Page 79 of Seeking Shadows

She shivers, her entire body stiff. Her eyes flash with panic, her breath coming in erratic gasps.

"You know, Rachel, I studied a lot to get here," I say as I trace the knife along her arm, very slowly, just enough to open the skin without tearing muscle. "Do you think only people who spend years in college understand how the human body works? I had to teach myself. A self-taught effort, so to speak."

Rachel lets out a choked cry as I press the blade against her collarbone and drag it downward, tearing the skin all the way to the base of her chest.

"For example, did you know that if I cut right here—" I tilt my face and make a precise cut down the side of her abdomen, exposing the bright red flesh, "—you don’t die immediately? In fact, it takes a long time. But it hurts. A lot."

She writhes, her body arching against the restraints, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Her eyes are full of pleading. I roll mine impatiently.

"Oh, don’t make that face! You work in medicine, you know that pain is nothing more than electrical impulses sent to the brain. I mean, it’s kind of tragic that your own field of study is betraying you now, but hey, irony is fun."

She tries to speak, but all she can do is choke out a sob. Her hands tremble, her fingers contracting in involuntary spasms.

"Shhh…" I slide my bloody finger down her face, brushing away a strand of hair stuck to her face with sweat and tears. "I know. I know. But let’s finish this right, okay? I’m going to fix you."

I cup her jaw, tilting her head to the side, exposing the vulnerable curve of her throat. Her pulse leaps beneath her skin, frantic.

"Now, if I cut too deep, you’ll pass out almost instantly. If I miss an angle, you might survive long enough to make more trouble. But…" I bring the blade closer to her skin. "If I’m careful…"

And so, I am.

The knife slides back and forth with surgical precision, not enough to kill her outright, but enough for her blood to start spurting out in hot, scarlet waves.

Rachel gasps, her eyes wide, her hands tugging uselessly against the ropes as a gurgling sound escapes her mouth.

I step back a little, crossing my arms, watching as her life slowly fades away.

"Look, it’s working!" I say excitedly, tilting my head. "They always told me that practice makes perfect."

She tries to breathe, but all that comes out is a wet wheeze. Her body shudders, then begins to sag, growing limper and limper.

And then, finally, she stops.

I sigh, disappointed.

"Wow, Rachel. I was starting to enjoy our talk."

I step back, admiring my handiwork. The blood glistens in the dim moonlight, soaking into the earth around it. It looks almost beautiful.

I smile.

"Now, how about a dip?"

“Not a very smart way to dispose of a body, sis.” The voice behind me sneers, and I turn to find Seth with a sadistic smile, leaning against one of the trees as if he’s been there the whole time.

Damn, I shouldn’t have trusted Abby.

I wash my hands in the riverif I'm going to have a boring conversation without coming across as clingy.

"Seriously, Seth? Following me? Next time you're going to pee on me to track me faster?" I glare at him, trying to hide my anger, but it spills over somehow.

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea, but unfortunately, my nose isn’t that great.” He lets out a short laugh, but it’s not an amused one.

He watches my every move with a critical eye, his arms crossed.

“You’ve grown up to be a bore,” I say, trying to ease the tension building between us.

Seth frowns. "And you're hiding something."

---