Marion was practically trembling in delight as she continued to soak in this development. She truly had God's blessing, she thought, this stroke of divine providence just further proof of that simple fact. Having all that power, that influence, at her beck and call was an amazing thing. It was a feeling only a handful of people on Earth could truly know. It was something the masses could only dream of having as they went about their worthless, pitiful lives. Something they would curse people like Marion for having, unable to come to terms with the simple truth of why she towered above them in life.

It was because she deserved it. That was what these blessings meant.

"How much?" Marion asked, her voice quivering in excitement. She needed to know, needed to hear her importance in real-world terms.

"Two million," the Omega responded simply, that gentle smile still present and a hint of adoration in her voice.

Marion couldn't help but giggle. Two million dollars spent without hesitation, solely for the benefit of her own comfort. Amazing.

"It's nice, being at the top, isn't it?" Melody asked, and Marion watched as a powerful arm reached for the bottle of rum once more before pouring another glass full.

"Of course it is," Marion replied with some level of arrogance as she eyed the liquor.

"Another drink?"

Marion vigorously nodded, and Melody once again tipped over the glass to allow Marion to take another handful of the liquid to gulp down. She was starting to like this woman a bit. She seemed to know how to treat someone like her as they should be treated.

Still, there was one little thing that was bothering Marion as she watched Melody down the rest of the glass.

"So what was that squeeze about back there?" Marion inquired, and Melody snorted lightly.

"A little show for my friend," she replied, "I didn't want her to think something was...off. Most of my fellow employees wouldn't take kindly to this type of deal."

"So what makes you different?" Marion questioned with a tilt of her head.

"A few things," Melody answered, steepling her fingers on a knee.

"First," she started, "it's a matter of simple practicality. That money will help a lot of people, so it only seemed logical to take it."

Marion nodded. That made sense, though it was a shame this woman was deciding to put such a large amount of money toward those little things rather than using it for herself.

"Second," Melody continued, "this whole punishment deal isn't my thing in the first place. I just can't do it, not like someone like Claire can. I had to do it once, and I barely made ten minutes. It's why I'm stuck in an office job of sorts, but I suppose that worked out wonderfully for you, didn't it?"

Marion had to smile at that. Not just at another blessing becoming apparent, but at the fact that her initial appraisal of the woman had been correct: She really was weak-willed if she couldn't enjoy the benefits of her power..

"Third," Melody said, her voice lowering, "my little sister is an Alpha, Marion, and that gives me a different perspective of sorts. She had to go through one of these little ordeals herself, you see, because she decided to have a little...harmless fun with a Beta. It was an awful experience for her."

Now that piqued Marion's interest. She was passively aware that there were mixed families among the Omegas, but she had never heard of an Alpha member of one of those families actually getting into trouble for Beta abuse. Moreover, a smug smirk tugged at her lips at that information. Not even a member of one of these freakish Omega families could get away with going against their rules, and yet here she was, doing just that.

"Finally, Marion, let me ask a little question of you. Would that be fine?"

"Only if I get another drink," Marion replied with a smile. Melody laughed lightly, and once again reached a hand out to the bottle.

"Of course," she said as another glass was filled up, "I was feeling that it was time for another drink myself."

Marion was once again offered the glass, and she greedily consumed what was offered before the glass rose to Melody's smiling lips and emptied once more before returning to rest on the glass table.

"So ask away!" Marion exclaimed. She was feeling warm, now. Feeling good.

"Do you think people are created equally, Marion?" Melody asked, her tone somber but that gentle smile still present.

Marion practically threw her head back in laughter.

"Fuck no!" she replied, a bubbly giggle following.

"And why do you believe that?" Melody asked inquisitively.

"Because that's not how shit works," Marion replied with a smile. "Everyone has their place in life. Some at the bottom, some at the top, and then some in the middle. Everyone is where they are for a reason."

"Oh?" Melody inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. God put me at the top, because that's where I belong: Above everyone else. Taking what I want, doing whatever I desire. That's what power is for."

"And the others?" Melody asked, a warm sense of curiosity in her voice.

"The middle people are just here for support. People like me, we can take them and turn them into something useful, something productive for us, and in return we make them comfortable. Because it suits us."

"The things at the bottom," Marion continued, her tongue wetting her lips, a boldness now raging within her, "they're just there to be used. To be consumed, to be made part of and to fuel their betters in getting what they want."

"Like the fucking Betas are," she finished, baring her teeth in a hungry smile.

