Bram Stoker's Dracula: Resurrection

Chapter Two

The Pall Mall Gazette, 24th February 1906

FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENT FOUND DEAD

THIRD VICTIM OF STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 'BLOOFER LADY' RETURNS?

We return once again to the rather curious tale regarding an unexplained cause of death, where yet another unfortunate student, one 'Sarah Vanderberg', has met her untimely demise. A most promising scholar hailing from the University of London, – now turned victim, – she was but one of many over the past several months. Whilst eight others had been brutally bludgeoned, she remains among the three more unusual cases, following that of two others across the last couple of weeks.

These appear to share some connection to that of the 'Bloofer Lady' incidents, dating twenty years back, within the localized town of Whitby. Much the same as that of children who'd been targeted, these three women suffered similar injuries to their throats, while officers confirm the causes of death to have been the exact same; extreme loss of blood. Their skin left pale and devoid of any colour, staring lifelessly into the abyss.

This particular case of Miss Sarah Vanderberg, – her body was discovered outside the Senate House Library, near a deserted alley opposite from the corner of Malet St. and Torrington Square, around twenty – five to three yesterday morning. The officer in question who discovered the crime scene, presented his account that she was not alone. Shortly before meeting her end, she was seen engaging with a shadowy figure of a man in what appeared to be an intimate embrace.

Officer Vincent Bailey thought nothing of it at first, as he wasn't one to invade the privacy of other people; yet after an extended period, he realized neither of them were moving. They'd become life sized statues and his intuition told him there was aught awry with this situation. According to his testimony, he called out, – "Sir? Madam? Is everything well?" there was no response, and he suspected foul play afoot. Reaching for his baton and revolver, he cocked the chamber and readied his pistol, approaching swiftly as his inner stomach churned with uncertainty. His every fibre alarmed him this situation was wrong, despite every contrary to the lack of evidence.

Trying again, he called out to the pair, – "Sir and madam, would you please step away from one another?" Just then, the tall, slender and shadowy man ripped his face from near hers, staring straight at him. The woman didn't seem to be moving, yet they were both cloaked in darkness, so he couldn't make out the faces of either. All he could make out were the burning red eyes of some being not of this Earth, readying his pistol, he demanded, – "You will release her at once, foul being!" at this point, Officer Bailey fired off his shot, aiming squarely at the target's chest region and kept his baton at the ready in case.

Fear crippled his movement for a time, seeping into his very soul at the sight of those blood red eyes, staring him down from the darkened corridor. The creature released the woman, – allegedly 'Miss Sarah Vanderberg' – her body hit the ground and he was convinced of murder and foul play at this stage. Fighting through the fear, he marched over to them, seeing the presence and red eyes fading deep into the shadows.

Officer Bailey bravely pursued the fiend, only to find naught. He was alone, with the body of the deceased female student. – "I returned to her side," The noble officer concluded his account of this brief, yet harrowing encounter, "Try as I might, I could not arouse her. She was gone, and I found myself forced to send an emergency telegram to Scotland Yard, calling for reinforcements in securing the perimeter. At least until we were able to properly tend to the body."

Perhaps there was more to the myth of the 'Bloofer Lady', than we initially assumed back then. Only described as a gentleman, one would reach the natural conclusion, this is the 'Bloofer Lord'. For now, 'tis speculation only, with the strange account of one frightened officer and the same throat injury as with the children of Whitby, all one can do is pray this remains but a myth.