Storytime
Flashlight
Story by Matt Nathan
I don't know how long we've been down here. People in our party keep disappearing. Sanders has started muttering to himself. Mental note to silence him myself before the others get concerned. Roughly 6 days ago a chasm about fifty miles east of town split the earth open. The call came quick, town didn't know what to do. That chasm had opened directly below their aquifer. The town was running out of water. They sent us down with flashlights. I think we needed shotguns.
We started a dozen strong. Jenkins, Smith, Kelly, Rogers, D'Moor, Mathers, and Corey are gone. Just fucking vanished. Poof! gone. Sanders got a little blood splashed on him from Corey. Whatever's killing us is getting desperate. The hole in the earth closed about ten minutes after we entered. The rocks just fell inward. Jenkins never had half a chance. Poor bastard went without a scream. We didn't notice he was gone until we realized Smith and Kelly were gone. We only know Jenkins died from the rocks because we went back for the three. We lost Rogers back there too. We had supplies for maybe a day. We've been down here six. Grace and Sanders didn't like the decision I made about Corey. Whatever's been killing us fucked him up bad. He was a burden and we were hungry.
Sanders is gibbering loudly lately. Cripe was certain he heard screams that sounded like D'moor and Mathers. Bastard dropped his light and just ran ahead of us into the black silence. Maybe we'll find his body, but we won't be that lucky. Grace keeps looking at me funny.
Paulson seems to be the most stable. He hasn't said a word since we lost Jenkins, but he keeps his shit together. Our batteries are running low. The lights flicker more than they should and Grace's light has all but gone out. Sanders finally went silent when we found Cripe's arm. I think whatever's killing us is either getting sloppy, or sadistic.
We've taken what little rope we have and tied it around each other. The last flashliht went dead about six hours ago. Every few minutes we do a quick verbal check to make sure we're all still around. I don't know why we're walking anymore. I'm in front with Sanders behind me. It's Grace, then Paulson in the back. We can't see anything. It's to the point where I'm not even sure if my eyes are open or closed. Suddenly the lifeline goes taunt and I figure Sanders has just sold the farm. Grace muffles something and then the line goes slack. Sanders and I crash to the ground and we call out for Paulson. Paulson hasn't talked in a week. We don't know if he's there or not. Sanders and I get back up and start walking again. There's a scratching noise and suddenly all I can see is Paulson break Sanders' neck. Sanders drops to the ground like a sack of wet potatoes and Paulson looks at me. He's got a flare in his hand and he takes a step towards me. Then the flare's gone. It's out and there's a sound like someone's ripping a T-shirt. Something wet flecks onto my face and with the last of my strength I run.
Story by Matt Nathan
I don't know how long we've been down here. People in our party keep disappearing. Sanders has started muttering to himself. Mental note to silence him myself before the others get concerned. Roughly 6 days ago a chasm about fifty miles east of town split the earth open. The call came quick, town didn't know what to do. That chasm had opened directly below their aquifer. The town was running out of water. They sent us down with flashlights. I think we needed shotguns.
We started a dozen strong. Jenkins, Smith, Kelly, Rogers, D'Moor, Mathers, and Corey are gone. Just fucking vanished. Poof! gone. Sanders got a little blood splashed on him from Corey. Whatever's killing us is getting desperate. The hole in the earth closed about ten minutes after we entered. The rocks just fell inward. Jenkins never had half a chance. Poor bastard went without a scream. We didn't notice he was gone until we realized Smith and Kelly were gone. We only know Jenkins died from the rocks because we went back for the three. We lost Rogers back there too. We had supplies for maybe a day. We've been down here six. Grace and Sanders didn't like the decision I made about Corey. Whatever's been killing us fucked him up bad. He was a burden and we were hungry.
Sanders is gibbering loudly lately. Cripe was certain he heard screams that sounded like D'moor and Mathers. Bastard dropped his light and just ran ahead of us into the black silence. Maybe we'll find his body, but we won't be that lucky. Grace keeps looking at me funny.
Paulson seems to be the most stable. He hasn't said a word since we lost Jenkins, but he keeps his shit together. Our batteries are running low. The lights flicker more than they should and Grace's light has all but gone out. Sanders finally went silent when we found Cripe's arm. I think whatever's killing us is either getting sloppy, or sadistic.
We've taken what little rope we have and tied it around each other. The last flashliht went dead about six hours ago. Every few minutes we do a quick verbal check to make sure we're all still around. I don't know why we're walking anymore. I'm in front with Sanders behind me. It's Grace, then Paulson in the back. We can't see anything. It's to the point where I'm not even sure if my eyes are open or closed. Suddenly the lifeline goes taunt and I figure Sanders has just sold the farm. Grace muffles something and then the line goes slack. Sanders and I crash to the ground and we call out for Paulson. Paulson hasn't talked in a week. We don't know if he's there or not. Sanders and I get back up and start walking again. There's a scratching noise and suddenly all I can see is Paulson break Sanders' neck. Sanders drops to the ground like a sack of wet potatoes and Paulson looks at me. He's got a flare in his hand and he takes a step towards me. Then the flare's gone. It's out and there's a sound like someone's ripping a T-shirt. Something wet flecks onto my face and with the last of my strength I run.