Other Voices, Other Tombs

by Joe Sullivan

  The road was abandoned. Cindy was the first to happen upon the scene. She pressed the brake, slowing her car to a crawl as her eyes roamed with glee over the carnage she’d orchestrated.

  Robert’s handsome face was pressed against the driver side window, and in the quick flash of her headlights, Cindy could tell that he was dead. The window was broken. The few remaining shards of glass grazed his skin like eager teeth as blood trickled down from the fatal wound to his temple.

  Cindy’s gaze continued to scan the tree line. After all, her promise wasn’t fulfilled unless both of them were dead. Her heart quickened. Had Melissa survived? Where did she go? Just then, she caught sight of a pale arm dangling out of the crushed windshield. Crimson ribbons flowed languidly from the flayed skin, soaking into the grass below. Her sister’s body was folded in half, squeezed into the space above the dashboard. Melissa was often too vain to wear a seatbelt for fear that the restraint would wrinkle her dress. Numerous lacerations carved apart her beautiful face while blood poured from her concaved skull over her glassy eyes.

  Even from the road, Cindy could smell the alcohol flavoring the cool night air. Their deaths would be chalked up to nothing more than another DWI tragedy, and Ava would be free.

  Cindy tilted her head back at the memory, a tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders that night. She stared at her niece as her heart swelled with love. She had freed her from one oppressive force. Now it was time to rid the world of another.

  “How did it go?” Cindy asked, wringing her hands with excitement.

  Ava shrugged. “A little disappointing, actually. She didn’t even scream.”

  Aunt Cindy brushed her palm up and down Ava’s bare shoulder and flexed her fingers, playing with the tacky blood that now coated her hand. “It’s because she trusted you. Next time we’ll build up the tension a little more. Give you the satisfaction you crave,” she whispered. Her hand trailed down to Ava’s fist where Charlotte’s face hung. “May I?”

  Ava nodded and handed over the prize, grinning as she watched Cindy’s eyes evaluate her precise cuts that severed the tissue and nerves.

  “Excellent,” Cindy murmured. Her eyes flickered back to Ava’s dirty face, already imagining the way her niece would dazzle the world with Charlotte’s addition. Part of Cindy mourned the necessary next step. Unlike Melissa, she thought Ava was beautiful and would miss the sweet girl’s smile, but this is what she wanted. This is what had to be done to exact revenge. Who was she to prevent that? “All right,” she cleared her throat. “Go wash your face. We’ve got work to do.”

  #

  Flicking on the overhead light, Ava stared at her reflection in the mirror. Dirt and blood covered her in small smudges and long streaks. She didn’t remember touching her face, but it was such a natural habit. Charlotte never touched her face, evident by her perfect pores. Ava would have to work on that.

  She laid Charlotte’s face on the formica countertop beside her, along with the tiara and the paring knife. Looking at it in the light, in the bathroom surrounded by her aunt’s flowered wallpaper, it didn’t seem real. More like a scary mask for Halloween. Ava splashed water on her face, tasting the coppery scent of Charlotte’s blood as it dribbled over her lips, slipping onto her tongue.

  Trying to settle her racing heartbeat, Ava reached out and touched the knife, tracing the rust-colored blade. Did she really want to do this? Charlotte was gone, her muscles atrophying in the dark. Her soul had joined her parents. Hopefully they were all trapped together, at last the perfect family her mother had always dreamed of.

  A sharp rap on the wooden door caused Ava to flinch. The tip of her finger dragged across the knife, slicing her skin.

  “All right, honey. I’ve got my equipment, so why don’t-” Aunt Cindy paused when she caught the fear reflected in Ava’s eyes. “Honey, are you okay?” Cindy deposited her surgical kit on the counter and placed her hand on her niece’s upper back. “Av, your heart is pounding. What’s wrong?”

  Ava swallowed and looked away, ashamed. “I don’t know. I thought this was what I wanted, but…I’m scared,” she admitted. “Mom and Dad are gone and now Charlotte is too. Maybe, maybe that’s enough?”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Cindy soothed. “I understand your hesitation. You’ll be different. After tonight, Ava will be dead, and Charlotte will become your new reflection every time you look in the mirror. But, baby…you have to do this. Remember our dream? To live together away from this dump and take the life of luxury for ourselves? For all their shiny outward appearances, your parents left you with nothing. Even the car was repossessed. This is our ticket to a better life.”

