The Breath of Rot

“Is that... it?” Jeff said, lowering his shades, his mouth agape. Barry and Chris shook their heads as they walked closer for a look.

Barry's voice boomed off the trees. “Too small, waaay too small.”

The tracks lead them to a deer, alright, though it had been eviscerated. Ripped open from chin to anus completely emptied of its organs. Despite the warm corpse, the only smell in the air was the tangy sweet aroma of sap from near by pines.

Jeff lifted a leg to peer inside. “Maybe someone got to it first ‘cus it looks like a hunter gutted it.”

Barry echoed Chris’ thoughts. “Why the hell leave it here then? Rack and all.”

Chris added,“Quiet as it is, we haven't heard shots or anything for that matter. And like Bear said this ones way smaller than the buck we saw.”

Jeff shrugged.

Aside from when the three came down the river to Barry’s family cabin and the encounter with the buck, there hadn't been any signs of life.

No deer, no birds, no wildlife, nothing but a quiet that enveloped everything. The area appeared devoid of life and so the hunting trip thus far bore no fruit.

Chris expected something like this. Barry was a bit of a storyteller. He would say back when his Grandpa came up to the cabin he would bring home deer by the boatload. That was until he got injured some years back. That was the last hunting trip for him.

Looking away from the corpse, Jeff nodded towards the trail “There's still some tracks leading that way.”

They all hesitated, but pressed onward. Chris wiped sweat from his eyes. The humid air was sticking to his skin like clothes. Air you can wear.

You wouldn't suspect from the late summer day, but Lake Superior and the river they docked on was still frigid as typical.

Following the tracks Chris pondered. What the fuck would have done that? Did the buck we saw gore that deer with its antlers and scavengers eat the organs? He glanced skyward whispering to himself, “Then where are the scavengers?” He thought back to the encounter on the tree stand and knew he was lying to himself.

___________________________

Knock knock. Knock knock. It felt like a woodpecker tapping Chris’ head. Chris jolted awake to Barry knocking on his skull. He thought it was Barry trying to smoke another joint. Chris hadn’t smoked weed in a while and forgot how drowsy it made him.

Not the brightest idea but Chris thought what the hell? There wasnt anything to hunt anyways.

"What Bear?"

“Shh there's a buck.” Barry whispered. Chris wiped the sand from his eyes to see where Barry was looking. There, about fifty yards away was a deer. Maybe a four point. Barry smiled eagerly, raising his rifle.

Chris whispered, “Wait, it maybe leading the way for the buck.”

They waited and watched in silence, the only sound was Barry's labored breathing... Or maybe it was the forest breathing with them. As if on cue, a breeze exhaled in their faces.

Chris sniffed the air three times like an animal would. The air brought Chris a smell as if something nearby was festering. After what felt like an eternity, the deer got spooked and sprinted away.

Barry growled, “Dammit, you should've let me shoot it man.”

Chris annoyedly hissed back. “Come on did you have to shit your pants though? Jesus Chr-” before Chris could finish his sentence, much closer than the first deer emerged a large antlered head.

Both men gawked into their scopes. Chris’ eyes widened.

The buck was huge. Possibly the largest he had ever seen. He could see from the neck down to its front legs that it stood easily as tall as a horse. Its antlers spread out like branches of a tree. It was at least a 14-point buck. Chris' heart was in his throat like a drum. He zoomed out his scope to focus.

Something was wrong.

Huge as it was, he noticed it was very gaunt, despite the obvious strength in its sinews; its skin sagged off its body and was covered in dark spots. Blood Chris thought to himself puzzled.

As if Sensing their presence, the buck peered up to their tree stand. When it turned its head, Chris saw what appeared to be teeth and raw jawline bursting from skin. What the fuck? It was then its sunken milky eyes gazed into his. Chris felt it looking right at him. Like it looked inside him.

Hunger.

The thought came to him from nowhere. Chris lowered his rifle slowly. His eyes darting back and forth as he sat frozen on the tree stand. Not taking his eyes off the buck he said in a hushed voice, “That's not a deer.”

BOOM! BOOM!

Without warning Barry shot at the buck. It vanished into the bush. Chris jumped, taken from his trance. He shot into the brush as well.

Barry moved faster than Chris had ever seen; scuttling down the tree stand he shouted “c’mon now dead shot I’m sure I pegged it let's finish it off!”

Chris watched Barry jog toward the bush his belly bounced as he went. He shook himself out of it. Despite the sweat dripping off him a shiver went up his spine.

Barry's booming laugh echoed off the trees. “This will look great on my fireplace don't ya think Chrissy?”

Back on the trail Chris shook the image of the buck from his mind. He jogged to catch up to Jeff. When he spoke, it was louder than he intended.“Jeff.”

