Disquietude: Chapter 1

Disquietude

Chapter 1: Renewal


         This world, all worlds, they have many inherent terrors. Fear runs through the psyche of all living beings. There is no escape from this fear, and no true way to defeat it utterly... save for one. The sweet release into death. No matter how much one could fear something, there was always that guarantee. No more could a dead man fear. Yet, there was one true horror that could surpass the fears of life. It possessed no teeth nor fangs, yet could rend the flesh from one's bones with ease. It possessed no mouth, yet could devour one's very soul. It possessed no hand, yet could strangle, strike, or manhandle anyone, regardless of size. This beast had only one name...

         Nightmare.

         
         The darkness seemed to grow denser, more solid with the hundreds of invisible demons circling, strafing, rushing through the inky blackness. A lone, blind fist thrust through the void, striking nothing. Another followed, again hitting only the intangible. The fists thrashed through the darkness futilely... until, suddenly, a connection! Light flooded the vicinity, piercing through the night, sending the demons of nightmares back to their own foul domain, away from this place... this rundown motel room.

         At one corner of the room, adjacent to the switch that had brought this piercing light, a disheveled-looking, weakened man stood. He glanced through the room, noting the bed where he slept, blankets all astray. Nearby, an overturned nightstand lay, a broken lamp and dilapidated clock on the floor no more than a few feet away. The clock was no longer ticking, but it read 4:12 AM, and a quick glance at the window showing the nightstruck outside world would verify that. It was mid-spring, so it couldn't have been much later.

         The ragged young man - still dressed in his jeans and black T-shirt, being one to sleep in his clothes – pulled his grey jacket off the nearby coat rack. Grumbling somewhat as he fumbled with it in his half-awake state, he headed toward the ratty door of the room, pulling it open with the back of his wrist. He was greeted with a tremendous rush of frigid air, as he finally managed to pull his jacket on properly. He didn't mind this; in fact, he was thankful for it. The frozen wind helped to shock him into an alert state, blasting the last few thoughts of sleep from his mind. A good thing, he thought; anything was better than sleep.

         He headed down the path, passing the doors of other rooms, temporary dwellings to others like him. The wind had not diminished much by this point, but the man was easily able to shrug it off. He glanced up at the clear night sky, and paused for a moment. The side roof over him obscured very little of his vision, and as such he was able to see the pure, shining circle of the full moon. He felt a rush run through his body, for to him, it meant danger... and, in the same part of his mind, it stimulated the beast within. The tall highrises of the city seemed to stretch into the sky, as though competing with the nearby moon. Few lights were on anywhere, save for the streetlights that illuminated the pavement below. But, the one thing the man needed could not be seen: There was not a soul about.

         Shrugging, he continued down alongside the motel, finally coming to the restroom door. Not bothering to lift his arms, he simply made contact with his shoulder and pushed through, heading towards the sink in no real rush. He looked into the mirror, seeing his own disheveled image. His dark-orange hair seemed to burn like fire from his head, bursting from his cranium in all directions. His shirt was stained white in parts; sweat-stains he had never bothered to clean. His eyes were underlined by dark rings, seemingly etched into his skin permanently. Not much of this was fixable at the moment, but one thing certainly was. He yanked the sink handles, then quickly washed his hands in the resultant stream before cupping them and splashing a handful of lukewarm water onto his head. Pulling his hair back, he did his best to comb with his fingers, flattening it out until he could see the whites of his ears.

         Yes, whites. On top of his head lay a pair of ears, separate from those on the side of his head. They didn't look human, for certain. In fact, were one to only glance at them momentarily, they might be mistaken for feline ears... though in reality, they were of nothing so docile. He quickly flattened them against his head, disguising them to all but the most discerning eye. The backs of them were, fortunately for him, of the same color and grain as his hair, and blended quite well. Finishing up with his grooming, he briskly strode back the way he came and out the door, briefly glancing up at the moon once more before briskly strolling down the length of the motel, around the corner, down the sidewalk... a slow yet mad dash headlong into darkness, to find that which would make him complete.


