Horror hides in the most innocent of places. You may find your darkest fear down an aisle at a grocery store. Perhaps you might uncover it when you drive home from work. Or you might look in the mirror after a shower and find your reflection looking a little off. No matter how you stumble across the terror, it is there and ready to haunt your memories. Some of which you may never recover from.
I wasn't exactly a fan of going on these long road trips. Sure, it was something for work, but it meant I was getting paid to drive for what felt like a day and a half. Yeah, I loved getting paid without being at work, but the drive itself can feel like a chore. Especially driving alone without much to keep me company.
I was running low on gas and my stomach was grumbling. Finally, the perfect opportunity to make a pit stop and take a break for a few minutes. I looked for the signs along the highway that said what to expect on the next exit, but only one sign came up, a gas station. I shrugged, figuring that gas stations usually have food. I took the exit and let it carry me down the road a little further.
As I drove, it was nothing but grass for a few miles. This was a mistake, I found myself thinking. I could have easily turned and found myself at a better town.
Just as I was thinking of turning around, I arrived in the town. It looked a little worn down, some brick building looking to be nearly collapsed. There was a gas station that rested alongside some housing and a café right across the street. I figured I might as well try it out. I'd forgotten to eat breakfast before I left, so anything would be appetizing right now.
I pulled into the gas station and began pumping my gas. It didn't take but a few moments before it was done and I went inside to pay. The inside of the gas station appeared a little old fashioned. There was a man with a cowboy hat that stood behind the counter. There were a few coolers in the back with some drinks and a few wooden shelves lined with candy bars. The place smelled a little musty but didn't feel too off putting.
I gave the man the money for gas.
"You're not from around these parts are you?" he asked, eyeing me up and down.
I shook my head. "I'm from about sixty miles north of here. I'm just passing by on a business trip."
"A business trip, huh?" the man said. "You must be famished, have you tried the restaurant across the street?"
"I haven't, but I'm planning on it," I replied. "Is there anything there you recommend?"
He cackled and sent me on my way. What I weird guy. I walked out and headed to my car, a little sketched out by the way that guy reacted. Should I even risk going inside? I figured I might as well. The food can't be that terrible.
I walked inside the restaurant and noticed it was nearly empty. A few booths were occupied by a single person each. They were snacking on oddly shaped burgers. There was blood dripping down one man's chin as he looked up to me. Did they not cook the meat too much here? Perhaps I'll try something other than a burger.
I sat down and was greeted by a man in a white apron and a white baseball cap to match. He gave me the regular greeting he must repeat for all customers. He asked me what I wanted. I was unsure why he didn't provide a menu, but the only thing I knew was the burger. I ordered one, well done. He jotted it down, narrowing his eyes at me slightly. He turned and made his way back into the kitchen.
Some other people around the place started eyeing me hungrily. Some of them got up from their seats and crept closer to me. I tried ignoring them until one of them bit into my arm. I smacked them and pushed them away but they kept coming back. What was wrong with these people?
Before I knew it, the server came back with my food and the customers returned to their seats and ate their food.
I looked down at my plate and took a bite. It was then that I realized what kind of place this was. This was human meat. The people in here are cannibals.
I wasn't exactly a fan of going on these long road trips. Sure, it was something for work, but it meant I was getting paid to drive for what felt like a day and a half. Yeah, I loved getting paid without being at work, but the drive itself can feel like a chore. Especially driving alone without much to keep me company.
I was running low on gas and my stomach was grumbling. Finally, the perfect opportunity to make a pit stop and take a break for a few minutes. I looked for the signs along the highway that said what to expect on the next exit, but only one sign came up, a gas station. I shrugged, figuring that gas stations usually have food. I took the exit and let it carry me down the road a little further.
As I drove, it was nothing but grass for a few miles. This was a mistake, I found myself thinking. I could have easily turned and found myself at a better town.
Just as I was thinking of turning around, I arrived in the town. It looked a little worn down, some brick building looking to be nearly collapsed. There was a gas station that rested alongside some housing and a café right across the street. I figured I might as well try it out. I'd forgotten to eat breakfast before I left, so anything would be appetizing right now.
I pulled into the gas station and began pumping my gas. It didn't take but a few moments before it was done and I went inside to pay. The inside of the gas station appeared a little old fashioned. There was a man with a cowboy hat that stood behind the counter. There were a few coolers in the back with some drinks and a few wooden shelves lined with candy bars. The place smelled a little musty but didn't feel too off putting.
I gave the man the money for gas.
"You're not from around these parts are you?" he asked, eyeing me up and down.
I shook my head. "I'm from about sixty miles north of here. I'm just passing by on a business trip."
"A business trip, huh?" the man said. "You must be famished, have you tried the restaurant across the street?"
"I haven't, but I'm planning on it," I replied. "Is there anything there you recommend?"
He cackled and sent me on my way. What I weird guy. I walked out and headed to my car, a little sketched out by the way that guy reacted. Should I even risk going inside? I figured I might as well. The food can't be that terrible.
I walked inside the restaurant and noticed it was nearly empty. A few booths were occupied by a single person each. They were snacking on oddly shaped burgers. There was blood dripping down one man's chin as he looked up to me. Did they not cook the meat too much here? Perhaps I'll try something other than a burger.
I sat down and was greeted by a man in a white apron and a white baseball cap to match. He gave me the regular greeting he must repeat for all customers. He asked me what I wanted. I was unsure why he didn't provide a menu, but the only thing I knew was the burger. I ordered one, well done. He jotted it down, narrowing his eyes at me slightly. He turned and made his way back into the kitchen.
Some other people around the place started eyeing me hungrily. Some of them got up from their seats and crept closer to me. I tried ignoring them until one of them bit into my arm. I smacked them and pushed them away but they kept coming back. What was wrong with these people?
Before I knew it, the server came back with my food and the customers returned to their seats and ate their food.
I looked down at my plate and took a bite. It was then that I realized what kind of place this was. This was human meat. The people in here are cannibals.
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