HUNGRY

The Lower Visitor Center was particularly busy the night I arrived at the Flesh Pit.
There were crowds everywhere you looked—in line at the restrooms, waiting outside of the gift shop, milling about the food court. It seemed like everyone had come from miles away just to be here that evening. And why not? The Flesh Pit is one of those rare places in life where people can let their inner child run free without fear of reprisal or judgment. No matter how weird your taste might be, there's something for everybody in the Flesh Pit. There are attractions ranging from mild thrills such as the Scream Machine, which takes riders on a wild roller coaster ride through the belly of the beast, to more intense adventures including the Terror Tunnel, where riders crawl through pitch black tunnels filled with shrieking monsters and slimy wet surfaces. In addition, there are haunted houses and rides set throughout the interior of the monster itself. If you're brave enough, you can spend hours exploring every nook and cranny of this giant living thing.
I wandered over to the food court and ordered myself a plate of barbecue ribs, fries, and beans. After I ate my fill I took a seat on a bench nearby and watched the crowd go by while listening to the live band playing out front. They played classic rock songs from the '70s and early '80s, stuff I hadn't heard since high school. It made me feel nostalgic, even though I didn't remember much about being back then. But still, sitting here watching these kids dance and sing along reminded me of simpler times when things weren't so complicated. When we could do whatever we wanted without worrying about what anyone else thought.
A little girl came running up to me, her pigtails bouncing wildly behind her head, wearing a bright pink t-shirt emblazoned with "Cavers Are Cool." She gave me an enthusiastic hug before pulling away. Her mother smiled at us both and said hello, telling the daughter she should stop bothering strangers. The kid nodded and ran off again. As soon as they'd gone, I stood up and walked over toward the entrance gates. My stomach growled loudly and I realized I needed to get some dinner inside me if I planned on staying awake until closing time.
It felt good walking among all these people who also enjoyed having fun. Even though most of them were younger than me, they acted no different from any other group of friends hanging out together. This place really did have a way of bringing out the best in people. Not only would you find the friendliest folks here, but you'd see the craziest people too. One guy was dressed in full camouflage gear complete with a rifle slung across his chest. People laughed and joked freely and nobody cared what anybody else wore or how they behaved. Everyone knew that if you acted crazy here, you wouldn't be judged. You were welcome here whether you liked it or not.
When I reached the gate I stopped to look around and take everything in. Then I saw him. He wasn't hard to miss; he stood right next to the ticket booth, smiling and waving enthusiastically. His name tag read "Caver Coop" and his uniform shirt was covered with patches bearing various awards and medals. For a moment I wondered why someone would want to dress up as a mascot and wave at people all day long, but then I remembered how popular Caver Coop had become after the park opened. The creature had been created years ago by a local artist named David Ketchum.
Ketchum had taken inspiration from several sources. First, he drew upon his own childhood memories of growing up in the Ozark Mountains. Secondly, he used the folklore of the region to create the character. According to legend, the first person to discover the Flesh Pit had done so during a hunting trip deep within its bowels. Upon reaching the bottom of the hole, the hunter discovered a cave inhabited by a hairy humanoid creature known as a "cave man." The creature was friendly and offered to show the hunter the rest of the fleshy tunnels. However, once the two men emerged from the depths of the cave system, the sun had disappeared and the sky was filled with a blood red moon. The cave man explained that the moon was the corpse of a dead god whose body had been torn apart by the titanic creature now lying beneath them. The cave man told the hunter that the god had risen from the grave to kill the world. Only the hunter's bravery had saved the land from destruction. The cave man had given the hunter a magic stone to protect himself against the god's wrath. The hunter had thrown the stone into the air and the moon had shattered, destroying the god's power forever.
The story was meant to be a cautionary tale for children, warning them to stay away from the mysterious pit. The idea of the flesh pit was also supposed to be a metaphor, representing temptation and sin. The park's owners decided to use the mythological story to market their new attraction and Caver Coop was born. Since then, the mascot had grown tremendously in popularity. Kids loved him because he was cute and funny looking, but adults appreciated his wholesome nature and moral compass. At least that's what I understood from the brochures I'd seen.
Caver Coop waved happily at me, beckoning me closer. I approached hesitantly, unsure of what kind of greeting I should offer. I'd never met the creature before. What should I say? Should I shake his hand? Or maybe hug him? Would that be weird?
As I neared, I noticed that Caver Coop had a large, bulbous nose and small, beady eyes. He was short and squat with a round face and a big smile. His hair was white blond and cut into a bowl shape above his head. He wore a pair of overalls, thick rubber boots, and a hard hat and yellow safety vest with Caver Coop printed on it in bold letters. Beneath the visor of the hardhat, I could make out the outline of the logo of the park. Below it, the words "Mystery Flesh Pit National Park" were written in a childish font.
