The air brakes hissed as the semi-truck came to a stop. A dingy neon sign shone high in the night sky, casting a greenish glow along the asphalt. Old Timer's was a hidden gem amongst ragged rest stops littering the Nevada desert. It acted as a haven for working girls and lonely truckers. Julian Townsend considered this place his home away from home, but there was another reason he frequented the joint. Cinnamon Jones. She wasn't the kind of girl you could bring home to momma, but his momma was dead. This was Julian's last haul, and he couldn't wait to break the news to Cinnamon. It was about time he followed through on his age-old promise to move her down to the beach, but first he had to take care of one small detail.
"Time to see a man about a problem."
Julian walked toward the rest stop, dodging bits of loose trash.
"Evening," Julian said, giving a friendly wave to the oaf behind the counter.
The man grunted, refusing to look up from his copy of Jugz. He was built like a linebacker, standing well over six foot and carrying around three hundred plus pounds of muscle on his frame. Julian read the name embroidered on his shirt and tried to garner his attention.
"Say, Gilberto. Do you have any pills that could help a guy out in the love department?"
"Do you got a problem keeping it up for the ladies?" Gilberto chuckled. "We're all out up here, but I think I got something in the back. It'll cost you though."
He scratched a deep scar beneath his cheek and walked off. A feeling of embarrassment washed over Julian. In his heyday, he'd been known as Julian Priest. He took the adult film industry by storm, starring in fifty films over a ten-year span. Erectile dysfunction derailed his career, but thankfully he found a second wind driving his rig, Big Betsy. That was another reason he loved Cinnamon. Even on the days his body betrayed him, she never made him feel like less of a man.
Gilberto returned with a small black box. He rang it up and pushed it through the slot in the bulletproof barrier.
"Thanks."
Julian took his package and glanced out the window, spotting Cinnamon's trailer in the parking lot. Two vagabonds were putting on a beggar routine near the pumps, but Julian paid them no mind as he walked past. Cinnamon stood on the porch talking to a young girl dressed in jean shorts and an ill-fitting tube top.
"Hey, beautiful."
Cinnamon's lips curled into a smile, showing off the gap between her front teeth. Her ebony skin glistened under the overhead lights giving her an angelic aura. She was the most beautiful woman Julian had ever seen.
"Mr. Priest, do my eyes deceive me?"
She leaned in and the smell of peach perfume intoxicated Julian. Her lips pressed against his and the fireworks exploded inside his mind. He felt the curves of her breasts against his chest and in his younger years, that would have been enough to make his steeple stand upright.
"Who's the friendly fellow inside?"
"Gilberto. He's the new muscle they hired to make sure we don't get out of line. He's a real mean son of a bitch."
They laughed and embraced again, tasting the insides of each other's mouths. The young girl next to them cleared her throat, reminding them of her presence.
"Sorry, Sparkle," Cinnamon said, resting her palm on the girl's arm. "Give me thirty minutes babe. I'll come find you."
Julian tipped his hat and moseyed away, but not before taking another peek at Cinnamon's curvaceous figure. She was a road he would never get tired of traveling.
Inside the cab he tidied up, tossing old beer cans and empty cigarette packs into the trash bin. It wasn't perfect but he figured with the lights off they wouldn't be doing much sightseeing. Julian fingered the box of boner pills and read the label. Extend-O, Lannister Pharmaceutical. Take one pill for up to an hour of extended pleasure. He ripped the packaging and pulled out two pink tablets that gave off a faint glow. Weird. If one was good for an hour, he figured two would last him the night.
"Down the hatch."
The results were almost instantaneous. It started with a subtle throb and amplified into a lustful ache. The crotch of his pants tightened, and it looked like he was smuggling a pipe bomb. His confidence surged and he took a moment to glance at himself in the mirror. Age had softened his body, but his broad shoulders and defined jawline still rendered him desirable. With his member in working order, he felt like his old self. The fabled Julian Priest had returned.
"Ouch!"
An explosion of pain dropped him to his knees. The skin near the base of his shaft stretched until it popped. Blood pooled around his groin, and he let out a scream that would make even the most talented soprano envious. Julian tore at his zipper in a desperate attempt to relieve the colossal swelling. The mass exploded through the seams, splitting his pants in two. Engorged veins coiled around the swollen flesh, pulsing like gluttonous eels.
"Holy shit."
