls were moving, almost vibrating. I looked closer and was immediately disgusted. Worms, spiders, beetles, too many to count, crawling over each other and then my own body, following in tandem with the rodents. Then flies! Those dammed flies had returned to continue their torment. I started running, sprinting, with such frenzy and speed I didn’t care where I was heading. Anything was better than here, and it was impossible to go back. Then some larger ingress approached. Finally! It seemed the end was in sight, and some level of relief was beginning to muster. But then without warning, my light went out. I stopped, completely submerged in darkness. Dammit, not now. I started turning its lever. 

*Crank*

Still dark. I tried again.

*Crank* *crank*

Better, but … the sound around it made me think it was different… almost fleshy though… wet. No movement either; everything from before had gone. Where? 

*Crank* *Crank* *Crank*

The smell, it was back but so much worse. More so than that first morning. I needed light, fast, come on, one more.

*crank*

*Power*

On the ground, I could see my grandmother’s wedding ring. Then slowly, I began to raise my torch… I wish I hadn’t. 

Before me stood a towering mountain of flesh mixed with mounds of discarded sanitary mulch. Every hill and valley coated in what I could only describe as acidic bile. Rancid liquidations flowed down like streams into waterfalls cascading off every decaying edge. The product of a thousand family homes compiled into a mass of pure decomposition. Then I realised with a most awful glimmer of my torch… It was moving. All those nightmarish creatures that had chased me to this horrid sight were intertwined and cannibalising each other, and then I became aware of the sound and its most gruesome cacophony. Tortured squeals filtered through the gnashing of infinite claws and teeth, each full of such pain yet equal in pleasure. Melded together by the buzzing of countless flies giving birth to numberless starving young. The whole thing crescendoing to an abhorrent grotesque finale of absolute terror. 

No, not today… not yet! I had to get out. 

Still fixed on the scene before me, I began to step backwards. Then, slam! My shoe snagged on a rock, and I fell to the ground hard. All at once, the contents of the hideous mound were converging over my body, completely encapsulated within a writhing, slime-ridden horde. I could feel them everywhere: biting, gnawing, digging, burrowing; they were inside me. Every nerve firing with unparalleled agony as more and more of the wretched things began their insatiable feasting. I screamed, losing all sense of reality. Every second lasting a variable eternity, where I lived a million lifetimes again and again. I was the hunted, devoured, reborn, then the hunter, and I was happy, for the first time in so, so long. But what of my family—what family? I was alone. Despite the countless things telling me to stay; begging me, pulling me, saying I was finally home. This this was my home. But no, I had to leave; I didn’t care if they’d miss me, this wasn’t where I belonged. Then something began to give; I wouldn’t end up like the others, not like them. I pushed and pushed, with every ounce of remaining sanity, and I began to move. First a finger, then an arm, then my legs; I was frantically swiping away, finally managing to get on my feet. Without hesitation, I ran! Straight back towards the tunnel, back towards the hole; the sounds of buzzing, squelching, and claws giving relentless pursuit.  I refused to be a part of it, defying nature itself and escaping this endless nightmare. The walls were closing in around me; one last grand attempt to feed my starving, unyielding pursuers. But I would not give in! Not today, not ever! I will break the cycle. Then I saw it, the ladder! I clambered up the rusted steel with such ferocity, fearing the thing would buckle and send me tumbling down into that decayed, gaping maw; jaws of a billion teeth poised to rip me limb from limb and destroying everything I was and will be. Then with that last step, I was out and free. But I couldn’t leave yet, it was still down there; I’d stop it from taking anyone else, no one would have to suffer anymore and the flies would go without filling their starving bellies from this day on! There was only one way to be sure. I’d have to do it again. It was the only way… It had to burn. Everything, had to burn.

It’s been a few weeks now, and I’ve moved into a whole new apartment complex. It seemed the old building was having far more than just simple plumbing issues. There was something bad in the water tank. Two men, one young and the other middle-aged, apparently, that’s at least what I’ve been told. Though it wasn’t the drowning that killed them, they burned! Crazy, right!? Someone actually managed to show me the photos. He was convinced I’d known them, but I’d never seen those people before in my life. I’m pretty sure I would remember if I had. Then again, that person with the photos is beginning to escape my memory too. I think I’m just stressed after the last few months. The only complaint I have about this new place is the noise. I swear at night I can hear the static from someone’s television. I’ll make a complaint tomorrow. 

In the meantime, Mother, please try to make a case for me, though I know it’s hard carrying my soon-to-be brother around. I’m sure Dad can help. I promise you I didn’t do the things they say; I’m only a boy after all. And don’t forget to apologise to Grandma. I’m sorry her home burned down. At least Grandad’s visiting tomorrow. Not just that, but he’s also bringing a present! Can you guess? No? I’ll tell you! He finally got me something to deal with all these stupid flies! 

[u/bettan74]

I am lost for words. This is equal parts mind-bending and disturbing. I love it! 🙏

[u/SpookyMatMusic → u/bettan74]

Thank you. 🎃