//-------------------------------------------------------// Jack the Baker -by the ghost- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The pink haired girl closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door. I had been waiting by the window for hours, for that stupid little girl to go to bed.  I crept up to the house, dressed up in all black and a ski mask, silent as the night itself.  All I had to do was sneak into the house, grab all the valuables and get out.  Simple. I had been scoping out this house out for weeks now.  I know where all the cameras are set up. No one, but an old man and his pink haired granddaughter lives here.   He won’t wake up.  And even if he does, I pat my silenced pistol concealed in my jacket. I dodge though the yard avoiding the cameras. I creep up to the front door. I pick the lock and I’m in. The house is as nice on the inside as I thought it would be, though it is dark so it’s hard to tell.  I start looking around for anything valuable.  Nothing, but vases too big to carry.  I look into the kitchen.  Jackpot.  The kitchen is a mess with cupcake batter, but is also stockpiled with nothing but the best cooking utensils.  Rows of the most beautiful knives.  The old man must be a collector.  I slip the knives into my bag.  I see a metal door with an old fashioned lock.   This must be his safe room where he keeps his money. If I could only find the key, my eyes close in on a bookcase.  An obvious hiding spot.    I look though the books, there is a My little Pony storybook, a children’s cookbook and an anatomy book.  One book is hollow.  I open the book and find the key.  Success, it fits the lock.  I put down the book and walk through the door. In the room sits a lot of metal chests and jars.   My greedy heart is beating at a mile per minute I just hit the mother-load.  No more robbing houses, or kidnapping.  It’s all over. I get to retire.  I open one of the chests. And I horrified at what I find inside.  “What the hell is this!”  I yell as I stumble away from the contents of the chest.  It was full of jars upon jars of human organs.  Kidneys, hearts and I don’t know what else. “Well well well, it seems you’ve discovered my little project,” said the old man.  He’s standing at the entrance, supporting himself with a cane, blocking my exit knife in hand.  I pull my gun on him.  “Old man you just brought a knife to a gun fight,” I say shakily.  The old man flicks his hand sending the knife though the air impaling itself into my hand.  I yell out in pain as I drop my gun.  The old man pulls out his next knife. “Well it seems I haven’t lost my touch at all,” Jack the Ripper said with a smile. I lay bound, gagged and blindfolded up on the floor, the stone cold against my skin.  I can hear the sound of water dripping.  So thirsty.  Why did I decide to rob this house of all places?  Why did I decide to become a thief?  I should have stayed in school.    I could have been anything I wanted.  If I never got Rose pregnant. But then I would never have had Katy would I?  The only ray of light in my life.  So such a shy kid, But so full life.  Eleven years old in two days.  Or maybe it was today.  I can’t tell how long I’ve been in here for.  Am I missing her birthday?  Is she worried about me?  She should be. I’m never gonna get to see her again am I?  Why did I decide to become a thief?  I should have stayed in school.    I could have been anything I wanted.  If I never got Rose pregnant.   I hear soft footsteps approaching.  That maniac, he’s gonna pull my arms off one at a time and drop me off in a ditch somewhere.  I struggle against my bonds.  Hopeless.  I should just give up now.  I probably deserve this.  I’m no good.  I’m a terrible person. I hear a creaking sound.  The door opening?  The old man’s come to finish me off at last I guess.   Maybe it’ll be quick.  I doubt it.  All I can do is sit here.  Damn it. Footsteps coming toward me I brace my body, not that it will do any good.  He’s right next to me now.  He stands there for a second.  And then he speaks. “Are you ok, Mister?”  Says the sweet voice of a little girl. “Whmm?” I try to say. “Hang on lets get this gag and blind fold off you.” I feel a pair of tiny hands tugging at my blindfold and gag. “Katy is that you?”  I ask “Who’s Katy?” said the girl. It’s the granddaughter of the ripper. “Why are you helping me?”  I ask. “I don’t want grandpa to kill you.”  She says simply.  Still trying to untie my knots. Sounds like a good reason to me. “What’s your name?” I ask “Enough about me, lets get out of here.”  She says The two of us sneak through the basement trying not to wake the old man.   We walk in silence, well I walk in silence, and the girl is humming some cheerful tune like this some sort of game.  It’s at this time that I get a good look at this little girl, she’s wearing a pink dress and she can’t be any older then twelve.  She does look a little like Katy, with the pink hair, but different eyes.   