Posted by Sawney Beane on April 05, 2006 at 23:29:46:
In Reply to: Story Posting posted by Sawney Beane on April 05, 2006 at 23:28:28:
The Collected Works of Sawney Beane: Volume #1
KRYSTAL EYES
by Sawney Beane
1-5 July 1991
7,672 words
DISTRIBUTION NOTICE and DISCLAIMER: Sawney Beane requests that any distribution of this work of fiction remain within the realm of social responsibility. This story is suitable neither for minors nor for the seeming majority of adults who have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality. It is pure fantasy, which means that, for whatever reason, someone has found it interesting to think about the events depicted herein. It does not in any way mean that the author would like to see this fantasy become reality, so if you are the type of person who might be swayed into doing something irrational by reading a work of fiction, the author respectfully requests that you decline to read further.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sawney Beane, originally a native of Edinburgh, lived for twenty-five years in a cave on the coast of County Galloway, subsisting on the flesh of unfortunate travellers, roughly a thousand of them all told. He and his wife raised a large family of eight sons, six daughters, eighteen grandsons, and fourteen granddaughters. Eventually, the family was captured, and the whole lot was brutally and unjustifiably tortured and executed without trial. Since his death in the early 17th century, Beane has reformed his ways and now confines his atrocities to his literary endeavours.
WARNING: This story contains scenes of snuff and consensual gynophagia. If you find such things offensive, please steer clear; you have been warned.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is my first story and is definitely not as well written as some of my later efforts; it is clearly the product of a very young and naïve mind. Actually, this is my second story, but the first one will never be seen by anyone as I was so frightened by it that I deleted it from my computer before I had finished it. It was written in the summer of 1989 and was about a man who killed a prostitute in a hotel room, smuggled her body out in a garbage bag, and ate her. It wasn't particularly good and horrified me terribly. The only line I remember was "by the time she noticed the glint of light from the shiny steel blade, her throat had been cut by his knife." But enough about that story. This one is interesting but very strange to me. The culture described herein was the only thing I could think of at the time to get around to a willing meal, and it probably isn't that believable. To be blunt, it is very silly, and I think that eating raw human flesh is probably not a very good idea on many levels, and the ending is a little too weird for my taste.
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Krystal Lynn Reynolds leapt off the school bus and launched herself down the street. She covered the two blocks between the bus stop and her home in under sixty seconds. She was in a dreadful hurry.
Her mother met her at the door with a tailor-made scolding ready for her tardy daughter. The parent demanded to know why Krystal-her mother used her full name this time-had been so irresponsibly late in getting home when she knew very well that a potential customer was coming to the house to meet her in less than two hours. A girl her age should be responsible enough to get home on time for such an occasion.
Krystal apologized profusely and told her upset parent truthfully that the bus had been late. She tossed her books down on her bed and hurried off to prepare herself for her important visitor.
After Krystal had showered and performed other routine hygienic tasks, her mother helped her apply her makeup and style her thick brown hair into one long braid down her back. She dressed herself in her favourite outfit, a light blue party dress with a skirt that extended to just below her knees. She slipped matching shoes onto her shapely feet and presented herself to her waiting parents.
Her father looked her over and assured her that she looked marvellous and professed the greatest optimism. Her mother fussed with a few details before exclaiming that her eldest living daughter should fetch an extraordinary price. Krystal was nervous, and her parents were not helping matters.
She sat down in the living room to await her caller. Her mother sat next to her with an endlessly babbling mouth. Krystal could tell that her mother was nervous as well. They did not have to wait long.
The doorbell rang ominously, and Krystal's father soon walked into the room with a gentleman who kissed Krystal's hand and introduced himself as Richard Knightly. He was handsome. Krystal was impressed.
Richard looked her over carefully, asking her to turn around this way and that. He eventually nodded his head and everyone sat down. Krystal sat between her parents on the sofa, and Richard in a chair opposite them. An important hurdle had been jumped. The customer had the option of leaving immediately if it was clear that he was not interested in her. Richard showed great interest. Then again, her three previous potential customers had been similarly impressed by her radiant beauty at this stage.
The traditional formula for such visits was followed, and the guest talked for about two hours with his hosts. The conversation took place mainly between the father and the customer with only occasional opportunities for Krystal and her mother to participate. The subjects of conversation were weather, politics, sports, and virtually everything else that had nothing to do with the purpose of the visit.
Eventually, the conversation rolled around to Krystal and allowed the three adults to praise her great beauty and extol her virtues. Her mother left the room at this point, and Krystal was asked to undress. She removed her clothing with much grace and little hesitation. She had been through this three times before and had gotten used to it.