  “I know, but-” Ava began.

  “Remember the way all those kids made fun of you? The nasty words they said, the names they called you behind your back, all the while Charlotte laughed along with them?” Aunt Cindy continued, clutching Ava’s hands. “You can get back at them. Wipe those snotty smiles off their faces one by one, just like we talked about. Then you’ll be free to live any way you wish.” Cindy’s eyes were shining, hopeful. Both of their futures rested on Ava’s courage to sacrifice herself.

  “But it won’t be mine. It will still be Charlotte’s life,” Ava replied, her voice a whisper.

  Cindy stepped closer and kissed Ava’s wet cheek. “No. It’ll be yours. Charlotte’s life is over, done. And once all her horrible friends and rich parents are dead, you can start over. We can move anywhere in the world. Don’t doubt the future, baby. It’ll be perfect. I promise.”

  With a shaky breath, Ava nodded and took one last look at her reflection. She would not miss the angsty way she pursed her lips, wouldn’t miss her bushy eyebrows, nor the sporadic acne scarring her chin and cheeks. She wanted to be perfect, and soon she would be. Aunt Cindy was right. Ava was worth throwing away. If she became Charlotte, anything was possible.

  “Okay, I’m ready. Where should we do this?” Ava asked, her cold resolve smothering her fears for good.

  “Here is fine. I’ll need you as relaxed as possible,” Cindy directed, pointing to the tile floor.

  Ava complied and settled atop a pile of old towels. She forced her mind to go blank as she gazed at the ugly popcorn ceiling. Tomorrow she’d be sleeping under a silk curtain in a four-poster bed fit for a princess.

  “How long will it take? What if you get called in?” Ava asked.

  Cindy waved her concerns away. “Won’t happen. I told the director I needed to take a personal day and couldn’t be called away. Anders is just as skilled a surgeon as I am. He can handle one night on his own. And as for those drunk idiots in the woods, don’t worry, they’ll still be there. They wouldn’t leave Charlotte.”

  Ava tried to ignore the dig her aunt made, but it stung nonetheless. “Thanks, Aunt Cindy. I could never have done this without you,” she sighed.

  Cindy patted the back of Ava’s hand. “Of course you could have, baby. You’re a lot stronger than you think. Tonight is proof of that,” she said with a smile, gesturing to the face Ava carved off her best friend. “You know I’d do anything for you. Now, hold still. This is going to pinch. I need to administer the Lidocaine to get you nice and numb and then, you won’t feel a thing.”

  Ava licked her lips, savoring each chapped divot and tooth imprint—she had been chewing on them incessantly that night. Soon, they’d be gone. One of her many imperfections replaced with Charlotte’s perfect, bow-shaped smile.

  “Here we go,” Cindy spoke. She slid the needle into the soft skin below Ava’s right ear and jawbone. Pressing the plunger, the anesthetic drained into Ava’s flesh. She ignored her niece’s clenched fists as she made four more injections around the young girl’s face. Cindy had retreated to the surgical zone, blocking out all distractions to focus on the task at hand.

  Scalpels and sterilized scissors gleamed as a calming sensation washed over Cindy. She let her mind go blank as muscle memory took over. She pushed her own fear of failure away, avoiding looking in Ava’s eyes. Ju
st like every other procedure, Ava was flesh and blood and nerves and tissue. Although this was the first time she had ever performed a facial transplant, she was confident in her skillset.

  Reaching out with her thumb and forefinger, she pinched her niece’s cheek hard. Ava didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. With a deep breath, Cindy lifted the scalpel from the metal plate and placed the blade against the injection site of the Lidocaine and dragged it carefully underneath Ava’s jaw line. Cindy always loved this part, the first incision. She was an artist, but rather than dabble in ink or pastels, her preferred medium was severed flesh and crimson blood.

  Warm, red liquid trickled down Ava’s neck, soaking into the top of the pink satin gown. The initial volume of blood was worrisome for the surgeon, but Cindy continued to cut, curving the scalpel around Ava’s ear, keeping close to her hair line. The blade danced across the thin skin as Cindy completed the oval, slicing past Ava’s other ear to end at the beginning. The cut was perfect. Smooth, even, and most importantly, not too deep.