"Well, you're certainly an honest young woman," Melody responded with an amused grin.

"Why shouldn't I be?" Marion stated, teeth still bared. "The truth is the truth, and when it comes down to it, I shouldn't even be here. Place is everything, Melody, and I simply did what my place allows me to do."

"Just like it's my place to do what I want," Marion said with a an excited breath, "it was that little shit's place to sit there and fucking take it."

The sound of a door opening behind her suddenly shifted Marion's attention, and she took a look behind her to see Claire pass through the threshold and into the house, shutting the door behind her. She must have been out exercising, as a film of sweat coated her skin, and Marion noted that she seemed to be clutching her abdomen.

Marion watched as Claire turned to regard Melody on the couch, the Omega's gaze eventually shifting to her. Marion gave her a snarky smile. She couldn't wait to see Melody put the bitch in her place.

"Where's Jenna?" Claire asked, shifting her attention back to Melody.

"Still in your room, I believe," Melody answered calmly.

Marion caught an uttered "fuck" from the woman before she stormed off in the opposite direction. She didn't know what the problem was, but she felt a certain pleasure at the woman's annoyance.

"In any case," Melody started, and Marion turned her attention back to the smiling woman, "no, there's nothing wrong with being honest. In fact, Marion, I think we should all aspire to be honest when it comes to sharing who we are as individuals. When it comes to what drives us, or what we believe in."

"I agree, Marion" the giant woman continued, amber eyes still locked onto Marion and lips still curled into a gentle smile, "People really aren't created as equals. It's why we're having this talk. Your family has been a pillar of this community for generations, influential beyond words. It's only natural that someone with your...place benefits from it, right?"

"Exactly!" Marion nearly screamed, her excitement palpable. God, if she really wasn't taking a liking to this woman. She understood how things were. How much someone like Marion mattered. She could do without the apparent concern for the Beta trash, but...well, Marion had cured someone of that inclination before. Maybe curing an Omega of that affliction would be a nice follow-up, she thought with some amusement.

The thud of shoes being pressed down onto tile behind her broke Marion out of her thoughts, and she turned around once again to face the sudden noise.

Approaching was the other girl that had been with Melody, and she did not look particularly happy. Marion took the girl's features in as she approached, having only gotten a cursory glance at her upon being woken up. She seemed rather petite, at least compared to Melody and Claire, with wavy, strawberry-blonde hair cascading down to her shoulders. She had a fairer complexion compared to the other two as well, as well as none of the apparent muscle definition.

Still, Marion figured she was pretty enough. Her skinny jeans fit her well, showing off a pleasant enough figure. The purple, short-sleeved blouse she wore certainly didn't accentuate much anything of note, though.

All in all, not nearly as pretty as her, Marion thought with a smug sense of pride.

The woman had been eying Marion with some level of contempt during her approach, and that just made her happier. She could dislike her as much as she wanted, it didn't matter anymore. She had protection now.

"So how did your little introduction go?" the girl asked, taking a seat in the black leather recliner to the left of the table and lounging into it, her light blue eyes still focused on Marion.

"Oh, very well," Melody replied with a bit of playfulness. "We had a very pleasant conversation, didn't we, Marion?"

"You could call it that," Marion replied, still watching the other girl. Her face twisted in confusion, and Marion giggled.

Movement to her right caught Marion's attention, and she took a look back at Melody just in time to see the woman's massive hand moving back toward the liquor. Melody ignored both, however, and she instead retrieved the phone she had laid down earlier and brought it to her face, a few taps making their way to Marion's ears.

"So what exactly is she so happy about?" the other woman asked, her thin lips curling in disgust.

"Don't worry about it, Jenna," Melody responded coolly, "We'll get to it soon enough. I just have some things to discuss with Claire about this one."

"Speaking of which," Marion piped up, still feeling warm and loose from the liquor, "the bitch fucking hit me yesterday."

"I think someone needs a lesson in manners," the other girl - Jenna, apparently - spat, and Marion took a step back as the girl began to reach a large, slender hand toward her.

Her momentary fear was for nothing, however. Melody's larger hand quickly intercepted Jenna.

"None of that, now," Melody stated, her voice the very definition of serene. Marion chuckled as the girl mouthed a very clear "What the fuck?" at her protector before withdrawing her hand, a snarl on her lips. Marion couldn't help but stick out her tongue.

"We're going to have a chat with her, Marion," Melody stated comfortingly, "about exactly what kind of treatment you deserve."

