Are we all ready for a new piece of horror fiction from me? Well, you better be. I got an all new story for you to read and enjoy. This one is a bit creepy and dark. But then again, what do I write that's not? And did you know that checking out books is not the only thing you can check out from a library? You will have to read this story and find out what I'm talking about. So, with that, hold on tight as we venture through the dark corridors of this creepy ass library. I hope you really enjoy this one, and thanks so much.
One Part at a Time
By Matthew R. Taylor
The large oak door shut loudly, the noise echoing throughout the cavernous space. Victor cringed at the sound. He knew it was a library, and you were supposed to be quiet, but it wasn't his fault the door was so loud. Hopefully no one noticed, but that was doubtful he thought, there was no way anyone in here couldn't have noticed the sound. Glancing around the gloomy space, he saw no one looking at him. He actually saw no one at all. The dim lighting along with large shelves placed throughout the space made it hard for Victor to see very far. There could be no one in this space, or there could be people hidden everywhere. It was hard to tell.
Cautiously moving forward, Victor made his way over to the large reception desk that dominated the front part of the space. It looked old, very old. Ancient in fact. Like it had been designed and built a century or two ago. Approaching the desk, a small older woman came in to view seated behind it. She too looked as ancient as the desk looked. Maybe she'd also been designed and built when the desk had been. Victor reached the front of the desk and stood. Apparently the old woman hadn't even noticed him yet. She was focused on writing something on a small index card. A minute past, then another, and still the woman didn't even bother to acknowledge his presence. Finally, Victor cleared his throat, but still the woman didn't look up from what she was doing.
"Excuse me ma'am, I hate to bother you but I'm looking for…" Victor didn't even get to finish his sentence. Still not even acknowledging him, or saying a word, the woman simply raised an arm and pointed. Victor hesitated for a moment then turned and looked where she pointed. A massive card catalog cabinet sat twenty feet away. Apparently that's where Victor was supposed to go.
"Thank… Thank you ma'am," Victor stuttered out as he turned and quickly fled. Sweat beaded his forehead and ran down his back. Why the hell was he so nervous? It was ridiculous, everyone else came in here and did the same thing, so he had no reason to be nervous. Crossing the space, victor reached the large card catalog cabinet, and just stood staring for a moment. Where the hell should he begin? He had no idea. nothing was labeled. Just smooth dark wood and polish brass handles for drawer fronts. How the hell were you supposed to know what was where? Just pick a drawer he guessed. With a trembling hand he reached forward and grabbed the knob on one of the old antique looking drawers and slowly pulled. It fluidly slid open, revealing hundreds of small index cards inside. Letting out of breath he didn't realize he had been holding, he flipped through the cards and just selected one at random. Sliding it free he held it up and looked at it. It read:
Left Arm
Male
Caucasian
Mid 20's
Slightly Hairy
6905631875
* Note: this arm also includes hand.
Interesting, he thought. An arm wasn't what he was interested in today, but he liked the organization of this place. Placing the card back he flipped through a couple of more, then slowly closed the drawer. Let's see what else they have he thought. Selecting another drawer, he slowly slid it open. More cards filled the inside. Again, randomly selecting one, he pulled it out and read it. This one said:
Head
Female
Eastern European
Early 30's
0221759836
* Note: this had has beautiful luxurious hair. Please note, you must use caution when handling so as not to damage.
Wow, Victor thought, that sounds amazing. He hadn't been here originally for ahead, he hadn't really known what he wanted to select. Lots of thoughts and ideas came to him as he had walked to the library, but nothing concrete stood out to him. Reading that description made him feel a bit excited, and he liked the idea. Holding onto the card, he slid the drawer closed, then turned away from the card catalog. He didn't like the idea of interacting with the woman again, but knew he had no other choice. After all, it seemed like there was no one else around. Slowly making his way back up to the counter, he presented the card to her. The old woman finally stopped doing what she was doing, and looked up at Victor. Her dark eyes glittered and made a full body shiver pass through him. For a long moment she didn't even move. She just stared at Victor holding the card out to her. Then, slowly, she reached up and took the card from his hand. Glancing down at it, she quickly read the information on the card. Looking back up at Victor, she gave him an impassive stare. Those dark creepy eyes just fixed on him. Was he supposed to say something? Do something? He'd never been here before, this was all new to him.
"Come on," the old woman finally said. Her creaky voice making him startle a bit as she had finally spoken. As he watched, she slowly rose from her chair and made her way around the large desk. Victor guessed he should follow.
For a small old woman, she moved rather fast Victor noticed. He had to quickly catch up so as not to lose her in here. Weaving in and out of the stacks, she made her way deeper and deeper into the place. All kinds of items lined the shelves from Florida ceiling. They were moving quickly, and Victor could only glance here and there at some of the different offerings. Individually vacuumed sealed bags of arms covered one aisle. Every size, shape, and color you could imagine. Feet filled another aisle. Lined up in pairs, clear plastic containers showing them off as he passed. Hundreds, no maybe thousands of body parts filled this place. All arranged and organized and available to check out. It was mind blowing. Exciting, but also a bit overwhelming for Victor. Finally after several minutes the old woman slowed then stopped in one particular aisle. Breathing heavily, Victor came up close to her and stopped as well. Holding up the card Victor had selected, the woman checked the ID number on the card against the ID number on the item itself. They were a match. Just pointing, the old woman didn't even say a word. Victor took a moment to figure out what she was implying, then reached forward and slid the large box off the shelf. Turning, the woman beckoned him to follow, and again they were off. Weaving and turning as they made their way through this dimly lit maze.
