It began on a dark quiet night in the middle of winter. The streets were deserted and the people were sleeping. Except for the big house at the end of the road. Lights were still blazing from it's windows. It was at that house that it all began.

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"Betsy quit your dawdling and quickly put out the candles. You are wasting candle wax. The mistress was just complaining about the household expenses. She gave me a severe tongue lashing about the increasing expenses. Really you can't find good help anywhere this days." the housekeeper Mrs. plum a rather strict middle-aged woman said this. The young maid in question Betsy quickly did as she was told and put out the candles. "Yes and one more thing. Don't forget to bring up the hot tea to the mistress before you go to bed. You know how she is like if she doesn't drink her tea before bed" said Mrs. Plum "yes ma'am," replied Betsy quietly. And with that the housekeeper went to her room. 

After putting out all but one candle, Betsy went up with the hot tea for the mistress. She knocked on the door but when she didn't receive an answer she shrugged and opened the door. She could see the mistress's form lying in the bed, which was very unusual. She normally waited in her chair by the window to drink tea before she got to bed.

Betsy called out to her but when she didn't receive an answer she got concerned and went to the bed. As she neared the bed with the candle in her hand, she could see that the mistress was lying on top of the cover not under it. She saw first the way the arms were placed as if they were too heavy to lift then she slowly went up her body. However, it was when she good to the face that she screamed.

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A shadow silently detached itself from the shadows. It was halfway down the street when it heard the scream that shattered the quiet it stopped to listen as another scream sounded then another. Candles were lit and footmen woken up to see what was going on. Chaos reigned on the once quiet street and all this time the figure stood watching the house at the end of the street with a sinister smile on it's lips. Finally it has ended were it has begun.