Hello, Gayle. I hope this message finds you well. I recently read your article and wanted to commend you on your excellent writing. Your tribute to the detective and his family, particularly the children, was truly heartwarming. You have a remarkable ability to craft words that evoke emotion, even in someone like myself, who finds it difficult to shed a tear.

  That being said, I did notice some inaccuracies in the article that require immediate correction. Firstly, I must point out that you and I hold differing views regarding my actions. While you may refer to what I did as “murder,” I view it as “immortalization.” The process I undertook ensures that the essences of the detective and his family have been preserved, so essentially, they’re not deceased. The family portrait was my gift to them, and I took great care to create it in the most humane way possible.

  I would also like to correct your claim that the detective was close to discovering my identity. This is simply not true. He was never close to finding me, nor was he ever going to. I had never held a grudge against him, only amusement at his efforts. Not because I think I’m the cleverest person in the world who could come up with cunning plans to evade the authorities. Rather, it’s because the detective and the police are not in control of the situation, despite public belief that they are.

  There are limits to what the authorities are allowed to know and do. For now, their task is to assure the public that they’re hot on my heels, but they’re given only breadcrumbs to follow and a ball of yarn to play with like one would give to a litter of kittens to keep them preoccupied. Therefore, the question arises: who are the ones truly in control? I don’t do what I do to stroke my ego. Art is my life’s purpose, and I deliver my work to those who crave it—my dark patrons.

  Please be sure to re-publish the article with the corrections. I must go now. Have a pleasant afternoon. Bye-bye.

  Voice message 2 | Voice distorted | Caller unknown

  I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your job, and I want to let you know that your termination wasn’t a result of your failure to publish a corrected article. I’ve heard that some of the news company’s sponsorships have dropped, so your boss was unable to keep you, one of their highest paid writers, on staff. Very unfortunate. I’m sure you’ll soon find another fulfilling position.

  Have a good evening, Gayle. Don’t drink yourself to death.

  Voice message 3 | Voice distorted | Caller unknown

  I intended to call yesterday, but I figured you needed time to recover from the hangover. You may be curious as to how I got your new number. Well, believe it or not, you gave it to me when we met the other night during our first encounter. Of course, you wouldn’t recall much of it. Allow me to fill in the gaps in your memory for you.

  On Friday evening, you chose to return to Harry’s Dive for the second night in a row. Coincidentally, I was there as well, situated at a table in the corner, indulging in a glass of brandy, while capturing the lively atmosphere of the bar in my sketchbook. As I surveyed the room, I noticed you sitting by yourself at the bar, nursing your fourth glass of gin and tonic, without the company of your former colleagues this time.

  I was concerned that you hadn’t eaten, so I ordered a platter of club sandwiches for you to enjoy. You eagerly devoured those mini sandwiches down, and I felt pleased. When the server informed you that it was a courtesy from me, you waved me over to join you. I introduced myself as Angelo, but that isn’t my real name. Given my profession, I must exercise caution in deciding whom to trust.

  Despite being intoxicated, you still managed to hold a conversation. That evening, you simply craved someone to lend you an ear. And, as fate would have it, I was the fortunate recipient of your venting. Not everyone can endure listening to a woman vent her frustrations for more than an hour, but I, on the other hand, didn’t mind at all, especially when a gorgeous and intelligent lady, like yourself, was sitting in front of me.

  You ranted about your professional struggles and romantic setbacks. You used to date a guy named David for a few years, but over time you both just kind of went your separate ways, while maintaining an amicable yet platonic relationship. Now, it’s been seven months since you’ve been on your own. You lamented the absence of a love life and the frustrating length of time since you last experienced intimacy. And then, you grabbed my pen from the front pocket of my jacket and jotted your number down in my sketchbook.

  Around 10:30 pm, you were eager to hit up another bar, but I persuaded you to head back home. I managed to flag down a cab, and we made our way to your place at the Kensington Apartments. Your apartment, number 503 on the fifth floor, is lovely. For the most part, you keep everything nice and tidy, except for the dining room, which doubles as your workspace. There were books, pencils, and pens strewn all over the table. You have a lovely balcony with a picturesque view of the lake park where I noticed a bevy of elegant swans swimming gracefully.

  As I looked around, I noticed you had passed out on the couch. So, before I left for my own home, I decided to leave you a little gift. I hope you’ll enjoy the sketch I drew. When I saw your sleeping form, inspiration took over me.

  Have you ever seen Michelangelo’s painting, Leda and the Swan? The painting explores the mythological encounter between an Aetolian princess, Leda, and the god Zeus who takes on the form of a swan, merging the realms of human and avian. The swan's arrival is an unexpected intrusion upon Leda's world, and it signifies the tempestuous nature of their union.

