Sex and Murder Magazine

By Karen L. Newman

Laura Madison walked out of Dean Duncan’s office for the third time that week. She wasn’t going to change her story. It didn’t matter how many times she had to tell it. She was the first person in her family to go to college and she wasn’t about to be expelled for drinking.

She wanted to re-enroll at the public university she attended last year. She never had problems with her drinking there. Her parents wouldn’t allow her to party in high school, but she made up for it with Marcy, her old college roommate. They bar hopped all night and slept until noon. They even drank in the dorm sometimes. Her grades had slipped and her parents blamed it on the public school.

Laura wished she wasn’t so dependent on her parents’ money. If she had been willing to work her way through school, her parents couldn’t have made her transfer to this private Baptist college that had a no-drinking-on-campus policy. But then she’d have no time to party. She sighed. She just couldn’t win.

Laura missed Marcy. Sure, she made new friends here, Olivia and Rebecca, but they both always seemed to want something from her most of the time. God knows she tried to find better friends, but she couldn’t. The cliques were carved up during the freshman year she missed here. The other girls in her dorm or in her classes were sorority-rejects whose parents had also sent them there to straighten up. Even they had their own cliques that excluded her.

Laura walked across the quad unnoticed. She went into her dorm and down the first floor hall to her private room. Olivia, the floor’s resident advisor, talked Mom Thompson into opening up the vacant room next to her small apartment for Laura. It was the only nice thing Olivia ever did for her.

Laura tossed her backpack onto the unmade bed and sat down at her desk. She opened her laptop.

“Hey, Laura, whatcha doing this weekend?”

Laura turned to see Olivia leaning against her doorframe. Her long blond hair rested on a pink sleeveless designer shirt that hung several inches above her tight jeans. Her oily smile complimented her diamond navel ring.

“I thought I’d stay here this weekend.” Laura liked to go home, but she was afraid she couldn’t hide how upset she was from her parents.

“Hey, why don’t you come with me to Granny’s farm? It’d get your mind off that nasty Dean Duncan.”

Laura motioned for her to enter. “Close the door.”

After Olivia shut the door, Laura said, “Look, Olivia, I appreciate the offer, but…”

Olivia interrupted, “You’ve got to come. I’m worried that if you don’t take a break from here, you’ll slip up and we’ll both get in trouble.”

Laura got up and walked toward Olivia, “Well, I wouldn’t have to put up with ‘nasty Dean Duncan,’ if you hadn’t spiked the soda in my fridge and that bitch tattletale Megan next door hadn’t drunk some by mistake. Thank God, I remembered she drank it or we’d all be fucked.”

“Yeah, that was some pretty quick thinking. As soon as you told Dean Duncan that, all those witnesses she claimed she had on us just vanished.” Olivia looked down at the floor. “Hey, I’m sorry, Laura. I thought an instant surprise party was a great idea. I never thought there’d be a problem.”

Laura knew she had to get away and clear her head. Yesterday she was late for her psychology class because she had another crying jag.

“What about Rebecca? Is she coming with us?”

Olivia’s smile slipped back on, “I’m glad you changed your mind. We’ll have fun. I’m afraid Rebecca can’t come. She’s going to visit her friends from high school this weekend. But, hey, we don’t need her. There’s a lot for us to do down there.”

Olivia checked her watch. “We better get going. Meet me in my room as soon as you’re packed.”

Laura listened to Olivia’s footsteps echo down the white cinderblock hallway. Most of the girls on the floor were usually gone by this time on Fridays. Laura shut the door and pulled out her red suitcase from under the bed, her hands shaking with excitement. She’d never been to a farm before. They also trembled with dread. She didn’t trust Olivia.

The spiking of her soda was just one entry in a long parade of pranks. The early morning crank calls, her doorknob covered in petroleum jelly and rubber cement in her makeup bubbled up in her mind like a drowned body days later. She rubbed her head, soothing a phantom bump from a textbook that fell off its perch when she opened her dorm room door several weeks ago. Olivia and Rebecca denied putting it there, but their giggles said otherwise.

Laura walked to the phone to call Olivia and cancel. She hesitated. She was tired of being alone. Sure, her grades had improved to almost a 4.0, but her social life had tanked because of it. Happy parents didn’t equal a happy Laura. She was certain Olivia would be mean to her this weekend, but Laura didn’t care. She turned around, zipped up her suitcase and headed toward Olivia’s room.

