Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. No infringements intended. All original intellectual property is solely owned by its creator; the author.

This is my entry for The Gore Corner June Prompt Challenge: Zombies. Please note this chapter has references to dissection of human bodies (donated cadavers). It was enough to make me sick to my stomach while researching, but if you are a fan of gore and tasteless dark humor I'm pretty sure you'll have no real issues with it.

One

"Who cuts off the heads?"

Jasper pointed to the long table where a half-dozen severed heads sat in aluminum roasting pans. He had several questions about this process. One had been: Why roasting pans? But as he watched the stumps ooz just below the jawline he realized it was the same reason disposable roasting pans are used for chickens: to catch the drippings.

The cadavers' heads were for a face lifting refresher course his University was hosting. The faces were masked with cloth, but the stumps were quite visible. Bloody and rough, viscous fluid discharged from the openings. This was not at all what he had expected when he'd volunteered for the seminar. It was almost barbaric. Who would be so crass when chopping someone's head off? Which led him to repeat his question. "The heads. Who cut them off?"

"Oh." Esme replied. She ran her hand over skin hooks and retractors as if sorting utensils for a dinner party. Her job was to set up the seminar and her feminine touch was apparent throughout the conference room. From the pastel linens that adorned the makeshift surgical tables, to the floral ambiance of air freshener. Its aroma scarcely masked the scent of the fresh test subjects. "That would be Mr. Masen, the medical examiner for this morgue."

Jasper grimaced in repulsion at the six bloody stumps. The room began to spin. "What did he use, a chainsaw?"

"I'm fairly certain it was a regular saw, Mr. Whitlock." She tittered, startling Jasper. He hadn't realized he said anything out loud.

The man bowed his head bashfully, his long dark bangs falling into his eyes. "Yes of course, I was just... how do you do it? Handle the... gore?"

She considered his question. "Well, I suppose I just think of them as if they aren't real. Just props or -" She readjusted the cloth over one of the heads. "Or like a center piece."

"Like a flower arrangement?"

Esme pursed her lips, and then nodded. "Yes. Like a flower arrangement. I quite like that visual."

He wished he could objectify the deceased in such a way.

The voluble noise outside in the hall caught Jasper's attention. The surgeons were arriving. He excused himself to greet them and provide them with the bound syllabuses for the workshop, eager to interact with the six doctors - all of their heads perfectly intact.

Most of the physicians paid little attention to him as his shaky hands passed out the programs, except for a man standing off to the side. He stared at Jasper. Straight reddish hair spilled over his forehead, giving him a slightly tousled look. The man's expression wasn't exceptionally friendly, more like he was just observing. Jasper wondered if his queasiness was obvious.

"Are we all set in there?" Dr. Cullen, the surgeon in charge of the symposium, asked as he strapped on a pair of latex gloves.

"Yes, sir." Jasper replied. He opened the door to the conference room, allowing the doctors to file in.

"Very good!" Dr. Cullen placed a gloved hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Did you make sure there was enough saline at each of the stations?"

"I believe so, sir."

"I hope so. Some of these heads have been around for a few days. Kept in coolers of course, but you know what happens with a refrigerated steak. The meat tends to dry out, so we must inject..."

Dr. Cullen was continuing his explanation, but Jasper could only hear a loud buzz in his ears. A bitter taste formed in the back of his mouth and he was salivating. He was certain he was going to vomit at any moment.

"Well." The doctor gave him a genial smile. "Shall we begin?"

Thanks for reading! More to come after Jasper and I stop dry-heaving. Thank you to my cheerleader extraordinaire Mona Rider and the lovely DurtyNelly.