Just Like Animals

№ 4

"I told you you have to eat." Chris huffed, tossing a second blanket down on top of Ricky and picking up the tray.  He went off to the kitchen, throwing away the tofu lettuce wrap and instead grabbing a tub of cashew yogurt. Usually he had it in smoothies or in dips, but he just needed something soft that didn't have to be chewed.

Ricky was getting cozy under the blankets, the January weather seeping into his bones.  Outside, just about everything was frozen solid.  Inside, the basement with a small space heater didn't feel much different.

Being rather frustrated and having quite a temper, Chris came stomping back down to the basement, crawling right over Ricky, pinning his upper body down with one leg while he snapping the plastic lid off the yogurt container.

"Stop!" Ricky begged, starting to flail. He couldn't move his arms much and the blankets weighed down his legs, making it nearly impossible for him to fight Chris off.  He twisted his head from side to side, locking his jaw shut in an attempt to ward Chris off. 

With an open hand, Chris smacked Ricky across the face to get him to stop moving. He grabbed his nose and pinched it shut so he'd only be able to breathe through his mouth, waiting until instinct kicked in and his lips parted to take a deep breath. 

Chris pounced at the opportunity, quickly getting his hand in Ricky's mouth to hold it open while he began to pour the yogurt in. Ricky coughed and choked, struggling to breathe as he was smothered. 

When a significant amount of yogurt was on Ricky's face, no longer going into his mouth, Chris let go of him, watching as he sputtered.  He rolled towards the cement floor, hacking and spitting as he tried clear everything out of his airway.

After a bit of heavy breathing, Ricky wiped his face with the back of his hand, looking around to see where Chris was. He was beyond relieved to see he was alone, rolling over to face the wall again.

Naturally, Ricky curled up into a tight little ball, holding his knees to his chest in an attempt to find some sort of comfort. He locked his eyes shut, silently praying that everything around him would just melt away into nothing and he'd be back in his house, Jaime next to him in bed.

Several hours had passed when Ricky was woken up to a tugging feeling on his neck.  He rolled over, rubbing his eyes and squinting through the bright beam of the flashlight.

"Ice storm took down the power lines up the road. I started a fire upstairs since the temperature is supposed get to drop into the negatives." Chris explained, directing the light at one of the basement windows that showed a cross-section of snow topped with a thick layer of ice.

Ricky nodded, not wanting to freeze to death overnight.  He grabbed his blankets, Chris guiding him upstairs and to the den where the curtains were drawn tight.  The fire was bright enough that he was able to turn off the flashlight, walking Ricky to the hearth and attaching the chain to an iron ring where a pair of thick gloves hung.  Chris took a padlock off the mantel, further securing the connection. 

"Do you want dinner?" Chris offered, tucking the key away in his pocket.  Ricky shook his head, dropping his blankets to the floor and sinking down into them.  The heat felt nice and he was able to unbutton the flannel, feeling the radiant energy warm his skin.

Despite being cozy and still a bit sleepy, Ricky couldn't shut his eyes.  Chris' presence was unnerving and the silence was painful.  At some point, Chris left the room, Ricky sitting up and looking around.

Theoretically, he was within reach of one of the windows, but he wouldn't make it far being tethered to the fireplace.  He could see through the doorway into the kitchen where he knew the back door was, but even if he could get as far as the door, he wasn't sure how much further he could make it with Chris being so determined to keep him captive. 

Hearing footsteps again, Ricky laid back down, pretending that he hadn't moved at all.  The sound got closer until it stopped, Ricky being able to feel Chris' presence behind him.  Chris reached over Ricky, setting down a bowl and another water bottle.

"It's just rice and tofu." Chris explained, "Well, rice, tofu, spices and soy sauce." He clarified.  Ricky sat up a bit, looking down at the dish.

"What do you mean tofu?" He asked, picking up one of the little cubes and smelling it before taking the smallest bite possible.  The sauce made his mouth water and although he was tempted to dig in, he picked around the little chunks, only spooning the rice into his mouth. 

Chris had sat down on the sofa with his own bowl, looking up at Ricky. "What do you mean 'what do you mean tofu'? I'm vegan." He started to eat, Ricky watching for a moment before he trusted him enough to try the protein.

"I thought it was... meat." Ricky explained quietly, head down.  They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Ricky's words registered in Chris' head.

He scoffed and dropped his fork into his bowl. "That's disgusting." He scolded Ricky. Ricky just shrugged, focussing on his meal.  When he was done, Chris took their bowls to the kitchen, stopping for a moment in the doorway.

"Why would you assume I'm a cannibal?" He wondered, not even looking in Ricky's direction.

With a surprising amount of apathy, Ricky turned back towards the fire and laid down. "I saw you dismembering a human body and now you're holding me captive against my will." He reminded Chris.  "I wouldn't be surprised if you were a necrophiliac too."

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