Plunging the blade deep into the abdominal cavity, I drive it upward until I hit the xiphoid. Twisting slightly to my right, I skirt the sternum and slice through the costal cartilage attaching the ribs to the breast plate. Careful not to puncture the internal organs, I stop my upward motion at the manubrium. Drawing the sharpened metal along the topside of the upper-most rib, I listen to the harsh breathing. Returning to the original point of entry, I pause, then again thrust into and through the abdominal wall, swiftly separating the flesh and muscle from the body’s left side.
Laying the knife on the tray, I reach down and peel the cavity open with a great deal of force. A slight groan escapes amongst the pops and rending sounds as the connective tissue still in place rips away to reveal the fluttering heart. A marvelous thing the human body, a machine designed by the hand of a master; a fragile balance struck with a sadistic keeper.
© Copyright 2014 Nina D’Arcangela. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to my April AtoZ Blog Challenge post! I hope you enjoyed my ramble, and come back for more! Don’t forget to visit the other bloggers participating by clicking on the badge to the right, or simply using this link. :}
Nina D'Arcangela
Sotet Angyal 
April 28th, 2014 at 2:21 am
Yikes! That was intense! I chose “xiphoid” also, but in its “sword-shaped” definition. Great minds think alike, yes?
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Hi Lillian! Intense is good! lol – I need to make it to your blog and pick up from where I left off. I’m sorry it wasn’t in the month of April, but I will get there and read every one. I can’t wait to see what you did with ‘xiphoid’. 😀
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April 28th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Not to worry, Nina. I know how hectic life can be. I welcome a visit from you whenever you can make it.
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April 28th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Reblogged this on From Bright Minds Come Dark Things and commented:
What a way to start off on a Monday!
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Thank you, Craig! Nothing like a good thoracic cavity invasion to start the week out right! ;-D
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April 28th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
That was intense.
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
lol – well, I hope intense is good! Thank you, Fatima! 🙂
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April 28th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Lucky x letter for you lol
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April 28th, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Happy ‘x’ letter for me; needed to do a bit of venting in a constructive/destructive manner last week when I calmly wrote this! (read ‘calmly’ as ‘raging lunatic’) lol
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April 29th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Oh…you brought back memories of my anatomy classes….indeed an intense write.
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May 20th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
This reply is coming late, but the comment thrilled me when I first read it! Thank you greatly for this one!! 😀
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April 30th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
*claps paws* Bravo, bravo!! What a sadistic little post; extremely well written. Violent without being perverse. Loved it, Nina 🙂
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May 20th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
LOL – thank you for the paw-claps! I particularly like the clinical detachment this conveys, but you know it’s anything but clinical! ;}
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