Not hazel but shocking blue eyes, like her granddad. “Grandpa left your bags in the kitchen.”  Oh yeah the knives.  I guess I can still grab those on the way out.  Some water would be nice too.   “Don’t worry about grandpa waking up.  He said he doesn’t wake up during the day, just at night.  You could scream and he still wouldn’t wake up, trust me, I know.” Well that’s good to know.  Maybe I’ll be able to grab more stuff on the way out. “In all honestly, grandpa has probably forgotten about you, he’s getting old ya know.  Doesn’t have time to play with me anymore either.  Just sits and reads now a days.  Leaving me to cook and clean to my self I just made a new batch of my super special cupcakes and-” “Yeah that’s great kid,” I say not caring in the least. At last we’re in the kitchen.  My bag is on the countertop next to a new batch of cupcakes.  I look at the cupcakes greedily; I haven’t eaten in days “You mind if I have one?”   “No, not at all take one, take one, and have some water too” I grab one and take a bite out of it.  It’s a weird flavor for a cupcake.  Kind of bitter sweet.  I chug down the cupcake and about three mugs of water. “Aren’t you gonna have one?” “No I just ate.”  She said reading a page from her cookbook. “Suit yourself then.” I say in reply After eating I go to stand up I stand up to leave. I turn to face the girl to thank the girl.   I’m feeling kinda light headed. “Are you feeling all right Mister thief?  You probably ate too much to quickly.  Lie down on the counter you’ll feel better in a minute.” The room begins to spin and my legs begin to wobble.  I feel like I’m going to faint.  Then I remember the cupcakes.  “Why?” I manage to say as I fall to the floor. The last thing I hear before I pass out is the girl signing,  “ You could have at least passed out on the counter.  Now I have to lift you up there.” //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 “Ugh my head.” I open my eyes.  A bright light shines onto them blinding them.  I’m looking at the ceiling of the kitchen.  I try to move my arms, but I can’t seem to be able to.  In fact I can’t seem to feel my hand at all not even the one that was stabbed a few days ago.   There’s no pain. My head is a little foggy too. “Oh good you’re awake.” Said the girl genuinely happy. I try to turn my head to face the girl, my head seems to be bound in place. “I was afraid I was gonna be alone for the rest of the night.” “What’s going on?” “You ate one of my special sleepy cupcakes. Now stay quiet or you’re gonna wake grandpa!” What is she talking about? Sleepy cupcakes?  Was she trying to knock me out?  Had I walked into another trap?  Her grandfather must have put her up to this; there is no other explanation.  But why set a trap if you already have the prize? “Why would you untie me only to lead me up the stairs and knock me out when I got up here?”  I say. “Well I couldn’t carry you.  You’re much too heavy to carry.” “But why bring me up here?  After all couldn’t your granddad kill me fine in the basement?” The girl laughed.  “Grandpa has nothing to do with this silly.  You’re here so that you can help me make cupcakes!  Doesn’t that sound fun?” “Cupcakes?  If you wanted me to help make cupcakes I would have gladly helped.”  I lie  “Untie me and we can get started.”  Yeah right, as soon as she unties me I’m gonna give her a knock over the head. “Oh no no no, Mr. Thief you can help me perfectly from where you are.” The girl stats humming and moving around. I try to look around.  I can’t move my head to look towards the girl but I could turn my head to the left and right.  On the right I see a counter that is a mess cupcake batter is spilled all over, there’s also a bunch of cooking equipment.  Blenders, a cookbook, a mixing bowl filled with batter and of course a cupcake pan.  On the right I see the collection of knifes but in addition to the knifes I see a car battery, the book of human anatomy, a saw and scalpels.  It looks like she is already has made the batter so why does she need me here? “If you already finished making the batter why do you need my help?” “I’m missing some ingredients.” “Well untie me and I’ll find them for you” “Silly, you ARE the ingredients.”  She said as if it was the funniest thing in the world. At first I thought I has misheard her.  Surely she did not mean what I thought she said. “What did you say?” “You know what I said, fresh human organs are surprisingly really hard to come by. ” she said reaching for the scalpel and saw. “Put that saw down.”  I said She replied, “This is a hacksaw not a saw.  I don’t get it hacksaws don’t hack; hacking is what you do with daggers and axes and knifes. What do you think?” I couldn’t process it.  This little girl was gonna kill me.  To make cupcakes.  This had to be a dream, but I couldn’t bring my self to feel scared.   Was it because of the drugged cupcake or was it because she looked like my daughter. “Okey dokey hold still, this won’t hurt.  At least I hope so I spent the rest my allowance on those narcotics.”   