Flash Fiction - Grinner
A slasher legend is born
The car moved slowly along the rutted path, the four occupants remaining quiet as they passed yet another NO TRESPASSING sign. The warning of the old-timer at the gas station seemed to hang in the air, but Felix, the undisputed leader of the group, had laughed it off, dismissing it as nothing more than a local trying to put the fear of God into them.
Debbie fussed with the locks of her long red hair, trying to ignore the lengthening shadows delivered by the setting sun. “You said we’d be here before it got dark, babe.”
With a grin, Felix reached over and squeezed her thigh. “Chill, Debs, we’re almost there.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, they rounded a bend and were greeted by a large wooden sign for “Camp Peaceful Pines.” Despite the fact that the resort hadn’t been active for over a decade, the sign remained pristine.
The vehicle passed below the sign and into the campground proper, the rutted trail transforming into smooth tarmac. They passed several camping spots that still had tents pitched, although it was clear there were no signs of life within.
“This is creepy,” Vicky said with a shudder. “It’s like everyone bolted.”
“Creepy is the point. They did bolt. When shit went down, they all ran like scared little kids,” Felix replied.
“Where are we going, man? I’m ready to blaze up,” Stuart asked from the back seat. He pulled himself up, wiping away drool from the side of his mouth.
Felix didn’t respond for a moment, but then he pointed ahead. “Right there. Right to the fucking spot where it happened.”
The car crept past the burned-out husk of what was once a public toilet, ruined wooden struts reaching up like fingers emerging from the ground. Felix turned into a vacant camping spot right across from the withered shell and cut the engine.
“You’re not suggesting we sleep here,” Debbie said, checking out the ruined structure in the rearview mirror.
“No better place to share the story. You girls get the drinks ready while Stuart and I set up the tents.”
The crackle of a roaring fire and the skunky scent of marijuana made the camp feel somehow homier. Debbie found relaxation impossible, even with her back turned to the burned outhouse. She hoped the weed would bring some calm to Felix and make him forget about the story, but that hope quickly vanished.
“It was ten years ago on this very day when it all happened.” Felix flashed his perfect pearly whites and looked each of his friends. “That was the day the Grinner was born.”
“Doesn’t sound so scary to me,” Stuart said, as he took a massive toke from the joint.
“You say that now, my dopey friend, but just wait.” Felix fished a slim flashlight out of his pocket, flicked it on, and held it under his chin. “It was a night like any other in the camp. Guys our age having fun. Smoking weed, cracking some cold brews, and fucking under the stars.” He turned to Debbie and winked.
“Get on with it, dude. I’m starving.” Stuart jammed his hand into a bag of marshmallows and stuffed one in his mouth.
“Anyway, the camp custodian, Walter Grenier, was doing his final round of the night. Basically, picking up cans and bottles and cleaning up after the spoiled brats who didn’t give a fuck about the beauty of nature,” Felix continued, crushing his empty beer can and casually tossing it over his shoulder and into the trees.”
“I have a bag for trash,” Vicky piped up.
“Don’t be such a fucking do-gooder. Where was I? Oh, right, so Walter was cleaning up and heading to the shitter, where a bunch of slackers were smoking up. Now, Walter was a pretty lenient dude, but drugs were a big non-no for him. Everyone knew this, and not wanting to get kicked out of camp, they tossed their blunts in the trash when the lookout told them old Walter was coming.”
Despite the warmth from the fire, Debbie rubbed her arms. “I wish someone would come and kick us out.”
Ignoring the comment, Felix continued, “Walter saw the kids coming out of the toilets, and he also saw the smoke that followed them. He rushed in to check out what was going on, at which time the place was already on fire and going up pretty quickly. Worst of all, the kids knew that he had clocked them, so they barred the entrance, locking Walter inside with the growing blaze.”
“Why would they do that?” Vicky asked eyes wide behind her thick-lensed glasses.
“They were scared that Walter would hand them over to the cops for starting the fire. Who cares, Vic? So, legend has it that Walter started hacking away at the hole in the wooden shitter to get inside and away from the fire.”
“Gross,” Stuart mumbled through a mouthful of marshmallow.
“He almost made it, too, but he got stuck from the shoulders up. He died screaming, the fire melting his fucking face and leaving it fixed in a permanent howl of pain that looked like a grin. That, my friends is how Grenier became Grinner.”
“That’s horrible,” Debbie said, tears threatening to spill.
Felix turned the flashlight toward the trees at his back. “Walter is still here, and he comes out to nab kids who come to smoke weed. Those empty tents you guys saw back there. That was from those who dared return to test the Grinner.”
“But, you said..”
“Shut the fuck up, Stuart.” Felix glared at his friend. “You’ll know the Grinner is coming when you smell shit in the air.”
“I’m smelling bullshit right now,” Stuart mumbled.
Aloud crack came from the trees behind them, making them all jump. Felix got to his feet, fists bunched and ready to swing. A Deer bolted from the woods, hopped over the fire and ran into the night.
“Holy fuck, that was cool,” Felix yelled.
“Can we please just leave now?” Debbie said, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m with Debs,” Vicky said.
“Do you guys’ smell shit,” Stuart said, sniffing the air.
“Not fu…”
The smell of fresh excrement blew into camp, making each of them gag. The scent was so thick that it was impossible to tell where it was coming from. It was the voice, from the direction of the toilets, that finally gave it away.
Hoarse and raspy, it said, “Is that marijuana I smell?”
I have had this idea for a while, and it will eventually become a much longer piece. I even had a damn cover made for it, which is below.
Just a good old fashioned slasher with naughty teenagers getting what's coming to them. Alright!
Loved it, can’t wait for a longer piece!