Dinner with Annette

 

Hillary Lyon

 

 

       Annette arrived in a wooden box, as Stephen expected. His crowbar cracked the container’s seam, splintering the pine.

       She was just as pretty as the seller on the dark web promised. Inspecting her face, Stephen deemed she was pure, angelic. No make-up needed! She was not some cheap silicone love doll.

Annette smelled of flowers, which surprised him; Stephen had just assumed she’d reek of formaldehyde. Like all his previous dinner dates.

       Ready for their romantic dinner, Stephen tied Annette to a chair at the table, posing her just so. In the candlelight, her skin glowed. Her hair looked fluffy, like spun sugar. His mouth watered.

       He knew she was still a bit stiff, so bending her knees and elbows was delicate work, as he didn’t want to break her joints. Unfortunately, in the throes of his romantic ardor, he had done this with a few of his previous dates.

       Now he possessed more self-discipline. He could lose control after dinner—when they danced. Oh, and dance we will, Stephen giggled to himself.

       Like a perfect gentleman, he poured wine and toasted his new love. After dinner and dancing, he would change into his coveralls, and setting her alongside his previous lovers, he’d bury her in the backyard.

​

      Hillary Lyon founded and for 20 years acted as senior editor for the independent poetry publisher, Subsynchronous Press. Her horror, speculative fiction, and crime short stories, drabbles, and poems have appeared in more than 150 publications. She's an SFPA Rhysling Award nominated poet. Hillary is also the art director for Black Petals.