I’m not all to sure how it got to this. All I know is that it did. And I was thrown into the middle of it. My name is Sadie Rider, and I am a cannibal. I just didn’t know it yet.
Ever since I was five I’ve lived next to the Canton’s. Their daughter, my best friend, is named Lilah. Her father is a scientist for a near by hospital and her mother is a taxidermist. Which only made me want to be even better friends with her.
Lilah’s an only child and she’s like my sister, though I do have an older brother. His name is Tyler and ever since he met Lilah he’s hated her. He said that they bothered him, like there was something dangerous about them. Being me, I never listened.
Anyways, when me and Lilah had our first sleepover I remember we had some kind of hamburger, it seemed really red, so when I asked about it Lilah’s mom twitched and answered, “We just put some food dye in it. Lilah told us your favorite color was red.”
It was my favorite color and I found the gesture much appreciated. Lilah giggled till her dad gave her a harsh look. That night I curled into my sleeping bag and fell asleep. That was my first trip there. And I went many times after that, I should have see through all of it, but to be honest, I don’t think I wanted too.
When we were 12 and about to start middle school, Lilah didn’t join me. She went to a private school called Heavenly Host Academy. It was one of those religious ones too so I didn’t get to see her much. Usually I go home and when I saw her walk up her house I dash over. But today was different. Today was me and Lilah’s 16th birthday.
Right after school I raced to her house, my decorations already in my bag. I was so excited I nearly missed the keyhole of the front door. When I was inside I started to hang up the streamers, when I was almost done, I heard noise, coming from downstairs. ‘It must be one of Lilah’s parents. Maybe they can help with the surprise!’ I thought gleefully.
As I descended the staircase I noticed that the noise was coming from the back fridge. I was hesitant at first but then I slowly slide the door open. I should have left that door closed. I only opened it a little and even with that a huge whiff of something metallic hit my nose. But that was the least of my worries.
The room seemed to be coated in a thick layer of something I didn’t want to believe as blood. Two steel beds were inside, but one had something on it. It started to thrash and I shut the door as fast as I could. I covered my nose to block out the smell that had violated it. As I took a step back, I hit something hard.
When I turned, it was Lilah’s father, Mr. Canton. He was in his lab coat, as always, but I couldn’t see his eyes. The dim light caused his glasses to shine over, so the only thing I could really see was his sickening smile.
“Oh, Sadie.” He said, slowly and dripping with amusement. “I’ve waited for this day for so long.” It wasn’t until then I noticed that his hands were coated in red. He reached over to the table and grabbed a rusted saw. In that time I was able to sidestep him and ran upstairs, but that just made his smile more twisted.
Once I was up stairs I’d planned to go out the back door, so I ran in that direction and ended in the kitchen. I was so close to the door, but I froze at what I saw. My brother, Tyler, was sitting in the chair in front of me. Lilah’s mom, looming over him. “H-hi Mrs. C.” I said, my voice shaking. “What are you doing here Tyler?”
Mrs. Canton smiled. And tuned Tyler around. I gasped. His eye were gone and so was his tonge and, I grabbed my stomach, his entrails were just hanging out of his abdomen. “See Tyler. I knew she’s just love your new look.” Mrs. Canton said gleefully. I took a step back, and hit Mr.Canton. Then he hit me.
When I awoke I was cold, and I couldn’t move. I turned my head and saw Lilah, she had on a neutral face, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “Lilah! Please! You’ve gotta get me out of--”
“It’s too late.” she grumbled. “What do you mean?” I questioned. She held a pair of sharp scissors in her right hand. “I can’t save you. But I can save some of you.” She came closer and closer. “I really didn’t want it to end like this, but you were just too curious.” She smiled. “But when I’m done we really will be,” she raised her hand. “Best friends forever.” She plunged the scissors underneath my lower lid and dug under, slowly digging out. When it popped out she cut it off, and I lost my right eye.
She smiled at what she’d done. “Look,” she said. “I’ve always loved you eyes. Sometimes gray, then sometimes green.” She turned to me. “Looks like I go it out right on time for them to be in the middle.” She giggled, and left me on that table, cold, and alone.
It had been at least two days since I lost my eye when Mr. Canton payed me a visit. He was carrying a dull bladed ax with him. A sadistic grin was plastered on his lips. No matter how much I pleaded he never listened. He made a series of dashes on my left leg, right under my knee, and that’s when I knew what he was doing.
I screamed harder and still, he didn’t listen. His arms came up and slammed it down on my leg. I screamed, he’d only made it halfway. I was afraid to look. I knew if I did, I would be able to see my bone. He hit my leg again, and I’d lost my leg. He dipped his hand in my blood and licked his fingers. I shivered as he said, “Delicious.” And then it was dark again.
Epilogue
“Come in! Come in!” Mrs. Canton said to Mr. and Mrs. Rider. “Um, thank you. Where is your husband?” Mrs. Rider’s eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she’d done for the past month. That’s how long Sadie was gone, and how long Tyler had been dead. “Oh he’s down in his lab and won’t be joining us.” Mrs. Canton smiled again and twitched.
“Lilah! Can you get the pie?” She called into the kitchen. Lilah came out not long after with the pie. It smelt absolutely scrumptious. “What kind is it?” Mr. Rider asked. That plastic smile spread a little wider when Mrs. Canton said, “Mince meat. Its all natural too.”
When they left there was a thud from the basement. Mrs. Canton’s smile dropped and she headed downstairs. As she entered the back door she noticed her husband was trying to get her to open her mouth. Tongue was always his favorite part. She sighed. Taking the knife from her husband she went to Sadie’s side.
“Ya know,” She began. “I think we need to fix you up. For starters, your eyes. You only have one, and the eyes are my favorite. So how about a compromise. We take that lovely eye, and then,” she gave her plastic grin again. “We’ll let you keep your tongue. Sounds like a good deal huh?” Sadie just kept screaming. She screamed even harder as Mrs. Canton slipped the knife under her eyelid and then up into the eye. The eye gave a weird pop sound and instead of just cutting the eye out, she started to pull. The cord got longer and long, but it was just so stubborn as to break.
Sadie finally knew when she’d completed her task when the pain in her head had ceased and when she heard the dull crunch of her eye leaving her skull. “Hmm, so beautiful.” She heard Mrs. Canton say. And then the door opened and closed again.
Even missing both her eyes she could still feel some kind of warm liquid fall down her cheeks. She was crying. But they were tears of blood. She was stuck in this slaughter house until they saw fit to kill her.
She just hoped it was soon.
Soon.
