Gaiety Dance Team (Rockwell Challenge)

"Haven't sold a single ticket," said Eddie. His stomach rumbled. He and his dance partner Dolores hadn't eaten well in days. They'd picked scraps out of a dumpster this morning, and their breath was foul.

Had they wanted to kiss - if she ever wanted to kiss that lying, cheating bastard again - they'd tangle filthy tongues.

"Oh," she said. Dolores couldn't imagine dancing. She hardly had the strength. She couldn't look at Eddie, not without nausea, and she didn't have enough in her stomach to throw up. "What about Harriet? She's not coming out tonight?"

"Harriet doesn't want to see me anymore," said Eddie. "She said she'd rather have a man with a real job."

"Wouldn't we all," said Dolores.

"We only have each other, Dolores," he said. "You may hate me, but we dance like angels together."

"Apparently the market for dancing angels is all dried up," she said. "You can keep the costume trunk," she sighed, and stood, as best she could. "I have enough money left for a one-way bus back home. You can keep the costumes, and the props from the magic act, and any gifts you ever gave me, and forget me forever."

"Wait," Eddie said. "We just need a new gimmick." He leaped up and rifled through the trunk. He emerged with the comically large saw they'd used in their "cutting the lady in half" bit.

She raised an eyebrow. "Magic's dead," Dolores said.

"You ever seen a one-legged dancer?" said Eddie, approaching her. His filthy breath was hot on her face, and the saw was on her leg.

"No," she said. He pressed the saw against her, and she started to bleed. She didn't back away, but moved closer to Eddie, feeling her blood sticky against her leg, feeling his skin on her skin.

"You could be a star," he said. "A true original." He whipped out his flask and handed it to her. "Drink this and lie down. It'll be over in a second."

She was intoxicated by him, thrilled by the prospect of fame. No matter what he did, she was always drawn back to the con man with the beautiful face. She drank the contents of the flask, all at once, and felt it burn her aching belly. She lay down and braced herself.

"And as a bonus," he said, leaning over her, body-to-body, saw-to-leg, "We'll have some meat for dinner!"