The Morleys were a remarkably well established family for their time - in a world so plagued with left-wing beliefs, they had managed to maintain their time old honor of several personal servants, an extraneously and pointlessly large manor (half of which was simply used as storage for their extraneously and pointlessly large collection of valuable but entirely dysfunctional items), and, of course, the weekly tradition of shopping in the poorer parts of town to flamboyantly flaunt their wealth.
Set atop of a hill by the humble village of Wellington, Morley Manor was a gargantuan demonstration of drunk architecture.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1Bu6xj8Zv
No doubt it was a highly attractive building, but the matter of the fact was that it simply made no sense. From the exterior, one could hardly tell that every second corridor in the building was at a fifteen degree slant, and that there were multiple inset doorways that simply opened to a wall.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPSbF0Ykl6
The doors are justifiable - lock all the fake doors and they create a false sense of magnitude for visitors. But as for the former deformity, local rumor has it that the building was never designed to go onto a hill, and that the original Lord Morley simply declared it to be built there for effect. Wealth is no guarantee for common sense nor intelligence - and indeed, in the day of the Morley's life you are about to experience, this fact shall never seem clearer.
We begin, perhaps, on the Sunday morning of the Incident. Lord Mortimer Morton Morley begins by retiring to his washroom to expunge himself of his digestion products. This is the last we shall see of him.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn95sRXQMcI
Lady Morgana Mortabella Morley begins by sleeping to the fine hour of noon, which is why, as she later claims, she missed all the excitement of her husband's disembowelment. This may or may not be true, of course, as it is not always the narrator's role to provide an impartial view of events.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyHaapt9YM
The children arise in their separate rooms, and drift towards the dining hall with the prospect of a three course breakfast, lovingly prepared by Nanny Amy and Nanny Emily who had woken several hours before to clean and cook - they put sweat, blood, and tears into everything they do, including the meals for the Morleys.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ0TBiFgAY
Moving on from the fact that the Morleys were blissfully unaware that the Nannies prepared rather unethical meals (I do believe that at least two of the Morleys have unwittingly contracted blood viruses from their meals), one of the children was of particular interest.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboZM0DsQ0J
Cara had brought home her peasant lover, Druid, and was presently attempting to inconspicuously smuggle him out of the manor.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAPmAQ0iVg
'Cara!' It was David. 'Come join us for breakfast. What could ever be taking you so long?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJowkYCkNn
The young woman quickly ushered Druid into a closet. 'Just stay in here', and then, to David, 'I'm coming now! Your impatience most disturbs my Sunday relaxation. It's all really quite blasphemous.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1xqfaM3Ms
Cara arrived at the breakfast table late, to the watching eyes of her siblings, David, Eric, and Rachelle.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJbImxWxUx
'Really, Cara. Your soup must be cold - we have all finished already. It was quite marvelous, I don't know what it is Nanny Amy puts in these.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BPkNyy1ek
The elderly woman quickly hides the fresh cut in her thumb. 'The special ingredient is Love, Rachelle! Now Nanny Emily and I must go to prepare the next dish.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f364suKF7
'Ta ta.' The girl responds.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2NcF0sn3i
Eric, the oldest of them all, was tall and dark, a slim figure that resembled his mother's. He stood up from the table and excused himself quickly.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FLP4ZNcqr
'But we haven't even reached mains yet!' Rachelle complains.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8db5YVDhmg
'Now, sister. I simply must finish my latest composition. The inspiration is simply flowing right now, my dear, I can't let it escape!' With that, he spun out of his chair and strutted out of the dining hall.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8yLw2NOKb
Cara thought about her precious Druid, waiting in a closet, and took the opportunity to also leave the table. 'I, um, I - '446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKiuKaL7C1
'Yes?' Rachelle looks up at her, expecting an unarguable excuse.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ZZbUBA3I
'It's just that phase of the moon.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwUr3qww6o
'That makes no sense, Caraaaaaa!!! Breakfast is no fun if you all go away doing silly things!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vpy3meSXd
David smirks to himself. 'Nonsense, Rachelle. I'm sure Cara has very important business to attend to. Perhaps with a little age, you shall too.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG860kBqSe4
'Hmmph.' The girl crosses her arms as Cara leaves.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ9yXvg6fd
The reader should take care to note, at this moment, that a situation has been constructed with a large number of people not accounted for. Then it is now, of course, that Lord Morley's body will be discovered.