  Well, I think I did a much better job with my version.

  Voice message 4 | Voice distorted | Caller unknown

  “Why? Why? Why me?” That’s the despairing question you keep asking yourself. Out of all the people in this big, wide world, why did I pick you? But instead of dwelling on that, try asking yourself this: “Why not me?” That’s the question you should be asking.

  So, why not you? Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I’d be feeling pretty flattered to be getting all this attention. Especially considering the sketch that was gifted to you is worth more than a year’s worth of your salary. I must admit that I may have gone a little overboard with the whole idea of bringing a swan into your apartment. Nonetheless, I think it’s safe to say a simple ‘thank you’ is in order. You’re welcome.

  Voice message 5 | Voice distorted | Caller unknown

  Today, I was at the lake park, feeding seeds to the ducks and swans, when I noticed a man approaching you on the sidewalk with a sense of familiarity. As I watched you both walk into your apartment building, I couldn’t help but wonder who he was. Suddenly, it hit me—our night at Harry’s Dive where you mentioned an ex-boyfriend.

  Ah, yes. His name was David, right?

  I presume you reached out to him after turning to the authorities and coming to the realization that they couldn’t do much to help you. And now, here comes David to provide you with a sense of security. Or is he there to fulfill another need?

  Voice message 6 | Voice distorted | Caller unknown

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Hello, Gayle. It’s been quite some time since my last call. Two months, to be exact.

  Getting your new number proved to be a challenge, but I was eventually able to acquire it. Also, it has come to my attention that you haven’t been living in the Kensington apartments. I’ve noticed that your window stays dark all through the night, and your car is no longer on the lot. When I went to check your place—I must apologize for breaking the lock—I found your furniture still there. It dawned on me that you haven't moved out, but rather you’re spending your days elsewhere.

  Well, wherever you are, I’m sure you’re enjoying some peace and quiet away from the stressful city life. As for me, I’ve had to take some time off. I fell into a creative slump, but I’m hopeful that it won’t last long. A dark patron commissioned me to create a sculpture, and I’m struggling to find the ideal candidate. But I know the right person is out there for the project.

  By the way, I was delighted to hear that you’ve resumed your writing and have started a little newsletter, especially since you’ve chosen me as your primary focus. I'm honored by your attention, but I must warn you that calling for your followers to help you in hunting me down will go nowhere. However, our paths will inevitably cross again very soon. Oh, please extend my regards to David and remind him to be more cautious about where he leaves his phone.

  Recording 1 | Voice distorted | Sender unknown

  I hope my message finds you in good health. It appears you have changed your number once again. So, I’ve decided to record this message onto a disc and have it delivered to you. You’re probably wondering how I obtained your new address.

  As it happens, I ran into David at the Gustave Dore exhibition. He was interviewing the curator for an upcoming article. Later, I introduced myself to him as Michael and expressed my admiration for his column in the arts and culture section in the paper. I then asked him to sign my copy of his first published book, Translating Poems into Visual Arts.

  During our encounter, we discussed his work and art in general, and before I knew it, time had flown by. He was such delightful company that I extended an invitation for him to join me at my art studio. At first, he declined, claiming he had somewhere else to be, but I have a way of persuasion.

  At this moment, he is here with me as I record this message. I was able to weasel out some valuable information from him. It appears that your relationship with him has progressed so rapidly that you’ve practically moved into his house.

  As you may recall, I have an art commission for a sculpture. I am pleased to announce that David is the ideal candidate as he fits the profile my dark patron wanted: a tall and well-endowed male specimen with an athletic physique. I know you would like to speak to him before he is immortalized. Unfortunately, he’s not in a state where he can communicate effectively.

  I must get to work now. The dark patron had requested a handsome statue to adorn her foyer. I’ll be sending you another message, along with David’s clothes and his phone, or what’s left of it—the tracking device had to be removed—and I’ll let you know how the project is coming along.

  Recording 2 | Voice distorted | Sender unknown

  *Disc destroyed*

  Recording 3 | Voice distorted | Sender unknown

  Gayle, Gayle, Gayle... I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the news that a former writer for a reputable newspaper had been arrested for murder. Imagine my shock when I learned that it was you!

  You shot my delivery guy. He was only trying to drop off my message to you. According to the news article, he rang the doorbell, and you opened the door and, without a word spoken, you shot him on the porch. How unfortunate for him that the package didn’t absorb the bullet’s impact. You could argue that it was an act of self-defense, but from what exactly?

  So, now, you’re sitting all alone in a cell, listening to this message brought to you by a prison guard loyal to one of my dark patrons. But don’t despair, you’ll eventually be released, though not anytime soon.

