The Morleys were a remarkably well established family for their time - in a world so plagued with left-wing beliefs, they had managed to maintain their time old honor of several personal servants, an extraneously and pointlessly large manor (half of which was simply used as storage for their extraneously and pointlessly large collection of valuable but entirely dysfunctional items), and, of course, the weekly tradition of shopping in the poorer parts of town to flamboyantly flaunt their wealth.
Set atop of a hill by the humble village of Wellington, Morley Manor was a gargantuan demonstration of drunk architecture.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vTJSWLrFg
No doubt it was a highly attractive building, but the matter of the fact was that it simply made no sense. From the exterior, one could hardly tell that every second corridor in the building was at a fifteen degree slant, and that there were multiple inset doorways that simply opened to a wall.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0UrmoWm0X
The doors are justifiable - lock all the fake doors and they create a false sense of magnitude for visitors. But as for the former deformity, local rumor has it that the building was never designed to go onto a hill, and that the original Lord Morley simply declared it to be built there for effect. Wealth is no guarantee for common sense nor intelligence - and indeed, in the day of the Morley's life you are about to experience, this fact shall never seem clearer.
We begin, perhaps, on the Sunday morning of the Incident. Lord Mortimer Morton Morley begins by retiring to his washroom to expunge himself of his digestion products. This is the last we shall see of him.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTI69vgaCl
Lady Morgana Mortabella Morley begins by sleeping to the fine hour of noon, which is why, as she later claims, she missed all the excitement of her husband's disembowelment. This may or may not be true, of course, as it is not always the narrator's role to provide an impartial view of events.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFAnxEhdCw
The children arise in their separate rooms, and drift towards the dining hall with the prospect of a three course breakfast, lovingly prepared by Nanny Amy and Nanny Emily who had woken several hours before to clean and cook - they put sweat, blood, and tears into everything they do, including the meals for the Morleys.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3gcRHn8y0
Moving on from the fact that the Morleys were blissfully unaware that the Nannies prepared rather unethical meals (I do believe that at least two of the Morleys have unwittingly contracted blood viruses from their meals), one of the children was of particular interest.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFogUiVOsAY
Cara had brought home her peasant lover, Druid, and was presently attempting to inconspicuously smuggle him out of the manor.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67xvb7e5aE
'Cara!' It was David. 'Come join us for breakfast. What could ever be taking you so long?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8gecra52Y
The young woman quickly ushered Druid into a closet. 'Just stay in here', and then, to David, 'I'm coming now! Your impatience most disturbs my Sunday relaxation. It's all really quite blasphemous.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcPH6qk5qQ
Cara arrived at the breakfast table late, to the watching eyes of her siblings, David, Eric, and Rachelle.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf4hiARWeA
'Really, Cara. Your soup must be cold - we have all finished already. It was quite marvelous, I don't know what it is Nanny Amy puts in these.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2KYFNFizh
The elderly woman quickly hides the fresh cut in her thumb. 'The special ingredient is Love, Rachelle! Now Nanny Emily and I must go to prepare the next dish.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPN3AwHHja
'Ta ta.' The girl responds.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggL3ILBWr6
Eric, the oldest of them all, was tall and dark, a slim figure that resembled his mother's. He stood up from the table and excused himself quickly.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAKSkDdB4e
'But we haven't even reached mains yet!' Rachelle complains.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx3RQTCn3D
'Now, sister. I simply must finish my latest composition. The inspiration is simply flowing right now, my dear, I can't let it escape!' With that, he spun out of his chair and strutted out of the dining hall.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ddPxI69hU
Cara thought about her precious Druid, waiting in a closet, and took the opportunity to also leave the table. 'I, um, I - '423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4A762wLFx
'Yes?' Rachelle looks up at her, expecting an unarguable excuse.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJgE6yazPo
'It's just that phase of the moon.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijJVqj4yrv
'That makes no sense, Caraaaaaa!!! Breakfast is no fun if you all go away doing silly things!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j7Oln5DkM
David smirks to himself. 'Nonsense, Rachelle. I'm sure Cara has very important business to attend to. Perhaps with a little age, you shall too.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvUdmOJSGx
'Hmmph.' The girl crosses her arms as Cara leaves.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj0wZ6RFyM
The reader should take care to note, at this moment, that a situation has been constructed with a large number of people not accounted for. Then it is now, of course, that Lord Morley's body will be discovered.