Richard stood to admire her and examined her thoroughly. He pressed, rubbed, studied, poked, prodded, and massaged various parts of her lithe young body. Krystal thought that he performed the entire examination with more kindness than his predecessors. All the while, her father tried to point out her physical high points to Richard, who did not need his help. Richard seemed impressed by her. Krystal's face brightened, and she attempted to forget the next part. She was not fond of the next part.
Richard sat down and nodded again at Krystal's standing form. Another hurdle had been reached and cleared. The interview would continue. As dictated by tradition, Richard asked, as had his three predecessors, for a sample. He smiled reassuringly at Krystal, who could not keep from grimacing as she nodded her head in reluctant acceptance of the request.
Krystal's mother was summoned back into the room and came carrying a polished block of wood, a syringe, a carving knife, and a roll of bandages. The forcedly cheerful mother placed the block of wood on the coffee table in front of her daughter. Krystal dutifully placed her left foot on the block. Her smallest toe was already missing.
Her father took the syringe from his wife and injected the anaesthetic into his daughter's foot. Richard tried to sooth the girl with compliments as the painkiller took effect.
Eventually, Krystal announced that the feeling had left her foot and closed her piercing blue eyes. Her father took the knife and carefully sliced off his daughter's second toe. As in the previous three repetitions of this ritual, the girl felt no pain, only a vague sense of loss. She had six chances after the current one. When she ran out of toes, she would no longer be marketable.
Krystal opened her eyes cautiously, and her father handed her the dismembered digit. She looked at it carefully, trying to understand how this could have recently been a part of her, before handing it to her guest with the proscribed entreaty that he sample her humble virtue.
Richard smiled and placed the offering in his mouth. He clearly enjoyed the morsel and said as much as he pulled the bone from his mouth. As tradition dictated, he returned the toenail to Krystal's father and dropped the bone into his jacket pocket.
The girl's mother was hastily bandaging the foot of her daughter while this was going on. Krystal managed to keep smiling and thought cheerfully that this was a good happening, as it allowed her to regain her symmetry. The two smallest toes of her right foot had already been removed.
The worst had passed. The conversation continued for a bit longer. Finally, Richard announced that he had seen enough of Krystal's virtue to make an offer. He named his price at $300,000. This was an excellent price. Krystal's older sister had brought in only $240,000, and her brother had been sold for $200,000. Krystal's first visitor had been an appraiser, who had estimated the girl's value at $260,000. All of these were good prices. Krystal's two earlier suitors had offered around $100,000. These were not serious offers for a girl as attractive as Krystal, as quality young people regularly brought prices in excess of their appraisal value.
Krystal's parents discussed the offer and, as everyone present expected, they accepted. Krystal's heart leapt for joy. Richard was most likely the best buyer she would find. The parents produced the necessary paperwork, and everyone signed where necessary. Krystal signed an affidavit attesting to her virginity, as virgins were worth nearly twice as much as sexual veterans. The necessary arrangements were made, and Richard promised to claim his newly purchased property on the first of the month. That left three weeks of liberty for Krystal, plenty of time for the check to clear. Richard left with a graceful bow to the girl.
Krystal celebrated briefly with her parents and went to bed early. Her dreams were joyous, and her sleep was peaceful.
In the following three weeks, Krystal spent lots of time with her friends and family. They would only see her once more after the first of the month. Everyone was sad to lose her, but they were at the same time very proud of her for earning such a handsome price for her family. All in all, it was a happy time for Krystal. On the last night of the month, Krystal could not sleep. She was nervous. She was not afraid. Her nervousness was much like that which afflicts small children on Christmas Eve.
Her nervous anticipation was relieved the next morning when Richard came to collect her. She kissed her parents and younger siblings, who saw her off with lavish adulation and wishes of luck. Richard carried her suitcase and showed her to his limousine.
As they passed by the front of a beautifully landscaped garden, Richard pointed out the respectable mansion behind the trees and welcomed Krystal to her new home. She was thrilled.
The breathtaking front hallway amazed the girl, who immediately walked to the row of ornate glass cases lining the wall facing the door. There were six cases and space for several more along the wall. Five of the cases contained reconstructed human skeletons, each with a scalp and long beautiful hair attached to its skull. Each skeleton also had long painted fingernails attached to its finger bones and painted toenails attached to all but one, the smallest, of its three to seven toes. The floor of each case was covered with a bloodstained white sheet. Behind each skeleton was a life-size photograph of an attractive young woman seductively displaying her unclothed body. The poses of the skeletons mimicked the poses of the girls in the photographs. On the base of each case was mounted a silver plaque denoting the name, date of birth, date of death, place of birth, purchase price, height, weight, and other information pertaining to the case's resident. Richard's full name was also engraved on the plaques. Krystal stared in awe at the lineup.
Richard pointed to the empty case next to the final resting place of a certain Candy Sullivan who had died six months earlier according to her plaque. Krystal's host explained that the empty case was to be hers. The idea appealed to Krystal. She was to gain immortality greeting guests to Richard's home. Krystal asked that she be preserved with her hair unbraided and flowing down her back and over her skeletal shoulders. Richard pondered a moment and agreed that this was the best way.
With some difficulty the host pulled his young guest away from his hall of fame and into the living room. The two of them spent the afternoon talking about various topics and ate a delicious dinner. They immediately retired to the bedroom.
Krystal's first sexual experience was everything she had ever imagined and more. Richard was kind and gentle and carefully showed her what to do. Some of it she figured out for herself. Krystal slept soundly and dreamed about her second sexual experience.
The next month passed blissfully by the watchful eyes of Krystal Lynn Reynolds. Richard left for work in the mornings, and she was free to roam the large house at her will. She discovered many treasures and gorgeous rooms to sit and gaze at.
Her favourite part of the entire house was always the front hallway. She could spend several hours a day watching the assembly of skeletal women. She tried to imagine the emotions and experiences each of them had passed through on the way to this hall. Each of the photographs revealed an expression of absolute contentment. Krystal came to see the five women as her five best friends in the world, with the possible exception of Richard Knightly. Krystal longed for the day when she would be allowed to join their happy group.
She was served marvellous meals three times a day and was permitted to make requests for the following day's fare, which were always fulfilled by the household staff.
To complete her happy days, Richard returned every afternoon to spend time with her. They talked and played games every day until dinner. After dinner, they spent the rest of the evening in bed and did everything possible to promote their mutual enjoyment. Krystal loved every moment of her life in this house.
On the first Wednesday of the following month, Richard explained what she already knew. The following day was to be her nineteenth birthday. Therefore, it would also be the day of her funeral. He gently asked her if she wanted to talk about any aspect of the upcoming ceremony. They discussed the matter for quite some time and then made love. Krystal did not dread the upcoming ritual.
Richard dropped her off that morning at the funeral home and promised to return at five o'clock. She was led inside by an unattractive man who claimed to be her undertaker. They walked into a back room where three other men were waiting to prepare Krystal for her big day.
They asked her to remove her clothing, which she did. Krystal stood naked before the four men, all of whom were duly impressed. They asked her to lie down on a worktable and proceeded to powder, perfume, and otherwise prepare her already stunning person. They brushed and sprayed and smoothed her hair for more than an hour. Finally, they showed her the softly cushioned casket that Richard had purchased for her.
The four undertakers picked Krystal up and placed her gently into her coffin. She made herself comfortable in the plush box while her attendants made their last minute preparations. When they were finished, the star of the day's funeral looked amazingly lifelike.
The lead undertaker explained the ceremony to Krystal and closed the lid of the coffin. The four lifted the box by the handles provided by the manufacturer and transported Krystal into another room.
The coffin remained closed. Fortunately, it was well ventilated. Krystal remained motionless and listened to the noises in the room around her. A minister was preaching about the meaning of death and what a nice thing it was. Crowd noises revealed that many people were gathered to bid her farewell. Krystal was excited.
After about ten minutes, the minister finished his diatribe and walked over to the coffin. Krystal blinked in the light as he opened the lid of her box. She was radiantly beautiful despite the unnecessary meddling of the undertakers.
Krystal looked around and saw the wonderful garden of flower bouquets that crowded the wall along which she was lying. Before her was a sea of mourners. Everyone she knew had shown up to see her off. A feeling of intense gratification welled up inside her.
Everyone in the room began to line up and pass by the open coffin. Most of them looked upon her with expressions of mild sadness as well as good will. Krystal could not understand why anyone would be sad on such a happy occasion. Her well-wishers often stopped by her casket to hold her hand for a moment, and most exchanged a few words with her.
Near the end of the line, her immediate family came to wish her well. Her oldest brother, James, had come with his family. He was twenty-five and recently married. Krystal remembered his lovely wedding. James ran his fingers through her soft hair and said a few soothing words to her. They had always been close friends, despite their age difference. Krystal was close to nearly everyone she knew.
Her older sister, Carrie, did not come to Krystal's funeral. Krystal laughingly thought that it was unfair that she had had to go to her sister's funeral four years earlier. Carrie had been a beautiful young woman. However, she was no match for her little sister.
Krystal's brother Jeremy was not present for the same reason. His funeral had taken place only sixteen months earlier. He had been Krystal's most beloved sibling. The two had been inseparable until Jeremy's departure. Krystal had been deeply saddened.
Krystal, of course, came to the funeral.
Her younger brother Theodore, age fifteen, was the most downhearted and confused member of the family. He looked upon Krystal with sad brown eyes and the same attitude as Krystal had looked upon Jeremy sixteen months earlier. Theodore knew that he would soon go on the market and did not yet know how to deal with the matter. Krystal tried to reassure him. She knew that he would feel better when they showed him the videotape and explained the whole process to him.
Allison was Krystal's youngest sibling at age seven. She approached the casket with uncaring bliss. She was not old enough to understand. She said goodbye to Krystal but did not really know that she would never see her again.
Allison also did not realize that her life would probably be longer than Krystal's. She would not be sold unless their parents got restless again. It was illegal for a couple to sell their oldest and youngest offspring. All middle children were eligible for sale between their eighteenth and nineteenth birthdays, and almost all of them were in fact sold unless they ran out of toes. The reason for this was that unsold middle children invariably met with large-scale humiliation. All funerals were required to take place on the child's nineteenth birthday. Parents who were against the legal sale of youngsters normally limited themselves to two children. Otherwise their middle children resented them for the remainder of their lives.
After Allison had trotted off, Krystal's parents approached her. Her mother cried for joy and continued her babbling. Her father clasped Krystal's hand and wished her well. They spent a bit of time talking to their daughter and left the room.
Krystal was alone for a moment before three of her friends from school who had already passed returned for a second and somewhat forbidden pass. They were extremely sad. They did not fear for Krystal's safety as much as they resented the breakup of their close-knit quartet. They were Krystal's best friends among the living and did not want to lose her. Two of them, Melanie and Lauri, declared that they would go with Krystal and stripped naked. They climbed into the casket on either side of Krystal. Rachel, the third friend, stood shyly in a grove of roses and tried to remain inconspicuous.
The three girls in the coffin were chatting busily when the clock struck five and Richard returned to claim his prized possession. When he saw the predicament, Krystal was happy to see that he took it lightly. He announced that he was a very lucky man to get three lovely young lasses for the price of one.
The two impostor corpses climbed out of the casket and reclaimed their clothing with cold remarks that they would not be for sale until the following year. Richard found two scraps of paper and inscribed his secretary's phone number on each. He presented the scraps to the two girls, who accepted them eagerly. Richard told them to let him know when they went on sale. Krystal was enthusiastic. She thought it delightful that they might be together once again in Richard's front hall.
Rachel envied the others intensely. However, she was her parents' youngest child and could not convince her parents to produce another.
Eventually, after many tearful farewells, the three girls left Richard and Krystal alone in the funeral parlour. The undertakers entered with Krystal's death certificate with her parents signatures already inscribed. Richard and Krystal both signed the document in the appropriate areas.
The undertakers announced that it was time to close the casket and load it into the hearse. Richard lifted the girl out, and they watched the closing of the lid. Krystal was now officially dead. To signify this, she would not be permitted to wear any clothing beyond sandals unless the weather required more. It was summertime.
Richard led Krystal to his limousine, and the couple followed ten cars behind Krystal's hearse. When they arrived at the cemetery, no one spoke to them. They watched the minister's final oration and the lowering of the casket into Krystal's grave. They waited for all of the guests to depart and watched the grave diggers fill in the hole in the ground.
When the gravediggers had gone as well, Krystal examined her gravestone for the first time. It was an expensive slab of polished marble. Richard had purchased the stone for her, and she thanked him profusely. The buyer of a middle child was required by law to pay for all funeral expenses. Richard kissed Krystal and they returned to the mansion and made love better than ever. Krystal told Richard that he was a natural at necrophilia. He laughed.
On Friday morning, a photographer arrived for Krystal's photo session. He snapped her picture for several hours as she struck various sultry poses. The photographer praised his subject profusely and helped her to think of new ways to show off her beauty. He left the mansion just before lunch.
Krystal quickly adjusted to life without clothing and wondered how anyone ever managed differently. She explained this to Richard when he returned from work. He laughed and told her that this was a normal post-funeral reaction.
The couple indulged in a bit of pre-dinner necrophilia, ate a large meal, and indulged in a long session of post-dinner necrophilia.
Krystal awoke before Richard on Saturday morning and stood for several hours before the mortal remains of the five friends she had never met. She was happy that she would soon join their crowd. Richard found her there around noon. He brought with him a silver plaque inscribed with Krystal's full name and the information contained on each case's silver plaque. Krystal admired her shiny new possession and helped Richard to nail it to the base of the empty case.
Richard then showed her the hidden drawer beneath each of the cases. Krystal spent some time transferring all of her clothing and most of her personal belongings into the drawer. She would not be needing them. She and Richard spent the rest of the afternoon examining the contents of the drawers belonging to Krystal's five peers.
Sunday passed uneventfully. Krystal spent every minute of the day with her beloved owner. That night, as they did every night, they made passionate love. Richard would take the following week off from work so that he could spend every precious minute of it with Krystal.
On Monday, the photographer returned with several hundred proofs. Krystal examined each of them and selected her favourite. Richard helped her and selected a few favourites of his own. The photographer was sent off to make enlargements of the selected photographs.
On Tuesday, the couple declined to get out of bed. They spent the day in a joyful orgy. The household staff brought their lavish meals to them in bed. It was a good day.
On Wednesday, the photographer returned with the enlargements. Krystal was overjoyed by the result and enthusiastically helped to mount her favourite in the rear of her display case. She spent most of the afternoon standing in the case mimicking her new photograph. Richard watched her for some time. She said that she wanted to get used to her final resting place. More necrophilia followed that evening.
Thursday and Friday were happy days for the dead girl. She and Richard spent the time together walking about in the garden, discussing everything that struck their fancy, and playing games. Of course, they did not neglect their favourite hobby of necrophilia.
Saturday was an emotional day. Krystal thought deeply about her destiny. She spent most of the day in her case or standing before the cases of her macabre friends. She carefully looked through the contents of all six of the drawers beneath the cases. Before dinner, she placed the remainder of her things in her drawer.
Krystal's last meal was a lavish affair. She had everything she had asked for. She ate a lot, as she no longer needed to watch her figure. It could deal with itself for one more day. She had everything from caviar to pepperoni pizza. Richard enjoyed the banquet as much as she did. He told her that it was the third best meal he would have that weekend. She blushed.
After dinner, they went to bed. Before their lovemaking, Richard and Krystal discussed the events to occur on Sunday. Krystal was unafraid. She was nervous. Richard reassured her, and they enjoyed their best sex to date before trying to sleep.
Richard was more successful that Krystal at sleeping. Her pre-Christmas jitters had returned. She lay awake all night reviewing the exact content of the explanatory videotape that was shown to all female middle children on their sixteenth birthday. There was an equivalent tape for boys. Krystal had memorized every second of the important film.
At the beginning of the tape, a handsome man named Martin and an attractive girl named Diane introduced themselves. Apparently, Martin had been paid by the government to do the film and received a free meal to boot. Diane's family had received twice her appraised value for her services. The narrator explained everything as it happened on film.
After the introduction, the narrator explained the history and reasons for the tradition of selling middle children. The ritual had been adopted originally to alleviate the planetary overcrowding as well as to provide a convenient source of income for underprivileged families. However, the practice had eventually expanded to include all families regardless of economic status. The reasons for this were not entirely clear, but everyone-the sellers, the buyers, and the merchandise-was happy with the arrangement. The almost universal practice did not appear to be on its way out and had existed nearly unchanged for over two hundred years.
After the background section, the narrator had explained the benefits bestowed upon all participants in the tradition. The parents had the benefit of additional cash flow. More significantly, a large amount of honour was bestowed upon the parents of high priced children.
The purchaser was usually single, young, and rich, although many individuals of lower or middle quality could be obtained relatively cheaply. Obviously, a gem of Krystal's quality was beyond the price range of the common man. The benefit to the purchaser was, in part, that of a temporary sexual partner who would love the owner for all eternity. The buyer also obtained more than a month's supply of the most succulent meat known to humankind.
The benefits to the child were perhaps the most significant. He or she was provided automatic entry into Heaven by God, who appreciated the child's willingness to give himself or herself for the benefit of another. This appealed to most children, who preferred this easy entry to the usual judgement placed upon unsold children. Krystal had trouble understanding how this fact had been discovered, but whether or not it was true, she knew she was doing the right thing. The honour bestowed upon the sold child, especially when the price was high, was significant enough that the oldest and youngest children in many families longed to be allowed to participate. They were not banned from the marketplace when the ritual was first established. However, the action became necessary when it became apparent that the world would suffer a severe shortage of offspring otherwise. Additionally, the child sold in this way was provided with a true love whom he or she could take pride in devoting his or her life and death to. Strange as it may seem, the children were not protesting their lot in life. They rather revelled in it.
Finally, the tape arrived at the traditional ceremonies. The actual sale was portrayed realistically as Diane and her parents sold the girl to Martin. The entire ritual was set down on videotape. Special attention was given to the sampling of the girl's toe. Diane had had four of them before the ceremony.
The lifestyle of the child in the home of her owner was explained in detail, as was the important funeral ceremony. All of Diane's family and friends paid her their last respects on film. Krystal had watched this with great curiosity. The cameras watched with Diane the setting of her casket into the cold earth. Krystal agreed when Diane mentioned that the box had been comfortable for the afternoon, but she would not want to spend eternity in such a cramped place. Krystal's display case would be much more roomy and better lit.
The final week was documented for Diane and Martin on tape. Finally, they reached the second Sunday after Diane's nineteenth birthday. On this day she would die for real rather than symbolically. The tape explored her morning and the exact nature of her death, explaining the benefits of the traditional method every step of the way.
Krystal had watched Diane's smiling face throughout the ceremony. She had maintained the happy expression right until and beyond the moment of her death. Krystal watched Diane's eyes carefully. The lovely brown eyes of the girl had betrayed her real emotions. She was truly happy. She was also a bit afraid. Krystal could see the fear in Diane's eyes. It was slight, but it was there. Then, at the last moment, Diane's eyes had revealed a feeling of absolute contentment. This contentment was far and away more peaceful than the expression on the rest of the girl's face. It was this feeling of contentment that kept Krystal from feeling more than the slightest bit of fear. She knew that everything was going to be pleasant, and she pitied Diane's inability to view the reassuring piece of film. Unlike Diane, Krystal understood the contentment before she experienced it.
Krystal had watched the tape several times in the month before Richard claimed her. She had come to wonder how she could ever have been appalled by the loss of something so unimportant as her small toes. She came to look forward to the end. She was absolutely contented. She was excited about her fate. Most children experienced similar emotions at this point in their lives.
The tape continued after Diane's death to demonstrate the proper way to dismantle the corpse. Martin made large incisions with a carving knife along the girl's inner thighs and arms and carefully removed the large bones of the legs and arms. He sliced off her hands and feet and set them aside. He cut each arm off at the elbow and shoulder. He sliced each boneless leg at mid-shin, knee, and hip. Each large thigh piece was divided into several thick steaks. Martin removed the girl's head at the upper neck. He removed each of Diane's internal organs and placed them in a row on the table. Diane's upper chest became two shoulder pieces and one neck piece. Her pelvis became two buttocks and a genitals piece. Her loins were removed and her rib cage was separated into similarly sized pieces. When all was done, Diane had been transformed into several dozen meal-sized pieces arranged about the table.
Martin took Diane's head with its still-smiling facial expression and made careful incisions with a small knife around her hairline. When he was finished, he removed the girl's scalp with her long blonde hair attached and set the piece aside to be preserved. The head and the remaining pieces were each wrapped separately and inserted into a freezer to await mealtime.
Krystal watched as the tape continued to demonstrate the order of consumption and the traditional methods of preparing each piece. Krystal noticed that the final piece to be eaten, Diane's head, was still smiling when it was defrosted. As each piece was consumed, the bones were saved. When the pieces were all gone, the bones were reassembled into a complete skeleton and placed on display in Martin's home.
Krystal watched enviously as Diane became a showpiece like Krystal's five friends. Krystal could hardly wait. Finally, she fell asleep. Her last living sleep was a short one.
Krystal awoke early the next morning of her own accord and went to visit her friends. She spoke to each of them fondly. She began with Michelle Christenson, who had been there the longest. Michelle had been purchased by Richard's parents seven years earlier as a twenty-first birthday present for their son. She was tall with long dark hair and had three toes remaining. Michelle was the least expensive and least attractive of the assemblage, though she was pretty in her own right. Richard's parents had been considerably less wealthy than he had become.
Krystal proceeded along the row and spoke to Linda Elliot, a shorter, more attractive girl than her predecessor. Linda had been interred in her case for five years. She was the first girl Richard had ever purchased by himself. She was endowed with shoulder length black hair, dark brown eyes, and six toes. She looked quite young in her photograph, although she had been nineteen like all the rest. Krystal thought that Linda looked like someone she could learn to really like.
Emily Pembroke was a four-year veteran of the hall. Her long blonde hair cascaded alluringly over the bones of her shoulders. The photograph behind her revealed that her empty eye sockets had once contained beautiful emerald green eyes. Emily's seven toes revealed that she had been sold faster than any of the others. Emily was probably the most attractive resident of the room. She was the most expensive at $280,000. Krystal, who would soon replace Emily as the row's most attractive resident, admired the girl for some time and paid her lavish compliments.
Katherine Galbraith was next in line. Her bones revealed that she had been a delicately small girl. Her photograph revealed that her body had been singularly breathtaking. Her mid-length light brown hair was left flowing down her neck in an attractive torrent. Her pouting blue eyes created a teasingly enticing atmosphere in her case. This jewel of a woman had been purchased two years earlier for $260,000. She had five toes. If any of the girls was more attractive than Emily, Katherine was the one. Krystal directed her efforts at looking as much like Katherine as possible.
