pyrovajwns

[pyrovajwns]

Trigger warning: Gore

Constructive criticism and suggestions on what to improve on my writing style are welcomed !!

Thank you<3

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Caterpillar Boy

***

Mother used to scare me with caterpillars. She would chase me with those fuzzy critters on her hand when I misbehaved. 

***

Mason sat quietly inside the car. His eyes welled with tears as he looked out the car window. His mother was taken away by the police due to crimes that his 8 year old brain could not comprehend. His father would be taking care of him now. 

Mason hugged Nugget, his chicken plushie, tightly as his father entered the car. Mason looked at his father, searching for answers. Father did not look back. 

“We’re going to a new home,” his father spoke. Mason nodded as he squeezed Nugget tighter, that yellow chicken blob providing some solace to him.

The drive to the new house was solemn. A series of unfamiliar roads passed as Mason’s vision grew dim. He felt his eyes become heavier as the buzzing sound of the car quieted down around him. What happened today had really taken a toll. He snuggled with Nugget as his mind slowly drifted off to sleep.

A soft creak of the door closing woke him up. Mason rubbed his eyes as he looked around, puzzled. He was tucked in a bed, Nugget on his side. The room felt empty, with some boxes stacked on top of each other and a table. The table was coated with specks of dust and a few strands of cobwebs, above it was a window. 

Mason climbed down the bed, his little feet barely touching the floor. He scurried across the floor and climbed the table. It took him a few tries before managing to climb up, sneezing along the way. Finally, his feet reached the table top and he lifted himself up. 

Standing on the table, Mason felt the room become smaller. He smiled, relishing in the feeling.

A soft rattle jolted Mason as he nearly fell. Mason felt the rattle coming from behind him, it was subtle but clear. Mason felt a chill run down his spine as the rattle ensued. He crouched down, looking back at the window. He crawled slowly towards the window, the wooden surface brushed against his knees. He peeked out the window and his face went pale. 

Caterpillar.

Mason’s breath hitched, his chest felt heavy as he clasped his hand on it. The caterpillar rattled its mandibles, its body coiled like a rope. It was far but Mason could see it shaking   and twisting its body in front of the house. Its fuzzy body spiked up with every movement. But its head… its head was focused on Mason. 

Mason felt the world start to spin. Rivulets of sweat coursed down his face, his vision blurred. His heart pounded heavily on his chest. He stumbled backwards, losing his step as he fell. He tried to open his eyes and with the rest of his vision he could see the giant caterpillar coiled around him, its head turned towards him as its mandibles rattled again.

Mason collapsed.

***

“Go play outside,” Father commanded. His voice hoarse, taking another puff. He watched as smoke cascaded down slowly. His eyes bloodshot as he coughed. Mason nodded, his body trembled slightly at the sight of his father. 

Mason took Nugget and opened the door. The afternoon sun crept through the crevice, casting a warm glow on Mason. Mason took a deep breath, his little body relaxed at the warm shaft. A group of kids played in front, laughing and smiling as they chased each other. Mason stood there like a statue as he walked down the stairs tentatively. He hugged Nugget tighter. 

“Hey! You’re the new kid, right?” A high pitched squeal called out to him. Mason looked around, a little girl was waving at him. “Come here!” she spoke, her voice sweet, just like candy. Mason took a step forward as the little girl ran up to him. “Have some,” the little girl smiled as she handed Mason a bowl of strawberries, her cheeks lighted up.

Mason stood there as he picked out a strawberry. It was red like the girl’s rosy red cheeks, Mason smiled as he looked at the girl. He wanted to say thank you but the words froze on his throat when he saw it. A fuzzy little green caterpillar crawling on the strawberry. It sunk its mandibles deep into the flesh of the strawberry.

Mason screamed as he dropped the bowl, shattering it upon impact. He threw the strawberry at the little girl who started crying. Mason’s breath quickened, his face went pale as black caterpillars started pouring out from the girl’s mouth. Those critters started crawling towards him like a flood of hair. Mason could feel his skin aching as the caterpillars crawled on his leg. He kicked his legs, scrambling as he tried to get the tufts of fuzz off but the caterpillars did not budge. At the far distance, he saw the large caterpillar again but even clearer. Its red fuzz spiked up as it seemed to cackle. Its mandibles rattled against each other as it crawled closer. 

Mason dashed inside the house, slamming the door shut behind him. He checked his legs, no signs of caterpillars. Was it all just an imagination? His thoughts raced against each other as he adjusted his breath. His head felt light with a throbbing pain at the back. He crouched against the door dropping his head into Nugget. 

Something dropped on his head, Mason shot his head up. He felt more and more tiny things dropping down onto his head. He looked up. 

Swarms of yellow caterpillars clumped up on the ceiling above, dropping down like raindrops. Mason wanted to scream but no sound came out. His throat clenched with fear as the fuzzy insects descended onto him. He felt his head itching with a searing pain that started to spread. Red spots started to appear on his face that started to bleed. Finally, the clump fell down.

For a moment, Mason felt the world purpled down into absolute blackness. Stinging needles brushed against every part of his skin. He could see his arm becoming swollen as his throat started to close. He tried to breathe but was met with a scorching pain. Mason shrieked as he clenched Nugget even tighter. But Nugget started to dissolve into a tuft of yellow fuzz that consumed Mason. The itch ensued, followed by a stinging pain as if he was being jabbed by a thousand needles. Mason closed his eyes as tears coursed down, hoping that this was just a dream.

Mason opened his eyes, the room was empty. Mason stood up, his legs felt like noodles as he balanced himself. Nugget was sitting peacefully on his side. Mason rubbed his eyes, his fingers stained with tears. Mason shivered as he looked up. An empty ceiling. Mason chuckled as he pulled on his hair. He really was imagining things.

Father’s shriek broke the silence.

Mason’s eyes widened. He dragged his legs forcefully to the kitchen. Mason’s heart raced as his father screamed once more before suddenly the lights went out. Silence buzzed through the air as the house felt empty. Soon, Mason arrived at the kitchen. A sudden rattle startled Mason as goosebumps rose on his skin. He knew that rattle. 

The lights started to flicker. Mason saw his father sprawled on the ground, his arms were missing and his legs bent backwards. His innards spewed out of his stomach with shards of bone and blood oozing out, seeping into the floor. His face was barely recognizable as the skin was ripped off, revealing torn muscles that seemed fresh. One of his eyes drooped down, dangling on a nerve. 

A sudden crunching sound caught Mason off guard. Mason turned behind him. The giant caterpillar was there, inches away from his face. Mason felt his legs rooted to the ground as the caterpillar held his father’s hand with its mandibles. The caterpillar spat his father’s hand out and with a soft thud, it hit the ground. 

Mason’s stomach churned and twisted, as if something was clawing its way out. Mason held his stomach in pain as he lowered his head. Blood spouted out from his mouth, with tiny red caterpillars in it. Mason felt his throat closing as the caterpillar watched him, tilting its head. 

Red and pink spots started to appear on Mason’s skin, spreading vastly all over his body. Mason felt a piercing sensation creeping under his skin. Barbed spikes shot through every spot as blood poured out. Mason coughed as he kneeled down in front of the caterpillar, he could not breathe. His mouth shifted forward in a sickening crunch, forming black mandibles that resembled.. caterpillars. His arms sunk into his body as his body started shivering on the floor as if he was having a seizure. Mason rolled in pain as he screamed in agony. The spikes grew longer and longer, covering him in a fuzzy coat…

As he looked up at the caterpillar for the last time, he saw his mother's face staring back at him with bulging eyes. 

“Caterpillar boy indeed..”