“The Flesh Pit”
What is the flesh pit that Tom seemingly came from?
Tom was an explorer of what was known as the “flesh pit”. Most records of what this flesh pit is or was has long since been covered up or erased.
According to Tom, there was a city deep underground. The exact size is undetermined, since he didn’t explore the entire premises, but is assumed to be large. Somewhere in the city was a laboratory, where human experimentation were taking place. To find out some sort of cure for people’s unhappiness. Nothing was bearing fruit, so over time, the experiments turned more and more unethical. Until one day…
One of the subjects started melting, their form turning mush-like. That was to be expected. However, unexpectedly, the subject flung themselves onto a scientist. Due to their melting form easily no longer being bound to the restraints. The scientist started melting in the subject’s touch, slowly merging with their being. No one else moved to help, but when the other scientists do start moving, it was to exterminate the organism. An explosive bullet was shot at it, in which the organism exploded, the mushes of parts spread around the room. It was still for a moment.
But the organism did not die. Parts of it flung themselves to attach to the other scientists’ faces, to quickly remove their ability to function. Other parts escaped through the vents and the like, ambushing unsuspecting staff. It quickly became out of control, as many amalgamations of organisms were created from the laboratory. When everyone there was converted, all the merged bodies combined into one, singular flesh mass. It quickly destroyed and escaped the confines of the laboratory.
No one new how to kill off this flesh mass. So over time, it melted and merged with more and more people. But at some point, the weight of the dozens of flesh became too troublesome to move in one singular organism. And so, it stretched itself… covering the outer walls, floors, streets, anything it can touch.
And so, the ”flesh pit” was created. A once thriving city, now covered in flesh. The many eyes watching over whoever dares to explore into this moist, humid, and overall vile location. That is, if you don’t become digested immediately.
That’s where Tom enters. He was part of an exploration team. Not by choice, because he was in debt, and needed a way to pay it off. He was very aware of the dangers of the flesh pit. Hell, he can tell at first glance because of the casual horrific consequences mentioned, as well as the armored suit just required for traversing. Nevertheless, he made sure to keep a calm mind. He’s from the Backstreets of the City, so it should be fine. He’s experience some of the worst situations, so it should be fine. Right?
Well… The exploration started. The task was simple enough: get any minerals that you find. It didn’t require going into the deeper depths of the flesh pit, so he didn’t have much to fear about the mission. Right?
That’s what should’ve happened. But an organism, the shape of a large, disgusting cockroach, suddenly emerged from a flesh sack. There was a few security members, since there’s only so many weapons (and not everyone is a fighter), in which Tom expected them to get rid of it quickly. But what he did not expect is when one of the other explorers, a much more meek one who was easily startled, stumbled backwards. Directly into him. He was distracted by looking around, to see if there was more organisms that would emerge, so when he got bumped into, he lost his footing.
Stumbling back, finding that there was no other landing. Falling into the depths of the flesh pit. Never to be seen again.
At least, that’s just what it says on the company’s reports. Somehow, Tom was alive. When I found him, though… he was missing the lower half of his body. Using this opportunity, I fixed him up. I did what I can, but there were some… side effects, that came from being partially devoured and digested by the flesh pit. It’s much more better than the ending where he just dies, when he fought so hard to live, right?