She could feel it; the excruciating pain that followed the blade of the knife sliding across her smooth skin, as the tip dug into her flesh, allowing the crimson red liquid seep out over her pale complexion. Her teeth bit down hard onto her bottom lip to stifle the screams that wanted to escape, but no matter how loud she screamed, no one would hear her. Morgan pulled on the brown leather restraints that bound her wrists and ankles to the uncomfortable wooden table beneath her naked and exposed body. The teen kept her eyes squeezed shut; focusing on anything else besides this very horrific moment, but when the blade dipped down over her stomach, another piercing scream echoed off the walls of the small, dark room. Nothing but a lightbulb hung over the very spot she was placed.
No recollection on how she got there, but a blurred vision of a much older man with glasses flashed before her eyes. His crooked smile, the whiteness in the little hair he had on top of his head, and the scar on the bridge of his nose from a previous surgery to extract the remanence of the cancer that began to gather there was all Morgan could remember. Bits and pieces of waking and falling unconscious over and over again came to her mind.
Waking up in a dark room with her clothes torn from her body and the coldness brushing over her exposed skin was something the teen had never thought she would ever experience. It was as if she were living a nightmare, yet instead... It was reality, and the pain and blood was proof of it. Morgan could taste her own blood on her tongue as her teeth let go of her swollen lip with another scream as she felt her skin pulling apart.
Torture. That's what it was. No reason. No words. Just the pain and the tears as they slid down her pale cheeks and wetted her dyed, auburn hair. Morgan clenched her fists; red-painted nails digging into the palms of her hands, blood and nail polish clashing together in color. Even as the knife left her body, Morgan could still feel the pain, and the cool air that whipped over the wet blood on her torso as the man stood from the stool beside the table.
Was he done? No. That was just the beginning.
Morgan's chocolate brown eyes opened; tears still spilling from them as her gaze settled upon the man who wore nothing but a black cloak around his rather tall figure. The hood, along with the shadows made it difficult for the teen to recognize his face, but there was no doubt in who he was.
He was a torturer; a psychopath. Organized, malicious, devious, and intelligent. He was a patient killer that waited until the right moment to seek out his prey and attack. Overall, the bastard was a monster; someone who forced pain upon limitless amounts of pain on his victims until they couldn't take it any longer.
By then, their heart didn't beat, the blood didn't run through their veins, and the cries and the screams had stopped. They were gone, and the only thing left to remind him of his most exciting moments was the blood left behind that stained the already blood-colored wooden table beneath their bodies.
Morgan knew that was her fate, and it was what she wished for. To see the light at the end of the tunnel; to take her away from such a dark and painful place. Yet, her killer wasn't stupid. He knew how to drag out time. He knew how to manipulate her, twist her, torture, and tear her apart piece by piece. He knew every curve of the knife, and the anatomy of the body that made it exceptionally easier for him to keep the torturous acts going on for days. And when he is done and through with her? She'll be just another teen...
Another victim...
Another damaged girl with a life that won't be missed.
Another nobody...
But a prized possession to add to his growing list.
How long has it been? Morgan couldn't tell. There was no sun. No bright light shining down from the moon held up in the night sky. It could have been days, weeks, or possibly months since her captor had brought her into this nightmare. The pain was so unbearable, Morgan would find herself growing unconscious; only to wake with the sound of the steel metal door opening and closing. He waited so patiently to do this; watching and studying for weeks before he finally found the courage to attack. No one would miss her. Why? Because Morgan was a runaway; leaving her hometown of Philadelphia to get away from her alcohlic father, and drug addicted mother. No longer could she stand the slurred words, unreasonable punches, and feeling like a mistake to her family. They didn't care. They didn't notice her gone for months, and they sure as Hell wouldn't notice her dead. They were able to live freely without her bearing down on their lives.
Morgan was brought out of her reverie with the sudden sound of metal clinking against metal. Despite the fear, charcoal hues never averted away from the cloaked monster as he moved skillfully and quietly around the small room. It was a shock how he could move so freely in such a condensed space, with the wooden table taking up most of it. Her head lifted slightly off of the wood beneath it; a shock of pain consuming her skull, causing the teen to gasp out quietly through her chapped lips, and rest her head back down once more.
