BOOlia's Tales of Horrors 4

Professor Layton: Heights of Horror

Luke was patiently waiting for an elevator with a bunch of other people. He and Professor Layton were at the Hollywood Stars Inn hotel in California. They were on a well-deserved vacation from their duties of detectives. The bell dinged. Luke saw an elevator open up, and people getting in. He quickly turned around, ran, and looked for Layton. He was busy carrying a heavy suitcase. Thunder sounded from outside.

"Hurry, Professor!" The English boy shouted. "The lift's here!"

"I'm coming, Luke!" Layton shouted back. "But this suitcase feels like it has rocks in it! And over here, they call it an elevator."

"Well, hurry, otherwise it'll leave without us!"

"You can get on Luke; I'll be on it soon." Luke nodded.

"Right, Professor; I'll have it held open for you." He then ran for the elevator. He ran so fast, that he bumped into a little girl with brown curly hair. Luke fell to the floor. The girl did too. The girl stood up, and looked down at Luke, hands on hips.

"Can you watch where you're going?!" The girl demanded. Luke looked at her. She was like a girl out of a beauty pageant.

"I'm sorry." Luke apologized. "I was just trying to catch the lift; err, ele…" The girl gasped.

"The elevator!" She shrieked. She ran towards it.

"Hurry, Shirley!" A woman on the elevator with a couple of other people. "Get on before it closes!"

"I'm coming, Mom!" Shirley got on in the nick of time.

"Wait!" Luke shouted. The elevator closed. He stopped. "Drat!"

"Missed the elevator, Luke?" The professor who just got next to him, asked. "That's okay; we'll get the next one." Luke nodded, as he pressed the button for the elevators. He looked at his clock, then at the professor.

"It's one minute to midnight." Professor Layton nodded.

"When we get to our room, jump into bed. We'll unpack in the morning." Luke nodded.

"Right; Professor!"

Then, the grandfather clock in the middle of the room chimed midnight. A loud clap of thunder sounded, and the room went pitch black.

Luke heard screams, and a second later, the lights came back on.

"My daughter and wife are in that elevator!" A man shouted. Luke saw a female bellhop running towards the elevator.

"I'm on it!" She pressed the button.

"Luke, are you alright?" Asked Professor Layton.

"Yeah, Professor." Luke answered. "I wasn't frightened." There was then a scream, and everyone looked. It was the lady bellhop. The elevator was open. Professor Layton went to her.

"What happened?" He wanted to know. The bellhop showed him the broken cable she had in her hand.

"The cable to this elevator isn't attached." Layton looked at it. The two looked down the elevator shaft, and the bellhop screamed as she saw the broken elevator down below. Layton saw this too.

"What's happening?" The man from earlier demanded. He ran, and looked below, and screamed. "NOOOOOO; CLAUDIA, SHIRLEY!" The man then broke down crying.

"Professor?" Luke wanted to know. "What happened?"

"Elevator crashed, Luke." Layton told him. Luke looked at the crying man.

"Mister?" He began. "Mister, I'm very sorry for your loss."

"Do you know who else was in the elevator?" Layton asked the man. The man looked at the professor.

"My wife, Claudia Davis, my daughter, Shirley Davis, my daughter's nanny, Camille Rivez, and that's all I know. There were a few other people too."

"And you don't know them?" The man shook his head.

"I'm afraid I don't. I would tell you if I did."

"I'm sure you would. We need to have those other people identified to see if it can help us with this mystery." The lady bellhop nodded.

"We'll have them all identified by tomorrow." She told him. She then was confused. "Are you a detective?" Professor Layton offered her his hand.

"Professor Layton." The bellhop shook his hand.

"I heard of you." She looked at Luke, "And I heard of you too, Luke Triton, right?" Luke nodded, and shook her hand as well.

"Yep!" He replied.

"Well, it's an honor to meet both of you. My name is LeAnn." LeAnn looked at Layton. "Will you be able to solve this mystery?"

"We'll try our best." Layton answered. Luke looked at him in shock. LeAnn smiled.

"Thanks. Well, have a good sleep, and I'll see you in the morning."

"See you, LeAnn!" LeAnn went off. Luke looked at the professor.

"Professor," He started. "You don't suppose the lightning caused the crash, do you? I mean, it caused the blackout, but what about the crash in general?

