After a year and a half, it's all done.
The trial
was terribly cut and dry. The evidence was stacked against them. Really,
the time it took was more for the substantial list of witnesses more
than anything. As you can probably expect, I was one of them.
I don't want to go into too much detail on a public forum, so I'll tell you some of the same things the news has said:
- Vanessa and Nicholas both were sentenced to life for mass first degree murder.
-
Several of the Five Petals received accessory and conspiracy sentences
due to their general involvement. They got smaller penalties, though,
because no one really intended for all of that to happen. The plans
carried out were never supposed to be. They displayed reasonable remorse
in front of the judge and jury. My parents and Aunt Dot all were
sentenced, I'm devastated to say.
- Vanessa and Nicholas both
tried to plead insanity, but it didn't work in their favor. While there
is clearly something very wrong with both of them, none of it was
insanity in the traditional sense of the term.
My life
is, more or less, back to normal--at least as much as it can be at this
point. I go to visit Mom and Dad and Aunt Dot every now and again. Mom
and Dad are doing all right, but I don't think Aunt Dot will ever be the
same. She doesn't talk much when I see her. I can't help but think she
must be very upset with me for having her children put away, but I hope
one day she can forgive me and see that I had to do what I did before
she, and others, died.
This truly is the end of this log. Thanks for reading my story. I think everything will be okay now.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The end.
Here's a quick description of what happened:
I went down the hallway and saw my cousin Vanessa Clement, Aunt Dot's daughter. She smiled at me, but it wasn't a friendly smile. She reminded me that she told me I could leave. When I asked her about my parents, she told me they were in the pile of bodies behind her. I told her I didn't believe her and she said I could look for myself. Instead, I made a move for the basement door. That's when she attacked me.
Thank goodness for this dagger. It may be a throwing knife, but we were in hand-to-hand. I managed to get her arm, then I got her with the blunt of the dagger right in the temple. She crumpled to the ground and I made a break for the basement door. I called the police immediately after I got the door unlocked. It was a good thing I did. It saved my life.
I got the door open and ran down to the basement to find both my parents, and the entire Five Petals, tied up. I used the dagger to cut them free and we had a brief, but happy, reunion. While we got the others free, they told me about what had happened.
It seems the Five Petals are a much different organisation than I always thought.
They said that when the "secret history" comes out of secrecy, those who know about it must be removed of that knowledge "by whatever means necessary". I took this to mean that people are killed, and it would also explain the mountain of bodies inside the hall. Mom told me that no one ever thought it would happen, but some were so zealous about the organisation and the cause that they really took it to heart. Vanessa was one of those people. I guess the Piers family holds the secret, too, and when one of their family members is harmed, they tell the history to the world. The whole town was set to be "cleansed". The rest of the Five Petals told Vanessa to stop, and that times had changed. It was no longer necessary to keep the history a secret. She disagreed. To prevent the history from being spread, she locked everyone who was in the Five Petals away until they "saw the light" (her own words). Everyone else was killed.
But then, I got in the way.
Vanessa had every intent of killing me, but she wanted to match wits with me instead. Not a good idea for her. Aunt Dot is an absolute mess; she never intended for her daughter to be so fanatical.
All of the Five Petals are now saying that the group should be re-evaluated. None of them ever intended any of the cleansings to happen. Now I understand a little better why I was sent to live with my aunt, and why she was so rarely spoken of.
After they had described this to me, and everyone was free, we set out to leave. And then, Vanessa shot me in the leg. She had woken up and was disoriented, but that didn't stop her.
"A Dahlia for betrayal!" she screamed at me. "We all should have known she would betray us and the Sisters one day!" Then, she turned the gun toward my mother. "You! This is your fault!" she screamed. "You're all traitors!"
That was when the police arrived.
I'm in the hospital now, recovering both physically and mentally. Vanessa is in custody, and Aunt Dot is being treated for PTSD. Everyone else was kept overnight for questioning and treatment for minor injuries, malnutrition, and dehydration, but they were all free to go this morning.
Vanessa is going to be tried for mass first degree murder. I can't believe she was capable of all that, but she wasn't alone. Her brother, Nicholas, helped her as well. After a search of the town, the police found him tied up in the back office of the Five Petals building. They're questioning him now.
I guess this is where this log ends. I'm going to focus on recovery now. With hope, Vanessa will be locked away for life.
I went down the hallway and saw my cousin Vanessa Clement, Aunt Dot's daughter. She smiled at me, but it wasn't a friendly smile. She reminded me that she told me I could leave. When I asked her about my parents, she told me they were in the pile of bodies behind her. I told her I didn't believe her and she said I could look for myself. Instead, I made a move for the basement door. That's when she attacked me.
