A Busy Centipede Part 2

“Morning”, Anon moaned as he turned the alarm to snooze.
“Strange, Scolo isn’t here. I wonder why.”

Anon got dressed and stared at the T.V. with a bowl of cereal in hand. The emergency news played out in its overly cheery tune.

“It’s that time of the month again. A full moon. For most ladies they have nothing to fear other than themselves. But that isn’t why we’re here. Today we’re going to talk about what you men need to do to last the night.”

“Oh shit. Okay, Dammit where’s my kit?” Anon shimmied to his broom closet to retrieve a black duffel bag.

“Now everyone this is a scary night for some, and exciting for others, I won’t judge. But what I will judge is walking alone at night and expecting to come home unharmed. Sure you might have a bit of fun but I believe it isn’t worth accidentally breaking a few ribs or having your heart stop to venom overdose. So in this video take your sweet government paid time to prepare. For starters, do you have a medical kit for basic first aid? You can’t go through your day if you got a cut or a pinch or a laceration from an overexcited drake. Kay you got your kit and you’re ready to face the world? Not yet son, we still a bit more to do.

Some of you are in a good neighborhood and everyone goes home early and everyone stays safe, but this should be for those who can’t enjoy the same privilege. If you have a set of body armor Oni approved start wearing it like it’s all the rage, we can’t have you break or bleed out now can we? Do you have anti-venom for every Mamano in your area? If not the nearest pharmacy will supply you with a few vials. And for those who can’t stand needles we have some in pill form, just don’t mind the taste, it means that it works.

But some of you are probably going to end in a fight, and you don’t want any trouble. But just in case, consider a tranq gun. Now our fair city does not condone violence upon a people clearly not in a proper state of mind, but here we can make an exception. Those who pass their background checks may be issued one standard issue weapon with tranquilizer darts, pepper spray and pepper filled bearings. If you do claim the weapon you must sign a waiver claiming you take partial to full responsibility for any damage that may occur with your weapon.

I’ll happily assume that you have everything or are about to get everything you need, so I’ll just give one last tip and end on a happy note. Stay in groups, it won’t help but it’ll make you feel better on the long way home. And since today is a rather perilous day most businesses will close today at 5:00 p.m. Which means for many, just think of it as an early dismissal. Stay safe, and have a good day.”

“Anti-venom”, Anon muttered, as he dug through the cramped, stuffy bag, pulling out a vial of anti-venom, Oomukade anti-venom.

Anon held the small translucent container and stared for a big, lost in his thoughts.

“Anon, wou... would you be okay if. I mean, I do trust you, but could you allow me to do this? I just want to know for sure that this is something I’ve been wanting for a while. And being together for so long, longer than I have with anyone else, I just want to be sure.”

“I’ve been telling her that I do trust her, and she says she’s okay with my choice. And yet I still feel like hell for saying no.” Anon said to himself. “I just need to get to work, go to the store, buy some snacks, head home and lock myself behind a barred door for the night. No problem.”

Anon’s ride to work was awfully quiet. Not many people were all that willing to talk. You could hear every foot tap on the subway car floor, the dull, rhythmic thud when someone strikes his nails into the squeaky upholstery seats. Every man in the car is dressed like they’re reinforcements for a strike team. Some wore shock resistant helmets with plastic visors to resist acid or simple football helmets for those who can’t be bothered to get something decent. Others had bulletproof vests stained with all sorts of patterns as if to get some laughs at the absurdity. But more than a few had on themselves a heavy duffel bag with a tiny pea shooter. On paper it’s supposed to help the poor would-be victim in a pinch, but it might as well be a block of wood for all the good it’ll do.

“C’mon, someone say SOMETHING, or at least look at others in the eye”, Anon to himself. “Look, we go through this every single month of every single year, we don’t have to act like virgins on prom night every single stinkin’ time.”

But no one talked; well one did, if you would count nervous ticks. Some poor balding man in his pin-striped suit couldn’t help but mutter to himself in a desperate fit to calm himself down.

“Poor guy, must be his second month in this town”, one man in a construction worker get up claimed.

“Definitely, the first month they act like it’s a monthly orgy. And then they see some poor Joe gets his spine snapped”, replied an important looking gentleman in a deep violet suit with a velvety rouge tie.

“Doesn’t everyone tell everyone else not to trust advertisements?”

“Eh sex sells.”

Everyone laughed at that stupid statement, seeing as most men in the car was lured to this city partly because of that half truth.
“At least they’re actually trying to adjust to this.” Anon thought to himself.

“Hey buddy; sorry for giving you a hard time, it’s not exactly Mardi gras for us either. At the very least you know you’re not alone right?” Anon chuckled half sincerely.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right on that part.” Said the balding man. “I’m Mark, pleased to meet you all.”

“I’m Anon”

“Rick” replied the construction worker

 “Lyon” remarked the man in violet.

