Page 63 of Savage Keepsakes

“What’s her mama’s address?”

“What do you do with it?”

“Give me my answers. I’ll give you yours.”

I tilt my head, fixating on her through the eyeholes of the mask. Perspiration runs down my forehead, stinging my eyes.

Her silence prompts me to roll my head in annoyance. Moving all the scraps out of the way, I grab the bucket and head to the supply room to mix it up.

Quickly, I secure the scalpel and bone cutters before dancing back down the hall to where they both hang. Amber is passed out cold. Her head hangs forward and the muscles across her chest barely move.

“Time’s running out for your friend. Do you remember the address yet?”

“No. What do you do with the fat?”

With the blade in hand, I slice through the tissues in Amber’s torso, the resistance giving way beneath the knife. Snapping tendons fills the air.

Her chest cavity is exposed, staring back at me. I turn Samantha around to face what I’m seeing, but she averts her gaze. Rude and disrespectful, honestly.

“Ever heard of organic soap?”

“Duh,” she mutters.

I continue working away at Amber’s ribs, cutting the bone until I have the pieces I want.

“Ever heard of Lou’s organic soap?”

My focus doesn’t leave Amber’s heart, it barely flutters. I know this is the end stop for her, but she did so well in giving up the information. Unfortunately, her family may never come to learn the grim details of her fate.

With a precise cut, I open up her stomach, causing her entrails to spill out and hang from her corpse.

“Yeah, I’ve seen influencers using it. It’s been out of stock every time I check, though.”

This surprises me. I can’t believe how far the brand has reached.

I saw through an intestine, its slimy texture slipping through my fingers as I gently pull it away from Amber’s body.

“Yeah, organic soap,” I tell Samantha and wrap the slippery body rope around her neck. She grimaces and gags. “Want a snack?”

“You’re fucking killing people for soap?” She bites out the words, her chest much slower to move.

“I could fire up the inside of your bestie. You can eat her, since you didn’t give a fuck when she was alive to let her mama know that she’s never coming home.”

I grab the blowtorch and hold it up. With a sour look, she rolls her shoulders, attempting to rid herself of the slimy remnants of her best friend.

“Her mom lives at 456 Whitney Drive, in Peterborough.” She’s held that secret to the bitter end.

I nod and leave. Checking the time, I notice Lucy should already be home. It means I won’t be able to have the fire that needs to happen tonight, and cleanup will have to wait until tomorrow.

Glancing down, I find myself covered in bits of everything as I head to the stall for a last farewell.

“Well, appreciate the information, both for this and for my girl.”

“Fuck you.”

“Nah, I’ll do ya one better.” I walk towards her and wrap my hands around her throat, ending the suffering so she doesn’t have to cling to the dregs of life. “Thanks for the day. It’s been fun.”

Before heading to the supply room, I grab the hose, and cool water cascades over my arms andpalms as I rinse them off. I slip into a pair of old jeans and a torn tee.

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