AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t understand.” I gesture at the chair. “Sit. I have a lot to tell you.”
* * *
“I don’t believe you for a single damn second,” my friend says with a measured calmness when I’m finished with my story. I leave out some of the more intimate details, but I don’t hide the fact that I’m fucking her. Or whatever it is we do that feels like a lot more than that.
There must be some way to prove it to him. Then I remember the little worms in my pockets, and take them out.
“Here.” I hold one out to him. The outer casing is shriveled up, but the body still glows purple. “This is one of the worms we ate.”
Silent, Graz takes it and brings it close to his face to study it. He runs a finger along the worm’s sinking corpse. “Huh. It looks almost inorganic. Like it’s not an animal at all.” He stares at me. “So you’re saying this stuff inside it... grants wishes?”
“I think so. I wanted to talk to her, and it let me. Except, um, in our minds.” Graz stares at me blankly.
“Uh huh.” His tone is sarcastic. “Then you ate one to make it permanent. Because that’s all very sensible.” Graz turns to his bedroom. “And this human you’re risking your life for, she’s in there?”
I nod. I don’t tell him how I feel like I might just wither up and die like that worm when she’s gone.
“Maybe if I show you,” I suggest. I walk into the other room and kneel down by the bed, giving Rimi’s arm a soft shake.
Wake up.
Her eyelids twitch, and then jolt open. Her eyes dart around the room, her pupils dilating like she doesn’t remember where we are.
Hey, it’s all right.I run a soothing hand over her shoulder.We’re safe—for now. But I need your help.
She sleepily blinks.With what?
First, you should meet my friend.I take her hand and lead her back to where Graz is waiting expectantly. His eyes jump to her, then our linked hands, and the crease between his brows deepens.
“So, this is her?” he asks. “But she’s... ugly. I mean, in the way that all humans are ugly. And sosmall.”
I have to try hard not to smile. One of the many things I like about her. “I know.”
Rimi,I say to her, gesturing at my friend,this is Graz.
“Graz,” she repeats out loud. She offers him a hand, and Graz looks mighty confused. Then he extends his own hand and they shake, though he rubs it off on his pants afterward.
Graz looks at me. “You can fuck something this size?”
I could strangle him. “Rimi is not athing.”
“Sorry, right. Your human pet.”
I growl, and Rimi casts a concerned look between us.
What’s he saying?she asks.
He’s being rude.I hope against hope that Graz doesn’t decide at this moment it’s worth more to him to turn us in.We have to prove to him that my story is true.
Can I talk to him?she asks.The way I can talk to you?
“Hold out the worm,” I tell him. “And touch her hand. Then you can—”
“Then I can what, have you both in my head, too?” Graz snorts. “No, thanks. I like my thoughts where they are. Besides, I don’t want to overhear whatever gross shit you say to each other.”
He won’t do it,I tell her.
Rimi pauses to think. Then she grins the grin that says she has an idea.Let’s play a game, then. You go into the other room.