*****


         In another part of the city was a darkness similar in form, yet not function. This darkness was not so fraught with peril or mystery; it was a calm darkness, silent except for the rare hum of an engine from far below... and the gentle hum of noses.

         In the midst of this darkness slept two souls, side-by-side. One, a creature common to this world: a wolf, a girl... both, in fact. Her shape was near human, certainly, but her features were that of a wolf, from her wolf-like muzzle to the fur that covered her entire body. She slept soundly, curled on unmessed blankets beside the second creature; something much like the first, only... different. This one slept soundly as well, but with a straight body. One might mistake her for human, if not for the odd attachments to her head; pointed wolven ears, which twitched and rotated in response to her dreams. The differences did not end here, however. She was very near the edge of the bed, and out from under the blanket's only lump besides her own body, a thick protuberance emerged. It twitched almost simultaneously with the strange ears, swaying a bit... were one to follow it to it's origin, they'd discover it was indeed attached to the small of the girl's back. It was a tail, to be sure... though this was only the beginning of her oddity. Both the fuzz of her tail and her hair were a dark royal blue, the kind of color that could only be attained normally through dye, and yet she had never used such a product.

         The darkness, previously quiet, now was filled with sounds bouncing off sounds. The shuffing of fur against fabric, the jingle of keys, the clicks of a doorknob... The more human of the two beings – now half-awake - noted that the curled lump beside her was absent, and sat up. Rubbing her eyes wearily, barely able to make anything out save for clawed paws at the edge of a square patch of moonlight, she yawned before making an inquiry. “Nn... where y'goin'?” She was met with another jingle of keys, and a rectangle of light as the door opened, flooding light into the bedroom. “Out to work. Got called in early again,” was the vocal response. The figure in the doorway could just barely be made out from the mostly-human girl's viewpoint. Below the wolven features, the departing one was clothed in plain, casual attire: a T-shirt depicting the worn logo of some forgotten band, and jeans that were more than a little ratty. “Sorry for waking you, Rielle. Go back to sleep.” The response was a slight yawn. “Alright, Niki,” Rielle muttered, before closing her eyes and thumping back onto the mattress. The door creaked as it closed, and muffled footsteps could be heard pacing around outside. Another door creaked open in the distance momentarily, before creaking shut as well.

         Rielle pulled herself out of bed slowly at the signal, still half asleep but moving with deliberate purpose. She made her way to the far end of the bedroom and flicked on the light switch, about to follow... when she realized something that would've made that a bad idea. She had slept in the buff again.

         Quickly throwing open the nearby closet door, she sifted through the mess of fabrics before finding something halfways appropriate. She quickly put on a simple bra, and the thickest panties she could find, knowing that it would be cold outside. Donning a black hoodie sweatshirt with a pair of tight jeans, she looked herself over. Her tail and ears were both hidden by her sweatshirt, no holes or anything like that to be found... and of course, she looked presentable. She quickly hurried through the residence out the door into the hall. As she hastily strode, fond memories of this hall came upon her... it was the apartment where she had first met Niki. Rielle had been without a home at the time, and oft sneaked into the janitor's closet to rest. The janitor didn't mind... of course, he didn't know. She always woke up sore from sleeping in uncomfortable positions... She passed the door to the closet now, and remembered herself stumbling out of it, landing face-first along with a mess of mops and cleaning supplies. Niki had helped her up, and after some conversation invited the strange girl to stay with her... Perhaps out of sympathy, or something else. Rielle wasn't sure of the reason, but she'd been thankful all the same to her lupine benefactor since that day.

         Rielle reached the end of the hall, bursting through the door to the stairwell and racing down the stairs two at a time. She knew she'd need to move fast to catch up to Niki. She'd watched sometimes from the window, as a small form passed by far below, quicker than she thought possible. Yet, it wasn't necessarily in the same direction every time... and the wolf was always back by daylight. Rielle had asked what she did for a living many a time, but was always given only a half-answer. 'Just some odd jobs', 'Have to refill the *mumble*' and such were common responses, and they did Rielle no good. She didn't suspect Niki of foul play, of course. It was more a curiosity, and one that nagged at her more each time she was left alone. If she had to choose a reason, it would be mostly that she wanted to assure herself Niki was safe, whatever she was doing. She bounded down the flights of stairs with incredible speed, displaying amazing balance to avoid missing a step and falling; a likely fatal mistake at her velocity.