Thank goodness for this dagger. It may be a throwing knife, but we were in hand-to-hand. I managed to get her arm, then I got her with the blunt of the dagger right in the temple. She crumpled to the ground and I made a break for the basement door. I called the police immediately after I got the door unlocked. It was a good thing I did. It saved my life.
I got the door open and ran down to the basement to find both my parents, and the entire Five Petals, tied up. I used the dagger to cut them free and we had a brief, but happy, reunion. While we got the others free, they told me about what had happened.
It seems the Five Petals are a much different organisation than I always thought.
They said that when the "secret history" comes out of secrecy, those who know about it must be removed of that knowledge "by whatever means necessary". I took this to mean that people are killed, and it would also explain the mountain of bodies inside the hall. Mom told me that no one ever thought it would happen, but some were so zealous about the organisation and the cause that they really took it to heart. Vanessa was one of those people. I guess the Piers family holds the secret, too, and when one of their family members is harmed, they tell the history to the world. The whole town was set to be "cleansed". The rest of the Five Petals told Vanessa to stop, and that times had changed. It was no longer necessary to keep the history a secret. She disagreed. To prevent the history from being spread, she locked everyone who was in the Five Petals away until they "saw the light" (her own words). Everyone else was killed.
But then, I got in the way.
Vanessa had every intent of killing me, but she wanted to match wits with me instead. Not a good idea for her. Aunt Dot is an absolute mess; she never intended for her daughter to be so fanatical.
All of the Five Petals are now saying that the group should be re-evaluated. None of them ever intended any of the cleansings to happen. Now I understand a little better why I was sent to live with my aunt, and why she was so rarely spoken of.
After they had described this to me, and everyone was free, we set out to leave. And then, Vanessa shot me in the leg. She had woken up and was disoriented, but that didn't stop her.
"A Dahlia for betrayal!" she screamed at me. "We all should have known she would betray us and the Sisters one day!" Then, she turned the gun toward my mother. "You! This is your fault!" she screamed. "You're all traitors!"
That was when the police arrived.
I'm in the hospital now, recovering both physically and mentally. Vanessa is in custody, and Aunt Dot is being treated for PTSD. Everyone else was kept overnight for questioning and treatment for minor injuries, malnutrition, and dehydration, but they were all free to go this morning.
Vanessa is going to be tried for mass first degree murder. I can't believe she was capable of all that, but she wasn't alone. Her brother, Nicholas, helped her as well. After a search of the town, the police found him tied up in the back office of the Five Petals building. They're questioning him now.
I guess this is where this log ends. I'm going to focus on recovery now. With hope, Vanessa will be locked away for life.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
When I entered the HQ, I already knew what I had to do. The "DRINK ME" key held fast in my grip, I made my way toward the door that was previously forbidden to me. I inserted the key into the hole and, unsurprisingly, the tumbler turned, and the door unlocked. My palms sweaty and hands shaking, I pushed the door open.
The first thing that hit me was the overwhelming, ever-present stench. I can't place what it is but it can't be good. A red carpet stretches down in front of me, leading down a long, narrow hallway lined with bookshelves. I'm actually stopping to look at some of them now.
Most of the books appear to be written by "the Culling sisters", which I find confusing. I thought the Cullings were brothers? The statues at the gardens seemed to suggest as much. I grabbed a book off the shelf at random--this one is called "The Book of the Order" by the Culling sisters. The inside cover says "Lettie and Rose Culling". I'm flipping through the pages now and I found something interesting:
A dahlia for betrayal? Could that same dahlia be my namesake?
I've just heard a noise down the hallway and suddenly I'm terrified.
The first thing that hit me was the overwhelming, ever-present stench. I can't place what it is but it can't be good. A red carpet stretches down in front of me, leading down a long, narrow hallway lined with bookshelves. I'm actually stopping to look at some of them now.
Most of the books appear to be written by "the Culling sisters", which I find confusing. I thought the Cullings were brothers? The statues at the gardens seemed to suggest as much. I grabbed a book off the shelf at random--this one is called "The Book of the Order" by the Culling sisters. The inside cover says "Lettie and Rose Culling". I'm flipping through the pages now and I found something interesting:
THE FIVE PETALS CREED
A daffodil for truth
A pansy for remembrance
An amaryllis for success
A hydrangea for perseverance
A dahlia for betrayal.
A dahlia for betrayal? Could that same dahlia be my namesake?
I've just heard a noise down the hallway and suddenly I'm terrified.
I fell asleep on the couch last night. It didn't happen right away, though; I was having some trouble sleeping and couldn't stop thinking about that exchange on the phone. I decided to get up and look around the house a bit, at least until I felt tired. I got up and did some distracted browsing.
