House of Conchita

Collation de Minuit

"Hey Roy, do you think spiders can dream?"

I think for a moment. "Oh, look, we're here."

Penny and I, after hours of seemingly aimless walking, have arrived at the edge of the forest. We couldn't have taken our usual fast route home; it was too risky. There was no other way of escaping quickly, but taking a long route paid off, as we will have gotten away unseen. Before us lies a steep cliff, and in the distance, we see the bright lights of the city.

"We'll finally be free!" says Penny with relief. "Once we find a way to scale this drop, that is."

However, I suddenly hear a voice that causes me to gulp. Twice.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Penny and I slowly turn around to find Conchita sharpening her teeth.

I shudder. "H-how did you find us?"

Conchita cackles as a storm seems to pick up. 

"Lmao," whispers the wind.

"Roy, what do we do?" asks Penny, shaking in terror. "This is so awful. I'll never eat a pop tart again."

I shake my head, not knowing what to say. I stare into the darkness of Conchita's throat. "There's no point in running," I tell her as I notice the ghost of poison past flying around us and laughing. "It will catch us." I look down solemnly. "What lies ahead is dark and tragic. All we can do now is hope it's over quickly."

"Oh."

Conchita moves forwards until her tongue touches Penny's nose. "Boop," she says. "Now, it is time for you to go. Goodbye."

Penny wipes away her tears and looks me in the eye. She mouths, "I love you, Royan Reynolds." My real name.

She winces as Conchita opens her mouth wide. I can't watch; I turn away grimly. I hear nothing of the terrible situation over the howling wind.

A few moments later, Conchita puts her hand on my shoulder and I turn around. Penny is gone.

"It's just us now, Roy," the lady tells me happily. "Only two to go!"

I squint. "Two?"

"My last meal..." she says dreamily. "I knew it would be special. My work won't be finished until it's all gone."

"All of it?" I ask. "Does that mean...?"

Conchita laughs as she grabs me, and I suddenly feel very dizzy. She hungrily pulls me into an embrace as I feel the two of us spinning, faster and faster, until I can't see anything. I feel a moist warmth around me, much to my disgust, and wonder if I have now been swallowed. It appears so... so why is Conchita still holding me?

"The body that has eaten every food," says Conchita. "No one will ever know the taste of it."

She clings to me as we fall into the void of her own stomach. Not understanding how this impossible feat is happening, I close my eyes in the darkness. She has consumed herself, causing this strange loop to occur. Having eaten her own body along with mine, there is nowhere for us to go. At least Penny has been set free from this mortal realm. The lady and I shall suffer a fate worse than death.

I allow myself to slip out of consciousness as we continue falling for infinity.