Made by: Jim Gerogiannis
Inspired by: Karl Denke story
Holidays can be relaxing, fun, enjoyable but sometimes when it comes to picking the best destination to spend your holidays, unforeseen mistakes can be made. Sadly I wasn’t aware of the case that could even steal my precious pal’s life…
It was a cold misty morning when I decided to call my friend Edgar to tell him that after all this time of searching I had finally found a perfect place to go on holiday! But, we were just unlucky there! My dear Edgar is a guy who’s in love with sleeping and because of his obsession of sleeping we lost our flight and had to wait for the next one. Well when he woke up, I finally had the chance to put him in his place. He giggled like a kid and told me ‘’Relax Arthur! Some good sleep always helps before travelling, you should get some rest too or else I can imagine you sleeping while travelling and trust me you don’t want to miss all these picturesque sceneries this wonderful journey hides”. I looked at him with a strict look at my face and shouted at him “HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE JOURNEY WHEN YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE ARE HEADING FOR, SILLY! Anyway, you should be thankful for my goodness, we are going to visit the Honeyville Village, they say it’s the best location you can visit to get some rest – it’s going to be awesome, man!” Edgar stared at me with a considering look in his face, as if something was prohibiting him from going there. I immediately asked him what was going on but he would just say “Look, the airplane is coming, we shouldn’t miss this flight too! Right, pal?”
I wasn’t quite sure about his condition but there was no time to explain. The plane was coming so we both rushed, got on the plane and waited patiently for it to take off. When it finally took off I immediately started asking my friend for the reason he was acting strangely before. For once more, I was unlucky because he intentionally fell asleep, not paying attention to any of my words… I should normally feel outraged but I couldn’t ignore that look on his face then. I knew that the fact that we were visiting Honeyville had changed his disposal, as if something ill would happen there, and I could understand that this thing was torturing him in the duration of the whole journey. But why wouldn’t he express his feelings to his closest friend? He always knew that I was an open hug for him, if he only told me… This wouldn’t be the end for him.
With no hope of waking him up, I wore my headphones and listened to some classical music. Classical music relaxes me and it’s a good way to clear your mind from any other thoughts that can prevent you from making clear cogitations. After listening for some time, I suddenly fell asleep. While I was sleeping, I had a strange vision. I was dining when I suddenly screamed and committed suicide. I woke up with a terrible headache but that didn’t stop me from trying to interpret that vision. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t do anything about it, when I heard my friend saying something in his sleep. «Run Arthur, run as fast as you can, they won’t catch you if you do so!» I slapped him and he woke up saying «WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN, ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT?!», then I knew that he was really asleep and what he had said was not something he made up to make me think he was asleep. I tried to explain to him but he would just keep calling me crazy. I was desperate and decided to remain silent until we would get there…
Time passed and we were getting closer and closer to our destination. Edgar still had that considering look on his face, but he wasn’t willing to accept any help from me so, for once more, I just remained silent. «Look! We are finally here» shouted Edgar. I looked outside and what I saw wasn’t what I hoped I would see… An old, abandoned city brilliantly lit by a full moon while fog rolled over the entire city. It was a really creepy picture for someone who hoped for some winter holidays, in a warm, small, and welcoming village which would be covered by snow, full of people’s smiles and laughter filling the atmosphere.
But instead of that, there was an ill atmosphere that someone could even think that it was related to hell… Edgar’s look was becoming more and more considering and his face was expressing some kind of pain. I knew that the pain’s source was this awful landscape. He grabbed my hand and shouted «WE ARE LEAVING NOW! PLEASE!», but by mistake I told him to relax and that we couldn’t leave because we had paid a lot for the tickets and tried to persuade him that holidays there would be awesome… Although I knew that there was something really wrong about this place…
I somehow managed to help him relax and change his mind about this place and together we began searching for our rented house there. The street’s name was Cannibell Street which was near the center of the town. After hours of searching we finally found Cannibell Street. We were surprised because of the contrast between the entire town and this Street. While the other part of the city was abandoned with no people living there, this Street was full of women and anybody could distinguish the vividness that filled the atmosphere! We were truly left speechless… Suddenly a woman walked next to us and said «Welcome to our city young travellers! Feel free to ask for anything. And always remember, don’t be shy, it is in our blood to help each other here!» Edgar cautiously asked her «Thanks for your kindness Madam! There’s one thing I’d really like to ask you if you feel like answering of course… Why is this the only place in the city where people actually live…? The whole other city is abandoned, could you please explain?» The woman started to cry and said «It’s a big story… Once there was a war, our men fought against a really furious race of creatures the werewolves. The battle lasted a long time and the result was our race’s victory but the loss of all of our men. So we, the survivors, decided to gather here in this place of the town which is the safest of all and spend our life here trying to make a living. The other parts of the city especially the houses are the graveyards of all the men that died in battle, these are sacred places that you should NEVER EVER visit if you want to remain safe. Well, forget about it and I hope you’ll have a nice stay here in Cannibell…» I grabbed her hand and said «Sorry but why shouldn’t we visit the graves of the men…?». Then she looked at me with an ill look on her face and said «Do so and may luck be with you young man.» Then she moved with a weak walking towards her house laughing satanically. We were both curious about her prohibition and decided to go to our house to get some rest after all these hours of journey and searching.
