He came into the world just like any other, full of life. His mother had named him Cedric. It had happened right on his mother’s bed, with his father pacing nervously around. He had come into the world with his two other siblings Olivia and Matthew. Even as exhausted as his mother was, she got up after some rest and ate a hearty meal like she would any other day.

The following weeks, their protective mother had tirelessly provided them with food, and kept them warm during the long winter. During this time, they have learnt that they lived in a tight, close, and happy community. Cedric thinks there are approximately two-dozen in the community, but he can never be too sure because, well, he only has so many fingers to count with! Life was good; they ate together, played together, and then ate more together.

One day, after the three of them went for their usual pranking and just generally being a nuisance to others, they noticed something different. Something was off. Uncle Joe, the biggest in size in the community, hasn’t complained once. In fact, he didn’t even threaten to tell on them to their mother. “Do you remember poking uncle Joe Cedric?” Olivia asked. Cedric replied, “No, do you remember? Matt?” Matt also doesn’t recall seeing Uncle Joe. That night, the three of them bundled up and instead of falling asleep along with the rest of the community, they stayed up a bit later than usual and wondered deep and hard just where had uncle Joe gone?

The morning after, they were woken up by the sound of everyone fighting over food and so the trio promptly joined in and had forgotten all about uncle Joe. Time passed with everything going as they always were and so Cedric and the others lived without a care in the world.

One hot, summer day, when Cedric, Olivia, and Matthew are no longer the little ones in the community; something had happened that has never before happened. Little is remembered about how it transpired, but most agree that everyone followed little Jack onto an unfamiliar path and ran out onto a beautiful field. Oh what a marvelous field it was, it was a greener pastures the community never looked for, they were in nirvana.

Together with the gang, Cedric rolled around in the soft grass, and ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Then they spotted them. Strange, larger versions of themselves; they were of a different colour and also spoke a strange language no one understood. At first Cedric kept his distance, and never wandered too close. But soon it became obvious that these weird giants would rather do nothing else but talk amongst themselves, enjoy the nice weather, and to eat peacefully at their own picnic spot. Just as mysteriously as how they’ve gotten onto the field, they were back home and fast asleep before the night even fell.

As more and more time passed, Cedric and the others have gone out to the field on four more separate occasions. However, these trips to the field were not nearly enough for them to stay in shape. Cedric had done a little too much of lying around relaxing, eating, and too little of moving around. He was slowly becoming one of the biggest in the community. Speaking of the community, more have gone not unlike the disappearance of uncle Joe. While troubled, not many paid much attention.

One day, after dinner, Cedric, Olivia, and Matthew sat talking. Matthew said, “You have got to stop hogging all the food Ced! Look at you, I think you might actually be the largest one of us now!” Cedric retorted, “No way, last time I checked, Tom still had a couple pounds on me!” Matthew and Olivia immediately looked around for Tom to verify Cedric’s claim, only… they couldn’t find Tom! In fact there were only seven of them! What happened to Daniel? Kenny? Grace? Cedric’s heart skipped a beat, and yelled, “Where is mother!?”

Ever since their father passed away, Cedric’s mother had always been quiet, not talking much to anyone. However their mother was definitely not quiet enough for them to not notice her absence! Cedric thought angrily. That night, Cedric isolated himself away from the group and curled up in the corner, out of sight of the others. He thought to himself, maybe they’re all still at the field, Matthew, Olivia and I have got to find out how to get to the field in the morning and look for mother.

It was the next morning when Cedric started to fully grasp the terror they should’ve felt months ago. Olivia came stumbling to him crying, Cedric can barely understand through all the tears, but he had gotten the idea and looked around.

Matthew is nowhere to be seen.

Days passed, Cedric comforted Olivia while also trying to find a way out to the field. Others in the community are also starting to feel uncomfortable. It is mid august, but somehow, it feels colder with only so few of the community left.

Squeals of pain broke the morning silence, Cedric woke abruptly to see whips and sticks that emits an electric shock wreaking havoc. Wh-tsh! A burning pain spread throughout Cedric’s back, his skin ripped open from the ruthless whip. In the confusion, Cedric and the rest of the community were pushed into a small box.

The box was too small for the six of them; they were all cramped against each other. Cedric could barely breathe. Everyone began to feel light headed and dizzy, and soon, the box began rocking and bumping. Cedric thought, “We’re being moved somewhere.” There came a loud crack, Olivia squeals in pain as her ribcage collapsed. Soon Olivia lay unconscious and Cedric, fighting off the tears, refuses to believe what was only too brutally evident; Olivia was dead.

In what seemed like forever, the box finally stopped moving. Cedric was prepared to jump at anyone who opens the box and attack. Once the box was opened, however, Cedric found his legs too weak to carry his body, and collapsed. Just before Cedric lost his consciousness, he sees a sign on a building with the words “SLAUGHTERHOUSE”.