Nadine Matheson

Henley felt the shock give way to the type of fear that came when you recognised your parents were tapping on the door of mortality.

Death was her adrenalin and it scared her.

‘You think that you’re awake, but you can’t move. Not one single muscle. Not even your little finger, but you’re scared, aren’t you? That’s something you can feel. All-consuming, suffocating fear.’

Dismemberment is a psychological form of closure and gratification and it takes determination. Women, no offence to you, Anjelica, are more… emotional.’

There was something between us. For crying out loud. I got married, I had a baby. I had to have a life outside of this job.’

‘And even after all of that, you came back to me.

A deep, crackling laugh that bounced off the walls. ‘Humpty Dumpty. Except they couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.’

Henley knew she could get under people’s skin. She had an innate desire to see what made people tick, which buttons to push to make them falter.

The light from the full moon streamed through the thick leaves and glinted against the knife as he pulled it out of her stomach.

Henley wasn’t sure whether Pellacia had pulled her towards him or whether she had pulled Pellacia towards her. She just felt his mouth on hers.

Hybristophilia. People who are sexually aroused and attracted to people who have committed cruel, gruesome crimes, for example, murder and rape.’