When we both went to sleep, Edgar whispered to me «Arthur I’m scared, I’m really scared.» I grabbed his hand and said «Don’t worry man there is nothing you will see, it will be a great holiday. People here are so kind and welcoming.» But that couldn’t help him relax. Then Edgar said «Isn’t it strange that only men died? Isn’t it strange that they say we should never ever visit the houses where their men rest… Ghosts don’t exist and that’s for sure what kind of judgement lies upon going there then! Maybe it’s for their personal reasons but, still, why do they prohibit us from going there that much? I seriously can’t understand and I’m really curious to discover it!» I looked at him, smiled and said «Oh, boy! You should become an explorer someday; your interest for the past and for facts is really astonishing! Good night, pal, get some sleep… You are professional at it!» We both laughed and fell asleep, but I knew that the night would be really long…
It was 3 at night when I woke up to drink some water because I was thirsty when I heard a scream… I was sure it was a man’s scream. I rushed to go outside and saw the woman carrying a huge black bag. I asked her what was going wrong and she said «Don’t you know? It’s the time when the spirits of the dead men remember their good times in life… They cry and scream in pain for their wasted lives and want to say goodnight to all of their women in this village, you will soon get used to it, Arthur, don’t worry! Oh, I forgot my name’s Alda!» I curiously asked her «How do you know my name?!» And she would just say «Say goodnight to Edgar too Arthur…» and as usually she would walk with this weak walking towards her house…
I decided to ignore what happened and went to bed for once more. Morning came and my mind was finally clear to make the correct thoughts. Edgar came up with the idea of exploring the city, which I really wanted to do too, so we prepared breakfast and started exploring the city. When we got out of the house it was still really early for the women to wake up, and the weather was freezing cold but nothing could stop us from exploring! Edgar was really excited about it, but I wasn’t still sure if exploring such a strange area was a good idea. We began with sightseeing, although we weren’t so sure if there actually were any sights! We were searching for hours but we didn’t find anything that looked like a sight or a historical building, and we were really curious about that. Edgar said «How could there be a war here and there isn’t even a small hint about the history of this place! Not even just a temple?! A sacred place of them… But… OH YEAH! I got it, I finally got it: their men’s houses must be something like a temple where the memories of their men are kept. Why wouldn’t they want us to know about their history, or visit these places? I’m going there at night; I’ve got to discover what lies in there! Do you wanna come, too, Arthur?» I looked at him and cautiously said «Man, I’m not sure about it, I think we should listen to the woman’s advice, she said that terrible fate will follow everyone who’s going there!» Then Edgar said with a persistent look «Do I look like I care about what this woman said?! I think she’s hiding some treasure or something precious in there that she doesn’t want us to find. Don’t be stupid Arthur we are going there at any cost, got me?» I slapped him and furiously said «Since when did you act so selfishly Edgar?! Don’t you listen to what I say? Don’t you care about what’s going to happen to both of us if we get there?!» He looked at me angrily and said «I don’t want you to come with me! Why would you slap me now, why would you talk to me with such a tone in your voice? I thought you were my pal… I thought you would follow me anywhere I would go… But I was wrong, farewell Arthur, see you later. I’m going to explore alone…» And that’s how it went, it was the last time I would see my friend Edgar… He was running away from me in order to lose sight of him! Later I understood that this mistake would be something I’d be regretting for the rest of my life… I screamed «COME BACK EDGAR, I’M SORRY!» But the distance between us was getting longer and longer. With no chance of getting him back, I returned to Cannibell disappointed.
