Charmed.

(Knacker Wagon Chronicles - III)

Baye hurried into the van, somewhat relieved to have a few precious breaths away from Pudgi and Sarge's company. Two opposing benches ran along the walls of the midsection of the van. The far bench was occupied by a scraggly-looking fellow so Baye slid onto a near seat. To his left, a pair of empty captain's chairs faced the front of the van. A steel wall on his left sidled the benches. A loud thud indicated to Baye that the carcass may have also entered the van, thankfully on the other side of the metal.

"Keep your fingers above the seat", stated Baye's companion. Baye was learning to take advice quickly and so placed his hands on his knees. After a moment's hesitation, his curiosity got the best of him and he leaned over to see under his seat.

"BOWWOWOWOWOWOWOW!"

Baye nearly soiled himself and barely kept from plunging into his companion. The fellow helped Baye right himself. "I see you met Charm. His bark isn't as bad as his bite. He would've bitten your fingers off. He likes people. He likes human. Go ahead and sit back down - just be more careful." Baye took his time to park himself above Charm.
The man spoke again, "I hear Beauty licking her chops. You must smell delicious."
"Where the hell's Beauty?", shrieked Baye, turning his head about so as not to lose an ear or nose.
"You're Okay. I'm sitting above Beauty. Just don't look her in the eyes."
"Cute pets.", said Baye, gathering his senses.
"Hey, how do you get out of this gig?", asked Baye.
"Shhhhh."

Baye waited for more but after a couple moments realized he might be waiting in vain. "Uh, how do you get out of this freakshow?", he implored. The man sighed. Baye waited some more and realized he was reading a book. Baye was beginning to feel testy and thought smacking the guy's reading material across the van. Then again...

The man slowly closed his book and looked at Baye. He wore an inquisitive expression, as if mulling over a parting thought from his book. "Have you no self respect? I'm Rev." He looked at Baye squarely. "You don't even want me to know your name?" Baye was somewhat taken aback. "Sarge says that's the one thing we always have... our name. You should learn to be more proud of yours." Baye felt Rev studying him... and waiting.
"Baye."
"Well, Baye," said Rev. "That's better isn't it. And God brought the animals unto Adam to see what he would call them. Genesis two nineteen. You're not an animal, are you, Baye?"
"Tell that to Charm", retorted Baye. Rev smiled.
Baye heard a metal-on-metal sliding sound, followed by scrambling paws beneath him. To his relief, Baye didn't see the metal cage below him move, rather he heard Charm banging himself through an apparent opening in the metal wall to his right. Sloppy snarfing sounds followed. Baye looked back to Rev, who was grinning more than smiling. Baye thought it best to take his cue from Rev.

"Didn't your judge tell you there's no turning back? Or did you just forget that detail. Then again, I suppose life sentences can make a man lose his bearings. Oh, you can get out... I just don't think you'll want to." Rev paused, still grinning. Baye saw how thin Rev's features were, how close his skin lay upon his face, how Rev's grin accentuated his skull-like gaze. "The only option, and it wouldn't be yours to make, would be how to dispose of your body." Rev paused for effect. "Charm is but one taker. We could just play Wishbone and see whether it's Charm or Beauty who crushes your sternum and rips your heart out. I always put my money on Beauty; sometimes Charm wastes time with the liver." Rev visibly savored Baye's discomfort.

Two more people barged through the side door. One slid next to Baye, the other next Rev. "Fresh kill" said one breathlessly."We're loaded up. As soon as Sarge is done we're outta here." The front passenger door swung open and Pudgi plopped himself into the van. Everyone, including Rev, looked intently out the front windshield. Baye was thankful for the respite from Rev's eyes. Baye too glanced out the front of the van to see what was so beholding. Out on the gravel road was Sarge, walking deliberately around the area the carcass had lain.

Rev spoke softly, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."