Chapter Three
The killer stood up, wiping his bloodstained hands on his coat. Sneering, he gave one last look to Mary's mutilated body, turned up his collar, and walked away as if it was perfectly normal to be strolling around the streets of London at midnight.
It took a while for the body to be discovered, but once it was, a shrill scream pierced the air. The murderer stifled a snicker, imagining the look on the detector's face.
The woman screamed again. The scene in front of her was terrifyingly gruesome. She covered her eyes, a low moan escaping from her parted lips. Why, oh why did she decide to walk down this road at this particular time? And that poor, poor woman. To have been murdered like that…
Unable to hold in her disgust any longer, the woman turned to the side and proceeded to throw up against the brick wall. Bile splashed upon her shoes and skirt, but she didn't care. Vomit spewed onto the ground, bits of it splashing on top of the victim's face. When at last the stream of stomach acid stopped, she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, turned, and ran out of the alleyway, screaming for help.
Behind her, the lifeless body of Mary Ann Nichols lay sitting in a pool of congealed blood, her abdomen violently torn open, her genitals and other organs spewing out of the incision and gushing onto her pale legs.
Her neck was no better, with red streams running down the slim column, and flecks of fluid speckled here and there on her face and bosom.
It would take at least fifteen minutes for the officials to arrive.
"Bocchan."
Ciel stirred, but refuse to open his eyes.
"Bocchan, it's time to wake up. You have a lesson at 10:00, and Her Majesty's sent a letter."
The young earl still refused to budge.
Sebastian sighed.
"If you don't get up... No sweets for a week."
At this, Ciel dragged himself out of bed, grumbling about 'stupid butlers' and something about 'never letting him sleep in'. Sebastian smirked. It seems his little trick had worked.
"Today's breakfast of poached salmon and mint salad has been prepared. Side dishes of toasts, scones, and compagne have been prepared. Which one would you like?"
"...The scone..." The younger ground out, still a bit upset.
Sebastian finished dressing his young master, and he stood up, awaiting orders.
"Today's plans?" asked Ciel.
"You will see the authority on Monarch Study, Professor Hugh," he replied, "And after that, your schedule is free for the rest of the day. When would you like to see the letter?"
"Right now," commanded the earl.
"As you wish," Sebastian said, and proceeded to reveal the letter. Ciel took it, broke the seal, and began to read.
My dear Earl, it began, I apologize for calling you into this, but there seems to be someone that has been disturbing the peace. They call him 'Jack the Ripper', and he's known for his brutal method of killing. His latest victims have all been female, more specifically, prostitutes. I've attached some information on the victims below, and I trust you to stop this madman before he hurts another. Signed, The Queen.
Victims:
Mary Ann Nichols, found at 3:40 am on Friday, August 31, 1888 in Whitechapel. Her throat was severed deeply with two cuts, and the lower part of the abdomen was partly ripped open. Autopsies show that the wounds on the neck and abdomen were made with the same knife.
Annie Chapman, found at 6:00 am on Saturday, September 8, 1888 in Spitalfields. Throat was also severed with two cuts, and abdomen was slashed completely open. Her uterus was not found at the scene.
Ciel let his body drop backwards onto the bed. How bothersome, he thought. Now he had to find this 'Jack the Ripper', which would waste precious time. It would have to be done, though, as it was a direct order from the Queen herself.
"Cancel the lesson today," ordered Ciel, "I've got more pressing matters to handle."
Sebastian bowed, then exited the room, and Ciel was left to ponder about the recent murders.