"No, Luke." Layton answered. "I think something much bigger might've happened. The lightning couldn't have deattached the cable from the lift, sending the lift and its inhabitants to its and their demise; another force was at play here." Luke nodded in agreement.

"I agree, Professor, but aren't we on holiday? Shouldn't we relax, and see the sights, instead of doing the opposite of what we came here for?"

"Luke, this is more important than our holiday. We can enjoy ourselves later. I know how much you wanted this trip; I did too. But, some things just have to come first. Crime happens everyday, sadly, it doesn't take a holiday. I hope you understand that."

"I understand, but…" Layton arched an eyebrow.

"Luke!" Luke sighed.

"Yes; I'll be with you all the way!" Layton smiled.

"That's a good boy, Luke." The same man then walked up to them. The two crime-fighters looked at him.

"I didn't properly introduce myself. Hi, I'm Tom Davis." Layton and Luke shook his hand.

"Hi, Tom, and did you hear who we are?" Tom nodded.

"I heard, and my wife and I heard of you guys too." He then teared up, and wiped his teary eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I apologize for your loved ones. Everyone has been where you are right now. They all know. It's always very hard to cope with." Tom nodded, and wiped his eyes again.

"Well, I can't be moping the whole night. I got to go to bed, and tomorrow, talk to the police, and make funeral arrangements." He waved to the two mystery solvers. "Well, goodnight, and good luck solving the case!" He then left. Layton waved after him.

"Thanks!" He then looked at the grandfather clock, then at Luke. "It's 15 minutes past midnight, Luke. We should go to our room, and get to bed. Tomorrow is a big day for us." Luke nodded with agreement.

"Right, Professor." He agreed. He and the professor with their luggage, went up to their room by using the other elevator.

"Luke!" Someone said to him as he slept. "Luke! Luke, wake up!" Luke opened his eyes. He thought he was dreaming because he thought he saw Shirley sitting at the edge of his bed. He closed his eyes again, but then heard it again. "Luke; Luke, come on; wake up." Luke opened his eyes, and saw the girl again, but how? Shirley was dead, unless…. He then screamed. This was Shirley's ghost! The boy fell out of bed. The ghost vanished into thin air as the lights went on.

"Luke?" Professor Layton asked. Luke looked at him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." Luke told him, standing up. "Sorry, I woke you."

"You just had a bad dream is all."

"Yeah; a bad dream." Professor Layton was about to go to bed again when Luke spoke again.

"Professor, this might be a silly question, but do you believe in ghosts?" Layton looked at his young companion like he was crazy.

"Ghosts?" He questioned. "Luke; don't be preposterous; ghosts don't exist. Now, go back to bed." Luke sighed.

"Yeah, it was a stupid question. Forget I ever brought it up. Sorry I wasted your time." He and Layton went back to bed, Layton turning off the lights.

"Luke." The voice spoke again. "Luke. Luuuukkkkeeeeee!" Luke opened his eyes again, and saw Shirley's ghost again in the exact same spot. Luke was shocked. The ghost wasn't a dream. The ghost was real! Luke was about to scream again, when Shirley shook her head.

"Don't scream." She said. "I won't harm you."

"Y-you-y-you're…" Shirley nodded.

"I know. I'm a ghost."

"What do you want?"

"I want justice." Luke was confused.

"Justice?" Shirley nodded again. "What do you mean?"

"For my killer. I can tell you who did it."

"So, who did it?"

"It was my brother."

"Your brother?" Shirley nodded.

"He was jealous that I was alive, when he wasn't."

"Wait, he's dead?" Again, Shirley nodded.

"I don't get it. He killed you and those other people when he was a ghost?"

"Yes."

"How did he die?"

"He died five years ago today when I was five in a deadly car crash. A friend's father was driving him home. He died as well."

"How horrible!"

"Yes, it was."

"Wait, if it was only you who he was mad at, why did he kill the others?"

"He was so mad that he wanted me dead no matter what; he didn't care who got in the way, so he cut the elevator cable with a very strong cable cutters, plummeting us and the elevator to our death."

"Sounds like he was demented."

"Yes, he was. I know this because he told me when I entered the afterlife. So, are you going to tell Layton and the police so you can enjoy your vacation like you wanted before all of this happened?"

"How did you know I wanted to enjoy my trip instead of this mystery?" Shirley looked at him like he said something stupid.

"You're a kid like I am; I know. So, are you going to tell them?"

