Consumption

Since it appeared to reason with me before, I begged it to turn towards me.

“Please, you divine creature sent from the heavens to deliver our deserved punishment, listen to me just once more.”

In the distance, I could see Ai barely managing to stop the endless mass of water flooding into the bay.

Somehow, it did work.

The beast turned its head towards me, arriving just centimeters before me with its head a second later.

The sound burst my eardrums fully.

“What is it you want mortal? Have you come to your senses?”

“You’re right. We may be vermin. So, could you please do me the favor and let me rest with her? I’m sure that she would accept that, too. I know you told me to live on in the first place, but what is there to live for without her beside me? Surely you must understand, if you truly act on her behalf.”

“You may be right, mortal. While she did urge me to leave you alive, having you be all alone in this world is a fate crueler than death. If it truly is your last wish, I shall grant it.”

It opened its gaping jaw once more, simply accepting me to walk inside. I could hear the faint screams of Araki and Takako as the creature accepted me into its bowels, slowly closing its jaw behind me.