For Rent

Craig looks down the centre of the stairwell - five flights descend below, another four looming ahead. How had Melissa talked him into this? He hated this part of the city. It was too far from work and the area had a less than savory reputation.

"It's a good price," she had said, clicking through the photos of the available listing.

Sure, the photos had been okay, and the price was decent, but Craig didn't want to live here. He'd only agreed to a see the place so Melissa would stop bugging him. He cringes, running his hand along the stair railing, a sticky coating of dust clinging to his hand.

They sigh with relief, finally arriving on the ninth floor. Melissa wipes her forehead with the back of her hand.

"The landlord said the door would be unlocked," She says, starting down the hall.

Murky light blankets the hallway. She stops a few doors down, knocking gently before stepping inside.

"Come in. Come in," a voice welcomes. "You must be Melissa and Craig."

A pudgy man pops his head around the corner. "I'm Frank," he says, inching forward to shake their hands. His face is round, with plump cheeks and a chin that jiggles. "Why don't the two of you have a look around," he says. "We can talk when you're done."

Though the walls have seen better days and could use a coat of paint, the space is bigger than the pictures had let on. A large square living room looks out to a balcony, a birch tree swaying gently just beyond.

"What're these?" Melissa asks, pointing to the ceiling. A crater the size of a manhole scars the area above the nook, while smaller holes the size of coins scatter out and away from the cavity's jagged edges, continuing across the entire apartment.

"We're doing some repairs," Frank replies, brushing imaginary creases from his suit. "Don't worry, all the holes will be patched and painted before you move in." He smiles, looking back and forth between the two potential renters. Craig lifts an eyebrow.

A cracked window and more chipped paint greet them in the bedroom, along with the same small holes in the ceiling and walls.

"There's more holes in here," Craig shouts to Frank.

"Just more repairs," He replies with a shaky chuckle.

Melissa looks in the closet. She stops, a soft scratching rustles behind the wall.

"Craig, come here," she whispers.

"What?" he says, standing beside her.

"I thought I heard something," She says, still whispering.

"Like wha..." Craig begins.

"Shh." She puts her finger over his lips. "Just listen."

They lean forward, straining their ears. A quiet scratching murmurs behind the wall, soft and muffled like bristles across hardwood.

"Do you hear it?" Melissa says.

"What is it?" says Craig. "The pipes?"

"Pipes don't sound like that," she says.

"Mice?"

"I hope not," she says

Frank waits in the living room, shifting gently from foot to foot.

"So?" he says, the couple returning from their tour. "What did you think?"

"It needs some work," Melissa says.

"Like I said," he interrupts. "It'll look brand new by the time you move in. Rent is $750 plus electrical. That's a great price for this area."

He shifts his eyes between Craig and Melissa, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.

"$750 seems a bit high," Craig says. "What do you think Mel?"

He turns to his partner, but before she can speak a low rumble echoes through the room.

"What was that?" Melissa says.

"What was what?" asks Frank.

"That rumble," says Craig.

"I didn't hear a rumble," Frank says.

The rumble echoes again, closer and louder. The ground vibrates beneath their feet. The rumble turns to a roar, the walls beginning to shake.

"Can you hear it now?" Craig shouts at Frank.

Melissa steps back, her eyes darting around the room.

A black wave burst from the hole in the ceiling, pouring out and across the room and spilling down the walls.

"What is that?" Melissa shouts.

Craig steps forward, trying to get a closer look. His jaw drops.

"Ants!" he screams. "It's ants!"

He looks at Melissa, his eyes wide with fear.

She could see them now. Millions, maybe billions, of ants crawling across the ceiling and down the walls. Their legs flail and jaws click, climbing over one another as they cover the room. Melissa screams, the ants swarming around her feet. Craig shouts from the other side of the room, the ants climbing up his legs and covering his body.

"They're in my pants," he shouts, swinging his arms. He twists and turns, trying to shake the insects loose. "Get them off me!" He screams, tripping over his own feet and falling to the floor, his cries for help muffled by the roar of gnashing pincers and scraping legs. His arms flail in the air, the ants crawling over him, consuming him like a hungry shadow. Melissa screams as Craig's body begins to move, carried helplessly across the floor. She looks to Frank, but he's paralyzed in fear, his back pressed against the wall. The mass of ants begins dragging Craig up and towards the giant hole in the ceiling. The creatures disappear from around Melissa's feet, chasing after the freshly snagged catch. She runs forward yelling as Craig's body is pulled into the ceiling, disappearing into the dark void, a sea of insect legs and bodies following behind. The roar returns to a rumble, fading slowly until all that's left is the sound of Melissa panting. She drops her face into her palms and begins to weep softly. Frank waits a moment, still in shock, then pushes himself off the wall. He adjusts his tie and flattens his hair.

"I guess I could go down to $675," he says.

- the end -