'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' Lady Morley's scream brought everyone in the manor to her washroom, where they were greeted by the sight of Lord Morley feeling rather turned out. Inside out, to be precise.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmmnwqXR7y
'Good gracious!' Exclaimed the Nannies.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ7IvJC4hK
'Oh dear!' Cara shouted.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVZZ1D7aoy
'My God!' The sons ejaculated.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7ZIGweWzC
'What's daddy doing?' Rachelle asked.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEmfpFjts3
'How on earth could such a thing have happened!' Lady Morley wept. 'I woke only a few minutes ago, and went to the washroom to freshen myself up, only to see my dear husband has been murdered! Who could have done this terrible act?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bbX7zayye
Eric was exceedingly fast to turn on his mother. 'Kind mother, I find it remarkably odd that you were the one to discover him in this state, and so close to your room, no doubt!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRBZgXtOzk
'Eric! You naughty boy! How dare you insinuate such terrible things. I am in the right mind to call the police on you, for trying to inherit your father's fortune by way of murder!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzt6jPxW9R
'That is a lie, mother! You and I both know I loved father more than you ever did.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC0Kk8HBK0
A simultaneous gasp from the two Nannies. What a very juicy Incident this would be for their gossip circles!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5Pfu6qxX8
'Well! I must ask you to leave. You are disturbing my grieving process.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fo7sNga3z
David chimed in with an observation. 'But mother, your husband has not simply died, he has been killed! Given the security of our house, one must wonder how the killer got in - or if the killer is one of us. We cannot waste any time grieving, (very sorry), our lives may very well be in danger!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbPgsn09TF
Rachelle began crying in consternation, not quite comprehending but aware of the distress nonetheless.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvzZUBfqBW
'Rachelle! Come here.' Nanny Emily gave the girl a strong embrace. The little one was always fond of the servant women.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5MmWQApfO
Cara was only mildly interested in the course of events - she simply hoped that Druid had taken this commotion as an opportunity to leave unnoticed. 'Excuse me, this is all very worrying and such but I must answer the woman's call!' She interjected loudly, reusing her earlier excuse to leave.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5YorICXlw
'Very well!' Lady Morley said. 'After all, we don't want any more blood spilt today.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0d870wARA
Cara ran out of the room and tracked down the cupboard she had so suddenly farewelled her lover in. Empty.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mlL6bgMgG
Where could he be? She passed by the entrance hall and saw Druid by the door.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ3Y3uznbB
'Dru! Why have you not left yet?' She whispered to him loudly.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8FXIERlcC
His face goes white. 'The doors and windows are barred. From the outside. I cannot leave!' 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl13K57NoZD
It is only at this point that Cara began comprehending the situation.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdu29RpEI0
The killer did not intend for Lord Morley to be the only fatality that day.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RJsyjtDTF
Cara burst back into her mother's room. 'We are trapped inside!' She announced, to which the response was a chorus of 'WHAT!?'s.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7QDIIkOS1
Nanny Amy began taking down notes. What an exciting day!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTtZscKgNi
'All the doors and windows are barred from the outside! We are trapped inside with a killer!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72tMpTnDtu
Nanny Emily felt the need to fan the flame. 'And why, dear Cara, were you checking the doors of the house instead of dealing with downstairs business? Were you trying to leave? Flee from the scene of your crime, perhaps?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBzBaIqZ6y
'No! I was - I was, um...'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ574cz47Al9
Druid walked through the door. 'Hi.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mEnc4MLWj
'Who is this, Cara?' Lady Morley was positively concerned at the arrival of this lowly stranger.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeOptrjIEm
'Druid and I are lovers, mother.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcugTfzaFav
'PFFFFFT! Nonsense. Try again. Who is this, Cara?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77Pdi259o8
