Hey again! I finished finals. I got an A in English, band, and choir, I got at least a B- in Science, but I totally flunked Spanish. Well, alls well that ends well. I'll be doing a bit more writing now, so expect updates more often. Anyway, enough chatter. Enjoy this chapter, and here's a very Merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lockwood & Co.
The form of the woman before me wavered as another wail ripped through the air, and the ghost fog rippled around her. I put my rapier up, guarding myself. My ears rung form the spectral scream, and I grit my teeth. The cold rippled outward like a wave, engulfing me it it, swallowing me. The temperature was dropping. Rapidly. I didn't need a thermometer to tell me that bit. The blood was dripping down her face, dripping from her chin. Her dress was stained, gory wounds in full view.
She had appeared broken, just as she was.
The figure dropped to her knees, and began to sob.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
...What?
"Forgive me."
I wavered, but didn't let my guard down. Her form quivered, but I still did not move. Why was she apologizing, I wondered?
CRASH!
I jumped, but her form did not waver this time. The noise sounded like someone hammering. The noise had come from the sitting room. I looked over, and the door stood ajar. Cautiously, I stepped over the rim of the iron chains. Elizabeth did not move. Not even an inch. I walked slowly, trying not to make a sound. Moonlight spilled from the doorway, casting a cone of light across the floor. I opened it cautiously.
CRASH!
I jumped again. Elizabeth was closer, but her position had not changed. I opened the door fully, and stepped inside, walking to the centre of the room. The weeping grew in volume, and the psychic pressure pushed against my inner ear like a cinderblock. I stepped forward again, but lost my balance with a tremendous noise of splintering wood. I stood there awkwardly for a moment before prying by foot free of the hole it had created. I stepped back and peered into the dark opening. To my surprise, there was something there. Lodged between the installation, just peeking out. It looked to be a bundle of papers. I knelt, reaching for the bundle curiously, but the temperature dropped again. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I dared not look, and snatched the bundle, shoving it into the waistband of my skirt. The prickling feeling grew more intense.
She was right behind me.
I turned, and my fears were confirmed. She stood about four feet away, and her black marbled eyes were dripping with bloods. The fresh wounds were still displayed on her body. I tore a salt bomb free, and threw at it her, running for my circle of iron chains in the hall. I heard a ghostly shriek erupt behind me, and I dove into the safety of the iron, landing hard on my belly. I shifted to my side, peering around the moonlit landing. I set the bundle down beside the Skull Jar, and pulled myself up into a crouching position. Slowly, I reached down, taking the papers into my hands. They were bound with a faded pink ribbon, probably satin, which was stiff with age. The papers were yellowed and stiff. Water damage stained them. I undid the ribbon as carefully as possible, and a cloud of dust erupted into my face, causing me to cough violently. I waved the dust away to the best of my ability, leaving behind the scent of mildew. I set the papers down, and extracted one from the pile. Something was written there in fine, angular handwriting. Some of the words were smudged, and it took me a minute to decipher what they said. Others were completely illegible. They were letters. The one I had picked up had a heart smeared in the right corner, in red ink that looked suspiciously like blood. I shivered, and began to read.
My Dearest Lizzy,
Why have you left me? I gave you everything. I loved you dearly. And you left me for him. Him, of all people. You could have had me, and I loved you so! We were going to be together. And then you left me for him. Do you know how much that hurt me? I felt betrayed. BETRAYED. YOU SILLY GIRL. _ won't you _ _ to me? I need you, my Lizzy. And you know you need me.
From,
J
J? Who is J? I set the letter down gingerly. Elizabeth had left one man for another? Is that why she was killed? I didn't know, but if this mystery was worth untangling, I would need to find out more about the night that Elizabeth died. To do that, I needed to read the letters further. Maybe Elizabeth left more clues? In a bedroom? I would need to explore. But I knew that tearing up floorboards was probably not the best way to get on the Cartwright's favor. I picked up another letter.
My Dearest Lizzy,
Why won't you write me back? I am not to be ignored, my love. I loved you first, and I shall love you last! Why can you not see that I am the only one for you? And yet you have begun to look at me in away that makes me feel if you do not want me. But that is impossible. I long for your touch. Your love. My Lizzy, why won't you listen? That rich boy will only do you harm. I will keep you safe from him. You will be safe with me and only me. I need you, and I know you need me, my love. Leave him. Come to me, before it is too late. Let me take care of you.
