by Jon Athan
Deki paused upon spotting Cindy's appalling appearance. He could barely see her face due to the coat, but he could clearly see her hands and legs. He could see her deformed fingers, her fat ankles, and her rotting skin. He was perplexed by his discovery, rendered speechless with the couple's arrival. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words would not flow through his lips.
Cindy huffed and rolled her eyes, scoffing at Deki's astonished reaction. She examined her dealer from head-to-toe, offended by his appearance. He wore a white tank top, black mesh shorts, and matching house slippers. His hair was stylishly tousled and his stubble was groomed. His muscles were firm, too.
Cindy suffered to reach perfection while Deki seemed to shine with effortless grace – even at midnight.
The decaying woman sniffled, then she said, “I hope you don't mind if I eat all of your food. I ran out on the way here.”
Cindy wiped her bloody tears. Her shoulders slumped and head down, she jostled past Deki. Deki stood at the doorway, incapable of chasing after her. Charlotte watched from the corridor, nervously waiting for an invitation into the elegant penthouse.
***
Deki and Charlotte sat across from each other in the spacious living room. Charlotte glanced around the penthouse, amazed by the lavish home. A drug dealer's home, she thought, act like you've been there.
Elegant paintings and family photographs clung to the clean crimson walls. The marble flooring in the living room was covered by an antique Sarouk Persian carpet. An 85-inch flat-screen television was installed into the wall to her left. To her right, she could see the equally spacious kitchen through the neighboring archway.
Cindy stood in front of the large refrigerator, rummaging for food. She left a trail of bloody footprints and droplets of blood in her path. The troubled woman's munching, slurping, and gulping echoed through the entire apartment. Despite Cindy's presence, the penthouse was, without a doubt, luxurious and gorgeous.
Charlotte turned her attention to Deki and said, “We obviously need your help. I plan on taking Cindy to the hospital no matter what, but she really wanted to come here first. I guess it makes sense since you sold her the damn things. So, tell me: what did you put in those goddamn capsules?”
Deki glanced over at Cindy, unnerved by her feral behavior. He said, “It's, um... It's complicated. I don't really know how to explain it.”
“This isn't a damn sci-fi book. I don't need every little detail right now. Just tell me what it is so I can understand it and so I can tell the doctors when we get there. We just need an idea so that we know where to go. Okay?”
Deki sighed, then he said, “The capsule is a blend of... flesh and fat eating bacteria. It has E. coli, A. muciniphila, and clostridium. There's more in there, I'd have to grab the ingredient list, but you get the idea. It's bacteria. It's not supposed to be fatal because it is not blended to kill. It is an infection, obviously, but it does not spread. It's contained to the person who consumes the capsule.”
Charlotte nodded as she digested the information. She said, “Damn... It sounds like you're selling diseases to heal people with diseases. That's horrible...” As she stared at her reflection on the glass coffee table in the center of the room, she said, “Wait. If it's not supposed to kill, then what's happening to Cindy?”
“It's not supposed to kill, but it's supposed to work well – very well. That's why she should have been eating to fight the capsule's progress. There might have been some side-effects regardless of her actions, but it wouldn't have been like this. If she only took two capsules a week and ate to battle the mixture, then she wouldn't be in this position right now. I warned her about this. I told her to find a balance in her diet – and she ignored me. Whatever's happening to her now, I've never seen anything like it before.”
From the kitchen archway, Cindy said, “I don't care if you've seen it or not.”
Deki and Charlotte glanced over at Cindy. The sick woman leaned on the archway, exhausted from her trek. She had a chunk of cheese in her hand and mouth, chewing with her mouth open like a camel. Orange juice stained her chin and throat. She had chugged a gallon of orange juice prior to interrupting. There wasn't much food in the fridge, though – at least, not the type she could consume uncooked.
Cindy wagged the block of white cheese at Deki and said, “I want you to give me an... an antidote. You hardly have any damn food in this house. I mean, you... you live in a damn penthouse, but you don't have any food. What kind of person are you? Huh? Don't you have some sort of maid to go out and buy you some groceries? N–Never mind. Forget it. Just give me the antidote. I want to leave this horrible place.”
