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Rafflesia

No roots, stems or leaves to connect to

By Set ZekPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 4 min read
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***TW: This short story contains themes of horror, abuse, sexual abuse and violence. Reader’s discretion is advised.***

Raff spent majority of his life preying on people by building trust and surety in his victims, isolating them from friends and family as well as fostering dependance (masking it as ‘interdependence’) until all efforts are squeezed out of the victim, Raffael disposes of their existence. There seems to be a trail of nightmarish fracas that follows in his chosen hobby of toying with extermination of human vivacity. A Rafflesia feasting off of its host; No roots, stems or leaves to connect to. Just dining off the scintilla of flesh, to every limb rived to disseverment of pliable tendons clinging to the edge of his excision from his canines. His latest prey seem to be privy to his advances as Gwen came across folks of more of a sociopath nature revealing their true motives within a year.

But this one seemingly and simultaneously arose both trepidation and titillation in Raff. They were more of a feat to the chase. They were so dominantly frightening that it made Raff question his own mortality. Literally humbling him on all fours with their sexual prowess as a dominatrix and exercised rigorous and studious lessons for Raff’s behaviour. They could see remnants of Raff’s dark-side come up in these sessions and they managed to shut it down almost immediately. As their relationship and then later cohabitation progressed into common-law marriage and a baby was now passed the legal gestation period for an abortion, Gwen was now engulfed into the folds of Raff’s history despite what had been conveyed to them over the years. Raff’s lies about ownership of the cohabitation home that their partner continuously requested to see while brought in passing in discussion of financial matters; his history of being sexually assaulted in St. Andrews by his cousin and his employment as well as his whole identity. When Raff was confronted on this of course he deflects and denies all claims in an outburst of anger towards his family and partner (with a baby on the way).

During this time, Gwen plans an escape to get away from this perceived sociopath while the baby was just 4 months old. Gwen decided to use his same dark manipulation back on Raff to play on his ego and keep the peace until an opportunity to exit quietly presents itself. One day while Raff’s mother was organizing the final stages to close on the 1 bedroom condominium that according to Raff was ‘rightfully’ his, his mother sat Gwen down and explained why she would be giving the condo to Raff. To give him a clean slate after everything that happened in Jamaica and that she knows Raff is mad at her for not being there for what happened with him and his cousin but she wants to be there now. Gwen curious to investigate what the mother’s perspective on the matter was, they asked “What happened to Raff in regards to the abuse?”

The mother perplexed at the question, “Raff didn’t tell you?”

“I only know as much as what Raff told me. He was assaulted by his cousin. Right?” Gwen analyzed his mother’s face for micro-responses.

The mother leaned back and shook her head, “Look I’m not going to get in the middle of this. That’s a conversation you and Raff need to have.”

They proceeded with the arrangements of securing the condo with Gwen’s help, in less than a month they were living at their new place. Gwen would further enquire with what went down in St. Andrews but careful in not bringing it up as to not trigger any traumas. Raff was not biting. They started to see Raff’s behaviour change for the worse as Gwen would wake up with Raff biting them on the limbs enough for it to hurt. One instance Raff lost it and bit at Gwen after an argument and he took a flesh off of their forearm to block them and their baby whom Gwen was holding at the time. Raff profusely apologized and began to try to make amends in the most gargantuan ways possible. Raff’s obsessive behaviours was alarming and they felt cornered on how to escape. Another year passed and Raff became more violent and began to demean and hurled insults towards Gwen and the baby until during another argument Raff jumped Gwen to devour them while the baby was in their hand. Raff lunged after the child and grabbed them by their forearm and yanked them above to eat their dangling feeble legs.

Gwen bit down on Raff so hard it loosed his grasp and Gwen grabbed and shielded their child as Raff opened their glistening mustard yellow fangs to take a chunk out of Gwen’s back. Gwen and the child both dropped to the floor. Pumped with adrenaline, Gwen picked up their child and ran into the bedroom to lock their door and called the police. Raff threatened to call the police too as to deter them from making the call.

“Then call them asshole!” said Gwen as they continued to dial.

Raff, frightened, ran out of the unit and was caught in the lobby by the police while the operator remained on the phone with Gwen and the child. Raff was immediately arrested for assault and Gwen reported that he had done this before. Unfortunately, months after court proceedings, Raff was released and escaped to British Columbia in search of his next victim. Gwen after becoming a detective managed to uncover other victims who were not able to escape the jaws of Raff Kellson who still lurks in plain sight. Beware of the charismatic charm and uneasy nicety of ‘Too-good to be true’ demeanour. To him, it is the hook to reel in a more delight. Fishermans usually go back to the same promising lake of viable source. Whomever that source may be…

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About the Creator

Set Zek

"In times of chaos the soul is immortal" - Wu Cheng'en

Chaos comes in Tides, so I write about it.

IG: @set.zek

Twitter: @setzek

linktr.ee/setzek

Reader insights

Nice work

Very well written. Keep up the good work!

Top insights

  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  2. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

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Comments (1)

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  • Gideon 6ix2 years ago

    I look forward to Gwen's adventures, if there is to be more that is. Great story- thank you for sharing! I am new to Vocal and happy to connect with you and continue to support your work. Have a great day.

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