And as the Vermin Crawls, We Lay in the Foundations of Decay

[Salic]

Claudia knew it was the end, not just for Anatoly, but for her as well. But she wasn’t crying. Hell, she probably didn’t have any water left to lose. After her vision was restored, she raised her head (which was exceptionally difficult) and took a look around her.

She wished she was still blind.

Anatoly was as unrecognizable as he was dead. The vast majority of his head was gone, and rest was blackened. Hell, the entirety of torso was blackened as well. His forearms were gone, his arms turned to nubs at the elbows. She could see what was left of his internal organs, all of them charred to cinders. Pieces of his ribcage were scattered all over the room. She couldn’t bear to look anymore. Looking at herself, though, was a horrifying mistake.

Really, what was more horrible than being able to look at your own intestines?

If Claudia thought she was doomed when she got her sight back, this simply sealed the deal. Jesus fucking Christ, she could see her guts. Her guts had fucking fallen out. Jesus Christ. Jesus fucking Christ, she was dead. There would be no escape for her. She would die in this dank, dark basement with the corpse of her former friend turned killer, far away from anyone she loved.

God, there was so much blood.

She rested her head back down, unable to bear the sight of her lethal wound any longer. Besides the fatigue had started to kick in. Maybe she could just... close her eyes for a while. It would take the excruciating pain away. Maybe, just maybe, she would have a good dream before she fell asleep for good. Maybe it could be one last escapade with Yvonne. That’d be nice.

Claudia closed her eyes for what she hoped would be the final time.

As fate had already shown, though, it wasn’t too kind to Claudia Salgado.