Marion didn't think she was ever going to be able to drop this smile. Everything was just going so well, exactly as it should. This elation this liberation brought her was wonderful, and she felt it would only get better when Claire returned.

But then the world itself seemed to shake.

"MARION!"

For the briefest of moments, Marion thought God himself had just shouted down upon her, but that voice had been very feminine. Loud, thunderous, and wrathful, but still feminine.

Her reaction remained the same. Her eyes went wide, her smile gone as if it had never existed, her body trembling as she slowly turned to face the hammering sound of oncoming footsteps.

Claire was returning, and a wave of horror overcame Marion as she took in the woman's face. A feral snarl that made the one she had received from Jenna look like it had been from a kitten exposed her white teeth. Claire's eyes were wide with a terrible anger, and and each heavy step made it more and more apparent that they were focused squarely on Marion as the woman approached.

Moreover, Marion couldn't help but noticed that the woman had her right hand elevated to be level with her chest, and her fingers were wiggling furiously as her left hand seemed to be massaging her wrist.

Not just that, but...were her eyes playing tricks on her? Everything around that hand seemed to be...curving? What the fuck?

Before she knew it, though, Claire was upon her, and Marion was looking up at her towering form.

Far above, that right hand was being lifted into the air, free from the grip of its companion.

Then it came crashing down, fingers outstretched, palm aimed directly at her.

Marion could do nothing. She had frozen entirely the moment the hand began its descent. All she could do was watch as it plummeted like a meteor down onto her.

Until, just like with Jenna, it was intercepted. The hand clashed directly with Melody's as if delivering a lo-five, and Melody's fingers promptly wrapped around and contained the threatening appendage.

Marion was not entirely spared. The moment the hands clashed, a deafening roar invaded Marion's ears, and she found herself being pushed to the ground by some invisible force. What the hell..?

"What are you doing, Melody?" Claire seethed from above. Marion glanced up, her breathing heavy, meeting Claire's hateful gaze as her arm trembled against Melody's overpowering grip.

"Stopping you from doing something stupid before we have our little chat," Melody replied simply. "Now come over here and sit down next to me."

Claire glanced at Melody momentarily before once again looking at Marion,

"You don't understand," Claire said, her voice trembling.

"What don't I understand?"

"What she did to that fucking girl!" Claire nearly shrieked. "It's fucking sick!"

Marion snorted. The fuck was she talking about?

"Take your hand away, Claire, and calm down," Melody commanded. "You're not laying a finger on her until we finish our talk, anyway."

"Fine!" Claire exclaimed angrily, and Melody finally freed her hand.

"Now, what did she apparently do?" Melody inquired, shooting Marion a comforting smile.

"Her friend, Stephanie," Claire replied, exasperated, as she took a seat on the floor opposite Melody, "one of my other wards...she had a little brother, a Beta, and she killed him. By accident."

Marion snorted again. Was this it? She was expecting something that actually mattered.

"And she had loved her little brother, and was just wrecked by what she did."

Claire's breathing was getting audibly heavier with each second now, and she continued to glare down at Marion. Not just that, Marion noted, but were her eyes fucking glistening? Was this a joke?

"She was vulnerable, and then this...thing that you're protecting got her fucking hooks into her. She convinced her that her little brother was...was nothing! That he wasn't a person! That Betas aren't people!"

"And she's better off for it," Marion called up mockingly. With the liquor steeling her confidence and Melody there for her, she saw no need to hold herself back.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Claire growled down at her.

"You heard me," Marion replied. "They are fucking nothing, and she's better off after I helped her come to terms with that instead of letting her wallow in depression over something so...pointless."

Claire began to open her mouth for another retort, but she quickly found herself cut off by Melody.

"She's just so honest, isn't she?" the honey-blonde interjected. "I just adore it, that frankness."

"Do you remember what I said, Marion?" Melody suddenly asked, eyes locking onto Marion. "About honesty? About the importance of being honest about who we are?"

"I...do?" Marion stated, confused about the question.

"That's good, Marion. That's real good, because I think this is a wonderful time for me to be honest."

Marion simply looked at Melody, meeting her gaze. Nothing seemed to have changed...the woman still radiated warmth. What was she talking about?

"You made an unfortunate assumption, Marion," Melody stated, "and I played along with it."

"The thing is, Marion, I never actually said that I was going to abide by that little deal. That was all you."

Marion immediately and instinctually gulped. This...this couldn't be.

"I have no intention whatsoever of helping you, Marion," Melody finished.

