Murder Mansion (Continued)

Warning: the following content contains mention of murder.

By: Anastasia Yu

Chapter 4: Greenberg Village

20th October 1930, 1:00 AM

Dear Diary,

I have come across an appalling discovery in Trescoth Manor. There is a portrait of my mother - I suspect taken or painted when she was younger, hanging on the wall in one of the rooms. She was wearing a garnet red gown, with her chestnut brown hair styled into a waterfall braid. The most shocking part of this is the blood-red jewel that hung around her neck; it seems to be a duplicate - no, perhaps even the same as one Eldritch Trescoth was wearing.

There must be some mystery behind this. I shall continue to stay in this village until I learn more about this discovery. But for now, I am exhausted from the journey, and I should rest for the night.

The next day, William awoke to the loud chimes of the bell tower. After a quick shower and a change of clothing, he headed out to the village.

Although William knew Greenberg Village had never been anywhere near cheerful, everything had at least looked orderly and in place. But now, it practically looked like a wasteland; Most of the houses had crumbled to bricks, plants and bushes had decomposed, and thorns were growing from the wet, cracked streets and climbing up the bent lampposts.

As he neared the village’s centre, William encountered an elderly man sweeping the streets.

“Hello, sir!” William called. The man gave a slight nod to William’s presence.

William tried again. “My name is William Everton-”

“Everton? As in the son of Rauna Everton...” said the man in an Irish accent. He stopped sweeping instantly and looked up. “Well if it isn’t the son of the woman who started it all. Has your family not caused enough trouble in this village already?”

William ignored the man’s accusing stare and replied, “Actually, that is exactly the reason why I have returned. I understand that my mother’s death has caused quite the amount of tragedies in this village, but could you please tell me more? Especially about Trescoth Manor, and perhaps Eldritch Trescoth himself.”

“T-t-trescoth Manor!” The man exclaimed in horror, his face turning pale white.

“Yes, I discovered a portrait of my mother there the yesterday night, she was wearing a blood-red jewel around her neck-”

“T-that manor is dangerous, and so is Eldritch Trescoth. No villager has ever survived a single night there. As for the jewel, it contains magical powers - dangerous, dangerous powers.” The man stuttered.

“Powers… such as?”

“Ones that will lead to the d-death of others. You shan’t go back to the manor, my friend.” The man shuddered as he looked up towards the towering turrets of the mansion. “It is too baleful. Care to come to my dwelling for the night? As soon as you complete your investigation, of course.”

“Thanks for your offer sir, but I suspect this investigation will go on for more than a day. I must continue my stay at the manor.” With that said, William hurried back to Trescoth Manor, heading directly for the third floor.

Chapter 5: The Truth

As William climbed the winding staircase to the third floor of Trescoth Manor, he processed the information he had collected from the old man on the streets. Could Eldritch Trescoth have used the jewel to murder William’s mother? But who else would have done such a horrible thing in this village? Eldritch Trescoth was the only man he had known so far who was capable of killing a fair lady like Rauna Everton; based off his appearance and quirky actions at least.

No matter if my hypothesis is correct or not, the third floor will give me the answers, thought William.

The third floor corridor was once again lined with paintings of sinister looking individuals, which William tried to ignore. He walked briskly towards the end of the hallway which again, had a door. William started to turn the knob...

“I see that curiosity has gotten the better of you, William Everton.” Eldritch Trescoth smiled as he strode through the hall. William froze. “I have pondered last night about why you are here. After all, your father must have told you about the ‘accidents’ that occured in this village after your mother’s death, am I correct?” William nodded slowly, his hand remaining rested on the doorknob.

“I presume you think I am the cause of all these incidents, based on my appearance?” Eldritch Trescoth waved his bony hand across his face.

“Mr Trescoth, I-”

“I thought so.” Mr Trescoth interrupted. “But you are mistaken. Although I may look malicious, I did not commit those crimes.”

“What proof do you have for your claim?”

“You see, William, I loved Rauna Everton. Many in the village admired her looks, but I truly loved and cared for her. Although I am jealous of your father, I would never, ever, murder her. What good woud that do? If you don’t believe me, open the door and see for yourself. It is merely a normal bedroom.”

William hesitated. What if it was all a trick, and inside was some sort of bomb, or perhaps even magical artifact that would cause him harm? But he had to take a risk. He had to find out. Taking a deep breath, he twisted the doorknob and pushed open the door.

Eldritch Trescoth had spoken the truth. The room was merely a normal bedroom with a canopy bed, a desk and another portrait of William’s mother.

“Well if so, why would you wear a jewel filled with enough sorcery to kill somebody around your neck?”

“This jewel right here?” Eldritch Trescoth laughed. “It was merely one of the many gifts I sent to your mother, William. A ruby, no more. I wear it only to remind me of her. As superstitious as your father, you are.”

Chapter 6: Home

After that night, William prepared for his journey home. After all, Eldritch Trescoth was not the murderer, and the truth about his mother’s death could not been uncovered.

The evening of the next day, William left the manor and strolled towards the train station. Near the entrance of the station, he encountered the man sweeping the streets once again.

“Setting off for your journey home to Bristol so soon, William?” The man stopped sweeping and walked over to William.

“Yes, sir… wait, how do you where I live…?” There was no chance the man would know where he lived. Although most villagers had known where he moved to at first, he and his dad had moved twice since they first left Greenberg Village.

Then it clicked. The man had stated conclusively that Eldritch Trescoth’s jewel was ‘magical’ on their first encounter, and that Eldritch Trescoth was a dangerous man. But none of that was true. He had ‘invited’ William to spend the night at his home… It almost seemed as if he had tried to persuade William to stay at his house with false information, and now that he happened to know where William lived… It was all too coincidental. This man had to be trying to kill William.

William had solved the mystery. But now, he had to escape.

“The train has arrived, I should get going sir.” He started to turn towards the train station.

“I know what you are thinking, child,” The man said. “You are clever like your mother. Yes, I am the person who murdered her. Although I admired her and loved her, I couldn’t watch her bear the child of a carpenter,” His face was scrunched up with disgust. “I was an accomplished, wealthy merchant, much more worthy to be her groom.”

“I attempted multiple times to kill you, to prevent you from being born. But none of them worked. So one day, I simply pushed her off the roof of your house.”

“You say it like it’s a bagatelle to kill somebody,” William was horrified. “If you truly loved her, you would not have the audacity to even harm her, much less kill her!”

“But somehow, you were miraculously born one day after she fell.” The man continued, ignoring William’s comment. "But now, I have the chance to kill you again.”

The man yanked the top of his broom handle, which came off and revealed a dagger. This was too much for William to bear. He turned rapidly and dashed as fast as he could towards the train station, the man following closely behind. He ran down the steep steps to the station and leaped into the closing door of the empty train just as the man threw the dagger towards him, slicing off his left ear. William yelped with pain.

The train door closed with a clack. William turned, covering the bloody left side of his head with his hand. The man stood on the platform grinning wickedly with his broom in one hand, mouthing “I will find you.”