She leaned out of sight, I can’t see what she’s doing but I can hear her.  Sawing away. “Whew… you must work out a lot.  I’m having trouble cutting through.”  She said. A few seconds later.  “There I’m through.  Now what to pull out first?” I didn’t feel any pain during this, but for some reason I felt as though I should. “I would like you to stick around a little while longer so I think I’ll pull the kidneys first.” I hear the sound of her going to work with the “hacksaw” and then an “Ah ha I got it!” I hear her walk to the blender and a plop followed by another plop.  I hear the blender turn on. I hear her humming to herself. “Oh my goodness! I’ve never seen a liver in such bad shape.  You shouldn’t drinks so much Mr. thief it’s not good for you.   I can’t use this.  It’ll taste terrible.”  I hear the sound of something falling into a trashcan. “I remember my first batch of cupcakes.”  She said.  “My grandfather made them for me.  They were good, but that was also the day I lost my mom and my dad.”  She looked distressed for a second and then went back to her cheerful disposition. Her talking about her family made me think about my own family.  “Oh Flora it looks like I won’t see her again” “There you go again. Flora?  Is she your wife or something?” “She…” I started before I began to black out. I’m awake again I see the girl holding a needle in my neck.  “It’s adrenalin I’ll keep you awake a little longer.  Car battery helps too.  You were saying?” “Flora is my daughter I say.  It’s her birthday today. “Oh.”  She said. She looks at her anatomy book.   “Why is it called the small intestine if it’s bigger then the large intestine?” “Beats me I failed high school anatomy,” I say I feel a pulling as though someone has tied my waist to a pull and started to yank on it. I hear her using the hack saw again.  And then the blender.  I’m feeling kinda hallow inside. “Will she miss you?” “Huh?” “Will Flora miss you?” “Yeah, I’m sure she will.” I hear the girl give a little sob.  As though she’s trying to hold back tears. “What’s the matter?” “I miss my mommy and daddy,” she sobs.  “And the worst part is that I won’t even see them in heaven, because I’m a bad person.” She wailed, “Now Flora will have to go through the same thing, and it’s all my fault.” I don’t know what to say.  I’ve often thought of where I would go after I die and it’s not been optimistic.  But for her it’s almost hopeless.  No hope for a murderer that kills in cold blood. It might be the drugs or the blood loss talking but even though she’s cut me open, I can’t help feel sorry for her. “It’ll be alright,” I say.  “No one really knows where they’re going after they die.  There’s still hope for you.  You might see your parents again.” “You really thinks so, mister thief?” said the pink girl. “Who knows, I’m not a priest.”  I say We sit in silence for a while.  In my haze I can hardly form a cohesive thought. “Well mister thief.  It’s been nice talking to you, but I’m afraid we have to stop talking now.” “Why is that?” I say “Well I’m removing your lungs next.” She said “I wish I could have got to know you and your daughter a little better.  You seem like a nice guy.” Said the girl “Goodnight, Flora.” “Goodnight, mister thief.” Three days later Flora is at school drawing a picture of her and her father she misses him.  She hopes that he will be back soon.  They were going to go to the fun park for her birthday. but he never showed up.  They were going to have so much fun together.  She felt like she was going to cry.  But she had to be brave for her dad’s sake. “Hi there!” Flora looked up from her drawing to see a girl that she didn’t recognize from school.  She had blond hair and lightning blue eyes.  And she held in her hand a cupcake. “I heard what happened to your dad so I made you some thing.”   She reaches into her bag and pulls out a cupcake.  Here you go.  She pulls out a cupcake with rainbow sprinkles. “Thanks.” said Flora quietly “No sweat.” The two sat in silence while they ate the cupcakes.  They were bitter tasting, but still really good. “Wow these are good!” “Thanks I want to be a baker when I grow up” said the mystery girl “What’s your secret?”  Said Flora. “They’re made with love.” said the strange girl “That’s not a real secret.” Said Flora. “But it’s true” said the girl The two girls sit in silence. “You know I lost my dad too.”  Said the girl “Oh I’m sorry for your loss.” said Flora “Its ok I was young.” Said the girl “How did it happen?” said Flora “It was a baking accident, there was a fire.” said the mystery girl. “Oh…  So who are you again?” “My name is Rosie,” said the girl “and I’m gonna your new best friend.” //-------------------------------------------------------// Prequel: Jack the Librarian //-------------------------------------------------------// Prequel: Jack the Librarian Jack the Ripper is known and feared throughout the world as a serial killer.  He murders people in cold blood with out any sort mercy or pity.  He’d cut someone open just as soon as say “good day.” No one ever caught him.  