I had a pregnant friend. Her name was Stephanie. She had long silver hair and she was married to a guy named Jonathan. They’d been trying for years and years to have a little rugrat of their own. And when she did, gosh we were so excited! We went out to the mall and got our shop on. We bought the little angel some toys and some gender neutral clothes. We talked to the glob of cells like it was already human. We were laughing on our way to the car, and when we got in, something felt odd. Suddenly there was a voice from the backseat. “You will go where I say” it growled “or I will put a bullet in your head so fast God won’t know what hit ya” Steph nodded from the driver’s seat. He had a gun and was pointing it back and forth between the two of us. I pissed myself. He made her drive to a seemingly normal house and pull into the driveway. He got out of the car. “No screaming. No funny business. Walk to the front door. Walk in. Don’t say a word” We did as we were told and we entered the house. It smelled like cat piss and rotten meat and was decorated with very realistic looking skulls. He led us to a filthy garage. “Lie over that workbench, on your back” he told Steph. She did as he told her, without hesitation. The fear in her eyes was so awful that I threw up, and the man laughed “This is just beginning, little darlin” he handed me a hammer and a nail. “You take her hand. Drive it into that bench” He held the gun to my chest and I started to cry. “She’s my best friend” He cocked the hammer of the pistol and lifted it to my chin. “I’ll drive the first one, you drive the second” He gingerly placed the gun down, hammer still cocked, and gently placed the nail in the center of Steph’s hand. He swung up a big hammer and drove the nail all the way through her hand and onto the board in one swift motion. She screamed and he slapped her across the face. He handed me the big hammer and another nail. “Your turn” I mouthed “sorry” to her as I drove the huge nail into her palm. I was not as strong as the man, and it took me 3 swings. He took the hammer from me “nice job” He took a dirty, rusty chisel and sharpened it against a stone. He pulled her shirt up and handed me the tool. “Cut it out” he commanded. Steph screamed, a deathly, animal, gutteral scream, and started begging him. “Anything. Take my house, all my money, my cars. You can have everything, just don’t take my…” he slapped her hard across the jaw. “Fuck you.” He looked at me. “Do it. Now. I’ll start it for you” He took the edge of the chisel and jammed it into her pubic bone. Steph, thankfully, passed out, whether of pain or shock I’m not sure. Blood started gushing out of her and he handed me the bloodied handle. “Now. Take it out” I started taking the chisel out and he slapped my face. “Not that, dumbshit. I have a cannibalism phone sex fetish I want to play out” Take. It. Out” I started to stammer “She’s…I…they’ve been trying to…” “Look sweetcheeks. I don’t have time for this. I”ve gotta work in an hour. You cut that monster out or I will slaughter both of you”
And I did. I sliced my friend’s womb open and took the wriggling, beating little monster out of it. I handed it to the man; I remember how filthy his hands were, with grease and blood and who knows what else, He made me slice her throat and stay until she bled out, and then he sent me on my way. I was numb for about two weeks, and I finally managed to find the energy to go out to eat. Fuck it, I just lost my best friend, why not my money, too? I made a reservation for one at the best restaurant in town. I got there and a waiter came up after I’d been seated. “We’ve been waiting for you. The chef has a special meal for you. It’s on the house, madame” The chef came out. It was the man from the mall. He handed me a plate.
“steak tartare for the lady.”
He winked at me.
It didn’t taste like steak.
