Aisha tapped her foot in excitement as she drove her old pick up truck down the dusty dirt road. Bubbly pop music blared out of open windows and warm winds whipped her fluffy pink afro around her head. The sun had begun to set, casting the countryside in a hazy golden glow. Aisha looked over her shoulder as the song ended and the ads started, checking if she had everything she needed. Blankets? Check. The last of her closet? Check. Her backpack sat in the passenger seat next to her and the greasy, fragrant smell of lots of cheap Chinese food spilled out of the plastic bags in the back of the car. She had everything. Another ad started, just as the road turned and widened into a circular driveway in front of a well kept blue farmhouse. It stood out against the dusty green grass covering the land around it. Once she parked, Aisha jumped out of the truck, almost leaving her bags in the bed of the truck. She ran up to the porch, fumbling around for her keys in the pockets of her skirt, finally unlocking the door and pushing it open.
Aisha rolled her bag into the living room and sank onto the couch. She heard creaking steps and she looked over at the woman walking downstairs. Aisha hopped up and ran towards Louise, nearly leaping into her arms and wrapping her in a hug, though Aisha could only reach Louise's chest, since she was a good two feet taller than her. Louise looked startled but hugged Aisha back.
"I thought you were coming tomorrow?" Aisha peeled away from the hug to look up at Louise's face.
"I finished packing early! I wanted to move in as soon as I could." She stood on her tip toes and gently guided Louise's face down to meet her own, kissing her softly. "Do you want me to leave and come back tomorrow?" Louise shook her head, avoiding Aisha's gaze as her face flushed pink.
"No… I missed you. So much." Louise scooped Aisha up in her arms, holding her close in a bridal carry. "It's just… I'm, um sick?..." She tucked her face in Aisha's hair, holding her tight, as if she would ever try to leave. Aisha felt her forehead. She was hot. Like really hot.
"It must be bad, are you sure you want me to stay?"
Louise tightened her grip around Aisha's body. "I'll be fine, please just stay here."
"Of course Lou." Aisha kissed her forehead, smiling as she felt Louise's face flush with heat.
Louise straightened, standing to her full height, dwarfing the woman in her arms. Aisha giggled and yelled as Louise rushed her up the stairs.
"Wait wait wait, don't forget the takeout!"
Once upstairs in their bedroom, Aisha had set out the food and turned on the tv, sitting in the middle of the bed. Louise was sitting at the head of the bed. She had just barely let Aisha go, acting as if it might hurt her to have Aisha leave her arms. Louise had started tearing into her food as soon as Aisha was out of biting range, wolfing down her food like a starving predator. She worked her way through her fried rice, lo mein, dumplings and, after some sad looks and a hungry growl from her stomach, the rest of Aisha's pork wraps. Aisha watched her eat it all, wondering how she could still be eating. Eventually she did finish, and immediately tried to grab Aisha to cuddle.
"Please?" Louise pleaded as Aisha gathered the trash off the bed.
"I'm coming back Lou! I just gotta throw this out." She half climbed back onto the bed to give Louise a peck on the cheek.
"Can't you just leave it out in the hall?" Louise looked at her with a begging look in her eyes. "I promise I'll get it later." Aisha sighed and smiled.
"Alright babe." She dropped the greasy bag outside the doorway and plopped down on the bed. "And I assume you want to be big spoon?" Louise nodded. Aisha laid down on the bed, and Louise held her close. She wrapped one arm around Aisha's stomach and the other around her chest and one of her arms, rendering her mostly immobile. "I might take a nap ok Louise?" Aisha looked up to kiss Louise's chin. She didn't respond, only snuggling closer to her. Surrounded by warmth, Aisha began to drift off.
She woke to a heavy, almost painful pressure over her chest. Louise was asleep, breathing in quick, shallow gasps as she tightened her grip on Aisha's arm, hard enough to leave a bruise.
"Can you, uh, loosen up? I think you're about to crush me."
Louise jumped away from Aisha, hands up and eyes scanning for injuries. Her gaze landed on Aisha's arm.