The door was open and she heard Olivia on the phone. Frowning, Laura sat down on a cream couch. It seemed Olivia was always on the phone with some guy. Fifteen minutes later she hung up.

“Ready for some fun?” Olivia asked.

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever.” Laura’s eyes traveled to Olivia’s souvenirs from her European vacations. Her walls were a collage of beaches and famous landmarks that complimented the expensive knickknacks arranged on her dresser and desk. Laura vowed that, when she had money, she’d help people like herself, not throw her wealth in everyone’s face like Olivia.

“Cheer up. I’ll find you some really cute guys this weekend.”

The phone rang. Olivia spent ten minutes talking to a guy in her marketing class before they left.

During the trip to the farm, Olivia bragged about her latest sexual conquests in detail. Laura tried many times in the past to change this subject and failed. Money talked and, with Olivia, it talked dirty.

After about an hour, they turned off the interstate and onto a winding two lane road flanked by dogwoods and redbuds in bloom. Laura rolled down the window and drank in the country smells and sounds.

“Laura, close that fucking window. The wind’s messing up my hair.”

Rolling up the window, Laura asked, “When should we get to the farm? It’s almost five o’clock.”

“It’s just around the hill. I’ll fix us some dinner before we go out.” Her eyes wide and mouth agape, Laura stared at Olivia.

“Well, don’t look so shocked. Granny taught me to cook when I was a kid. There it is.”

Several dull silver silos stood sentinel over acres of plowed fields and grassy meadows. Several minutes later, a weathered barn appeared about a hundred yards to the left of a small ranch house with vinyl siding. Olivia pulled into a gravel driveway and parked under a rusty carport.

“So, who’s living here now?” Laura asked as she lifted her heavy suitcase from the trunk.

“Uh, as you know, my dear Granny died several years ago. We had to hire caretakers to watch and work the farm until we find a buyer.”

“So, where are they?”

Olivia dropped the keys to the front door on the dark concrete stoop. “I gave them the night off. I didn’t want them to get in our way.” She picked up the crowded key ring and opened the door.

They stepped onto the dark green carpet of a living room decorated with cheap furniture.

“Why don’t you put your suitcase in my old room? It’s the last room down the hall on the right. I’ve set out something for you to wear tonight.”

“But I brought clothes.”

“Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you, but a shiny tank top and embellished jeans aren’t hot. Trust me. You’ll like what I picked out for you. You’ll be cuttin’ tonight, guaranteed.”

Laura smiled. She hadn’t had sex in almost a year.

“I’ll fix dinner while you clean up and change.”

“OK.”

Laura walked down a narrow hallway lined with photographs of women in various stages of undress. They weren’t the artsy stuff she saw in magazines. They seemed to be ordinary people wearing black halter tops and matching jeans. Laura wondered if they were Olivia’s relatives.

The room Olivia indicated was ajar. Laura placed her suitcase on the bench in front of the queen sized bed where she saw an outfit like that worn in the pictures. On closer inspection she realized the jeans were a dark shade of red leather.

She unpacked her makeup and toiletries and washed up in the adjacent bathroom. As she changed into the clothes on the bed, Laura marveled at the buttery softness of the red leather jeans that clung to her thighs and close cropped pussy like a rubbed balloon on dry hair. The jeans must have cost a fortune. The black silk halter top just covered her perky breasts. She put on the pair of black, three-inch heels she’d brought.

Milk chocolate eyes and shiny, dark brown hair resting on olive-skinned shoulders greeted Laura in the dresser mirror. The scent of fried potatoes and hamburgers tickled her nose. She followed the aroma to the kitchen.

“Now that’s hot,” Olivia said, admiring Laura. “Dinner’s almost ready. Just have a seat.”

Laura pulled out an avocado flowered chair and sat at a white table set with a platter of various sliced vegetables. A pitcher of soda and bottles of condiments served as centerpieces. Olivia ladled some fried potatoes onto two blue and white china plates.

“I hope you like your burger medium rare,” Olivia said, as she placed the plain hamburgers on the plates and sat down.

While she fixed her burger, Laura said, “That’s fine. I was wondering about the pictures in the hall…”

The phone interrupted her. Olivia got up and answered it.

