A Collection Of Shorts by ArtL Nightshade (poetry books to read txt) 📕

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Liana Maxwell?" A cop asked, not wanting to be the one to bring the news to the poor woman who held her son close to her.

Liana nodded as tears was about to fall but she blinked her eyes, "yes, yes I am her. What is it?"

Sighing, the cop looked down at his feet before looking up into her eyes to tell her his tale. After he was done, this left her in a state of shock, shaking, she fell down on her knees as the cop fanned her with his hat trying his best to keep her awake from fainting.

*****

Looking down from Heaven, Connor felt his heart shattered at the image of his wife crying out for him and his son becoming mad at him for the promise he made when he was alive was now broken. If he was alive, Connor would have felt his own tears fall down on his cheeks.

"Come, it's time." An angel said, gesturing towards the gates of Heaven which opened up for him. Turning around, Connor started to walk then stopped and looked back over his shoulder to glance at his family and the destruction now being cleaned up by cops, firefighters, and volunteers.

"Good-bye my love, my son." Connor whispered as he turned his attention and walked inside Heaven.

PLOT

Three part Short Story of Jack the Ripper. Told by Ian, a doctor, David, Ian's son, and Jack the Ripper himself. Story 1: A doctor sufferes whispers of death threats he gets at night. Will he face his threats like a man? Or will cowardice take over? Story 2: David, son of the doctor Ian, wants both justice and to avenge his father. Will he get his justice/revenge or something more? Story 3: The begining, the birth of Jack the Ripper as told by the killer himself

STORY

The Whispers I Get At Night

As I walk down the cobblestone streets of London in the evening; rumors of a killer called Jack the Ripper haunt the very city of White Chapel. I am not worried about the "new", mysterious killer on the loose oh no, I am more worried about these whispers I keep hearing every night when I go home to retire.

"Dead,dead,dead you soon will be. Ripped apart by my hands of steel. Silent you shall be when death comes after you." The whispers inside my head tell me, making me afraid to ever sleep at night. Like a little child who needed a candle to scare away the monsters who might take them away.

I am but a thirty-four year old doctor named Ian. I shouldn't be afraid of these death-threat whispers, I shouldn't need a candle at night, and I should be able to sleep peacefully at night. Unfortunally those will never happen. The more I try and sleep the more death-threat whispers I get, telling me that death is on its way.

***

"Ok madam, I need you to take a deep breathe. In and out, in and out." I soothed her, trying not to scare her for she's about to give birth for the very first time. Her husband held her hand as she pushes her body towards me and takes deep breathes like I showed her.

She was sweating along with her husband and I too was sweating from both hard work and the fear of the whispers at night. I know this isn't a good thing to think about when with a patient, for they will ask "what's the matter?" and I'll have to explain truthfully. That, what I would have to tell them, would scare them frightfully.

"When is it coming out?!" Her husband asked frantically, worried as he squeezes his wife's hand tighter, telling her that he isn't going anywhere until this was over.

I smiled a huge smile and told them that its done and they have a daughter, a beautiful, healthy daughter. I washed the little baby, wrapped her in a clean cloth and held her out to for her mother to hold and love.

They named her... Evangeline.

***

Why couldn't night-time come... never? I am dreading the night more and more. The sun is setting and I am not home yet.

The cool breeze chilling my spine as I walk down the poverty part of London. All the people begging me for money, food, clothing. Being generous, I give them those things they beg and require.

I made it to my home, my wife and children are asleep and I have to work still. Sitting on my chair in front of my desk, I take out my quill pen and began to finish the work my client sent me a few days ago.

Before I knew it and this has happened before, the candles blew out, the breeze became a strong wind, blowing the papers away, and the whispers then became a screeching sound, like a woman cursing you! Oh dear lord above help me!!!

Then it stopped. Silence comes and reigns over, everything is still, absolutely still. I went over to pick up the papers when... I saw a shadow, of a man. I became numbed, paralyzed with fear, afraid to turn around to see who it was, what the whispers I get at night were coming from.

"Your time is here, death is here. Blood shall spill from your very veins; ripped apart I said you were going to be. Here is your time, the dead awaits you." The whispers said making me shake with terror.

***

Still looking down from the shadows, I see the silhouette raise a knife above and upon me, ready to strike any moment, thus ending my life here forever.

