'How do you know there's a monster under your bed?'
'Your nose touches the ceiling.'
Jack wondered just how he had agreed to this berth. It had something to do with being out charmed by the gorgeous redheaded purser. He was losing his touch if he agreed to this in exchange for a vague offer of a drink later on in the week. OK, so he was also saving money on his lodging, which meant he could save more of his wages, but was the discomfort really worth it?
Jack pulled the single blanket over his shoulder leaving his toes exposed to the chilly air. He sighed and attempted to turn onto his side. He found himself wedged with his hips and legs on their side and his left shoulder pressing into the ceiling of the cabin. In order to move he had to forcefully pull the blanket from between his shoulder and the ceiling. In his frustration he pulled too hard and the blanket flew off the bunk and onto the floor. The chilly damp air caused instant goose bumps as the moisture condensed on his skin.
He cursed, and slid his way off the bunk and onto the floor. Actually calling it a bunk was inaccurate. It was more of a storage shelf really.
As he crouched down to pick up the blanket, he realised the occupant of the lower bunk was watching him. The creature was the reason for the damp chilly climate of the room; its size the reason Jack's bunk was so near the ceiling. It had one eye, but it was mesmerising. A stunning cyan blue cornea, with an iridescent sea green iris. Long black eyelashes framed it, sweeping down seductively as the creature contemplated Jack. It was enormous, shaped like a Henry Moore sculpture, all feminine curves, and a large hole in an unexpected place. Its skin smooth and black as weathered bronze.
"Well hello" said Jack "aren't you the gorgeous one?"
If a single eye can roll, then this one did. What may have been an eyebrow quirked upwards, and a smile appeared, exposing pearlescent teeth.
"Not so bad yourself sailor."
Jack grinned. "It's a little cosy for me up above ya there, what would you say to sharing …'
Before he could finish the creature had extended a polyp pulling him onto the bunk and into itself until Jack was fully engulfed. Jack idly wondered if he would die there – but if the creature carried on doing just that thing, he would die happy. Very happy indeed.