Disclaimer: Um, I don’t think you should read this. Seriously, unless you’re KT, look away now. Fine, ignore me. See if I care. Just don’t come calling me a sicko or anything - remember, you didn’t have to read it.
She was beautiful in death. Tony had always known that she was pretty, but now she was almost radiant. Her skin had a luminous paleness to it, and her glacial blue eyes were fixed on infinity.
People said that death was never pretty, but Tony had never believed that. Each and every autumn a reminder of how even death could have its beauty. Looking down at the still form of his girlfriend now, he could see the peace and serenity that had been lacking before, the lines of hardness and accusation that had so marked her smoothing out into nothing.
Her blood was colder now, pooling around her body and soaking rapidly into the white sheets. Tony could have moved away, to avoid the spreading liquid, but instead he trailed his fingers through it, watching the way it clung to his touch like crimson syrup. He touched his fingertips to his lips, tasting her sweet smell, far richer and satisfying than syrup could have been.
Honey, is something wrong?
He could hear her voice still, echoed through his own mind. It sounded better that way. Tony ran his hand over her arm, marvelling at the perfect smoothness of the cool skin. No goosebumps rose on her arm, and no muscles responded as he stroked her skin. It was like touching a doll, the most perfect doll in the world.
Why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong?
Tony shook his head. ‘Nothing,’ he said out loud. ‘Nothing’s wrong, not any more.’
Then why?
‘Shh.’ He pressed his finger to her pale lips, then leaned down to kiss her. Her mouth was soft, unresponsive, the lips almost cold to the touch. He slid his tongue between her lips and tasted the blood inside her mouth. It was thicker than the stuff that had spilled out on the bed, and still retained some of her heat. The taste filled his mouth and brought a low moan from him.
He pulled her to him, holding her limp body against his, relishing the feel of her cold breasts against his bare chest. He brushed a hand over her nipples and saw that they remained flat and round, refusing to respond to his touch. Her body drew the heat out of his own wherever they touched.
For the first time since they had met, she was soft, and she was pliable, and she was totally his.
Where are we going?
‘Just out for a walk.’ Tony carried her gently, like a child wrapped in a blanket, over the uneven ground. The autumn leaves crackled under his feet with each step. She was surprisingly heavy, and he had to move slowly, scared that he would drop her. But she lay with her head resting on his shoulder as if she trusted him implicitly.
I’m cold, baby.
‘We’re nearly there now. Just a little bit further.’
He had already dug the hole, choosing a natural hollow in the ground, hidden from view by the surrounding trees. Very gently, he laid her down into it, curling her up into a sleeping position on her side. Her blue eyes were still open, staring at the soft earth wall in front of her.
I’m tired.
‘Course you are. It’s okay, you can sleep now. I’ll tuck you in.’ Tony pulled the earth over her with his hands, covering her up with a blanket of soil and leaf mould.
Tony…
‘Yeah?’
You will come back, won’t you?
Tony smiled fondly, imaging the girlish smile she would have given him if her lips had been able to move. ‘Of course I’ll come back. I’ve always been here for you, haven’t I? I’ll come back again and see you real soon, I promise.’
He knelt down one last time to kiss her. Her skin was impossibly cold and impossibly soft, like the surface of newly fallen snow. It pulled at the warmth in him with anxious desire.
He sighed and straightened up back up. He didn’t want to have to leave her. He wished he could stay, just for a bit longer. The heat was stirring in him again as he looked down at the still form, so pale white against the dark earth, but he knew he couldn’t stay.
‘I promise.’
He pulled the rest of the earth in over her, covering up her luminous face and soft, silky blonde hair. He used his hands, even though the spade was still lying nearby, because he knew she deserved it. She really was one in a million, that girl.
Tony whistled happily to himself as he walked back through the quiet wood. She was safe now, safe and hidden away where no-one but him could find her. He’d covered the grave with a thick layer of autumn leaves until it looked just like any other part of the forest floor. But he’d made sure he’d be able to find her again.
Because, after all, he’d made the girl a promise.