Day 10 of curfew. Still, no luck on catching Jimmy, also known as Jimmy Larthow, who goes by the name of the Ripper, who haunts the peaceful town of Slaborough. What was once filled with summer joy is now replaced with summer fear, as not a single soul dared to step outside from the comfort of their home, except for me, though. I mostly frequented the library and the archives, doing my research about the Ripper. 555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqDXSB3ZNj
From what I've studied so far, all of his victims consisted of adult men and women. No children or teens were harmed or killed so far. I've also learned that he used an axe to mutilate his victims and stuffed them in a garbage bag, then throwing them in the garbage bin.
I pined as I stared at my calendar hanging on the mint green wall, filled with red crosses. As I slouched on the sofa, I gaped at the ceiling, tapping my feet on the floor. With the warm breeze blowing from outside, I squinted my eyes as I noticed a tiny crack on the dull ceiling, with a tiny spider crawling on it. I peered at the telephone, waiting for Ferdinand to call me. Since last night, I've been dialling his house phone numerous times, but there was no answer.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPQj1rZfLL
I groaned as I lifted myself up from my spot and picked up the headset, only to hear the front door chime. Placing the headset down, I slipped on my slippers and went downstairs to the coffeehouse, only to find a few familiar faces.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSUTYRIhHF
"Hey, Bugsy," chimed Mr Henry, waving at me. "I see you've grown a little taller since our last meeting."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQYmv1TbA0
I let out a small chuckle and smiled politely at the private investigator. "Well, my aunt's been asking me to drink a glass of milk before bedtime, though it makes my stomach run."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvccsOA7EYt
"I see," he snickered before he and his siblings took a seat. "Well, I'm glad it's working out for you, kiddo."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIMf3wdIqG
"Are you here to investigate the murder sprees in Slaborough? Is that why you're here in the first place"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1YjehMbA8
Mr Marshall nodded. "Of course, Bugsy. That's why we want to ask you a few questions."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVta9grYmxS
I bobbed my head and sat down, crossing my legs. As Ms Joy pressed the record button on her recording cassette, Mr Henry cleared his throat. "Mrs Dee was approximately murdered around 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 11th of June. Where were you at that time?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xdkH6mfdf
"I went to the arcade with my friends after dinner and came home at 10 p.m. sharp" I answered truthfully.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg4ewBtfG7
"I see. I was told by Officer Grey that you encountered a shadowy figure in the alleyway after 10 p.m. Did you manage to get a glimpse of his face?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3fKfjOPvK
I shook my head. "No, sir. It was too dark for me to see anything. The lights were quite dim, so I initially thought it was a stray dog or a raccoon."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFlAhrE3oc
"Okay then," he clicked his tongue. "Well, you and your aunt and your friend discovered Mrs Dee's mutilated corpse at the back of your house. What was your reaction to it?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaQJ8iJEaA
"I was paranoid, Mr Henry. Paranoid that Mayor Yearn's warning indeed come true and at the same time, disgusted at the sight of a dead body that I threw up afterwards."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImY6ZiWVc1
"What was your relationship with the victim?" asked Joy, who was gulping down a bottle of beer.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTZ8SlPZlZ
"Mrs Dee was a close friend with Aunt Inara," I explained. "Every Sunday, they would meet up for afternoon tea and have a long chat with each other. When Aunt Inara found her corpse, she was devastated."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg8eIVv27j
"My condolences for your aunt. She must be feeling helpless right now."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZAaumlRPa
"She is, actually. For days, I noticed a lot of beer bottles bundled up inside the garbage bag. She's also spent more time in her room now. That is unlike her at all, sir"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKthwtdbYo
"Anyways," Ms Joy sighed. "Did you notice anything strange around you?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Kpyeluz7
I pressed my lips as my posture hunched, swallowing a huge lump of saliva in my throat. Part of me wanted to tell about my encounter with 'The Ripper' himself and part of me, well, wished to pretend that my meeting with him didn't happen at all.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fWRqvJW1D
"Not much actually," my tongue slipped, omitting the truth away from them. "I mean, I noticed some crops were stolen from farmers, so yeah."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOLCwpMpqK
"Really?" Marshall's eyes widened. "Can you tell me more about it?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSHoDfUYl0
"Well, a week ago, I was walking my friend, Ferdinand back home. He lives in a cornfield, so he's been helping his mom with all the work around the field since harvest season is coming. Anyways, when I passed by the cornfield, I noticed some corn were forcefully plucked off, even though harvest season hasn't arrived yet."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg12HhV6L6
Mr Marshall and his siblings exchanged glances with each other, before turning to me. "Sounds suspicious. Well then, we'll look into that later."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlArDmOTQ6u
"I have the last question for you," Mr Henry spoke, raising his palms. "You mentioned that you and Ferdinand are friends. My question is, when was the last time you and Ferdinand spoke?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bRkxbYKpB