Laura took a bite out of her hamburger. The meat was unlike any she had ever eaten before. Her tongue detected both chicken and pork, yet the patty looked typical.

“Finish eating, Laura. We got us a couple of hard dicks coming in a few minutes.”

“What?” Laura looked up, the delicious strands of meat tying her tongue.

“Hurry up. The guys will be here any minute.” Olivia tossed her meal in the garbage and cleaned up the kitchen.

Laura jumped at the loud pounding on the front door several minutes later. She devoured the rest of her hamburger and potatoes as Olivia raced out of the kitchen. Laura washed the food down with the rum and coke from the pitcher. Her hand shook when she gagged on the unexpected alcohol, spilling some of the mixture on the table. She wiped her mouth with a paper napkin and checked her reflection in the spoon by her plate.

She dashed into the living room where Olivia stood talking to two guys in their twenties.

“Hey, Laura. This is Josh.” Olivia pointed at a thin sandy haired man. “And this is Brad.” She indicated a tall dark handsome guy. “He’s mine.” She wrapped her arms around Brad and led him down the hall.

Laura gave Josh a sheepish grin when he took her hand.

“Where can we go to get more comfortable?” he asked, his hazel eyes twinkling.

“My room’s down the hall on the right,” Laura blushed. She admired his tight ass as he led her to her room.

As Josh closed the door, Laura heard Olivia moan in the room across the hall.

Inside her room Josh removed his gentleman mask and his clothes. He tossed them on the floor. He grabbed Laura and kissed her hard, his tongue filling her mouth. He untied her halter top. His soft hands caressed her ass and then moved to her bare breasts. Her nipples hardened at his flicking fingers.

Laura moaned into him. Her fingers fumbled his fly open, releasing his swollen member. She rubbed both hands up and down his shaft, her fingers wet with his juices.

Josh pushed Laura onto the bed. She kicked off her shoes before he peeled off her jeans, exposing her dripping pussy. His lips slowly traveled down to her aching breasts. He suckled them briefly and then headed down to do the same to her clitoris.

His lips met hers. Their tongues mimicked the thrusts of his penis. Waves of pleasure crashed over Laura. She felt his hot juices shower her face. She opened her eyes to a headless neck that spurted blood like a rotating sprinkler. Olivia stood by the side of the bed. She held a carving knife that dripped blood on her rubber coat.

Laura screamed and pushed Josh onto the floor. She scrambled to the door and slipped on a red puddle. She fell to her knees and vomited.

“Get up, Laura. We have work to do.” Olivia grabbed Laura’s shoulders and pulled her up.

“What have you done?” Laura sobbed.

“My job. Now help me wrap him.”

“Hell no! I’m outta here.” Laura ran into three women that barred the door. One of them handed Olivia a royal blue tarp. Olivia rolled it out next to Josh’s body.

The other two turned Laura so she’d face Olivia. Laura shouted, “Let me go.”

“Look, after the incident at school, I decided I had to keep you quiet. What better way than to have you work at my family business?”

Tears mingled with the blood on her cheeks. “I told you I wouldn’t tell on you. Please, just let me go. I’ll forget all about tonight.”

The oily grin resurfaced. “I’m not willing to take that chance. Besides, you’ll make more here than you ever would someplace else. There aren’t that many high paying jobs out there. The company will even reimburse you the money spent on your college education.”

“What would I have to do?” If she played along, she might be able to escape.

“Help me with this body and you’ll see. Your rubber coat and galoshes are in the closet. Put them on and we’ll get started.”

The women pushed Laura toward the closed door. Shaking, she opened the closet and found only those two items there. She donned them and noticed a small video camera pointed toward the bed. Those women in the pictures must be company employees. Laura shuddered. She was one of them.

In silence Laura and Olivia lifted the body onto the tarp. Olivia motioned to one of the women who brought in a cooler. Olivia flipped up the lid and Laura saw a severed penis nestled among a half dozen blue icepacks.

Laura screamed and bolted to the door. The two women stopped her again.

“What the fuck’s going on here?” Laura cried, her knees buckling.

