Melvie and I were not really an item; at least not yet. We\u2019d been casually dating for a while now. But she was starting to grow on me.<\/p>\n
One day, we drove up to this mansion. She said there was something there that she wanted to see. She\u2019d been invited, and she wanted me to tag along.<\/p>\n
When we got there, I discovered there were others on the premises. After introductions, several of us followed a young woman named Frieda down to the basement. There, we were introduced to a guillotine.<\/p>\n
We were told it operated automatically. A timer could be set for the blade to fall randomly. Otherwise, if anyone wanted to try it out, it would be perfectly fine with her.<\/p>\n
Several of the ladies laid out on it and tried it. However, the timer was not engaged. They just stretched out on the bench and stuck their heads through, just to see what it felt like.<\/p>\n
Melvie took a turn along with the others. Then someone wanted to know if the timer could be engaged. Frieda set it up to randomly go off within five minutes.<\/p>\n
We all watched and waited. At 3:23, the blade came whooshing down, causing all of us to jump with a start. There were screams and cries of laughter. Then we headed upstairs.<\/p>\n
There was an outdoor barbecue. I saw Melvie talking with Frieda. Then we went home.<\/p>\n
She acted like it was no big deal. But I wasn\u2019t so sure. I could tell the event had made an impact on her.
\n—
\nA few days later, Melvie contacted me. The guillotine was going to be put into operation if anyone wanted to ride it and take the risk. I asked her if she really wanted to risk riding it. She said she was thinking about it.<\/p>\n
The event was going to take place on Saturday. I reminded Melvie I had to work that day. I\u2019d switched shifts with a coworker and couldn\u2019t get the day off.<\/p>\n
She told me it was quite all right. She said she would meet me there and would wait for me to arrive. So I said ok.<\/p>\n
I went to work on Saturday and put in my time. Shortly after lunch, I contacted Melvie and asked how she was doing. She said she was on her way to Victor\u2019s mansion. She said she would see me there once I got off work.<\/p>\n
I finished the rest of my shift. Then I tried to call Melvie. The call went straight to her voicemail. I sent a text, but it was not responded to.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t think anything of it. I just assumed she was in the middle of something and did not want her phone to go off at an inopportune time. So I went home and changed clothes.<\/p>\n
I tried calling her again before I left. But once more, the call went straight to voicemail. I tried sending another text, but it, too, wasn\u2019t answered.<\/p>\n
I noticed she had not returned my call from earlier. Had she been off her phone this whole time? I thought that was a little unusual for Melvie.<\/p>\n
I drove to Victor\u2019s, wondering why she couldn\u2019t get away long enough to check her messages. I checked my phone again while I was on the road. But there had still been no response to my calls or texts.<\/p>\n
An idle thought went through my mind. What if she\u2019d tried Victor\u2019s guillotine and had not been so lucky. I didn\u2019t think she would do anything so foolish. But the more I thought about it, the faster I drove.<\/p>\n
I pulled into the mansion and found a spot next to some other vehicles. I anxiously pulled out my phone and tried again. When she didn\u2019t answer my call, I sent her a text telling her I was on the premises and was looking for her. There was no response.<\/p>\n
I was anxious as I walked to the door. I went inside and asked someone for Melvie\u2019s whereabouts. They didn\u2019t seem to know who I was talking about.<\/p>\n
I asked some Asian chick where my girlfriend might be. She asked what her name was. When I told her, she looked at me in shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re Melvie\u2019s boyfriend??\u201d<\/p>\n
I told her I\u2019d been at work all afternoon and had just gotten off. Then I anxiously asked, \u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
She got a rather bemused look on her face. \u201cUm\u2026 that might be a little hard to explain. Maybe I should go get Victor. Wait right here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned as I waited impatiently. Two minutes later, Victor came in from the backyard.<\/p>\n
I told him who I was. He said he remembered me from the other day. Then I told him I was there to see Melvie. I said I was her boyfriend.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer boyfriend?\u201d Victor seemed confused. \u201cOk. Uh\u2026 follow me. It\u2019s right this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
He led me to a back room. \u201cI\u2019ll only be a moment.\u201d Then he passed through a door.<\/p>\n
I heard him ask, \u201cIs she ready? Her boyfriend\u2019s here to pick her up.\u201d<\/p>\n
I heard a female voice reply, \u201cBoyfriend? But I thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHer boyfriend\u2026 is here!\u201d Victor declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh; ok. Well, I got her cleaned up as best I could.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine \u2013 fine\u201d was Victor\u2019s reply. \u201cShe looks lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t for the life of me figure out what they were talking about. Then Victor came through the door. To my shock, he was holding Melvie\u2019s head in his outstretched hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she wanted you to have this,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe rest of her is, uh\u2026 well, she\u2019s out cooking on our barbecue. You\u2019re welcome to stay for supper if you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was stunned. Then he handed her head over to me. I was shocked as I held her in my hands.<\/p>\n
Her lips were parted, her eyes glazed over. There was this strange look about her. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d I wanted to know.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral of our guests wanted to try the guillotine for real. So we set the random timer. Your girlfriend wanted to try it as well. I wasn\u2019t there when it happened. I guess the guillotine choose that particular time to come down. It sliced her head clean off.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her head in disbelief. Now I understood why she hadn\u2019t responded to my calls and messages. All I could do was stammer, \u201cMelvie? What the hell did you do?? I was\u2026 I was starting to fall in love with you!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see,\u201d I murmured sadly. \u201cWell, I guess it\u2019s not your fault.\u201d Then I paused before asking, \u201cYou people are really going to eat her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all a part of the waiver she signed. I know how to cook them. You\u2019re welcome to come out back and stay for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Thinking about eating my girlfriend gave me a weak stomach. \u201cThank you, but I think I\u2019ll pass.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d he said sympathetically. \u201cThey did a good job on her head, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes they did,\u201d I replied. She looked so lifelike.<\/p>\n \u201cHer head belongs to you now, if you want it. But I know a couple of people who are willing to pay you top dollar for her head in case you\u2019re not interested.\u201d<\/p>\n Something told me there was so much more to the story. Did I really want to know about it? Maybe it was better to sever all ties with her once and for all.<\/p>\n I handed the head back over. \u201cShe\u2019s all yours. Give her to whomever wants her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me go get you some cash,\u201d he said as he turned to go with the head in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother,\u201d I replied with a dismissive wave. \u201cIt was nice meeting you. I, uh\u2026 I hope my girlfriend is good eating.\u201d Then I turned and headed for the exit, leaving Melvie and her head out of my life forever.<\/p>\n 2022; 2023 (Written Oct 11 \u201922; ed. Jan 16 \u201923 by riwa.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Melvie continues to ride Victor’s guillotine despite the risks involved… with predictable results. Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/riwaslibrary.com\/story\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Melvie-rides-Victors-guillotine-epilogue.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cShe signed a waiver,\u201d Victor said hastily. People have to sign it because of the risks involved.\u201d I think he didn\u2019t want me to hold him accountable for her beheading.<\/p>\n