It takes a long time to burn the bodies. Not just because there are so many of them, but because bodies are soggy. Human beings are basically more wet than anything else.
It doesn't help that we've had so much rain. It's coming down again now. Enough to slow the job, but not enough to wash the ash and blood from my hands. Maybe never enough.
But it was necessary. Informants and traitors, to a man. Or woman. We didn't harm the children, of course. We aren't monsters. They will be placed with good families in the community and well taken care of.
You'd think any decent person would feel sick at the smell of it all, but it turns out it's despicable how quickly the horrifying becomes just another detail. I'm not sickened anymore. It's unpleasant, yes, but I just want the grisly business done. The scarf over my nose and mouth is for the smoke more than anything else. Smoke that still stings my throat, makes me cough.
I can hear the last of them now, the wailing and pleading. Just another detail. It'll stop soon enough. We're almost done.
It helps that it's nighttime. The night lends an unrealness to the whole thing; makes it more bearable. Surely another reason to get this thing done. Get it finished under the blanket of darkness. Don't let the sunrise kiss this scene. If the bodies are burnt to ash and the bones scattered, we can almost pretend, in the cold light of day, that none of it was real.
The night feels long. I want to return to Fiona and the little ones. Isn't that why we do it? To maintain order, to keep good folks like us safe? (Good folks. Like us.)
I'll scoop up Charlie, Olivia and Theo, and hug them, knowing (thank goodness) that we're on the right side. The stink of cooking human flesh still tainting the inside of my nostrils. Washed away, possibly, by the innocent residue of bathtime, clean pyjamas, fresh bedsheets. I'll bury my face in their hair as if it could cleanse me. Maybe it will. Maybe.
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Word count (excluding note): 366
Submitted on 7th March at 18.10
*Quick Author's Note*
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Leave me a link to your own latest story, if I haven't already seen it!
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A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes a 67 day streak. You can find all of them in my Index post.
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Thank you again! I do my best to reciprocate all reads.
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Comments (21)
Chilling story. Spot on real-time narration of that darkest of human traits--rationalization. Really a great read!
So many thoughts. I almost wish I'd done this yearlong challenge I can see the improvement in your writing. A powerful theme executed well. Society turns us into monsters by making us believe our sins are good.
No wonder why this one was so heavily discussed and generated a lot of comments. Way to go L.C., talk about hitting heavy with the themes. Reminded me about the scene in "A Song of Ice and Fire" where Samwell Tarly and a bunch of the night's watch were burning their dead men, and Samwell had to vomit because they were starving and the burning flesh smelled sweet, like pork (reminded me of River Monsters were Jeremy Wade visited a few places that had people whose tribes used to practice cannibalism). Oh, innocence, hopefully it stays that way for as long as it can and open it's eyes easily like awakening from a dream instead of having the curtain ripped apart from them, tarnishing the veil. Yet, how many of us think of who could be innocent and we treat them as such, but instead they know more than they leas on and we need to guide them about not being innocent but about right from wrong.
Spookily grim, but unsettlingly, this doesn’t feel as far-fetched as it should. You use contrasting language cleverly throughout this L.C., and “Don't let the sunrise kiss this scene.” is an example of the speaker knowing that they are doing wrong, but refusing to admit it.
We are damn good at justifying.
Dark, scary, all too real.
The attitude & thoughts of every participant inflicting a holocaust upon others. Incredibly well told, grinding away at our humanity, reminding us that such tend to be our thoughts too.
Oooo, cooking human flesh! So yum hehehehheheheheehhe!!
Whoa. Shades of Rwanda - neighbor killing neighbor. Deeply and darkly drawn. Really fine storytelling, especially to putting children to bed as a form of absolution.
Gosh this was so dark. But so good. We’re not monsters - what a great line. I wonder how many people hide behind sentiments like these. Great stuff L.C.
Haha love the dark human nature
Humans are soggy 😮 I would want it done too, the odors would stick with me. 👍 Nice job.
Gave me goosebumps, how vivid and scary this is.
A fascinating delve into the human psyche. Well written LC!
Loved it! Loved that they learned not to be grossed out anymore! Whimsical!
Oh man. This was a dark tale of humanity at its worst and its best. Nicely done.
A fine and frightening job, LC! Well told from the perspective of someone with the need to justify his deeds.
Surreal!!! Left some love!!!❤️❤️💕
Crikey...that's grim. Love the arrogance of "we're not mosters" and believing they are on the good side. Nice bit of social commentary in there, LC! Loved it!
oh dear, this is quite frightening. but also good job, because it leaves a lot of mystery behind.
Beautiful as usual! The title does an amazing job of introducing the feeling and atmosphere of the piece. Love it!