She was a bloody mess. Just one glance at her, and you would notice the blood covering her body like a newfound fashion statement. Small cuts, bruises, and burns were also noticeable on different parts of her body, along with the new artwork that ran from between her cleavage, and down towards her navel. Her hair was oily and matted due to the excessive amount of tears that soaked her auburn strands. Eyes once so beautiful were now a dull, puffy red, and lips that were now swollen from the countless bites that have been forced upon them to mask out the screams that erupted from her throat.
This was his undoing. He loved the sight of her crimson blood painting her pale skin, the screams of pain echoing off the walls, and the way she trembled and squirmed beneath his touch. He knew every crevice of her body, every ridge and dip, and every tick that set her off. She was an experiment; a piece of art in his growing collection of treasured works.
Yet, he was done. No longer did he desire the accentuated cries and pleas that passed her once full-lips. He craved a new body; a new sound, a new piece, a new canvas to practice his artwork on. Morgan was no longer needed.
As he turned to face her, Morgan's eyes locked onto his brooding gaze, before falling onto the 6in blade held so securely in his right hand. He seemed so confident; that he's done this countless times before. And he has. Victims upon victims. Canvas' upon canvas'. His hand wasn't shaking, and his posture was held high. He held no regret. No remorse. This was just the end for her, and a new beginning for him.
Morgan's breath caught within her throat as she realized the look upon her torturer's fearures, and the way he looked at her with an emotionless expression. There was something different, though. Even as the threat of death stood mere feet away from her place on that blood-soaked table, Morgan felt...relieved. No more torture. No more pain. This was the end, and the thought of a lifetime of darkness was something the teen had been waiting for. He noticed this. The way she seemed so patient. No cries of mercy came from her lips. Held within those brown eyes of hers was a thank you.
A moment passed of pure silence, before suddenly, his face contorted into anger; the shadows of the light dancing perfectly upon his features as he launched forward, and held the blade high with both hands clenched tightly around the black handle above her chest. He was angry; angry with the fact she wanted this. She wanted death. She wanted to be set free.
Before he knew it, the blade came down swiftly; the sound of a choked gasp escaping Morgan's parted lips, along with blood seeping from the corners of her mouth as the blade dug deep into her chest. He didn't stop there, though. His anger took control, and he pulled the blade out, only to stab her once again. Over and over again he did this. Blood splattered his face, blinded his vision, and angered him even more, until finally...
He stopped.
Heavy breaths could be heard as he took a step back; Morgan's bloodied and torn body illuminated by the dim light hanging above. The blade still stuck out from her throat, and as he stepped forward to pull his weapon out, her eyes captivated him.
Dead, and filled with darkness.
All written work is copyrighted under the pen name 'Ever A. Darling'. If such action is taken in stealing this story, there will be consequences. Think before acting.
© CopyrightEverAfterDarlingAll Rights Reserved
Submitted: November 18, 2015
© Copyright 2023 Ever A. Darling. All rights reserved.
Comments
Absolutely terrifying! Otherwise I'm lost for words :-/
Thu, November 19th, 2015 8:35pm
Author
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Hoping that's a good thing. Lol.
Thu, November 19th, 2015 4:09pm
It's an unusual thing lol I mean it was really well written and girl inviting death after her ordeal, and the psychopath being angry by it were realistic but I like an ending where the psycho gets his beans. Gives me closure that way ")
Fri, November 20th, 2015 1:49am
Author
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Yeah, I don't do happy endings lol. Sorry.
