Page 77 of If Looks Could Kill

The cavity of the human body is like a labyrinth, full of dark tunnels, twists and turns. To enter it the way Jack likes to is to delve in dark, serpentine, unknowable places.

Even so, after four legendary feats of skill in the dark, ever since his fifth, Jack now prefers the benefit of lamplight.

He must keep her alive. He will not slash her throat open yet.

His first cut goes far enough to soak her clothes in blood, but not far enough to be useful to him.

Some thick seam of clothing folded in on itself deflects his blade sideways.

Even so, Pearl’s body jerks at the wound.

This puzzles Jack. He is sure he used enough chloroform to sedate her heavily for the entire procedure.

He wipes his blade fastidiously on a handkerchief, then prepares to make another incision.