'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' Lady Morley's scream brought everyone in the manor to her washroom, where they were greeted by the sight of Lord Morley feeling rather turned out. Inside out, to be precise.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR1xy8mhle
'Good gracious!' Exclaimed the Nannies.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrITQAP5m9f
'Oh dear!' Cara shouted.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgRkEbMtVw
'My God!' The sons ejaculated.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7aCtOlM6x
'What's daddy doing?' Rachelle asked.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt06XUoDd1
'How on earth could such a thing have happened!' Lady Morley wept. 'I woke only a few minutes ago, and went to the washroom to freshen myself up, only to see my dear husband has been murdered! Who could have done this terrible act?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjr9t8Dx4Y
Eric was exceedingly fast to turn on his mother. 'Kind mother, I find it remarkably odd that you were the one to discover him in this state, and so close to your room, no doubt!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogjHJbuznM
'Eric! You naughty boy! How dare you insinuate such terrible things. I am in the right mind to call the police on you, for trying to inherit your father's fortune by way of murder!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIFDQRzjce
'That is a lie, mother! You and I both know I loved father more than you ever did.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRk4zjaRe6
A simultaneous gasp from the two Nannies. What a very juicy Incident this would be for their gossip circles!446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7v9GBJbzf
'Well! I must ask you to leave. You are disturbing my grieving process.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwHDoarJGj
David chimed in with an observation. 'But mother, your husband has not simply died, he has been killed! Given the security of our house, one must wonder how the killer got in - or if the killer is one of us. We cannot waste any time grieving, (very sorry), our lives may very well be in danger!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDXa8VwKtM
Rachelle began crying in consternation, not quite comprehending but aware of the distress nonetheless.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLwMVS4dI2
'Rachelle! Come here.' Nanny Emily gave the girl a strong embrace. The little one was always fond of the servant women.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu43Q1GbYOB
Cara was only mildly interested in the course of events - she simply hoped that Druid had taken this commotion as an opportunity to leave unnoticed. 'Excuse me, this is all very worrying and such but I must answer the woman's call!' She interjected loudly, reusing her earlier excuse to leave.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HvD3VUQrD
'Very well!' Lady Morley said. 'After all, we don't want any more blood spilt today.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMk4GuREKz
Cara ran out of the room and tracked down the cupboard she had so suddenly farewelled her lover in. Empty.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMein5Tpy1o
Where could he be? She passed by the entrance hall and saw Druid by the door.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWStA9Vp9jy
'Dru! Why have you not left yet?' She whispered to him loudly.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXEVG77sw9
His face goes white. 'The doors and windows are barred. From the outside. I cannot leave!' 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA0u5jvjOh
It is only at this point that Cara began comprehending the situation.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6oypv5W7d
The killer did not intend for Lord Morley to be the only fatality that day.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLT9Ta7E4y
Cara burst back into her mother's room. 'We are trapped inside!' She announced, to which the response was a chorus of 'WHAT!?'s.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecmKoR8kgg
Nanny Amy began taking down notes. What an exciting day!446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMQxyzpHmc
'All the doors and windows are barred from the outside! We are trapped inside with a killer!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8oxJZ3WQb
Nanny Emily felt the need to fan the flame. 'And why, dear Cara, were you checking the doors of the house instead of dealing with downstairs business? Were you trying to leave? Flee from the scene of your crime, perhaps?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPkRmoH4jx
'No! I was - I was, um...'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotpD6zF4dv
Druid walked through the door. 'Hi.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUyWEICw0T
'Who is this, Cara?' Lady Morley was positively concerned at the arrival of this lowly stranger.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96DnlIZ3OT
'Druid and I are lovers, mother.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJlEymtO68
'PFFFFFT! Nonsense. Try again. Who is this, Cara?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntdAuSIpDy
'Druid is my boyfriend?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DZi2rbXrs
'I don't think so. Who is this person?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kgI6htQXm
'Mother, please shut up most presently. I am in love with Druid, and his status is of no concern to you or me.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfcpFSGTTG
Lady Morley responded with a laser glare. 'We will deal with this matter after we have dealt with the fact we are all likely to be the subjects of successive grisly demises.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi1Qd0AsoR
'Then whyyyyyy are we all in your room, mother? One fell swoop could kill us all. I don't believe in safety in numbers.' Eric began walking out. 'I believe I can fend better on my own.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ7auig2fa
'Nooooo, don't gooooooo...' Rachelle squealed.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUDVCr3Akg
'It's okay darling Rachelle, I will stay with you.' Nanny Emily patted her head.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY3lXzyoW5
'There is some point to Eric's decision.' Druid stated.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6snWE60a48
'Did you hear something, Cara? I most certainly didn't.' 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql84qauzr9
'Mother, this is no time for your immaturity. Suppose the killer is in this very room? I don't know about you, but I certainly don't wish to stay in here, where perhaps even you, mother, could pull out a knife and slay us all in a moment. Good day. I will find my own haven from this mess!' Cara left the room, with Druid in close pursuit.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4obnCYnFoA
'This is idiotic! This is exactly what we shouldn't do with a killer on the loose.' David muttered. 'CARA! Come back!' He raced after the lovers.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0anZjft9C
'Rachelle, you stay with me.' Lady Morley said. 'I wouldn't trust a girl of your age to run off. You might get lost in this house. Or murdered.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmZZXCEkHo
Rachelle and Nanny Emily sat down on the bed.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2knMUIEdS
'I'll go get the coloring books, shall I?' Nanny Amy offered.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOUEPoO6YG
'That would be lovely.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ8L4B8s9x
It should seem obvious to the reader that once again, we shall say farewell to a few members of the Morley family.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWreKn1Vve
'Oh my god!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrm4x0dUZM
Pushed off the banister at the top of the stairs, Nanny Amy's and David's bodies lay sprawled on the floor of the entrance hall.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrMfFwFruv
Eric harked to alert the others, and they all gathered at the foot of the staircase, beside the bodies. 'The situation is getting serious.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw7I43SHzU
'Was it not serious before?' Lady Morley tutted. 'Rachelle. I demand that you and Nanny Emily go back to my room at once and barricade yourselves in there! I will not have my precious button be killed today.' The two women, young and old, headed back up the stairs.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLJtUSJQNX
'Oh, Dru! I am most distressed.' Cara wept into his arms. He grunted in discomfort. 'Tell me the story of how we met again. It calms me so.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyXliSGNuI
'Do we really have the time for this?' Eric complained, to no avail, as Druid began telling the story to Cara.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVzAgAHGXa
'It was a Saturday market. Your family were passing by my fake jewelry stall.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pBLTZT6GL
'It was fake???'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfODDQjoR8I
'Shut up, mother! Let him continue.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9yZ3vsTCN
'This is hopeless.' Eric left the entrance hall.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLS3wIcBCI
'You cleaned out the entire stall. You and David stayed to apologize for your mother's behavior. After David had left, you told me that you found me ruggedly attractive.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUYy5Q6dMo
'This story is incredulously stupid.' Lady Morley rolled her eyes. 'We are wasting time talking about things that both of you already know! If we are really going to do this, can we at least do it out of the vicinity of dead bodies?' The three of them quickly moved to the dining hall, Druid continuing the story as they walked.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Gv6SXirK
'I declined your offer, at first, and you were very upset. The next few Saturday markets you made sure never to pass by my stall. But the truth to my decline was, I was scared to have fallen in love with someone as magnificent as you. I hesitated in that moment and regretted it very much. So I left my stall and tried to find you. I declared my love to you, and you fell into my arms.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxOOvzncDP
