Chapter 03: The Writer's Fate

Evelyn knocks on the door, and it swings open to reveal Edmund's father, Harry. She greets him with a cheerful "Good morning, Uncle!" Harry's face breaks into a warm smile as he replies, "Ah, Evelyn! Good morning, child! Come in!" He steps aside, welcoming her into their home with a gesture.

Evelyn enters the house, and Harry closes the door behind her, gesturing for her to take a seat. As she settles into the chair, Harry's expression turns curious. "What brings you here, Evelyn? Do you need something from me?" he asks, his eyes scrutinizing her face. Evelyn looks up at him, her determination evident. "Uncle, I need a job. I want to earn some money."

Harry's surprise is palpable. He knows that Evelyn's mother works hard to support their family, but struggles to make ends meet, especially when it comes to her brother's education. "Does your brother need financial help for his studies?" Harry asks his brow furrowed in concern.

Evelyn shakes her head, her eyes locked on Harry's, her intention clear: she wants to earn money for something specific, and it's not her brother's education.

Harry began, "Your mother works hard as a maid for a wealthy family, but I'm sure they pay her a handsome sum. Your father, God rest his soul, left you a modest inheritance, and you also deliver milk to supplement your income. It should be enough to make ends meet." He pauses, his expression thoughtful. "So, what is it that you want to earn money for, Evelyn? There must be something specific you have in mind."

Evelyn sighs, her eyes cast downward, and her voice takes on a hint of determination. "No, Uncle Harry, it's not about the household expenses. I want to earn money to buy books. I'm not getting enough pocket money from Mom, and I want to learn more, to read more. ''

Harry's expression softens as he looks at Evelyn, his voice tinged with compassion. "Oh, child, your mother works you tirelessly, and yet she doesn't seem to prioritize your well-being. She's so focused on your brother's education and future career; it's as if she's neglecting your own needs. Don't you feel like she's being unfair to you, Evelyn?"

Evelyn's eyes droop, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. "I know she makes me work hard, Uncle Harry. But I believe she loves me deep down. She just doesn't show it. That's all. I don't think she's a bad person, she's just...different."

Harry sighs, his expression a mix of understanding and resignation. He rises from his chair, his eyes locked on Evelyn's. "I suppose you'll never fully understand your mother's ways, child. But I'll give you a chance to prove yourself. I have a job for you - delivering letters for my manager in the city. He's offered 500 croons, which should be enough for your books."

Evelyn's face lights up with excitement as she accepts the offer. Harry instructs her to arrive at his office the next day at 9:00 AM to collect the letters. With a heart full of gratitude, Evelyn thanks her uncle and departs for home, her step lighter than before.

That evening, when her mother returns home, Evelyn shares the news about the job opportunity. Her mother's expression changes from fatigue to interest when Evelyn mentions the salary - 500 croons. For a moment, her mother's eyes light up with a hint of pride and approval, and she nods in agreement, accepting the job offer on Evelyn's behalf.

When Evelyn asks about the reward, her mother's response is lukewarm. "I'll give you 10 croons out of the 500," she says, her tone implying that Evelyn should be grateful for even that much. Evelyn's face falls, her eyes clouding with disappointment. "Can I get some more, please, Mom?" she asks, her voice tinged with hope.

Her mother raises an eyebrow, skeptical. "What will you do with all that money? Buy books?" Evelyn hesitates, knowing that her mother's disapproval of her love for reading is well-hidden. So, she thinks quickly and replies, "No, I want to buy some garments. Edmund told me this morning that there are some cheap clothes in the city." She hopes this excuse will persuade her mother to be more generous.

Her mother's expression softens slightly, and she says, "Fine, I'll give you 50 croons. But that's my final offer, no more negotiations." She emphasizes this with a firm tone, making it clear that Evelyn shouldn't ask for more. With that, she turns and heads into the next room, leaving Evelyn feeling relieved and somewhat grateful for the compromise.

Though it's not the amount she had hoped for, Evelyn recognizes that 50 croons are better than the initial 10, and she's thankful for her mother's slight concession.

The next day, Evelyn completes her milk-selling task and makes her way to the factory where Harry works. She meets the manager, who hands her a bag filled with letters.

"The addresses are clearly marked on each envelope," he instructs, "so make sure to deliver them correctly. Be careful and take your time, okay?" He hands her the bag, and Evelyn nods responsibly, shouldering the task with determination.

Evelyn sets off for the city, bag of letters in hand. She spends the day diligently delivering the letters to their respective addresses, making sure to double-check each envelope before handing it over. As the sun begins to set, she finishes her task, feeling a sense of accomplishment. With a tired but contented sigh, she makes her way back home, ready to rest and reflect on a job well done.