         Reaching the bottom of the ground-floor's stairs, Rielle turned and opened the exit door, searching in every direction. Niki was already long since gone, and most others wouldn't have had anything to go on... but Rielle wasn't most others. She sniffed the air, catching the faintest whiff of a familiar smell – the very same smell that had etched itself into every crevice of the apartment she'd come to call home. She followed the smell, as it slowly grew stronger, breaking from a slow, unsure path to a fast bolt along the smell's trail. It was still dark out, and there were almost no vehicles on the road; nothing to worry about with regard to safety, and a good thing since Rielle was all over the roads following this scent. She knew the grid of routes well, having lived on them for some time... not much had changed since she came to the town. Of course, she didn't really expect it to; seven, maybe eight years didn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things for most. It was fortunate for her too – she was able to make incredible progress through the uneventful paths.

         The surrounding buildings grew shorter and shorter, as the smell grew stronger, now burning at Rielle's nostrils. She was clearly heading into a more scuzzy area, as the graffiti became denser on every wall and the surroundings seemed more damaged, seemingly with a broken window on every block. She began to worry somewhat. Was Niki really working in a place like this? Couldn't be, she thought, but she was very close now, going by the smell. She didn't suspect the wolf to be turning tricks or dealing; couldn't be. It was just so unlikely... she hoped, at least, that she was working in the most legit possible place. Her ears pricked up, pushing the hood of her sweatshirt up, as she knew Niki was close. She rounded a corner into an alley... and there, sure enough, was her target. At least, she thought it was her... but it couldn't be, could it?

         The very same unidentifiable logo could be made out from the faint glow of the moonlight, and the same ratty jeans adorning the same dim outline of a wolven figure, standing over a misshapen lump... Rielle's eyes took a short time getting used to the low light before she could see that it wasn't just a lump; it was the quivering form of someone, whimpering... she could only guess the lump was female from the sounds and the shape. She hadn't been discovered yet, it seemed, as she quickly hid just beside the mouth of the alley. She could hear a forceful voice bark out. “I said your money or your body! I'm offering you mercy here. You think I won't take your cash after I rip into you?” The only response was a whimper even more pathetic than before, clearly the sound of someone hysterical. “Ergh, stupid bitch!” A loud thump came next, followed by a loud wail that chilled Rielle to the core. The more commanding of the voices definitely belonged to Niki, no doubt of that... but the sharp, violent tone seemed so uncharacteristic for the normally ill-mannered at worst wolfess. “Now, I'm gonna repeat your options. You can either give me whatever money you have on you, or be torn to shreds and eaten. We all have to survive in this world, don't we? So give it up, one or the other!” Repeated thumps came next, a loud wail accompanying the first, then a cry on the second. By the third, the yelps had fallen silent. Rielle feared the worst, still in shock that Niki could be doing this... most certainly afraid for her life now. She'd lived with this person for over a year, and slept next to her each night... to learn that she was someone like this... Rielle's vision started to blur, as she broke out in a freezing sweat. She thought of her options, either run, or... no. Wolves were expert trackers. Niki would've known she'd been here, and – Rielle gasped silently. One small event had changed her whole mindset about someone she thought she knew. She refused to believe this. She wanted to wake up from this dream, to go back to what she had before... but it was impossible now. A tear ran down her face, as she choked a little.

