“Finally,” I sigh. You finally started stirring; I was nervous the chloroform had been a bit too much for you. You’d taken the short way home through that alley, one where I watched you pass dozens of times. I’d like to think that you never saw me in the dark, tracing your footsteps through the snow and the dirt, but I knew you sensed me. And that you kept coming back despite knowing I was there. A few hours ago, I decided to act. You slipped past my normal hiding spot, and I smoothly approached you from behind with my rag in hand. As I firmly planted it on your nose and mouth, I wrapped my arm under your breasts and held tight as you quickly relaxed. I thought I caught a twinkle of recognition before you blacked out.
As you came to, you found your restraints. I had brought you to the old barn on my hunting property up north, just 45 minutes from where I caught you. I placed you in a table in the barn and tied you down with silk cloth, attaching your arms and legs to poles at the corners of the table—a sort of makeshift canopy bed. The roof tiles had started crumbling under their own weight, so you’d get a good view of the stars as the shone through the darkness of the rural night. With the old oil lanterns providing a warm glow, I was hoping the mood would make sense.
Your eyes widened as you pulled at your restraints with no give. I stood and came to you, and as we locked eyes, you relaxed. I was a little surprised, given the situation, but I saw a small smile form on your lips.
“It’s good to talk,” I said.
“It is. I’ve been wondering when we could. Maybe not…quite like this.”
“Should we go inside?”
“No. Just tell me what you’re going to do.”
I turned around and unfurled a sheath containing a number of hunting knives. I felt your eyes wandering towards them, and then away as you scanned the walls. You had to strain to see the trophies adorning the barn but I heard a soft gasp as I pulled a few tools out of the sheath.
“They’re…what is this?”
I smiled. She wasn’t the first.
“They’re my loves. Well, tokens of my love. All of these women were where you are now.” I walked over to where you lay, 5-inch hunting knife in hand. “I find women like you so…I don’t know, attractive isn’t it. But I found you and I want you. And I feel like, you want to stay with me.” With that, I ran the full edge of the blade down your side, I heard your breath shudder.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Let’s see how you like this, then.” I turned the knife in my hand and placed it between your breasts. I dragged it gently, leaving a thin line about two inches long. There wasn’t any blood yet, but I saw you bite your lip, hard.
You shook your head, vigorously. I took the same knife to your torso, just beneath your bottom left rib. I dragged the knife along the bone’s edge, leaving a longer mark. I saw you biting harder, drawing blood from your lower lip. I pressed a bit deeper and drew a bit of blood myself.
“I can do more, but now it’s going to hurt.”
You were silent, but for a tiny nod. I took the knife by it’s point and placed it at the base of your neck. I pushed in, maybe half a centimeter and dragged it a solid foot, this time leaving a deep, weeping wound. I smiled—this would make the latter stages of this process easier.
I saw a few tears well up through a big smile. And so I continued—cut, after cut, after cut. I asked you before I did anything that would cause lasting damage but you were in ecstasy—as I cut your face, your arms, your hands, your forehead. So many wounds were dripping and heaving after the hour.
I was getting tired when I asked if you were ready for the finale. And with a simple nod, I reached for a longer blade, a short sword measuring maybe a foot and a half. I placed it right above your beating heart. I looked into your face and found peace, and so I pushed and pierced it through and through. A few twitches and, that was it.
