ONYCHOPHAGY – (n) the habit of biting one's fingernails
"Oww!"
Charlie sucked on one finger, her pointer. She had been chewing on her nails so viciously, she had chewed nearly half her finger off. Her black blood tasted bitter, but it was something to taste. For days she had been searching for food, only to find nothing. And Tyce...he brought her the little food he could find, but she was too bitter to accept it.
If only he was around now. She needed food.
She pulled her fingers out of her mouth at the smell of something burning nearby. IT smelled good. Fresh. Tasty. She didn't even realize that she was running until she tripped and rolled into the side of a building.
A hand helped her back to her feet and she gasped a "thanks" before looking up. Her heart nearly exploded within her chest.
Tyce was standing before her, mouth drawn into a tight line. His eyes were searching for a response. His other hand was hidden behind his back, and an absolutely scrumptious smell was coming from his hidden hand.
"Oookkaayyy?" he asked.
She nodded, her vision skewed but her sense of smell blossoming. It was meat. Clean meat. Fresh clean meat. She didn't realize she was drooling until the front of her shirt began to stick more than usual.
He brought out an arm, a fat and meaty one at that. She snatched it from his grasp and quickly ripped a bite from it. The taste, the scent, the blood. It was euphoric. She moaned at the flavor. Oh, how she needed food. Once the first three or five bites were down her throat, she wiped her mouth and smiled at the Tank.
"Thank you, Tyce. I needed that..."
He smiled, a few of his front teeth missing. It was charming, in a strange way. But she still felt hatred towards him. All the teasing. Bullying. High school was a living hell, because of him. How did she know he didn't taint this with peanut butter? She forced herself not the wretch up the meager contents of her stomach.
He nodded and limped away from her, as if he knew. She wanted to follow, to call him back, but everything hurt.
Had he changed? Was she the one holding onto a petty grudge?