'Druid is my boyfriend?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7Lcewppwk
'I don't think so. Who is this person?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM37GmnDsAG
'Mother, please shut up most presently. I am in love with Druid, and his status is of no concern to you or me.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsM8q58QR3
Lady Morley responded with a laser glare. 'We will deal with this matter after we have dealt with the fact we are all likely to be the subjects of successive grisly demises.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhQJ9NKGWa
'Then whyyyyyy are we all in your room, mother? One fell swoop could kill us all. I don't believe in safety in numbers.' Eric began walking out. 'I believe I can fend better on my own.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ1OfXvUI3
'Nooooo, don't gooooooo...' Rachelle squealed.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkevNc8ZbmZ
'It's okay darling Rachelle, I will stay with you.' Nanny Emily patted her head.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFolfZ96RC
'There is some point to Eric's decision.' Druid stated.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkTZaC4ctV
'Did you hear something, Cara? I most certainly didn't.' 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOMmPjIKjv
'Mother, this is no time for your immaturity. Suppose the killer is in this very room? I don't know about you, but I certainly don't wish to stay in here, where perhaps even you, mother, could pull out a knife and slay us all in a moment. Good day. I will find my own haven from this mess!' Cara left the room, with Druid in close pursuit.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0WKJ9CiOL
'This is idiotic! This is exactly what we shouldn't do with a killer on the loose.' David muttered. 'CARA! Come back!' He raced after the lovers.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGe2ezBBgi
'Rachelle, you stay with me.' Lady Morley said. 'I wouldn't trust a girl of your age to run off. You might get lost in this house. Or murdered.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SwtkV3YJS
Rachelle and Nanny Emily sat down on the bed.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA73kuFJVDv
'I'll go get the coloring books, shall I?' Nanny Amy offered.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdmua5cGln
'That would be lovely.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmWVcK5Z0c
It should seem obvious to the reader that once again, we shall say farewell to a few members of the Morley family.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSkUQ4UB6l
'Oh my god!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjv1xOKomR
Pushed off the banister at the top of the stairs, Nanny Amy's and David's bodies lay sprawled on the floor of the entrance hall.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVHdy5iKQG
Eric harked to alert the others, and they all gathered at the foot of the staircase, beside the bodies. 'The situation is getting serious.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8eru1ZKxU
'Was it not serious before?' Lady Morley tutted. 'Rachelle. I demand that you and Nanny Emily go back to my room at once and barricade yourselves in there! I will not have my precious button be killed today.' The two women, young and old, headed back up the stairs.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0AVsR4xvx
'Oh, Dru! I am most distressed.' Cara wept into his arms. He grunted in discomfort. 'Tell me the story of how we met again. It calms me so.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAReJSuTvH
'Do we really have the time for this?' Eric complained, to no avail, as Druid began telling the story to Cara.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdTMDV9Tof
'It was a Saturday market. Your family were passing by my fake jewelry stall.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauJZFikGdg
'It was fake???'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNNynSboGO
'Shut up, mother! Let him continue.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ9iCLbQSs
'This is hopeless.' Eric left the entrance hall.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEIeorf7zS
'You cleaned out the entire stall. You and David stayed to apologize for your mother's behavior. After David had left, you told me that you found me ruggedly attractive.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWGHkl5CtN
'This story is incredulously stupid.' Lady Morley rolled her eyes. 'We are wasting time talking about things that both of you already know! If we are really going to do this, can we at least do it out of the vicinity of dead bodies?' The three of them quickly moved to the dining hall, Druid continuing the story as they walked.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFHnp2ZFA1
'I declined your offer, at first, and you were very upset. The next few Saturday markets you made sure never to pass by my stall. But the truth to my decline was, I was scared to have fallen in love with someone as magnificent as you. I hesitated in that moment and regretted it very much. So I left my stall and tried to find you. I declared my love to you, and you fell into my arms.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pj4tYIsx8