         As Rielle uttered that tiny noise, all else in the night fell silent. She couldn't hear any wind, any sounds of life, of Niki, of her own pulse... an instant seemed to stretch into hours, then back like a rubber band, as the quiet was suddenly shattered. Padded footsteps came first, one after the other in rapid succession, then a clawed hand which raked from the darkness toward Rielle's throat. A wolf muzzle tore through the black, opening wide, and she turned away. “Who's there!?” the seemingly omnipresent being shouted. Rielle had turned her head down, her identity protected by her hood... at least for the moment. “Answer me!!” barked the assailant, as the fragile girl's head was yanked up. “Damn bi-...” Niki stopped, her expression changing from pure malice to shock.

         “Wh-what are you doing here?” she questioned. Rielle remained silent. “I told you to go back to sleep... why did you follow me?” Rielle was about to speak, but no words would come. Niki turned away for a moment, seeming to contemplate the situation. When she turned back, Rielle could see a strange glint in the wolf-woman's eyes. “Hmm... this is better...”

         Niki chuckled quietly for a moment before continuing. “I guess I owe you an explanation...” She brought her other hand forward, slamming it against the wall, Rielle's neck directly between the two hands now. “See, It's like this. I'm a wolf. I need to eat meat. Fresh meat.” She licked the lips of her muzzle slowly, growling. “When I saw you, I figured you for a drifter. Someone who wouldn't be missed... in fact, the disappearance of a one-fourth like you would probably do the world some good.” Rielle gulped, shivering... never hearing Niki take this tone with anyone before. “I planned to get you away from prying eyes first, and then...” She gulped loudly for effect, enjoying the sight of the girl squirming. “But then you told me all those sob stories about how you were looking for a home for so long, and how it finally felt like you could trust me... I guess I went soft. In the middle of the night, I wake up and think tonight's the night I'm finally gonna sink my teeth into your delicious flesh... and I always see you sleeping like a little angel. The hunger doesn't go away, so I go after anyone else I can find, or gorge myself if I can afford it.” She grinned maliciously. “Sucks that I can't seem to afford it these days... people don't like giving away their money, and most places don't take blood-stained bills.” Rielle was about to pass out from what she had been hearing, but figured she didn't have much of a choice but to listen. “And each time it got a little less fulfilling. Like sticking myself when I should go get a man-wolf. Each time when I got back, even when I was full, I saw you sleeping, and my urges got a little stronger. But I always remembered something sickeningly sweet that you'd done and stopped myself. Maybe because the tiny bit of you that ain't human is wolf, maybe that held me back... But tonight...” she paused, growling, “Tonight, there's something different...” Rielle shuddered, the tone of the she-wolf now filled with even more bloodlust than before. “This time, you're a witness... and it doesn't matter who they are; I can't leave any witnesses!” Niki lunged, her mouth closing around Rielle's throat... at least she thought. Rielle reacted instantly, ducking just fast enough to get out of the way. She tried to run, but hit something soft but unyielding... Niki had moved her whole body in the way, rebounding Rielle onto the sidewalk, her hood falling to the back of her neck. Niki lunged once more, Rielle screaming in terror, ducking... but nothing came.

         She looked up and saw something unfamiliar. Blocking her vision of the wolf-woman she had once looked up to, a fabric of a different sort from the ratty outfit fluttered, shifting and swaying... she then realized it wasn't the fabric that was swaying, but the owner. Whoever it was gave a loud grunt before being pushed back, almost falling on top of the strange girl. She summoned what remained of her strength and got up, backing away... but she didn't run. She feared Niki, and was wary of this stranger, but she couldn't bring herself to run away... though she herself may not have even known the reason. With a mighty effort, the stranger thrust himself forward, and a flail of fur could be seen tumbling to the ground past his outline. He jumped back, nearly colliding with Rielle, the smell of his sweat overpowering, the heavy rasps of his breath the only sound, overpowering all others - if there were any.


         “Wh-who are you?” she stammered, unable to see his face in the dim light of the full moon. She waited a moment, then two, and realized why there was a delay. Niki had recovered, and was glaring at both of them with ravenous eyes. The standstill continued, as time seemed to stretch on into infinity... finally broken by a weak moan in the distance, likely from Niki's victim. “Three in one night...” uttered the stranger. “This'll make... what, 78?” Rielle was a bit taken aback. “What?” she asked, her voice shaking. She received no response, and she became yet more nervous. “W-what do you mean, 78?” A small, strange sound was the answer... the sound repeated, louder, and could be determined as a chuckle... an unnerving one, at that. Rielle's heart sank, wondering if she had even been saved as she thought.  “Quiet, food.”

