Raven the Little Rascal Page #3

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"been so mechanized and twisted

by soulless contrivance..."

- Griswold.

- So you do know him.

Yes.

We traded barbs, as in words -

not actual weapons of any sort -

as writers do to sell

a few newspapers.

"The Pit and the Pendulum",

when was it published?

'42. "Tales of Ratiocination.

Are there other stories

in the collection?

- Many.

- Specifically about murder?

I'm afraid so.

As unfortunate as this is,

you may be uniquely qualified

to cast light on our killer.

There is logic

underlying these deaths.

Do you think this comes

from a logical mind'?

A man who carves

a human being in half

doesn't come from a place of logic.

- Then from where?

- Mental disease. Obsession.

Passion.

I believe the killer is taunting us.

He wants us to know

he's gonna strike again.

What do you make of this?

- It was covering the victim's face.

- "The Masque of the Red Death."

What is it?

The quote from the story mentions

Prospero, a character I created

to symbolize man's arrogance even

when confronted with certain death.

Prospero hosts a costume ball

where Death comes in disguise.

Charles Hamilton is hosting

a ball tomorrow night at the museum.

"And one by one

dropped the revellers

"in the blood-bedewed halls

of their revel,"

If "The Masque of the Red Death"

is his next intended story,

we must use this opportunity

to capture this man at your ball.

Too harsh. I want something older.

"And Darkness and Decay..."

Six cases should be enough.

"And Darkness and Decay

and the Red Death

"held illimitable dominion over all."

So this gentleman dresses up

like a... what? Like a...

The figure was shrouded head to foot

in the habiliments of the grave.

Like a corpse, or a skeleton?

Then, at the stroke of midnight,

he comes in and kills everybody?

Poe is a damn viper.

I ordered him away from Emily.

- New he's trying tn

- Sir...

The similarities

are too coincidental.

I'm asking you again.

Allow me to have my men scattered

about your ball, in costume,

so we can hopefully

catch this monster.

I'll hire extra security myself,

but I will not have this turned into

a policeman's ball.

Understood?

I've seen the effects

of this man's determination.

If he has chosen your gathering to...

You will not destroy an evening

Baltimore looks forward to each year.

Then I insist my officers be present.

Fine. Just make sure

they scrape the sh*t off their boots.

Who was Prospero?

He was the host of the ball.

And the first to die.

She's so wonderfully full of life.

- I've been reading...

- What's he doing here?

- He's with me. We were just leaving.

- Captain.

Just proving how easy it is

to penetrate the breach.

I presume the police are here

to keep me out.

Mr. Fields, if Mr. Poe

is a part of your investigation...

Mr. Poe has a unique perspective

on aspects of this crime.

Why? Is the killer an alcoholic,

an opium addict and atheist?

An atheist?

You misconstrue me, sir.

Poe, you stay away from my daughter.

Father, I've decided to change

my costume for the ball tomorrow.

No.

Mr. Fields, I'm happy to indulge

your request for security,

but if t see him tomorrow night,

you'll have to protect him from me.

Why do we need security?

My writing has become

the inspiration to an actual killer.

Quite gruesome, really.

If I'd known my work had

a morbid effect on people,

I'd have devoted more time

to eroticism.

You're a vile little man.

As I said, we were just leaving.

- Yes.

- Percy, show this man to the door.

Mrs. Bradley, could you join me

in the other room?

What is going on?

Emily.

We should reconsider

our announcement.

- Why? Are you backing out?

- No, never.

If your father sees me there,

he may have me shot.

And a depraved killer

may be on the guest list.

It's a bit much for one night,

don't you think?

I think it sounds thrilling.

Does it? Why?

How else should Edgar Allan Poe

commit himself to eternal love

other than under threat of death?

The Grim Reaper. A ghost.

The Headless Horseman, if you like.

He should be easy to spot.

Elderidge, take some of these men

and patrol the back.

Sir.

You must be selling a lot of

newspapers. Two murders in a week.

Circulation has indeed improved,

despite unfortunate events.

Time for a piss.

- May I have this dance?

- Father.

Not now.

I'm not sure what's troubling you,

but your future happiness

means more to me

than I could possibly describe.

I really hope you feel that way

at the end of the evening.

Whatever this is about,

I need you to be more social.

It is an important gathering

for me and for us.

Father, I know what's expected.

Excuse me! Please.

Please, step aside.

Step aside!

Fields' men aren't causing

any trouble?

No, sir.

What of Poe? Any sign of him?

Not so far.

A glass of wine, sir?

You look just stunning, my dear.

Nevermore.

"..Can ever dissever my soul

from the soul

"Of the..."

I'm sorry, I'm waiting for someone.

"Of the beautiful Annabel... Lee."

You dance passionately, sir.

If I could, I would dance with you

throughout time.

- I love you, Edgar.

- And I you.

You really are a reckless girl...

...to dance with a stranger

with a mask,

with a murderer in our midst.

Speaking of which...

Courage, Edgar.

It's happening! This way.

Oh, Edgar!

Emily!

Agh!

He told me you'd ordered it

for the party.

- Who? Who ordered it?

- I'm supposed to deliver this.

My daughter. He has her.

- Percy! Seal off this building!

- Find her!

Come on!

"I challenge the brilliant

detective mind of Edgar Allan Poe.

"A game of wits

with Emily's life in the balance.

"You will immortalize for the

exquisite pleasure of your readers

this, your very own

'Descent into the Maelstrom',

"which shall appear in serial form

in the 'Baltimore Patriot'.

"Know that I will kill again,

and on that new corpse

"I will leave you clues

that will lead to Emily.

"If I do not read a vivid

accounting of this convergence

"of fact and fiction,

then dear Emily will die.

"Your only hope

is to imagine a way to save her.

"I dare you to try to conceive

of the painstaking care

"I have taken to secure her

"and the elegant means

leading inexorably to her end.

"Are you up to the task, Mr. Poe?

"Are you even capable of imagining

"the means to save

your beloved's life?

"Or shall this tale end

as all your stories do,

"with Madness, Sin and Horror

the soul of the plot?"

Your men are right. I've killed her.

We must assume

Miss Hamilton is still alive.

Why must we assume that? Because

it's more convenient to do so?

Why am I to blame?

Where were all these officers

last night?!

Where were you?!

He told you he was coming!

Mr. Poe, listen to me.

This killer is methodical.

He will keep her alive

to keep you involved.

It's part of his game and that's

the logic that will trap him.

It's the facts of this case

that give us the advantage.

Did you tell your people to

familiarize themselves with my face?

They'll see it every hour

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