The Hunger House [10-5-23]

*Note from the Author*

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delays and not posting anything. My senior year has been hellish for my mental health. But I have beaten another battle and won more self love. I have a few things that I want to share with you all, from my classes. These will go with the Mini Horrors from the Grave series. Now time for my usual notes.

Please enjoy these boys' tale and let me know what you think. This is one of the many stories that I did for my classes, which is why I had to pause my main book and they didn't make it into the Pens of Fate book, and they will be just my stories for giving those who can't handle gore little nightmares. As usual I will continue to write for myself, not for the people who judge based on what the cover looks like. They will miss out on these torn pages that never age because of what is written in them. To my inner angels who kept fighting against the demons of my mind, I want to thank you for it. And to those inner monsters of mine, thank you for being my inspiration for the feasts and meals from these stories. To the angels who stood beside me while I battled my dark cravings, these books and stories will represent how you have been there for me. 

And to the younger me, who probably didn’t think starving was bad if it made you pretty; you were going to do great things and you are perfect no matter your size. Don't you ever look back and question the choices that lead you to the me that I have become...

If you guys want more Mini Horrors from the Grave, please leave a comment and like below. Share your ideas and I will listen. Now without further due, here's the boys' tale of the true hunger...

TRIGGER WARNINGS Gore AND Cannibalism

The roaring of the storm outside the log cabin kept Hunter up with the anxiety of his rose garden being washed away by an unseen mudslide. Hunter sighed as the thunder continued. He then tried to distract himself by preparing some of the meat in his cellar. He intently focused on slicing the leg of a creature until a loud banging on the front door. Hunter, confusedly walking up to the door, wondering who in their right mind would be outside at 9 o'clock of a night during a storm in the dense as hell woods. Hunter was still holding a very bloody knife when he peered out of the cabin’s peephole. He could see the purple lighting brighten the outline of a person hiding on his porch. 

The person hiding was a younger boy who was caked in blood and mud. The messy brown hair held sticks and bits of leaves, which then blocked the boy’s vision. His gray eyes were filled with fear and had horrible bags under them. The boy appeared to be paper thin and ill, almost like undernourishment was the reason death was around the corner. Hunter, opening the door out of pity for the little guy, watched the woods intently. Hunter watched the shadows between the trees, as the strange boy ran into the warmth of the log house. Hunter could sense the evil watching them.

The boy said nothing as Hunter locked up the front door. Hunter turned to the boy, getting a better look in the light. “I have a few questions,” Hunter said as he moved towards the kitchen to continue his cutting and preparing the meat, “First thing’s first, who the bloody hell are you?” 

The boy stood awkwardly in the center of the house, his voice came off quiet and meek as he spoke, “L-luka, s-sir.” His stutter is very out there, Hunter thought to himself, must be through hell to act like this. Hunter placed the knife down and smiled at Luka, “Now there’s no need for the ‘sir’ business, I am only 19, not in my 40’s.” Luka just nodded as Hunter watched him carefully, “So, Luka, why were you running in the dark woods? I have a few bear traps out there so you are really lucky that you didn’t get into any of them.” Luka’s eyes widened as the words came out before he even could prose them, “I’m h-hiding. M-my v-village is dying.” Hunter’s expression became cold, “It’s the storms, right? It’s driving out the creatures and making it harder to farm.” Luka broke down as the tears burned his face, “W-we co-couldn’t even feed ourselves and then the cannibalistic thieves took over. They took any and all animals, and the elderly who were already dying. I lost my g-grandma.” Hunter slowly started to clean Luka’s face as he continued to sob. 

That night, Hunter watched Luka, now cleaned and in fresh clothes, quiet sleep in his bed. Hunter smiled as he closed the bedroom door and turned to head out into the woods. As Hunter guided himself well through the night, the storms had not cleared up but were now light rains and softer thunder. As he traveled, the ground under his boots didn't even make a sound. Just then a metal snap and blood curdling scream broke the night’s storm, and caused Hunter to live up to his name.

Luka woke up to the smell of something cooking. The memories of actual meals flooded Luka’s mind as he walked to the kitchen. Hunter had been cutting more meat and was now frying some. Luka looked over to the cutting board where some of the meat was still there, and his heart stopped. Along with the blood knife on the wooden board as an index finger. Luka couldn’t breathe as Hunter stopped cooking and dished up two plates of the food. Luka turned to run out the door just as Hunter turned to set the table. Now barefoot, Luka ran from the cabin, the wet dirt sticking to his feet. After what felt like an hour of just running, Luka found himself in a forest clearing where brightly colored roses grew in abundance. Luka was so captivated by the unique rose beds that he didn’t see where he was going. He tripped, barely being able to catch himself, Luka looked to see what was peaking out of the soil. Luka’s eyes widened as realization that a human bone had tripped him. Still in shock, Luka stood frozen as Hunter walked up to the garden, “There’s not a lot of places that normal teenagers can live now, Luka. Your village was one of the remaining refuge for non-eaters. And honestly, I was in shock that there were still humans around.”

Luka was confused as Hunter continued, “Humans have become monsters and monsters became human. There were governments in place to keep the balance between both races. Humans became more and more selfish, to the point where children of monsters were becoming cannibals and eating their own parents just to keep their insatiable hunger and insanity away. Monsters like us are dying because we weren’t made for going without meat for long periods like humans.” Hunter’s body did look strange to Luka, he was taller and more muscular than a normal human. Hunter’s eyes however were more wolf-like in Luka’s mind. Hunter knelt down beside him, placing his hand on Luka’s cheek as he spoke, “The fact that you were able to survive this long during the famine amazed me. I had to check the stents of humans to make sure I was right.” Luka looked back at Hunter, “Right about what?” Hunter smiled as he kissed his forehead, “You are like me.”

Luka’s feet were cleaned as he cuddled up on the cabin’s sofa.

Hunter had brought out more of the meat from the woods, after checking on Luka’s village. The famine occurring was almost over but Hunter and Luka both knew that he couldn’t go back. Now that they found each other, the two monsters let their true forms out. Luka’s brown fur spread down his thin arms and his eyes narrowed. Hunter smiled at the smaller creature as the pair went out to hunt. Dinner was still waiting after all…