Finally, Krystal reached Candy, the most recent member of the group. She spoke to Candy the longest. Candy was more down-to-Earth looking than her two immediate predecessors. Her beauty was considerable but seemed more accessible. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and four toes. Krystal hoped that she would become immediate friends with Candy upon her arrival in the line. Candy seemed to be the type of person Krystal wanted to be a friend of. Krystal wondered whether or not Candy was jealous of her. She sincerely hoped not.
At eleven o'clock, Richard found Krystal standing in her case, getting used to the environment. Richard took her into the dining room while telling her that she would have plenty of time for that later.
The dining room table was covered with a clean white sheet. A silver pillow lay at the head of the table. Krystal noticed the bloodstains on the pillow and recognized the legacy of her five friends. Today she would contribute some of her own blood to Richard's pillow.
Richard left her alone for a few moments to meditate and pray. She did so unenthusiastically. She was eager to begin. Richard returned without clothing.
Krystal made herself comfortable on the table, and Richard climbed onto the table with her. They engaged in a long bit of creative foreplay before she felt him inside her. Their pre-lunch sex was extremely exhilarating for Krystal as well as for Richard.
When they were done, Richard remained inside her and propped himself up on his elbows. He began to massage both of her breasts. After a while, he began to trace small circles with his index fingers around her aroused nipples. He looked at her with an unusual expression. She understood and smiled broadly. He seemed to feel better. Krystal realized that Richard was more saddened by this day than she was herself.
The circular motion of his index fingers continued rhythmically without pause. Krystal knew from the videotape that this was part of the ceremony. Richard removed his right hand for a moment to retrieve a syringe from beneath the pillow. He injected it into Krystal's chest and resumed the circular motion.
Krystal closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft feel of his hands. After a few moments, she could no longer feel the motion. The anaesthetic had taken effect and her chest was numb.
When she opened her eyes, Richard was chewing on something and a bit of blood streamed down his chin. She realized that she had missed a bit of the ceremony and looked at her left breast. The nipple was missing. Richard's left hand continued its circular motion, but the right was idle. Moments later, Richard placed his mouth over her right nipple. When he lifted his head, her other nipple was missing. Krystal's excitement increased.
Krystal touched her breast with her fingers and then rubbed the blood onto the pillow. Richard laughed uneasily and told her that there would not be a shortage of her blood on the pillow or anywhere else.
Richard asked Krystal to sit up after he had removed himself from her. She did so without hesitation and held her back very straight in anticipation. Richard uncovered a large very-sharp knife and touched it to Krystal's abdomen. He smiled apologetically at her and deftly removed both of her breasts. The detached mammaries were placed on a plate, and Richard produced a large bandage and wrapped it around Krystal's chest. It was the first clothing she had worn since her funeral.
Richard and Krystal sat next to each other at the table. They touched each other frequently and lovingly as Richard ate his lunch, which Krystal had so graciously provided. Richard offered her a taste, which she accepted and liked. When he was finished, Richard told her that it was the second best meal of the weekend. She laughed and hugged him.
The couple adjourned to the living room, leaving the pillow and sheet for the next meal. They spent the afternoon talking and playing board games of Krystal's selection. Before dinner they went for a walk in the garden, and Krystal thoroughly enjoyed her final journey outside the house. She listened attentively to every sound and watched the birds and squirrels hurry about their business. None of them knew the significance of the day.
As they returned to the house, Krystal touched her bandage and remarked that she had not been flat-chested for quite some time. Richard agreed reverently. She said lengthy fond farewells to her five macabre friends as they passed by and promised to return as soon as Richard had consumed all of her meat. Richard smiled uneasily at her eccentricity. Krystal entered her case for a moment to memorize the view once again. When she was satisfied several minutes later, she returned to Richard's side.
They resumed walking and entered the dining room. Krystal placed herself seductively on the table, and Richard joined her after placing a scalpel under the pillow. They made slow passionate love and enjoyed every minute of the drawn out process. When they thought that they were finished, Richard removed Krystal's bandage, and they began again from the beginning. Krystal's nervous anticipation continued and never gave way to fear, despite the fact that dinner was traditionally performed without the aid of anaesthetic.
When both had reached and passed their climax for the second round, Richard remained inside her and again propped himself up on his elbows. He gazed into her beautiful blue eyes and told Krystal truthfully that he loved her. Krystal smiled and replied in kind. They embraced passionately.
Richard kissed her goodbye and retrieved the scalpel. Krystal closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling of Richard atop and inside her. She was ready to be inside him. Richard asked her if she was ready. She nodded and encouraged him not to hesitate. He did so anyway.
Suddenly, Krystal felt a sharp pain as the knife pierced her navel. The pain increased steadily and moved up her abdomen. Krystal forced herself to continue smiling with the realization that the pain could not last long. The pain reached a high point and ceased to increase. Krystal began to block it out and concentrate on the happiness inside her. She felt Richard hold her close and begin to move sexually on her. She responded without opening her eyes.
