![\"bodyf\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/bodyf.jpg?resize=640%2C482\")
<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nBy Chelsey Zhu<\/p>\n
Daniel believed he had found the perfect girl. She was bright and enthusiastic, and most importantly not squeamish about his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis really is fascinating, Dan,\u201d she said as they arrived at his laboratory hand-in-hand. \u201cWhat do you do here every day?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel smiled as he took out his key and twisted it into the rusted iron lock hanging from the chain-link fence. It turned with a reluctant groan, and the sound of the gate creaking open echoed in the cold night.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s simple work, darling,\u201d he explained, leading her into the silent forest. \u201cWe receive bodies, donations mostly, and we lay them out to study their decay. Then we\u2019re able to learn more about decomposition, such as the length of the process and the physical changes to the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman shivered, her breath painting the air an icy white. \u201cFascinating,\u201d she repeated, looking curiously about her. \u201cWhere do you put the bodies?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll around the place, in all sorts of positions and environments. Here\u2019s the first one now.\u201d Daniel pointed with his flashlight to the right, exposing a corpse rotting next to a frozen puddle. The body was hardly identifiable as either male or female. Its skin was bloated and discolored, verging on a grotesque black on the arms and legs. As the couple ventured closer, they saw scores of maggots feasting on its flesh.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to tell how long this body has been out,\u201d Daniel said matter-of-factly as his date looked on with horrific wonder, covering her nose from the atrocious odor pervading the air. Daniel smiled grimly as he crouched down, not at all shaken by the smell. \u201cThe abdomen is severely distended, and the skin is fragile and broken in some places, qualities of the early stages of decay.\u201d He pointed to a bracelet wrapped tightly around the corpse\u2019s wrist. \u201cThat tells me exactly how far along the body is. Every day I go around, take samples, and write down any notable changes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt inspires me, just hearing you speak about your work,\u201d she said admiringly as they continued on. \u201cI can tell you have so much vigor for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing in this world that excites me more than being here. This is my home more than any other home I\u2019ve had, and these bodies are as much of a family as I could wish for.\u201d Daniel chuckled darkly. \u201cYou don\u2019t think this place is cozy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps it needs a fireplace,\u201d his darling said, smiling as she wrapped an arm around his waist. \u201cI just wish I cherished my work the same way you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, my profession isn\u2019t without its struggles,\u201d he said, sighing. \u201cBody donations have been rather difficult to obtain lately, and the university\u2019s on the verge of shutting the operation down. They won\u2019t even hire an assistant for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She gazed at him with concern. \u201cIs that why your eyes have been so dark and your skin so pale? You must be anxious and overworked!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me, sweetheart. I\u2019ve discovered a brilliant solution to save the body farm, but I mustn\u2019t tell you about it until I know it\u2019ll be successful.\u201d Daniel embraced her from behind and nuzzled her neck, causing her to giggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m glad to hear that everything will be all right. Do you think I could ask you one more question before we leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. I\u2019m not letting you go that easily.\u201d He began to trace his fingers along her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you\u2019ve done this for a long time, but have you really gotten used to seeing dead bodies every day? It just seems a little frightening, especially in the dark.\u201d Daniel enveloped her more tightly as she began to shiver. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever think about how something could happen while you\u2019re here alone, surrounded by corpses? Don\u2019t you\u2014 don\u2019t you ever think that they might come to life?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s this cold night that\u2019s making you say those things,\u201d Daniel said as he squeezed her shoulders. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to be afraid of. These bodies can\u2019t move.\u201d He brought his hands up to caress her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me, honey,\u201d he whispered as he leaned in close, \u201cI\u2019m the only monster lurking in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n
His hands tightened like steel traps around her throat as he held her close, his face expressionless while she struggled against him. She wheezed and gasped as his grip grew ever stronger, life fleeing from her limbs with each passing second. Gradually, her attempts to escape became weak and feeble; after a minute or so, the body was completely limp, collapsing into Daniel\u2019s waiting arms. He held it for a moment, gazing at its form with loving eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cA brilliant solution,\u201d he said breathlessly as he carried it deeper into the forest.<\/p>\n
The perfect spot to place the body was at the far back of the body farm, where Daniel could study the effects of direct sunlight on its decay. He methodically stripped off the clothing, whistling as he stuffed the dress and shoes inside a paper bag he had especially prepared for the occasion. He took out a marker and a spare lab bracelet from his coat, writing a brief note before carefully tying the band around its wrist.<\/p>\n
\u201cBody number thirty-nine,\u201d he said as he stood, satisfied. \u201cDay One: Fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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