"But...you took the money! You...you HAVE to!" she yelled up in light panic.

"Of course I took the money, Marion. I had a little fool with too much money and not enough brains offer me two million dollars up front in a deal he had no power in, with conditions he had no way of confirming. Why wouldn't I take it?"

"That..." Marion gasped, her panic increasing, "that...you can't do that! There...there has to be a law! You can't...you can't do that!"

Melody's resultant laughter was chilling in its softness.

"I see you're just as knowledgeable about us as your daddy is," Melody replied with a smile. "It's against the law for him to make that bribe, sure. The problem is that I'm not bound by those laws. Not a single organization in this country has any power over me, or any other Omega."

"We're accountable to one person, Marion, and she died laughing when I passed along what I did. She practically wanted to give me a medal when that donation cleared."

"You lying bitch!" Marion shrieked, her panic reaching its zenith. This was...this was bullshit! "You fucking LIAR!"

"Now, now, Marion," Melody scolded, "that's not entirely the case. I only really told the one lie. You see, I did lose control for just a second after getting you out of bed when I gave that little squeeze. I did have to cover that up."

Marion's breathing was getting heavier. This couldn't be happening. This oaf couldn't be doing this.

"Everything else, though?" Melody continued, "I was honest about that. I did take the money, just as I said I did, because it will help a lot of people. Now what else was there..."

Melody looked up thoughtfully for a moment, before an "Ah" preceded the return of her gaze onto Marion.

"I really can't do this whole "session" thing, either. I just don't have that capacity. But you see, Marion, this is a case where I'm more than happy to be honest about what kind of person I am. Sure, I get a lot of boring office work, but I also get to directly interact with so many wonderful people. I get to be...me."

"And I don't have to feel bad about it, Marion, because when it comes to dealing with people like you, the likes of Jenna and Claire here are more than happy to be who they are."

Those words suddenly broke the tunnel vision Marion had been applying to Marion, and she once again became aware of the other two titanesses sitting close by. Turning her head to the left, she immediately wished she hadn't. Jenna was sitting there, eyes fixated on her excitedly, a sickening grin on her massive face.

Marion shivered as the girl's slimy tongue ran across her lips.

She refused to look back at Claire.

"My little sister is an Alpha, by the way," Melody stated, regaining Marion's attention. "And she did get in some trouble over harassing a Beta a couple of years ago. The thing is, her session wasn't really an official one. It was something I did of my own initiative, with the help of my two friends here. It's the only one I've ever done, Marion, and it really was awful for me. It was awful for all of us. I hated doing that to my baby sister, but I don't regret it. None of us do. Do you want to know why?"

Marion simply stared at her, her brain still processing this information.

"We don't regret it, Marion, because it kept her from ever making that mistake again. It kept her from ever having to be in the position you are now in: in the custody and at the mercy of an Omega who doesn't love her, who won't go easy on her because of it."

Melody's features darkened, and to Marion it was as if she had just been thrown into a freezer. The comforting warmth the woman had radiated up until now had vanished with a slight furrow of her brow, a narrowing of her eyes, a straightening of her lips.

"Would you care to share with these two your thoughts on equality, Marion?" she asked, her voice cold and without emotion. "The ones you shared with me earlier, in particular?"

"Fuck you," Marion snapped. She wasn't going to say shit to her anymore.

"Oh, I love that," Melody remarked with a chuckle. "That honesty curls up and dies when you aren't in a safe space anymore, doesn't it? But no matter..."

"

Melody had her phone out once again, tapping and swiping.

"...they'll hear it anyway."

"Do you think people are created equally, Marion?" Melody's voice asked from the phone.

Marion's stomach lurched.

"Fuck no!" she heard herself reply with a giggle.

A loud click from behind caught Marion's attention, and out of reflex she broke eye contact with the the stone-faced Melody to face the noise.

Claire was scowling down at her, face cloaked with contempt, and for whatever reason Marion just could not look away. She was utterly transfixed with the woman's face, a feeling that escalated with every passing second as Marion's earlier comments rang out from Melody's phone and Claire's expression worsened.

"To be consumed..." Marion's recorded voice repeated.

Claire's right hand appeared appeared over the edge of the table then, and calmly advanced toward her. Marion just barely registered it, the woman's hateful eyes were far more captivating. She couldn't even muster a struggle as Claire's fingers closed around her, entrapping her in their firm embrace.

"...it was that little shit's place to sit there and fucking take it."

