Cree sat in the school library, alone in the back corner. He had sound-canceling headphones over his long dark hair and was listening to music

It was lunchtime and Cree was starving, but he knew the cafeteria would only be serving things he refused to eat.

He was pretty sure the special today was human fingertips.

He had been eating in the library a lot lately, just listening to music and trying to keep himself warm because even though he was wrapped up in a puffy hunter-green jacket, he was still cold. There were a few other kids in the library and a lot of kids sitting out in the hallways. That gave Cree hope that maybe not everyone had lost their minds. Most of the kids in the library, and also out in the hallway, looked about like Cree did. Thick warm jackets in spring, and fairly scrawny bodies.

Cree had already been pretty thin when the Annicalb Decree had been issued, but at least he had muscle, and his thinness only came from the fact that he enjoyed running and ran almost every day. He never really knew why he liked running so much. Maybe he felt like he was running away from his problems, or maybe it just let him forget them for a while. He felt strong. Like he could take on anything. So maybe running was how he faced his problems. Whatever the reason, Cree could no longer run more than a mile without almost fainting, and he knew it would only get worse.

It wasn't that he was trying to starve himself.

He wanted to eat so badly.

However, just like most of the students in the library, his family couldn't afford anything but human flesh to eat because everything else was so expensive nowadays. Cree really didn't know how the world had gotten to this point. There were just greedy people who wanted everything for themselves.

He looked at the apple sitting on the table next to him. He had always hated the taste of granny smith apples. They were sour and bitter and he didn't understand why anyone would ever eat them. Now though, they were nectar from the sweetest flower on the Earth.

As Cree finished his apple, he stood up, immediately getting a headrush and steadying himself on a bookshelf. Once the world stopped blurring before his eyes more than it usually was, he walked briskly over to the trash can. He didn't like being out in the open of the library more than he had to because-

Shit.

As soon as Cree saw Lake walk through the library doors he immediately ran out of view like a scared puppy. He breathed heavily, fear overtaking him. Still. He couldn't help but glance out from behind the bookshelf at the beautiful boy in his sight.

Lake visited the library a few times every day, looking for Cree. He knew this because the librarian would tell him all about the "cute boy who blushes every time he talks about him." Cree tried his best to ignore every word of the librarian, throw them out like they meant nothing. He tried to throw Lake out like he meant nothing, let him drown in his own misery, but every damn time he saw him he was right back at Lake's house. He was remembering the last conversation they had. Two months ago. He remembered the feeling of Lake's hand in his own, and the shape of the words "I love you" that sat in his mouth every time Lake was around. He had imagined so many times what would have happened if that night had gone differently...

Lake would be beside him right now. Their fingers tangled up. Tightly. Never wanting to let go of the other person.

He would stare into the deep ocean-blue eyes of his friend. He would be captivated, because who wouldn't be with those eyes? They kept him in a prison cell, but he didn't want to leave it. Ever.

Lake would lift his hand up, nerves emanating from every part of his body as he would tuck Cree's flowing hair behind his ear then rest his hand on Cree's face. Cree would have no choice but to let his eyes flutter close because that stupid boy put a spell on him that he couldn't break. No matter how much he wanted to.

But he didn't want to.

He didn't want to break it.

He wanted to curl up with his friend on a stormy day and have him fall asleep on his chest as they watched rom-coms because only Lake knew that Cree was actually a sucker for a good rom-com. Only Lake. Then they would watch a scary movie so that Lake could prove to Cree just how brave he was, but Cree would end up holding him every time there was a jump scare and laughing at the adorable innocence of the blonde. He wanted to fall asleep next to Lake because Lake would be convinced that the killer was going to jump out of his closet and get him, and Cree would promise to protect him. Cree would watch the rise and fall of the other boy's chest, not daring to sleep until he was sure Lake was dreaming of all the wonderful things he deserved to dream of.

Cree shook himself out of his thoughts, letting them fall right out of his head. It wouldn't be like that. Ever. While Lake might have been innocent in terms of things he didn't know, he sure as hell wasn't innocent of crimes. He supported the Annicalb. No, not the Annicalb Decree, everyone knew that was only an acronym.

It was the Cannibal Decree.

***

A/N: I've been sitting down all day working on this...I should go eat something...

I hope you liked the beginning of this story, if you did please consider leaving a vote/comment!

-Sunny <3