Upstairs, in the master bedroom, I found a cell phone and a charger. I couldn't believe my luck! The cell phone's battery seemed dead, but I plugged it in to let it charge. Not long after that, I tried sleeping again and finally succeeded.
I awoke at about 8, and the storm was finally over. The sun was bright and warm, like late April should be, and the snow was already starting to melt. I stepped outside, though, and noticed that despite the rapidly melting snow, there were some fresh footprints leading away from the house. I felt sick but I couldn't withhold my curiousity. I followed the footprints.
Have you ever seen a sight so surreal that even though you knew what it was, your mind denied it was real? That happened to me. The footprints stopped a good ten metres or so away, where a pool of blood-soaked snow was melting steadily. In the middle of this pool lay a body. At first I stared, not fully believing the horror before me to be real. But when I saw the words "GO AWAY" carved into his chest...
I don't know who he was, but he was wearing flannel and the shirt was ripped open to reveal the message the killer left me. Go away. They want me gone. Suits me.
Walking away from the scene, trying to keep my stomach in check, I noticed something on the ground. It was small and metallic.
A key. A key that read "DRINK ME".
It's too late to turn back now. Time to face the consequences.
Upstairs, in the master bedroom, I found a cell phone and a charger. I couldn't believe my luck! The cell phone's battery seemed dead, but I plugged it in to let it charge. Not long after that, I tried sleeping again and finally succeeded.
I awoke at about 8, and the storm was finally over. The sun was bright and warm, like late April should be, and the snow was already starting to melt. I stepped outside, though, and noticed that despite the rapidly melting snow, there were some fresh footprints leading away from the house. I felt sick but I couldn't withhold my curiousity. I followed the footprints.
Have you ever seen a sight so surreal that even though you knew what it was, your mind denied it was real? That happened to me. The footprints stopped a good ten metres or so away, where a pool of blood-soaked snow was melting steadily. In the middle of this pool lay a body. At first I stared, not fully believing the horror before me to be real. But when I saw the words "GO AWAY" carved into his chest...
I don't know who he was, but he was wearing flannel and the shirt was ripped open to reveal the message the killer left me. Go away. They want me gone. Suits me.
Walking away from the scene, trying to keep my stomach in check, I noticed something on the ground. It was small and metallic.
A key. A key that read "DRINK ME".
It's too late to turn back now. Time to face the consequences.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I went straight to the headquarters. I need answers.
Oddly enough, the door opened easily. It was unlocked. It led to a reception area--a small office with a desk and phone, and a mural of the Five Petals symbol on the back wall. The room was fairly nondescript, with the exception of a line of five chairs against the wall and a door by the desk.
I remember working in that room when I was younger. Sometimes, they would let me take calls, but I mostly did volunteer work around the office, helping organize folders and the like. They never let me past the door, though, and I think I'm starting to understand why. I want so badly for this to be a big misunderstanding, but the farther things go, the clearer they get. I mustered up my courage, and went to the door, but nothing I did could get it open. Resigned, I went to look around the office, but I didn't find much. An appointment book with, of course, an appointment with the mayor.
I was about to leave when the phone rang. That's weird, as all the other phones seemed to be down. I wasn't going to answer at first, but it was persistent. I wish I could have recorded the conversation, but it went something like this:
She hung up. Something about her voice seemed familiar. Then, I realised that it was the same person who left the message I found on the phone of Dot's house. She had that same crazed, breathless tone to her voice as before. I picked up the phone again, but it was dead.
I panicked then, and I ran out of the building. Someone's following me, watching me. It's probably the girl on the phone.
I was set to leave. I started walking out the door just as a fierce snowstorm kicked up. This couldn't have been planned better--in the favor of whoever called, of course. Now I have to stay and, apparently, accept the consequences that come from staying. The snowstorm was coming too quickly and was far too strong for me to drive anywhere in it. Even walking, I had a hard time seeing beyond my nose.
Now, I'm warming up in the closest house I could find. It's late and the storm isn't showing any signs of relenting, so I'm going to sit here and try to get some sleep.
Oddly enough, the door opened easily. It was unlocked. It led to a reception area--a small office with a desk and phone, and a mural of the Five Petals symbol on the back wall. The room was fairly nondescript, with the exception of a line of five chairs against the wall and a door by the desk.
I remember working in that room when I was younger. Sometimes, they would let me take calls, but I mostly did volunteer work around the office, helping organize folders and the like. They never let me past the door, though, and I think I'm starting to understand why. I want so badly for this to be a big misunderstanding, but the farther things go, the clearer they get. I mustered up my courage, and went to the door, but nothing I did could get it open. Resigned, I went to look around the office, but I didn't find much. An appointment book with, of course, an appointment with the mayor.
I was about to leave when the phone rang. That's weird, as all the other phones seemed to be down. I wasn't going to answer at first, but it was persistent. I wish I could have recorded the conversation, but it went something like this:
ME: Hello?
