Living Hunger

The alley was too quiet.

The monster's lifeless body slumped awkwardly against the cracked brick wall, pale and inhuman. The bloodless flesh had already begun to dissolve, sinking into a dark, oily residue that reeked of rot.

Frederique couldn't tear her eyes away from it.

Her hands trembled at her sides, the last traces of those unnatural claws receding into her fingertips with a faint burning sensation. She felt light-headed, weak... like her body had been hollowed out from the inside.

The hunger was still there, pressing against her ribs, a void that refused to be filled.

But worse was the way that strange boy kept watching her.

The one with the tongue.

"You didn't answer me," she whispered, voice hoarse. "What... what was that thing? And who are you?"

The boy took a step closer, his hands tucked deep into the front pocket of his oversized hoodie.

"Arno," he said quietly, his dark eyes flicking from her face to the dissolving creature, then back again. "And you're welcome, by the way."

Frederique blinked, the tension in her chest tightening.

"Welcome?"

"Yeah." He nodded toward the remains. "I did just save your life, remember?"

The words hit a nerve.

"I didn't need saving," she snapped, though her voice cracked.

Arno raised an eyebrow. His gaze lingered on her, calculating, sharp despite the crooked smile still lingering on his lips.

"You were two seconds from getting your throat ripped out," he replied lightly. "You're welcome again."

Frederique's fists clenched. She felt raw, her heart still pounding too fast, her thoughts tangled in the aftermath of what had just happened.

The monster. The voice. Her body... changing.

And now this boy.

Arno tilted his head, his expression shifting. Less amused. More... curious.

"You're new to this, huh?"

Her breath caught.

"...New to what?"

His smile widened.

"This." He gestured vaguely to the remains of the creature now nothing more than a black smear on the concrete. "You don't know what you are yet, do you?"

Something cold crawled down Frederique's spine.

"Stop talking like that. I'm... I'm not... I'm human."

Arno's smile faded.

"Are you?"

The words cut deep.

Her mind flashed back to the sensation of her own fingers cracking, the claws forming, the urge to tear into the creature... to feed.

' No. '

No, this wasn't her.

Arno took another step forward, more cautious this time.

"Listen," he said, voice softer now. "I know what you're feeling. The hunger. The way it won't stop. You think it's gonna break you if you let it."

Frederique stared at him, heart pounding.

"...You don't know anything about me."

His eyes darkened slightly, the shadows under them more pronounced as he exhaled through his nose.

"I know more than you think. I've felt it too."

She shook her head.

"You don't feel like... like this."

For the first time, Arno's gaze dropped... his smile vanishing completely.

"You're wrong."

Silence hung between them, heavy and cold.

The streetlamp flickered overhead.

Finally, Frederique forced her voice to steady.

"What is this? What am I turning into?"

Arno hesitated.

Then, carefully, he crouched down beside the creature's remains, poking the inky residue with the toe of his shoe.

"You're not turning into anything," he murmured. "You already are something. You just... haven't figured it out yet."

Frederique shook her head.

"That's not an answer."

Arno exhaled, standing back up and brushing his hands off on his hoodie.

"Alright, fine. Truth time, then." He met her gaze, his dark eyes steady.

"You're possessed."

The word felt like a slap.

"...What?"

"You heard me. Something's inside you. Something...old. Dangerous. And really, really hungry."

Her stomach twisted.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "You're lying. I'm not... I'm not possessed."

Arno's tongue flicked out briefly, too long, tasting the air before retracting again.

"Yeah, you are," he said, softer now. "And trust me, it gets worse before it gets better."

Frederique's knees buckled.

She stumbled back against the brick wall, her head spinning.

The voice. The teeth. The hunger that wouldn't stop.

It made sense... horrible, awful sense.

"But why... why me?" she choked out.

Arno's gaze softened, just for a moment.

"I don't think you chose it," he murmured. "I think it chose you."

Frederique swallowed hard, the cold night air stinging her lungs.

"And you? You're possessed too?"

Arno hesitated.

"Yeah," he said after a beat.

She waited, expecting more, but he just stood there. Quiet.

"...By what?"

A shadow passed over his expression.

"Doesn't matter."

Frederique scowled.

"It matters to me."

His lips twitched... almost amused again, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Look, it's not a game. You and me? We're the same, whether you like it or not. And if you keep ignoring it... it's gonna take over."

A shiver ran through her.

"Take over?"

Arno nodded, slowly.

"Yeah. You felt it tonight, didn't you? When you fought back? That wasn't all you. It was it. And if you lose control... next time, you won't stop with monsters."

Frederique went cold.

"You think... I'd hurt someone?"

Arno didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze shifted past her... toward the dissolving remains of the creature on the ground.

"You almost did," he said finally. "That thing wasn't the only predator here tonight."

* Silence. *

Frederique felt sick.

"...What am I supposed to do, then?" she whispered. "I can't live like this."

Arno studied her for a long moment.

Then he offered a crooked, half-smile.

"You're not alone."

She blinked, startled.

"What?"

He shoved his hands back into his hoodie pocket, stepping back toward the shadows of the alley.

"You heard me. You're not alone in this."

Frederique's pulse raced.

"Wait... where are you going?"

Arno shrugged.

"Don't worry. I'll be around." His eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful. "You're... interesting."

Before she could protest, she saw a lot of crawling spiders approaching him. The spiders seemed to fold around him. His body sank into the darkness, vanishing as if he were never there.

Leaving Frederique alone.

In the silence, her stomach growled.

The hunger remained.