Hunger

Cyril jerks his head up from the library’s table. His eyes lock on it. The thing looks at him, its eyes sunken in. Its mouth is frothing and drooling a blackened sludge.

“What the fuck!!” Cyril stands up, the chair tipping over, making a loud bang echo through the silent library. All sound dries up. He feels all eyes on him. Burning into his skin.

“Shhh!” The librarian puts a finger to her lips, “Please, pick up your chair.” She harshly whispers.

Cyril mumbles an apology grabbing his chair. He looks at it again. Only to see a black puddle where it was once standing. He looks to the librarian but she's gone back to her book.

“Hey-” a jab to his back, “You come join us.” someone whispers,

He jumps and whirls around. A woman his age gives him a warm smile. The pencil poker gestures for him to sit, “You fell asleep didn't you?” She asks.

“Y-Yeah..” Cyril scoops up his books before plopping down next to her. He swallows glancing over his shoulder back to the puddle which has eaten through the carpet now. He leans in, “Do you see that puddle?”

“Hmm?” She leans back stretching over the chair, “No I don't.”

Cyril shakes his head, “Must have been a bad dream then.”

“Finals give me nightmares too.” She laughs, “You're in Processor Donavane’s class right? Art and Design?”

“Yeah.” Cyril mustards a smile,

“Ah! I sit 2 rows behind you! Thought I recognized you! I'm Hosanna but you can call me Anna!” She grins, “I'm doing my essay on mental health. What are you doing yours on?”

Cyril froze and he sees it behind her. Sludge dribbling on the chair beside her. It was so close now he could smell the rot and filth clinging to the creature.

The woman nudges his shoulder, “Hey you.” She shakes him gently, “You fell asleep on me.”

Cyril shakes his head, “Oh? Um.. I'm sorry.” He rubs his eyes hard, “I'm Cyril, my paper is on how global art movements influence each other across borders."

The creature lumbers closer if he was real Anna would be feeling its breath down her neck. She shifts in her seat, “I'm almost done with mine. How about yours?”

“Still need…” he looks at his papers, “... Oh six pages… and to type it up.”

Anna looks behind her, “My dad bought me a laptop. Would you like to use my old one to type yours up?”

Cyril can't believe she's face to face with that thing. A chill trickles down him. It smiles at him reaching a mangled finger out to her. It was so close now it could graze the freckles across her cheeks. Anna turned back to face Cyril, “Let's head back to my place. I'm in the Greenbrook Dorms.”

He sees the puddle on the chair gnawing away the hard plastic he swears he smells mold. Rot is heavy in the air. It feels like the smell is being pushed down his throat,

“You must be really tired. You keep dozing on me.” Anna laughs playfully, shoving his shoulder, “Come on now, maybe I'll let you sleep on my couch too.”

Cyril forces a laugh before getting up, “Yeah maybe.” He scrambles to grab his books cramming his overflowing bag. Leaving the library sounds like a great idea. Anna takes her sweet time getting everything into her bag and he feels antsy waiting. Every time he lifts his head. It's there. Snarling and drooling its sludge. Eating away at anything it lands on.

Anna and Cyril walk side by side. He pushes on the heavy doors they don't budge, “It's locked.” He pushes again.

“It's after eleven, you need your school ID to get in and out now.” Anna flashes hers. Sliding it across the machine. It beeps and with a click the doors open, Cyril stumbles forward.

Anna follows behind him, “Come on we can also stop by 7/11 and get some Slurpees too. Might help us stay awake.”

“Thanks for that, I think I left my ID at home,”.Cyril pauses, “Slurpees sound good too.”

Anna smiles, “Let's go then.”

The doors shut behind them with a heavy thud. Cyril looks through the window and the creature grins, heaving its arm up and waves slowly at him. He backs away, nearly falling down the steps.

Anna gently pulls him away from the library, her steps fast. For once she frowns, “You... you saw it too right?”

Cyril stops in his tracks grabbing her, “You saw that thing?”

She nods frantically, “I was trying to ignore it until it started touching me. It felt like its skin was trying to come off!” Anna tosses her hair back, “I knew we had to leave then and there. It was starting to get braver.”

They cross the street hurriedly. Only a few scattered cars left on the road. Anna pressing her book against her chest, the 7/11 their beacon of light. Cyril puts a hand on her shoulder, “How did you handle that smell? That thing reeked. Like roadkill or something!”

Anna looks over her shoulder at him, “I have anosmia. Never been able to smell… guess it finally came in handy.” She laughs and it feels a bit forced. And he couldn't blame her.

The pair get their slushies and a few snacks. Nothing like a monstrous anomaly to bring out your hunger, “Shit..” Anna counts her money again glancing at the counter of goods. Debating on what she would have to put back and what should stay.

Cyril pulls out his wallet, “I got it.”

“I owe you.” Anna whispers, grabbing her chocolate bar like an excited kid.

Cyril turns his head. Outside the big 7/11 doors stood it. Underneath a lone street light. No longer hunching it grins. Stretching across its face. Its snake-like tongue licks its lips. He comes to realize they aren't

the only ones who came from snacks. Only they were the main course now.