In a flash, I’m eating his scream. I’m attached. My diamond tooth tears his stubbly cheek flesh.

He fights back, trying to loosen my grip. But my reticulating mandibles hold. The pistons in my jaws grind down, crushing the bridge of his nose. My masticating gears switch to Devour and I begin gnawing my way through.

His legs flail, emptying his pockets of loose bullets and gun. My hybrid saliva takes effect and he stills. I pull back and admire his glazing smoky eyes; “Your eyes are beautiful. They’re grapes I’ll peel to wet my mouth”.

His skull cracks.

As I trace his brow with my sawing tongue, I hit marrow. I pull back and continue my taunt: “And then I’m moving on to your warm brains. Your sinus mucous will be my gravy and your skull, my boat".

I stare into his sockets, relishing his terror. As I gear up to punch through and harvest his brain-stem, his rotting glare forms one final expression; “You Bitch!”

His measure of worth slows my oiled heart. I’ll rebuild him. He’ll be my Mechanic. My Mate.