"Shit, sorry I'm so sorry!" She backed away, looking horrified. She had gotten dark circles under her eyes, and her face looked thinner. How could it have done that? Louise had just eaten a meal for three people, how could she look like she was starving?
"Hey, hey Louise," Aisha grabbed Louise's hands and pulled her back to sit on the bed. "I'm alright. You didn't hurt me. But I need you to tell me what's wrong." Louise looked down at her, eyes filling with tears.
"I'm just so hungry Aisha!" Louise choked out. "It hurts and I feel empty and food can't fix it!" Aisha reached towards Louise, climbing onto the bed to wrap Louise in a hug.
"I'm so sorry love. I had no idea. How can I help?" I could go out to get something else for you?"
"Actually, could I just… kiss you? Please?"
Aisha smiled up at Louise. "Of course."
Louise slammed down, crashing her lips into Aisha's, holding her face in both hands. She was voracious, barely stopping to let Aisha breathe. When she did, it was to press kisses all over her face. She lingered over Aisha's neck, and Aisha felt long teeth against her skin. Then Louise looked back at her, and Aisha saw something in her eyes. Something distinctly… inhuman. Louise held Aisha's face tight.
Louise's jaw had stretched wide, and every one of her dozens of teeth were sharp, especially her canines. Louise had always been big, but now, when she was looming over her with a primal hunger in her eyes, Aisha became very aware of just how small she was. Louise glanced down and their eyes met for a second. Then she began eating.
Louise's clawed hands kept Aisha's arms in place at her side, while she kept Aisha's head stuck in her maw. Aisha screamed and tried to kick away from Louise, but was squeezed into her throat when she swallowed. Louise never stopped swallowing after, gulping Aisha down as if she was the first thing she had eaten in months. She felt more pressure around her shoulders, then on her chest. Aisha felt a sharp pain just below her shoulder blade, then screamed out as it dragged down her back. Aisha thought her vision would go dark. Well, it was already dark. There doesn't tend to be much light inside someone's esophagus. Aisha felt herself slipping down much faster as Louise stood up and tilted her head back. Aisha felt the tight grip of Louise's throat loosen, as her head was pushed into her stomach. Her shoulders and arms followed, and after a few more resounding gulps, Aisha was sealed inside Louise's stomach.
Shifting slimy walls ground at Aisha's body. She was surrounded by darkness and gurgling noises.
"LOUISE LET ME OUT!" Aisha screamed. "LET ME OUT GODDAMNIT!" She kicked one of the walls surrounding her. She heard a groan of pain, somehow coming from everywhere. Aisha kept kicking as best she could with her legs being pressed up to her chest, forcing her into a fetal position. She felt a bit lightheaded. Despite being surrounded by warmth, she was hyper aware of the warmth seeping into her shirt from her cut back. "Please Lou, let me out…"
Aisha woke up on top of the bed, a torn sheet covering her. She groaned. Her head felt fuzzy. What had happened? Then it hit her.
Her heart beat faster as she began to panic. But that couldn't have happened? People can't just.. swallow each other like that. It was just a nightmare. A horrible nightmare. And-and it was such a bad nightmare, she ripped the sheet while she was asleep! Yeah, that sounds right.
Aisha stretched, reaching her arms toward the ceiling, when a line of pain shot down her back.
"AGH, Shit!" She twisted to touch her back, wincing as the tear along her back burned with fresh pain. So last night did really happen… Louise actually… ate her. "Oh holy shit… holy shiiit" Her girlfriend had eaten her. Swallowed her. Louise wasn't… human. Aisha wasn't sure what she was.
Aisha changed out of her torn, blood stained t-shirt and showered. By the time she had walked downstairs to get some coffee, she had forgotten about Louise. That is, until she saw her sitting at the kitchen table. Louise looked up. She smiled weakly. Aisha noticed that her fangs were on display.
"Um, hi Aisha… sorry about, um, yesterday"
"What the hell happened to you? What… What are you Louise?"
"That's a bit of a long story. You might wanna sit down."
