Gazing into the mirror, I noticed the difference immediately. My cheeks were rounder, rosy and pink. When I stretched my hands, my arms felt fleshy instead of thin and bony.

Even when I bent closer to examine my face, my eyes drifting down to my chest, my ribs were no longer visible like the spine of stripped meat.

Through the mirror, I saw Syphyllis trying to reach the table. His belly jiggled as he stood on his short legs, struggling. A burst of laughter escaped my throat.

I walked closer. Syphyllis tilted his head at me, his wrinkled face smoothing as he whined. I picked up a slice of warm bread and held it to his mouth.

I laughed softly as he ate, letting out happy little sounds. The bread smelled delicious. It made me drool. I touched my belly. It was full. Not hollow.

I smiled again. Nox’s face flashed in my mind.

I stood there until Syphyllis finished eating, my legs beginning to ache. I pulled out the chair and sat down. Beneath the plate of bread, I noticed a dusty book.

I picked it up. The letters were familiar, but I couldn’t understand them.

The first page had seven strange characters. I flipped through the pages, scanning. The yellowed paper felt soft beneath my fingertips.

I turned the pages faster, excited, until I stopped at an illustration.

A tree. A woman. A snake. A round, shining object in the woman’s hand.

“Look, baby,” I said, lowering the book to Syphyllis’s eye level. He whined.

“I wonder what it tastes like. Even the snake wanted it.”

Syphyllis tilted his head and stuck out his tongue. I laughed and patted him heavily.

Then I noticed the smell on my hands. Dusty. Musty. Like dirt.

“Come here. I’ll bathe you,” I shouted.

He ran. I dropped the book and chased after him.

I wasn’t looking where I was going and slammed into something hard and cold. 1 was standing there, smiling faintly as I rubbed my sore nose.

“Ow,” I muttered.

“Careful,” he said, rubbing my head gently.

“Nox, I haven’t seen you all day,” I said, frowning.

“We went out to find resources,” he replied, lifting me easily and kissing my cheeks. His irises reflected my face. My chest tingled.

“Can I go out?” I asked.

He hesitated. “You can explore the city. It’s safe. Just don’t go too far.”

He set me down, then suddenly pulled me against his chest, holding me tightly.

“I’ll be back,” he said, letting go.

“I’ll leave it open,” his voice echoed as he walked away.

Syphyllis’s head popped around the corner. He was holding an old familiar shirt in his mouth.

“Hey! Where did you get that?” I yelled.

He ran.

I chased him down the black-walled hallways. The musty dirt smell grew stronger. I started coughing.

We ran down the stairs. My legs burned, but Syphyllis didn’t stop.

Finally I leaned against the wall, breathing hard. He turned the corner, then peeked back at me, whining softly.

“Little demon,” I muttered.

When my strength returned, I moved slowly toward him. He stayed still, watching me.

I reached out.

He bolted.

I grabbed nothing but air.

He ran again, and the walls around us began to pulse. They darkened. They turned fleshy and black.

My stomach dropped, but I kept moving.

Syphyllis slipped into a circular hole lined with blue veins, heat radiating from it.

“Syphyllis!”

I stopped at the entrance. The hallway behind me was gone.

I could faintly see a skinless brown shape through the opening. My dog was whining like he was hurt.

“I’m coming,” I whispered, forcing myself forward.

The tunnel was moist and soft, like overcooked meat.

A muffled scream echoed inside.

The air smelled like sulfur and bile. My eyes burned.

Ahead of me, Syphyllis sat near a massive black crater.

“Syphyllis?” I called, trembling.

He turned toward me, whining.

Behind him—

Corpses floated in an acidic fluid. Some were half dissolved. Organs exposed. Bones brittle.

At the center, a vortex-like mouth swallowed them whole. A red, tentacled tongue dragged the bodies inward.

The heat scorched my lungs.

Without thinking, I grabbed Syphyllis and tucked him against my chest. He trembled lightly, still holding my shirt.

The walls pulsed as I crawled back through the tunnel. Harder now. Warmer.

I ran. Up the stairs. Through the corridor. Back to my room.

I slammed the door shut.

I collapsed to the floor, releasing Syphyllis. He placed the shirt on my lap and pressed his head against me, whining softly.

Tears spilled uncontrollably. My body shook with sobs.

I clutched the shirt tightly.

One of the half-dissolved corpses had yellow eyes.

Yellow skin.

Just like my father.