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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqwaUaDcRG
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3KeehyMhM
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eYXdpBdll
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ma9QRnbE4
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulIT5xMJzR
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRUnK5MB4j
Cara had brought home her peasant lover, Druid, and was presently attempting to inconspicuously smuggle him out of the manor.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRyX7Nzuiz
'Cara!' It was David. 'Come join us for breakfast. What could ever be taking you so long?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFJglOXdJY
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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoPJrucoPh
Cara arrived at the breakfast table late, to the watching eyes of her siblings, David, Eric, and Rachelle.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94aH6cISgH
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHLosunQDX
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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRxDrL67wJ
'Ta ta.' The girl responds.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl01gCeauWQ
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNyhqWqW0r
'But we haven't even reached mains yet!' Rachelle complains.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl40NIhdia3
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCVCBCGp9l
Cara thought about her precious Druid, waiting in a closet, and took the opportunity to also leave the table. 'I, um, I - '388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg1SB8mAzM
'Yes?' Rachelle looks up at her, expecting an unarguable excuse.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1aUfTfZqD
'It's just that phase of the moon.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡychSMLUCQL
'That makes no sense, Caraaaaaa!!! Breakfast is no fun if you all go away doing silly things!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiEjgHONHg
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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTx9KqsDPb
'Hmmph.' The girl crosses her arms as Cara leaves.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXM35E4U7d
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztXyRK4VzK
'Good gracious!' Exclaimed the Nannies.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc850kkHDH2
'Oh dear!' Cara shouted.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz2uCkvVBH
'My God!' The sons ejaculated.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN2BIMDbbi
'What's daddy doing?' Rachelle asked.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjohcbrFOO
'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?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksKtqDiVmX
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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRuum3JTiv
'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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbNkPwQ1Fe
'That is a lie, mother! You and I both know I loved father more than you ever did.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC9BA6rFbl
A simultaneous gasp from the two Nannies. What a very juicy Incident this would be for their gossip circles!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSotDVfBmV
'Well! I must ask you to leave. You are disturbing my grieving process.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGS2DSkPB5
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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WITYSy3Kk
Rachelle began crying in consternation, not quite comprehending but aware of the distress nonetheless.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYs4tqkoxF
'Rachelle! Come here.' Nanny Emily gave the girl a strong embrace. The little one was always fond of the servant women.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK9ljVNKve
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5txSndNhk
'Very well!' Lady Morley said. 'After all, we don't want any more blood spilt today.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvcIPYxNQM
Cara ran out of the room and tracked down the cupboard she had so suddenly farewelled her lover in. Empty.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OVHO2qwnF
Where could he be? She passed by the entrance hall and saw Druid by the door.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtRCpEXp6G
'Dru! Why have you not left yet?' She whispered to him loudly.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4qN3080c
His face goes white. 'The doors and windows are barred. From the outside. I cannot leave!' 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEZ8LhtQGu
It is only at this point that Cara began comprehending the situation.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhow1Wwas7z
The killer did not intend for Lord Morley to be the only fatality that day.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yRotE2J76
Cara burst back into her mother's room. 'We are trapped inside!' She announced, to which the response was a chorus of 'WHAT!?'s.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs5fr3zGnq
Nanny Amy began taking down notes. What an exciting day!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkHetzZUPR
'All the doors and windows are barred from the outside! We are trapped inside with a killer!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew3Pfrju2G
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?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumuqG8Kqxq
'No! I was - I was, um...'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwj4zH8KFk
Druid walked through the door. 'Hi.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6buMbPSemf
'Who is this, Cara?' Lady Morley was positively concerned at the arrival of this lowly stranger.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtDyb7ldTb
'Druid and I are lovers, mother.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xnA8vZZfA
'PFFFFFT! Nonsense. Try again. Who is this, Cara?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd5bzYz8VJ
'Druid is my boyfriend?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHDS2nYDz0
'I don't think so. Who is this person?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu17HMkmoN4
'Mother, please shut up most presently. I am in love with Druid, and his status is of no concern to you or me.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlCSYJi5SW
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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDxnSWi4w4
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAVpGNrI5F
'Nooooo, don't gooooooo...' Rachelle squealed.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFYTzvOq3x
'It's okay darling Rachelle, I will stay with you.' Nanny Emily patted her head.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP9ImlcuL9
'There is some point to Eric's decision.' Druid stated.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8g4kM6OtG
'Did you hear something, Cara? I most certainly didn't.' 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSCPVmZKTo
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMvZZh3cAA
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFYu3OwCFk
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuU9IlLTX2
Rachelle and Nanny Emily sat down on the bed.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SlOFO6iIC
'I'll go get the coloring books, shall I?' Nanny Amy offered.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccvmu29vOP
'That would be lovely.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh2cb9HMbc
It should seem obvious to the reader that once again, we shall say farewell to a few members of the Morley family.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsg2vDYV3O
'Oh my god!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mf93ndxGj
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmBE4NeyCp
Eric harked to alert the others, and they all gathered at the foot of the staircase, beside the bodies. 'The situation is getting serious.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiVoNaWHnQ
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCR7w8ma1m
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrnFgKQGWK
'Do we really have the time for this?' Eric complained, to no avail, as Druid began telling the story to Cara.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVMbeMIt7B
'It was a Saturday market. Your family were passing by my fake jewelry stall.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt7WmgnGzE
'It was fake???'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LtoO8sLEz
'Shut up, mother! Let him continue.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBOZEvTJYf
'This is hopeless.' Eric left the entrance hall.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTfF0wmYpI
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oSKY2npkx
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdvSCtvgno
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMVoYRimC0
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PNgxYrnqF
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPXQjVpkiJ
'Oh well. I suppose it wasn't him after all.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n3u5fDoWo
She didn't feel the need to alarm anyone.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W6vmdPwO6
'Rachelle! Are you alright?!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrtdEMGPfG
The girl was lying in a pool of blood. Thankfully, it was not her own.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHycq4IEe9
Nanny Emily was leaning against the wall beside Rachelle. Her head was leaning on the wall opposite Rachelle. Neck wounds bleed a frightful lot.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv05REjm1m
'Oh my darling Rachelle, come here, come here, what happened?' Lady Morley scooped up her youngest child through tears.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44xesaJcuu
'It was... it was... it was a man...'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObz8s82Siw
David was dead. Eric was dead. That left only Druid.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkR0knOk1C
'My god! I knew he was dodgy! I must call the others at once! CARAAAA!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQufEXpyOCY
'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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDN14xFApE
...388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnRsOyRBN7
'Druid, Eric was killed.' Lady Morley said.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVprVc0hCKU
'What? But...'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZYSjYA1Lr
'And Rachelle here also said it was a man that came and killed Nanny Emily.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu49khS2Mq
'No, no, that's not right. Where's Eric?'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CTko6xARL
'Lying dead at the top of the stairs. Which means that the only person that could have done this all is YOU!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllvFVFkuze
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoPeqy4Hpw
'I think, little peasant, that we have all the proof we need.' With a blow from her knuckles, the man was knocked unconscious.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl2NK5Qp6M
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW5Ob11uMl
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDsSuWln4i
But what became of their fortune?388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXjAI2w32m
David inherited the fortune, of course.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXSWexzZaS
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ws7NhEqy
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh5uXqAk1K
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsSn5e7Iyo
In this way, Druid would take all the blame.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oqLK3JVJY
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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