  Grabbing a towel, Cindy patted the blood swelling to the surface, absentmindedly dabbing it away. Ava’s eyes were closed. She too had withdrawn, her goodbyes to her old life already said, content to await her future. Cindy returned the scalpel to the metal tray and tugged the bottom of her blue latex gloves, ensuring they were on tight. She paused. The next part was going to be tricky. Thanks to the Lidocaine, Ava would feel little to no pain, but the eerie pulling sensation would freak anyone out.

  Cindy stared at Ava’s peaceful expression and pictured the dreams running through her mind. It was no secret that Ava wanted it all, the handsome boyfriend, the Ivy League education, and most of all, the ability to be her own person. She craved it with every fiber of her being, but unlike most dreamers, Ava didn’t hesitate to make the necessary sacrifices.

  Licking her lower lip, Cindy ran the tips of her fingers along the inside of the incision, testing for any sticky spots. Her work was flawless per usual and with a light grip, she pinched the flayed skin at the top of Ava’s hair line and carefully began to pull in a smooth downward motion. The flesh gave away easily, peeling off the skull with little resistance. Cindy kept pulling, rolling the skin so that her grip remained firm to avoid tearing.

  Raw tissue and nerves covered the pale bone, gleaming wetly as Cindy continued. For most people, the inside of the human body was enough to make them sick, but it gave Cindy a thrill, as if she were peeking behind the curtain of creation.

  For a moment, Ava’s face held tight, stuck just below her eyelids. Unable to close her eyes, Ava’s eyeballs shifted back and forth.

  “What’s wrong?” Ava asked, her voice tight with anxiety.

  “Nothing, just a deep nerve here,” Cindy answered. “Just need to use a bit more…force.” With a sharp tug, the muscles released their hold and the rest of her face peeled away with a loud sucking sound.

  Ava screamed out of instinct, rather than in response to pain. She felt strange, exposed, and involuntarily raised her fingers to her face.

  “None of that, honey,” Cindy chided. “We need to make sure the tissue doesn’t get contaminated.” With a gentle touch, Cindy returned Ava’s hand to its position on the floor.

  Fresh blood flowed down Ava’s neck, pooling in her ears as her heart rate increased. She tasted blood and her eyeballs burned. The air was too dry and they cried out for moisture. Without thinking, she tried to blink, but there was no relief, no lids to satisfy the craving. Panic began to crest in Ava’s chest as doubts slithered around her brain.

  There is no way you can pull this off. What choice do I have? My face is gone! Maybe Cindy can put it back, Ava thought.

  “Calm down, Av. I’m almost finished,” Cindy instructed. She placed several more towels beneath her niece’s head and shoulders and then selected a thin cutting needle from the instruments on the tray.

  Humming to herself, Cindy placed Charlotte’s face over Ava’s skull, aligning the new flesh. She was impressed. Ava had done an excellent job in keeping her cuts even. Smoothing the skin into place, Cindy sighed. The face fit perfectly, covering Ava from her forehead, down to her chin, and stretched nicely across her cheekbones. She lined the nostrils up with the nasal cavity and positioned the eye lids over Ava’s protruding eyeballs. Automatically, Ava blinked, the motion seamless and natural.

  Ava smiled and Cindy was elated to see a small rush of hot pink color illuminate her cheeks. The face was responding miraculously. The only thing left to do was tie it on. Pinching the needle between her thumb and forefinger, Cindy inserted the point into the skin below her left ear and began to sew the flesh into place.

  Several times the needle struck a nerve or deep tissue, causing Ava to flinch. The anesthetic was wearing off. Cindy had to hurry. Her hands flew, joy expanding in her chest as her masterpiece neared completion. At last, her stitches met with the first one and she tied a perfect knot, hiding the small bundle of thread inside the flesh so it appeared to be no more than a slight skin blemish. Dropping the needle onto the tray, Cindy sat back on her knees to admire her creation.

  Raven black hair sat atop milky white skin and full lips curled in a scarlet smile. The skin around the mouth was still stained from Charlotte’s blood, but now the color made Ava appear sexy rather than horrific. Lush black eyelashes fluttered charmingly above her dark brown eyes and her slender brows arched delicately. She was beautiful, gorgeous, and flawless.

  “How do I look?” Ava asked, remaining still.

