Retelling of The Tell-Tale Heart

Part Two: The Revelation

The night was calm, cool, and quiet when I was suddenly awoken by screams echoing through the night. These were not screams of fright, no, these were screams of pure undefined terror. I did not know the origin of the screams, but the closest house was the Williams Manor. Where could the screams have come from? What could have possibly caused those screams? I thought to myself in a panic.

 I shook my husband awake. Someone needed to go and inform the police. This is not how I normally act, to be afraid of something. But I have never in my life heard screams filled with such fear, terror, and despair as I heard that night.

I was abruptly awoken by my wife. What could be wrong? Tis it not early in the morning? What could have woken her? My wife does not frighten easily, for she has a will of iron.

“Isabella, sweetheart, what is wrong? What has awoken you?”

“Roger, oh Roger, I was awoken by screams. Screams that were full of pure agony.”

“Do you know where the screams emanated from?”

“No, but I have reason to believe that they came from the Williams Manor, it is the only house closest enough to have done so.”

“Are you sure that you heard screams, not just the call of a wild bird?”

“Husband I am sure it of what I heard.”

I quickly dressed myself and went out to inform the police. Could the screams have come from the Williams Manor? What might have happened behind those walls? Why did it terrify my wife? The death of the owner’s family caused him to become profoundly depressed, or so I have heard on the streets. Thas I began to approach the police station its light shone bright in the dark night, like a beacon of justice.

 We were all sitting in the main office of the station drinking tea, eating scones, and reviewing case files from previous calls. One case from earlier in the day was really peculiar.

 “Hey Finn! Remember this case?” I asked my partner as I handed him the file.

 "Why yes Matthew, this one was quite a strange one, wouldn’t you say?”

 “I can agree with you on that Finn”

 Finn and I were making our rounds earlier on that day, when suddenly shouts were heard from around the corner. As we went to investigate, a figure ran by us. We did not go after the person, but instead, Finn and I went to the nearest food stall and asked what happened. We were told that apples were stolen from a street vendor’s cart.

 We both knew that there was nothing that could be done, for the thief was already gone. Finn and I continued our rounds, when suddenly a a loud commotion was heard from the market area. We hurried to the noise, and were greeted to a quite the scene. Two men were brawling in the middle of the market square.

 “Enough. Enough!” yelled Finn trying to stop the dispute.

 The yelling caused the men to cease their feud. As we approached the two, many people began to crowd around to see what the commotion was about. I had to request that those who were not selling their wares, leave the general area. And so the crowd began to dwindle.

 “Oh thank the Lord in heaven above that you officers have arrived!” shouted one of the men as we began to approach the pair.

 “What seems to be the problem here sirs?” inquired my partner.

 “This man here, came to my cart looking to buy a pound of apples. When he was ready to complete his purchase, the total cost came to be one shilling. He then began to say that a pound of apples only cost a farthing. We continued to bicker over the price of apples, it was not until he threw a punch at me, that the fighting began to escalate. Then you officers suddenly appeared.“

 “I just wanted to pay back this man for the apples I stole earlier. He was selling them for only a farthing a pound. Now he says that they were never a farthing a pound.” put in the other man that I abruptly realized was the same man from the fruit robbery earlier that day.

 “Okay, I see what it happening, you two are under arrest for disruption of the peace, and you sir” he pointed to the fruit thief. “Are under arrest for theft.”

 “Pardon me!? Why am I being arrested? What have I done to deserve this?” cried the fruit cart owner.  

 “You participated in the disruption of the peace sir. That is why we are placing you under arrest.” I put in.

My thoughts were suddenly disrupted by a hard, frantic knocking at the door. Who could it have been at this hour? I thought to myself. The station does not often receive calls during the night.

 “Well Matthew, are you going to answer the door?” asked Mitchell Carswell, or as we like to calm him Boss.

 “Yes Boss”

Upon opening the door, a man quickly came in. He appeared white as a sheet, shaking like a leaf, and looked like he had seen a ghost. The scraping of chair legs against the wooden floor were heard throughout the station, as my fellow officers rose from their seats to see who was at the door. Finally the man began to speak.

 “In the night I was awoken by my wife. Isabella said she heard screams ringing through the night. The screams, she said, were filled with fear and pain. I had to come and inform the police.”

 “Sir are you sure that your wife heard right? Are you sure she didn't have a night terror and thought it came from the manor house?” put in Vinny Bakerman.

 “I am positive, for it is very hard to startle, scare, and shock my dear Isabella. She would never try and do that, lie about something of that manner”

 “Are you sure the screams came from the Williams Manor?” questioned John Quincy.

 “I do not know officer, but most likely it was, since it is the only house close enough to mine for any noises to be heard.”

 “Have you not heard the rumors surrounding that house! Some say that the old man killed his wife and kids, and buried their bodies in the backyard. Others say that the butler what was his name? Charlie, Christopher, Charles, well anyway, some are saying that he killed the old man’s wife and kids, and has been planning the old man’s death since that day” put in Leslie Peterson.

 “Oh stop it Leslie, we all know very well that these are nothing more than just rumors, or at least we hope” added in Boss.

 “Why not have the younger members of our squad go and investigate this man’s claims? Matthew Gonzales and Finn Baker, it appears that you two will be taking this call.”

 “Yes sir, Mr. Carswell sir” Finn and I said in unison.