Hungry Like a Wolf

"Are you alright?" the uniformed officer asked.

I tried a smile, pain gripping my insides.

"Y- No. I'm not," I admitted. "Could I have something to eat?"

Her expression glazed.

"Uhhhhh-huh. I'm not sure," she said, sympathy gone from her tone. (Fat people aren't allowed to be hungry.) "Someone could get you a drink? Tea? Water?" Slight emphasis on the last word; that's the one I'm supposed to choose.

"Coffee would be great. But if this is going to take much longer, I'll just go home."

Thanks to my heightened senses in the aftermath of my kill, I could hear the conversation coming down the corridor. "Says she needs something to eat... well tough shit, she's hardly going to waste away... being hungry won't kill her."

No, officer. It won't kill me.

"I hear you're getting peckish," he said with forced jollity, handing me a paper cup of unsweetened brown water.

"I have a condition," I snapped. He raised his brows, eyes sharp, moustache laser-focused.

"Diabetes? Do you need any medication?"

"N-No."

He started recording, confirming date, time and names. I went through my interactions with Mike in the physical world, omitting the kiss I stole that let me hunt him in the dreamscape. I had no doubt they'd check my phone records to check I had, in fact, been at home at the time I said I was.

After the interview was finished, I reached out and shook his hand firmly, holding it just a second too long and remembering the feel of its clammy heat.

The griping in my belly didn't ease, but having an endpoint to focus on helped. I turned way from how hollow I'd feel tomorrow.

It was already late, the office locked hours ago. I went straight home. I moved slow, munching steadily through the hours that ticked by like sludge, hunger unabated.

He was hard to find, a handshake being a weak physical bond. I stalked him on tireless paws. Chasing him from dream to dream through living, roiling, tendrils of mist that left dewdrops on my fur. Taking bites out of him all the way 'til breakfast.

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Word count (excluding note): 366

Submitted on 26th January at 23.57

*Quick Author's Note*

Thank you for reading! Your thoughtful engagement is very much valued. Please leave a comment so I can reciprocate the read. If you enjoyed it, the best compliment you can give is to share it, or read another. Thank you especially to those who are being so supportive through this project. You are more appreciated than you know!

The story behind the story: This one is part of a series of micros. They're all really short and sweet and you can find them here:

1. A Cock About to Cro-

2. Cat and Mouse

3. Just Desserts

4. A Pound of Soul

5. How Much Cake is one Soul Worth?

My "story every day" project: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes a 26 day streak. You can find all of them in my Index post, which is pinned to the top of my profile. I'll also link to it at the bottom.

If you're joining me on this "story every day" madne adventure, please leave a link to yours in the comments. Whether you're on a creative bent, like me, and writing mostly microfiction/stories, or whether you have your own, self-imposed criteria, I'd love to see what you come up with for today. I'll try to come back and edit this to link to your piece at the bottom.

Edited for formatting and to add links: