The Cannibal Bride *WattyAwards2024

13)Cassi's Fate

"Bury a friend" by Billie Eilish

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Alyssa knew she should have been absolutely terrified of Ian at that moment, but as Tom and Mr. Fallon hurried down the stairs, she found herself feeling safest in his arms. Gripping him tightly, she couldn't prevent her teeth from chattering as her body shook uncontrollably. She had no idea what she had just stepped into. The lies, the secrecy, the body parts. Tom was right; had she known what was down here, she would be afraid; very afraid.

As Tom approached, Alyssa saw that he quickly hid a hunting knife back into his pocket. All this inspired her to do was hug Ian even tighter.

"She's not screaming," noted Tom, sounding genuinely surprised as his dark brows furrowed.

It was true; no screams escaped Alyssa. The only noise that could be heard from her was massive teeth chattering. Clutching a hold of Ian harder, Alyssa felt terrified to let go of him.

"She'll be easy to train," said Ian quietly, a large hand of his gently playing with the ends of her dark hair. Alyssa slowly glanced up, not understanding that comment.

"Eh, don't trust the quiet ones, boy," Mr. Fallon grunted. "Those be the ones who thinkin' things through. It's the loud and crying ones that are the easiest to read, mind you."

"W-w-where's C-Caassi?" Alyssa mumbled, feeling as if her voice was barely audible.

Mr. Fallon watched Alyssa with slight suspicion. His beady blue eyes were watching her as though he suspected she would steal the cut-up brain on the cutting board if he looked away from her for even a second. Motioning for her to follow him, Mr. Fallon walked through the extremely large basement, flicking on lights as he traveled.

Alyssa tilted her head up to look at Ian as he gently nodded at her. "It's okay." He coaxed, gently nudging her to follow. It was as Alyssa slowly followed the limping old man to another door on the far side of the remodeled basement did she find what appeared to be a cellar within the basement. Now, she was panicking worse than when she saw the bloodied brain on the counter. Why did there need to be a basement within a basement...? It was only then that Alyssa sickly began wondering whose brain was being eaten on the counter.

She glanced down at the dimly lit staircase that led to a lower level, feeling sick. Going against every feeling warning her that following the old man was a beyond horrible idea, Alyssa carefully followed Mr. Fallon, remembering the multiple knives and pepper spray she was carrying. It provided her very little comfort, but it could at least help. As they reached a landing, Alyssa found the next area they were in was extremely dark and dank, where there appeared to be old-fashioned jail cells lined up beside one another.

Suspecting she was about to find something, Alyssa stalked forward, her breath hitching in her throat as she made it down the dark aisle of cells to the only one with a light shining into the cage. In it, someone sat on the far side of the cell, with their head against their knees as their shoulder length caramel brown hair covered them. The girl was wearing what appeared to be ratty nursing scrubs or some other type of standard and simple gray clothing. Rocking back and forth, Alyssa noted the person was, in fact, alive, looking like a prisoner in the very tiny cell. There was nothing but a toilet on one side of the room, and a simple cot on the other. The woman's hair looked ratty and snarled, as if she hadn't showered in weeks. Bandages covered her bare arms, and what appeared to be scratch marks were bloodied on her arm, looking like the wounds were trying to scab over. She was very thin, looking as though she hadn't seen a good meal in weeks.

Alyssa knew who this young woman was, but she couldn't quite process her being in the flesh, alive and locked away in a dark and dreary soundproof basement.