How do you explain the truth to a person in perpetual denial?
The young entrepreneur didn't know how to explain himself to Cindy. He wanted to give her hope, he wished he could offer a cure, but he could only offer the blunt truth. He could probably try to sell her a few more capsules, too, but it didn't seem like the brightest idea.
Deki sighed, then he said, “I'm sorry, Cindy. I don't have an antidote for you. I don't think I've ever even heard of an antidote in my line of work. I never really needed one. You see, my clients usually follow my directions.”
Cindy couldn't contain her rage. She snarled as she limped into the living room. She glared at Deki with livid eyes, slobbering like a starved animal. If she could not buy a cure, she considered using force – or a fear of force – to survive. Her options were limited, but she would not allow herself to deteriorate like her boyfriend.
As she reached the sofa, Cindy said, “You're going to give me a damn antidote. You understand me, Deki? You're going to save my life. If I run out of food around here, if I even think I'm going to die, I don't know what I'll do. You don't push a girl like me into a corner without expecting me to bite back. Give me a damn antidote. Now.”
Deki gazed into Cindy's bestial eyes, disquieted by the ominous threat. He glanced over at Charlotte, searching for comfort. Charlotte shook her head as she stared back at him, trapped in a difficult situation like a friend watching a couple during a domestic dispute.
Deki said, “Okay, okay. I get it. I'll tell you what I can do for you. I'll... I'll call my supplier. I'll inform them about this situation and we'll see what happens. I don't want to promise you anything. I can't lie to you. It doesn't look good. Until I can get a hold of them, you should eat whatever you can find in my kitchen. You might have to ask my neighbors for some food, too.”
Cindy furrowed her brow and tilted her head, astonished by the man's audacity. Beg for food, she thought, who the hell does he think I am? She couldn't imagine herself asking the rich and pretentious for a bite of food, grovelling like some desperate beggar – especially in her current condition. She never asked a neighbor for a cup of sugar and she surely wouldn't start begging at the Mosaic.
Cindy shouted, “Call them right now and get me a damn antidote! Stop fucking with me, Deki! I'm... I'm rotting! I'm crumbling! Can't you see?! You'll be responsible if I die! I'll make sure everyone knows about... about this!”
Cindy lifted her shirt to her chest, then she yanked her bra off. The bloodied garment spiraled towards the floor as she revealed her bare chest. Her wrinkled breasts were drooping towards her stomach. Her skin, like the rest of her body, was gray and rough. Her left nipple was dark, like an endless pit.
She grabbed her right nipple with her fingertips. She gently tugged on the nipple, exerting little effort, but it still peeled off like a scab on a child's elbow. The severed nipple spiraled to the floor. Blood leaked from her right breast and streamed across her stomach. Yet, the woman did not feel any physical pain.
Cindy gritted her teeth and said, “Help me.”
Charlotte's breathing intensified as she examined her friend's horribly mutated body. She closed her eyes and turned away – disgusted, horrified, and depressed. She couldn't stand to see Cindy's deteriorating condition. She loved her too much. Deki held his hand to his mouth and rapidly nodded, appalled. He cou
ld feel his dinner building up in his throat, waiting to eject from his mouth – projectile vomit.
The young man stuttered, “I–I'll expedite that order. Okay? I'll... I'll call them and I'll get everything I can from them now. I'm they're cash-cow, I can get to them. You two... just stay here and eat. You have to find out where you're going to get enough food to survive the night. When was the last time you took a capsule, Cindy? Think about it and be completely honest. No more lies. Did you take one today? Huh?”
“No. I haven't taken a capsule in a few days. I'm clean, I swear.”
Chiming-in, Charlotte asked, “If she eats as much as possible, can she really out-live this thing? This bacteria capsule or whatever you call it... Can she beat it?”
Deki stood from his seat and said, “Theoretically speaking: I'd say so. I'm going to make some calls. Start eating.”
Cindy watched as Deki strolled down a corridor. She glanced back into the kitchen, then she stared down at herself. She was disgusted by her own appearance, but she could only think about food and survival. In her short life, she never thought she'd have to eat to live.