?: Give it up, little flower. It's time for you to mind your own business and go home.
ME: Who are you?!
?: If you stay, you accept the consequences of your actions. I think you'll find that your car is more than able to move now.
She hung up. Something about her voice seemed familiar. Then, I realised that it was the same person who left the message I found on the phone of Dot's house. She had that same crazed, breathless tone to her voice as before. I picked up the phone again, but it was dead.
I panicked then, and I ran out of the building. Someone's following me, watching me. It's probably the girl on the phone.
I was set to leave. I started walking out the door just as a fierce snowstorm kicked up. This couldn't have been planned better--in the favor of whoever called, of course. Now I have to stay and, apparently, accept the consequences that come from staying. The snowstorm was coming too quickly and was far too strong for me to drive anywhere in it. Even walking, I had a hard time seeing beyond my nose.
Now, I'm warming up in the closest house I could find. It's late and the storm isn't showing any signs of relenting, so I'm going to sit here and try to get some sleep.
The Five Petals...
I don't know where to begin. This has gone from a sort of weird, cartoon-like mystery to an all-out nightmare. I don't know where to turn. I can't even leave now. What I do know is that now I'm in way, way too far over my head.
I guess I'd better continue from where I left off...
As I was typing that last bit on my phone, I discovered something in the tree nearby.
A dead body, to be precise.
I let out a scream that surprised me even as I was doing it. I went to turn and run, but something caught my eye first. I grabbed it--it was a set of keys. I pocketed it, and then I ran. As I ran, my phone died. Great. And I was planning on calling the cops.
I'm so stupid. I should have done that to begin with. I thought it would be great if I could figure it out on my own, though, of course. Stupid...
I went to get my car to try and leave, because I just can't do this anymore. I figured I'd go to a payphone and call the cops from there. I took the can of gas I had and put it in the car, figuring it could get me a little ways down the road at least. I went to start the car, though, and it wouldn't even turn over.
When I lifted the hood to look, I noticed the engine had been removed. And someone left a dead squirrel in its stead.
I'm obviously being followed.
Under the windshield wiper, I found a folded up piece of paper. I grabbed it and unfolded it to read:
"Don't worry little flower, you can figure this all out. Give it a little time, all hope is not lost.....yet."
And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?! They're mocking me! The handwriting looks somehow familiar, but it's no one I immediately can think of. I rolled my eyes and stuffed it in my pocket. Frustrated, I moved directly to the payphone booth at the corner of the gas station. I went to pick up the phone, but the cord came with it. Severed.
I took this brief opportunity to kick something.
...An hour later, I think it's time for me to move on and continue.
I already know who the body was. It must have been Edgar Piers. It fit his build perfectly and I'm sure he was the last person to enter the gardens. I'm worried it was one of the Five Petals who did it. My parents are Five Petals. Are they murderers?
And if he was dead, then what happened to everyone else in town?
My next destination is the Five Petals HQ. I need answers.
I guess I'd better continue from where I left off...
As I was typing that last bit on my phone, I discovered something in the tree nearby.
A dead body, to be precise.
I let out a scream that surprised me even as I was doing it. I went to turn and run, but something caught my eye first. I grabbed it--it was a set of keys. I pocketed it, and then I ran. As I ran, my phone died. Great. And I was planning on calling the cops.
I'm so stupid. I should have done that to begin with. I thought it would be great if I could figure it out on my own, though, of course. Stupid...
I went to get my car to try and leave, because I just can't do this anymore. I figured I'd go to a payphone and call the cops from there. I took the can of gas I had and put it in the car, figuring it could get me a little ways down the road at least. I went to start the car, though, and it wouldn't even turn over.
When I lifted the hood to look, I noticed the engine had been removed. And someone left a dead squirrel in its stead.
I'm obviously being followed.
Under the windshield wiper, I found a folded up piece of paper. I grabbed it and unfolded it to read:
"Don't worry little flower, you can figure this all out. Give it a little time, all hope is not lost.....yet."
And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?! They're mocking me! The handwriting looks somehow familiar, but it's no one I immediately can think of. I rolled my eyes and stuffed it in my pocket. Frustrated, I moved directly to the payphone booth at the corner of the gas station. I went to pick up the phone, but the cord came with it. Severed.
I took this brief opportunity to kick something.
...An hour later, I think it's time for me to move on and continue.
I already know who the body was. It must have been Edgar Piers. It fit his build perfectly and I'm sure he was the last person to enter the gardens. I'm worried it was one of the Five Petals who did it. My parents are Five Petals. Are they murderers?
And if he was dead, then what happened to everyone else in town?
My next destination is the Five Petals HQ. I need answers.
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