shreya says:
Maybe the father has self-esteem issues which is why he is trying to drown himself in toddy.
...
tt sounds stupid!!!!

kellie says:
LOLLOL.
drown in toddy?! sounds like he's drinking mr. bean's teddy bear thru a straw..

shreya says:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROFLMFAO

kellie says:
lols.
has the father finished of de teddy's stuffing yet?
i suppose he's now sucking the eyes right?

shreya says:
one of the arm's stuck
in the straw...struggling a bit w/ that

kellie says:
ohhs. tell him to get a new straw and try the legs first.

shreya says:
Maybe the father has self-esteem issues which is why he is trying to drown himself in toddy. Perhaps he should get a new straw and turn the toddy upside down.\

kellie says:
LOL.
i wonder how he's sposed to drown when the teddy's going straight down his throat.

shreya says:
it    was     going down
xept he choked then it went up his nose
so now he's drowning!!!!

kellie says:
NOSE?! how does tt drown him?
it'd suffocate him but not DROWN!

shreya says:
he's drowning in a sea of carbon dioxide?

kellie says:
LOL. might as well drown in nitrogen. there's more

shreya says:
oh okaay
as long as he's drowning its fine

kellie says:
lols.
how's this convo related to hw again?

shreya says:
we're discussing the toddy man's mental state of distress
=D

kellie says:
LOL.
niice try. i wonder what happens if ur mum suddenly looks over ur shoulder into the screen

shreya says:
HAH!
im sitting w/ my back against the wall
so she dcant see
and ill lock my messenger if she does come
hehehe

Chapter Five (Present)

One hour to go. One hour more before it begins.

Jonas sat in a chintz arm chair beside the fire in London’s most expensive pub, Shadow. Sitting around him, laughing and joking, were his mates; all sons of his father’s friends, all people of consequence. As the sat around chatting, Jonas’ closest mate, John Wesley Mayor, brought up the afternoon’s hot topic: Annabelle May Madeline.

“Master Jonas, once again, you seem to be the lucky one, with gorgeous Lady Annabelle as your distinguished partner for tonight’s party.” He laughed.

“Of course I should have seen this coming; Annabelle. Well, if had been the one shopping with her this afternoon, you would be singing a different tune. However, she is a beauty after all.” Jonas smiled slyly.

They laughed as they thought of shrill little Annabelle. They all knew of Jonas’ reputation as a ladies’ man, everyone who knew Jonas were fully aware of that little fact. As they joked about young Annabelle, a man walked into the pub. Busy in their own world, the young men did not notice a thing. However, as the stranger made his way through the pub, the men looked up in search of a sound. Thump, thump, thump.

As the new arrival walked, or rather, limped, over to the bar, all eyes rested on him. He donned a dark brown coat and a grey shirt. His pants were patched causing him to appear completely out of place in a room full of expensively dressed individuals. However, the crowd stared at him not because of his clothes, it was of what was hidden under his long pants; a wooden leg.

Ignoring the stares, the stranger went over to the bar and ordered a martini. The bartender looked at him suspiciously before turning around to prepare his drink. As he sipped his drink, the stranger looked around the room. Something caught his eye and he stared. Jonas was laughing again, unaware of the attention. As Jonas and his mates stood up to leave, the stranger finished his drink and followed after. They did not notice their new companion.


Chapter Six (Present)

There he was, Young Master Jonas William Scrubb, dressed in a handsome white suit and an elegantly simple white mask. Taking her hands, Jonas led young Lady Annabelle, dressed equally beautiful in a colourful gown and a black feathered mask, to the middle of the ballroom for the opening dance. Gracefully, they waltzed around the room, in front of hundreds of masked strangers. Everyone in the room were all distinguished guests of Lady May Madeline; all people of consequence.

The hour has come. At the other end of the mansion, preparations were being made.

Outside the world of dancing and masks, an albino slept on the steps, out in the cold. As more late arrivals scurried up the steps, they carefully carved an imaginary circle around the man; avoiding his colourless hand and red iris, ignoring his plea for warmth. Only one man came to his aid, but no one knew who the thumping masked man was.

Inside, as more masked guests moved to the center of the ballroom, Jonas led Annabelle to a small glass table towards the back of the ballroom. The table was small and simple, yet charmingly beautiful; an embroidered piece of white silk for a table cloth and a small vase of bright, colourful flowers stood in the center. A waiter walked past and Jonas ordered two cocktails for Annabelle and himself. Annabelle excused herself to the ladies; that was they last anyone saw of Annabelle.

Jonas had always been an observant man. As he sat there waiting for Annabelle to return, he looked around the ballroom, taking in every detail of the room and the guests present, attempting to put a face to the masked individuals. In his thirst, Jonas downed the whole glass the moment the waiter reappeared with the cocktails. However, as Jonas grabbed the glass, he noticed a small triangle of paper sticking out from the decorative umbrella of his drink.

Jonas stared hard at the paper, trying to recognise the handwriting. How is it possible? Perhaps someone was simply referring to his mask. Though somehow, he doubted the latter. When he looked up, the waiter was gone, but Annabelle was still not back.

"I know who you are.”


Chapter Seven (Past)

Dr. Crowell straightened up. She had been bending over the corpse of Jackson Mayor for the past hour. Behind her, Inspector James Thorn and his partner, Edward Connell, had been observing her dissection of Jackson Mayor.

“The needle on his neck had contained some sort of lethal poison, which explains the bluish-black marks on his neck. Tests are currently being run on the type of poison was present; the results should be ready by tomorrow morning.” Dr. Crowell said, sounding almost like a computer, her emotionless voice echoed in the bare room.

James nodded and started to the door when his usually silent partner interrupted. “What do you think is the motive of the murder, Dr. Crowell? Why did he use poison needle instead of a gunshot?” he asked quietly.

Looking up, Dr. Crowell stared at Edward intensely, studying him as if through a microscope. “Well, there could have been anything. As long as we do not know the true identity of this man, we may never know…” her voice trailed off and silence returned.