Olivia picked up the carving knife and sliced off Josh’s penis. She laid it in the cooler like a mother would lay her newborn down to sleep and closed the lid. With a mischievous grin, Olivia explained, “To remain profitable in today’s economy, my family had to change its business model. At first my parents followed the crowd and opened textile factories overseas, but the profit margins were too thin. Then they decided the big money was in luxury items. Now we make high quality jeans like the ones you wore this evening.”

“What’s that got to do with killing people?”

“The jeans are made with tanned penises. There’s no hair removal and the material is cheap.”

Laura dry-heaved. She wondered how many men died for those jeans. She wrenched against the women’s firm grip, but their nails dug further into her skin.

Olivia rolled her eyes and sighed, “They all struggle and get sick. It gets so old.” She picked up Josh’s head by the hair and tossed it on his deformed body.

Olivia turned to Laura, “Your struggling is getting old too. Try it again and you’ll end up like your lover Josh here. Now help me roll up this hot mess.”

Laura’s parents always chided her for not being patient. They were right. That fault could kill her tonight. She had to bide her time and wait for the right opportunity. She couldn’t afford to panic anymore. She had to be as calm as she was in Dean Duncan’s office.

Laura nodded her head and the women released her. She looked away from the drooling neck as she picked up that end of the tarp. Olivia bent over his feet. Together they wrapped the body. Olivia picked up her end and motioned Laura to do the same.

They carried Josh’s remains out of the room. Behind them, the two women carried a yellow tarp. The third one took the cooler and walked ahead of them. They paraded outside and into the well-lit barn where the whirring of a loud motor accosted Laura’s ears.

Laura’s mouth dropped with the two bodies. The racket came from a wood chipper located in the far corner. A dozen women in rubber coats hoisted decapitated bodies from a large pile and fed them into the machine. Several other women in rubber hoodies shoveled the ground flesh and bone into brown garbage bags, while others placed the full sacks in large freezers.

Olivia smiled at Laura, “The company also provides premium ground meat to upscale restaurants.”

Laura grimaced, “That’s sick.”

“You seemed to like it at dinner tonight.”

Laura’s head spun. She swayed into Olivia who pushed her to the straw-covered dirt.

“My God, you’re such a wuss. Get up. You’ll get used to it. I did and so did all the others.”

Laura blinked several times, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. But each time she saw the bodies and the coats. The grinding bore into her head.

Olivia kicked Laura’s ribs. “Get up, bitch. Don’t make me tell you twice.”

Laura doubled over and moaned, “I thought we were friends.”

“My friends are in my purse.”

Laura staggered to her feet. She helped Olivia unroll the bodies. The two women tossed them on the pile, while the third unloaded the severed penises into a small freezer. Olivia grabbed the heads by the hair and dropped them in a bubbling pot near the door.

“Laura, here’s a net. I want you to fish out the heads when they’re clean and put them on that drying rack.” Olivia pointed to several rows of skulls.

“What do you do with those?”

“We dig out the fillings from their teeth and melt them down for the jeans’ rivets and zipper.”

“Sorry I asked,” Laura muttered. She took the net and climbed the adjacent stepladder.

From her perch Laura surveyed the barn. The only open door was the entrance on the other side of the pot. She would have to climb down to put the clean skulls on the rack. If she waited until Olivia was on the other end of the room, she could escape. The road wasn’t that far away.

Laura watched the heads bobble and the flesh slough off them to form a greasy iridescent film on top of the liquid. She lowered the net. She inspected several heads, careful not to allow Olivia to see them. A few were clean, but Laura figured she had one shot to leave without being caught, so she returned them to the pot.

After what Laura felt was an eternity, Olivia left the freezers. Laura snagged a head. When Olivia reached the wood chipper, Laura eased her way down the ladder. She ran around the pot and out the door where two more women stood guard. Laura hit them with the net and the slimy head bounced out.

Laura sprinted across the dark field. She looked back. The two guards held their faces in their hands. The first wave of women from the barn fell over the skull and each other.

Laura tripped over her feet and fell face first into the cool grass. The yells behind her cleared her hazy mind as did the sharp recurrence of the pain in her side. Laura jumped up and dashed toward the road.

The ground inclined up and Laura laughed. She made it. She saw a bright yellow light. A metallic fist punched her in the stomach. The asphalt clawed her ass. Laura saw herself wearing red leather jeans before her eyes closed.