George and Clayton pulled up in front of an eerie looking woods, George already trying to step out of the car despite the pouring rain.
“George, wait! It’s pouring rain outside, what are you thinking?” Clayton asked with wide eyes, reaching out to grab onto the sleeve of George’s sweater.
“I’m thinking that I need to show you the thing I found!” George insisted, trying to drag Clayton along as he forced them both out into the heavy rain.
Clayton let out a small whine of protest, and the fact that he was now completely soaked through, but he was drug into the woods with an exited, yet obviously nervous George right in front of him.
When they stepped into the woods, the rain didn’t seem to pour as hard. The branches above their heads blocked out a lot of the heavy downpour, though it didn’t help their situation much as they were already drenched to the bone.
Mud squelched, slimy under their feet as it seemed to suck at their shoes like quicksand. It made it hard to walk, but they pushed through the thick foliage based on pure will.
“Look, right over here.” George said in a hushed tone, as if if he spoke louder than a murmur they’d be heard by someone.
They came up on a clearing in the forest, and immediately, a nauseating smell hit Clayton’s nose, making him want to gag.
In the clearing, there was a black bag, wrapped up in duct tape, emanating a sickening, rotting smell. It smelled so terrible that it made both George and Clayton nauseous. Clayton lowered a branch in front of his face to get a closer look at the wrapped up bag, when George spoke.
“Ugh, that smells… disgusting. I’ll be uh- right back, I’m going to go get some of that lemon surfactant we have in the trunk, it might cover up that smell.” George gagged, his nose scrunched up as his hand raised to his face, turning away quickly and walking towards the vehicle they came in.
Clayton just nodded, despite the absolutely wretched smell, wanting to get a closer look. He stepped through the thorned bushes and branches, and out into the clearing. He took hesitant steps forward, the humidity of the rain just causing the smell to increase, flurrying upwards and out in the air.
Clayton crouched down, examining the bag as his hands placed into the mud to steady himself. His heart was pounding in his chest as he reached out to touch it, only a fingertip reaching the bag before George burst through the foliage with a tumble.
“I- I got it-“ George panted, out of breath as he began to pour it around what they had assumed to be a body. The air was suddenly cleared of the rotting stench, now replaced with a diluted citrus scent. He took in a deep breath, and was relieved to not have a such a smell bombarding his senses any longer.
“That helped a lot.” Clayton nodded towards George, staying crouched in the thick mud. George seemed to be extremely nervous, for reasons Clayton could only assume to be they were right next to a dead body.
Clayton took his thumb and cut through the black plastic bag, making a long slice down the middle to see what was inside.
His heart dropped to the floor, his face paling and his hands shaking slightly.
Oh.
My.
God.