I stepped through letting go of the door. The scenery around me was too vast making it hard to take in or process. I was left dumbfounded starring out upon a vast town of at least several blocks. The buildings all made of the same red brick lined the horizon as far as the eye could see. "What the hell...?" Did they let me go? they said this was some test room.

CLICK!

"fuck!!!"

I spun around darting for the door. the realization that It was too late not even crossing my mind. the door had shut itself and was locked tight. all my efforts to yank the door open were to no aveil. I banged on the door defeated as i chanted under my breath, "crap, crap, crap...". I was making to much of a scene, I had to calm down.

clentching my fist i backed up noticing the patterns on the wall. i stared up taking in the vast mural of the same buildings and streets. It was an impressively detailed backdrop that even up close looked like it was popping out at you. The mural wrapped around making it impossible to tell how big the area I was actually in was. Even more impressive was the beauitful ceiling as I squinted my eyes to adjust to the change in light to notice it was actually artificial. The lines of the ceiling far above complete with a fake moon and stars illiminating down, but not a cloud in the sky. all doubt in my mind was gone, I wasnt in kansas anymore and I sure as hell didnt make it outside.

I was right where they wanted me exposed out in the open. i had to get off the streets before whatever this "test room a" had in store made an appearance. Scanning the area in eyesight proved to be more disheartening. Shattered glass lined the streets, building walls partially crumbled down. Something had to be in here with me right now I could somehow feel it deep in my bones. I sprinted for the closest building complete with more of that fake aged red brick. Every step echoing with as my heavy feet smacked against the gritty cement.

Luckily for me the building appeared to be a clothing outlet of some kind with an equally generic name, imperial clothes. The lights inside if there were any at all where off but I could barely make out racks of clothes with the moonlight that I had through the windows. I reached for the door slowly opening all caution gone to the wind as for once i was just happy that I could get some clothes on. I mean god im freezing my ass off over here butt ass naked. Thats when the smell drafted over me. It smelt like a bowl of rotting fruit but even worse. A strong smell of rot and decay.

I slammed the door shut as bile poured into my mouth. Puke once again forcing its way up to choke me as I forced it back down. I crouched grabbing my knees to try to regain my composure. Ive smelt this before but where. Once again I was greeted with a mind full of static. "Okay..." I sighed as i stood back up readying myself for what I knew I had to do. I needed to suck it up and go in there to get dressed. last thing I want is to freeze to death as they watch my balls dangling around in the wind with their hidden cameras. Besides, I have to know what that smell is maybe I can get a hint as to what this hell hole is.

I threw the door open quickly making my way inside, the back wall busted out immediately caught my attention. the lights from the alley behind casting a dim light upon the The small store. The clothing store had two sides one side belonged to the mens, and the other womans. A metal pole divided two lanes to a u-shaped cashiers table with a marble table top. right behind that Fancy counter the giant hole blown out that led to that alley. shattered brick thrown about the store like a car ran right through here. I headed for the nearest aile labeled under the mens section of shirts on the balls of my feet. I crouched down sorting out the shirts throwing on the first plain old white t-shirt that was within reach that would fit. so far so good one down and nothings popping out of the wood work trying to rip off my head yet.

Even the smell was becoming more pleasant as i turned to the next aile. a maniquinns was displaying a jacket that i was confident would fit me quite nicely. Even in the dark i could tell it was my style. I stripped the manniquin taking a good look at it grinning ear to ear, "oh yeah this will do". It was a casual jacket clearly inspired by some badass in a military movie. It appeared to be gray in color with the an extended collar and mulitiple pockets lining the sides. Some punk would probably buy this to look cool, but I think it'll do just fine. the biggest score of them all a pair of fire hose cargo pants! Folded up in the same aisle, No longer would my junk be swinging in the wind but i got even more pocket and utility space. Something tells me I'm going to need all the space i can get in this game. with the dreads all picked out and on i decided it was time to follow the putrid smell to its source... The table next to that hole in the wall.
my body suddenly felt hot and a sense of fear bubbled within as i made my way to the cashiers table. My body was trying to tell me something i couldnt understand, but I pressed forward.

BUzzzzzz!!!

The sound of flies becoming louder and louder the closer I got to the cashier desk. I slowed down edging along the corner of the desk as I passed through a thick cloud of giant flies. Holding my hand tightly around my mouth and nose to filter the plague infected critters and death from my nostrils. As little good as that did, I was gagging with every breath I took. When I finally reached the other side of the table the itch in the back of my mind was finally relieved as I connected the dots.

There lyed the body of a heavy set man. Or should i say was a man his body was split in two and his spine pulled out like a rope. blood long sense dried splattered everwhere and what was left was rotted flesh and bone slowly turning into a sludge as the cooled fat slowly melted from his body. The sludge hosting a horde of maggots dancing as they feasted on their rancid supper. "what. The. Fuck.", i said as I stepped in for a closer look. what kind of sick bastard would do something line this.

OR WHAT THING...

this wasnt the time to be squirmish. the man had once been fully dressed. Probably came in here for the same reason I did, but whatever did this was long gone for the time being."Sorry, but I need this way more than you right now" I said in an apologetic tone. I reached in to take the mans boots as there was a living body right here in need of some shoes. Thats when instead of slipping away from his feet, the whole foots seperated like hot cheese from his lower half. The strings stretching as if his body was refusing to let go off his heavy ass boots. When the strings of flesh and tendon finally snapped free I swiftly scooped the maggots and the remaining pool of the man's sludge from the shoes.

i searched the pools of the mans carcass for anything else that might be useful and scored big time. Along with a security card for this man, harris daniels, that i pocketed in what was left of the mans torso was a holster equip with a black mid sized pistol. I immediately ripped the holster off the mans corpse holstering it at my own side instead. unholstering the gun i realized the weight of the gun was much heavier than i imagined it would be as i started to eject the clip. It looked good fully loaded with 9mm hollow point rounds. How i know that who knows, and who cares at this point. I got a gun and three extra clips thats all that matters.

Crash!!!

I froze some where in the distance glass shattered. The heat in my body now almost unbearable i ripped at my chest. Working hard to hold back the pain and to disguise my breath. i moved away from the pool of rotting flesh. Holstering the gun at my waist i made my way to the windows in front of the store. without thinking i threw the steel toed boots on with a few quick hopes. The sticky rotted flesh now lubbing up my toes. I had to be ready for whatever Came next. I started to scan the area, about a block down two figures cloaked in the darkness began to sulk through the darkness. Glass crunching as they hulked down the streets.

no more time to think i turned towards the back exit. "Time to go," I said to myself as I made my way towards the back not wanting to be anywhere near here when they made their entrance.​