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gives me goosebumps. —

“Yeah, here we go. | love that crunch sound the knife is making, just as it

breaks past your skin. You sound delicious. Oh I could devour you.

“Now we just need to get this off. Look, I’ve sliced you a crown. Here, I'll

just lift it off- take a peek inside.

“Oh, look at you. Look at you. You're glorious. Mmmm, you're so colour-

ful inside. Ah, mmmm, you feel cold- this part, this isn’tneeded. Wecan ~

take out all of this slime. This gunk- it’s what made you part of them-

part of the mass. But now you're mine, and you’re new, and you don’t

need this. Heh, look- you're sticking to my skin, it’s drying so quickly. It

will take time to wash my hands of all this. You’re dripping there- here,

I'll get it. So ripe. So ready. And you smell so raw.

“Where’s that spoon? Right. Gotta clean out your head. Take out every-

thing. Scrape you hollow. Get to know you. Get to know the shape of

you. Mmm, smells amazing. Let me just clean up your face. Can’t have

your makeup smudging. How will] know where to cut later?

“Mmm, so smooth. “Wow, there’s a lot in here. I need more newspaper.

“When I’m done with you tonight, I’ll show you where you can stay. Yes. - ="

And

then I'll be able to see you whenever | want. But you know how itis. I

can’t keep you forever. Not like this, as beautiful in-

side and out as you are. Then I'll have to let you go.

Let the cockroaches run inside. I'll have to put you

where I’ve put all the others. On hallowed ground.

“Hahahaha.

“Right, now to make you more than what you are. I

can improve you- recreate you. See? We need each |

other. You need me, yes, you do. I make you what kal Ba.

you are. I am the only one who can make you spe-

cial. Look at this skin- so much potential. I love this.

Just need to trace these lines. Gotta- break through here. Remake this

eye. These eyes. Cut. Cut. Poke them out. Heh, out they come. Shapes are

fashionable. Triangles are the new circles, heh heh. : -

“I cut a bit far on your nose there. Hmm,, it’s okay. You can barely tell. a '

“Mouth. Beautiful mouth. Let me cut it open here. .

“You've got me sweating- this is hard work. You're quite the project. Poy

“You get so messy. So dirty. I'll just rinse that washcloth- it’s already Pa pe ee

almost soaked with your colour. Wipe your face- it got all messy from a '

my knife. Your skin looks so tender where I cut. I’m sorry.

“T’m sorry.

“But look how magnificent you’ve become. So beautiful- you’re terrify-

ing. Gives me chills. Everyone will notice you. How could they pass you

now? I’ve recreated you.

“This is your place now. By my window here. !’ll fill you with light

so they'll see you even in the dark. They’ll wish you had been theirs.

They'll wish they had saved you for themselves.

Now just the crumpling of paper. The rustling of bags. The light reap-

peared under his door. Footsteps preceded the soft whisper of some-

thing being dragged down the hall into the kitchen. The back door

opened and closed. All was silent in the house.

Zachary listened. He listened through the drumbeat of his blood pump-

ing in his ears. Somehow he managed to get out of bed and make it as

far as the door. He hesitated, body tense, listening to the dead silence

before slowly looking out. The light from the hall made him squint as

he peered towards the kitchen. He stepped away from the security of

his room and walked the five steps to. the next, to the room of the new

tenant.

The door wasn’t entirely closed. He pushed it open. On top of a book-

shelf tucked under the only window sat the tenant's silent guest. The

skin was puckering along the outline of the face: the triangle shape of

the nose, the dark pits of the eyes, the gaping forced smile. It stared at

him. Cold. Empty. Lifeless. >

The knife that had done the cutting was on the floor, covered in the

remains of the guest. A small pile of seeds filled the bottom ofa green

bucket nearby, a few still glistening wetly. Zachary shook his head, sus-

_ pense turning into cold relief. And disappointment. baie oe
rie : on

_ * : : - _ -

oa te

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