Page 137 of Sincerely, Butterfly

“No fucking way!” I squeal with excitement. “Whoever is watching over me, I could kiss you right now.” I burst out in excited laughter.

Out of all the people it could be, the stupid person on the side of the road is none other than Rebecca.

“It was fate. I swear, it’s meant to be. And how am I to deny fate?”

I could pull over and grab her. But she would try to run. And as much as I love a good chase, I’m not in the mood to follow her through the woods. There could be snakes and gators.Not taking that risk, thanks.

Rebecca must be looking for a lift, because she starts to wave her hand, stepping into the road to flag me down.

“Oh, you stupid, stupid girl. Didn't your mommy ever tell you playing in the street is dangerous?” I laugh. “Someone hasn’t seen the movieI Know What You Did Last Summer,and it shows.”

With a big, wicked grin, I shut off my Jeep’s light, making everything around us go dark. The moonlight illuminates my surroundings just bright enough to be able to make out the road and the girl on it.

Feeling like this song is perfect for this moment as I slam my foot down on the gas.

Singing along, I nod my head as I head towards her at full speed. “Maneater, grim reaper,” I sing. At the last moment, I flick the Jeep's lights back on just in time to see her wide, horror-filled eyes right before the Jeep crashes into her.

I hit her body with a hard bang, the impact sending her flying over my Jeep.

Stomping on my brakes, I put it in park and throw open my door.

The song still plays as I walk towards the back. I continue to sing the next lyrics, “Here’s the reason, you’re a bitch on the slideshow.”

Pressing the button for the trunk, I let it open on its own as I address the damaged pile of flesh that was once Rebecca.

“Damn,” I huff out a laugh. “I really did a number on you.”

She’s dead. Like, dead dead.

There’s blood all over the road, and her limbs are twisted in all the wrong directions. But it’s her head that has me grimacing. Stepping over her body, I look down. “Oh. Babe. No amount of plastic surgery will fix that. Sorry.”

Her face is all ripped up, chunks of skin hardly hanging on, her neck snapped like a broken twig, only half of it still attached.

“Alright, babe, let’s get going before someone sees you like this.”

Bobbing my head to the song, I drag her body towards my Jeep, leaving a streak of blood and other bodily fluids behind.

It takes a few tries, but I manage to get her body in the trunk. “Shit,” I sigh. “Dad is going to kill me for forgetting the plastic again.” I close the trunk.

Making my way back to the front, I decided to check out the damage to my front grill.

“Fuuuuck,” I groan. No damage, but there is some blood and chunks of god knows what in my grill. “Burning flesh is so nasty.” I wave my hand over my nose. “I'd better get home and deal with this,” I sigh, flicking the chunks off as best as I can with the tip of my sneakers.

Sliding back behind the wheel, I slam the door shut and slip my seatbelt on. Because safety first.

Shifting into drive, I turn the Jeep back onto the road and speed off, blasting “Itty Bitty”.

Shaking my head, I laugh. “This really did end up being the best Halloween ever. I was worried for nothing.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

NOLA

The elevator doors slide open,and I smile as I wheel the table out into the autopsy room.

Taking in a deep breath, I sigh happily as the smell of antiseptic fills my nose.