Chapter Text
it had been, admittedly, bleak for most of Aftons life. Living in the same house and in the same, unchanging town, eating the same food and talking to the same people. He hated it all. At 25 he hadn't done much in his life; he went to school, graduated, and got rejected from the only collages he could actually afford. He felt as if he couldn’t do anything, living with his parents and working at a job that practically only paid in free coffee and doughnuts. He was hated in his town and he hated himself, not being able to transition or do what he wanted to do. Be what he wanted to be. Everyone knew what he was, a faggot, a tranny. He was so done with it.
Late one night he snuck out past his own lame curfew.
He was a grown ass man and his folks still didn’t let him be out past 9.
he was careful not to slam the door to his shitbox Honda before he started the engine and quietly peeled out of the driveway. He drove in silence as the forest creeped up around him, the trees obscuring whatever light managed to leak through the clouds that blanketed the sky. It was damn near 30 degrees below freezing and snowing. He parks at the end of a dirt road before getting out of the car and stripping down to nothing. He was going to allow himself to freeze to death. He figured that is what he deserved and what would be the slowest possible way to go. He put his clothes in the car, put the car in neutral and locked it, throwing the keys somewhere to not be found until the snow melts. He watches as the car rolls slowly down the road, disappearing into the darkness as he looks away. He sighs as he starts his way deeper into the forest. The icy chill biting into his feet as he toughed his way through the snow, the skin turning red at first and then his toes eventually go white. He flinches at any sound in the eerily quiet forest.
He continues to wander, looking for somewhere to curl up and die. He knew it wouldn't take long, he starved himself or the past day or so and only drank small sips of water. He was already a small man, he had barely any visible muscle, his ribs and spine poking out from under his skin. As he goes further into the forest the snow gets deeper; the dense, white powder beginning to trap his legs as he shuffled through the cold. The ground suddenly shifts under him, causing him to yelp as the ground seemingly disappeared under him as a trap door flipped up, dropping him into a 8 foot hole, his ankle popping as he made contact with the ground, his chest hit the ground next, winding him. He shivers and weeps until hes asleep.
The sky was bright when the trapdoor opened. Startling him from his unconsciousness, he jolted as a net was tossed over him and began to lift him. Flailing around like a cat in a sack, falling out of the net and into the snow.
A large man was standing over him now, he was quite stocky and large, dressed in warm clothing, bandages and a red heart-shaped mask covering his face.
This was terrifying.
Afton scrambles back, though, his thin arms got stuck in the snow. He trembles as the man bends down and grabs his sprained ankle and drags him up,drawing a howl of pain from him, the large man seemingly didn’t care. Afton squirms and thrashes in his grasp as the man seemingly inspected him, running his free hand up the small mans torso, stopping at his chest for a moment, muttering something, before touching his peach-fuzz covered jaw. Afton felt humiliated. he swung his arms at the man, his bony fists hitting the large mans ears, causing him to grunt and to drop Afton. He scrambles back once more, ice scraping at his back and ass.
He didn’t want whoever this is to do whatever they had planned from him.
He kicks at the man as he tries to grab him again, he tries grabbing him by his sides, Afton kicks at his stomach and whimpers as he realizes his actions are futile. He tries to buck the large man off of himself. The man is unmoved, putting his knee over the frail mans hips, roughly grabbing his face and observing Afton like a piece of fruit. Afton screamed as he slammed his forehead into the mans mask, trying to smash his nose, which he seemingly accomplished, judging by the pained sound the man makes as he jolts back. The man stands up suddenly and kicks Afton in the ribs, causing a sickening pop. Afton can only wheeze weakly as hes lifted again, strong arms wrapping around him as hes pressed face-first into the stocky mans chest, enveloping him in warmth, the fight slowly leaving his weak body.
Afton can only writhe as hes nearly smothered, flinching as something warm dripped down onto his head.
The other mans blood. He thinks. His nose was probably bleeding.
Afton gasps as hes dropped into a rough wooden chair, the large man steps back. Hes in a cabin now. He watches as the large man sticks his head out of the door- hes calling out for someone.
“carver! Carver get yer ass back in here!!” the man shouts. Afton whines out of fear. The stocky man turns to him and he presses himself further into the chair, trembling.
The door opens and a tall, pale, ghoulish looking man walks in, his long, inky black hair dusted in snow. Afton assumes this is carver. Carvers gaunt face lights up as he sees Afton.
“oh who is this?? are they staying with us? Do you know her?? why is she naked??”
Afton’s ears burn.
“well, no. I found ‘em in a trap like this, she don’t seem like t’a type we usually get… we might just eat ‘im- she broke my nose..”
carver turns to Afton and he shrinks back, trembling. Carver circles around him, inspecting him before moving closer, circling his pointer finger and thumb around Afton bony wrist, humming quietly, brows furrowing at the mans cold temperature.
“I dunno… seems like she’d be stringy…”
Afton tries to yank his wrist away. This is useless, of course.
“what are you doing here?” carver asks, his voice soft.
That's none of your business. Afton spits, his voice hoarse from dehydration and disuse, hes still trying to pull his arm free.
