Joshua awoke suddenly. He began choking and gagging on bloody sputum as he struggled for air. A large dog collar had been tightly strapped around his neck and attached by a chain to the ceiling. Similar belt-like fastenings restrained his wrists and ankles. He was held securely upon his knees, arms extended as though crucified. Joshua could feel the deep grip of the leather around his throat as his own weight was slowly strangling him. Rising upon haunches to relieve the pressure, he began to writhe within the restraints to loosen their grip. It didn’t work.
Joshua attempted to re-compose, but his weak and bruised body was shaking uncontrollably from fear. Frantically looking around he found that he was in what appeared to be an old barn. His field of vision was restricted by the restraints however he could tell this was a vast place. Huge dirty corrugated sheeting formed the roof and large wooden beams zigzagged above him supporting the immense structure. He was held within a small cubicle, possibly intended for holding cattle or horses and he assumed either side would be similar. To the front of him he could see a man dangling from the same chains and manacle set up. The man was obviously dead. Blood covered his half naked body and various entrails and organs hung from a large tear in his abdomen.
An acrid stench violated the air and Joshua began to feel nauseous. Again he began to cough upon his own saliva and blood, but this time his whole body retched as vomit erupted from him spraying upon the floor. Joshua spat the remnants of sick from his mouth in between gasps of air.
‘Soo-eeeeee! Piggy piggy!’
A man’s gruff voice squealed with menace from a doorway somewhere behind Joshua. Instantly the whole barn erupted with deafening screams and moans, and the intense clanging of chains told Joshua that this barn was full of others also in his predicament. The air suddenly filled with dust and debris as the barn’s old wooden structure bowed and shook under the force of seventy people trying to escape their restraints.
‘Help!’ He screamed out of anguish although he knew it was futile. ‘Help! Someone fucking help me!’
Joshua suddenly felt a hand fall upon his shoulder and someone’s stale whiskey soaked breath upon his face.
‘Well well. What do we have here?’
Joshua tried to turn to see the man behind him but couldn’t. He called back to the unknown man.
‘Mister! Look mister, there’s been some major fucking mistake here! I don’t even know who you are or what you’re doing here, but please…please let me go. I can get you money…anything?’
Joshua felt the warm noxious breath again as the man drew even closer.
‘You’re right, there has been a fucking mistake here.’
‘Oh thank God! Yes…yes…so please…’
‘The mistake is that you’re still fucking alive.’
With that the man stepped back from Joshua and undid his belt and dropped his jeans. He then shuffled back and using both hands began to massage Joshua’s shoulders. He leaned in close again this time whispered into Joshua’s ear.
‘It’s been a while since I fucked a live one.’
Joshua frantically scanned his surroundings again for some understanding of his fate. Then he saw it. The dead man in the cubicle in front of him was screaming and writhing around within his restraints. Guts still hanging from his gaping wound and flailing like wet laundry across the dusty ground with each jerk of his body.
All logic was telling Joshua that what he was seeing was impossible. That the man before him was dead. Then another man walked into view. This man was wearing a pair of small black shorts and a pair of knee high waders. He tipped his Stetson hat towards Joshua before screaming ‘Soo-weeeee Piggy!’
Joshua felt the warm stank breath upon his face again.
‘Welcome to the Farm little pig!’
___
©2011 Anthony D. Redden
Writer of poetry and short stories for over 17 years, with a passion for the dark and macabre. Graduated with a degree in Applied Social Sciences and is currently studying towards a degree in Literature. Currently living in Derbyshire, in the heart of England with his wife and two children.
Tags: Anthony D. Redden
April 23rd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
[...] To read ‘The Pig Farm’ click HERE. [...]
June 15th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Pig Farm Belt…
[...] was shaking uncontrollably from fear. Frantically looking around he found that [...]…