WoodRot (Prt 3)

"Wait, you've been finding what around the cabin?"

Mark's image turned into a spattering of pixels on Florence's phone. His voice distorted just slightly as the audio lagged, then sped back up to the present. She waited until the video was back to normal before answering.

"Dead animals," Florence emphasized. "Tons of them. At least three every day this week."

"That's so gross."

"That's not even the weird part." Florence took a breath as Mark's eyebrows rose in a silent question. There was a good chance he wouldn't believe her. "All the bodies have been covered in mushrooms and are rotting like. . .like they're half-decayed or something. And I don't care what the others are saying, but they keep popping up overnight! I know it sounds impossible, but that's what's happening. Everyone else is just in serious denial about it."

She waited for Mark to laugh at her or call her crazy, like the others had been doing. It didn't matter what they'd seen with their own eyes during the last four nights; no one in the cabin wanted to acknowledge the truth.

When Mark continued to stare at her in silence, Florence frowned. "Mark?"

The still image of Mark's surprise distorted into a blurred mess as his voice cut in and out. "Yeah-- Sorry, was just-- That doesn't sound-- Flo? Can--- Hear me?"

Lousy internet, she thought. "Yes. Can you hear me?"

"There we go!" The video finally settled back into Mark's beaming visage. "Hi again."

Florence couldn't help cracking a smile. "Hi. Again. Well? Did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah, I did. And I have to be honest, what you're describing shouldn't be possible. I'm not saying I don't believe you," he added hurriedly at her scowl. "I know enough about Death to know it isn't exactly predictable. And even though something like this has never been found before, that doesn't mean it's entirely impossible. I mean, heck, we invented body farms just to understand decay better." He sighed wistfully. "Man, I wish I could have come out there this week, just to see it with my own eyes."

"Oh, no other reason, then?"

"I thought that was obvious. You have no idea how much I miss you." Mark grinned at her. "But a scientific discovery on top of a week with you would just be an added bonus."

"Right, sounds like your perfect vacation," Florence teased. She glanced out the window and frowned at the woods. They looked far more threatening in the dark. She half-expected to see pale eyes staring at her through the trees again.

Perhaps it was fear---fear of the unknown thing in the dark or fear of the urge to run outside toward it----that made Florence take a breath and whisper,

"I miss you, too."

It wasn't like her to be so open about her feelings, even with Mark. Expressing how she felt meant being vulnerable, and being vulnerable meant being hurt. Florence had trusted the wrong person one too many times to ever make that mistake again. And Mark, bless him, was aware of that. When he'd first said those three little words, he'd told her it was okay if she couldn't say it back right away. He just wanted her to know that he loved her, and always would.

Florence still hadn't managed to say it back yet, but she did care about him. And Mark knew it. And for now, that was enough.

Mark's eyes widened before he managed a casual smile. "Well, it's just a few more days, right? You'll be back home before you know it."

"I know." She met his gaze before looking at the trees again. "Mark, if I---"

SLAM.

They both jumped at the sudden crash of a door banging against the wall. Two muffled voices were arguing back and forth, before others started to chime in.

"What's that?" Mark asked with a concerned frown.

"I'll call you back." She hung up before Mark could say another word.

A shadow of unease hovered around her as Florence rose to her feet and crept from her room. She ran into Heather in the hall, who looked just as confused as she felt. Silently, they made their way to the large living room where the rest of the cabin's inhabitants were gathered.

Lexi was standing in front of the fireplace, pale and shaking as she spoke angrily to the others. Dawn and Taylor were standing beside her and attempting to calm her down as she ranted. Rey was standing off to the side, glancing around the room anxiously as if she were looking for an excuse to leave. Monica was the only one seated on the couch and had a displeased scowl on her face as Lexi jabbed a finger at her.

"You must be an idiot if you think I'm going to go back to bed while he's out there," Lexi shouted. "I'm sorry if a search party throws off your precious schedule, Monica, but I don't give a shit! My husband is missing!"

"I know. And I'm sorry that you're freaking out," Monica said crossly. "Dennis and Dan are driving around as we speak. There's nothing else we can do right now."

"We can be out there looking for him!"

"Wait, I'm sorry!" Heather made a 'time-out' gesture with her hands. "What is going on?"

"Ian's gone," Rey said with a grimace.

Lexi whirled around toward her with a furious gasp. "Don't say it like that! Don't say it like everything's fine! Like he just walked out on me or something!"

"That's not what she meant, and you know it." Taylor narrowed her eyes in warning. "We're all as concerned as you are."

"No, you're not! I know you aren't!" Lexi pushed away Dawn's whispered urging to relax. "Don't lie to me! None of you liked him! I'm sorry that he's not a rich old bore," she glared at Monica, "or a pushover or a fancy, cosmopolitan entrepreneur, or a death-obsessed creep," she ignored the varying looks of hurt and anger from the others as she shouted, "but I love him! I'm not going to leave him out there by himself! And if none of you want to help me look, than fine! You can all rot in hell!"

Dawn was the only one who started to walk after Lexi, but stopped once the front door slammed shut in her face. The silence was tense enough to cut with a knife, before Monica groaned loudly and rubbed her temples.

"The boys are already out looking for him. Does she really think we'll find him before they do?"

"Ha! Like I'm going out in the woods tonight after that?" Taylor snapped, gesturing after Lexi. "You know, she got one thing right; I never did care for that small-minded pig."

"Tay, come on," Rey said softly, taking her hand and squeezing it. "That's your friend. You'd want her to help you if I was missing."

