He would take them to the graveyard.

The engine hummed to a stop.

A heavy quiet, another body hoisted on top

Distant headlights passing in a chaotic morse code

His truck was tucked into the darkness.

The air inside salty and acrid.

Flesh and silence

bookends to an exposed form

Rounded tree stump.

Windows fogged.

Radio Green Light.

Up here!

The sound of a seat belt clicking. His abdomen pressed.

Click    Click      Click     Click     Click

His buckle against bone.

Can you hear the sound of skin pulling from the leather.

Ribs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

See her rubbing vanilla lotion on blood stained hands

he starts to cry.

“I’m sad”

She turns her body towards the door.

My feet hit gravel. Moonlight and cicadas. There’s a lake.

I walk out.

Dipping Below

Neck Deep. My nose at the surface. Eyes yellow. Claws digging into sludge.