The noon sun filtered through the branches as Joshua and Estelle settled beneath their a tree. Joshua leaned back against the trunk with a sandwich in hand, while Estelle stretched out across his lap, resting her cheek against his stomach. The gentle rise and fall of his breathing was calming until she remembered something far less so.
“Hey, Joshua… do you think Gilbert and those soldiers ever got caught…?” she asked, eyes drifting toward the horizon.
Joshua took another slow bite, chewing thoughtfully. “You don’t have to worry about those guys, anymore Estelle…” he said. “I’m sure they’ll never bother anyone again.”
“Well, if you say so, Joshua.” She replied. All of a sudden… faint, irregular thump sounded beside Estelle’s ear. Then another quick, frantic, almost like fists striking from inside. She lifted her head slightly. “By the way… Did you eat something strange? Your stomach’s making all kinds of noises.”
Joshua glanced down at her, expression gentle as always. “Nothing strange,” he replied, brushing a bit of her hair back. “Just something with a little extra ‘kick’”
Deep within him, Gilbert and the two soldiers who had been shrunken down were jammed in the tight, sweltering chamber of Joshua’s stomach. Acid sloshed around them as they screamed, pushing against the slick walls that flexed and squeezed without mercy. Every gurgle Estelle heard was their frantic struggle swallowed beneath his calm exterior.
Joshua took another bite of his sandwich, his stomach rumbling contentedly as the tiny intruders thrashed inside.
Estelle settled back down, still puzzled but not suspecting anything wrong.
Joshua simply smiled, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder as his stomach worked overtime on the three men who would trouble no one ever again…