         Rielle's heart skipped a beat. She was taken aback, more in confusion than anything else... but she did know ths stranger seemed to mean her harm. She turned, getting ready to run... but just as she did, the stranger grabbed hold of her arm without turning back, yanking her to his field of view against his grey jacket; a fabric as rough against  her cheek as sandpaper now, no longer the cloth of her savior. He kept his other arm up and ready to strike, awaiting the she-wolf's challenge. “Don't move, or-” He stopped suddenly, seeing her head's outline in the dim light., and with that outline, the ears that adorned her skull. “These...” He pushed her away, letting her fall on her side. She cried out, as her body refused to react otherwise. The stranger seemed conflicted now, biting his upper lip and grimacing. “I suppose I can make do with two,” he mumbled. “Go.”

         Rielle struggled to get to her feet, falling to her stomach. Fear ran rampant in her now, but more paralyzing was the confusion that wracked her. She tried getting up once more, and success. She stumbled, almost falling again, running past the enigmatic man, breaking into a headlong dash... stopping all of a sudden. She remembered Niki's victim, whoever it may be, still lying in the alley. She knew something had to be done, as she changed direction and tried to run toward the alley.

         “STOP!” The command froze her in her tracks, as though her spine had been struck. “Leave that one...” She turned to the stranger, who, even now, kept his eyes focused on Niki. “Leave that one and go. Now.” Rielle didn't move. She hated leaving someone who was obviously in need of help, but she also didn't like the concept of being eaten... which, if she stayed near these two, seemed a likelihood. Still, she couldn't just abandon whoever was there. She took off down the alley, scanning ofr the injured one. “NO!” The stranger turned, running after her, but was stopped almost immediately. A snarling mass of fur leapt at him, shining teeth bared, claws out, he didn't have time to dodge, as Niki's jaws clamped tightly around his neck in one fatal instant. Thin red trickles ran down to his shoulders, glinting in the dim light, his body simply standing inert.

         Rielle rushed down the dark alley, looking for any signs of life, hardly able to see, being able to do nothing but run forward. She was desperate now, trying to save both herself and this mystery victim, but where was this person? The strange-eared girl ran further, until she seemed to lose her grip on the world. The darkness spiralled, seeming to rush at her, hitting her head on. She regained her composure quickly and realized what had happened. She had tripped over whoever it was she was trying to find. A soft moan came from the lump, barely distinguishable in the shadows of the alley. Rielle leaned over it, nudging it a little. “A-are you okay?” She was given no answer, and feared the worst... Grunting, she lifted the lump up, she could feel fuzz against her cheek, and something long and coarse brush against her, but she paid it no mind, instead opting to get away as fast as possible... and yet, she couldn't seem to saddle the burden. She fell forward, the body she carried cushioned only by her head. She lay facedown on the pavement, wroking herself out from underneath, letting out a small sob at her helplessness...

         Niki growled, her tongue washing over the strange man's neck, lapping up the salty blood. Her teeth did not recede, but instead bit deeper, poking at what must have been bone. She ran her hand-paw over his back, holding him in death's embrace... but she stopped her victorious growl momentarily as she felt a lump just beside his spine. This lump seemed to run along him, like a second vertebrae... suddenly, it twitched. Niki made a strange noise of surprise, as it slid out from her grasp. An odd gurgle rumbled from somewhere that seemed to be all around her, followed by an unnerving laugh. She turned her gaze upward, seeing the man's face, only different.... it now seemed more primal, more animalistic. She wasn't sure, but she could just barely odd shapes beyond his forehead... they flicked and danced, and she knew she'd seen them before. A whimper came from the nearby alley, and she suddenly remembered. They were ears, the same types as Rielle. Hands appeared without warning on the ends of her muzzle whilst she was entranced by the triangles, as her mouth was forced open and off the man's neck with ease. She stepped back, watching the blood flow down his neck. The few streetlights in the area shut off, as a shifting mass wriggled it's way to air behind the now grinning man... a tail. What looked to be a fox's tail, to be sure. The she-wolf stammered. “You're... you're one of them!” He took a step toward her, then two, while she took one step back and stopped. “You... her... you're all the same... you're a...” He grinned, his expression seeming to dare her to finish the sentence as he advanced. “You're a damn one-fourth!”

