It all belies / Our existence;
we wait, and are still denied.
–From “Winter-Lull” by D.H. Lawrence
Factory Farmed
I wake. Even with blindfold, it is bright. Around us, sound of metal clinking, squeak of rolling wheel, muffled voice over intercom echoes as if we’re in a large space. Climate-controlled air whooshes. Stench of formaldahyde and fresh blood adds to sensory assault. I feel sweat beading on my exposed skin.
I hear her moan near my left ear. Why can’t I move? Speak?
Distant squelching approaches. Something solid and moist runs itself over me; a medical examination. It lingers at my stomach. As it pushes, I feel movement inside. I hear deep, satisfied chuckles from whatever it is. It squelches away.
***
I wake in ambient light, lying on a pallet in a cell in a row of occupied cells. I feel my flat stomach – and stitches.
“Where is my baby?!” I scream.
***
It all belies our existence; we wait and are still denied.
[144 words]
Note: there is something that both satisfies and horrifies me about the word squelch. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever used it in my writing.
Merril is today’s host of dVerse’ Prosery Monday. Merril wants us to write a 144-word (or less) story using the top quote.
I mentioned at dVerse that my story was influenced by Katie Phang’s, from The Meidas Touch Network, video I watched this morning on the *pstein Zorro Ranch. I’m sharing it here if you care to watch it (beware, disturbing!)
Tao-Talk 
Oh my! This is SO scary, and one of the best I’ve read of yours, Li. Brave new world. . . terrifying!
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Merril, it feels like we are on the verge of something like this right now. Maybe not with “its” that squelch but with monsters nonetheless.
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There are definitely monsters among us, Li. And the whole Project 2025 group . . .
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At firsrt I thought this may have been from a cow’s perspective held in a fa tory farm to be slaughtered, but then after reading to the end, realaized it was even worse! Ugh, horrifying dystopia to be sure!!! Loved what you did with this prompt!!
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Cara, actually it could also be from a cow’s perspective when they take the calves from their mothers so humans can drink their milk and their babies either enslaved or turned to veal :(
Virginia Giuffre talked about her trafficker’s plans for Zorro Ranch in her book.
Thank you.
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The baby farm would truely be a nightmare. Hope it never happens.
Well done, Lisa.
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Dwight, Katie was also talking about cryogenics, where *he* wanted to be frozen. I want to know where his body is and I want proof what they say is his body really is.
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All wild and scary to think about!! :>)
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Oh so erie, Li! YIKES!!!! ❣️
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My work here is done ;) Thanks, Cindy.
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👏💃🏻💯
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<3
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a surreal mood, intriguing and ends so sad
Thanks for dropping by my blog
much love
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Thanks much, Gillena. It often feels like we are living in a surreal nightmare anymore. Family is our saving grace.
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This is no surprise, I have been reading books, some fiction, some not, that explore these happenings. These people are enabling their craziness with lots of money. That’s probably why Trump loved him, ego and money. A lot of similarities in Trump administration, Musk too. It’s like a book come to life.
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Not sure who this is (it says Someone) but in a recent book the author mentions him hobnobbing with a bunch of scientists and suggests they were videotaped with the sex trafficked girls which he then used as leverage to get them to do what he wanted. You are EXACTLY right about lots of money enabling their craziness!
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A powerful story – chilling and could easily be imagined as fact in time perhaps – Jae
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Jae, thank you and I wish you weren’t right.
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I sense a dark futuristic tone in this horrific tale, which makes it even more vivid and uncomfortable. Well done!
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Thank you, Walt!
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Interesting piece Li. Well done
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Thank you, Stew.
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The sensory details you give make this prose unsettling, great work!
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Jay, thank you. I am feeling unsettled so that makes sense.
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I could feel the personal disturbance rise with every sentence. It is all the more real because in this world of atrocity this story feels like a possibility and it horrifies me even more to say so.
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Sean, thank you for your feedback. I know just what you mean. So many, in Jay’s word, “unsettling” things going on these days. :(
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A scary image and video to accompany your terrifying Prosery piece, Lisa, which made me shudder. We must find a way to take over the world from these monsters.
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Kim, yes we must. I’ve just finished a book about dreams, where they were talking about a temple being built that everyone was working on, with large pillars. I think we may need to enlist the help of the collective unconscious to create our temple of active resistance. Your comment has me wanting to ask for such assistance from them.
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Ohl wow this is a true horror story, gripping and so well written. You have scared me Li. We have to stop these monsters Musk etc… This world is scarier that I ever imagined. Even when you consider the case of Giselle Pelicot, I was watching a video on that case and it too is truly disturbing.
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Yes it is, Di, scarier when you look in the shadows. Not sure if you ever saw the movie Blue Velvet, but the opening scene shows a perfectly manicured neighborhood, then pans down the ground and shows all of the beasties at work under the surface. It is hard not to feel like a pawn some days, like things are out of our control. Like Kim suggested, we need to gather our collective strength and fight back.
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I am not sure if I have seen Blue Velvet, it rings a bell. However i certainly agree it is time to fight back collectively against these horrors and systems that allow it to take place.
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As if we needed any more proof that money corrupts completely…(K)
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EXACTLY, K. Greed and the power it gives are the foundation of evil.
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Capitalism has to go.
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A very scary story
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Thanks, Sadje. I wanted to get the reader’s attention about darkness afoot.
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Oh you did that very well.
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<3
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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BRAVA from Bend! Utopian beyond anything I have read in quite a while!!! A spectacular response to Merril’s challenge, Lisa.
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Helen, thanks very much. Hope things are wonderful there in Bend.
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This is horrifying! And yet I can imagine it happening at the hands of rich and powerful men! I am willing to bet this desire for progeny mass generation did not die with Epstein.
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V, I’m sure you’re right in that it hasn’t died. I can think of several who would love to see themselves endlessly replicated. :::GAG:::
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Abrilliantly written piece of prose Li 💜💜
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:)
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I like that it can be fiction, but it terrifies me to think it is now being contemplated as actual! Sci-Fi has that tendency it seems. It seems that wealth has no morals or boundaries and is indeed, in my view, a sickness. This is a prophetic piece.
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Thanks for your insightful comment, Paul.
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