Marion's mouth was suddenly agape, and the air had evacuated her lungs. Her bones were practically screaming in agony, something Marion herself was unable to do as Claire's fist suddenly and steadily wrung the life out of her, quaking with anger as it went about its grim, cruel work.

She was going to die, and it horrified her. It wasn't fair. This wasn't supposed to happen, not to her. Not over some pitiful fucking Beta.

Suddenly, though, the fingers relented and released Marion from their crushing grip, and Marion crumpled to the glass floor. Her arms clutched at her aching chest, and she desperately tried to catch her breath.

"Pour me a shot of that rum, and shut off that recording" Claire's voice commanded from above, and Marion heard and felt the movement of glass behind her. Marion's recovery was interrupted by the return of Claire's fingers, which promptly gripped her by the sides and gingerly lifted her body back before her tormentor's now cold eyes.

"That little concept means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Claire questioned. "Place, that is."

Marion tried to respond, but the only thing that escaped her lips was a raspy groan. Truthfully, she didn't even know what

"It's fine if you can't respond," Claire stated matter-of-factly, "that was mostly rhetorical, as you clearly do. It's clear that you like it, and that's fine."

"Because after some thought, Marion, I've decided that I like it, too. In fact, I like it so much that it's going to be the law of this household while you're here."

Claire's eyes were boring holes into her as she spoke every icy word, daring Marion to say something. Marion wanted to scream a hearty "Fuck you!" at the woman, but she doubted she could even form the words as her warden began to speak once again.

"So I've decided on two different places to use here Marion, and it's really very simple," Claire said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, "You can either be a person, or you can't. It really is that simple, and I know you'll like this next part: Once again, you're part of an exclusive little club. You're the only person currently in this house that's a member of the latter."

"That isn't a membership you want," she finished, giving Marion's head a gentle rub with her thumb as Marion failed to stifle a whimper.

"And illustrating why you don't want that is going to be the focus of our session, little one," Claire explained, her smile widening just a bit.

"I'm going to eat you, Marion. I'm going to pop you into my mouth and swallow you whole."

"Y-y-you can't!" Marion croaked out, her eyes wide as she attempted to struggle against the fingers holding her. "You can't j-just...just eat a person!"

"But you aren't a person, Marion," Claire mocked. "I just established that fact. I don't care what you might be outside of this house, little girl, but in here you aren't any of it."

"And regardless," Melody interjected from behind, her voice calm and pleasant, "this is perfectly within the boundaries of the disciplinary plan that was put forth for an A-Class offense. Frankly, Marion, she can do most anything she wants with you."

"Exactly. Thank you, Melody."

"Don't worry, though, Marion" Claire continued in condescending reassurance, "you'll be just fine in there, at least this time. We digest slowly, you see, so two hours in there is perfectly fine. When it's time, I'll just throw you right back up."

Marion felt sick. This was....this was disgusting.

"Though there is something I want you to think on while you sit there inside me, Marion," the Omega stated. "I want you to sit there and think about the fact that this is simply a glimpse into your future at your current place. I want you to think about the fact that, after this session is over, you have 51 weeks to improve your standing. 51 weeks to become a person."

"Because if you don't, Marion," the Omega said in a sudden, violent hiss, "the next time you go in there, you won't be coming back up."

"That's fucking murder!" Marion screeched upward in utter desperation. "You can't! I don't care about this bullshit game you're doing, you can't fucking kill me! My daddy will make sure you fucking rot for it if you do!"

A chilling laugh was Claire's immediate response.

"Were you not paying attention to what Melody told you earlier, little one? Your daddy can't do shit, Marion. We're accountable to Kayla Everett, and no one else."

"What's more," Claire said, baring her teeth, "we Enforcers get one accident. One accident, while we feel our way through our first few charges. And I think you could be a wonderful first use of that, little girl, because an accident can easily happen."

Marion could only shudder. This wasn't supposed to happen to her. That other oaf...Melody...she should have been fucking stopping this!

A loud ping suddenly emanated from nearby, and Marion watched as Claire quickly moved her free hand to the strap on her toned bicep to retrieve the phone it held, bringing it next to where she held Marion. Claire's attention turned to it, and Marion could see her eyes scanning whatever was on the screen.

To her shock, Claire's dominating visage melted away. Her eyes lost their ferocity, becoming relaxed and tender. Her feral smile transformed into one of gentle delight.

"What's up?" Jenna asked softly from her seat at the side of the table.

"Corey's awake," Claire stated with soft adoration. "He wants to know if we can watch a movie together before his next bath."

