Page 61 of Savage Keepsakes

As I look down beyond where her ribs were, the tiniest beat of her heart is fascinating, the one thing that’s so fucking easily breakable.

Minds and hearts have the power to be broken so devastatingly, and nothing to truly heal them.

Blood coats the table, Tyler’s face smooths into peacefulness. I stare down at the mess for a few minutes, wondering what all she lived through to greet death with such peace before I cut her into pieces for the fire.

Since buying a wheelbarrow, things have been easier. I fill it with parts of her, but as I walk it down the hallway, her friends’ screams replenish the fear I was missing out on.

Heat radiates through my chest, and a smile pulls at my lips. I park the wheelbarrow down at the stall closest to the doors. No need to start a fire when I have so much more work to do.

I return to the killing room, taking two rags to wipe up all the mess. It smears around the table, but cleaning isn’t my primary aim.

I bring both rags to the stall, grabbing duct tape on my way. I shove the blood-soaked cloths into their mouths and cover them with tape.

Wide eyes look back at me, snot and tears running down their faces. All I can do is smile.

“We’re gonna have a lot of fun.”

Checking my watch, I see I have about six hours left before Lucy is back. I want to test some of these methods.

As I enter the stall, Samantha glares at me, tears lining her dirty face. Amber’s eyelids are shut, and I nudge her body so she can be as scared. Her green eyes aren’t the same as Lucy’s, and I’m thankful for that.

Liquid sounds against the ground, and I glance over my shoulder to watch Samantha piss her pants. I’m glad that’s over—it’s one of the worst parts.

After I grab the scissors, I cut the clothes off both. Samantha is covered in ink across her stomach and down her thighs. I slam my fist against the wood of the stall.

“Fucking people with their fucking tattoos.”

She screams despite the bloody rag in her mouth. I look down at myself and can’t help but laugh at the vibrant tattoos that cover every inch of me.

“Well, I’m certainly not cutting myself up for the product, am I?”

That seems to shut her up as the realization sinks in. Apparently, I’ve made quite the name for myself out in the world. The big boogeyman who makes people disappear and sends their family pieces of their loved ones.

I waltz out to the supply room, coming back with a pot and the spoon that I’ve sharpened to takelayers of fat. If their skin is no good, the least they can do is provide some type of product.

When I return, I skirt around them and make a large cut on Samantha, discarding the flesh to the ground. It makes a wet sound when it hits the dirt and blood drips down her stomach.

A muffled scream comes from behind the tape. Her eyes are closed, but she fights against the restraints. Amber is more docile, although still won’t look at me. I’m going to have to barter for information.

Taking a smaller strip of skin off Amber, I leave the stall and lay the flesh in the salt. Scanning the barn, I grab a large container that’s tucked outside the enclosure.

I return to Samantha and use the sharpened spoon to scrape the fat off her muscle tissue. Though I love the muffled screams, I reach up and rip the tape off their faces.

“What the fuck?” Samantha shouts at me. Amber cries harder.

“You’d think people would come up with more interesting things when captured. I’ve heard that so many times I should start bingo cards.”

“What do you want, ya cunt?” Amber asks, glaring at me.

“Who’s Samantha’s family?” I twirl the knife between my fingers and slip the spoon in the back pocket of my jeans.

“I ain’t telling you that,” Amber screams.

Nodding, I feel the touch of my lips as they press together. I move closer to Samantha’s spot and mercilessly hack at a larger patch of skin, her piercing screams echoing throughout the barn.

The scarlet blood gushes, completely enveloping her body and staining my forearms.

“STOP!” Amber shouts. She tries to spit on me, but her aim is poor.

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