He. She. It. They.
A swirl of red fog surrounded them all, penetrated them all, a red so dull it was nearly indistinguishable from black.
Every once in a timeless while, a pair of eyes would open, and the red would brighten around them to the glow of a fireplace poker buried in the coals of a wood fire.
“Where are we?” A female voice hung in the not-air long after dark-lashed eyes closed, waiting for someone to hear.
Fuck if I know. A male grumble emanated from bloodshot eyes. This doesn’t look anything like our sweet basement home.
Another silence, as words awaited an answer.
YOU LOVE YOUR FORMS TOO MUCH.
The grating voice from opal eyes made the sleepers shudder. Yet they listened, eyes opened to glowing slits, trying not to be noticed.
Trying not to be noticed by their own third person. If the monstrosity sharing their psyche could be called a person.
WE EXIST AS SEPARATE BEINGS BECAUSE WE WISH TO. The stomach-churning sound of burning bones was sharpened by hunger. BECAUSE THE FORMS SHAPED FROM THE FEAR OF OUR PREY AMUSE US.
We can be whatever the fuck we want.
The monster’s laughter was worse than its speech. TRUE ENOUGH. BUT WE OWE ALL PHYSICAL FORM TO WHATEVER IS LEFT OF MEAT. THE REST IS ONLY IN OUR MINDS.
So? The male thought he was braver than the female.
Perhaps, though, he was only less intelligent.
It was a long time before the abomination answered.
WE MUST NOT FORGET WHAT WE ARE.
WHAT I AM.
The red fog slowly filled in the silence.