who was he ?

Chapter 2

The rooster crowed far away in some part of the sticky dense forest and woke the already awake town. The official morning was not welcomed like very other day cause now it meant that whatever happened , really did happen and was not just a figment of their imagination.

Something terrible had happened in the Whittaker mansion and every eye was curious to see and spread it like a wildfire. After all, the town did not get much to gossip about and so anything and everything was welcomed by open hands.

Moreover , it was the Whittakers they were talking about, the secret , conservative family who held their nose whenever they passed the town. The unsaid aristocrats with blue blood running in their veins were proud of their lineage and never failed to show that. Their grand parties never failed to delight the guests and the display of wealth was haughty enough.

So the previous night something unfathomable , incomprehensible , inscrutable happened , the town people were bound to get excited and hide it behind their concerned masks. Not that every one wore a mask; the Whittakers had some people whom they always talked to , but never called friends, who knew the huge heart these Whittakers supported and what all they did to maintain the town. These people were genuinely concerned about the fate the night had for everyone and what its outcome would be.

So, as the day progressed , a million theories rose ranging from the existence of extraterrestrial life that happened to keep the Whittakers hostage to just a maid fainting and screaming; but still , no one was quite sure of what had happened because all these were just theories waiting to be stamped as true.

As the dark sky illuminated with various shades of orangish hue ,the chatter rose and the stench of blood got lost among these murmurs.

***PREVIOUS DAY ***

The sound of laughter enveloped the whole huge mansion. The Sun rays peeked through the canopy of the trees in the woods while the crumbling of leaves and the running of footsteps together made a delicious melody of happiness .

The mansion was alive, with the maids running about to get their daily chores done, the gardeners mending and taming their loved ,half living ,immobile creatures and the householders running to their respective work area ; the regular sight was greeted by Lucy Darby Whittaker , the eldest daughter-in-law of James Whittaker , an elderly man who had enough power to turn the whole town around.

Thomas and Alice, the naughtiest children of maybe the whole universe were being chased by Zach who considered it as his duty as the elder brother to tame them and make them presentable for the society but then the sweet innocence of childhood had these children completely wrapped in its clutches ; they were far away from the harsh realities , hidden away , protected from everything and that is why the children were forbidden to go to town alone.

Very soon Zach ,tired by their silly antics, gave up the thought of catching them and resumed to his room to continue his piano lessons and his job was taken up by Lucy who exercised her motherly power to make them listen to her.

"KIDS COME BACK INSIDE RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOUR LUNCH", she screamed at the top of her voice which echoed throughout the gardens and the woods making the giggling bunch freeze in their spot.

Exchanging glances , they smelled trouble. Now, though the outside seemed more appealing than facing the wrath of a titan waiting inside , with a silent nod they acquiesced to their mother's demand.

Sheepishly they entered, hand in hand , waiting for the judgement trial where they did not have a lawyer. The comical entry of the two baboons made everyone laugh and pause their work to witness their daily dose of epitome drama.