Killing Tink

Ch. 26

John filled the bottom of the bathtub with hot water and gently lowered Alice in.  Carefully he folded and placed towels to make sure her head stayed resting on the back corner while turning on the shower head to spray to rid her skin of the dried caked on dirt that clung to it in layers.

When he was satisfied it wasn't going to wake her, he turned to the mirror and began removing his own dirty clothing. He hadn't brought a bag into the bathroom and debated several minutes about what to do with them. He'd forgotten the bag. His mind had been elsewhere, and now they would be ruined. With a deep sigh he dropped the pile of filthy clothes beside the toilet. It angered him. These clothes wouldn't be able to go to the cleaners now, they'd be contaminated and would certainly have to be thrown away. This was Alice's fault.

His hand forcefully pushed the knob to stop the running shower and then reached below the to pull the chain on the plug and let the dirty water drain. He stood above it, mesmerized by the swirl and reliving memories of Sophie's giggles as she tried to catch it calling it her mini tornado.

When the water was emptied he placed the plug back in and turned on the faucet to a temperature just above a comfortable hot and grabbed his wife's sponge and favorite verbena soap. It was time for Alice to shine. Carefully he climbed in, grateful they had went with a big tub despite his wife saying it was a wasteful expense.

John soaped up the sponge and cleansed himself first, finishing his ritual with his normal full body scrub from the pumice stone. When he was satisfied with his own cleanliness he turned his attention to Alice, starting with her feet and legs and working his way up. It was more difficult to wash her than he had anticipated. Even with her slight frame the deadness of her slack weight was something he hadn't planned on.

When her body was clean he moved to her hair. Dumping a golf ball sized wad of shampoo on top he began working it through the knots and tangles loosening up hair that had long ago fallen out but stayed ensnarled. Using the same cup he had for Sophie's hair, he rinsed it, time and time again until his fingers easily ran through without getting stuck.

Slowly he worked conditioner down the strands and repeated the rinsing. He wanted it to be shining and beautiful, like Alice.

Despite the searing heat of the water Alice's body stayed cool and her lips and fingers a dusky shade of blue. He wasn't ready to let her go and firmly placed his knuckles between her breasts trying to stimulate a deep breath. Alice didn't move and he placed his lips on hers and pinched her nose puffing air into her lungs. Her chest rose and fell and he repeated the process until he felt faint.

As he pulled his mouth away from hers, her bottom lip stuck to his and loosened a small bit of dried skin that began to bleed. John licked the crimson dot and was surprised to find himself crying. It was unexpected, and things that moved him were always important so he let himself have the moment.

He lifted her unmoving body and placed himself behind her wrapping his arms and legs around her. He kissed her neck and basked in the scent of her clean skin and hair. Letting the emotions release, he caressed and squeezed her gently as the sobs escaped causing them both to shake.

As the water lost its heat he stayed there, his body rigidly holding hers without fear of her wrath. She had been his salvation since the incident. Months of anger keeping him above the crashing waves of grief. He cleansed himself in this moment. Forgiving her, forgiving himself for bringing her into his home, forcing his family to accept her when they instinctively knew what he could not, that she was evil.

He pushed in the plug with his left great toe and turned the hot water back on full trying his best to soak every moment of this last warm embrace. His head throbbed and his chest hurt from crying but he felt alive. Alice had given him a gift. As the lukewarm water rose he ran his wrinkled hot hands across her cool shoulders.

When the water reached his chest he turned it off, startled by the silence. His hands expertly twisted her hair and placed it across her shoulder exposing her bony neck. Slowly he traced the outline of her spine, protruding bits of bone reminding him of an instrument carved by hand and meant to bring relaxation and finding ones center.

"I'm sorry Alice. I lied. I planned on choking you, on watching your face as you struggled for air - but I messed up the math and dosed you too high. I wish I'd done this before. Bathing with you was almost spiritual don't you think? Perhaps we could have changed things."

As he spoke to her he caressed her breasts which no longer popped to attention. Her body no longer able to send signals in her deep sedated state. He moved forward and massaged her thighs, slowly tracing the outline of her trying his best to etch it deeply in his mind.

He felt himself engorge. Blood rushing to his manhood and an awakening of nerves shot through his body like wildfire.

"I'm not going to hurt you Alice."

He felt an uncomfortable ache as her body pushed against his constricted the pulsating blood from reaching its target. Slowly he kissed her neck and unwedged himself from behind her choosing to straddle her from the front instead.

"It's better this way, without pain, and I got what I needed. I forgive you."

One last gentle kiss was placed on her forehead as his palms swiped sideways across to wipe away the condensation from her ivory face. Pain and pleasure rippled through his core and he embraced it. He leaned back, putting space between them and placed both hands on her shoulders.  With a slow gentle pressure he eased her body down into the water.

When her body was completely submerged he felt pain in his chest and a slow dull throbbing from his erection that he refused to pay attention to. Instead he put his face below the water, laying his head on her chest. She wouldn't be alone, he owed her that. He held his breath until his lungs burned and his brain sent white flashing dots behind his eyelids.

No longer able to hold his breath, he lifted his head gasping for air, coughing and gagging into the water. There she was, his Alice. Peaceful and beautiful. The way it was supposed to be. Her eyes were open, staring upward in a look of surrender and appreciation. He got out of the tub and dried himself with a crisp white towel.

He pulled the plug and sat it on the tubs side to let the water drain feeling an almost unbearable loneliness settle over him.

"I'm going to get you a nightgown Alice. A pretty one. Don't fret, it won't be long before you get to meet someone new. Hope is special. Like you were. You're really going to like her."

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And so ends the chapter on poor Alice - although I hate to say it, I expect John isn't one to let go so easily.  There will be another update this weekend.
If you'd indulge- I'm wondering if you think the last two chapters were too graphic, or appropriate for the deeper look into Johns psyche?  Feel free to let me know  (or don't - I respect that too). Next up -John brings Hope home to meet the family.