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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPp7g6bned
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw2n8wpIZv
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM29hnxq8k
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkJ9OrepT4
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBnGImmyHy
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3dZkjgL4F
Cara had brought home her peasant lover, Druid, and was presently attempting to inconspicuously smuggle him out of the manor.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BrPyVDD0y
'Cara!' It was David. 'Come join us for breakfast. What could ever be taking you so long?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8ySy3GWd4
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx86OBM9XqI
Cara arrived at the breakfast table late, to the watching eyes of her siblings, David, Eric, and Rachelle.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMomT2p9SjB
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bbjuzfs9k
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jaOaVR23i
'Ta ta.' The girl responds.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHaXesSjjY
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x3TUHemgW
'But we haven't even reached mains yet!' Rachelle complains.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7IuvHfVjN
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6PfdH6VEb
Cara thought about her precious Druid, waiting in a closet, and took the opportunity to also leave the table. 'I, um, I - '474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XtrxcPCUS
'Yes?' Rachelle looks up at her, expecting an unarguable excuse.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk6Y8ZZlro
'It's just that phase of the moon.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd5TjGzaAI
'That makes no sense, Caraaaaaa!!! Breakfast is no fun if you all go away doing silly things!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpH7jKRsRK
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXlEcQoOT8
'Hmmph.' The girl crosses her arms as Cara leaves.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofUDS7QWyZ
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjZdFujurG
'Good gracious!' Exclaimed the Nannies.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MzghwNLmf
'Oh dear!' Cara shouted.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtDyZjiXxm
'My God!' The sons ejaculated.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lGrhBLVgk
'What's daddy doing?' Rachelle asked.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxskT5FnCHN
'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?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlcNowaTME
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!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOsNkHeEVU
'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!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M892d4IeT
'That is a lie, mother! You and I both know I loved father more than you ever did.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tMevF7GbB
A simultaneous gasp from the two Nannies. What a very juicy Incident this would be for their gossip circles!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VHCmzftQ8
'Well! I must ask you to leave. You are disturbing my grieving process.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuEoNbeVRh
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!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp6wUwkAZ2
Rachelle began crying in consternation, not quite comprehending but aware of the distress nonetheless.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvYwSPQDV8
'Rachelle! Come here.' Nanny Emily gave the girl a strong embrace. The little one was always fond of the servant women.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgudlr3OkVw
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jTms8zkUv
'Very well!' Lady Morley said. 'After all, we don't want any more blood spilt today.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡienRzmHxu1
Cara ran out of the room and tracked down the cupboard she had so suddenly farewelled her lover in. Empty.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OCWAg5JD7
Where could he be? She passed by the entrance hall and saw Druid by the door.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRammbbSXN
'Dru! Why have you not left yet?' She whispered to him loudly.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzlHDA29AE
His face goes white. 'The doors and windows are barred. From the outside. I cannot leave!' 474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZqG8xICg4
It is only at this point that Cara began comprehending the situation.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuhvahs87q
The killer did not intend for Lord Morley to be the only fatality that day.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GwZDaqMAV
Cara burst back into her mother's room. 'We are trapped inside!' She announced, to which the response was a chorus of 'WHAT!?'s.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnvEqsMjGO
Nanny Amy began taking down notes. What an exciting day!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcUC0CLvLy
'All the doors and windows are barred from the outside! We are trapped inside with a killer!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4MTbNJljN
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?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY651UBlHIH
'No! I was - I was, um...'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMwnJo7h9B
Druid walked through the door. 'Hi.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6blaYycON
'Who is this, Cara?' Lady Morley was positively concerned at the arrival of this lowly stranger.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiUaGjUndT
'Druid and I are lovers, mother.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vYEzjctCT
'PFFFFFT! Nonsense. Try again. Who is this, Cara?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA4VxOYIL7
'Druid is my boyfriend?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Og1FZ7eJ2
'I don't think so. Who is this person?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO8Cv8zZki
'Mother, please shut up most presently. I am in love with Druid, and his status is of no concern to you or me.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcqVUjjMFh
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUgnvQHhFc
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZH6XemoeK
'Nooooo, don't gooooooo...' Rachelle squealed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquDcxbDNMM
'It's okay darling Rachelle, I will stay with you.' Nanny Emily patted her head.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCYHTEAEaD
'There is some point to Eric's decision.' Druid stated.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcc92VFO6i
'Did you hear something, Cara? I most certainly didn't.' 474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxq6xESNS4
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScSKoxgzl5
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokqslCfXOP
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bFwL3YBoL
Rachelle and Nanny Emily sat down on the bed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zhsyCc1BG
'I'll go get the coloring books, shall I?' Nanny Amy offered.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡensU0z9LRW
'That would be lovely.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wXmPd8Yg5
It should seem obvious to the reader that once again, we shall say farewell to a few members of the Morley family.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSGK6P7TWr
'Oh my god!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSIxfyxZbr
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrOjl4bbUy
Eric harked to alert the others, and they all gathered at the foot of the staircase, beside the bodies. 'The situation is getting serious.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFGxO3qCRG
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NQtjLdJL3
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHz8TGBZOx
'Do we really have the time for this?' Eric complained, to no avail, as Druid began telling the story to Cara.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchgSxNJsyw
'It was a Saturday market. Your family were passing by my fake jewelry stall.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQMQl8J4Pt
'It was fake???'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XpD9zn1Ba
'Shut up, mother! Let him continue.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHGoqkPYzG
'This is hopeless.' Eric left the entrance hall.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd9MvRSXXp
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvfkzzoRHo
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpII4zNqokO
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8SSMAn1dR
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLe2Wqohee
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1s6eh83ji
'Oh well. I suppose it wasn't him after all.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44dQWtnh6q
She didn't feel the need to alarm anyone.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tLLvan0Kg
'Rachelle! Are you alright?!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphJRHPJ7QP
The girl was lying in a pool of blood. Thankfully, it was not her own.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB2efTmibx
Nanny Emily was leaning against the wall beside Rachelle. Her head was leaning on the wall opposite Rachelle. Neck wounds bleed a frightful lot.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdLDlhGtwL
'Oh my darling Rachelle, come here, come here, what happened?' Lady Morley scooped up her youngest child through tears.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9oqvUopO3
'It was... it was... it was a man...'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Dqz9InqA
David was dead. Eric was dead. That left only Druid.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF6TjTk6Dj
'My god! I knew he was dodgy! I must call the others at once! CARAAAA!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9FWYkuknf
'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!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xCVEwVh6c
...474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDKAMUDBi
'Druid, Eric was killed.' Lady Morley said.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerlPMDFuyL
'What? But...'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcXXW1xZ93
'And Rachelle here also said it was a man that came and killed Nanny Emily.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7iYJhdvuo
'No, no, that's not right. Where's Eric?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF48aRhjiUW
'Lying dead at the top of the stairs. Which means that the only person that could have done this all is YOU!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ171BOx1aGY
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfSdxWA9VP
'I think, little peasant, that we have all the proof we need.' With a blow from her knuckles, the man was knocked unconscious.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyrNwlkNYa
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAKNQK4fUx
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1OvoTIQ2s
But what became of their fortune?474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWOmBFJUU8
David inherited the fortune, of course.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r0cvJ0mUt
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgNCB5RQes
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtPtJ2GUgO
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oDmcUak8n
In this way, Druid would take all the blame.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamfrbCC9Pw
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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