Transition: Part One
Falling Out
Falling Out
As I snapped awake from the horrid vision that was the Gator’s digestive track prior to the intestines, a fact that I am eternally grateful for, and finished writing, Junior perched himself on my shoulder, talons digging in as he loomed next to my head. A specter, a delirious dream brought about by incredible body temperatures, but haunted me long after the moment of weakness. I still struggled with the fact that he was real, but the pain and the missing arm were reason enough to believe that he was, in fact, quite real. But, I simply couldn’t take it anymore.
“Well done lunchmeat,” Junior nodded in approval, lipless face stretched tight across his plethora of grinning teeth, so bright I could almost see my reflection in them. If I could say anything positive about my ‘muse’, was that he had exceptionally good hygiene and knew his way around getting stubborn bits of scraps out from the many crevices that lingered between each pearly white tooth. “However!” he snapped, turning with that smile I had come to despise, “you can do better. Begin the fourteenth chapter.” Attempting to gather what was left of my courage, I took a breath, and the words stumbled out before I even realized what I was saying. I had planned to try and be reasonable but instead…
“You disgusting creature, what would I possible reasoning would I have for continuing to produce this… inane drivel? It’s disgusting and base, there’s no substance to it!”
To this day, I still have no idea where the outburst came from, especially considering this was the creature that had taken my entire arm without a thought. I was quite certain that Junior was about to latch onto my neck, with his mouth engulfing my head entirely, and grind his teeth back and forth until it simply popped off like a Lego figure. But instead, he simply stared. And continued staring before laughing.
“Lunchmeat,” he began, still chuckling and trying to catch his breath, “what use would you have for saying such moronic things, especially to me. Do you have any idea what I’m capable of doing to you?” The hiss rumbled in the back of his throat, as he narrowed his eyes. “Do you have any idea what you’re about to do to yourself?”
My courage wilted, and I backed up as quickly as possible, staring at him, uncertain, fearful, and I knew that my moments left in life could be counted in scant seconds, minutes if I was lucky. Junior shook his head and chuckled again, jaw unhinging slightly before he snapped shut, turning and flapping his wings indignantly. “You are a lucky one lunch meat, that the Gator favors you as he does. You have served His purposes well over the past few months, and He thanks you by releasing you from your service to Him. You are no longer required to record the gospel, we will simply find another.”
“Y-you must be joking,” I laughed. “This is a sick game, you’re trying to lull me into a false sense of security, that I’m actually safe, before you devour me. Aren’t you!? I know you, you’re going to bite me in half and suck my insides out before wearing my feet as a hat!” Laughing again, I could feel my eyes cross as I clutched to myself. I wouldn’t fall for such an obvious trap, they would never get me to calm down. Never, never, never.
“…I suppose that it really was too much, his mind’s gone. Farewell Prophet, you served our purpose well, but I can see now that your time as the writer has passed. I revoke your title. Enjoy your life, Former Prophet.”
And that was that. Junior flew from the room, and left me there, staring off into space, and despite my fears, he was right, he didn’t approach me again. That was it.
Or so I led myself to believe. I would learn how mistaken I was that winter.
This is not a story of the Gator, not exactly. But this is surely a story of how I found The Great Devourer, and not in my mind, so I believe it relevant, so that others may know when they are approached.
