Slim Bear - Flash Fiction Horror
- Alexander Adams
- Oct 30
- 3 min read
Written as part of Flash Fiction Horror, a series of tales to tell before Halloween
The following is a report from the wildlife management team’s investigation of the “Slim Bear” incident.
Subject: Slim Bear
Found inside the ruins of a disused train station initially by a former staff member, who contacted local authorities. No further contact made from either party, triggering intervention by our wildlife management team.
Team arrived at approximately 2100 hours. Police car found outside the train station still running and doors open.
Exterior of train station exhibited signs of disrepair, including shattered windows, overgrowth, and rust. Original cause for closure a result of disuse after new station was built to replace it. Subsequent sightings of dangerous wildlife in the area discouraged further interaction.
Entrance hall covered in a thin, viscous fluid. Fluid described as “collagen-like” in appearance but not texture. Samples taken for testing.
Update: Subsequent tests show a small similarity to melted bone marrow.
Two pairs of footprints suggested local authorities had entered the site and headed deeper inside. Waiting room displayed more of the same fluid, including on the ceiling.
Shredded tent and occupant found behind ticket counter. Probable squatter. Torso opened and liver missing. Tongue bitten through, suggesting immense pain before death. Advanced state of decomposition.
The bathroom was occupied by rats with unusual behavior. The rats stayed near the walls and were covered in viscous fluid. Small signs of movement and shallow breathing. Otherwise, no reaction to external stimulus. Some were in a state of advanced decomposition and covered in the same fluid as the rest of the station. Unable to remove from wall without destruction of organism.
Fluid intensified further into station. Door to basement area showed particularly high concentration, along with thicker red and pink patches on the walls. At this point, floor became stickier and difficult to walk on. Thickness of fluid preserved footprints of local authorities that continued inside.
Walls along the stairs were dripping with fluid originating from large, fleshy clumps. Clumps were swollen, similar to a blister. Inside were small skeletons consistent with those of small mammals. A bat appeared to be trapped on the ceiling. It responded to the team’s presence with screeches and attempted to escape but was unsuccessful. Viscosity of fluid was the probable cause.
First encounter with local authority occurred after the team arrived in the basement. The officer’s leg fell off mid-run along with portions of his flesh, exposing joints and parts of his skeleton. Destroyed before physical contact made with the team. Leg remained stuck in fluid. Still awaiting results of sample analysis at time of report.
State of station deteriorated closer to the foundations. Future structural instability expected. Encounter with former staff member. Deceased and stuck to wall. Chest cavity opened, containing lungs, heart, and tongue. Jaw hanging off due to disintegration of body. Face fell off during inspection. Eyes responsive to light.
At approximately 2200 hours team arrived at the back of the basement. Continued evidence of animal decomposition. Difficult to navigate and a very strong presence of bad air leading to open storage room.
Second encounter with local authority outside storage room. Lying on floor, half- submerged in pool of fluid. Shallow breathing. Damaged by claw and bite marks consistent with previous bodies. Integrity of body suggests aggressive movement accelerates speed of disintegration. No immediate threat; left alone.
The storage room appeared empty, items presumably removed after closure of station. However, the team could hear soft growling from within.
Upon entering storage room, the team found a rotting bear standing in the centre facing the door. The team reported an overwhelming stench of rotting flesh from unidentified masses floating in pool surrounding the bear. Bear appeared less affected than other animals considering possible length of exposure, maybe due to its size or density. Eyes retained and reactive to team’s presence. Swaying slightly and breathing at an even pace. Face warped by decay so that it appeared to smile. Skin, ears, and nose absent. Small chunks of flesh sliding off. Slowly melting.
Rushed at and mauled team member. Unable to neutralise with standard arms. Remaining team members fled building. Bear does not appear to have left the station, indicating possible latent territorialism before affliction.
Site has been closed off for research and decontamination. Car disposed of and false story given to local authorities.
Surviving members of the wildlife management team have been released from quarantine and returned to active duty. We have been unable to recover “Slim Bear” due to the risk to staff but will continue to monitor the situation.
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