“Attention all passengers we have now stopped in station 5.”

“I guess it’s time for me to go, see you guys some other time”, said Anon while he was picking up his things. “Make sure you bar your doors and windows.”

The streets leading to Anon’s place was to his relief a livelier affair. Many stores had tremendous discounts in efforts to make up for the shorter hours as men and Mamano want to obtain their goods and be on their merry way. It almost makes everyone forget that once the day turns to night, things go a prowling.

“Nobody knows. Dun dan dun dan, sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time….” Anon randomly sung in the tune of the dying walrus. “Dang it, no one seems to have a problem today."  Every sound was so loud in comparison to the lack of buzz. The incessant click of a bored worker’s pen, the clock’s ticks and gears can be heard across the room and the printer whirrs and drones without end.

“It’s like a ghost town isn’t it” says Anon’s boss, a woman who keeps all her thoughts in a shroomish cap when not adjusting her pleated blouse and mint green overcoat. “Anon, would you care to step into my office? It will only take a moment.”

“Yes boss.”

The manager’s office was a relief from the noise outside. The window light shone in great beams, almost cutting through the shadier parts of the room, highlighting the striations on the oak desk. The manager herself was still, holding her hands together in a relaxed position with a straight back, refusing to lean into her own oversized, leather chair.

“Anon, I hope this would not be too much of a bother for you.”

“Not at all Mrs. Confondre.”

“That pleases me, but aside from that I wish to try another approach to managing. Some of my contemporaries who previously had a hands-off approach to their employees are now more open and close to their workers. They claim that this method improves productivity and happiness of their workers. This claim has led me to try my hand to this new approach and I wish to start this with you Anon.”

“Would it be too rude to ask why me in particular?” said Anon.

“Not in the least. I was looking for someone to commence this little project and you just so happened to catch my eye. Now if you’ll indulge me, could we start with a few questions about yourself?”

“Sure ma’am.”

“Have you a spouse?”

“I have a girlfriend. Her name’s Scolo. We’ve been going out for a few years.”

“Is that so?” Mrs. Confondre inquired, jotting out bullet points on a yellow notepad. “Her species?”

“Oomukade. Why?”

“Just a bit curious. But I must implore, a few years. Most would have married by that time.”

“We want to stave that off; it’s just not exactly on top of our list.”

“Hm. Then again for species such as hers there is a more, lasting and meaningful method than wedding bells and a white veil. Would it be too much to ask if she has, ahem, done it?”

“Exactly what do you mean ma’am?”

“Did she ever, inject you for example?”Mrs. Confondre made a pinching motion for emphasis.

“Ma’am I do not believe I have to answer that question.”

“Please do not be angry, it seems to be too personal, I apologize.” Replied Mrs. Confondre as she leaned onto her desk. “I only ask that because tonight is a very special night for everyone in this city. It would be worrying if you and she had a confrontation, especially in the state that all of us will soon be. You could get, harmed”, explained Mrs. Confondre as she formed a small smirk.

“I can handle myself well enough ma’am. May I leave?” said a very annoyed Anon.

“Of course Anon, go right ahead. But please remember to be safe, and don’t blame any of us for what happens tonight. It’s simply our nature to act to our base desires. Not much different from your nature to protect yourself.”

“See you later Mrs. Confondre.” Anon said, withholding his tongue from saying something uncouth.

The day ended quite quickly, with nothing left the early shift everyone hurried home, eager to avoid the night as quickly as possible, with a few either naïve enough or foolish enough to walk the streets in the dark.

“Okay, got my things, might as well get home before she does.”

“Before who?”

“My girlfriend of course Mrs. Confondre you’re not her.”

Anon turned around and found Scolo, towering over him. Her sultry eyes, her rosy blush, her heaving chest, her viselike grip on her sleeves, her breathy mannerisms and twitching antennae all screamed one thing, desire.

“I thought you were going home a little later”, said Anon in a slightly worried tone.

Scolo giggled like a child at Anon before squeezing Anon in her soft broadcloth.

“I got off work early, just, for, you”, replied Scolo in a sing song voice as she slightly swung Anon side to side. “Is it so wrong for me to take my favorite little helper home?”

The other workers on any other day would crack jokes at such brazen acts of affection if not for the fact they noticed Scolo’s tail, with pincers the size of a child’s arm, shimmering in the office light like a pair of sickles.

“Uh good night Anon.”

“Good luck with that.”

“I’ll pray for you man.”

The three immediately ran home in fear of reprisal. As for Anon, he was trying to remain composed despite feeling Scolo’s soft puffs of breath on his neck.

“So uh, Scolo, we might as well head home and, stuff.”

“Yeah, stuff.”