Fri, November 20th, 2015 4:59am
The opening of your cover drew me in already, I was very captivated by with the hand dripping with blood and the title:"His Canvas." The tone of voice of the story gave me chills. I really did like how you went into that psycho's mind and how crazy he went with that blade when she was welcoming death and she wanted him to finish her off. Him stabbing her, I'm not even sure how many times, it gave me an image of a horror slasher movie like Scream. You went really detail on how he saw her as a canvas, and all of that blood on her. I really like how you were so significant with the word torture.... and how you put gory descriptions on what her captive did to her. I felt sympathy for Morgan, and how her fate turned out this way. The ending was very eye catching but sad at the same time. How her chocolate brown eyes stared at her killer, but there is no life behind it:{ He just made her a collectable like a doll, and is probably going to find a new pretty thing to demolish her with his ugly demons. LIKE
Sun, November 22nd, 2015 4:54am
Author
Reply
Thank you so much for the feedback, darling. (:
Sat, November 21st, 2015 9:40pm
Wow... That was so brutal. This was all the act of a psychopath. He tortured her to the point where she was thrilled to die. That sure made him angry. It's unsettling that he had killed so many and got AWAY with it. He is an awful person. This was so well written and I hate that guy so much, though I know I wasn't supposed to like him, hehe. The descriptions were fantastic and I hope some day this guy gets caught or worse for what he's done! Anyway, great job. I loved it. :)
Sun, November 22nd, 2015 7:19pm
Author
Reply
Thank you for taking the time to read it, love. (:
Sun, November 22nd, 2015 11:25am
Wow, where to begin... I feel so sorry for Morgan although we don't know who she is, but your writing really made me feel sorry for what they were doing to her. Your writing is so real and vivid, which is a rarity on this site. Actually, I have to admit, I have never read something that was so full of detailed description. Astonishing and superb....
Mon, November 23rd, 2015 1:34pm
Author
Reply
Thank you for the feedback, darling. (:
Mon, November 23rd, 2015 6:05am
Love your writing. It's been a while since I read one of your works but I am glad you invited me back. Your descriptive words paint a good picture without being overly fussy, and you describe feeling very well. This short story could be the start of something bigger. ~EoM
Mon, November 23rd, 2015 8:33pm
Author
Reply
Thank you for reading. ?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:00pm
Absolutely riveting! For every serial killer movie and freakin' book out there, you gave a horrific vision from the victim's eyes. When you first novel sells, it will sell big. Holy crap! I am an artist as you know. I came for the canvas dude. Whimper! Sniff! Tremble! And then you ripped my fear out and shoved it back in thrice...I walk away from this piece a twitching mess. I may need therapy. Lol! Oh me oh my and oh me again. Your killer was sadistic and vuscious as could be expected. Her death from her eyes is the darkest I have ever read. It beats the final moments of Stephen King's Long Walk. I have to be honest, it took me three times to read because I kept getting strayed by life's needs. It was worth it. When I reached my moment, I took it and read. Hence, you have melted the snowman. Drip! Drip! I leave a happy man even as I have seen into the eyes of a true master of horror. Move over King, Koontz, Barker, Jackson, Poe, and Lovecraft. Hello EverAfterDarling. You have won me over for life, my friend of the pen. I wonder if I should shower to clean off the blood splatters from your horrific masterpiece. Thank you for a great read and many nightmares to come. Hells yeah! You freakin Rock!
Tue, November 24th, 2015 12:58am
Author
Reply
Thank you so much for reading, darling. I'm glad you enjoyed it. ?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:01pm
And haunting last words...
Tue, November 24th, 2015 1:10am
Author
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?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:01pm
I think you understand what horror really is. It isn't about people being killed, or how gory something is. It is the descriptions that paint how horrific the scene is, and when it is over, how it affects those connected to the victim. Losing someone in anyway is always a horror for the loved ones, because it is something that doesn't go away.
Horror is also what makes a psychopath tick, their thoughts, their motives. To me that is the definition of real horror. The thoughts and motives, trying to guess them, trying to accept why they make an individual do these evil things.
Your descriptions were another layer of paint being put on the canvas, so rich in colour and detail that they focus on every thought on both victim and torturer.
It's rather stunning scenery, because it shows what I said above.
The real part of the word horror here is that the killer was was getting angry because Morgan accepted the death coming before he committed it. That's playing a mind game on a killer, and makes them lose something that makes them tick.
The best story I have read from you yet!
Author
Reply
Your words mean so much to me, considering how amazing you are at writing such stories. Thank you for reading, darling. Glad you enjoyed it. ?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:04pm
I really,really loved this.You did an awesome job describing all the horror that was in this story because I honestly was scared while I read through this.Very nice job,and keep it up and please tell me when you have new things posted please.it gets a "like"from me :)
Wed, November 25th, 2015 3:21pm
Author
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I definitely will. Thanks for reading, darling. ?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:08pm
Holy shit this story shocked me O.O These sort of horror stories freak me out, because people like this psycho exist that enjoy pain and would do exactly what he did. Brilliant writing, chilling descriptions, and the situation completely swallowed me. Great job!