Chapter Sixteen
By Any Means Necessary
Survival of the fittest, kill or be killed, eat or be eaten.
Survival was key to the continued existence of organisms. Adaptation was necessary for evolution. Most humans feared death – thoughtfully or subconsciously – seeking to live by any means necessary. The fight for survival was part of nature.
Cindy was willing to go to the most extreme lengths in order to survive. Brooding, the troubled woman chewed on a peanut butter protein bar as she absently stared at her reflection on the coffee table. A pile of wrappers from the health bars sat on the cushion beside her. Most of the food in the fridge was not immediately edible, so she had to settle for Deki's stash of protein bars. She devoured eight and she was finishing her ninth.
From the kitchen, Charlotte walked into the living room. She placed a white ceramic plate on the table in front of Cindy. A mountain of white rice drenched in soy sauce, delectable chicken breasts, and steamed vegetables were piled on the plate. The meal was not exactly fattening, but it was enough to buy time.
Charlotte handed Cindy a fork and said, “Eat up. I'll see what else I can cook up for you.” Cindy continued to chew on the protein bar, lost in her thoughts. Charlotte snapped her fingers and asked, “Cindy, are you okay? How are you feeling, sweetie? Come on, talk to me.”
Cindy erratically blinked, as if she had just awoken from a trance. She slowly nodded as she stared at Charlotte. She swallowed the lump in her throat, then she turned her attention to her meal. She filled her mouth with rice and chicken, eating as quickly as possible. Eating her food slowly did not buy more time anyway.
The blend of bacteria would not wait after all.
Charlotte bit her bottom lip as she watched her close friend with narrowed eyes. She stood from her seat, then she walked back to the kitchen – constantly glancing over her shoulder with every other step. The snorting, munching, and slurping sounds were eerie. The sick woman seemed to lose control around food. She ate as if someone would steal the food from her if she didn't finish it first.
Between bites, Cindy muttered, “I need... I need more. I need more food. This... This isn't enough. I need something... something bigger.” She glanced at Charlotte with wide eyes. She whispered, “I don't need friends, I need food. I need real food, damn it. I'll... I'll die if I don't save myself. I can't die. Not like this...”
Eyes welling with bloody tears, Cindy glanced around the lavish apartment. She considered knocking on the doors of each neighbor and asking for food. The idea seemed preposterous, though. She couldn't imagine a yuppie showing sympathy for a woman with such a horrid condition. In fact, she figured the rich neighbors would likely call the Center of Disease Control and Prevention before offering a helping hand.
Cindy whispered, “I don't want them to see me like this anyway. I'm hideous. I'm a... a monster.” She shoved another forkful of rice into her mouth. As she chewed, she said, “I can't be seen like this, but I... I have to do something.”
She sighed as she stared at the crimson wall across the room. In her wild imagination, she pondered the CDC's response to her bizarre condition. A group of people in hazmat suits would raid the apartment and trap me like an animal, she thought, it would be all over the news, shown all over the world.
She slowly shook her head, refusing to accept the possibility. She leaned towards her right and stared down the corridor. She could see Deki pacing between two rooms with a cell phone to his ear. His muffled voice could not be heard from the living room. His distraught movements and worried facial expressions were blatant, though. He was clearly perturbed by Cindy's appearance and threat.
Cindy whispered, “What the hell is taking so long, Deki? What are you planning?”
The young woman leaned forward in her seat. She focused solely on Deki and his conversation. Deki, flustered and frightened, was speaking louder than before. The conversation was erupting, snowballing into an argument. Bits and pieces of the conversation could be heard from afar.
From the doorway to his bedroom, Deki said, “I don't know. She's sick. She's dying, man.” He paused and nodded, as if he were actively listening. He covered his mouth with his hand and said, “There is no hope for her. She's... She's a lost cause. She won't last long. Send someone to clean the mess before the cops show up.”
Cindy's teeth chattered upon hearing the emotionless response. Thrown away like garbage, she thought.
Deki shrugged and asked, “Well, what do you want me to do? Flush her down the toilet? No, just send someone. Don't mess this up for me. Don't...”
