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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIWlv13d55
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowOd13fUcw
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ObhSqdtc
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u2Wzkz429
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7FPOg02Rd
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvreacvCUOe
Cara had brought home her peasant lover, Druid, and was presently attempting to inconspicuously smuggle him out of the manor.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHrfMof3Fb
'Cara!' It was David. 'Come join us for breakfast. What could ever be taking you so long?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vnsajgAcZ
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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbiFqNsfEF
Cara arrived at the breakfast table late, to the watching eyes of her siblings, David, Eric, and Rachelle.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkbOxN8HmL
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV4s5vmHnB
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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OjvXzHK2P
'Ta ta.' The girl responds.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdTgsVX18S
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzalnHBHHUo
'But we haven't even reached mains yet!' Rachelle complains.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqS0PM4KWC
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6XwxsZeSs
Cara thought about her precious Druid, waiting in a closet, and took the opportunity to also leave the table. 'I, um, I - '428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwOoOnvGBt
'Yes?' Rachelle looks up at her, expecting an unarguable excuse.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDeGqpQk69
'It's just that phase of the moon.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAmJgr0WfO
'That makes no sense, Caraaaaaa!!! Breakfast is no fun if you all go away doing silly things!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAtHDph16d
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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEaYgcGfCc
'Hmmph.' The girl crosses her arms as Cara leaves.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVenN6Pzmqg
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n55cegqls
'Good gracious!' Exclaimed the Nannies.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgOTtbRpoE
'Oh dear!' Cara shouted.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrj2kU9ked
'My God!' The sons ejaculated.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs4oYT2jBm
'What's daddy doing?' Rachelle asked.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDrEsraiYP
'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?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp9fJykYsy
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!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzv5ghpXlA
'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!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLX9F5ThgZ
'That is a lie, mother! You and I both know I loved father more than you ever did.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FVJIXA7j8
A simultaneous gasp from the two Nannies. What a very juicy Incident this would be for their gossip circles!428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8e78Xm9Gn
'Well! I must ask you to leave. You are disturbing my grieving process.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7itAUfLgtL
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!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjf5Kpf0Ll
Rachelle began crying in consternation, not quite comprehending but aware of the distress nonetheless.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tb7Mk7pBc
'Rachelle! Come here.' Nanny Emily gave the girl a strong embrace. The little one was always fond of the servant women.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4IfH7VWUj
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOnNNpVhJs
'Very well!' Lady Morley said. 'After all, we don't want any more blood spilt today.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7CFVVKECO
Cara ran out of the room and tracked down the cupboard she had so suddenly farewelled her lover in. Empty.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEOOSpvWa8
Where could he be? She passed by the entrance hall and saw Druid by the door.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYZYpQexqf
'Dru! Why have you not left yet?' She whispered to him loudly.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGxKOCTWmq
His face goes white. 'The doors and windows are barred. From the outside. I cannot leave!' 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQQm6nPaM3
It is only at this point that Cara began comprehending the situation.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd8uMuVjX6
The killer did not intend for Lord Morley to be the only fatality that day.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABH1MFepT6
Cara burst back into her mother's room. 'We are trapped inside!' She announced, to which the response was a chorus of 'WHAT!?'s.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylffEZyJiH
Nanny Amy began taking down notes. What an exciting day!428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Ye9B23gk
'All the doors and windows are barred from the outside! We are trapped inside with a killer!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jg0CFBVZz
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?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNb5sLXvF0
'No! I was - I was, um...'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxncl2Kvihf
Druid walked through the door. 'Hi.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HodWh5dMg
'Who is this, Cara?' Lady Morley was positively concerned at the arrival of this lowly stranger.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lqvFG5WUl
'Druid and I are lovers, mother.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeboTkPc62l
'PFFFFFT! Nonsense. Try again. Who is this, Cara?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bKbUw5iV2
'Druid is my boyfriend?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2vy3Rh0Yn
'I don't think so. Who is this person?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38LY05fldG
'Mother, please shut up most presently. I am in love with Druid, and his status is of no concern to you or me.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6VDtzcXPr
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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqOCwB1C9d
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXvBAZ5s3D
'Nooooo, don't gooooooo...' Rachelle squealed.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJZ501qEYD
'It's okay darling Rachelle, I will stay with you.' Nanny Emily patted her head.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2SzqxGhbH
'There is some point to Eric's decision.' Druid stated.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70K98JxOt4
'Did you hear something, Cara? I most certainly didn't.' 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRB1l0dMwU
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2gsH3guXZ
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D5P5fywsh
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1LfuIWHcY
Rachelle and Nanny Emily sat down on the bed.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN4UooJ8h5
'I'll go get the coloring books, shall I?' Nanny Amy offered.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2PYlGcGzG
'That would be lovely.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk9QgA0BXB
It should seem obvious to the reader that once again, we shall say farewell to a few members of the Morley family.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOjAxU450F
'Oh my god!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkftNCVBVy
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGOEACzY3s
Eric harked to alert the others, and they all gathered at the foot of the staircase, beside the bodies. 'The situation is getting serious.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6BnYCQ3LC
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcGkekVqdO
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ6JOZN3SH
'Do we really have the time for this?' Eric complained, to no avail, as Druid began telling the story to Cara.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9irkOXvmQz
'It was a Saturday market. Your family were passing by my fake jewelry stall.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7tAmTETrk
'It was fake???'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtTtgnanrG
'Shut up, mother! Let him continue.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKf8AuDQSN
'This is hopeless.' Eric left the entrance hall.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrgiwNjsqk
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypNu2J6qgf
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7HKVJKa7c
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj8EiUohDr
'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.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLYfV4wgk0
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Yjrnhsffs
'Oh well. I suppose it wasn't him after all.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyio6iLbyvR
She didn't feel the need to alarm anyone.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVMUn6gUjq
'Rachelle! Are you alright?!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWv8ehTQNn
The girl was lying in a pool of blood. Thankfully, it was not her own.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoJAZRWfJm
Nanny Emily was leaning against the wall beside Rachelle. Her head was leaning on the wall opposite Rachelle. Neck wounds bleed a frightful lot.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Szf875XW
'Oh my darling Rachelle, come here, come here, what happened?' Lady Morley scooped up her youngest child through tears.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQx5Zl85K6
'It was... it was... it was a man...'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuESvRPaFVL
David was dead. Eric was dead. That left only Druid.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVftdpdeTav
'My god! I knew he was dodgy! I must call the others at once! CARAAAA!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeyqSfOgEi
'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!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhQnioFO5P
...428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs8KcLXiq1
'Druid, Eric was killed.' Lady Morley said.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xzktSQVhr
'What? But...'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexmAj8RiWB
'And Rachelle here also said it was a man that came and killed Nanny Emily.'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM46XtzcP3
'No, no, that's not right. Where's Eric?'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggGYwg7C6v
'Lying dead at the top of the stairs. Which means that the only person that could have done this all is YOU!'428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34LwKGRYsl
'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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGufACPUq3
'I think, little peasant, that we have all the proof we need.' With a blow from her knuckles, the man was knocked unconscious.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHA5qgiMC4
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhplPJMTtWy
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP68M2GDhmB
But what became of their fortune?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzznMh6iITa
David inherited the fortune, of course.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5LdGOaX8k
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSOAX3X1M3
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gyyqtN96Z
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbhOUKnKep
In this way, Druid would take all the blame.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqSherjpcy
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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