2. The slacky hog - Part 1
I'm really sorry for being absent. But I'm finally here again. This is the second chapter of this project hope you like it.
The doorbell to Erick’s room always rang with sharp force that echoed off the walls; nevertheless, he barely shifted in his sleep upon hearing it. On that particular day, the distinct buzz repeated several times. Erick slowly opened his eyes, still swaddled in white sheets from which a shower of stray crumbs slipped off—undeniable proof of the massive feast he had devoured the night before.
—Open up! —he yelled with obvious annoyance.
Instantly, a green light flashed on the lock, and the door gave way. The visitor pushed it open cautiously, anticipating an apocalyptic scene, and his suspicions were confirmed as the room revealed itself before his eyes. The floor was littered with clothes of various sizes, empty takeout boxes, dented soda cans, and towering stacks of unwashed dishes. With every step, he ventured deeper into chaos, finding mess in every single corner. He picked his way carefully so as not to trip, ensuring his feet didn't make the slightest sound; it was never wise to test the patience of these ravenous creatures.
Soon, the newcomer stepped close enough to gaze upon his leader. Erick stood at nearly six foot six; his arms and legs exhibited an imposing fusion of dense muscle and heavy fat, built with a solidity that could easily rival a Greek column. Even sleeping, his face possessed a striking symmetry that made him stand out in any crowd: pale, lightly sun-kissed skin, an aquiline nose, thick eyebrows, short black hair, and full lips framed by a neat, well-groomed beard. Everything about him radiated a rugged, masculine charm, but none of it drew attention quite like his gut.
Underneath the sheets, anyone would have assumed Erick had pillows stacked over his waistline, but that was no illusion. Those dimensions were very real, a colossal belly sculpted over time, thoroughly accustomed to processing gallons of soda, tons of junk food, and, of course, a handful of unlucky victims.
—Mr. Erick —the visitor whispered near the giant’s ear—. It's morning. Wake up"
Suddenly, with superhuman speed, Erick stretched out an arm and snatched his alarm clock of a guest. Though still half-asleep, his most primitive instincts obeyed an irresistible force: raw hunger. A deafening roar rumbled from the depths of his stomach, and, almost unconsciously, he dragged that poor little guy straight toward his open maw.
—Mr. Erick! —the victim shrieked, petrified with fear—. Stop, please! I haven't lost yet!"
Instantly, a harsh alarm vibrated through the walls of the room. A set of nozzles descended from the ceiling, blasting high-pressure jets of water straight into Erick’s face with the force of a fire hose. The sudden impact forced him to drop his prey.
—Alright! Stop! I'm awake! —Erick spat out water, choking for air.
The sirens died down and the mechanism retracted, returning the room to its original state. Erick dragged his hands over his soaked face, slicking his wet hair back. Then he looked over at the man who had almost become his breakfast; the student was cowering in the corner, trembling violently.
—Hey… —Erick said, raising a hand in greeting and offering a smile he intended to be friendly.
It wasn't enough; his visitor remained frozen in terror. The giant scratched the back of his neck and carried on.
—Look, honestly, I'm sorry about that. I don't really remember what happened, but what matters is that you're in one piece and that I... well, I didn't break any campus rules —. He said before stepping out of bed—. At least, not this time."
As he finished speaking, he went through a few stretches to shake off the lingering sleepiness. As his arms reached upward, his massive, heavy gut was exposed in all its glory, putting the sheer scale of his frame and the power of his limbs on full display. The visitor was left completely speechless, instantly hypnotized by the sheer majesty of his leader's massive, dominant physique.
—By the way... what are you doing here? —Erick asked.
—I received an email —the young man answered timidly. —It said I was to come here at this time to be assigned a challenge."
—Oh, right! The challenge —Erick reacted with sudden enthusiasm—. I'm thinking of doing the same one as yesterday: a video game match between the two of us. How does that sound?
—Sounds... sounds fine —the young man replied, still noticeably uneasy.
—You'll have the advantage. I'm not very good. In fact, I don't even remember if I won or lost yesterday's match.
At that moment, the giant’s massive innards grumbled violently. Erick felt an intense surge of gas rushing up his throat; he pounded a fist against his chest to clear the way while covering his mouth with his other hand.
BbbBWWOoOOoOOUUuuuUUAAARRrrRRRRppPp!!!!
A colossal belch escaped him, sounding as loud as a revving engine. After the gas passed, Erick looked down at what had landed in his palm—he had expelled something. Realizing what it was, he let out a mischievous smirk and held it out for the student to see. It was a metallic emblem, still entangled in a few frayed threads, bearing the word “Cookies.”
The little guy clapped his hands over his mouth, choking back a gasp of horror.
—Look at that —Erick remarked with smug pride—. Looks like I did win yesterday. And it was a clean victory, too, considering I didn't get a penalty notification."
The student nodded slowly, trapped in a trance.
—Here, you can have it —the giant added, tossing the emblem over to him —. Maybe it'll bring you luck so you don't end up in the exact same place.
As if summoned by his own words, his stomach let out another ferocious, lion-like roar.
—Jeez! This big guy is insatiable —Erick teased, sinking a deep finger into his thick gut without breaking eye contact with the young man—. Be a good boy and go fetch breakfast, will you?"
The young man nodded frantically.
—W-What would you like me to bring?"
—Alright... How many boxes should I get?
Erick looked at him with condescending warmth, tilting his head back and clicking his tongue.
—As many as your little body can carry without snapping in half, he said with a sarcastic grin.