  A smile split Cindy’s lip. “Fabulous. Come look for yourself.” Offering Ava a hand, she helped her to her feet and placed her in front of the mirror. “Well?”

  Ava’s eyes widened in shock when she caught her reflection. It was Charlotte. She was Charlotte. The intriguing eyes, the china doll complexion. Curious, Ava turned her head, feeling for the sutures. They were there, disguised within the roots of her hair, in the shadow of her jaw.

  “I can’t believe it,” Ava whispered. “I’m perfect.”

  “Not quite,” Cindy clucked. Reaching past Ava’s discarded flesh, she plucked the diamond crown from the back of the counter and dramatically placed it on her niece’s head. “Now you are perfect.”

  #

  The chemical scent of bleach permeated the small bathroom ten minutes later. All evidence of the surgery wiped clean. Depositing the bleached instruments in the dishwasher, Cindy checked the time on the microwave phone. 2:11. Hopefully her hunch proved correct. Ava folded her old face in half, careful to protect the thin thread Cindy sewed into it.

  “Now remember,” Cindy spoke, drying her hands. “Take two of these every day.” She handed Ava a small bottle of pills. “If you don’t, your body may start to reject the new tissue and lead to infection. We need you to stay safe.”

  Ava wrapped her arms around her aunt’s waist. “I promise,” she thanked. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Cindy patted Ava’s cheek. “That’s right, darling. When you’re ready to move the bodies, call me.”

  “Okay,” Ava said with a grin. She loved the way it felt, carefree and powerful.

  “Get going now. And, Av? Make it dramatic,” her aunt teased.

  Ava laughed and disappeared out the back door with one last backwards glance at the modest house. Going forward, she would sleep on silk, curl up in the blankets as soft as ermine. Ava’s sneakers hit the weed-covered patio and she broke into a sprint, praying the group hadn’t decided to call it a night yet.

  The plunging temperature bit at the high slit exposing her thighs, causing Ava to suck in her breath. The new Charlotte was going to forsake skanky attire after tonight. Teeth chattering, Ava dipped into the woods behind her aunt’s home, pushing her legs to go faster through the budding trees, but it was difficult with Charlotte’s heels sinking into the damp earth. After ten minutes of hard running, the darkness began to lighten, and she caught a flickering glimpse of the dying fire peeking through the brush. Everyone was still present, tossing empty beer cans and cardboard bo
xes into the sputtering embers, laughing and joking, oblivious to the horror about to encapsulate them. Slowing her pace, Ava unrolled her mask and fitted her old skin onto her face. Show time.

  “Help!” Ava wailed, crashing through the trees. “Someone help me! Please, please!”

  Numerous heads looked up at the commotion and a guy Ava thought was named Patrick stepped forward.

  “Is that, Ava?” Patrick asked, squinting his bleary eyes into the darkness. “Whoa, girl, why you screaming?”

  Ava barreled through the last few trees, tears streaming down her face. “Please! He killed her, he killed her!”

  “Who? What’s going on?” the voice belonged to Ryan. Ava stumbled into his arms, blubbering madly. “Ava, are you okay? Where’s Charlotte?”

  Ava shook her head. “No, no, I’m under here. Ryan, it’s me! He…he…he tore her face off and made me wear it!”

  “Oh my God,” Ryan gasped. Hurriedly, he removed the Ava mask to reveal Charlotte’s scared face, covered in her friend’s blood. He dropped Ava’s skin into the dirt and ash, it’s owner already forgotten. “Baby, are you okay?” Ryan said, wrapping her his arms around her. “What the hell happened? Who did this?!”

  By now, all the kids had gathered around Charlotte, some touching her shoulder or back trying to offer comfort while others stayed away, frightened by the sheer amount of blood splattered on her dress.

  “I don’t know, I don’t know, Ryan,” Charlotte wept, unleashing more tears. “Ava and I went for a walk and we heard a sound. Then, out of nowhere this huge guy jumped out at us. He had a knife! Ava tried to pull it out of his hand, but he cut her, slit her throat.” The new Charlotte cuddled into Ryan, pressing her body against his, inhaling his woody cologne. Beneath her charade, a joyous smile split her lips. “I tried to escape, but he pulled me back, tried to cut me and then put her face on top of mine. He told me to run.”

  “Christ, is he following you?” a guy named Neil cursed, scanning the dark tree line.

  Charlotte wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I don’t know.”