"Well, I would, but they might not…"

"Thank you!" Shirley said before Luke could finish. She then vanished instantly.

"Wait!" But, it was too late. Luke sighed, and looked at the professor who was sleeping soundly in bed. How can he tell him and the police that a ghost murdered those people? He went to sleep, hoping for an answer in the morning.

Luke and Professor Layton were preparing to leave their hotel room the next morning.

Okay, Luke. Luke told himself. You have to tell him. He may not believe you, and think you've gone metal, but you have to tell him. You can't just keep it from him, can you? You just have to try. Here you go; you got this, you got this!

"Professor," He began.

"Yeah, Luke?" Layton asked as he was about to scan the keycard at the door.

"I know who killed Shirley, and the other people in the elevator." Professor Layton looked at him, closing the door again, after he just opened it.

"Who do you think did it?"

"Shirley's brother."

"Shirley's brother?" Luke nodded.

"And how do you know that? Tom never mentioned a brother."

"He didn't because he's dead."

"Dead? I don't get it. Who told you this information?" Luke took a deep breath.

"Shirley."

"Shirley? But, Shirley's dead."

"Her ghost told me."

"Her ghost?" Luke nodded again. "Luke, you're not making sense."

"Shirley had a brother who died in a car crash five years ago. He was jealous that she was still living. He killed her as a ghost. He killed the others because he was mad. He killed them by cutting the cable with cable cutters that he hid from the police. Shirley knows this because he told her." He then sighed. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"No, I don't. Ghosts aren't real. I told you that. You're just telling me this because you just want this mystery to be over, so that we can enjoy our holiday."

"No, I'm not; it's the truth! Shirley's brother killed them."

"No, Luke; let's go downstairs, talk to the police, and figure out the real murderer."

"But…"

"Luke, enough! And don't mention this foolish nonsense to the police."

"But…" Layton arched an eyebrow.

"Luke!" Luke sighed.

"Fine!" And with that, Layton reopened the door, and the two left the room.

Luke and Professor Layton met with the police chief in the lobby of the hotel. There was yellow tape by where the doomed elevator was. They talked about the murders, and interviewed relatives of the victims, asking them questions on who hated them, and why they might want them dead. By the end of the day, they had nothing.

"Well, what rotten luck." The police chief told the professor. "We didn't get any steps closer to solving this heinous crime."

"Don't worry." Layton assured him. "We might have failed today, but I'm sure tomorrow, we'll start getting clues." The chief nodded.

"I hope you're right, Professor. Hey, sorry this puts a damper to your vacation. Are you sure you'd want to continue? I'm sure me and my men can handle this." The professor shook his head.

"Crime never takes a holiday, Chief. We'll do whatever it takes to solve this crime, even if it takes up our whole holiday. We won't leave the country until this is solved."

"Well, okay, if that is what you want. You don't have to."

"But, we want too."

"Okay." He looked at Luke. "Sorry about all of this sonny. This isn't what you expected at all I bet."

Luke wanted to tell him about Shirley's dead brother. He wanted to so bad so that he and the professor could enjoy the rest of their vacation, but he didn't. He remembered what the professor had told him that morning. The man wouldn't believe him anyways. He was a kid, and no one takes kids seriously. That was one thing he hated. So, he just stayed quiet.

That night, when Luke and the professor were asleep in their room, Luke was awakened by Shirley. Since Luke knew about her, he wasn't afraid when he saw her. Luke saw that by the look on Shirley's face that she wasn't happy.

"Why didn't you tell the professor and the police chief?" She asked. "You had all day."

"Well, I'm sorry!" He said. "But if you were in my shoes, what would you do? Would you say 'I know who killed Shirley, and all of those other people! It was Shirley's dead brother!'?" Shirley nodded.

"That's exactly it what I'll say."

"They won't believe me."

"But it's the truth."

"They won't believe me anyways if the person was dead or alive because I'm a kid. No one believes kids."

"Oh yeah, I hate that, don't you?" Luke nodded. "You'll just have to make them believe you then." Luke looked at her like she was nuts.

"How do I do that?" Shirley shrugged.

"Don't know. I'm sure you're smart through. You'll think of something."

"But, what?! You won't help me?!" Shirley shook her head.

"I will. I just want you to tell them first though."

"But they won't…"

"I know, but you have to at least try!"