'Awwww, most gracious Druid. Thank you very much. Now let us vacate this room! I don't fancy sitting beside dead bodies for much longer.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZMKhulbI8
'Which is why,' Lady Morley muttered, 'we stayed here for the last five minutes.' Then, louder: 'I'm going to check on Rachelle. You two try not to make a mess.' Lady Morley left the two of them as she headed back to her room, and promptly tripped over Eric's bleeding body on the way.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK91TYDznf
'Oh well. I suppose it wasn't him after all.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQQLHHR7hd
She didn't feel the need to alarm anyone.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52cq7htFMJ
'Rachelle! Are you alright?!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBnrfQeVOi
The girl was lying in a pool of blood. Thankfully, it was not her own.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW0TYzwNkE
Nanny Emily was leaning against the wall beside Rachelle. Her head was leaning on the wall opposite Rachelle. Neck wounds bleed a frightful lot.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO0oNrpdKx
'Oh my darling Rachelle, come here, come here, what happened?' Lady Morley scooped up her youngest child through tears.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVR9TBSsYP
'It was... it was... it was a man...'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcdjXjYbIW
David was dead. Eric was dead. That left only Druid.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKkUaGWHEe
'My god! I knew he was dodgy! I must call the others at once! CARAAAA!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsAB0d7ALG
'Cara is dead.' Lady Morley jumped at the sound of his voice. Druid was standing by the doorway. 'A man in a cloak stabbed her in front of me! It must have been Eric!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1taNnz6qxc
...446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v8EOKPTm2
'Druid, Eric was killed.' Lady Morley said.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD96iAp9AH
'What? But...'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH8vsJC0fq
'And Rachelle here also said it was a man that came and killed Nanny Emily.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJq0E28Ffp
'No, no, that's not right. Where's Eric?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQqLpjW2e
'Lying dead at the top of the stairs. Which means that the only person that could have done this all is YOU!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhp5k0Nqtu
'What! No! It wasn't me, it wasn't me! I have proof -' Druid tried to run out of the room but Lady Morley, with surprising speed, stopped him before the doorway.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgLr0yYFFT
'I think, little peasant, that we have all the proof we need.' With a blow from her knuckles, the man was knocked unconscious.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm8q1EIhu5
It was a phone call (whoever thought? It is as if they were trapped with no contact to the outer world) and fifteen minutes later that the Wellington Police came to arrest Druid Ren for five charges of murder and jewelry fraud.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyduZEU4eM
Reader, I suppose that you may want to know what became of the Morleys in the end. Lady Morley became a cult hero (not among the poorer residents of Wellington, of course), and Rachelle grew up to become the chief of Wellington Police.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Btv5pSfoD
But what became of their fortune?446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31BZcap5vY
David inherited the fortune, of course.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaZ3lfkjpF
Now you see, David had survived the fall from the staircase. Lady Morley and Rachelle always told him that he was one of the luckiest men alive, but I must point out that there was no luck involved in his survival, for he didn't fall at all.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpNNpowNaf
Druid had a boiling hate for the upper class, posh Morleys, and David realized that a little manipulation would be all he needed to get the Morley fortune. So David befriended Druid, and convinced Druid to take up his sister's offer. Then Druid could infiltrate the Morley Manor.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8IlVavM4Q
The agreement, as it stood back then, was to frame poor Eric for the murders. Druid did his part of doing all the dirty work - but David had a little extra step in the plan. When no one was there to witness it, David rose from his pose in the entrance hall and killed Eric, before going back to his faux-corpse location.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJPpNKSUAq
In this way, Druid would take all the blame.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhLxxigO3P
I presume that you are waiting for some kind of moral to arise from this story. But none really exists. This account serves no purpose but for entertainment, a brief glimpse into the oh-so-obviously fictional lives of the Morleys, a short tale of murder and betrayal.
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