Anon’s ride back home was like entering into someone else’s love life. Unable to enter a male only car due to the multi-legged companion of his, he was forced to the normal subway car. Mostly everyone was a couple, except for the perhaps unlucky few who might end up in polygamy. Anon couldn’t notice too much other than the couples stayed equidistant from each other as much as possible, a sense of mutual respect perhaps.

“Okay this is probably not going to work but I might as well try.” Anon thought to himself while trying to ignore his love’s delicate arms exploring his chest.

“Scolo, I know this isn’t going to sound good, but would you mind if I sleep alone tonight? It’ll be just like it is whenever it’s a full moon. I’ll sleep in the dinky guest room, lock the doors and come morning everything will be back to normal.”

“No.”

“Um, why?”

“I’ve been thinking for a while, and remember when you said you didn’t want me to bite you?”

“Yeah, I do.” Anon said with a hurt tone.

“I was thinking that maybe since it’s a special night, we could have everything be a little more special.” Scolo explained while drawing circles on Anon’s neck. “We’ve been together for so long, so why not? I love you, and you love me, so why is there a problem?”

Scolo started to grip Anon with her entirety, locking his arms and legs in her coils.

“You do love me don’t you? We’re always going to stay together, and it won’t be any different, you’ll just rely on me more as I do you. That’s what we always talk about, relying on each other as partners. So why are you so hesitant?” Scolo sounded more and more desperate, tightening her body around Anon with an audible creak from their clothes rubbing together.

“We always talk about talking, so please, look me in the eye when I ask you.” Scolo turned Anon around to face her. “Would you like me to show just how much I love you?”

Anon thought for a second, but that second was too long. “Please Scolo, you’re not you. You’re under the influence.”


“Oh, Anon, you’re starting to have second thoughts. I understand. When we started going out together I wasn’t so sure if I could trust you. But you told me that if I stayed so secretive and shy I can’t expect others to be outwardly for me. So let me do you a favor.”

Scolo reached into Anon’s duffel bag and pulled out the anti-venom in an instant.

“This little thing was irritating me the moment I smelled it.” Scolo said nonchalantly as she tossed the vial into a trash bin. “You don’t need that. Having a vial such as that would imply you would want to back out and break up with me. But we both know you wouldn’t do that right Anon?” Scolo said as she leaned in for a kiss.

“Wait!”

Scolo felt vindicated and had flashes of anger appear on her face.

“It’s public, and we’re not like that right honey?”

“You’re, right. Ha ha, silly me.”

As Anon and Scolo headed into their abode Anon was looking for a way out.

“Okay smart guy what do, what to do?” Anon hurrying thought himself. “I can’t outrun her, I can’t outfight her, and I can’t talk my way out.”

As Anon undressed himself he formulated his desperate maneuver. “Okay honey, I’m ready. I’m so sorry for having cold feet.”

“Oh Anon, I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. I was always so nervous that you’d leave me for someone else more, confident and, and of higher standing. But I shouldn’t have doubted you for a second. You always try to look out for me, even when I felt it should’ve been the other way around.”

“If you may honey, I’d like to be a bit bold.”

“In what way?” Scolo said as she stripped down to naught but a beige bra.

“Like this.” Anon said right before surprising Scolo with a kiss. He then continued to kiss her passionately, exploring her mouth with his tongue as she attempted to resist. But against her better judgment was swayed into reciprocating.

“Okay tongue, and use my hands wrap around her waist and shoulders like I’m giving a massage. Hopefully this’ll work or I’m even more likely to lose myself.” Anon thought to himself.

Anon paused only to breath, barely noticing the slight purple tint of his saliva mixed with Scolo’s. Part of him wished to be swayed as the moonlight highlighted his love’s fair skin and soft, modest bust and give into the night. But he couldn’t. “It wouldn’t be right.” Thought Anon as his mind started to grow into a hot haze. “Just, hah, a little bit more.”

Scolo was kissing back vigorously, wrapping her body around Anon to keep him in place, scratching his hair with one hand while scratching his back lightly with her sharp, painted nails.

“Anon” Scolo groaned as she arched in a wave of pleasure before collapsing on the mattress.


“I, live, free, for, another, day”, breathed Anon before falling face first to a long night of rest.

When Anon woke up, he noticed he woke up alone again.

“Oh, this feels awful. Something smells good.”

Anon entered the kitchen to see Scolo in an apron preparing eggs, the sizzling of the eggs crackled enticingly on the pan.

“Hey Anon, um, sorry about, last, night.” Scolo said in mad blush. “I really really really sorry, I just wasn’t myself I really wouldn’t do that to you Anon.”

“It’s okay. It’s just that night. Let’s just forget about that and enjoy breakfast.”

“Yeah, let’s. I never knew you could be that good of a kisser.”

“That sounds like an insult.”

“No, maybe. Sort of. I was under the influence it messed with my head.”

“Sure, sure. I’ll believe that.”