“Mia!” Stacy yelled, her voice laced with playful annoyance. Her hand shot out to steady herself on the counter as she looked down at the cause of her near fall. Her new puppy, Mia, looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, her little tail wagging furiously. Stacy couldn’t help but smile, even though Mia’s constant presence underfoot was becoming a bit of a hazard. 

It had only been five days since Stacy had adopted the young border collie, but already Mia followed her everywhere. Her sleek black-and-white fur gleamed in the soft light, and her eyes seemed to follow Stacy’s every move, full of pure adoration. The bond between them had formed quickly, and Stacy felt a deep responsibility for the pup, especially since Mia was still so underweight. 

“Come on, let’s get you fed.” Stacy muttered, sidestepping Mia carefully as she moved into the kitchen. The tiled floor was cool beneath her bare feet as she maneuvered around her energetic companion, who darted between her legs, always close. Grabbing the empty dog bowl from the floor, she placed it on the counter and glanced back at Mia, who sat patiently by her feet, her ears perked up in anticipation. 

Mia’s ribs were still slightly visible beneath her fur, a reminder of her time as a stray, and Stacy was determined to fatten her up. Three meals a day, she thought. It was necessary to help the puppy regain her strength, especially with how thin she had been when Stacy first brought her home. Breakfast and dinner were typical—just oversized portions of dog food—but lunch was special.

Stacy stepped over to the fridge and pulled out the jar of peanut butter, twisting it open with a satisfying pop. The smooth, earthy scent filled the air as she set it down on the counter. Then, she opened one of the nearby containers, each filled with men she had purchased from the farmers' market. Stacy glanced over at Mia, who was watching her every movement, her tail thumping lightly against the floor in anticipation. 

These men were a far cry from the mass-produced ones sold in grocery stores. They were healthier, plumper, raised organically—far better for Mia’s delicate system. The men inside the container were small, maybe only a few centimeters tall, but their eyes were wide with fear as they looked up at her, trembling in the plastic confines of their container. 

Reaching into the container, Stacy plucked one of the men between her thumb and forefinger. He squirmed in her grip, tiny hands pushing helplessly at her fingers, but Stacy paid him no mind. She dipped him into the jar of peanut butter, swirling him around until he was completely coated in the thick, sticky substance. 

The man wriggled and squeaked in protest, but his tiny voice was barely audible. Stacy used her thumb to smear the peanut butter more evenly over his body, ensuring he was well-covered before casually tossing him into Mia’s empty bowl. She repeated the process with several more men, each one struggling just as uselessly as the first. Their small cries were nothing more than background noise to her as she worked, focused entirely on making sure Mia’s lunch was perfect.

Once the bowl was filled with peanut butter-coated men, Stacy wiped her hands on a nearby towel, cleaning off the sticky residue before turning her attention back to Mia. The puppy’s eyes were locked on the bowl, her mouth slightly open, revealing her sharp little teeth as she panted in excitement.

“Here you go, girl.” Stacy said, her voice warm as she placed the bowl on the floor. “Eat up.”

Mia wasted no time, diving into her meal with fervor. The men’s screams filled the kitchen as the puppy’s jaws snapped down on them, her teeth shredding through their bodies with ease. Stacy watched with a mixture of fascination and amusement, her eyes never leaving Mia as she devoured the live meal. The sound of crunching bones mixed with the wet squelch of peanut butter being licked clean, creating a grotesque symphony in the otherwise serene kitchen.

The men fought desperately, some attempting to crawl out of the bowl, but Mia’s quick, eager bites soon put an end to their struggles. Within minutes, there was nothing left but a few smears of peanut butter on the sides of the bowl, which Mia licked clean with enthusiasm.

“Good girl!” Stacy cooed, bending down to rub Mia’s back, her fingers threading through the puppy’s soft fur. “You finished the whole thing!”

Mia wagged her tail, licking her chops as she gazed up at Stacy with contentment. The room was still, save for the sound of Mia’s tongue swiping across her lips, savoring the last traces of her meal. Stacy smiled down at her puppy, a feeling of satisfaction washing over her.

“You’ll be nice and healthy in no time.” she murmured, giving Mia one last affectionate pat before standing up. She tossed the now-empty container into the trash, her mind already drifting to what she’d prepare for Mia’s next meal. After all, only the best would do for her beloved companion.

