Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
NOLA
The elevator doors slide open, and I smile as I wheel the table out into the autopsy room.
Taking in a deep breath, I sigh happily as the smell of antiseptic fills my nose.
I haven’t been back here since getting rid of that girl from the cafe.
With school and everything taking up so much of my time, I haven’t been able to help my dad at work. It’s not that he needs the help, I just love lending him a hand. It’s good bonding time for us.
Once I hang up my mask and retire from killing, I’m going to make sure we get to spend that time together again.
For now, I have work to do.
Wheeling the table over to the cabinet where all the supplies are, I pick through and grab everything I’m going to need.
“Suture kit,” I hum. “Scissors. Gauze. Lots of rubbing alcohol, because girl, you’re a mess.” I chuckle, pulling the blanket back to see her face and nearly jump out of my skin. “Talk about a jump scare. Warn a girl next time.”
Grabbing my phone, I hook it up to the speaker as I sit down on the wheely chair. Scooting closer, I assess the damage.
“Not much I can do to help with… all that.” I wave a hand at her face. “But I can stitch you up the best I can before bringing you back. When we take our photo, I want you to at least be recognizable, not like a pound of minced hamburger. Lucky for you, I’m good at what I do.” I wink.
I press play on the playlist and declare, “Let’s get to work.”
I start with cleaning her up the best I can, giving myself a good enough visual of the wounds.
Some I'll need to close up first to stop the bleeding.
She might be dead, but the blood's gotta go somewhere. Did you know that blood doesn’t stop flowing until the 12-hour mark after death? How cool is that!
Focusing on her arms and legs first, I wash up the blood, putting in a few sutures before moving up to her chest area.
By the time I’m ready for her face, I’ve used most of the medical supplies.
“Remind me to stock up. I don’t want to be rude and leave Dad without anything,” I tell Rebecca.
She says nothing. “Now you have nothing to say?” I huff.
“You sure did love to talk when you were rubbing it in my face how amazing you were, and how much of a piece of shit I was. Well, look at us now, Becky.” I grin down at her as I wipe the blood from her face.
Her jaw is broken, with half of the skin of her cheek hanging off, and her eyeballs are starting to protrude from her head.
“Could you stop looking at me like that?” I grumble, shoving her eyeball back in so I can sew it shut.
“You spent so many years trying to make me feel like I was nothing. That I was just a waste of space. That didn’t work out for you, now did it?
” I tsk, working on her other eye. “You’re dead, on my table.
Meanwhile, I’ve bagged three of the hottest men in the world.
Me!” I laugh, cutting the thread after sewing her second eye shut.
“You should have seen them.” I practically vibrate with excitement as I think about the guys tonight.
“They were so jealous when they found out I fucked those guys.” I move the needle in and out of her cheek.
“Hope you don’t mind if this scars. I mean, you’re going to be worm food anyways, so I don’t think it matters much, right? ”
“Anyways, I didn’t actually sleep with them.
I would never. The only guys I want are Sylas, Wesley and Jasper.
But what does it hurt if they believe I did, right?
I mean, they get to go around and fuck whoever they want.
Well, at least, for now. I’m putting an end to that soon.
But I’m cleaning up loose ends as I go. You didn’t sleep with any of them, did you?
” I ask her. “I know your friend Scarlett did. But don’t worry, I dealt with her already.
Not that you cared. Don’t think I haven’t seen you posting coupley photos on Instagram with her boyfriend.
Like, girl, do you have no shame? Your best friend died, and you’re hooking up with her man. ” I shake my head.
“I’d never do that to Callie,” I tell her, cutting the thread and starting on another spot.
“Something is up with her, though. I wish she would talk to me. There's still a lot I have to learn about this friendship thing. But I think I’m doing good so far, you know? I’m supportive, and I listen when she needs to vent.
But when it comes to boys, though.” I shake my head.
“That girl needs to stay away from the loser fuckboys. She should give Garrett a chance. I like him. He’s funny. ”
Cutting the thread, I place the needle down and put both hands on either side of her nose.
“This is going to hurt a bit. Just breathe.” I give her nose a quick pop into place before moving to her jaw.
“Garrett is friends with my boyfriends. So if she dates him, we could all go on a double date. That could be fun. Oh!” I place my hand on the top of her head, holding it still as I grab her jaw, snapping it to the side and back into place.
“The guys I lied about sleeping with. One of them was Bryson. Sorry about that.” I cringe.