"But they won't…"

"You don't know that. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. You won't know unless you try…"

"But they won't…" Shirley glared at him

"Try!"

"But…"

"Try! Try, try, try, tryyyyyyyyy!" Luke sighed.

"Alright. I'll try." Shirley smiled.

"Good. Oh, and sorry I was a bit rude to you the first time we met when I bumped into you when I was alive."

"No, it's alright. I bumped into you."

"Whatever, it's forgiven, and I don't want to argue over something silly like this. Now, go to sleep." And with that, Shirley vanished in thin air.

The next morning, the police chief introduced Luke and the professor to his cop friends and employees.

'Try!' Luke heard Shirley's shrill voice in his head. Luke sighed. Well, He thought. Here goes nothing.

"I know who did it." He said. The police chief and the others all looked at him. "I know who murdered Shirley and those other people."

"What, sonny?" The chief wanted to know. "Who did it? We need to know." Luke looked at the professor who shook his head. Luke looked at all of the officers again, and took a deep breath. "Well, out with it! Who did it?"

"It was Shirley's dead brother."

"What?"

"It was Shirley's dead brother. His ghost cut the cables of the lift shaft." The police all laughed. Luke saw that the professor was shaking his head in embarrassment. He sighed.

"Oh, Professor," The police chief said to Layton, nudging his shoulder playfully. "Your assistant is a real hoot. Now, come; time to be serious." Layton and Luke followed the chief out of the police station.

"Luke," The professor said to him that night. "I told you not to tell the police about this."

"I'm sorry, Professor." Luke apologized. "But I had to. It's the truth."

"Luke, I told you before. Ghosts aren't real. You have to stop this nonsense."

"But, professor…" Layton arched an eyebrow at him.

"Luke, I'm serous. Cut this out." Luke sighed.

"Right. Sorry, Professor."

Luke awakened when he saw Shirley's glow that night.

"I'm sorry I didn't make them believe." He apologized to her. "I tried."

"I know." Shirley said. "At least you did. Now, it's time for plan B, make them believe." Luke was confused.

"Again, how are we going to do that?" Shirley flew towards Layton's bed. Luke pulled off his covers, got out of bed, and went after her.

"Layton." Shirley said into his ear. "Layton!" Layton remained asleep. Shirley sighed. "Wake him for me, won't you?" Luke nodded.

"PROFESSOR, WAKE UP!" Startled, Layton fell out of bed. He stood up.

"Luke, what is it?" Layton wanted to know. "Why did you wake me? You're going to wake the dead."

"Some of the dead are already up." Shirley said to him. The professor then saw her. Luke covered his mouth with his hand, muffling his scream.

"Shhhh!" Luke told him. "Professor; don't scream. You're going to wake the living." Luke released him then. The professor looked at Shirley in disbelief.

"I don't believe it." Layton breathed. "I didn't believe in ghosts, but here I am, looking at one."

"In the flesh." Shirley said. "Well, not in the flesh, but, you know what I mean." Shirley then changed the subject. "You have to get me justice. You have to tell the police that my dead brother killed me, and all of those other people."

"I need evidence first."

"I already told you. It was my brother." Layton shook his head.

"That's not good enough, Shirley. I need good concrete evidence." Shirley sighed.

"Can't you just tell them?"

"No." Shirley sighed again.

"I'll be back." She flew out of the room. Minutes later, cable cutters floated in the room. Luke and the professor panicked until Shirley reappeared, the cable cutters she had possessed, dropped to the floor. "It's okay. It's only me. I just possessed the cable cutters. That's how my brother killed me and the others. Here's your proof." Layton picked up the cable cutters, and examined it. He looked back at the ghost.

"I don't think this is good enough." Shirley sighed, rolling her eyes. "But, it's a start. I'll tell the chief about this tomorrow." Shirley smiled

"Perfect! The chief will have to believe you, you're an adult."

Layton told the chief what had happened the next day. He also showed him the cable cutters. The chief just looked at him.

"Have you lost it, Layton? You know ghosts don't exist."

"Well, I do," Said Layton. "But…" The chief headed for the door.

"Now, let's figure out what really happened. Enough of this nonsense."

"But…" Layton sighed. "Come on, Luke. The chief is never ever ever going to believe a ghost committed all of those murders." Luke followed the professor as they followed the police chief.

That night, another stormy night, Layton and Luke decided to take one of the other elevators up to their hotel room.