Violet stepped into her small, cozy apartment, the soft click of the door behind her signaling the end of a long day. The air inside was still and quiet, filled with the faint scent of lavender from a candle she’d left burning earlier. The moment she set her bag down, she heard a familiar, gentle sound—a soft purring, followed by the quiet padding of little feet against the hardwood floor.

Before she had time to take off her shoes, Luna, her sleek, gray-furred cat, brushed against her leg, her purring growing louder as she nuzzled Violet’s ankle. The feline’s soft fur tickled against her skin, and a warm smile spread across Violet's face. The comforting sight of Luna always melted away the day's stress.

“Hey, Luna!” Violet cooed, her voice soft as she crouched down to greet her. She ran her fingers through the silky fur on Luna's head, scratching behind her ears in the way she knew her cat loved. Luna responded by tilting her head into Violet’s hand, her eyes narrowing to contented slits. Violet chuckled quietly, feeling her shoulders relax for the first time all day.

Living alone wasn’t so bad when she had Luna. The little cat was her constant companion, always there to greet her when she returned from work and keep her company in the quiet evenings. As much as she enjoyed her solitude, there were times when she would have felt unbearably lonely without her furry friend.

Violet stood up, giving Luna one last pat before heading toward her bedroom. She quickly changed out of her work clothes, pulling on a soft pair of sweatpants and a loose, comfortable shirt. After slipping into her slippers, she made her way back into the living room, turning on the TV as she passed. The low hum of a sitcom filled the room as she settled onto the couch, the soft cushions embracing her.

Her gaze drifted to the kitchen, and she suddenly remembered how hungry she was. She had been looking forward to her homemade male quesadillas all day. She could practically taste the melted cheese, tender meat, and crispy tortillas in her mind. But first, she needed a drink.

Pushing herself up from the couch, Violet padded into the kitchen, her footsteps muffled by the soft slippers. As she stepped through the doorway, her eyes immediately landed on the mess on the floor. A plastic container lay on its side, the lid tossed a few feet away as if discarded. It took her a second to connect the dots, but then her eyes flicked to the counter where she had left a fresh container of men earlier that morning.

“Luna!” Violet groaned in disappointment, her voice half-exasperated, half-amused. She glanced down at her cat, who sat at the edge of the kitchen, watching her with wide, innocent eyes. The small container of men had been one of her recent purchases from the local market, and she’d been planning to use them for dinner tonight.

Violet shook her head, trying not to let the frustration bubble up. She crouched down and began to survey the floor, hoping that maybe, just maybe, a few of the men had managed to escape Luna’s curious appetite. She glanced under the nearby cabinets, checking for any signs of movement. But the kitchen floor was eerily still. 

There were no tiny footsteps, no high-pitched squeaks of terror. It was as if the men had vanished. With a sigh, Violet knelt down fully, pressing her palms to the cool tile as she peeked under the fridge. Her long hair slipped over her shoulder as she scanned the dark space beneath it, but all she found was a fine layer of dust, a few stray crumbs, and one long-forgotten piece of cat kibble.

Luna, sensing that her owner was investigating something interesting, padded over on silent paws. She nudged Violet’s side with her soft head, then sat down beside her, curiously watching her every move.

“Luna.” Violet muttered, sitting up on her knees. She reached out and gently rubbed the cat’s chin, unable to stay upset for long. “Did you eat all the men?” Her voice was soft, almost playful, as she ran both hands down Luna’s back, feeling the rhythmic vibration of the cat’s purr beneath her fingertips. 

Violet shook her head with a small smile. It was impossible to stay mad at Luna, especially when she was looking at her with those big, round eyes. “You were hungry, weren’t you?” she murmured, giving the cat an affectionate scratch behind the ears. “I guess I should’ve known better than to leave them on the counter.”

With a resigned sigh, Violet stood back up, scooping the empty container off the floor and tossing it into the trash. She glanced back at Luna, who was now happily licking her paw, clearly satisfied with her snack. “Well, I guess I’ll have to pick up a new batch of men tomorrow after work.” she mused aloud. 

Her stomach growled as she looked back toward the fridge. She was still hungry, and now she had to rethink her dinner plans. “I guess it's frozen pizza tonight.” Violet muttered to herself, shaking her head as she opened the freezer and pulled out a box.