He glanced around nervously, he spoke in a whisper now. “You know man, I grew up in the woods. I know just about every animal out here.” Chris thought to himself. Well not out here because there's nothing out here. “You know I hunt; whenever I can. Not as much as you do but I hunt.”

Jeff gave a sardonic grunt. “Then what are you sayin' ?” They both stopped. The tracks cut through some pines and they ducked under the limbs to continue.

Chris wasn’t sure how to say it, so he just out and said it. “I'm saying that wasn't a deer.”

Jeff shook his head, “Here we go again with this zombie deer or whatever.”

Chris sighed in frustration. He collected his thoughts.“So…Barry probably didn't look too hard because he was tryin' to shoot anything that moved. Though when I looked at that buck through my scope. It seemed like…” His voice trailed off. “It looked like a buck don't get me wrong. But it wasn't. It looked like…” Chris licked his lips nervously. “It looked like it used to be one.” The two walked on the soft pine without another word. Chris could tell Jeff didn't know what to say or chose not to.

After a good thirty minutes the three found something unexplainable.

“What on God's green earth now?” Barry muttered, scratching his beard. The three stood together studying the tracks. The deer tracks they were following changed. Instead of being on four limbs now they were on two; and it was continued for hundreds of paces. Chris knew some deer would walk on their hind legs at times but this was different. He could see a peculiar look coming across Jeff's face.

Barry rasped “What is it?”

Jeff squinted all around them. “The trail. It stopped cold here.”

They all glanced at each other and into the shadows of the forest. Although it was late afternoon the shade was all encompassing, oppressing any attempts of the sun to shine though.

Barry whispered loudly again “What is it?” Chris shook his head glaring at Barry. Do you ever shut up? He held up a finger to Barry. “Shhh'' Barry winced, looking back with a puzzled face.

Chris wondered if they felt what he did. The hairs on his neck, and for that matter every part of his body stood up. It felt like they were being watched. Chris noticed that Jeff had his hand cupped over his face with a look of disgust. Chris didnt even need to smell the air, the putrid smell of rot filled his lungs, gagging him.

SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Chris jumped from his skin the sound came from a bush less than a foot away. Deep baritone laughter erupted from within the forest. The three froze, their heads all jerking around in search of the source.

A mixture of murmurs and whispers surrounded them. Childish laughter, and taunts mocking the fear the men felt.

Barry yelled “What the fuck do you want? Who's out there?” More laughter came in response.

A raspy voice whispered back, “You will never leaveeeee.”

Jeff stammered, “Fuck this!” He then opened fire in different sectors of the forest; as did Chris and Barry. After several rounds the firing ceased. Nothing but silence answered them now.

Barry turned a now pale face to Chris, “Lets get the hell out of here now.”

As soon as the three started moving, an unearthly screech sprung up all around them.

Chris clasped his ears with his hands; it was like a megaphone was on him. Panic set in. The three turned to run. Running for their lives from whatever was behind them. Chris couldn't help himself but look.

Looking back he saw it, partially exposed from the brush was the buck watching them run. Only this time standing bipedal, it had to be at least 7 feet tall. Exposed ribs peaked from its flanks. Blood dripped from every part of its body.

Chris could see the exposed jawline clearer than before. Fangs protruded from a mouth that seemed like the only part of the thing not in decay.

Leaves rained down on them as they ran. The forest itself felt as though it was shaking.

It's like the trees are taunting us too. Finally they emerged from the treeline to see the welcome site of the cabin. Chris collapsed, his legs and lungs on fire. Jeff was not in much better shape. They pointed their guns to the forest waiting for anything to appear.

Jeff gasped to speak. “What. Is happening?”

Chris looked around them. Lightning hit him and his stomach plummeted “Barry.''

Jeff's eyes went wider than Chris thought possible. “You’re fucking kidding me no way. No way.”

They took turns yelling into the forest. It swallowed their yells and shot it back at them.

Chris shook his head,“We gotta go out there. We gotta find him.”

Jeff looked back at him and the lowering sun with doubt.

“Man he's prolly just catching up. Barry!”

Chris licked his lips. “Jeff, if that's me out there I wouldn't want to be left alone with whoever or whatever the fuck that is.”

Jeff and Chris searched but only found Barry's hat along with more tracks. They decided to make a huge fire to hopefully help guide Barry home. Chris tried to shake the thought of Barry not being alive, as well as what he had seen. What did I see?

As it got later, they took turns on watch and Chris fell into an uneasy sleep. Some time later he shot awake from movement in the cabin. He saw Jeff. It must be my turn to watch.

He watched in confusion as Jeff stood awkwardly facing the front door. Chris cleared his throat but Jeff did not budge. “My turn Jeffy?” Jeff continued staring into nothing.

