The man walked home from his shift, his pace faster than usual. His blank, tired eyes focused on the road, instead of lingering on bakeries like they usually do.
The bleak buildings around him, stretching to the sky like the ribs of a long dead god, slowly went by.
The moon above him watched in curiosity as it peeked out from the clouds of smoke the local factories continuously pumped up.
He got off work like usual. But today… he had something to return to.
Or rather, someone.
He felt a smile tug at his mouth.
He turned a corner, nearly avoiding the truck that had crashed into the building behind him.
His mind wandered off as his tired eyes looked up into the sky, as the sirens behind him echoed in the night air. That was the fourth time a truck drove into a building this week.
Was it something about rebellion against the government? He couldn't remember.
But he did remember something.
Her smile.
He sighed, as climbed the stairs of his apartment complex, avoiding the handrails that looked like they were being supported by gum and the collective will of whoever built them.
After a few floors, he reached the hallway.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself…
Before opening the door.
"...I'm home."
The first thing that answered his call was the smell. It reminded him of his job. The smell of Blood, Iron… But also something new. Something cooked.
Burnt, actually.
The second was his cute girlfriend, her voice loosening a nerve in his head. "Welcome home."
She was standing in the middle of the kitchen, covered in blood like she'd fallen into a blender. Wearing an apron. Holding a spatula. Smiling.
"I made dinner," she said.
Thaniel blinked. Slowly. Looked past her to the stove, where something black and indistinguishable sizzled in a pan. Looked to the sink—filled with red water and meat that looked like it had been chewed.
How cute. So cute that it made his eyes twitch.
He wanted to yell. He wanted to complain. He wanted to melt onto the floor.
But as he looked into her stormy eyes… His anger faded, as he simply closed the door behind him.
He sighed, thinking of the amount of work he'd have to do to clean up later… As he smiled softly. "...Thank you."
She smiled brightly, her jagged teeth showing, as she pulled on the dishwasher.
Thaniel flinched. "...Hey, wait-"
But he was too late. With a swift pull and an agonizing groan, the entire dishwasher door came off, the lights leaving it's buttons, as his loving girlfriend took out a shiny bowl.
…Dishwasher-Chan, the one who kept him company for so many years, keeping his mood up with its sweet melody, died on that day.
Thaniel was too tired to react anymore.
He simply took off his shoes, as he collapsed onto the dinner table.
His face pressed against the cheap fake wood, cheek slowly sticking to the surface.
She set the plate down beside him with too much force. The ceramic clinked loudly. Something on the edge cracked.
"I followed a recipe," she said proudly, like that explained the blood in the light fixtures.
Thaniel turned his head just enough to look at the plate. What stared back at him did not resemble food. It resembled a sin. The meat—if that's what it was—looked like it had been simultaneously boiled, grilled, and possibly exorcised.
He sat up. Slowly. Picked up his fork. Poked it.
It wobbled.
She sat across from him with a look that was part expectation, part hunger, part... something else.
"You should try it while it's warm," she said.
He forced a smile that felt more like a spasm. "Yeah. Can't let it escape."
He cut into the meat, steam hissing out like it had opinions. He tried not to gag. Her eyes followed the fork as he brought it to his mouth, every bit the proud, terrifying homemaker.
He opened his mouth.
Paused.
Sniffed again.
Something was off.
He frowned. Lowered the fork. Looked around the kitchen. Slowly.
Then his eyes caught it.
The trash can, slightly ajar. Something shiny blue poked out from the top.
The neighborhood dog's name tag.
He stared at it for a second. Then looked back at the burnt meat on his plate.
The texture made sense now.
His stomach churned, as he let out an exasperated sigh. "You cooked the neighborhood dog."
She simply tilted her head, as the light cast an ominous shadow over her face, her unblinking eyes staring at him like she'd seen him in a past life. Possibly while eating someone. "They are a great source of protein."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaled hard through his teeth, his appetite ruined.
"...We should go shopping."
She tilted her head again. "For more dogs?"
He sighed. "For groceries."
It was time to introduce his girlfriend to his local grocery store.