The Uninvited Night Visitor to Willoughby Hall

By: P. S. Gifford

PAGE TWO

"They even showed color photographs of the mutilation. Yes... the media seemed to almost relish how the body of a man had been viciously butchered into well over a dozen body parts - arms, legs - all neatly hacked off, then lacerated again into smaller chunks and buried in lime at the back of Bolton Castle. They say that the lime virtually destroyed any evidence of who performed the heinous, bloody crime and even who the poor victim was. Hell, even dental records were of no use as the murderer had sadistically pulled out each and every one of the victim's teeth. Can you imagine how much intense pain the victim must have endured? Being tied and bound with cord, then having his teeth slowly and clumsily extracted, one by one, with nothing more than a pair of rusty pliers? The news reader on the television tried his best to disguise his delight in the story, but I could tell it was there."

"But, how can you know all those details," Jeremy cried in disbelief. "Did you spy on me? Is this what all this is about? You have come to blackmail me. Please tell me how much money you want from me."

Again, the stranger laughed. "No, it is not money I seek. I have no use for riches anymore."

Jeremy once more tried to pull himself up. Just then, the log fire cracked as the final remnants of one of the logs on the fire caught ablaze, and just for a moment, a flash of light further illuminated the room. Suddenly, Jeremy witnessed clearly the features of the stranger and shrieked out loud in recognition and horror!

"But - it can't be you! I killed you..."

It was at that moment that Jeremy noticed six more figures now circled all about him.

***************

It was the next morning when the cleaning lady of Willoughby Manor found Jeremy's cold, lifeless body still slumped in his leather chair in his study. His toothless mouth was disturbingly wide open, almost as if he was still trying to scream.

It was the police officer who came to investigate that found the journal on the desk and discovered that it described, in lurid detail, the other six victims - who they were and where their remains were buried.

The coroner put a heart attack as the cause of death despite Jeremy having had no previous history of heart trouble. The coroner had, however, no answer for the missing teeth.

No one, but the now dead Jeremy, could have explained what happened that night, nor explained why a man, with the wealth and means such as Jeremy possessed, would turn into such a vicious killer. And now it was too late, wasn't it... as people certainly never listen to what the dead have to say... do they?