The Corpse Detective's Last Supper

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the desolate streets of the city. The Corpse Detective, known only as Enoch, stood at the edge of the old meatpacking district, his eyes scanning the shadows. The Meat-Eaters' Reckoning was fast approaching, and the city was on edge. The dead were rising, and the Corpse Detective was the only one who could stop them.

Enoch had been a detective for as long as he could remember, but this was different. The Meat-Eaters were not just any dead; they were the souls of the meat-eaters who had wronged the city in their lifetimes. They were bound to the meat they had consumed, and now they were returning to feast on the living.

The latest case had brought Enoch to the old meatpacking district. A young woman had vanished without a trace, and her soul was nowhere to be found. The Meat-Eaters' Reckoning was scheduled for the next night, and Enoch knew he had to act fast.

He approached the old meatpacking plant, its doors hanging open like a grim invitation. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of decay and something else—something not quite right. Enoch's flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing the sight of a meat-eater, its eyes glowing red, waiting for its next meal.

"Enoch!" a voice called out from the shadows. He turned to see a figure emerge, cloaked in darkness, holding a lantern. It was Clara, a former meatcutter who had been close to the woman who had vanished.

"Clara, what are you doing here?" Enoch asked, his voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at his insides.

"I was trying to find her," Clara replied, her voice trembling. "But when I got here, I saw this... thing. I thought it was her soul, but it wasn't. It was something else."

Enoch nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We need to find her soul. If it's been taken by a Meat-Eater, we have to stop them before the Reckoning."

Clara led Enoch deeper into the plant, the lantern casting flickering shadows on the walls. They passed by rows of meat hooks, each bearing the weight of a lifeless body. The air grew colder, and the scent of decay intensified.

Finally, they reached a small room at the back of the plant. The door was slightly ajar, and Enoch could hear the sound of something moving inside. He pushed the door open, revealing a small, dimly lit room filled with shelves of old meat.

In the center of the room stood a figure, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. It was a Meat-Eater, its flesh rotting and its skin hanging in tatters. But it was not just any Meat-Eater. It was the soul of the woman they were searching for, trapped within the Meat-Eater's body.

"Enoch, Clara," the Meat-Eater growled, its voice like the screech of a rusty hinge. "You have come for me. But you are too late."

Enoch stepped forward, his hand reaching for his gun. "Not this time," he said, his voice steady. "You can't feast on the living anymore."

The Meat-Eater lunged at him, its rotting flesh slapping against the floor. Enoch fired his gun, the sound echoing through the room. But the Meat-Eater was fast, and it dodged the bullets with ease.

The battle was fierce, with Enoch and Clara fighting with everything they had. The Meat-Eater was strong, its flesh like armor, and its attacks relentless. But Enoch and Clara were determined to save the woman's soul.

Finally, Enoch found an opening. He aimed his gun at the Meat-Eater's heart and fired. The bullet struck true, and the Meat-Eater fell to the ground, its eyes going out. The woman's soul emerged from its body, weak but free.

"Thank you," the woman whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't think I'd ever see the light again."

Enoch helped her to her feet. "You're safe now," he said, his voice filled with relief. "But we can't rest yet. The Meat-Eaters' Reckoning is still coming."

Clara nodded. "We need to find a way to stop them. They can't be allowed to feast on the living."

Enoch looked at Clara and the woman. "We'll find a way. But for now, we have to get you to safety."

Together, they left the meatpacking plant, the woman's soul now free to return to the afterlife. Enoch knew that the Meat-Eaters' Reckoning was just the beginning of their fight. But he was determined to protect the city, no matter the cost.

As the night wore on, Enoch and Clara made their way to the city center, where the Corpse Detective's office was located. They needed to gather more information, to understand the true nature of the Meat-Eaters and their connection to the meat they had consumed.

Enoch opened the door to his office, revealing a room filled with old files and a large desk. He turned on the light, and Clara followed him inside.

"Enoch, what do we know about the Meat-Eaters?" Clara asked, her voice filled with urgency.

Enoch sat down at his desk and began to sift through the files. "We know that the Meat-Eaters are the souls of those who have wronged the city in their lifetimes. They are bound to the meat they have consumed, and now they are returning to feast on the living."

Clara's eyes widened. "But why? Why now?"

Enoch closed the file and looked up at Clara. "Because the Meat-Eaters' Reckoning is coming. It's a time when the dead are allowed to rise and feast on the living. But this time, it's different. The Meat-Eaters are stronger, more powerful than ever before."

Clara's eyes filled with fear. "What can we do to stop them?"

Enoch stood up and began to pace the room. "We need to find a way to break the bond between the Meat-Eaters and the meat they have consumed. We need to find a way to free their souls."

Clara nodded. "We'll find a way. But we need to act fast. The Meat-Eaters' Reckoning is just days away."

Enoch looked at Clara, his eyes filled with determination. "We'll find a way. And we'll protect the city, no matter what it takes."

As the night wore on, Enoch and Clara worked tirelessly, searching for answers and a way to stop the Meat-Eaters. They knew that the Corpse Detective's office was just the beginning of their fight, but they were determined to save the city, no matter the cost.

The night was long, and the work was hard, but Enoch and Clara were determined to succeed. They knew that the Meat-Eaters' Reckoning was just the beginning of their fight, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Enoch and Clara sat at his desk, their eyes tired but filled with hope. They had found a lead, a possible way to break the bond between the Meat-Eaters and the meat they had consumed.

"We have to try," Enoch said, his voice filled with resolve. "We have to save the city."

Clara nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "We'll save the city. And we'll stop the Meat-Eaters' Reckoning."

Enoch smiled, a rare sight on his face. "We'll do it. Together."

And with that, they set out to save the city, to stop the Meat-Eaters, and to protect the living from the dead. The Corpse Detective's office was just the beginning of their journey, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.