I closed my eyes tight for a second then opened them. Getting up in a flash and twisting my body around, I was then, face to face with none other than the White Chapel murderer, Jack the Ripper.

"You're...You're the White Chapel murderer. Jack the Ripper!" I said, pointing a shaking finger towards him.

"And many more." He smiled a cruel evil smile and we both knew what he meant by 'many more'. He lashed down his weapon of steel terror, trying to kill me as he once try and do before.

I dodged, I ran, I cried out for my wife and children to run while I try and lure Jack the Ripper towards the night-shift police.

I hear my wife and children scream in terror as the neighborhood friends come out and about to comfort them while their brothers, husbands, fathers, uncles, and male cousins all went out to help me and capture Jack the Ripper.

***

I am trapped, there is no way out. A wall blocked my way and Jack is now right behind me, blocking my escape. His killer smile making my knees shake, my heart pound, and my breathe nearly impossible to control. I felt as if I am about to faint right here and now.

I had no weapons to protect me, even if I did, this man, this killer, is an expert when it comes to knives and swords I believe. Closing my eyes and breathing my last, I wait for death to take me away.

I heard the foot-steps of the killer, Jack the Ripper, his chuckling becoming a menacing laughter as he raises the knife, preparing it to be lashed down upon my flesh.

"Say good-bye life and hello death." Jack said as I repeated the words in a whisper and I also whispered, "Take care my lovely wife and children, protect one another as I did to you.

The knife lashed down again and again. I fell to the hard ground and wait until I breathed my last.

***

My name is Ian. I'm a thirty-four year old doctor, with a wife named Clarissa, and two children named: David and Marie. I am now dead, killed by the White Chapel murderer, Jack the Ripper.

***********************

The Whispers I Get At Night 2: The Revenge

My name is David, I am a fourteen year old, my mother is named Clarissa and my little sister is named Marie. I am off, off to the murder spree of Jack the Ripper.

I do not care so much about the others who were murdered by him, no; the only person who matters most in my life is my father, Ian.

My father, Ian, was a thirty-four year old doctor, the best man any boy could ever have as a father, friend, and teacher. The killer, Jack the Ripper killed him. I will not just sit here at home in fear and let Jack get away with everything.

“Davy, where are you going?” Marie, my sister asked glancing at my nearly packed bag.

Not answering her question, I head out the door, determined to bring Jack the Ripper to justice. I didn’t care how much pain, emotionally or physically I will bear this very time, he will be brought down to justice.

For my father and all those who were murdered by the White Chapel Murderer.

***

My friend, Charles McCalvin, raced towards me and asked where I was heading to.

"I'm going to find Jack." I said not stopping to tell more but kept going down the cobble streets.

"Jack? Jack Morrison or...Jack the Ripper?" Charles asked in a low, nervous tone. I nodded my head for the second Jack. Charles was taken aback and shook his head and asked if I was becoming mad in which I knew I wasn't.

I shook my head. "No, I'm not. I want justice to be brought, people are becoming too scared to walk out at night even sleep. I want to bring Jack down for all he has done." I explained making a turn towards an alley.

I thought Charles would run off and mind his own business but he kept walking towards me, following me.

"I am coming too. You might need help, just in case." He said with a broad smile but in his eyes, he knew he will regret it. I nodded my head thanks and we both head off to find The Ripper.

***

"Extras! Extras! The White Chapel Murder has struck again! A woman of high society has been murdered last night at midnight!" A young news-girl shouted out for the people to hear around.

At first I didn't recognize the girl then I did as I came in closer, it was Lucy, another one of my friends. I have to admit day by day, night by night she has become more and more beautiful.

"Charles! David!" Lucy shouted out when she spotted us then ran towards us hugging us to death.

Smiling, we hugged back then withdrew to give each other space.

"So what are you guys doing out here?" Lucy asked handing a young gentleman a newspaper then receiving her shillings.

Charles explained that we were looking for The Ripper; Lucy gasped then lowered her voice so only they can hear.

"Are you mad?! He'll kill you and....rip you apart." Lucy whispered.

"We know that's why I brought a few weapons to protect us." I said showing, secretly, the weapons to Lucy who shook her head skeptically.

We said out good-byes and departed. I look back to see Lucy's beautiful figure before I was rudely nudged by Charles' elbow.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Lucy cried out, running towards us.

I look over at my friend who shook his head frantically.

"Don't bother telling me I shouldn't