The Belly of the Worm

"And the creature roared and gnashed its teeth, screaming, crying, blaspheming, cursing. The many mouths of the wyrm shouted in unison, demanding the blood of the noble warrior that wounded it. 'You will live forever in my belly!' And the warrior retreated. But the sword driven into its flesh was driven with righteous purpose, and the wyrm demon began to die. Fear overtook it and in its panicked state it grabbed and pulled at the splinter in its gut, but to no avail. The wyrm fell onto her belly, struggling to move. The warrior approached and knelt before its many eyes. 'You did this to yourself because you feared death. And your wish is granted. You will not truly die. This wound will render you almost sessile, but it will not kill you. You will remain dying, on the threshold of the afterlife, forever.' And the creature was driven into the vents and dark places of the ancient starcraft, crawling about, weeping and begging for a death that cannot arrive."
The children were clearly shaken. The bravest among them cleared her throat. "Well-," she stuttered. "Wh-what happened next?"
The Vodranti mother smirked, but the smile faded into a serious face. "Nothing. The wyrm has yet to die. It will die when the Salvation comes. But for now, it goes about the ventilation, its huge body causing the ducts to groan and shake. And while her diet mostly consists of vermin and trash, she has been known to prowl the corridors of the station at night to find some unruly child to devour whole, favoring children who cry the most, since they are easier to find. The wyrm relies on sound- their eyes have withered away and their dozens of ears are more precise."
The children shivered. The mother stood, smiled, and kissed them on the forehead. "Rest well. Stay in your rooms, lest you be eaten." The children most definitely did not sleep well, but rest assured they did not leave their dorm past curfew for many years.