Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among the verdant hills, there was a young boy named Gula. Gula was an ordinary boy, save for his insatiable appetite. His parents would often remark how he could eat more than any other child his age, and how he seemed to have an endless stomach. His favorite foods were the hearty stews and soups that Mrs. Jenkins, the village's elderly cook, would lovingly prepare for him. He would sit by her hearth, watching her stir the steaming pot with a wooden spoon, and dream of the delicious meal that awaited him. Little did he know that Mrs. Jenkins had a secret ingredient that she added to all of her dishes, an ingredient that would one day change his life forever.
One day, as Mrs. Jenkins was preparing dinner, she accidentally spilled some of her precious secret ingredient onto the floor. Not wanting to waste even a single drop, she scooped it up with a handful of stale bread and gave it to Gula, telling him it was a special treat just for him. Unbeknownst to either of them, that single mouthful contained a curse. A curse that would consume Gula's soul and transform him into something unspeakable, something hungry, and something that could never be satiated.
From that moment on, Gula began to change. His insatiable appetite grew even more intense, and he found himself drawn irresistibly to Mrs. Jenkins' cooking. He would lurk in the shadows outside her home, watching her through the window as she prepared her meals, his eyes filled with an unquenchable desire. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Gula's transformation continued. His skin began to take on a pale, waxy hue, and his once-innocent face became twisted into a grotesque mask of hunger.
His fingers elongated into claws, sharp and deadly, and his teeth grew long and jagged, like those of some fearsome predator.
The village folk, once loving and trusting, began to fear Gula. They would cross the street when they saw him approaching, and some even went so far as to lock their doors and windows at night. But Gula paid them no heed. All he could think of was Mrs. Jenkins' cooking, and the way it called to him, deeper and deeper. He knew that soon, very soon, he would have to act on his desires, and finally claim what was rightfully his.
One night, as Gula lurked outside Mrs. Jenkins' home, he sensed a presence nearby. A sinister figure emerged from the shadows, its features obscured by a long, hooded cloak. It approached Gula, and in a voice like the rustling of dead leaves, it spoke. I have seen what you are, Gula," it whispered. "I know what you want, and I can give it to you. All you must do is swear your loyalty to me, and in return, I shall give you an endless supply of food. Food such as you have never tasted before."
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Intrigued, Gula considered the offer. He looked into the figure's shadowed eyes and saw a glimmer of the hunger that burned within his own heart. But there was also a coldness there, an emptiness that made him uneasy. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice barely audible above the howling of the wind.
The sinister figure smiled, revealing teeth as sharp as knives. "I want you to help me, Gula," it replied. "I want you to help me bring chaos and despair to this village, and to the world beyond. In return, I shall give you all the food you could ever want." Gula hesitated. On one hand, the offer was tempting beyond measure. But on the other, he could not forget the love and trust that Mrs. Jenkins and the village had once shown him. He looked once more into the figure's eyes, searching for some sign of humanity, some spark of goodness, but found nothing. "I cannot," he said at last. "I cannot betray them."
The sinister figure's smile faded. "Very well," it hissed. "Then you leave me no choice. You are a threat to my plans, and you must be dealt with." With that, the figure lunged at Gula, claws extended. Gula dodged nimbly to the side, his claws raking across the hooded cloak as he did so. The figure stumbled back, revealing a hideous, skeletal face beneath the cloak. It hissed in anger and launched itself at Gula once more.
Their battle raged through the village, buildings crumbling and trees uprooted in their wake. The figure seemed to possess inhuman strength and agility, but Gula's own monstrous abilities more than matched it.
Gula dodged nimbly to the side, his claws raking across the hooded cloak as he did so. The figure stumbled back, revealing a hideous, skeletal face beneath the cloak. It hissed in anger and launched itself at Gula once more. Their combat was a dance of death, a terrifying spectacle that left the villagers cowering in their homes, praying for dawn to come and end the nightmare.
As the fight continued, Gula began to tire. His movements grew slower, and the figure sensed an opportunity. It struck swiftly, driving Gula back towards Mrs. Jenkins' home. With a final, desperate surge of strength, Gula managed to block the figure's attack and send it stumbling backwards.
He seized the moment, leaping forward and driving his claws deep into the figure's chest. The skeletal face contorted in agony, and the figure's body crumpled to the ground.For a moment, Gula stood triumphant, breathing heavily. He gazed down at the lifeless form of the sinister figure, wondering if it was truly gone.
But as he turned to leave, he felt a sudden stab of guilt. He had fought for his own selfish desires, and in doing so, had caused destruction and fear throughout the village. He vowed that from now on, he would use his newfound power for good, to protect those who had once loved him, and to bring peace to a world that had been thrown into chaos by his own dark transformation.