Cindy leaned back in her seat as Deki strolled into another room. His voice was muffled, the conversation was broken, but she had already heard enough. In the penthouse, in the world of the rich and heartless, she was expendable. She was a mess for a crime scene cleaner. Like food in a grocery store, an expiration date was stamped onto her figure.
Her life was insignificant.
Cindy stared down the hall and whispered, “You think you can get rid of me like that? You think you can just clean me up and forget about me? You must be crazy, Deki. I won't let you do that to me. I'm done being walked over. I'm done being treated like trash. I'm done with this lie of a life...”
***
Charlotte walked into the living room. She glanced down the hall, curious and hopeful, then she sat beside her sick friend. She was frightened by her worrisome behavior and hostile attitude, but she did not quit. She wrapped her arm around Cindy and gently rubbed her shoulder.
She said, “I have some mac and cheese in the oven. It should be finished in a few minutes. I remember you used to love it when we were in high school. It feels like such a long time ago, doesn't it? It almost feels like a dream. Or, maybe this feels more like a nightmare, right? I just wish...”
Cindy vacantly stared down the hallway, lost in her thoughts. She heard Charlotte's words and she briefly reminisced about the past, but she was more concerned about her future. If she did not survive her sickness, the past would be meaningless. Heartwarming memories could not save her. Food was her only option.
Cindy slowly turned towards Charlotte. She watched her friend's naturally plump lips as they flapped with each insignificant word. She stared down at her torso, then towards her legs. With more curves than a car commercial, her figure was thick and sexy. She gazed into her glimmering eyes. Despite the carnage, her eyes still glowed with an ethereal beauty. She could see the sincere soul operating the sultry vessel. She was perfect.
Teary-eyed, Cindy whispered, “I'm so sorry.”
Charlotte furrowed her brow and stuttered, “Wha–What? What's wrong, Cin?”
Without another word, Cindy lunged at her friend. She bit into Charlotte's neck, then she violently shook her head. Blood squirted from the wound on her throat, spurting like water from a sprinkler. The blood coursed down the side
of the sofa and fell to the floor. The sound of shredding skin and loud munching echoed through the apartment.
Charlotte screamed as Cindy's teeth sank into her neck. Her bloodcurdling shriek reverberated through the entire building. She tried to push Cindy off of her, but to no avail. She was weakened by the rapid loss of blood and stunned by the unexpected attack. She squirmed and convulsed as she gargled her own blood.
With a firm grip on her throat, Cindy pulled her head back. She ripped a chunk of flesh off of Charlotte's throat with her teeth. Blood streaming down her chin and throat, she loudly chewed the piece of flesh. Blood squirted from the flesh with each bite, spattering across her friend's twitching body. The flesh was chewy and pungent, but she was still able to swallow it.
Charlotte gazed into Cindy's eyes, stunned and terrified. She reached for her throat with a trembling hand. She hoped to stop the excessive bleeding, but the wound was severe. A gaping hole was left on the right side of her neck. Dark blood oozed from the crater, slimy and thick. Upon feeling the gash, the helpful woman breathed throatily and trembled.
Cindy stared into Charlotte's lusterless eyes – a pair of vacant, wandering eyes. She could see the cold sweat materializing on her brow. She frowned as she glanced at her trembling legs. Her sincere soul was whisked away with the attack. The woman had lost control of her body.
Cindy sniffled and said, “I'm sorry. You're... You're going into shock, babe. You could probably live, but it doesn't seem worth it. I'll... I'll help you like you helped me. I'll put you out of your misery. I hope you can forgive me, Charlotte.”
As tears streamed down her cheeks, Cindy crouched in front of the sofa. She groaned as she bit into Charlotte's neck again. She whimpered and shuddered, disquieted by her own actions. Yet, she could not stop herself. She pulled her head back with all of her might, tearing another piece of flesh from her friend's mutilated throat.
Cindy grunted and moaned as she chewed the human flesh. Like hair, it was difficult to swallow – but she persevered. She wept and wheezed as she stared into her best friend's eyes. During the second bite, Charlotte stopped moving. The excessive loss of blood and oxygen combined with the sheer shock of the violent attack caused her to pass away.