Today was a day that was supposed to be about love. You were visiting someone. Maybe a significant other, maybe a best friend, maybe even a family member, but someone who made your life better by being a part of it. You were gonna visit their house and have a day with them, likely watching movies and just enjoying each other's company. One of those lazy days that any good relationship is built upon.

The door to their front house was ajar. Odd. You open it and peer inside. A quick hello receives no response at first. After a few seconds, there's a slight creak upstairs. Maybe something bad's happened. You jog up the stairs to find furniture and wall decorations knocked over. You panic. With a dash and hard push, you barge into their room, expecting the worst.

But you didn't expect this. The room is a mess. Aside from the usual scattered clutter, one of their favorite outfits is on the floor. But it's not scattered about, as if someone had taken it off. Rather, it's oddly crumpled up into one big ball, like one might do with waste paper. But this is barely as distracting as what's on the bed.

A gigantic, plump rat, one that looked like it was straight out of some pest control cartoon. Toony and soft, he had a bit of a slender upper body and a big, bulbous gut which rose like a hill. He was lounging on one of the owner's pillows, grinning at you with half lidded eyes and a smugness that you hadn't seen since a schoolyard bully. But there was something else. That smile, the way his tail curled toward him...it seemed like he was trying to be alluring.

You had to admit, you couldn't take your eyes off that gut. Though that might have been shock. Before you can ask him anything, the parts that muzzle and a sly UWAAAARRRP rumbles out. You can see some familiar looking fur float from hit gullet, carried into the air by that belch. You recognized it immediately. It belonged to your friend.

The rat's gaze met yours. "Hey there. You a friend of the fella who lived here? Heheh, sorry pal, but they're long gone. ...Well, not really 'gone'." To add insult to injury, the rat gives that massive tummy a few pats, clearly enjoying the sensation. Then he winks, his tail beckoning you far less subtly this time. "No use gettin' upset about it. I'm a big, bad rat. I promise, they're way better like this. ...In fact, if ya miss 'em, why don't ya come over and give 'em a big hug? I promise, I can help you forget aaaaall about them. I'm way more fun then they ever were." He licks his lips, resting a paw on that belly while he gazes at you, judging your reaction.

Horror and disgust are the natural emotions. Those come quick. But there's something else. This rat's confidence, his voice, his scent, it's all so...tempting. You don't know why, but it seems to ease you. Your survival instinct is screaming for you to run, but something else is pulling at you too. And whatever it is, it seems to be pulling you right toward that hefty gut.

So what will it be? You could run, certainly. You could hope that big rat is as slow as he looked, but some part of you doubts it. In fact, the way he's making no movement toward you is a little worrisome. It's like he'd be fine if you ran. That'd mean a chase. But what if you didn't run? What if you gave into these odd urges and buried yourself in that plump, cooshy rat gut? Maybe he'd spare you. Maybe you'd end up having a very new kind of friend. ...But odds were, you'd have a night of absolute bliss, then be reunited with your friend in short order. But was that so bad? The more you looked at that gut, the more the thought of being a part of it just didn't seem that awful. ...You and your friend would be together forever.

So, what'll it be? Are you gonna make this easy, or are you gonna play hard to get?

Art by  nickwolf