Into the Lion’s Den
I flay myself so we can be together. But it has to stop. The neighbors are suspicious and there is precious little of myself left. I wear long sleeves like a heroin addict hiding my addiction. The infected won’t kill if they consume human flesh. So I give of myself to sate his hunger. Then I sate mine.
We were told in the beginning that the disease was curable. We were told they could handle it. They were wrong. There is no cure. There is no hope. There is only death and sorrow. Tomorrow I will report him to the agency. Tomorrow, not today. I need to say goodbye. I have the flesh but I wonder if I have the strength. It’s time to let go of our lives. The bleeding has stopped and I wonder as I unlock the door to the basement if the pain ever will. Time to say goodbye.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Creepy stuff. I like the sense of the emotional tie here played out in the ritual flaying and feeding of a loved one too dear to let go. Nice twist on the whole zombie/undead story.
Comment by danpowell — October 6, 2009 @ 4:37 am
The “Hello, Daniel” has stayed with me long after reading this piece. Creepy!
Comment by Cascade Lily — October 6, 2009 @ 7:32 pm