Wed, November 25th, 2015 4:24pm
Author
Reply
That is true. You can blame Criminal Minds, and my boyfriend for corrupting me. xD Thanks for reading, love. ?
Mon, November 30th, 2015 8:08pm
By reading this, I realized just exactly how much I missed your writing :') This is true horror, and goes into tremendous depth in terms of Morgan's pain and suffering. Just thinking about what she was going through made me cringe xD It was like watching one of those psycho horror movies where the killer craves the feel of blood, and the look of a dead body is all it takes to satisfy them. Like, ugh *shudders* I don't understand people who can actually do that to someone. The ending was done very nicely, and shows just how crazy people can be, and in certain situations, how much people crave any sort of escape when the pain becomes too great. Well done, Megan! :)
Tue, December 1st, 2015 2:31am
Author
Reply
Thank youuuu! (: I definitely tried with this short story.
Mon, November 30th, 2015 7:59pm
Well. I'm not sure where to start here... I think I need to address the fact that this is the first thing I have read from you before anything else. I know most people discovered you from the poem that's been featured on the front page for ages now, and while I have seen that and everything there I never looked into the pieces. Just simply disregarded them, as they aren't the best that Booksie has to offer. Even with that being the case, I am beyond overjoyed that this was the first thing I read from you. I'm not gonna praise you profusely and leave it at that like most Booksie comments (because you're probably bored of reading those at this point), so instead I'll just point some stuff out: your writing is not only impressive, but everything is professional. It's rare to find a non-profit writer who takes complete pride in his/her work to produce something that is of this quality. It's magical and it brings a smile to my face when I discover someone like that. The story itself was short, but that's just how I like my short stories. It could've been longer. Most people probably wanted it to be longer, and yet I'm overjoyed. It shows that you have the ability to identify when a story should end, and the way you ended it continues to cling the reader on. This is in the horror genre, rightfully so, but it's not due to the blood or the atmosphere. It's because it's about a nauseating psychopath that doesn't deserve the title of a human. I was surprised you used the pronoun 'he' instead of 'it'. A total psychological meltdown on the part of the reader as well (or at least from me) with trying to comprehend why the "man" takes pleasure in harming young adult women. Absolutely vile, which is exactly what I should be saying after reading this. The lack of dialogue is a very nice inclusion, as it draws much more emphasis towards the vivid, graphic imagery. If I had any criticisms, I would've talked about them already. I will be fanning you, I will continue reading more from you, and I will most definitely end this comment, because geez, this is getting long. Well done.
Sat, December 5th, 2015 6:25am
Author
Reply
I had thought I replied to this, but apparently I had accidentally skipped over it, and I am so sorry for that. I'm surprised I didn't even notice. Anyway, I want to thank you for reading this piece. It's my first horror story, and I'm proud that it has gotten such an audience due to it's 'professionalism'. My writing has gotten exceptionally good since I have joined Booksie almost two years ago, and it's people like you who keep encouraging me to continue writing the way I do. I'm thankful for that, and not only because you had read, and liked this short story, but you had a reasoning behind it, which is much different than the usual comments I get when I publish a new piece of writing on Booksie. So thank you for that, and I'm glad to have you as a fan. c:
Tue, December 22nd, 2015 5:33pm
I'm here! Several weeks late, yes, but better late than never. :P That was horrifying, to say the least. Going by the descriptions in the first paragraph, I thought it might be about self harm, but then once I got to the part about the leather restraints I knew this was something else entirely. I found myself wincing at some of the parts when he was cutting her; that must have been terrible for her. I'm honestly happy that Morgan died, because she at least escapes from that psycho's torture. I think that guy had some real issues. I can't stand hearing people scream, so I have no idea how someone could actually enjoy that. *shudders* Anyway, as chilling as it was, I enjoyed tgen read. Great work! :)
Sun, December 6th, 2015 2:11pm
Author
Reply
Thank you so much for reading.