'Awwww, most gracious Druid. Thank you very much. Now let us vacate this room! I don't fancy sitting beside dead bodies for much longer.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMnaexA3TQ
'Which is why,' Lady Morley muttered, 'we stayed here for the last five minutes.' Then, louder: 'I'm going to check on Rachelle. You two try not to make a mess.' Lady Morley left the two of them as she headed back to her room, and promptly tripped over Eric's bleeding body on the way.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWjTWu9nFv
'Oh well. I suppose it wasn't him after all.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQpgqSmZOA
She didn't feel the need to alarm anyone.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJI3JVnvS7
'Rachelle! Are you alright?!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGPivM14BN
The girl was lying in a pool of blood. Thankfully, it was not her own.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImosflcSRu
Nanny Emily was leaning against the wall beside Rachelle. Her head was leaning on the wall opposite Rachelle. Neck wounds bleed a frightful lot.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpoaPR2GOe
'Oh my darling Rachelle, come here, come here, what happened?' Lady Morley scooped up her youngest child through tears.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ4NuSvCy2
'It was... it was... it was a man...'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQVr8Jc8om
David was dead. Eric was dead. That left only Druid.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyI8dKRGp8
'My god! I knew he was dodgy! I must call the others at once! CARAAAA!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjBQGqxHYc
'Cara is dead.' Lady Morley jumped at the sound of his voice. Druid was standing by the doorway. 'A man in a cloak stabbed her in front of me! It must have been Eric!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVHe0nlVdb
...423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdy5RvT2BL
'Druid, Eric was killed.' Lady Morley said.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupqAsajwO7
'What? But...'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2pUbLuY6B
'And Rachelle here also said it was a man that came and killed Nanny Emily.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNG1Ljcehh
'No, no, that's not right. Where's Eric?'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xd4IbRY6Y
'Lying dead at the top of the stairs. Which means that the only person that could have done this all is YOU!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXPw5LTHaa
'What! No! It wasn't me, it wasn't me! I have proof -' Druid tried to run out of the room but Lady Morley, with surprising speed, stopped him before the doorway.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QqifIGTYp
'I think, little peasant, that we have all the proof we need.' With a blow from her knuckles, the man was knocked unconscious.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikCw0SnKM5
It was a phone call (whoever thought? It is as if they were trapped with no contact to the outer world) and fifteen minutes later that the Wellington Police came to arrest Druid Ren for five charges of murder and jewelry fraud.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRCVWV8lGI
Reader, I suppose that you may want to know what became of the Morleys in the end. Lady Morley became a cult hero (not among the poorer residents of Wellington, of course), and Rachelle grew up to become the chief of Wellington Police.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMNYD39t1N
But what became of their fortune?423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhfWQVBpbT
David inherited the fortune, of course.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwZNHlETMz
Now you see, David had survived the fall from the staircase. Lady Morley and Rachelle always told him that he was one of the luckiest men alive, but I must point out that there was no luck involved in his survival, for he didn't fall at all.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq1SgRU4Hr
Druid had a boiling hate for the upper class, posh Morleys, and David realized that a little manipulation would be all he needed to get the Morley fortune. So David befriended Druid, and convinced Druid to take up his sister's offer. Then Druid could infiltrate the Morley Manor.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoArwe0PUi
The agreement, as it stood back then, was to frame poor Eric for the murders. Druid did his part of doing all the dirty work - but David had a little extra step in the plan. When no one was there to witness it, David rose from his pose in the entrance hall and killed Eric, before going back to his faux-corpse location.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzmO5048Hu
In this way, Druid would take all the blame.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkyVSu62ZR
I presume that you are waiting for some kind of moral to arise from this story. But none really exists. This account serves no purpose but for entertainment, a brief glimpse into the oh-so-obviously fictional lives of the Morleys, a short tale of murder and betrayal.
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