Kail

Life was wonderful until it all suddenly ended. That day, we were walking in the park, laughing, and towards the end, feeling unwell, I decided to leave early. The empty, dark street, the growing panic, the feeling that I was being watched. I ran.

The blinding light of headlights from my right shoulder, a crunch, unbearable pain. Before I lost consciousness, I saw him: a gray-black body, wings, sharp nails, an excitedly twitching tail. Expensive chains on his hips, patterned fabric.

I woke up in a pitch-black room, the walls covered in blood and bits of flesh. He stood before me with a disgusting smile. "Soon we'll be like family," a low voice said.

The next time I woke up, I was in a hospital room. I was in a cast, one eye bandaged. Food made me gag. He was sitting in the corner. He approached the bed: "Call me Kail. From now on, we'll be connected." I only remembered his words and the intoxicating aroma.

Weeks passed. Every meal was torture. The man didn't show up, I was told my brain was damaged, but I was "dug out of the grave" with new technology. When I returned home, I saw him on my couch. The same vile smile, the same maddening smell.

The reheated food in the kitchen suddenly stank. I tried to eat it but spat it out. Kyle was suddenly behind me, grabbed me by the neck, and pressed me to his chest.

"Don't torture yourself. Give in to reason. You can eat me whole... But you owe me."