I tilted my head upwards as I stroked my chin, humming. "Well, Ferdinand was supposed to call me last night, but he didn't. So I dialled his phone but there were no answers. We usually call each other every night but last night was quite strange, actually."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UM80VHyEq
"It does seem strange," he stroked his beard. "Well, I hate to break it to you, kid, but the police believed that your friend and his mother were missing since last night."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw0qMYsuBx
I gasped loudly. "That can't be true, sir.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajHvxxs6Py
"It appears so, kid, which is why we'll be searching for their homes and the cornfield for any sight of them."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYDEqRXVQn
"They can't be dead," I exclaimed. "They can't be."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ7SZc35hr
"I don't think so, Bugsy," Joy tried to calm me down. "Otherwise, their corpses would have been discovered by now."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKcJf1jfAi
Oh, yeah. That makes perfect sense. The Ripper would chop them up and wrapped them up in a garbage bag, like all the other victims.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiJtKoBg2P
The trio stood up and grabbed their briefcases as they headed towards the front door, thanking me for my time. "Be vigilant of your surrounding," Mr Henry advised. "If you see anything suspicious, contact me or Joy or Marshall as soon as possible."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kdUn8rH6l
I nodded as we waved goodbye to each other, before walking away from the Little Owl Coffeehouse. I glanced at the store window as my heart sank over Ferdinand's fate. Did Jimmy kill him and his mother? I thought he never hurt kids and teens. Only adults. My fist clenched as my veins were throbbing in my neck, and my porcelain face turning red. This has gone too far enough. I'm not letting my dear Ferdinand get hurt by some serial killer.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lCQ6uKjiT
I raced upstairs and grabbed some pepper spray from the drawer, shaking the bottle and placing it inside my pocket. Then, I went back downstairs and opened the door, looking at Chaeyeong, who was wiping the counter. "I'll be at the library," I announced. "I'll be back before dinner time."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmADyoV1FF
Chaeyeong gave a thumbs up to me. "Watch yourself, okay? There's a killer out there."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmzNfZknRg
"Okay," I answered as I bolted away from the coffeehouse and rushed along the pavements, bumping into a few of my neighbours. As I sprinted away from town, my running shoes began to take a few steps into the sea of a cornfield.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPyizOhYLE
Ignoring the creepy stares from the scarecrows, I followed a trail of large footsteps imprinted on the dry mud, feeling a sharp pain in my left leg. My breathing began to quicken as my heart drummed faster than usual, with my red gingham sundress soaked in sweat. As I saw the house, my feet screeched on the mud, making me almost slip and fall.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3YW8ipiI6
With my legs shaking, I took a deep breath and climbed onto the veranda, calling Jimmy's name. No answers. I called his name again and again until my throat felt dry. Still no answers. Pushing away my fear, I entered the seemingly empty house, holding my pepper spray with my clammy palms.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuTR56Ujg2
The walls were covered with green mold and the wood were rotting away as the whole building looked like it was about to collapse. As I climbed upstairs, the stairs squeaked, making my goosebumps rise. I entered an empty room, with only a worn-out mattress and a thin blanket. I came closer and examined the blanket, only to find a picture of a small boy wrapping his arms around a little girl's shoulder.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqU9fgm7XN
This must be his little sister. With sandy blonde hair, she had gaped-tooth and was wearing a ribbon around her hair. I turned the picture around and saw the name 'Jenny' written in blue ink. Jenny, huh? It's a beautiful name for a little girl. Jimmy must've felt responsible for her death, even though it wasn't his fault.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xpHnVHCEW
I folded the photo and inserted it inside my pocket, then left the room. I headed downstairs and walked inside the kitchen area, and found a bunch of corn all piled up and a pail of water, collected from the lake. I grabbed one of the golden, yellowish corn and took a bite, my eyes growing bigger. Its sweet juice absorbed into my tongue as I felt its loud crunch within my jaws, making my throat wet. Hiding the corn between my chest, I washed my face with the bucket of water and sighed in relief, as I felt the wind howling inside the house.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLgtv3zO8X
That sense of relief soon disappeared as I passed by the door, which led me inside the underground basement. Recalling my memories from last year, I tiptoed towards the door in a quiet manner, only to step on rotten wood, making my foot stuck inside. I closed my eyes tightly and covered my mouth, praying that Jimmy didn't hear that. Holding the bannister, I loosened my right shoe and managed to get my foot out of the small hole.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBHuvh83MN
As I got closer to the basement door, I slowly twisted the rusting doorknob and pushed the door open, and saw Ferdinand and his mother, tied up from behind. "Ferdinand," my lips curved into a smile. "You're alright."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0fYgnfnaH
Ferdinand's face lights up as I untangled the ropes from his and his mother's hands. "Bugsy," he pulled me into a hug. "How did you find us?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZExGI4F7jZ
I lifted my shoulders. "I saw footprints leading me here."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaPvOBkesy
Mrs Ong wiped her tears as she embraced us in a warm hug. "We should go," she said, in a dry voice. Ferdinand and I nodded and walked out of the basement, only for my hands to be tugged.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE5wKJPwBW