When Richard stopped and raised the front of his body on his hands, Krystal opened her eyes and saw the blood covering her lover's chest. Her first thought was that he was injured. Then she saw the incision. It began just below her navel, ran past her bisected bellybutton, continued up the centre line of her abdomen, between her absent breasts, and disappeared at the uppermost part of her chest between her collar bones. She could see the red form of her muscles between the folds of skin. The pain returned briefly but Krystal fought it back.
Richard smiled into her bright eyes and wished her a very fond farewell. She smiled and said goodbye to him for the time being.
Richard inserted his fingers into the chasm between the former sites of her majestic breasts. He pulled gently and Krystal's two sides separated slightly with an unpleasant crackle. Richard inserted his hand and touched her beating heart. He grasped the organ and pulled it gently to the surface without breaking the blood vessels attached to it. Krystal looked on in awe.
Krystal's lover looked into her fine face once more and claimed her living heart as his own. The first bite sent blood splashing over both their faces and over the sheet and pillow. Krystal thought that Richard had been right on that point. There was no lack of blood.
The second bite followed rapidly after the first, and Krystal knew she was very close to death. She felt faint and could no longer see clearly. Her smile remained. At this point, Diane's eyes had become contented. Krystal's eyes continued to reveal her absolute contentment with her fate.
Krystal was vaguely aware of the third bite. She did not notice the fourth or fifth. She was no longer present to watch as Richard finished eating the pump in her chest. He wiped the tears from his eyes and set about the work that had to be done.
One year later, Krystal was awakened by the sound of workmen making their usual large quantity of racket. She looked with satisfaction at the case they were installing to her left. She discussed the new addition to the neighbourhood with the five friends standing in line to her right. They were already awake and observing indifferently. This was not a new occurrence for them. Krystal, the newest arrival, was the only one who had not experienced it before.
Candy, on Krystal's immediate right, said that she hoped that the newcomer would be as attentive to them as Krystal had been when she still had flesh. Krystal smiled. Michelle called down loudly from the opposite end of the row that she was happy to welcome every new face to her home. The row of skeletons was hers, she thought, because she had been there first. Michelle said this every time a new case was erected, according to Candy. Michelle could be a little peevish at times. This was most likely the result of an inferiority complex developed in the company of five women far more beautiful than herself.
Eventually, they lost interest in the workmen and began one of their favourite pastimes. They complimented one another for several hours. Krystal's hair was a frequent target of accolades. It was long and silky and concealed her shoulders under its brown cascades. Her skeletal back was barely visible beneath the flood of hair. It reached all the way down to the middle of her femurs. Her five companions could never get enough of commenting on it. Even Michelle, who was often jealous because she herself was proud of her own long hair, enjoyed paying her respects to Krystal's lovely locks. Krystal returned similar compliments to her friends.
A month later, Krystal was awakened by the sound of Linda's scream that the newcomer had arrived. Krystal looked, and her heart jumped. Melanie walked in the door with Richard. Krystal watched without jealousy with her five friends as her old living friend entered the room. Melanie walked immediately to Krystal's case and, with a facial expression of awe and tears of joy in her eyes, said hello to her friend. Krystal knew that Melanie could not hear her response but made one anyway. They would talk endlessly in another month or two. Richard gently dragged Melanie away into the living room.
Six months later, Melanie and Krystal watched with the others as Lauri was led into the entryway. The current residents smiled for joy at the arrival of the third member of the group. Lauri had only one toe remaining, and that was in Richard's jacket pocket. He had barely managed to obtain the girl because she was only three months younger than Melanie.
Maria, Julia, and Terri joined the row of skeletons over the following three years. Krystal made friends with them quickly.
Rachel, the group's fourth member, grew up and became friends with Richard. She often came to his house to view her three old friends. Krystal, Melanie, and Lauri were overjoyed on these occasions when the group was reunited.
Eventually, Rachel married Richard. Terri would be the last member of the row. However, an entirely new row arrived all at once. Jonathan, Pierre, Graham, Franklin, and Michael arrived in the cases in which Rachel had placed them upon their deaths. Rachel's men and Richard's women got along just fine and took to yelling at each other across the entry hall. The eleven women had to share the five men, but that was all right. They were quite used to sharing Richard peacefully, and he would always be their true love. They would always be his.
Krystal looked out from her position in the centre of Richard's row. She was quietly proud of the fact that Richard had paid more for her than for any of the others. Krystal looked at her friends and at Richard and Rachel upon their frequent visits to the hall, and she knew for certain that every one of them would live (and die) happily ever after.