Roman Valois’ mother would often tell him stories of these “monsters.” Though, she much preferred to call them The Hungry.

The Hungry liked to feast on souls. Their favorites were young, fresh, and fit.

They form from strong emotions. Hatred, envy, fear, depression, etc. If the emotion grew strong enough The Hungry would be born.

They seep through the cracks of your wooden floorboards until they reach the surface world. They find the nearest host then slowly eat away at their soul until they’ve taken control of the organism.

Their bodies still wander the earth, still run their daily errands.

They still look the same. There’s no change in their physical appearance.

The dark definite mole just below his thin, pink, lips is still there. His soft brown curls still bounce around his jaw. The gleam in his lush green eyes is fading, flickering, but nonetheless still there.

Physically Jude Hawke is still Jude Hawke.

Physically he’s the same tall, brawny, boy Roman had always known.

But, his soul has been sneakily swiped and stashed away.

His physique is still present, but his love for music and composing has been lost. His love for the piano, his beloved, prized possession, grand piano had been shattered.

No one but Roman seems to notice this. But it’s also noteworthy to mention, no one but Roman had a “crazy” psychic mother so that could possibly have something to do with it.

He suspects it all began Friday evening.

The two boys, glued to each other since elementary days decided to sneak into an old abandoned home and fear got the best of them.

The next day Jude had strictly informed Roman he was not to see him again and Roman had obeyed that unfortunate day.

That was then though.

Now, Roman Valois’ red coverse seem to sink into the dirt below him. His heart falls to the pit of his stomach as he pushes down on the doorbell and hears the all too familiar chimes and the screams of his father to “Get the damn door, Jude!”

He can hear the sound of feet scurrying down the door and Jude yelling back an emotionless. “Yes, sir!”

The lock clicks and the silver knob twists as Jude opens the door. “Roman, I thought I told you not to come.”

There’s no gleam.

His eyes are a dull, lifeless, swampy green.

“I-I know but, I…I just…” He’s lost in his eyes, lost in the mystery that hides behind them. They’ve got this eerie shadow to them. A chilling fog wavers over them. “See I-“ He’s beginning to babble like a toddler. His tongue begins dancing around the words. Jude would usually say something smart like ‘What, cat got your tongue?’ But, this Jude doesn’t. “I-I wanted to play piano with you!” He blurts out.

Why did he just say that? He wasn’t supposed to say that?

His legs quiver and his teeth rattle like a bingo cage on Friday night at the local nursery home.

Jude’s eyes are cold. “What?” He leans in, confused as if he would be able to understand Roman better if he did this. “You know my father hates our music.” He sneaks a hand around Roman’s waist, instantly sending a chill up his spine. “He does, doesn’t he?” He asks. This isn’t rhetorical. Jude seems genuinely confused as if he doesn’t know his own father.

Roman stays silent.

“Guess the old man’ll have to put up with it today.” He chuckles, pulling the door farther open. “Come in. Let us play for your pleasure my Roman.” As his chuckles are grow louder so does Roman’s anxiety.

Jude had always been a playful boy, but not im this way. The more he speaks to his friend the stranger he becomes.

Yet, he’s still far too enticed to reject Jude’s welcoming. Together, they climb the spiral staircase and sneak into Jude’s room and there lies the grand piano.

Jude grips Romans waist, quickly shoving him down on the black, wooden, velvet cushioned, stool before rushing over to sit him in front of the piano as well.

The silence is quickly filled as both sets of fingers dance around the keys, waltz over the notes, and create the uttermost sensational melodys.

Their music and passion drowns out every decibel of Jude’s father’s yelling.

Soon, Roman too sees the black fog. As he dances away with the rhythm he allows the haze to take them. There’s no reason to fight it because the feeling is serene when you see allow your soul to be snatched away.