With love,
J
The next one was even less legible. I managed to make it out, though. There was the sinister heart again, adorning the upper right corner.
Lizzy, my love,
I have been watching you. He shows you love, and you are so foolish to take it literally. He does not care for you. My love, he is using you. I try to speak with you. I tried to speak with you today in the garden but you called me insane. You said that I was wrong, and that you loved your precious Benny. It makes me sick. SICK. I watched you tonight, and I am outside your window as I write this. I watch you with him, dancing to the gramophone. You are starry eyed. But I know he is wearing a mask. Lizzy, he will hurt you. I need you to listen.
J
Mad. He was mad. Whoever this 'J' person was, he seemed to be a former friend of Elizabeth's. From what I observed, I could infer that J was in love with Elizabeth, but it was one sided, and he had some sort of illusion that he and Elizabeth were together. When she fell in love, he seemed to have lost it completely. I had a sickening feeling that the heart was not ink, as well. I picked up the next letter, fearing the worst. Dark blotches smeared the ink in some places, staining the paper.
Lizzy,
How could you? You looked so beautiful at the party today, and you even asked me to come. You were all I could look at. Oh, my love. Can't you see why I need you? You don't know it yet, but you need me. You told me you loved me! It was the happiest moment in my small life. But the something terrible happened. You walked to the top of the stairs. Hand in hand with that... prat. How could you? You can't be! Marrying another! But you told me you loved me! Lizzy, why?! WHY?! WHY?! Tears in my eyes, I asked you so. Lizzy, how could you?! You looked at me with pity in your eyes of all things, and told me that you loved me, but you loved him more, and that marrying him is what you wanted. You asked me to be happy for you. WHY LIZZY?! Am I not good enough for you? I am full of despair as I wright this. I am emptying my broken heart's contents into this letter. I feel like I will die without you. Can't you see that?
J
By the time I had finished that, I understood. J was in love with Elizabeth. Deeply so. It apparently wasn't one sided. Elizabeth did love J, but she loved Benjamin more. J came off as a selfish person. I know if I loved someone, I would want what was best for them. I would want them to be happy. But J seemed to want Elizabeth to be happy, but with nobody but him. I braced myself, and picked up the next letter.
Lizzy,
I am dying inside. My heart is breaking piece by piece every day. It is the day of your wedding. Of course I attended. You looked so beautiful in your long white dress. Your hair looked like golden silk, spun up into a complex weaving. You exchanged vows, I cannot believe it. You looked so happy. But it wasn't with me. I had tears down my cheeks as you kissed your new husband. The reception was beautiful as well, but you were the most beautiful specimen there. I cried and cried. Why won't you love me, Lizzy? You say you do, but you marry another.
J
My hands shook as I picked up the last letter.
Lizzy,
I have done something unforgivable. I killed her. My sweet, sweet Lizzy is dead, and I killed her. What have I done? Was I so blinded by rage and jealousy that it infected my mind? I never meant for this to happen. I cannot ask for forgiveness, because that is long out of my reach. My love for her lives on, but I have gone too far. I cry as I write this letter, and I sit beside her body. She is beautiful even in death. Her skin is pale, and her hair fans around her head like a golden halo. I hope my sweet Lizzy goes to Heaven, and that she will see the sister that she misses so dearly again, and that she will not hate me. I understand if she will, as what I have done is unforgivable. Everything that has happened in the past few minutes is a blur. I can only remember seeing the fear in her beautiful eyes, and the mere thought of the fear being caused by me is enough to nearly destroy me. What have I done? Lizzy, I understand you will never read this. I know what I have done, and it tears me apart. But if you can, be it unlikely, find it in your heart to forgive me, though it is a mere plea. It is not begging, it is a mere plea. Because I know it will never be granted. I took away your happiness. I was darkened by jealousy and hate. Lizzy, I know you will not give me forgiveness. The only one left to ask is God himself. Though a small part of me believes that I will not receive forgiveness there either. I must live with your blood staining my hands for as long as I live. It will be a constant reminder of what I have done. I have been careless, and I will force myself to live for as long as I can, and let myself be tortured by what I have done. It is what I, a murderer, deserves.
Though my request is still futile...
God...
Please forgive me.
J
My fingers were numb. My brain was whirling.
J killed Elizabeth.
But the only question was... Who was J?
Hello again! That chapter was fun to write. I've finally decided on the murderer, and how Elizabeth died, but that unlocks another mystery,
Who is J?
Stay tuned, my mystery loving readers.
~Starry