Three out of four needed a coroner, not a doctor.
I wondered how Judy was doing.
Probably still hanging there. Her wrists had been tied together
Watching myself in the mirror, I raised my arms high and crossed my wrists. I stood as Judy had been standing, probably
Anybody would, I guess.
Maybe that’s why guys like to string up their victims by the wrists.
No. It might be one of the reasons, but not the main one. I’d spent enough time with Judy to know the truth about that. I sure did like how she looked so stretched and taut, but more important was that her whole body was right there dangling in the open. Nothing was hidden.
You had total access.
You could swing her. You could spin her. You could wander around her, look at any part of her. You could pick up her legs and spread them apart. Touch any part of her. Hurt any part of her.
I turned around slowly, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
And wished I could see Judy again.
27
SPLISH-SPLASH
Over at the tub, I shut off the faucets and eased myself down into the deep, hot water. It made my scratches sting a little, and felt like burning oil on the raw gouge from the branch. None of the really bad pain lasted more than a few seconds, though.
I leaned backward, easing myself down. Soon, my whole body was submerged except my face. The back of my head lightly rested against the rear of the tub. My buttocks lightly rested on the slippery tiles of the bottom. Nothing else of me touched the tub. I felt cool air on my face. Everywhere else was water. Its liquid heat surrounded me, wrapping me, caressing me softly all over, whispering in my ears, licking me between the toes and sliding into every crease and crevice.
It was luscious.
Heavenly.
After so many rough hours of fear and pain and strenuous labor, I’d come to a place of peace. My arms drifted beneath the surface, weightless and limp by my sides. My legs, open and bent at the knees, lingered at mid-depth as if held off the bottom by ribbons of silk. I heard little more than the quiet lapping of water. My muffled heartbeat sounded calm. Breathing slowly, I felt hot currents rub against my chest and breasts.
I supposed it would be a good idea to sit up, soap myself and shampoo my hair. But I couldn’t force myself to abandon the luxury of lounging motionless.
Suspended in the lazy heat.
After a while, my mind seemed to slide off into the air and drift out over the woods. I wasn’t searching for anything, just drifting. But when I saw the glow of a campfire, I went down for a closer look.
I found Judy suspended from the limb like before, shiny as oil and glowing with firelight. She still wore the red bandana loose around her neck.
But all her injuries were gone.
She looked beautiful.
As I walked up to her, she said, “I knew you’d come back, Alice.”
“Then you knew more than me.”
“I’ve
“I didn’t even know how to find this place,” I told her.
“How
“Just luck. It’s been my lucky night.”
“Mine, too,” Judy said.
“How do you figure that?”
“You came back for me, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I did. I couldn’t just leave you here.”
“You’re such a softie.”
“That’s me,” I said, and smiled.
“Give me a kiss, you softie.”
Her words shocked me, thrilled me. I laughed and shook my head. “No, I don’t think so. Thanks anyway, but…”
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” she said.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“You love me, don’t you?”
“No!”
“You came back because you love me.”
“That isn’t why.”
“Then why?”
“Only because it was wrong to leave you here. And because I don’t want you to die like this. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if you died like this. You never did anything to hurt me. And you helped me with Milo.”
“You love me, don’t you?”
“Stop saying that.”
“Kiss me, and I’ll stop saying it.”
“I don’t want to kiss you.”
“Yes, you do.” She slid her tongue slowly across her lips, moistening them so they glistened. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt a bit.”
“I know it won’t hurt,” I said. “That’s not why.”
“Then why?”
“Just because.”
“I’ll never tell,” she said. “I promise. Nobody will ever find out about this. It’ll be our secret, just between you and me.”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. You’ve wanted to kiss me from the start.”
“No.”
“Everywhere. You’ve wanted to kiss me everywhere. My mouth, my breasts…”
“Shut up.”
“Everywhere.”
“No.”
“Do it, Alice. Now. I want you. And I want you more than anything.”
I nodded, trembling. Then, I leaned in until our bodies met, and kissed Judy lightly on her open lips.
Her arms and legs clamped around me.
But it wasn’t Judy saying that.
It was a man, his voice low and scratchy and
This wasn’t Judy at all, not anymore. It was Milo, face bloody and eyes bulging, squeezing me so hard with his arms and legs that I was sinking deep into the soft bulges of his body, being enveloped by him. As I tried to scream, his mouth covered mine. His writhing lips felt slimy. He stuck his tongue into my mouth. Only it wasn’t his tongue. It was hard and thick, and he shoved it in deep. Thrust it down my throat.
