My Two Cents: WHENEVER YOU TOUCH DEAD THINGS, YOU MUST ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS by Lula Von Goth

Author Lula Von Goth lets you know out of the gate that her story, "Whenever You Touch Dead Things, You Must Always Wash Your Hands" is both filled with rage and based in part on past relationships in her own life, particularly with her father. The main character, Beth, is a strange, shy, socially awkward teen. She lives in squalor with her abusive, alcoholic father, a widow who isn't shy about telling his lonely daughter about all of her dead mother's faults and shortcomings. At school, the social safety nets that are supposed to protect children like Beth seem to have catastrophically failed her, and to make matters worse, she's regularly subjected to cruel taunts and bullying from classmates, particularly Molly, a pretty, popular girl who seems to have everything poor Beth is sorely lacking.

Early on in the story, we learn Beth has developed a peculiar habit, an affinity, you might say, for blood. As in she likes the taste of it, and more than that, she likes the flavor and textures of human flesh. Her dietary compunctions are limited at first to self mutilation and self...sampling, I guess you could say, but what kind of story would it be if she didn't eventually extend her curious inclinations toward others unfortunate enough to land in her hungry crosshairs?

Along the way, she makes an unexpected friend in Charlie, a boy at school who is Molly's on-and-off boyfriend. It doesn't make sense that Charlie might take pity on -- and even fall in love with -- someone like Beth, but she allows herself a chapter or two of fragile hope before discovering that (alas, predictably) Charlie's intentions are less than noble or kind. This betrayal sets of a whole new level of depravity as Beth dedicates herself to seeking revenge, not just against Charlie and Molly, but her father as well.

While the subject matter won't appeal to everyone, for fans of female revenge stories, this one checks all the boxes. The twists about Beth's autocannibalism and anthropophagy are novel and unexpected, and overall, the culmination of her vengeful efforts delivers a satisfactory payout. Von Goth tempers Beth's often sadistic cruelty with glimpses of insight into her underlying, desperate loneliness, especially for the relationship she lost with her mother. While the brutality of her retribution is shocking in and of itself, when contrasted with that innocent, childlike yearning to be accepted and loved, it's even more heartbreaking and impactful.

"Whenever You Touch Dead Things, You Must Always Wash Your Hands" is available here.