When I got there, I was surprised because all of the women were dancing and singing together as if something great had happened. Suddenly a really beautiful, young woman grabbed my hand and happily said «Come with me, Arthur! We are having a feast here! We are known for the best meat in the entire country, come and taste it and, trust me, you won’t regret it!» I accepted because I was sure that a feast was the best way to forget about what had happened and have a good time! I sat on a chair and started devouring the meat like a beast. It was the best meat I had ever tasted, its taste was unique and every single mouthful was heavenly! Full of curiosity I said «This food… It’s so special; what kind of food is it? It must be really expensive; its taste is truly unique, I’d die for just one more dish of it! Then Alda responded «Lilith told you, didn’t she? We are known for the best meat… I can’t say what kind of meat it really is because it would reveal its uniqueness, wouldn’t it?» and as usually she walked towards her house with a weak walking. When she left, all the women stood up and said «Happy Menscan Miss Alda!» I asked them what was Menscan and then Lilith answered happily «Well Menscan is a social event of Cannibell dedicated to the men that died in war. We eat the best of our meat, drink wine and have a feast! You shouldn’t miss it, it only happens once per ten years, so as you understand it’s an opportunity of a lifetime!» I accepted and made an oath, after the feast I’d go searching for Edgar to return back home. But then I didn’t know that it would be too late…
It was night time when I suddenly heard a man’s scream. This scream was a bit familiar but deeply inside I knew that all people’s screams actually sound the same. I looked at the time, it was 3! I was shocked and started to believe in what Alda had said. But do ghosts exist then? I didn’t want to believe this at any cost so I rushed to bed! While I was sleeping I could hear the sound of some gaits in the room but I didn’t pay attention to them. That night without any doubt was the longest night in my life. I had been conquered by endless nightmares and worries about my Edgar and the only thing comforting me was tomorrow’s celebration…
Morning came and I could hear the women playing music merrily, the sun for the first time since I had come there was shining brightly, creating a completely different atmosphere than the other days! It was the perfect day to have a good time, but still the fact that my friend was lost made me really sad and worried, preventing me from having a good time. I wore my formal clothes and headed to the central plaza where the celebration was hosted.
When I got there I saw everyone eating and having a good time. I shouted «Am I late?» and Lilith answered «No, Arthur you arrived just in time for the main course! the best meat!» I couldn’t even wait for it… Even better meat than the previous, only the thought of eating it was killing me. I screamed impolitely «GIVE ME SOME OF THIS MEAT NOW!» I couldn’t control myself all the women were looking me with a furious look for my behaviour. I felt a dire need to taste that meat and the only way I could taste it was them, I was insane, I was acting like a hungry wolf looking for its prey. This wasn’t me… Later I’d pay this sin deadly. Alda said «Let him eat and drink as much as he wants but under one condition… You’ll stay here until the next Menscan comes; that means you will stay here for the next 10 years!» Without thinking I answered «I agree to the terms! Please… Don’t make me wait any longer, give me some of this meat!» Lilith grabbed a huge part of fresh flesh and gave it to me. I started devouring it without a second thought, this time its taste was different it was a lot more tasteful and I could feel my stomach filling, but I wouldn’t stop there! I would continue eating till I could feel contented. This flesh wasn’t ordinary, it was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, it was even better than the previous one, eating it made me feel integrated. Suddenly I stopped eating and remembered that I should look for Edgar, when I saw a note in the pocket of my trousers. I curiously took it out and started reading…
Dear Arthur,
It indeed wasn’t a good idea to spend holidays here. Something really wrong is going on with this ill place, both of us knew that but now I’m sure… I went ahead to explore the houses where the men rest, there were no graves or anything sacred… There were just hung corpses of men which seemed to be chopped at several places, butcher knives all over the place… At first I thought it was just a vision but when I went deeper in the house I saw an old fridge where there is people’s flesh inside. I was freaked out… These women aren’t ordinary, their men didn’t die at war, they just devoured their men, we are talking about cannibals! At last I discovered what the punishment for those who go there is… doom… They are still chasing me, run away Arthur, they won’t catch you if you do so! But not even the fastest can escape doom… They caught me, they are chopping me furiously laughing and dancing around me… Singing… My name’s not Edgar anymore… I’m the new flesh… I’m sorry Arthur, I want you to know that I’ve always loved you and cared about you, I didn’t mean that you aren’t my best friend or anything like that, it was a mistake to fight with you… Hope that you will forgive me someday. Right now I live in you Arthur, we are together, you have just eaten my flesh…
I stood up weakly, looked at the sky, shed a tear, grabbed a kitchen knife and in front of all the women stabbed myself until the last breath…
I’m sorry Edgar, really sorry for killing you… If only I wasn’t mistaken about the destination. I miss you… My soul has been travelling for decades in many different dimensions, searching for yours. Where are you buddy? You said we’d be together! I see a ray of light between the endless void. I scream «EDGAR IS THAT YOU?!» But nobody responds… The ray of light gets covered by the endless void, and as it gets covered, my hope disappears with all of my dreams… And a weak voice is echoing «I’m sorry buddy…»
THE END