The skin near his urethra opened and a vile mouth full of teeth smiled at Julian. Pain surged through his pelvis as the penal beast reared back, tearing itself from his body with tremendous force.
"Help!"
Julian's cries fell on deaf ears. The bloated organ slithered underneath his cot. He backed away, grabbing an old shirt to hold pressure on the newly formed hole. The door to the cab popped open and Cinnamon walked through the door wearing a thin dress and matching lingerie. Her eyes bulged from their sockets when she saw the splatter-filled cab.
"Cinnamon run!"
Julian dove toward the woman, wincing from the sudden movement. The pink snake slithered through the truck, banging off the walls before launching itself out the door.
"What the hell was that?"
"M-my," Julian whimpered.
Cinnamon's gaze drifted to the blood-soaked shirt pressed to his groin.
"Oh my God. Little Priest?"
Julian groaned as he stood.
"Take it easy, baby."
He could hear the shakiness in her voice, not that he could blame her. It's not every day you come face to face with a reanimated phallus. Julian slung his arm over Cinnamon's shoulder and they made their way into Old Timer's. His boots were slick, making it difficult to keep his footing on the linoleum.
"What the hell is the matter with you idiots?" Gilberto snarled. "You're leaking all over the floor. I ain't cleaning that shit up."
"Grab some towels, he's bleeding out."
"Get the fuck ou-"
Their argument was interrupted by a thud against the window. The young woman in the tube top smushed her face on the glass, gasping for air as a thick pink serpent fed on her carotid artery. She slid down the glass, leaving a streak of red grime.
"Sparkle…"
A cascade of tears flowed down Cinnamon's cheek. Julian saw the pain in her eyes. She always felt responsible for the girls. The creature released the woman, standing up on two newly formed nubs. Little Priest was now bipedal. Eyes peeked out from the base of its mushroom tip as it licked the smear coating the window.
"Get off of her you prick!" Gilberto shouted.
He rounded the counter holstering a shotgun underneath his shoulder. A warm breeze whistled through the automatic doors. He let off a shot, but the monster dodged the blast with a frightening quickness. Gilberto screamed as Little Priest climbed up the leg of his pants.
"It's inside me!"
Gilberto's eyes bulged from their sockets. A wet ripping noise echoed from his rear and a discolored mixture of fluid spilled around his feet. He lifted his shirt revealing a massive bulge above his belly button. It was eating him from the inside out. Gilberto let out a final gurgled cry as the beast burst from his stomach, showering the storefront in gore. A loop of intestine wrapped around the creature's bulbous head. Malformed arms pulled the slimy ropes into its mouth, and it began chewing. Julian couldn't believe how quickly the thing grew, appendages after every kill.
"M-meat."
"It can talk?" Cinnamon said, her voice wavering.
"E-eat. We m-must e-e-eat."
The lovers slowly backed away from the creature as it ate the rest of its meal. Cinnamon locked the door leading into the cashier's pod and hid out of view. They hoped the thick plexiglass would protect them for the time being.
"What do we do?"
Julian peeked over the counter and stared at the discarded shotgun near Gilberto's ravaged body. Little Priest was currently working its way through the man's face.
"We need to get that gun."
Cinnamon looked around for something to distract the phallic bastard but came up empty-handed.
"There's nothing back here except titty magazines and cigarettes."
Julian shifted his weight carefully to avoid exacerbating his injury. He heard the doors slide open, followed by a loud ding.
"Is anybody working in this trash heap? I need some gas."
A man approached the counter. He stunk of booze and wore a baggy I went to Las Vegas and all I got was syphilis shirt. Julian pointed at the murder scene behind the unsuspecting patron, but he didn't seem to notice the rabid cock enjoying its dinner.
"Man, you look like shit."
Little Priest crept up from behind and struck. The glass shuddered from the impact of the man's skull. A line of bright red mist squirted across the barrier, and he collapsed to the floor with a loud yelp.
"Y-you look l-like s-s-shit." Little Priest said, the words chittering from its throat.
"Oh, Shitballs.”
Teeth sunk into the man's cheek and the flesh was pulled away in gory ribbons exposing the muscle beneath the skin. Little Priest fed, slurping the essence from its newest kill as the veins encircling its body pulsed. Cinnamon let out a gasp upon seeing the monster’s transformation. It had grown to the size of a deranged toddler.
"I e-eat. I g-g-grow. More meat!"
"You ain't getting near this pussy, motherfucker."
"P-pussy."
