Indian officials ventured into a deep jungle, investigating several missing persons reports from a nearby city. What they found was a “Tower of Silence,” or dakhma. Zoroastrians use these sites to dispose of bodies in the open air.
While sites like these are not uncommon in certain parts of india, several peculiarities hint at something more unusual…
- None of the bodies depicted in the photograph were identified. Villagers from nearby, though initially surprised at the sheer number of corpses in the dakhma, proved unable to recognize the bodies. The corpses also do not match the descriptions of the missing people.
- There were no animals around except for maggots and flies. Zoroastrians rely on birds (i.e. buzzards) to dispose of the bodies, in the belief they are contributing back to the Earth. Officials found the corpses relatively untouched by any sort of animal.
- There is no official count of the bodies. In fact, little work was actually accomplished at the site and, perhaps, this is why only one photograph has emerged. Officials avoided the spot – not only because they felt uneasy looking at it, but for the following, as well:
- The deep pit in the center of the photograph was filled with several feet of festering blood – far more than the bodies on the outside could ever supply. The stench was so unbearable that many of the officials began to get nauseous when they first approached the dakhma.
- The expedition was ended when a villager accidentally kicked a small bone into the pit, penetrating the coagulated surface of the pool. A massive burst of gas from the decomposing blood erupted from the pit, splashing those looking into it, along with the photographer.
Those caught in the explosion were immediately sent to the hospital, where they were quarrantined for possible infection. They became delirious with fever, shouting about “being tainted with the blood of Ahriman” (the personification of evil in Zoroastrianism), despite never having admitted having any familiarity with the religion.
In fact, many of them had no idea what the dakhma was when they had found it. Delirium turned to insanity as many began to attack hospital staff until they were sedated. The fever eventually killed all of them.
When officials returned with HAZMAT gear the following day, the site was empty. All the bodies had been removed and, astonishingly, the pool of blood inthe pit had been drained. All that remained of the incident was this photograph.
Tag: what do i do
I was looking through my Google documents and found a one and a half page excerpt on Jack the Ripper. It’s obviously fictional and looks like it was written by a twelve year old, but I DON’T REMEMBER WRITING THIS STORY. EVER. How…? It’s mine, that much I can tell, I know my own writing, but… WTF? Where did it come from?
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Jack the Ripper
As I traveled through the filth and squalor of England’s streets, I was almost jumping with excitement. The Stones had invited me to their famous party at their own estate. Their parties were the talk of the entire town. Almost everyone was invited. I turned the corner, and the wind tore at my chocolate hair that intricately wove in and out of itself, forming tight balls of beautiful curls that wound around my pale, angular face. My bodice still clung to my mid-section, and the hoop skirt underneath my many skirts dug into my hips with the force of the wind. I leaned in, squinting and struggling against its’ strength.
All of a sudden the wind stopped. I peered up and looked straight into the amber eyes of a dashingly handsome man. His eyes melted as I gazed into their never-ending liquid irises. His black hair swirled around his perfectly chiseled features in a way that made my stomach churn. He smiled warmly back, seeming oblivious to deportment and asked in an oh-so irresistible voice where I was heading and what my name was. I told him in a little too curt a manner that I was on my way to a festivity and didn’t need any assistance. I also told him my maiden name with a sigh of resentment at his wondrous complexion. He listened politely and let me by without any further remarks. I turned inconspicuously and caught him staring intently at my backside.
I spun the rest of the way and watched him back. He unexpectedly grinned wickedly back at me with an exquisiteness that knocked me breathless. Walking forward, he bent forward into a crouch. It was then I realized what his motive was. My heart stopped briefly, and then started up again quicker than ever before. He started sprinting towards me, still beaming. I tried to turn, but my heel caught on one of the holes in my hoop skirt and fell, scraping my palms on the rough, hard ground. The gorgeous man laughed evilly. A laugh that sent shivers down my spine and my stomach did frightened little flips as I tried to work up an audible scream. All I could manage was a squeak of defeat. Grabbing my arm, he yanked me to my feet and chuckled at my gasp of breath.
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Random Toughts 