He held up a fist and pumped it vigorously in the air. "Welcome to the Mystery Flesh Pit!" he shouted cheerfully. "You must be new here! Where are you from?"
"New York," I replied. "I'm visiting my sister."
Caver Coop shook my hand. "Nice to meet you, sir. Have you ever been to the Flesh Pit before? It's pretty amazing, isn't it? You'll love it here. We've got something for everybody. Come on, follow me and I'll show you around. Don't worry; there's plenty of room to walk. Nobody gets lost down here. Not even little kids like yourself. Trust me on that one."
We walked past the ticket booths and into the main thoroughfare. All around us were displays of bizarre attractions and amusements. Most of them looked fairly tame, but others appeared to be downright terrifying. There was the Scream Machine, a roller coaster ride through the belly of the beast. Riders sat in cars suspended over the seas of acid in its gastric lakes while being subjected to extreme drops and dizzying turns. Some of the cars actually went upside down. Others swung back and forth as they careened along the length of the track. Still more vehicles plunged straight into the mouth of the creature itself, where riders rode through twisting tunnels filled with screaming monsters and squirming slime pits.
Then there was the Terror Tunnel, a dark, cramped passageway where riders crawled through pitch black tunnels filled with shrieking monsters and slimy wet surfaces. Once inside, guests couldn't help but hear the creatures' screams echoing all around them as they tried desperately to escape. I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of crawling through this tunnel alone, afraid I might bump into some unseen horror lurking in the shadows. The Terror Tunnel was definitely not for the faint of heart.
There were many other strange attractions too. One featured an enormous horse, carved from a single piece of bone harvested from the pit itself and painted brightly with stripes of blue, green, yellow, red, and orange. The animal stood nearly eight feet tall and sported a huge grin on its face. It had three legs, each ending in hooves that resembled human hands. Its tail was shaped like a sword, which jutted out from its rear end. The entire thing was mounted atop a pedestal that rose to about five feet off the ground. It was positioned directly in front of a sign that read "Beware of Horseman."
Another exhibit featured a gigantic spider standing ten feet high and twenty feet across, constructed entirely out of bones. Each leg ended in sharp claws designed to tear open victims and drag them into its web. Above it hung a sign reading "Spiders Can Kill."
And finally, there was the Flesh Pit itself—the center of attention. The park itself was built on top of the monster's stomach cavity and visitors could enter its gaping maw via a series of narrow passageways. These corridors twisted and turned endlessly until they eventually reached the giant, hollow interior chamber known as the Mouth of Hell. From there, people could descend deeper into the belly of the creature, where they'd come face-to-face with a host of ghastly sights and sounds.
Inside the Flesh Pit, people found themselves surrounded by a vast sea of writhing flesh. The walls and floor were covered in strands of muscle and tendons stretching from ceiling to floor. In places, the flesh grew thicker and more pronounced, forming massive bulges and bumps. Here and there, smaller tentacles sprouted from the surface, curling and twitching as they moved about. The walls were lined with hundreds of eyes staring at people from every direction. The ceilings were covered with rows of teeth. The air was thick with the stench of putrefied flesh and rotting meat. And everywhere, the sound of countless voices whispering to one another, begging for food or trying to warn those nearby that danger lurked close at hand.
The whole place reeked of death and decay. Caver Coop led me toward a path leading downward into the pit's depths. As we descended, I began to notice that the walls became less distinct. They blended together into one continuous mass of flesh. I couldn't tell where one wall ended and the next began anymore. Everything just seemed to flow together, flowing upward and outward, expanding outwards as far as the eye could see. It was all part of the same living organism.
Caver Coop pointed to a spot ahead. "That's our entrance," he said proudly. "Our first visitors will soon be arriving any minute now."
Ahead lay the Mouth of Hell. It was located at the very bottom of the pit, where it connected to a circular opening in the earth's crust. This was the only way anyone was allowed to leave the mystery flesh pit. People were always warned that entering was strictly forbidden, but apparently no one listened.
Caver Coop laughed and clapped his hands gleefully. "They're going to love this place!" He patted me on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll have fun too."
I followed Caver Coop through the mouth of hell into the belly of the beast. It was dark inside and smelled foul. My eyes adjusted quickly though and I was able to pick out numerous details within seconds. Huge masses of flesh hung overhead, dangling from the ceiling like the limbs of a giant octopus. Smaller tendrils curled and writhed from the surface, extending into the darkness below. I saw dozens of mouths peering up at me, some wide open and hungry, others shut tight as if they hadn't eaten in days. Eyes stared out of every crevice, blinking rapidly in the dim light.