         The man grinned as he stepped barely a few inches in front of the wolf-woman, his hand clasping her shoulder. A strong shock ran down the nerves her arm, but she dared not move. He'd survived a bite to the neck through some strange miracle; she had nothing left. “Do any of you feel pain... you freaks!?” The man tightened his grip, eliciting a yelp from the wolf, her knee buckling. He stared into her eyes, all but hypnotizing her, before speaking bluntly. “I'm special.”

         As the sky brightened slightly, the two both became more visible to each other. In Niki's face, there was a look of pure terror, while in the enigma's, a boast of utmost confidence. He smirked before driving his knee into her stomach, watching her slump to the ground. Leaning down, he whispered into her ear. “Don't worry, my method's not as painful as yours no doubt is.” Placing one hand on her shoulder and gripping the base of her wolven tail with the other, he yanked her into the air, seeming to have no difficulty with her weight. He brought his face close to hers, licking the underside of her muzzle. Grinning, he licked his lips immediately after. “First-class. Haven't had anything but unwashed vagrants for some time.” He chuckled before tilting his head back and lifting the wolf into the air. His mouth opened slowly, as Niki was drawn ever closer... but she made no move, as though she were paralyzed. His tongue met her nose, curling to the side of her muzzle, as he pushed her in. His face seemed to stretch oddly, his cheeks contorting to however the wolf's head moved them. In an instant, her entire cranium was drawn in, her senses blotted by darkness... and yet ironically, it was now that she regained them. She kicked, struggled, bit. Her whole body tossed and flopped, jerking in an attempt to get away. The man's eyes smiled, mocking her ineffectual efforts. With a strong *gulp*, he pulled her head down his throat with ease. She was in down to her chest, and another quick *gulp* would draw her in to the waist. There had been no trouble so far, but it seemed there may be soon... Niki's hips approached the man's mouth. With the rough surface of her pants' denim combined with the extra fat of her rump, not to mention the fact that her shirt and fur had already absorbed much of his saliva, it seemed a challenge to get her down. The stranger didn't back down from this, and gave her a sharp spank before placing both hands on her rear, fingers sinking in between her cheeks slightly. He readied himself for a moment, before pressing down with all his strength, effectively pushing her down his throat. His eye twitched involuntarily as a tiny stinging sensation irked his throat, but he paid it no further mind. The wolf's jeany, flailing legs, surprisingly, were now sliding down through the man's esophagus with little to no effort on his part. It only took a few more gulps to get her down, her fuzzy feet remaining outside momentarily. He focused all his energy into one strong *gulp*, and they too folded and disappeared into the yawning abyss. He looked down at his belly, now bulging out from underneath his shirt, and thanked the heavens that the garment had moved instead of splitting. His tail twitched behind him mischievously, as he smirked at the pulsing, thumping lump in his gut. His hair felt like it was standing on end, like he was being watched. Sure enough, as he turned, he saw the one he had let go, gaping in awe at that which had just transpired.

         Rielle stood there, her face raw from pavement, shocked at what she'd seen. She believed Niki might have eaten her, certainly, but in a more bite-by-bite manner... And she wondered about this stranger, but she didn't think anyone like this, like some sort of balloon, could exist. She stared at the distended, exposed belly, watching its every twitch and bounce. She couldn't believe that... she couldn't believe anything between now and waking up, but the fact that Niki was trapped in there, that each twitch and disturbance was caused by her struggles... She felt relieved that the one who threatened her was gone, yet she was also disturbed that such a fate would befall someone she had trusted with her very life for so long... Her thoughts were interrupted by a stern-sounding voice.