Cinnamon backed away, bumping Gilberto's portable radio. Dolly Parton's Jolene echoed from the speaker, putting the creature into a trance. Julian watched as the thing swayed side to side, infatuated with the catchy tune. Music tames the beast. Little Priest's pupils rolled into the back of its grotesque head, and it let out a terrible hum.
"I got an idea," Julian said.
"Lay it on me, babe."
"I'll carry the radio, and you go for the gun. If it doesn't work, I need you to promise me you'll run."
"I ain't running boo. We're both getting out of here or we're going to die trying."
Julian wanted to protest but he knew it would be no use. Cinnamon wouldn't budge after making up her mind. He'd learned that lesson the hard way over the years.
"Okay, fine. One kiss just in case?"
Cinnamon smiled and cupped his face. They kissed for a long while, savoring the moment. It could very well be their last.
"I love you, Priest."
"Take a number, babe."
She smiled and bit her lip. Julian steadied himself with a little help from the counter. The blood loss was making him dizzy, but he refused to submit. He tucked the radio into his armpit and cranked the volume to max. They opened the door and slowly approached Little Priest who looked ridiculous as he did his mushroom dance to the chorus of Dolly's mega-hit.
"A little bit further."
Cinnamon grabbed the barrel of the gun, pulling it toward her. Julian stepped onto a pool of congealed ichor and his leg slipped from underneath him. The radio flew into the air, smashing to pieces when it struck the ground. Little Priest let out a shriek and fixed his gaze on Cinnamon.
"L-lady meat."
Julian stared in horror as the anthropomorphic penis shuffled toward the love of his life.
"Leave her alone you tiny, insignificant bastard. Anyone ever tell you that you're a little on the small side."
Little Priest turned, rage contorting its features. Its mouth slid back in a sneer, displaying its blood-tinged teeth.
"I e-eat you f-f-first."
"Good luck. Probably couldn't even fit me in your mouth, you shriveled little prick."
The beast lunged, waddling toward Julian with a frantic pace. Cinnamon leveled the shotgun and Julian closed his eyes, expecting the worst.
"See you in hell, dickhead."
She pulled the trigger, falling backward from the recoil. The buckshot shredded Little Priest, splattering a thick white fluid all over the walls. Julian was awestruck. Nothing prepares you to watch the woman of your dreams blow your manhood to smithereens.
"Nice shot," Julian said, before succumbing to unconsciousness.
***
It took several weeks in the hospital for Julian to recover. Cinnamon stayed by his side, only leaving to answer questions from detectives. Little Priest's body was recovered and stored in an evidence locker. Several weeks later the remains were lost. The news disturbed them, but they hoped to be long gone before it returned.
"You're all set Mr. Townsend."
Julian handed his discharge papers to the nurse and dressed.
"What do you say we finally go on that beach date you promised me?"
"Listen, Cinnamon, are you sure you still want to be with someone like me? I mean I ain't got n-"
She pressed her finger to his lips, shushing him before he could finish his question.
"Don't worry about that. This don't make you less of a man to me. That tongue still works, doesn't it?"
Julian smiled and kissed her deeply.
"I think I love you."
"Take a number, Priest."
Julian hopped in the passenger seat of Cinnamon's Grand National, and they drove off toward the coast.
***
Deputy Cates of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office entered the restroom to purge the morning's coffee. Wet slopping noises echoed from one of the stalls on the far wall.
"Ramirez is that you? You take one of the hookers in there you dirty bastard?"
Cates waited for a response and grew concerned when the slops turned to crunches. He pulled his pistol from his holster and approached the half-open door. He peered into the narrow slit and a stream of vomit erupted from his mouth. Ramirez was torn open, and a misshapen animal chewed on his innards. The creature turned, giving Cates a full view of its heavily scarred body. It looked like a mangled dick with limbs and teeth.
"C-cop meat."
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Author’s note: This story was an entry for the Small and Scary collection put on by the
and . I wanted to say thank you to them for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this collection, alongside some other amazing authors. Also thank you to , and for proofing the story before it was shared with you amazing people. If you enjoyed this story please feel free to subscribe and share! I would love to have you as a reader and I aim to produce quality stories at least every other week, if not more.
Totally unhinged! God, I hope you write a fuck ton of stories before they lock you up for good.
This one is insane and ridiculous but there’s also such great writing present — the characters of Priest and Cinnamon, their relationship, the whole atmosphere of this truck stop place. Really great