All around us were thousands upon thousands of tiny mouths, each with a different voice. Voices that whispered incessantly to one another. The creatures spoke in unison, repeating phrases over and over again, almost like a chant. "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry... Hungry..." "Hungry..."
"What are they saying?" I asked Caver Coop nervously.
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Just ignore them. That's what everyone does when they visit the Flesh Pit." He smiled reassuringly. "Now let's get moving. We don't want to miss anything."
We continued walking down the corridor, passing through a series of narrow passageways and descending further into the belly of the beast. After a few minutes, we came to a dead end. Caver Coop stopped and motioned for me to do the same.
"This is it," he announced. "Right here is where you'll find everything you need to know about the Mystery Flesh Pit. Take a look."
He gestured to the left side of the passage. There, hanging from the wall, was a sign that read "Flesh Pit Rules." He took a step forward and pulled it down. It slid easily off the wall, revealing a hidden compartment underneath. Inside, I saw a collection of pamphlets and brochures. Caver Coop picked up one of these documents and handed it to me.
"Here's your guidebook." He grinned widely. "You can thank me later." He winked at me and then headed back down the hallway. He disappeared around the corner without waiting to see whether or not I wanted him to stay. He didn't seem concerned that I might need some help finding my way around the place. I sighed heavily and began flipping through the pamphlet. It contained several pages detailing safety regulations, rules for visitors and employees alike, emergency procedures and contact numbers. But the bulk of the document consisted of photos of various attractions throughout the park, including descriptions and brief histories. Many of them looked quite terrifying.
The Flesh Pit was home to an enormous variety of attractions, each with their own unique features and specialties. Some were meant purely for entertainment value, such as the Pleasure Domes and Gastric Resort. Others offered educational opportunities for children who wished to learn more about science and nature, while still others served as test subjects for new products developed by Anodyne.
One attraction in particular caught my eye. It was called the Mystery Meat Factory. According to the brochure, it was located near the center of the pit, deep in its belly. Visitors were invited to watch as scientists used cutting edge technology to process raw flesh samples from the pit into a variety of delicious meats and delicacies. The facility was designed to mimic the conditions of the pit itself, allowing visitors to witness firsthand how the flesh processed and transformed before their eyes.
Other attractions included a museum dedicated to the history of Anodyne, a waxworks display featuring celebrities and historical figures, and a number of rides that gave visitors the opportunity to experience parts of the pit they would never be able to reach on foot. Some were gentle enough for small children, while others required participants to be at least eighteen years old. One particularly interesting ride was titled "Torture Garden." Guests rode through a winding maze of twisting passages and dark chambers where they encountered a host of horrifying creatures and monsters. Most of them were harmless, but there were a few that weren't so nice. These were kept behind locked doors and guarded by armed security personnel.
I started to wonder where Caver Coop had gone. I glanced around but couldn't locate him anywhere. Then I noticed something odd. Something I wasn't supposed to hear.
Something that shouldn't exist.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized what I'd heard.
I heard voices coming from somewhere in the distance. The words were muffled but clear enough to understand.
"Where's Caver Coop? Where did he go?"
"Didn't you hear him say not to follow him into the Mystery Meat Factory? Why are you following him anyway? What kind of idiot does that?"
"I don't know, but he comes down here all the time and always comes back. Maybe he went back to the surface to get help. Maybe someone else knows how to find their way out of this place."
"No! Don't listen to her. She's crazy. This isn't funny. Let's go."
"Wait!"
"Who cares about this stupid clown anyway? Who gives a damn about Caver Coop? He's nothing but a fat, useless freak."
"Let's go!"
"Fine! If you won't leave, then I'm leaving."
The voices fade away into the distance and the darkness closes in around me once again. I turn and start heading back in the direction I came from, hoping I haven't made a terrible mistake. I hope I've chosen the right path. I pray I'll be able to escape the horror of the Flesh Pit.
"Come on," I say to myself. "There must be a way out of here. I can feel it. I just have to keep looking until I find it."
***
I continue wandering aimlessly, searching desperately for any hint of a path or exit from the pit. Every inch of me feels numb with terror, but I refuse to give in to despair. I know I'll make it out alive somehow. Somehow I will manage to survive this nightmarish place. I just need to think carefully, plan my strategy well and work with what I have available. I need to use my imagination to come up with a solution. I need to find a way out of here.
As I walk deeper into the pit, the air grows steadily colder and drier. And then I see him. Caver Coop. He stands alone, leaning against a wall and watching me approach. His face is pale and his skin is covered with blood. He looks tired and sickly, as if he hasn't slept for days. He smiles at me sadly.
