The red-blue lights shimmered across the pavement as the faded paper already covered the window to the apartment. The lowering dusk tinged it purple. Detective Leo shifted himself inside of the apiarist suit as he looked up to the origin of the evacuation. He focused on controlling his lungs as he saw Agent Dani click-clack over to him on her black stilettos. Her three piece suit cleaner than her fingernails. She had no intention of stepping foot in there. He was the expert after all.
“Recognize the patterns, Detective?”
“I see the paper already.”
“Faster this time?” She glanced up at the window.
“Definitely.”
“We need to be quick about this so it doesn’t–”
“Take over the building?” He finished.
“Exactly. I’ve debriefed your team this time around.”
“Okay then.” He didn’t even want to think of the major fuck up of the last crime scene.
They walked into the complex like a pack of beekeepers reinforced for war. Their mesh faces were lined with aluminium, and all of their zippers were covered with extra leather. Normal apiarist suits weren’t built for relentless attacks.
Click. The trio of evidence collection took a snapshot of the few wasps in the lobby. They crawled across the ceiling, needing to find a way back into their nest.
Leo led them up the stairs and to the second floor. The hum of the hive grew louder with each step. The smaller wasps caressed the lights as they went down a long hallway filled with identical doors. They kept following the buzz.
Click. They took a picture of the hallway. The glowing insect eyes poked little white holes in the image.
Leo kept his utterance quick and quiet. “No attacking, yet.” Everyone swallowed down the red hot fear he formed with the words. They crept along carefully. These weren’t any normal wasps. Everyone had realized that now. Especially with their buddies still in the hospital.
These wasps burrowed – infected – feed – until there wasn’t any of you left.
They reached the door. It sounded like the constant chatter of a dead signal was echoing from inside.
“Okay, before I twist this knob – we get in there quick and clean. Collect samples from the –”
Leo wasn’t sure what to call it. “-the hive. Take as many pictures as you can. Be prepared for the worst and if you get stung, get out immediately. You’ll know when you do, there’s no doubt about it. And I am sure she told you, but keep an eye out for the source. Ready then?”
Everyone bobbed their square heads. The door creaked open like a repressed cough. A rush of wasps escaped and already began their attack. The constant buzzing rattled Leo’s skull.
“Remember, do not panic!” He screamed through the cloud of chaos as they fully emerged themselves into the hive.
Click. Click. Click. The walls, the floors, the ceiling – all covered in gray paper and – honeycomb? This puzzled the detective. He was sure these were wasps – but –
“AH! ITS INSIDE MY–”
“THEN GET THE FUCK OUT!” Leo retorted, he needed to get to the bedroom. The ‘honeycomb’ led there. He commanded the rest as the spiraling member sprinted back outside. “Collect the honeycomb and a wasp if you can!”
His boots crunched across the small layer of paper under their feet. Click. Click. They got pictures of the detective making his way to the back of the apartment with the black silhouette of wasps covering his form.
He had to push in the bedroom door with his shoulder. It splotched like wet mud as he opened it. More hails of stingers and tiny wings buzzed across his body. Sweat ran across his forehead as he set foot inside. The bed –
It was displayed on the bed. The origin.
He was sprawled out and his skin – or what was left of it had been dissected into little hexagons. The rest of his meat, muscle, and sinew was on the walls and ceiling. Scattered throughout the apartment. They used his bones as little bridges and tunnels. They burrowed through all of him.
Leo’s eyes blurred at the sight and he swallowed the cold bile that ran up into his nostrils. The victim was THE HIVE.
Click. Click. Click.
They got close ups of the maze made of human matter.
His skull was still intact. Forever opened in terror.
(Thank you for reading. Special thanks to
for aiding in the vision.)Go check out what caused this mess: The Parasite
SUPPORTTHEPINEBOX. (THE DEAL LASTS ALL SUMMER)
What a disturbing and unique concept. I cannot get the visuals out of my mind. I am hooked!
Hot damn, this was amazing! The concept is super unique and truly terrifying to think about. I just came here from Mina's story, and I love how the two connect to each other! Such a cool experience reading them back to back.
And that ending with how the body looked?! Absolutely horror perfection my friend! Gruesome and creative as hell!