"You wouldn't be stupid enough to go for a night-run in the middle of nowhere," Taylor muttered, though it was clear her resistance was fading. "Fine! I'll help her."

"I'll go get the flashlights," Dawn volunteered before dashing off to the garage.

Heather flashed Florence a bitter smile. "Guess we're all going, huh?"

"I guess." Florence didn't smile back. The dark feeling in her gut had grown into a suffocating dread that only tightened as she looked at the woods. Dread, mingled with anticipation.

"Seriously? Ugh. Whatever." Monica rolled her eyes. "You all have fun traipsing through the wilderness. I'm going to stay here."

Heather crossed her arms. "Are you for real, Monica?"

"Someone needs to be here when he comes back." She gave Florence and Heather a look. "And he will be back."

"You don't think he's missing, then?" Florence asked.

"What?" Monica's eyes widened in surprise. "Of course I don't! It's Ian. Besides, he's only been gone for an hour. If anything, he's at the lake with a secret stash of beer. But missing? Pfft." She waved her hand flippantly. "He'll be back. Just wait and see."

Despite Monica's certainty---and the fact that none of the others really wanted to look for Ian---they divided the flashlights anyway and began to search the property. Taylor and Rey set off toward the lake, perhaps hoping to tear Ian a new one for making Lexi worry. Heather and Dawn followed Lexi's frantic calls, more concerned about finding their friend than finding her missing husband. That left Florence, alone.

She'd reassured the others she was fine. Besides, she had Leo with her. The large dog, as sleepy as he was, would be protection enough.

"Not that there's anything I need protection from," Florence whispered as her and Leo walked toward the woods.

Though Dawn and Heather insisted even Ian wouldn't be stupid enough to run into the woods by himself this late, Florence knew she needed to look. That insistent pull from the first night was leaving a prickling chill on the back of her neck, quietly murmuring that something was there, in the trees. Something that she had to see.

Leo's ears went back the moment they crossed the tree-line and a new alertness seemed to fall over him. His low rumbling growl set Florence on edge, yet still she didn't turn back. She couldn't, not yet.

The moonlight struggled to make itself known against the density of the woods. Leaves and sticks crunched underfoot, each unexpected pop sending a jolt of fear through Florence's heart. She strained her eyes against the gloom, but could hardly see a few feet in front of her. If she didn't know any better, she'd swear it was getting darker, like the trees were pulling their overheard canopy tighter and tighter in an effort to choke all the light out.

Florence waited and listened. It was silent in the woods. After a few more minutes, she sighed and shook her head. If Ian were in the forest, she had no doubt she'd be able to hear him bumbling around and cursing.

She started to turn back to the house. "Come on, Leo. I don't think he's here."

Leo didn't move.

The leash vibrated in her hands as the dog's growls grew into a terrifying rumble. Florence froze at the overwhelming sensation of someone watching her. Slowly, as if in a nightmare, Florence turned around.

The first thing she saw was two pale eyes.

They belonged to a dark shadow, too far for her to make out, but way too close for her liking. It stared at her, completely motionless as she and Leo stared back at it. Deadliness radiated from it, yes, but something else. Something more. . . alluring.

She had almost built up the courage to take a step forward when she heard a twig snap. Florence whipped her head toward the sound and felt her blood run cold.

Ian was walking towards the shadow. Calmly. Purposefully.

"Ian!" Florence hissed, afraid to speak any louder. "Ian! What are you doing?!"

He ignored her as he approached the pale-eyed shadow that was now gazing directly at him.

"Ian! Come on! Lexi is freaking out, you have to---" Her words died on her lips as Ian finally turned around.

Half of his face was disfigured by sunken, rotting flesh overgrown with moss. Thick blooms of mushrooms sprouted from his neck, his chest, his hands, like they'd been growing there for decades. But worst of all were the pale white orbs staring at Florence above a gleeful, almost ecstatic, smile.

Florence's breaths came out in short, trembling bursts as she staggered backwards. She knew she wasn't imagining it. Even if Leo wasn't growling viciously at her side, Florence knew her mind couldn't conjure up something so horrific. The low creaks of his bones like dry tree branches scraping against each other. The earthy, decaying scent radiating from him and filling the woods. That smile.

That smile would haunt Florence's dreams for as long as she lived.

She couldn't move, couldn't speak as Ian stared at her for a moment longer. And then, with slow, jerky movements like an uncoordinated puppet, he raised his hand and pressed a crooked, moss-covered finger to his lips.

"Shhh."

The sound rattled against the trees until it merged seamlessly with the low hiss of the wind. Ian lowered his hand and smiled at Florence for a second longer, before turning back to the shadow. Two sets of pale eyes gazed at each other, then disappeared into nothingness.

Florence didn't know how long she remained rooted to the spot. Dazed, she finally managed to stagger out of the forest. Leo was oddly quiet at her side; apparently the scene had been too horrific, even for the dog.

She waited until she managed to calm her breathing, before venturing back inside. Monica glanced up from the book she was reading, some romance novel with a shirtless hero and swooning heroine on the front, and arched a brow.

"So?"

Florence hesitated only a moment before shrugging, "Didn't see him."

Monica snorted. "Told you. He'll turn up when he's good and ready."

Florence nodded and collapsed on the couch next to her. Leo curled up on the carpet in front of them, still seeming on edge as he pulled himself into a tight ball. Monica wordlessly tossed half of the blanket she was using over Florence's legs and went back to her book.

"You're right," Florence said, closing her eyes. Immediately she pictured Ian's elated, decaying smile. "I'm sure he's fine."