I turned around and saw Jimmy, staring at me with his aggressive eyes. "Let me go," I pleaded, as I sprayed pepper spray at his eyes, making him screamed in pain. As he let go of me, I tailed Ferdinand and his mother from behind, throwing corn on the stairs. I looked over my shoulder and saw him get up, chasing after me, only to stepped on the corn and fell on the back, yelping.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3i4FaAlmE
"I'll get you for this," he cursed. Instead of following them into the cornfield, I ran into the deep, dark woods, hoping that he'll never find me. I furrowed through the thick bushes and thorny vines as I saw a tall figure chasing me with an axe. Dear Lord, please protect me from all forms of evil.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobHTmhKGCl
Finding a tall tree, I began to climb its branches and hid within the thick, green leaves. I hugged my knees tightly and avoided looking down, as I was breathing rapidly. I took a quick glimpse down there and saw Jimmy scanning the area like a hungry wolf looking for its prey.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtC7SONA8p
"Oh Bugsy," he shouted, baring his yellowish teeth. "Where are you?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB0ne9kj8G
I swallowed my saliva constantly as I hold my breath, begging that he won't notice me. But then, a small bird next to me was sitting inside its nest, chirping happily. Oh, no! I'm so screwed.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcif39E343U
And indeed I was. Jimmy looked up at the tree and saw me sitting on its thick branches, smiling. "Hey Bugsy," he sang. "What are you doing sitting on the tree? Didn't your mama tell you it's dangerous?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq57Ucc4q0
"Yeah," my voice trembled. "But she also told me it keeps people like you away from me."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3TvJgVdCd
"Oh yeah?" he cackled, looking at his axe. "Perhaps your mama didn't warn ya about a murderer with an axe, didn't she?"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB99IhAr7Z
"Why are you doing this, Jimmy? You're better than this. What would your mama say when she sees you like this? What would Jenny say if she sees you murdering a bunch of innocent people?" I shouted, showing him the picture of him and his little sister.
"You don't understand, Maria. If I don't kill people, the Mother of Demon would come for me?"
That name sounds familiar, but where did I hear it?555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHAAI3OBrj
"What are you talking about?"
"I made a deal with her in exchanged for a better luck. The Lord made me suffer, so I came to her one night, begging her to turn my life around," he confessed. "But in order to be happy, I have to make a blood sacrifice for her, and that's what I'm doing right now with you, Maria."
He flung his axe at the tree trunk and began to chop it down numerous times, laughing endlessly. I could do nothing but watch as I clung my arms on the branches, whimpering in tears. Oh, mom, I cried. I'm scared. I'm really scared. Why did you have to die so soon? Why can't you protect me right now?555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwavn5hKdi6
Just as hope was about to diminish, Mr Henry fired a single shot in the air, making Jimmy jump in fright. "Put the axe down, Jimmy," he threatened. "Now!"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhpkMPB0mU
Dropping his axe on the forest floor, he raised both his hands in mid-air, looking over his shoulder. "How'd you find me?" he asked.555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAsCkceGCQ
"I followed your footprint," Mr Henry explained. "For someone who tried to hide, you're pretty easy to find, actually. I must admit. You've chosen a nice place to hide. I mean, if I were you, I would want to hide in this beautiful and secluded place. But, it looks like you've overstayed your welcome, so we're here to take you back to where you belong."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglsWagNtss
Jimmy turned around and faced Mr Henry, putting down his hands. His hands clenched into a fist as he jumped on the private detective, only to be shot on his left shoulder. Startled by the gunshots, I covered my ears and closed my eyes, my whole body shaking. 555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU63LbL3GN
The Ripper howled as Mr Henry handcuffed him and pulled him from the ground. "In the name of the law, you are placed under arrest for murder and kidnapping. You have the right to remain silent and the right to be represented by an attorney. The judge will decide your fate."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3rhpMQaSI
Climbing down from the tree, Mr Henry held my arms and clad me with his coat as tears streamed down my cheeks. "Hey, hey," he sat me down on the tree stump, placing his hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, Bugsy. It's over. He won't hurt you anymore."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe3uD7VT5z
"Oh Mr Henry," I sobbed. "I'm so sorry. If I've told you about-"555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWe4HXEl0Z
"It's not your fault, kiddo. I know you were afraid. You're afraid that he'll come for you and kill you in cold blood, I know."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W7cef1Tsc
"But I've committed a crime, sir," I avoided his warm, hazel eyes. "I didn't tell you or the police about James's whereabouts and because of me, innocent lives were taken away."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJHvsvYlAJ
"As I said, it's not your fault. You didn't have much of a choice anyway," he said, taking out a handkerchief and wiped my tears. "Now come on, let's get you home."555Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGpWNKXYbY
I nodded as we got up and followed Joy, who was escorting Jimmy right in front of me. As we were walking into the maize field, Jimmy exploded into bits, leaving us soaked with crimson blood. My sundress and shoes were stained, so was my face. Overwhelmed by the metallic smell, I threw up on the ground and let out an ear-piercing scream.
ns 15.158.61.23da2
