The Mouth of Atrocity

The walls were basked in a golden glow that came radiating from the candles perched atop the large dining table. The flickering flames sent enigmatic shadows dancing shyly and wildly across the walls, in haste. In the blink of an eye they were there, to vanish rapidly, only to pop up on some other patch of interior surrounding. The golden, shimmering glow of candlelight was soothing, defenseless as it bathed all and sundry within its range; a warm and tranquil, gentle touch. The silvery rays of peeping moonlight that winked through the open window could not contend, to such a degree it had cloaked itself in dark cloud and hidden behind them as if they were a veil for shameful betrayal.
And there the sulking moon stay put, huddled away behind the obscuring clouds as Terri looked up to the man sat across the table, digging into a plate of carefully prepared, lavished food. Peering down at her own plate, her meal was gone. Only a few remnant pieces of veg and stripped bone were left; a sign that the meal had been enjoyed. And indeed, she had been impressed with her own cooking, for only on this one occasion. With a swift, stealthy movement she picked up the half-empty bottle of liquor and begun to poor its emerald green contents into a cheap wineglass. Waiting until her glass brimmed, threatening to spill its hold, she extended her lithe arm and begun pouring the absinthe into her lovers empty glass. Catching the graceful movement, Andrew looked up from polishing off his meal, and following the flawless contours of her arm, shoulder and slender neck, rested his tired eyes softly upon her beautiful, angelic face.
“If I so much as drink another drop of that, I think I might just fall out of this chair.” He slurred and smirked. “How come you can drink so much of that stuff? You should be under the table right now.”
Leaving Andrew's glass only half full, she retracted her arm in such an elegant manner that he was hypnotized. Terri smiled at him and yet said nothing as she stoppered the bottle and put it to one side. Taking her own glass, she gulped down a large mouthful of the green mixture all the while still smiling at Andrew, her brown eyes sparkling, seductively. She was aching for him as he was for her. She knew this all too well. It was not their mouths that was speaking volumes tonight. On the contrary, it was their eyes, their expressions and the atmosphere itself. There were no words of sentiment, no 'I love yous', just the feeling of unaccomplished want, need and love. A flawless moment with graceful apprehension.
Quietly resting his knife and fork on the rim of the plate, the meal finished, Andrew eyed the glass. Picking it up, he gulped down its entire contents and instantly felt his head take a swim into deeper, murky waters. With blurry eyes and a warm sensation running through his veins, he watched as Terri slowly stood up, gathered up the dirty dishes and disappeared with them into the kitchen. Several seconds later she came back into the dining room, gently grabbed Andrew's hand and pulling him up, led him through the labyrinth that was her house. They padded up a carpeted, serpentine staircase, along an extravagantly decorated hallway and vacated in the room at the end.
Andrew gasped as his eyes locked onto the beautiful view from the big bedroom window. It overlooked the clear blue waters of the ocean and the white sands that melted into green lush, rolling hills. The first orange rays of dawn were mingling in with lingering twilight and the morning sky was painted a brilliant array of two-tone blues, orange's and purple's. Stunning.
Terri eased Andrew down onto the soft, fluffy king size bed. He was glad to be off his wobbling knees as his head swum again. Walking round the bed, Terri laid down next to him, on her side. Stroking his chest, she smiled at him. Andrew laid into her and planted an ever so gentle kiss on her red lips and then pulled away. His blue, dazzling eyes shone as they peered shyly into hers. To watch the sunrise with a lover was one thing, to make love beneath the rising sun was entirely another, or so they both secretly hoped. Feeling giddy, Terri flattened her hand on his chest, feeling the toned muscle beneath. Leaning over again, Andrew kissed her and Terri met him with kisses of her own. Andrew's arm slid around Terri's curved, slender waist as she pulled him closer, closer into her. Both her arms were pinned up against his chest and she was loving the sensation of his muscles scrunching, moving and tensing beneath her flat palms. His hand was slowly rubbing her lower thigh, to and fro, whilst his other stroked her cheek. Kissing him heavily and tirelessly, Terri started to roughly run her hands over his chest, occasionally grabbing and pulling taut his nylon turtleneck. Andrew's hand started to slide further round Terri's front until it was hovering nervously below her navel. After hovering there for a few misguided seconds, his hand tugged at her blouse, fumbling for flesh. Her flesh. An icy cold finger of fear slid down Terri's tingling spine making her shudder.
“Wait a minute,” Terri said, pulling away from him. “I have to tell you something.”
Andrew relaxed, withdrawing his hand and settled back into the bed, listening. “Okay. I'm listening.” He said, looking fully relaxed, not bothered. Terri looked uneasy, almost scared.
