Gecko

Talkative Dinner

"Whatcha lookin at punk?"

I blink. Is it talking to me?

"Hey, squint face, you okay?"

Last time I checked, Dinner wasn't supposed to talk.  Have I gone mad?

"Dude, stop staring, you're giving me the creeps"

"Uh, hi"

"Ah, so you do talk. The names Pete"

"Anakin"

"So.....Anakin, where are we?"

I looked around. I've been asking myself that question for a long time.

I didn't have much time to ponder, as I heard footsteps coming toward us.

The big one approached. She looked massive as always, towering over me. She knelt down near my home, sporting a puzzled look on her face. She reached her hand into my area and picked up Pete. He looked terrified.

"Why won't you eat your wax worm?" She mumbled to herself.

"You usually love these things"

She waved a nauseated looking Pete around my face, occasionally rubbing him across my jaw. I didn't budge.

Eventually, she gave up and put Pete into my food bowl, accidentally smacking me in the process. After staring at me for a few minuets, she swiftly left.

Pete climbed out of my food bowl looking panicked.

"The hell was that?!" He wheezed

"The big one" I answered.
"She cares for me"

"Is she your mom?"

I hesitated.
"I guess you could say that"

"Heh well she's weird. What was she even doing?"

I wasn't sure what to say, I've never talked to my meal before, am I supposed to tell him the truth? Being a leopard gecko; my instinct would be to eat him rather than chat, but my appetite has long gone. 

"No idea"

He wiggled around suspiciously. If he had eyebrows, I'm sure he'd be raising them at me now.

"Right. So how do we get out?"He asked

Out? Why would I want to leave? I have everything I've ever wanted here, right?

"What? Why would I want to leave?"

"Huh? Don't tell me you're happy here."

"What if I am?"

"Listen kiddo, maybe the "big one" hit your head a little too hard.  If you haven't already noticed, you're in a closet"

"What's a closet?"

He chuckled. "You really need to get out of here, and so do I. I don't know what this place is, but I don't like it. Im going to go see the outside world. I'm not about to stick around and let that thing rub me on your face again.

I was getting annoyed.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, and what you're trying to achieve, but I don't want any part of it"

"Suit yourself"

With that, he made his way over to the edge of my home and started to attempt to climb the impossibly high walls.

"Yeah, good luck with that pal" I snorted

I climbed into my damp cave, not wanting to go near the worm who was currently trying to get on top of my heated den.

"What a fool" I mumbled to myself

I've been here 3 years, there's no way out without being lifted by the big one. Why does he want to leave so much anyways, does he know something that I don't?

Of course not, he's my dinner after all, he doesn't even know what he was created for.
Yet, I feel like I should listen to him, is this really all my life has to offer? Eating worms, shedding, drinking, being stroked until I can't feel my own skin anymore.

Was this who I am?

I've only ever heard of the outside. Sometimes, when the big one has me in her hand, I can see it. The big, bright, lemon colored ball in the sky. It's always intrigued me.

My mind was made up, I was going to see it, that fiery ball of magic. Even if only for a second. 

Something sparked from deep within