Bodies in Plastic: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Step into a world of chilling secrets and haunting revelations with "Beneath the Plastic Shroud." This gripping tale unravels the twisted reality hidden within the walls of a seemingly ordinary home. The head in the wall, crusted and decayed, sets the stage for a journey into the depths of a family's darkest secrets.

As the story unfolds, the narrative weaves a harrowing account of a daughter discovering the unimaginable horrors committed by her own father. The mummified remains, stored in plastic bins, become a metaphor for the concealed sins that permeate every corner of this unsuspecting household.

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions as the protagonist recounts her upbringing surrounded by the bodies of childhood playmates and acquaintances. The graphic descriptions and bone-chilling revelations lead to an interrogation room where a nervous and delicate man, Victor Chen, faces the relentless questioning of the police.

The narrative explores the mind of a killer, delving into the disturbing reasons behind the carefully planned murders. The author skillfully portrays the psychological torment of the father, who, when confronted, can only utter the chilling words, "I had to."

Through intricate storytelling, "Beneath the Plastic Shroud" exposes the dark motivations of a serial killer who defies the conventional norms of such crimes. The juxtaposition of the father's public persona as a shy and soft-spoken figure with his hidden, sinister tendencies adds layers of complexity to the narrative.

This captivating tale goes beyond a simple crime story, exploring themes of family, betrayal, and the thin line between sanity and madness. "Beneath the Plastic Shroud" will keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning the nature of evil and the secrets that may lurk in the most unexpected places. Brace yourself for a psychological thriller that will leave you haunted long after the final page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223698036

Book preview

Table of Contents

Bodies in Plastic (contos, #1)

The head in the wall was crusted and decayed, mummified in its plastic shroud.

The withered face opened mouth in a scream, or maybe the jaw loosened as the muscles

decayed.

The plastic is what's held on the smell, though I do vaguely remember sometimes in

odor permeating, especially during steamy summers.

I was always told the smell was garbage.

Alongside the head, other parts sat stored in plastic bins.

When I finally saw the corpse from the wall reassembled, it was hard to believe that anybody

would do this to another human.

Harder still to imagine it was my own father who had committed such horrific acts.

Before I continue a warning, if you're triggered by any graphic descriptions, do not read further.

Mine is a harrowing account.

I grew up in a house surrounded by bodies, the bodies of childhood playmates and acquaintances.

One asked why he had done it, my father always gave the same answer.

As I recount the story now, I picture him in that interview room, how he must have looked

facing the police.

Victor Chen was a small nervous, almost delicate man.

He must have been petrified.

His eyes swollen shut and his lips bleeding, his hands rubbing and rubbing, nails digging

deeper into the flesh of his wrists and palms, as they peppered him with the same questions

over and over.

Why?

Why children?

Why in the walls?

Why?

I had to.

My tears running down his cheeks.

This was all that he would say.

I had to.

Why little kids you sicko?

I imagine the officer sneer.

Imagine how my father cowered as the man struck him.

We know what you did to them, why you wanted them.

No, I never did anything to them, I just killed them.

You just killed them.

Yes.

You expect me to believe.

I had to.

Piece of trash.

If the interrogation went anything like my father said, that officer beat him within

an inch of his life.

Only after he was on the floor, groaning and at the brink of unconsciousness, did the

second officer intervene, pulling back the violent one.

They hustled my father back into his chair.

The calmer officer spoke and measured tones.

Namistra Chen, tell me what happened to Mary Louise, Kaylee Jensen, Kyle Sanderson, Terry

Chell, Evie Connor.

You obviously put a lot of thought into everything.

Packing them into the walls takes a lot of material and preparation.

You must have had a reason for choosing them.

What was it?

He would not say.

When I confronted him, it did not go much better at first.

He wouldn't speak for ages.

Just sat there with his head down and tears dripping from his eyes.

Finally, his gaze lifted.

I suppose you think I'm a monster.

He whispered, are you?

I