2 : Rats

"Step up and have a look, it's time for a few handpicked stories to steal your sleep, and your soul..."

The story is about a newly married couple who had just moved into the countryside. The husband is Nan and the wife is Rem.

" Seems like we managed to find quite an affordable living place here in the town... Don't you think so, Rem?"

"I agree. It's impossible to find such a place for this cheap.... Why can I hear a kind of rattling? "

" Rats maybe. The landlord did mention that rats are quite common in this town. "

" Are you serious ? Rats? " *Shudder*

" Seems like my darling is scared of some rats, huh? " *laughs*

"It's not like I am scared of them but... "

"They won't make much trouble if you can put up with them "

"I will try..."

[2 Days passed by, and the rats would always make a mess. Rem would always complain about this to her husband, but he would just ignore it. Soon after he was assigned for a business trip for about 2 weeks. ]

"Are you actually going to leave me here alone? "

"I have no other choice to be honest..."

"Very well"

[2 weeks passed by and Nan returned from his business trip. He went to his house, rang the doorbell a few times but would get no response from inside. Later he noticed that the gate was already unlocked. Feeling uneasy, he hurried inside Thee interiors were all in their usual condition but yet an awful smell would linger in their house. He thought what it would be and he hurried inside to look for the cause. Soon after he reached their bedroom. A skeleton, completely eaten was lying in their bed in a posture, quite familiar to Nan. ]

" R-Rem? "

He muttered those words as he started feeling nauseous. His eyesight started going blank, and he fell on the floor on his knees. He felt devastated. He could hear loud rattling getting louder and louder. That was until hundreds of rats crawled out of their holes. Nan noticed that few of the rats were covered in blood. He understood how Rem died. He got petrified and fell unconscious. Then a loud chewing and rattling could be heard from their house.

*A few years later*

"Wow ! This house is just epic for living... How much is it?"

"It's $25 a month... "

" Quite affordable I would say, I would love to make the rental contract. "

" Of course sir, as you wish. "

" But I have something to ask you... "

" What sir? "

"What is this awful stench I am getting and why are there some red marks on the walls... "

"Nothing sir, It's just the painting marks left behind by the children of my previous tenants."

"Is that so?"

"Yes sir"

"What about this awful stench then? Of course the children would not leave that behind."