Later in a Gator!
By misterebony
For Monovore
 
 
Ron laughed as he watched his little paper boat going down the time bit of water on the road. It had just rained and there was a lot of wet roads, most of them deserted today. But for the little brown haired little boy, he was just happy to watch his boat.
 
He made it himself, folding a newspaper and using sticks for support until it was just right and floating, looking like a nice little sailboat. Now here it was, going slowly down the flowing water on the side of the abandoned road. He didn't know how long he had followed it, only that he had for some time.
 
Here in New Orleans that was a risky thing. There had been rumors lately. Rumors of boys and girls going missing the past few weeks, always after a storm. Many thougjt it was some kind of serial kidnapper and posted wanted posters of all known deviants in the area. But none had any leads.
 
On a wall, unnoticed by the boy, there were several posters of said missing children, nine in all, five girls, four boys, all cute and about little Ron's age. No one knew where they had gone. And no search yielded anything. In most cases parents were afraid to let their children out anymore, monitoring them constantly.
 
Ron however snuck out, just to have some time to play. And play he has, the boat taking him further and further from home. But the boy went wide eyed as suddenly he saw it heading toward a drainage area on the side of the road. He ran to grab it but slipped, falling just short of the boat and watching it slip away down the drain. His eyes watered as a different kind of rain seemed ready to begin, one formed of a child's sorrow at the loss of a beloved toy. With a broken heart he went to go home.
 
Only.... he was completely lost. He had no idea where home even was at this point.
 
"Oh no...." He squeeked, beginning to sob. He lost his boat and now heost himself. If only....
 
Wait.... what was that? There by another drainage area? It was his boat.... actually there on some water that was gentle, with no current. He smiled and went to get it, to at least have his toy, only to see it slip in just out of reach.
 
But the boy was determined now. He got into the still water, low in level but enough to soak his pants. He reached for the boat but it seemed to go further. He hmphed and went to crawl in, conviently just small enough to make it.
 
No one noticed as he went into the sewer, and no one saw it close behind him, the grate that did so set in by some small mouse tribals with funny looking bones on their clothes...
 
*************
 
Underground the boy followed the boat, seemingly moving on its own now, the tunnel He was in surprisingly clean, lit by several torches. The boat moved just out of his reach, going this way and that as it followed an invisible current along the tunnels.
 
The boy was so focused he did not see the art on the walls, depicting how old residents who live here, Cajun tribes, would offer sacrifices to a massive being, a massive gator larger than a small house, ancient and powerful. Then as time went by the servents shifted to an army of rodents once equal parts in those tribes, who used tricks to lure humans and other food down for their master.
 
If he had seen it, he might have been more wary as the boat suddenly stopped in a small side cavern, small and dripping. He looked at it and sighed happily, reaching for it. It went in a little more. The boy followed. Then it suddenly went out past him, tugged on the rope the mice had attached to it.
 
And then the cavern, lined with white stalactites and stalagmites suddenly closed, leaving the boy in darkness, surrounded by wet warmth, the ground underneath surprisingly soft and spongy. For it was no cavern at all, but a mouth, just big enough to hold the boy.
 
And that mouth belonged to none other than King Gator. He moaned as he tasted the boy, using his teeth to remove the soaking wet clothes save for his shorts. No need for them anymore anyway! And this was a tasty one too, with a salty sweetness like fine caramel that was a sort of dessert before the delicious shrimp like taste of the little morsel. He nommed on him, as he finally realized his peril and screamed only once, before finally being swallowed.
 
"Ahhhhhh.... that was DEEEEEEEEEEE~LISH!" He said, licking his chops. "I must admit that clown movie sure is a nice inspiration for catching those little buddies. I do believe that is ten now?"
 
The moce illuminated another room, with all nine of the missing children posters. But here they were different. Written underneath was more text. Under a girl read this:
 
"Slightly acidic but with a sort of citrus flavour, like good lemonade. 4 out of 5 fish!"
 
The gator chuckled as he scratched down some notes. Then he handed the notes to his servants. "When the new poster goes up be sure to write this on it."
 
The mice nodded approvingly.
 
"Not yet though... need to tell my new guest."
 
*************
 
Now you might think this was the end for our poor little Ron, that he was about to digest and be gator fat. If it had been any other gator maybe. But King Gator was tired of meals that were just digested away. He was into the music beat of the Mardi Gras, the wild life of the Red Light District. As New Orleans as the jazz bands that played for the funerals and the Gumbo served with the local wines. He wanted more.
 
And, well, you know what they say about the City of New Orleans and dreams.
 
This was why when Ron landed in the belly he was very confused. For he heard jazz music playing from a jukebox, and smelled gumbo that made his mouth water. The belly was lit with faint red light that seemed to come from a beating heart on the other side of the massive belly. And there, dressed in shorts or skirts and clothes made from food were nine other kids. It was clear they were having fun, which confused Ron.
 
"Oh, looks like we have a new member." A boy said, motioning him over. Moving required crawling given the squishy nature of the belly. "Welcome to your new home."
 
Ron was wide eyed. "New home? But... my mom and dad?"
 
A girl spoke up. "Yeah, King Gator ate us all. And once he eats you, that's it. Your here forever."
 
"Right you are Lili!" A booming voice said. Everyone felt the belly vibrate. "Everyone, meet Ron, put newest party goer. Ron, from now on you belong to me, to eat and play and sleep inside me forever. Oh and don't think of leaving. This Mardi Gras is forever. But if you prefer just lie down in the area close to the exit and I can absorb you into fat.
 
"Don't worry about food, I got connections to plenty of fine New Orleans cuisine, all you can eat! Music? Got plenty of that so dance to your hearts content! Books? Games? I got it all. Freedom? That you may never have. Your mine now. So get cozy."
 
Ron wasn't sure to cry or smile, but he was given some shrimp gumbo and took a taste. It was a little spicy but warm and good, and he ate it hungrily. Another kid showed him to an area where they have been sleeping, and he was shocked how soft it was. Then he was shown a pool of what was clearly digestive acids, and was told to go there only if he wanted to be part of the Gator. Mostly kids got to choose. Others, the bad men, went right in there.
 
"Ummmmm.... what about my boat?" He asked. The gator laughed. Ron heard a swallow and some thumping, when his little boat tumbled down beside him. A little damp but still usable. He decided to try it and went to a pool of (what he thought) water. And sure enough it floated and moved with the shifting of the gator.
 
The boy watched it and allowed a smile. It was oddly nice not to be alone anymore, to have some buddies to play with. Maybe he would like it. Maybe it would feel like home.
 
He had that thought as he heard the gator humming a tune.
 
***********
 
Several days later, he was handed another poster, depicting Ron's picture and a reward. He smiled as he put it by the others, then attached the rating to it:
 
"Very much tasted like a well cooked shrimp, and very tender! Was almost tempted to chew he was so good! Five out of five fishies!"
 
He taped it up with the others and began looking through various school picture books for his next "guest." Maybe he should have a bully next time so he can chew them up. Or maybe a plump hugger for some silly teddy bear moments. Ahh the choices!
 
Finally he settled on a boy who played the horn in a band. He hummed a familiar tune as he prepared his next trap.
 
"Let's make music together.... let's make a delicacy. Yum...~♡"
 
 
The end!