The Dying Light

The sun shined intensely as I marched down the steaming asphalt road. Aside from the endless road, no sign of civilization could be seen. Finally I had reached the house only to gaze at its horrible condition. The residence was in a complete state of decay. The only part seemingly pristine was a bright red flag resting atop of its pole waving with the insignia of a star. Three. In the air a very faint but familiar odor could be smelled. Though tired from the heat of the day, I set to work and pressed the spade into the soft soil, setting aside the decayed earth.

Hours later and three large holes now lay before me. Making my way towards the house I creaked open the door to reveal the decrepit interior. Glass and bowls littered the floor with their broken shards, while woodwork and spoons were scattered and thrown about the room. What truly was appalling, however, was the smell which seemed to saturate the house with an insidious miasma.

Creeping through the hall before me I followed the suffocating stench. Eventually I found them. In the room laid three nylon bags side by side, two were large but the last was barely the length of my torso. Though with slight hesitation, I approached the first bag and lifted it onto my shoulder. An unsettling warmth creeped across my back as its contents seemed to melt, causing my body to shudder in revulsion.

Carrying each outside, I placed them gently into their indents of earth. Taking a step back I retrieved my shovel and began covering the graves with sediment.  After the deed was done I uttered a few words and left the ruins with the dirtied spade. My body threatening to collapse from the weight of it all.