  Recording 4 | Voice distorted| Sender unknown

  Hello, Gayle. I’m certain you’ve been anticipating my message. It’s been over a year since my last one. I almost forgot that you’re rotting in a cell. To make up for my long silence, I have sent you several pictures of my latest artwork. The first three pictures are of David looking around my art studio, the fourth captures the moment when he realized where he was and who he was with, and the final photo is something special.

  What do you think of the new David? Beautiful, isn’t he? It’s a wonder to marvel at. He was the perfect choice for the project. If you’re curious about my creative process, I don’t mind sharing a little about it.

  Before the process begins, the subject must be cleaned. Surprisingly, many of them don’t comply easily and require sedation. They’re brought to the shower and hosed down with warm water, before being thoroughly exfoliated from head to toe, including every crevice. Some dark patrons may request that the subject’s hair be shaved, so they can add it to a separate collection. In such cases, the hair is shampooed and conditioned, then carefully brushed.

  When I operate on a subject, it’s crucial that they are perfectly still. The process is long and delicate, demanding extreme patience and endurance from the live subject. To make sure that they stay motionless, they’re injected with a special mixture infused with a pinch of tetrodotoxin, which is extracted from the venom of a cute little sea creature known as the pufferfish. The effects are instantaneous.

  The subject is then placed face-down on the worktable, naked. Often, they wake up from their sedation, when I start to cut into them. It’s possible that they experience pain, but they remain silent throughout the process. I’m thankful for that as I need complete concentration to perform my work.

  Although David was a relatively simple project compared to my previous artworks, it was much more time consuming. To remove the skin, I made an incision from the back of the head down to the anus, being careful not to damage the muscles. The skin removal took several hours. At that point, David appeared to be in a peaceful state. I could tell by looking at the eyes. The pupils were dilated, and the cornea had become cloudy.

  Now, the next part of the creative process is the most important as it truly immortalizes David’s essence. I had to immerse him in a formaldehyde solution to stop the decomposition of his body. Then, to remove the water and fat from the tissues, he was placed in a bath of acetone before being transferred to a vacuum chamber where the liquid polymer would replace the solvent. The polymer would eventually cure, solidifying to produce a plasticized version of the tissue.

  The entire process took almost a year, but it was all worth it. He’s now on display in my dark patron’s foyer. I took pictures of him for you before he left my studio. I know that you miss him dearly, so I also made sure to save a piece of him for you. Unfortunately, it’s not the piece you yearn for every night.

  Do you see the exquisitely engraved cherry wood chest in front of you? Its interior is lined with dark blue velvet and contains the precious memento I saved for you.

  Go ahead and open it.

  Do you like it? The dark patron didn’t care for it. So, I had it leathered and tailored to be a full body suit, like a onesie. As you have enjoyed him being inside you, now you can find comfort being inside him. He’ll always be with you, keeping you safe and warm in his skin. And look, it still has his dark curly hair, so you can run your dainty fingers through it.

  Incoming call | Caller unknown

  Do you see the CCTV up in the upper-right corner of the ceiling? If you have the strength, lift up your hand and give it a little wave. Hello, Gayle, it’s so good to see you. Although you can’t see me, I’m waving to you and watching you on my screen. You should thank the guard who brought the phone to you. He’s holding it up to your ear, while doing his best not to disturb all those wires attached to you.

  This is the first time in a while since you’ve heard my real voice. The last time was when we met at Harry’s Dive. Do you recall that night? I certainly do. It was a delightful evening, spending time with you. I even sent you the sketch I made as a memento to hang on your cell wall. I hope it brings back fond memories of that night every time you look at it.

  It pains me deeply that I won’t be able to hear your voice again. All I can hear now is the steady beep of the heart monitor from your end. You look so frail and vulnerable lying in that bed.

  I don’t understand, Gayle. Why did you do it? I heard what happened. You were in the mess hall. You took the fork and stabbed a guard in the eye, and then plunged it into your own throat, narrowly missing a major artery. Luckily, the other guards were able to intervene and save your life.

  Did you do it because you think you’ll be spending the rest of your life in this prison? I told you before that you’ll be released, but you need to be patient. And I have some news for you. A dark patron expressed a lot of interest in you when I mentioned your articles about my work and our chance encounter one night. He commissioned me to re-create one of Sandro Botticelli’s famous works—The Birth of Venus. What an honor for you and me, isn’t it?

  I can only imagine how happy you must be to hear that you won’t be stuck in that cell much longer. Ah, it looks like the nurse is coming over. No need to worry, Gayle. She’s going to give you a sedative, so you can relax during the trip to my art studio. Just close your eyes and take deep breaths.

  .

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