“I know he was your boyfriend. But you’re fucking Scarlett’s man, so you’re done with him, right? ”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re both dead. So I don’t think either of you is going to care very much.”
Grabbing the needle, I start sewing her lips shut. “You won’t be needing these anymore,” I tell her. “I wonder if this will help shut you the fuck up in the afterlife? I’d hate to inconvenience the dead with your mind-numbing grating voice.” I shake my head. “They don’t deserve that.”
When I’m done, I take a step back. “Good as new.” I grin down at her. “Looking good, Frankenstein.” I wink. “You’ll be the hottest dead person at the party.”
Wait! Was Frankenstein the monster or the scientist? Oh well, same difference.
I cock my head to the side, wondering if there's anything else I need to do.
“I think we’re done here. Time to get your dead ass back to the scene of the crime.
But first, I want to celebrate. You’re dead, and Sylas popped a boner for me.
It was an eventful night where lots of good things happened.
Normally, I’d have a dance party with Skittles, but he’s off doing his own thing. So, it’s just you and me.”
Pressing a different song on my playlist, I turn back to Rebecca. “I know you hate Ashnikko, but I don’t really give a fuck. So…” I shrug. “Not like you have much of a say.”
Smoochie Girl starts to play, the big, nearly empty room allowing it to sound louder.
Smiling, I start to dance, singing along with the song.
“This song fits so perfectly for the guys and me, especially tonight,” I shout over the music before going back to singing.
It gets to the main chorus, and I sing the lyrics “Ooh, oh, no,” followed by “how scary,” then the last line, “I haven't felt this exposed.”
Like how I felt being trapped between the three of them tonight. The way my heart raced, the exhilaration that consumed me.
During the next part, “But in the heat of the moment,” I grasp her face between my hands, then sing “I put my hand in fire.”
Like when I was bold and pushed the guys more than I’d ever dared to do before.
“Come on!” I grab her by the arms, pulling her into a seated position.
Her head flops back, and I roll my eyes.
“Don’t be difficult,” I huff, sliding my arms under hers.
I lift her off the table to sit her in the wheely chair.
“That’s more like it.” I grin, grabbing one of the rolls of rubber tourniquet and tie it around her chest, keeping her upright.
“Dance with me!” I laugh, grabbing her hands, swinging them to the side.
We dance around the room, me dragging her around on the chair.
Closing my eyes, I rock back and forth, continuing to sing along.
We do the waltz and a bit of the tango before I pull her to me, grasping her face in my hands.
I sing the lyrics “Wanna see your childhood bedsheets” with a laugh, then follow it with “and be friends with your mom.”
I’d love to get to know Jasper’s mom better. I always liked her as a kid. She was so sweet to me. I hope she likes me when she finds out I’m dating her son.
I’m going to have to set up a big family dinner and invite Jasper’s parents. Wesley’s parents can kick rocks. I’d probably stab them if I ran into them. Never liked those self-centered assholes.
As I’m spinning Rebecca around in the chair, I turn to face the elevator, seeing my Dad step out.
He pauses, blinking his eyes and assessing the situation.
“You know what!” he shouts over the music. “I’ll come back later.”
Laughing, I run over to the music to turn it down. “Wait,” I chuckle. “I’m done here anyway, but I actually needed a favor from you.”
“Oh boy,” he sighs. “What now?”
“I got some blood in my trunk and some pieces of flesh in the grill of my Jeep. Do you mind helping me clean that up before I bring Becky Boo here–” I say, gesturing to the dead body beside me. “Back to the scene of the crime.”
He looks over at Rebecca and looks visibly taken aback. “Dear God, Nola, what the fuck did you do to the girl?”
“I hit her with my Jeep,” I say like it’s obvious. “That's why there are pieces of her body in my grill.”
“Fucking hell.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I told you, always use plastic. And you can’t go around hitting people with your Jeep. It makes a mess.”
“I know, but Dad, you should have seen it. She flew right over the top.” I giggle. “Fucked her up real good. But don’t worry, I pieced her back together,” I exclaim excitedly.
“You turned her into Frankenstein’s monster, Nola,” he deadpans.
“I thought so, too!” I grin.
“Give me a half hour,” he mutters, turning around to get back into the elevator.
“Thanks, Dad!” I shout as the doors begin to close. “I love you! You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waves me off. “You’re more unhinged than I am.” I hear him mutter before the doors fully shut.