Several minutes past as the two wordlessly walked. The only sounds were the small squeaks coming from Victor's shoes. The woman's footwear didn't even make a sound. It was like she was weightless and gliding across the floor instead of walking. The whole thing creeped him out. He wanted to be here, wanted to experience this, but the entire situation thus far made him feel dirty and afraid. As Victor was about to give up on the whole thing and just dropped the box and run, they emerged from the maze of stacks, and came out into a large open area. Several tables and chairs sat throughout the large space. Along the back wall were dozens of small rooms set into it.
The woman turned and regarded Victor.
"Table or room?" She asked in that dry creaky voice. The sound of it made Victor think of hundreds of years trapped deep down in her lungs. He was surprised that dust didn't spill out from her mouth when this ancient looking woman spoke.
"Roo... room," Victor struggled to say. With that impassive look again, the woman turned, and made her way down the far wall. Passing room after room as Victor hurried to catch up and follow. He glanced in through windows set into the doors of the rooms as he walked by. In one he saw a gentleman with an amputated leg propped up on a chair, gently massaging the foot. In another room, a woman used an amputated hand to rub her face and neck. And yet another room offered a view of a man with what looked to be a woman's arm draped over his shoulders. Him looking like he was hugging someone and softly crying. To each his own, he thought, as he continued on. Finally they reached one of the last rooms, and the woman stopped and pointed at it. As Victor stepped forward to go inside, she stopped him and said, "you get one hour with the part, and you may only check out one part at a time. Do not damage the part, do not try to steal the part, and do not do anything obscene with the part. Return the part to me at the front desk when your one hour is up." With that, she quickly turned and made her way back across the open area and disappeared into the stacks again. Victor watched for another moment, seeing if she would re-emerge from the stacks. He'd hoped she wouldn't. Talking to her had been creepy enough. When she didn't, he turned and stepped into the small room he had been given.
The room was bare except for a small table, and two chairs. Placing the box down on the table, Victor quickly turned and shut the door. Returning his attention back to the box, he eagerly opened the flaps and peered inside. Yup, exactly what the card had said, and Eastern European woman's head with long luxurious hair sat nestled in the box. Victor's heart raced as he slowly reached in and picked it up and brought it out. It was gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! However these people preserved their body parts, they did a great job at it. The woman's flesh revealed no signs of rot or decay at all. Touching her face, Victor enjoyed the feeling of her soft flesh under his fingers. One hour, that's all I get with this beautiful thing.
***
Sweat poured down Victor's face. He was fucked. Opening the door a crack and peeking out of the room, he saw no one around. Good, that was at least a relief. Shutting the door again, he turned and regarded the female head on the table. He didn't know what had happened. One moment he was caressing the woman's face, then running his hands through her hair, and the next he was crying and hugging her head to himself tightly, and then a crack, and a crunch. In horror he had placed the head back down on the table and looked at it. It's face now sat lopsided. Oh fuck, Victor thought, oh fuck what have I done? He didn't mean to damage it, he had just felt overwhelmed by its touch and sensations. Fuck, what do I do now, he thought. What was their consequences here for damaging the parts? The lady never explained that. Glancing at his watch, he saw his hour was almost up. Maybe she wouldn't notice. Yeah, maybe no one would notice till he was gone. Wiping the sweat from his face with his sleeve, he carefully picked the head up, and placed it back in the box then closed the top again. Just drop the damn thing on the front desk and get the hell out of here. Yeah, that would have to work, he thought. Letting out a deep breath, he picked the box up, and slowly exited the room. No one was around as he quickly made his way across the space with the tables and chairs. Then he plunged into the stacks and began heading back towards the front.
Minutes clicked by in his head as he moved down aisle after aisle, and made turn after turn. Finally he emerged back at the front of the building, almost directly across from the large reception desk. Like before, the woman was seated behind it and working on something. Maybe she wouldn't even notice him and he could just set the box down quietly and go. He hoped anyways. A confrontation was the last thing he wanted. He felt bad enough for damaging the head, he didn't need to be made to feel worse about it. Maybe they would just have him pay a fee or something, yeah, that would be fine. He'd pay whatever as long as it meant he could just go and put this behind him. He was still sweating, and now his stomach was turning and he felt sick. Almost done he told himself, almost out of here.
He slowly crossed over to the reception desk, and gently placed the box down on it. He hesitated for a moment, the woman still focusing on what she was doing and not even looking up at him. Then, seeing his opportunity, he quickly turned and went to leave.
"STOP" the woman commanded in a deep growl. Victor could've just ran out, he didn't need to even listen, but something in that tone told him he needed to listen. Turning, he stepped back up to the desk again and noticed the woman staring at him. Those creepy eyes of hers just fixed on his. "We need to check the merchandise before you leave sir." With that she stood, slid the box towards herself, and open the flaps. For a long moment she just stared down into the box at the head inside. Then, slowly, her eyes lifted and glared at Victor. "Sir, care to explain?"
"I… I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Victor pleaded as The woman's eyes slid back down to the box and she stood still, just staring in at the head. Closing the flaps she slid the box aside, then folded her hands and stared up at Victor. "You were told not to damage the head sir, you were told that very clearly."
"I know," Victor stumbled, "I know, and I'm very sorry I didn't mean to. Is there like a fine or something I can pay? Again, I'm sorry."
"A fee sir? Oh yes, there is a fee for damaging any of the parts you check out," she said very calmly.
"OK, well whatever it is I will gladly pay it, and again I'm so sorry," Victor said. He felt embarrassed, and he just wanted to pay the fee and go. A smile creased the woman's face as she just stared at Victor. A loud click came from the doors where he'd entered.
"No money sir, but you will replace what you've damaged. A part for a part. True, you are not an early 30s Eastern European woman, but I'm sure your head will suffice." Those dark eyes of hers intensely staring at Victor while her smile grew even wider.