“oh dear. she sounds awful… can I fetch her some water?”
the large man shrugs as he watches carver let go of Afton's wrist, his eyes tracking him as he moves to the kitchen to get a stainless steel pot before going outside. His eyes snap back to Afton. He crouches in front of him.
“whats ye’r name, kid? What are you doing on my property?” the man growls quietly.
Why would I tell you? Afton hissed. I wasn't going to break or steal anything...
the large man huffs, standing and turning away, he walks to the kitchen and opens a cabinet, grabbing a bottle of vodka, pouring two shots for himself and he puts the bottle back. The large man then reaches for his mask, taking it off and setting it aside before unwrapping his head. He takes a shot then reaches up to his nose, the man grunts as he resets it, sniffling quietly before he takes the other shot, turning back to Afton.
The mans face was a mess, he was stubbly he had blood on his cheek and lip, he had large scars on his cheeks thinned down whatever flesh would've been there, he had a large scar that covered half of his temple, dispreading under his short dark-ginger hair. His eyes were tired and green. Afton was intimidated.
“do you have a way to get back to town?”
I cant go back. Afton mumbled, sniffles.
The man frowns
“im not harboring criminals..”
I didn’t do anything.
“right. So why cant you go back?”
I just… cant. I wont bother you at all.
The man sighs, rubbing his brow.
“you aren't killing yer’ self on my property.”
what?
“I ain't stupid, girl. You'd have to be suicidal or stupid to go out in the forest naked during a blizzard.”
Afton shrinks back.
Where does your property end?
“im not telling. You aren't killing yourself. Period.” the man growls.
Why do you care?
“im sure th’r would be people looking for you. yer’ a pretty, young woman.”
no one is. Don’t call me that.
“sorry.. are you one of...those?”
piss off.
The large man shifts slightly.
After a moment the door opens, carver is back, the pot now full of tightly packed snow, he moves to put the pot by the fireplace. Afton watches as the large man whispers something to the ghoul as they pass each other. Carver perks up.
Afton eyes the two before staring at the floor for a long while, his mind floating elsewhere as he contemplates. His eyes grow heavy and his head droops, he can feel the pitying stares of his two new captors but he doesn’t pay them any mind. He can hear their hushed voices conversing about something he cannot quite make out.
He jolts awake suddenly when a hand is placed on his shoulder, the long, sharp- almost claw-like nails digging into his skin, Afton winces. Carver stands behind him now, holding a mug of warm water mixed with honey and a small plate with some sort of dried fruit, the ghoul’s eyes were soft.
“take these… please.”
Afton takes the mug and plate gingerly. Bringing the mug to his lips and drinking quietly.
This was the first liquid he'd have in days. He sniffles.
Afton drinks the entire mug and picks at the dried fruit on the plate, eating only a few pieces. He begins to weep. Both carver and carcass notice but don’t say anything. The small cabin is silent except for the howl of the wind, Afton shivers.
The silence is soon interrupted as carcass gets the wood stove started and grabs a very large stock-pot. Carcass goes outside to get water, leaving Afton alone with carver. After a while carver speaks.
“you're different than any other human I’ve… observed”
so are you.
“oh, little ol’ me? I’m no human”
what are you then?
“im a ghoul!”
huh…
the ghoul is quiet for a moment.
The door opens as carcass struggles in, carrying the large pot of water to the stove, carver moves to close the door behind him.
They all are silent while they wait for it to boil. Afton uses this time to think.
Its dark out once the water is heated, carver helps carcass carry it outside. Afton can hear the sound of the water being poured. After a while they both come back in, carver goes to a wardrobe, grabbing several towels and wash cloths, humming as he takes them outside.
“yer’ taking a bath.”
Afton only nods.
Carcass sighs before picking him up again. Afton is limp in his strong arms, their body soft against his. Once they are outside carcass sits Afton down in a very large, wide, aluminum tub of warm water. Afton only quietly curls up. The other two men strip.
the snow was still coming down heavily.
Afton looks away. They flinch when a warm, wet rag is tossed at them, looking back at the other two men. Afton flushes.
“what is your name?” carcass asks, carver is washing his hair.
Afton is quiet for a long moment, thinking about what they will say,
a… Afton…
carcass nods,
Afton curls up further in the hot water, trembling.
The other two men bathe themselves, Afton remains curled up. Silent.
“do you need us ta’ wash you” carcass asked, sounding impatient.
Afton Is still silent.
They take that as a yes, moving over to Afton's side, carcass adjusts Afton so he can lay on his chest; he doesn’t fight this. Carver gently lathers his hands in soap before scrubbing Afton’s scalp, his hands were soft. Afton sighs, tanned, rough hands scrubbing his skin.
After that they all dry off, carcass wraps a towel around Afton's, tired, weak frame, and they head inside, once dry carcass dresses him in one of his old flannels.
it was too big on him.
They all eat their supper- afton has a piece of bread with butter.
Carcass makes the bed for all of them and both he and carver turn in for the night- Afton lies on the floor.
he felt that he didn’t deserve the bed.