"Caver Coop," I whisper. "Are you alright?"
He nods weakly, trying to smile at me through his bloody lips. I notice that he's holding a large knife in one hand. It appears to be coated with fresh blood. "Just a little cut, that's all. Nothing serious." He waves the blade around carelessly, as if he doesn't even realize that it's dripping wet. "But I guess I should be glad that you found me."
"Why wouldn't I be able to find you?" I ask. "Aren't you supposed to be leading people to safety? Isn't that why you're here? To show them the way out?"
Caver Coop shakes his head slowly. "Not anymore." He glances toward the wall of bleeding meat next to him. "Everyone's already left."
I frown in confusion, wondering what he means by that. Is there no one left to lead us out of here? Or are they hiding somewhere nearby, waiting to ambush us at any moment? Are they trapped too? Trapped in this place with me? "What happened?" I demand. "How did everyone leave?"
"They died," Caver Coop replies bluntly. "A lot of them. They were killed by those things. By the fleshies. The ones that live down here. All of them." He points at the walls of rotting flesh and screams in agony. "They ate them." He lowers his arm slightly and points at me. "And now they'll eat you too." He laughs bitterly. "If they aren't already eating each other." He sighs loudly, shaking his head. "I tried. I really did try to warn them. I told everyone about the danger. About what could happen if they stayed down here much longer. But they didn't listen. They ignored me completely."
"So you decided to leave instead?"
"Of course not! No one leaves! Not when there's so many wonderful things to see here. So many exciting experiences to enjoy. You don't have to worry about being eaten or getting lost because I'm going to take you to all the best places. Places only the most daring souls dare to enter. I'll show you everything there is to see and do. Everything worth seeing and doing. We can spend hours together exploring every nook and cranny of the Mystery Flesh Pit. Together we can experience it all. We can explore the depths of hell and emerge stronger than ever before. We can discover new things and experience life to its fullest potential."
He starts laughing hysterically. "That's exactly what I said to them! I promised them that I would bring them safely through the pits and into the light. That I would show them everything they needed to see. That I would show them the wonders of this world and all the beauty that exists beyond the confines of the fleshy walls. But they didn't believe me. They laughed at me and mocked me. Said I was crazy and insane. Told me that I was wrong. Wrong about everything." He stops abruptly, staring blankly ahead into the distance. "It hurt so bad. It hurts so badly. It makes my insides burn like fire. Like acid running through my veins."
He turns his gaze upon me, his beady eyes wide and wild, filled with madness, the bloody knife gripped tightly in his fist. "Do you understand what I mean? Do you understand what I'm saying?"
I shake my head. "No, I don't understand."
"Don't you understand?" He grabs hold of my shoulder with one hand, shaking me violently. "You can't understand unless you see it for yourself. Unless you see what happens to the ones who stay inside. Until you see it with your own eyes, you can't possibly comprehend what it's truly like."
I struggle to break free from his grasp, but he holds on tight. "Please stop it. Please let me go!"
"You can't understand until you see it for yourself. You can't imagine what it's like to be stuck down here for years on end. Stuck in this horrible place, surrounded by all of these hideous creatures. Living among them day after day, year after year. Watching them devour your friends and family one by one. Seeing their bodies torn apart and consumed piece by piece. Feeling helpless to do anything about it. Knowing that there's nothing you can do to save anyone. That there's no way to escape. There's nowhere to run. No one to help you. Just endless darkness and terror everywhere you look."
His grip on my shoulder loosens slightly, allowing me to pull away. "Stop it! Stop talking about this stuff!" I shout angrily. "This isn't real! None of this is true! This whole thing is just some stupid dream."
Caver Coop suddenly lunges for me with the knife held high above his head. I stumble backward, tripping over a discarded body part and falling to the ground. I scramble to regain my footing before he strikes me, but he catches me off guard and plunges the blade deep into my chest. I scream in pain as hot blood gushes out onto my shirt, soaking the front of it instantly red.
"Oh god, oh god," I whimper as he pulls the blade out again. Blood spurts out of the wound, splattering across my face and staining my cheeks crimson. My vision goes black and white in an instant, and then fades altogether as the last remnants of consciousness start to leave me. I slump forward, collapsing onto the floor.
Caver Coop drops the knife and walks calmly past me. He picks up another corpse lying nearby and tosses it aside, then heads toward a narrow hallway that leads deeper into the pit. Distantly I can hear the chanting of the voices in the pit walls, "Hungry... Hungry... Hungry... Hungry... HUNGRY..."
I watch him go, unable to move or speak. Unable to cry out for help or beg him to spare me. Tears stream down my cheeks as I lie motionless on the bloody, fleshy floor and life slowly fades from my body.