“There is something I haven't told you yet. It's not easy.” She said and then trailed off into awkward silence.
“Okay.” Andrew replied, still being his usual, casual, laid back self.
“I'm pregnant.” Terri gulped nervously and turned to look at him. Andrew did not look too bothered by that news, considering they had been dating for the past year. He was waiting for the rest of it. “But, you see, its not a normal pregnancy. I've been pregnant for two years now.”
“What?” Andrew's confusion was evident and plausible. His brow furrowed into a hazy V.
“He just wont come out. Not until he's ready.” Terri said, not sure on how to explain her delicate situation.
“What?” Andrew asked again, now more confused than ever. He had no inkling of just what she was going on about.
“Look.” Terri said. Laying flat on her back, she unfastened her blouse and shrugged it off her shoulders. Across her abdomen was a savage X shaped scar that looked recent and sore. Nor was it a little scar. The protruding arms of the scar spread across to the furthest reaches of her sides, either side. It was unmissable, unmistakable and ugly. Andrew gasped and did a slight double take at the horrid sight. He was speechless. Solemnly, Terri caught a hold of his hand and brought it over to her. She gently guided it along the seams of the scar, starting at the left edge and working it to the epicenter. All the while, Andrew was grimacing inwardly, repulsed by the pain this injury must have caused. Reality slammed with full velocity up into the front of his head. This was no injury. This was a two year pregnancy. What the hell?
As Terri slid his hand further still, following the right side of the extended scar leg Andrew could feel slight movement beneath the surface of the skin. It was as if whatever was in there, in her womb, was just below the surface trying to get out. Impossible. Andrew's mind whirled, trying to grasp the concept of this revelation. As he did this he witnessed to his horror an adequately mounded bulge appear, ridging upwards from Terri's stomach. Visibly flinching, Terri gripped his hand firmer and pressed it harder into her skin. The movement was increasing, becoming more than noticeable. Unimaginable. At that precise moment, Andrew's eyes bulged out of his head and his jaw hung open. He could not believe his own eyes as he watched in dumbfound amazement and terror, Terri's scar was beginning to come undone, the flaps of flesh peeling back from the centerfold. What was more, Terri did not shift, did not even blink. It was as if she felt no pain from this... obscure atrocity whatsoever. Andrew tried to pull his hand away several times but to no avail. Terri kept it there, firmly planted on the fringe of the scar as she watched her stomach open up, nonchalant.
Going to yank his hand away again, this time with added fervor, Andrew stopped dead in his tracks. Startled, terrified, confused, call it what you will. Fear held his gaze upon the opening in Terri's stomach where a dark, slimy mass started writhing, trying to tear a bigger opening in her already split abdomen. Through the taut, stretched skin a small shiny, black snout appeared. It was covered in ebony and yellow scales. From the end of the snout curled yellow, savagely sharp teeth. Yellow saliva dripped heavily from its jowls onto Terri's tan skin, and dribbled into the gaping wound albeit streams of syrup. The rest of the snout sliding out of the gory opening turned into luminous red, chaotic eyes. Unlike the snout, the head was covered in matted, fine black hair, and was formed like that of a feral cat.
Andrew could hear the whine in his throat trying to form itself into a horrific scream of terror, trying to escape past his sealed, pale lips. It did not come; it stayed lodged beneath the growing lump in his throat, where the whine had died with a quick high pitched crescendo. The red eyes of the beast locked onto Andrew's trembling form. A sibilant hiss turned into a deep, guttural growl. With all his might, Andrew yanked on his bound arm and pulled. His arm broke free of Terri's grip and was halfway through being retracted mid air as the beast lunged for him. Catching hold of Andrew's arm, the beast clamped its jaw shut in a vice grip around it and locked on. Teeth sunk deep into flesh, sending rivers of blood spewing out of pierced veins and arteries. The beast tugged on his arm and the teeth tore flesh, cut through bone. The arm below the elbow joint was torn away amidst straggly strands of clumped flesh left hanging from where it had once been.
Andrew fell to the floor with the force of the separation, howling and writhing in agony. His eyes still peeled on the demonic abomination, he watched as it ragged his severed arm about as if it were a dog's rope toy. Terri was silently weeping, tears brimming down her quivering cheeks. Blood drenched, particially drunk, shocked and awed, as the adrenaline surged through Andrew's body, he lept to his feet. Still screaming in terror, he fled. Down the serpentine staircase, through the dinning room which moments before had held such fond memories, now tainted, and into the cold, early morning ebb.
Terri wept as she watched her child feasting upon her lost lover's arm.