Pleas(e)

What if the whispering of fairly tale ghouls were real?
Would they come for you in the night and snatch you from your bed
Bony fingers tangled in your still damp hair
As they pull you across the hardwood floor
Your arms and legs flailing for purchase
Knobby elbows and knees catching on the gaps
Giggling at your whimpers
Please please please let me go

Would they put you in a cage made of bone
Lashed together with sinew
Dine on you so slowly
Sharpened fingernails the color of rust
slicing slivers of flesh like homemade egg noodles
(The bits on the inner thighs are their particular favorite)
Forked blue tongues lapping at the seeping wounds
Thirsty for every drop of blood and lymph
Eager for you to move because it flows so much more quickly
Oh no no no no no please I'll do anything

Would they take you out and hold you
Wrap you in scratchy rot scented blankets
Caress your filthy cheek with gnarled knuckles
Smooth your torn nightgown
Sing you screeching lullabies
Bile rising in your throat
Rock a bye baby in the treetop

Would you hear them as they return
And know that they won't keep you much longer
Because they've brought your replacement
And she smells so nice
Her skin so perfect
Her eyes so clear
Her hair so shiny
Her teeth so white
Her thighs so full and unmarked
You could just eat her up