Yes, painful and slow death. Keep wondering about if either DE or NK had access to haz-mat type suits? Were they any science classes where they were required full body haz-mat suits to perform experiments? Maybe paper ones? With the paper covers for your shoes too ?
They had to know this would be bloody. Had to know. Another thing, being that Keepers was a cutter, I bet her family had to lock their knives up. I know you can cut yourself with other things, broken glass, pins, razor blades, but I bet her counselors advised her parents to keep the knives put away. If you have someone who is suicidal in your family, you have to put away the knives.