Sun, December 6th, 2015 4:54pm
Jeez, you don't hold back, do you? First off, I've got to say your writing style is a treat to read, one of the most pleasurable I have read on booksie; really suits my taste. It flowed well, was easy to read and yet artful at the same time. It makes me hope you write some more horror/mystery/thriller stories quickly so I can devour them ;) The story was simple enough but well crafted - there was a constant tension and you expressed the emotion well, I could almost feel the cuts against my own skin. There was a constant conflict which kept the reader on the edge of their seat, however I must admit I would have liked for it to be a little less helpless; from the start it didn't really look like she stood a chance, and by the end she hadn't really been given one. I would have liked some action, whether or not it still ended with her death - some hope, like a weapon in reach or a moment of reversal on the killer, just something to add a climax.
The other criticism I have is that you describe well, really well. Sometimes, I think, too well. I think you sometimes overdo it, with a bit too many adjectives, too many power words, one or two too many descriptive paragraphs. Look at the first sentence for example: excruciating, smooth, crimson, red, pale. Are they all necessary? If 'excruciating', 'smooth', 'crimson/red' were removed, would it change the sentence? Also, I think power words are great to add conflict and tension, but too many lessens their effect. How may ways can you tell the reader the teen is getting tortured? Is it necessary to tell us in more than one way?
I'll admit, it doesn't take much away from this story, it's still a very well written piece, and although I would have liked to see the teen retaliate in some way, I left feeling satisfied with the read; some of your word play is phenomenonal. Just some things to think about :) Good job, and write more horror so I can read it!
Author
Reply
I want to thank you so much for reading, and for your criticism. Actually, it took me by surprise, because people used to tell me I didn't describe well, and it was something I needed to work on to set the atmosphere of the store. Now I am being told I use too much. o.o Not sure what to do with that. Haha. Also, the story was short. I wanted it short, and to the point. A couple people stated they had wished for a somewhat better ending, but in my eyes? A better ending is cliche. I'm a non-believer in happy endings, whether she died, or not. In this case? Morgan was waiting for that death; a way to escape from the torture, and pain she was going through. Trust me, I get where you're coming from. I understand a few of you who wanted her to retaliate in some kind of way. To me? That's what happens in a lot of horror-stricken stories. Victim retaliates, and either the killer dies, or the victim does. This time, I went with something a bit different. Either way, I am glad you read it. The instructive criticism will be taken into consideration. Thank you for reading, darling. (:
Tue, December 8th, 2015 8:17am
I'm intrigued by this book it's very interesting keep going.
Fri, December 11th, 2015 2:35am
Author
Reply
It was just a short story, but thank you.
Thu, December 10th, 2015 9:49pm
I'm sorry that I'm getting to this so late, but wow, this is amazing. You had me captivated and on the edge of my seat the entire time. As previous comments have said before, your descriptions were amazing, and the story was very short, but great. Good job and keep me updated when you post another story or poem! :)
Sun, December 20th, 2015 1:20am
Author
Reply
Definitely will, darling. c:
Sat, December 19th, 2015 5:55pm
This was so dark and painful, you are a great author, but I have such a high respect for women, & this one hurt so badly, that I had a hard time even getting through it... If I ever met this guy, I'd torture him with his own medicine until he wished he had never hurt an innocent young girl in his life... Then I would force him to keep living only to be able to repeat his torture as soon as he healed well enough... So that he could truly understand the pain that he had inflicted!
Thu, January 21st, 2016 8:40am
Author
Reply
Thanks for reading!
Thu, January 21st, 2016 5:27am
By now, you probably hate me lol. I enjoyed this, and that says a lot. There are very few writers who can make me enjoy reading horror, it's not really my thing when reading for enjoyment, but there are exceptions and this story has become one of them. Nice work.
Sat, April 30th, 2016 9:22pm
Author
Reply
Thanks!
Sat, April 30th, 2016 4:48pmFacebook Comments
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Well then :) I may have just found a favorite on this sight. I'm not much for judging another's writing but I do love description and this story is a gem if I've ever seen one. Keep up the good work and I'm pretty sure you will be hearing from me again.
Wed, November 18th, 2015 10:57pmXoxo
Love
Kossette
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Awe, thank you for reading, darling. ?
Wed, November 18th, 2015 3:04pm