“Jeff?” Chris sat up on the futon. watching as Jeff opened the door and walked into the night. Chris, confused, slipped on his boots to check what his friend was up to. He opened the door to still roaring fire. The dancing shadows being cast everywhere did not help his unease. He saw Jeff power walk past the fire toward the forest.

“Jeff?” Chris sped his walk to catch up. “Jeff, where the hell you going? Did you see Barry? Jeff STOP!”

Jeff continued onward to be swallowed by the forest.

Chris paused. You gotta be kidding me. He placed his hands on top of his head. “Ahh come on!” He clenched his teeth and bolted into the woods. “Jeff! Where are you? Jeff fucking stop moving man its pitch black out here, wait up!” Chris noticed he was getting further away from the camp, too far.

A noise caught his attention. He could make out an outline kneeling down beside a weeping willow. Chris approached slowly “Jeff are you okay? What are you doing? Is it Barry?” Chris froze. He could hear something. Is that coughing? Chris got closer. It was sobbing.

“J-Jeff?” He could make it out now. The flannel. The larger shape. It wasn't Jeff, it was Barry. “Oh my god Barry are you ok? I'm coming over there man, tell me what's wrong.”

Chris started toward him when the crying stopped mid breath. Barry froze as he sat more upright. Chris slowed his pace to a halt.

He felt something in the wind. The crying resumed, this time distorted. It was as though it was coming from a radio.

With a wheeze and a gasp Barry slowly started to come to his feet. Twitching and gyrating as he stood. Chris could hear joints, and bones popping as his body altered. Barry's entire outline seemed to shift.

Chris stumbled back aghast. “Wha-what the fuck?”

His legs turned to wings again as he ran back toward the glow of the fire. “Fuck, fuck.” Just get to the fire, get to the fire. He ran into several bushes and closed his eyes as he ran; it felt like claws digging into his face.

He emerged right into Jeff knocking them both from their feet. Chris tried to explain the words came out jumbled.

“I was chasing you into the woods and then there was Barry; out there hurt or.. I don't even know.”

Jeff tipped his head to the side. “Huh? I was just taking a piss when I saw you go into the forest. You saw Barry?”

“Yeah but.. Something wasn't right. I tried to help but it wasnt..right.” They both sat in silence. When, Jeff, and Chris’ eyes bulged from their sockets at what they heard.

“HELP ME! CHRIS! JEFF! HELP ME!” The screams appeared to come from contradicting directions. "OVER HERE!” Chris and Jeff began running to one scream, when it came from the other side of them.

“PLEASE HELP!”

At one point it even sounded like Barry was above them. They were running in circles until Chris cried out in surprise. There sitting by the fire was none other than Barry.

There Barry sat, as if he has been present the entire time. Chris couldn't help but stare. He had crusted blood trailing from his ears and eyes. His skin dangled off the bone; he looked like he had lost pounds of weight in the mere hours he was missing.

Jeff broke the silence first. “So what the hell happened Bear? Are you ok?”

Barry appeared shocked to hear another voice. Slowly he turned from the fire to the others as he took a deep breath. “I was just hunting that buck and you pussies ran. Left me.” His booming voice was now reduced to a low dried up rattle. Jeff and Chris exchanged glances.

Chris’ turn. “What the hell happened to your face man? I think you should come into the cabin. We can clean you up and-”

“Ohh no I'm quite alright Chris the fire is warming my old bones.” He said with a wheezed laugh.

Jeff's hands shook as he lit a cigarette. He took a long drag and asked, ''So where the hell you been man?”

Barry spoke with a sloppy smile “Oh I've been out there,”he said with a nod to the forest. “A little here little there. I just come and go with the wind heh, heh,heh.” He laughed, thrusting his head forward toward the others. An uneasy shiver crept up Chris’ neck.

Jeff covered his nose with his cigarette hand. The smell was foul. Chris wasn't sure if it was from Barry or coming off the river.

Chris gagged, turning away. He then cleared his throat, “Bear come on lets get some beers in ya. Clean ya up and call it a night. You are here buckless so you are as shitty a hunter as us.” They pulled Barry up gingerly. Barry looked at Chris as if looking through him.

“I am a great hunter ya know? I was here when my grandpa hunted.”

Jeff nodded, rolling his eyes. “Yeah we know man, and you used to bring back deer by the boatload. Wasn't our time this year that's all.”

A hooked demented smile slowly came across Barry's face.

“I know because I was here waiting. I was with him when he got hurt. I was there at the end, the beginning.” Then with an impossibly swift movement Barry sent Jeff and Chris flying back on the ground.

Chris gasped as air was knocked from his lungs. When he realized what happened Barry was already gone. His words echoed in Chris’ head.

I just come and go with the wind. Then they heard it. The shrieking. Along with Barry's sobbing screams

HELP ME BOYS, HELP ME!