         “I thought I told you to run?”

         The stranger's gaze bore into Rielle, outfitted with a bewildered expression. He continued, an obvious tone of irritation in his voice. “You're still here because...?” She stepped toward him, seeming drawn toward the round bulge. He made no move, seeming not to know how to deal with this action. She returned his stares, meeting a confused expression with yet more confusion. From an observer's view, it seemed the two didn't quite know what to make of each other.

         The silence continued, for a minute, then another... time didn't seem to matter in this awkward, distant embrace. It was as though the very universe had stopped within this small radius; not even the air dared shift. Comparably, neither of the two's faces so much as twitched. There was no blinking, no itching... it seemed as though neither even breathed.

         The silence was shattered all at once by a strong thump, causing the enigmatic one to buckle, almost doubling over. Niki had summoned the last of her strength in what seemed to be an attempt to break out of the stomach... yet clearly, she had failed. Rielle rushed to the stranger's side, reaching her arms under his shoulders, supporting him- yet, he yanked himself away, barking out a strange, sharp cry. His eyes showed a tone of malice, just a quick glint of hatred... but it melted away almost immediately, giving way to sad eyes and an apathetic mouth. Rielle stopped, her own reaction similar in physical aspect, yet her expression one more of surprise. She sighed, and approached the stranger slowly, cautiously, making sure not to make any sudden moves. She knelt down before him, placing her hand on the bloated gut that protruded from under his shirt. The sphere was warm, as pulses of pure life rushed into her palm... she felt the struggles of her former confidant gradually weaken, stopping entirely after a time. The heat that had almost come to scorch her bare hand now grew fainter, less intense... she felt Niki slipping away from her grasp, and despite the occurances of this night, she couldn't help but be overtaken with a terrible melancholy. A tear ran down her cheek, as she uttered a muffled, cracked word.

         “Goodbye.”


         The round stomach rumbled, and began to decrease in size. Almost unnoticable if sight alone were used. Rielle took her hand off the busied belly and rose to her feet, meeting the confused face of the enigma. “You...” He barely got out more than a whisper, before turning away. Yet, he couldn't leave... something was stopping him. Looking down, he saw the fabric of his jacket bending in one direction... a direction towards a small feminine hand. Rielle had him by the sleeve, and yanked him sharply toward herself. His body folded, his head nearly crashing into hers... yet was cushioned by her lips. His met hers; he could feel her tongue probing his mouth, the very same mouth that had set her free. He wanted to.... he felt he should pull away. Yet, he was unable. Her mouth seemed to have a hold on him, paralyzing him from any sort of movement... yet it was no poison, no trick. It was merely the disbelief that someone could still get so close to him... His tail swished and writhed behind him, as though it were trying to abandon him and get away.

         Rielle broke the lock she held on him, slowly pulling herself away. She wore an odd smile, one that seemed not just for show, not to mock... a smile with a stronger meaning than smiling. “Thank you,” she cooed, her voice now somewhat melodic. The stranger backed away, his belly still quite large if not so bloated, and turned to bolt. He ran down the sidewalk with incredible speed, his tail whorling behind him, swaying hypnotically, until he rounded a corner and disappeared. Rielle gave chase... but stopped herself after no more than three steps when she heard a weak whimpering. He was gone, there was no way she could catch up... and she didn't know what she would do if she did catch him. But more importantly right now was Niki's victim. Left alone, she might die at this rate.

         Sighing and looking up to the sky, Rielle could see the sun just coming up over the horizon. Her sweater was becoming a little too warm, but she flipped the hood over herself anyway. It was a new day, and she would have to begin anew... She didn't know where to start herself, but she did know what had to be taken care of before she could. Briskly walking down the sidewalk, she came across a pay phone, and quickly dialed the three numbers she never thought she'd have to...

         “Hello? There's been an incident...”


End chapter one.