"The lift's here, Professor!" The boy said to him as they heard the ding, and the door opened. The eager boy ran in.

"Yes, Luke." The professor responded, going after him. "I see it." He went in, and Luke pressed the button of their destination. The door closed, and went up with them in it. Luke and Layton were the only two people in it. Lighting struck the hotel.

Suddenly, the lights went dark, and the elevator stopped.

"What it is, Professor?" Luke wanted to know. "Why did the elevator stop, and why did the light go out?"

"I have no idea, Luke." Layton answered. "But, I assure you, everything will be all right." Suddenly, the elevator dropped at a great speed. Luke and Layton screamed as they lifted into the air, and violently fell to the floor.

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE, PROFESSOR! I DON'T WANT TO DIE; I HAVE TOO MUCH TO LIVE FOR!"

"I HEAR YOU LUKE, I MAY BE MUCH OLDER THEN YOU, BUT I, TOO, DON'T WANT MY LIFE TO BE OVER WITH YET!" The two were utterly terrified, and prepared for the end.

From the inside of the elevator shaft, floating cable cutters has just cut the cable that was attached to the elevator. Shirley then appeared. She looked down at the falling elevator.

"Oh no, Luke!" Shirley then flew real fast to the elevator, and went into it, possessing it. The elevator stopped immediately, and the cable cutters groaned

"Shirley!" A teenaged ghost then appeared out of the cable cutters, and went to the elevator. The cable cutters fell a long drop down the shaft. "Shirley, you're ruining my plan."

"I'm saving these people, Adam!" Shirley answered as the elevator. "You can't do this. This is wrong. I won't let you. They're my friends."

"I have to, sis. They're alive, I'm not. That's not fair."

"Don't be selfish. They'll die, when their time is up. But their time isn't up yet. Please, Adam! Please, don't do this!" Adam just looked at his sister.

The elevator stopped. Layton looked at Luke who just got to his feet.

"Are you alright, Luke?" He asked.

"I'm alright." He answered. "Are you?" Layton nodded. He too, getting up.

"Something strange is sure going on here." Luke nodded in agreement. They then heard the ghosts argue above. Their voices were faint. '

"I hear voices, Professor. I think one of them is Shirley's."

"I hear them too, Luke. It sounds like they're arguing."

"What do you think they're arguing about?" Layton shrugged.

"Beats me."

"Do you think this is what happened to Shirley before she died, along with those other people?"

"I think so Luke. Maybe Shirley is persuading whoever was trying to kill us, not to kill us."

"I hope she succeeds."

"I hope she succeeds too."

The elevator then moved once again, going back up, at a normal speed again. It stopped, and the door opened to the floor they were going to. Layton and Luke saw Shirley and a teenaged boy ghost was floating next to her.

"Luke, Professor Layton," Shirley began. "This is my older brother, Adam. He has something to say." She looked at her brother. "Adam?"

"I was the one who killed my sister, and those other people the other day." He said. "I tried to kill you two just now the same way. I'm very sorry. I was jealous that I was dead, and you and the others weren't. I now know the errors of my ways, and will never kill again. You have my word."

"If you were living, you'd be arrested." Luke said. "But I don't think you can arrest ghosts." He looked at his mentor. "Can you, Professor?"

"There are police in the afterlife." Adam explained. "I'll go to ghost jail. Or, probably because I committed murders, I'll go to the other place." Luke was confused.

"What other place?" He then figured it out. "Oh, that other place!"

"The good thing about murdering me is that now we're together." Shirley pointed out.

"Yeah," Adam agreed, then sighed. "I shouldn't have done that. I'm very sorry, sis."

"Now you have to suffer the consequences!" Adam sighed again.

"Right."

So, Adam got arrested by the ghost police, and was banished to the 'other place.' His sister, and nanny, got permission and visited him occasionally. He got permission too, and also visited them. Shirley and her nanny visited their relatives and family, but Adam felt like he didn't deserve to.

Adam showed himself to the police and the police chief. They were scared of him and Shirley at first, but got over it when Layton told them that it was all right, and they wouldn't harm them. Adam told him what he did, and told him he was doing time in the afterlife.

Luke was happy. He was happy that Shirley and Adam made up, and Adam stayed true to his word. He wasn't going to commit any more murders. Now that this was all over with, and the mystery was solved, Luke and the professor could enjoy the rest of their vacation.