Sewer Creature

Sewer Creature

Though deep within its brain there resided a memory of fresh air in a forest dappled with sunlight, its home now was dark, narrow, and heavy with warm putrid air. A giant among its kin, ancient and supremely adapted, it was forever cautious, for it was cursed to be hated and crushed whenever encountered.

Blessed with armor, it gleamed like bronze whenever it skittered from shadow to shadow. Underneath, its skin was chalk white, soft, and moist. Only when it outgrew its armor did the world see its weakness. Two long tendrils waved to and fro from atop a tiny triangular head and lidless eyes bulged out.

Creeping on the inner ceiling of the sewage tunnel, it searched for somewhere to hide. Water cascaded into the black stream below. Nerves tensed and alerted sensors. Motionless for minutes, it detected nothing living. Finally, it lifted a leg and crawled toward the cascading water.

It was a late autumn evening with a chill reminding winter was not far away. Cathy tucked the blanket under her baby, Nicole. Sitting and with love in her eyes and a gentle smile, she rocked the crib and whispered a lullaby till her baby fell asleep. She turned off the lights, but left the door open in case Nicole woke up.

Next on her routine was preparing dinner for herself and her husband. Coming home in an hour, he would be hungry. She started humming a tune, for it always made her happy to watch her husband eat with obvious pleasure.

An greasy dark creature crept on the carpet. It sensed food from two directions ahead. The tendrils spread wide and undulated gathering information to decide the best course to follow.

Cathy turned on the radio and began chopping the vegetables.

The gleaming segmented legs ended in single claws. One by one they lifted the creature up a leg of the crib. Onto the blanket, it advanced to the lingering smell of milk above. It paused, for Nicole’s chest gently rose. It searched its memories and knew that what laid ahead was asleep.

Nicole dreamed of her mother softly touching her nose. The soft touch turned to pricks on her chin and she whimpered.

The creature lapped at the spittle mixed with milk on Nicole's lips. Four of it's claws dug in further as Nicole's head jerked with each cry.

Cathy thought she heard something from the bedroom and turned down the radio. At that moment, the whimpers became cries. Putting down the knife and wiping her hands on her apron, she went to the bedroom.

Through the doorway the scene sharply focused as adrenaline shot into Cathy's bloodstream; a cockroach as big as her hand seemed to be kissing her baby. Screaming, she lunged.

Sam Tyler, a retired sergeant, was sitting at a table enjoying the sunset when he heard the scream from the house next door.

The creature felt the pressure of moving air warning it of an attack. It fled into the dark, wet opening just in front of it.

Cathy’s hand smacked down on Nicole’s chin as her fingers grabbed the last inch of the cockroach. Although the roach had a powerful grip, it was losing the fight. Yet, hundreds of millions of years of evolution had given its kind a defense that foiled her fingers. It secreted an oily fluid. As her fingers slipped on the greasy body, she screamed, “God, please help me!”

The roach crawled completely in.

Her scream for help shoved Sam into action; running to the fence separating their properties, he climbed over it, and sprinted into her home. What he saw stopped him like a brick wall; his neighbor sobbing as she rocked her limp baby in her arms. His training and experience kicked in. Seeing the baby’s face was a pale blue, he yelled, “Cathy, she’s choking! Give her to me.”

“Sam! There’s a cockroach in her throat.”

Grabbing Nicole, Sam held her head down by her feet and slammed his palm on her back. The roach popped out. He thanked God as he heard Nicole burst out in a cry. Then, there was a loud crack. Looking down, he saw the huge roach crushed under Cathy’s shoe. White innards creaming out confirmed its end.

Sam handed Nicole back. “Thank you, thank you, Sam. I’m taking her to the hospital.”

“I'd like to take the roach. My friend in Pest Control is sure to be interested.”

You’re welcome to it, Sam. Thanks for saving Nicole. I’ll never forget this.”

“Neither will I”

Cathy shook her head, chuckled, then took Nicole out of the room. Sam rubbed the stubble on his face as he wondered where in hell it had come from and were there others. He decided to pick up some bug spray and a mallet.