[A Bug's Life]

The red stuff is so striking you can’t resist its pull. You cross the room to it and look it up and down before poking it experimentally. Some of it sticks to your finger. You stare at it, then stick it under your face and give it a lick.

This is the first time you’ve ever tasted something with an actual flavour and it’s so gross you can’t stop gagging for two minutes. Good job.

Once you’ve recovered, you trail a hand along the wall (careful not to brush the red stuff) and follow the streaks around the corner. This room stretches even further than you thought it did. You must have walked the breadth of the world three times over before the red stuff wavers and drops to point at a person slumped against the wall.

They’re way smaller than any of the big people you’ve seen and way bigger than any of the small people. Their head is tipped back against the wall, chest heaving as they clutch their side where more red drips between their fingers.

The weirdest thing is that they don’t ignore you. At the sound of your footsteps they jolt and turn their face to look at you. They make a couple of noises, and a funny huffing sound, and slump back against the wall.