The Beast

Since the prior one was so short, here's another:

The cold oozed into the beast's gullet from the frigid air outside. People bundled in coats and gloves were drawn in and looked hungrily at the beast's flesh; dallying just a little more than usual to stall that blast of icy coldness a little longer. As the gaping mouth opened and closed, the atrium became its own freezer. Steam danced from their mouths as they came and left.

From inside, music blared above the noise of cash registers and techno alarms. It was like the beast was chomping its teeth, breathing deeply as the people were sucked into its gaping belly. Once there, they were assaulted by the noisy din of its cavernous belly; aching for more to fill the emptiness.

The drones who helped break down and re-build this nonsensical beast's insides, continue milling about the new-comers. They come searching for something. They all are searching, including the drones whose only purpose is to care for the beast.

The drones are tied together, mentally, when they are seeing to the beast. One tells a joke, they all laugh. Another tells the others that one of the new people is wandering through the curves of the beasts intestines. Without thinking, other drones join the wandering one and guide him to his destination..

Sometimes , when the beast yawns or breathes a sigh, the new ones leave. The beast doesn't appear to mind as others take their places. The ones from outside the clear walls bring offerings in exchange for some of the beast's inner flesh. They greedily snatch pieces and leave their offerings before being swept out with the exhale or the the freshness of the places outside. The drones watch as others who were once digging at the flesh of the beast have been drawn into the bellies of neighboring beasts.

Most seem happy to continue this ritualistic tearing down of the community of beasts. Some smaller beasts can't take it , whether it's the gnawing by the outside ones, or the silence in their lack of presence; either way, they slowly die, void of of any of the life that once occupied their insides.