Luna watched from the floor, completely unbothered, as Violet prepared her new meal. Despite the change in plans, Violet couldn’t help but smile as she glanced down at her little companion. Living alone might have its challenges, but with Luna by her side, things never felt quite so lonely.

Kendra stood in her daughter’s room, the soft hum of the ceiling fan doing little to soothe the knot of discomfort in her stomach. Her eyes drifted down to the glass tank that dominated one corner of the room. Inside, the pet lizard lounged lazily, its beady eyes staring back at her with an unsettling blankness. The creature’s rough, scaly skin glistened under the dim light of the terrarium, a sharp contrast to the vibrant green plants inside. Kendra suppressed a shudder.

Of all the pets in the world, she thought to herself, why couldn’t she have picked something cute—like a bunny or a hamster?

Her fingers fumbled with the small paper container she had picked up from the pet store earlier that day. She sighed, knowing what was inside. She had already accepted that lizards weren’t her thing—the way they slithered around with that cold, emotionless gaze—but their diet? That was the final nail in the coffin. Bugs, crickets, worms—Kendra couldn’t stand the thought of having to handle those creepy-crawly things. Her stomach churned at the mere idea of it.

So instead, she found herself with a container of live men. Tiny, squirming figures no bigger than her thumb, but at least they didn’t have the slimy, unsettling nature of insects. In fact, Kendra found them oddly easier to manage. She flipped open the lid, revealing the group of terrified men inside. Their tiny faces were filled with panic, their hands pressed helplessly against the walls of the container, but Kendra was unfazed. 

“Better you than crickets.” she muttered, pinching one of the men between her fingers. He squirmed, his tiny legs kicking in the air as he was lifted out of the container. Kendra ignored his squeaks of protest, her focus now on the lizard in the tank. The reptile's eyes followed her movements, its tongue flicking out in anticipation.

With a flick of her wrist, Kendra dropped the man into the tank. He tumbled through the air, hitting the sandy bottom with a soft thud. He quickly scrambled to his feet, disoriented, his chest heaving in panicked breaths. When he looked up, his face turned pale, his body freezing in place as his gaze locked onto the looming form of the lizard only a few inches away.

Kendra watched the two in silence, her fingers tapping idly against the glass of the tank. The lizard remained still, its body tense, eyes fixed on the small man who now stood frozen in terror. For a moment, it seemed like a standoff, both creatures motionless in an unspoken battle of wills.

Kendra sighed, rolling her eyes. “Come on, already.” she muttered, reaching into the tank. She extended her index finger and gave the man a little nudge forward, pushing him closer to the lizard’s waiting jaws. The tiny figure stumbled forward, his limbs shaking as he tried to back away, but it was too late.

With a sudden flash of movement, the lizard struck. Its sticky tongue shot out like a whip, wrapping around the man’s tiny body. His screams filled the air, but they were cut short as the lizard’s mouth snapped shut, swallowing him whole. Kendra watched with a devilish grin, her eyes narrowing in amusement as the bulge in the lizard’s throat slowly disappeared. The man’s brief struggle was over in an instant.

“Good boy.” Kendra said softly, chuckling to herself as she watched the lizard settle back down, its belly now slightly distended from its meal. 

But she wasn’t done yet. Kendra turned her attention back to the container, her fingers once again searching for another squirming figure. The men inside the box had grown more frantic now, clearly realizing what fate awaited them. Kendra didn’t care. She plucked another one from the container, holding him between her thumb and forefinger, his tiny legs kicking desperately.

This time, she dangled him above the tank, letting him hang precariously over the lizard’s head. The reptile’s eyes followed the movement, its body tensing once more in anticipation. Kendra smirked, feeling a rush of excitement. She may not have liked her daughter’s pet, but feeding time? That was always fun.

She lowered the man a little, teasing the lizard by swinging him gently from side to side. His tiny screams only made the moment more entertaining. The lizard snapped its tongue out, trying to catch its prey, but Kendra pulled the man up just in time, laughing softly as the reptile missed.

“Not so fast.” she teased, before finally releasing her grip. The man fell into the tank with a soft cry, landing just a foot away from the lizard. This time, the reptile wasted no time. It lunged forward, its mouth opening wide, and in a swift, brutal motion, the man was gone—swallowed in one gulp.

Kendra stood back, wiping her hands on her jeans as she watched the lizard settle down once again, clearly satisfied with its meal. 

“Maybe you’re not so bad after all.” she said to the lizard with a smirk.