As Evelyn walks home, lost in thought, a stranger suddenly appears before her. His eyes wild with urgency, he grasps her hand and exclaims, "Help! Run! Don't take the diamond, or the Slaughterer will kill you!"

Without waiting for her response, he pulls her along, his grip tight as he hastens away. "Don't worry, I'll save you. Come, let's flee!" he says, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush.

Evelyn's heart races as she tries to free herself from the stranger's grasp. "Leave me alone! Please, let me go!" she pleads, tugging her hand with all her might.

But the stranger refuses to release her, his grip only tightening. Just as she's starting to feel desperate, pair of policemen appears, swiftly intervening to pull the stranger away. They drag him to their car, his wild screams echoing through the air:

"Be careful, the Slaughterer will kill you! Run, run away!"

 As the car speeds off, Evelyn breathes a sigh of relief, her thoughts racing. "He must be a psycho," she thinks to herself, still shaken by the bizarre encounter.

After few weeks of diligent work, Evelyn finally earns enough to indulge in her passion for reading. The manager said that she needed no more to deliver them as there were no letters.

With her hard-earned wages in hand, she hastily grabs her bag and hurries towards the city, her mind fixed on the latest book releases. "I need to buy all the new books!" she thinks to herself, her excitement building with every step.

As she approaches the bookstore, a flutter of nervousness arises, her memories of the strange encounter still fresh. She hopes that the erratic stranger who dragged her away won't appear again, casting a shadow over her joyful moment.

Evelyn steps into the store, her eyes scanning the shelves with excitement. She browses through the titles, carefully selecting the ones she's been longing to read. With a few books in hand, she delicately holds them close, admiring their covers.

Suddenly, a careless bump from behind sends her stumbling and she falls to the ground. The books slip from her grasp, scattering across the floor. Evelyn quickly scrambles to gather them, her heart racing with concern. She picks up each book, dusting off the covers with gentle care, relieved that none were damaged in the fall.

As Evelyn reaches for one of the scattered books, she feels a soft, gentle touch on her fingers. The unexpected contact sends a shiver down her spine, and she freezes, her heart skipping a beat. She looks up to see who or what has made contact with her, her eyes locking onto a pair of apologetic eyes belonging to a stranger, who is kneeling beside her, helping her gather the books.

As Evelyn looks up, she's met with the gaze of a boy whose grey eyes and dark hair create a striking contrast. His stylish attire, complete with a blue blazer, gives off an air of affluence. Her cheeks flush with a soft blush. The boy offers a helpful smile and gathers the scattered books, his movements effortless.

Together, they approach the counter, where he carefully places the books. "Thank you for your help," Evelyn says gratefully. The boy's smile widens, and he replies, "No problem, it's my pleasure." With a nod, he turns and leaves, leaving Evelyn to feel a flutter in her chest.

As Evelyn heads home, her thoughts linger on the mysterious boy. "He looked so wealthy, what was he doing in a small store like that?" she wonders. Her curiosity is momentarily diverted when she notices a chilling message on the community notice board.

A note reads: "Dead body found with no skin: Skin Slaughterer's another comeback!"

Evelyn's confusion deepens as she ponders the cryptic message. "What's this? Skin Slaughterer? Who is that?" She scans the surrounding notices, finding a news article with more information.

"The dead body was found in the tunnel A8, completely devoid of skin. The victim has been identified as Henry Mores, a renowned writer who had been missing for the past 10 days." A shiver runs down her spine as she realizes the gravity of the situation.

Evelyn's eyes widen in horror as she reads the chilling details. She can't believe what she's seeing.

The notice continues, "Henry Mores vanished after attending a party at the residence of Mr. Darts. His family filed a report with the police, but no leads or clues were found regarding his disappearance. Then, on October 12, his body as discovered in the sewage tunnel, with the skin ripped off entirely, except for his face."

Evelyn's mind races with gruesome images, her thoughts reeling with the sheer brutality of the crime. She feels a shiver run down her spine as she wonders who could be behind such a heinous act.

Overcome with grief, Evelyn's eyes well up with tears as she rushes towards her home, her mind reeling with the news of her favourite writer's brutal murder.

In her distress, she fails to notice a pedestrian in her path and collides with him, sending her books tumbling out of her bag. The stranger scolds her for not watching where she's going, and Evelyn apologizes profusely as she hastily gathers her books. In her haste, she inadvertently leaves a few behind and continues running, tears streaming down her face.

Evelyn finally stops at the river's edge, collapsing onto the stones as her emotions overwhelm her. She buries her face in her hands and sobs uncontrollably, her mind reeling with the shocking news.

"How can he be dead? And in such a horrific way?" she laments, her tears flowing freely. She can't shake the image of Henry Mores' brutalized body from her mind, and her thoughts remain consumed by grief and shock.