The two were swept with terror. Chris started to head to the cabin to grab his rifle when he heard Jeff.

“Chr-Chris l-l-look. UP. UP!” Chris glanced at Jeff who was ashen white even under his tan, he was pointing up to the sky.

Chris' mouth dropped to his chest. There floating above the cabin maybe 15-20 feet was a massive shape.

His breath stopped. It was the Buck. The fire was illuminated its vile form. Chris could make out its lanky limbs, long claws, and partial face of what used to be a buck.

Its hungry sunken eyes were the worst part. He could see them reflecting down at him. They resembled hot coals but Chris could not imagine any warmth coming from them. If anything these coals suck the warmth from this world.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Chris stumbled over himself. He saw that Jeff had shot at the beast. There was a scream that sounded like someone stopped a record player with knives. The wind began gusting around them, the embers of the fire swirled like fireflies.

Chris struggled to run as the wind knocked him to his knees. The trees shook with a rage, branches came crashing around them.

Jeff pulled Chris up and yelled into his ear, “We have to go!”

Our only hope is the boat. God be damned we are going to die here otherwise. The gale force wind blew the rifle clear from Jeff's hands. The run felt like miles. Chris looked behind to see the gaunt outline of the thing against the glow of the fire.

The inferno spread, as it covered almost everything. Chris could feel the flames creeping up singeing his hair.

They jumped into the boat, almost tipping it over. The creature was on the ground now. For how skinny it was, it ran impossibly fast.

“Lets go!” Chris realized in their panic the boat was still tied to the dock. "Shit! shit!" He jumped up to the back of the boat cutting the rope free with his hunting knife as Jeff struggled with the engine.

"Fucking come on start, start!”

Brmm Brmmmm the engine hummed to life, off they went now. The boat rocked wildly, Chris’ knuckles turned white as he gripped the side railing. The fucking water.

The river was producing tsunami-like waves. We have to slow down or we are going to be capsized. He cut the engine some to look up and see the thing; it was running on the water at them. Its claws reached for Chris.

He fell backwards with a whimper onto Jeff. It just missed him, sparks were cast into the night as it scraped the boad.

Its jaws opened like a pez dispenser. Chris winced away from its mouth, the putrid stench was a hot odor of rot, decay, and of many lives.

Chris opened his eyes again. The shoreline was coming at them too fast. Chris jumped up to steer, batting the creature away with the boat engine. There was a loud splash, and whoosh of air.

Just as quick as it came the thing was gone. He scoured behind him for any sign of it. The entire shoreline along with the cabin was ablaze, all except the dock. It stuck out onto the water like a wooden tongue from a mouth of flames. It was as if they had reached some unknown boundary. Like nothing was ever there.

Then a shape came moving through the flames. It moved seemingly like a puppet on strings. Chris braced himself, "Christ what now?"All the two could do was watch and try to prepare for whatever came next. The shadow emerged and walked to the end of the dock.

Jeff cried “Barry! Our fucking Barry we have to-we have to go back.”

Chris started to touch the engine his fingers grazing it. Barry was yelling something indistinguishable to them. From this distance it sounded like babble. He was waving at them almost violently; with a smile that seemed too large for his face. It's like goodbye.

Jeff grabbed Chris by the shoulder. "That's not fucking Barry.” It brought to mind when Chris said that same thing about the deer.

Barry stopped waving goodbye to them. He sat staring, watching them blankly and he watched them go with his eyes of coal and hunger. He then collapsed as if he were a pile of blankets.

Chris put the engine to full speed. Both men sat looking at the blazing inferno behind them. A silence overcame them that neither had experienced prior and haven't since.

Both men spoke little of what happened, only of common things. The sun rose behind them as mourning doves sang; welcoming them back to the land of the living. They arrived at the boat landing with not a soul in sight. As they prepared to enter Barry's ancient Silverado, Chris pulled the door handle and his stomach fell. He just had to laugh.

“What?” Jeff asked. His voice empty of life.

Chris sighed with a sad smile. “Keys. Barry has-had the keys.”

Jeff collapsed on the ground with a groan. After a rest, the two started the ten mile walk to town. They walked in silence; it was an overload to the senses compared to where they just came from. Chris could hear somewhere in the distance cars on dusty country roads. The animals, the wind, and the crisp smell of morning dew; life. Chris was present again with Jeff's voice.

“So what the hell are we going to tell people man?” Jeff went to pull a cigarette from his pack only to realize it was empty, he crinkled it in frustration. “I mean people are probably going to think we murdered him ya know?”

“Shit Jeff, we just tell them the truth." Chris said bluntly. “The last time we saw Barry we were running from some animal in the forest.” The two walked. Their feet dragged the gravel of the road. “And That was the last time we saw Barry.”