Claire's eyes shifted upward, and Marion could only assume that she was looking at the other two Omegas.

"Do you two have anywhere to be?" she asked, putting her phone away. "I'd like it if we could watch something together, and I think it'll be good for him to be surrounded by friendly faces."

"I'd love to," Melody remarked, her voice sharing that same tone of gentle adoration that had belonged to Claire, with maybe a hint of something else. "I'm done in the office today, so I've nothing but time."

"I've got three hours to burn," Jenna replied merrily, "so count me in."

"Thanks, girls," Claire said with a content smile.

Marion thought this was disgusting. They were fucking gods compared to that little thing, and yet they were sitting here acting as if it was the most important thing in the world to watch a movie with fucking dust. She didn't understand these stupid girls. They were...God, they were just so wrong.

Claire's eyes returned to Marion, and the girl's terror returned as well. That gentle look was gone already, her face back to one of contemptuous domination.

"That was good timing, Marion. Do you know why?"

Marion's nerves caused her to immediately shake her head.

"It was good timing because it gives you one more thing to think about, while you sit in my stomach," Claire said with a lick of her lips.

"I want you to think about the fact that my big brother is going to be exactly where his place entitles him to be in this household, Marion, as we relax with a nice little movie. To know that his place is right above you as he rests on my stomach, having fun with people who love him, unaware of the little thing simmering in the stomach below him while he remains safe and sound."

Marion didn't have time to process that, as the hand holding her was suddenly on the move and Claire was getting farther away.

Before she knew it, she was being dunked into a cold liquid, some of it making its way into her nose and mouth...it was the rum. She was submerged for a few seconds before being lifted back out, only to be dunked in once again, then again. As she was lifted out for what appeared to be the last time, Claire started to speak once again.

"So I'm going to go hop in the shower after I have my little snack," she said, no attention being paid to Marion as she continued to bring her closer. "How about you two go talk to Corey and decide on a movie?"

"Sounds good," Melody remarked from across the table, as Marion finally found herself hanging in front of Claire's hungry lips. Suddenly, she was spun around, leaving Claire's face at her back and allowing Marion to see the onlooking faces of Jenna and Melody.

"Say "goodbye" to your new friends, Marion" Claire commanded from behind her, the woman's hot breath washing over her. "I promise that you'll see them again."

Marion stared at the two for a moment, her body trembling between Claire's fingers. Jenna was staring at her, teeth bared in a smile that could belie nothing less that utter euphoria at what Marion was about to experience.

Melody was the one that caught Marion's focus, however. The woman was just sitting there comfortably, a warm smile on her lips as she simply looked at Marion.

This was her fucking fault. She fucking tricked her. Got her loose and talking. Fucking lied.

She couldn't contain it anymore.

"Fuck you, you lying BITCH!" Marion shrieked at the top of her lungs. "You fucking -"

It was then that Marion felt two soft object close around her waist, sending a shiver up her spine. Looking down, her guttural reaction was to shriek in horror as she saw Claire's lips entrapping her from below. Her terror only increased as the lips began to move slowly upward, and she felt a wet, hot object probing at her from beyond them. Looking back up, she couldn't help but stare at Melody once again.

Melody caught her gaze immediately, and her tender smile widened as she lifted a hand up, slowly waving it back and forth.

"Bye-bye," she said with cheer.

And then the lips engulfed her completely, and Marion found her face being slammed down onto the rough surface of Claire's tongue, the woman's muggy saliva enveloping her.

Marion started to cry as the tongue slammed her into Claire's palate, the saliva within the warm cave steadily increasing in volume as the tongue began to work her over, shifting Marion into a little ball.

"God, please..." she thought, as Claire began to move her to the back of her throat. She didn't like this. She didn't want this. She wanted to be home. She wanted to be anywhere except here, in the mouth of this abomination. Somewhere where everyone knew and respected how important she was.

A small amount of light began to invade the mouth, and Marion thought for a moment that Claire might take her out.

These hopes were squashed as a torrent of dark liquid, the rum again, rushed into the mouth.

As Claire tilted her head back, and her tongue and throat muscles went to work in pushing Marion and the liquor beyond the event horizon at the back of her throat, Marion prayed. Prayed that God would help her, would save her from this awful creature.

And as Claire swallowed, sending Marion plummeting down into her esophagus which began pushing her down toward the awaiting stomach, Marion heard something. A voice within her head.

It was a feminine voice. One that was cold. Uncaring.

It uttered only a single, horrifying word.

"No."