I tried to keep smiling. But Elizabeth saw that there was something very wrong.

“Please tell me what it is,” she asked. “We are married now, my dearest. You must not keep secrets from me.”

I had never told her about the Monster. I had never told anyone. Perhaps I should have.

“Tomorrow,” I said. “I will tell you everything. I promise.” Yes, tomorrow, I thought to myself. When the Monster is dead.

I knew that he would be coming for me soon. And I did not want Elizabeth to have to look at his face. Or perhaps to get hurt in the fight. So I asked her to go to our room and not to come out.

After she left, I began to look around carefully. I went into every hiding place. Behind curtains and stairs and in the deep, dark shadows of the hall. There was a clock standing on the floor. It was over eight feet tall. It had a door. I walked toward it. With one hand, I held a gun. With the other, I slowly reached out for the door. Suddenly, I pulled it open. It was empty! The Monster was nowhere to be seen.

And then I heard a scream. Oh, fool, fool, FOOL that I had been! It wasn’t me that he had come for. It was Elizabeth! He was with her! In the room!

 

I ran like a wild animal. I threw myself against the door. It broke open. I jumped inside with my gun ready. But it was too late. My Elizabeth … my own dear Elizabeth … the heart of my life! She was … she was … she was lying on the floor. My Elizabeth was dead.

 

The killer stood outside the open window.