No one even knew his real name.  He was unstoppable. But now Jack the Ripper is an old British man who walks with a cane.  He doesn’t kill anyone anymore.  He never married or had any children.  Jack the Ripper worked the night time shifts at the local library.  he was happier this way.  He likes to keep his mind occupied on the many books that sit on the shelves there.  Many of the children at the library look up to him like a role model.  The parents seem to think he was a sweet old man.  No one really suspected he was a stone cold killer. There was one kid at the library that got to know the ripper better then anyone else in the world.  Her parents would drop her off at around six leave, go off to who knows where, her there to read for hours and then pick her up at around ten.  She didn’t mind really. She loved her books and she looked to the ripper as her second father.   He loved her like the daughter he never had. Her name was Rosie. One day the Ripper noticed that Rosie had come into the library with a black eye a black eye and he asked her how she got it. She had said, “Oh this this? it's nothing really.  I’m fine it was just an accident.” What kind of accident? This had satisfied the Ripper’s curiosity.  However Rosie started to come in with black and blue marks and cuts all over her body.  This brought out the rippers concern  once more. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong.”  Asks the Ripper. “Nope nothing at all Mr. R” One day the ripper heard Rosie crying in the girls bathroom and that settled it.  He was going to find out who was hurting Rosie and why. When Rosie got in her parents car.  The ripper followed the car.  The driving of her parents appalled him.  Where they drunk or something?  He thought as they drove through a red light. He ended up to a mistreated house with weed growing in the yard.  It looks as though they haven’t been taking care of their yard.  He thought. He snuck as quietly as his old body would let him, up to the open window where he heard the drunken mother and that father yelling violent at Rosie. “…What did I tell you about eating candy!” “That I should never ever eat it?” said Rosie meekly The sugar will rot you teeth you stupid girl! “But I just was wondering what it taste like I’ve never had any before so-“ “I never wanted a girl anyway!” yelled the mom  “I always wanted a boy!  And what do I get? A girl.  A useless bloody girl!  Who never does anthin but stick her nose in books and other places it doesn’t belong!” “I’m sorry mom I-.”  Said Rosie of the verge of tears. “Don’t talk back to your mother that way” said the dad angrily. He smacked her across the face. “Do I got to beat some sense into you?” said the dad “N-no papa.” She said backing away. “Damn right. Get out of here.” Rosie ran crying up the stairs. How dare they!  How dare those sons of bitchs treat her that way!  Thought the Ripper. they will get theirs if it’s the last thing I do. To everyone else Rosie’s family seems nice and ordinary.  They had good reputations in the town it would be hard to remove Rosie from their custody though legal methods.  Therefor the ripper devised a plot to deal with them. When Rosie’s parents came to pick her up the next day at the library.  The Ripper was ready.  The Ripper had sent the rest of the kids home and they where the only one’s in the library.  The Ripper sent Rosie to look for some old books that he knew where not in the library right now it would be some time till she got back. When Rosie’s parents showed he invited them in. “Oh hello, you must be Rosie’s parents, it’s wonderful to meet you.  Have a seat.” The parents are seated in their chairs “What’s this about?” “Well you know I’ve been noticing that Rosie has been coming in to the library with a few cuts, and well I feel like you two are to blame.” The Ripper watches as the blood rushes to the two’s heads as they turn the color of a person in rage. “You dare make false accusations against us?”  Yelled the dad. “Well I won’t stand for it.  I’ll take my daughter and be on my way.” They both try to stand, but for some reason they are stuck to the seat. “What the?” said the mom. “I’m afraid you won’t be leaving so soon, you see I’ve super glued the seat and you won’t be going anywhere unless I bring you there.”  Said the ripper The two struggle to get free from the glue, but it’s no use.  They are stuck. The ripper ties the two to the chair. So that they can’t stand up or fight back when he un-nails the chairs from the floor. “What are you going to do with us?”  They asked But the Ripper didn’t feel like answering and he dragged the husband out of the room towards the café part of the library. All of a sudden there is the sound of a chainsaw, some screaming, followed by silence.  Followed by the sound of a blender. The Ripper then returns to the room. "These modern power tools are quite something.  they make everything so much cleaner then they where in the old days." said the Ripper “What have you done? She yelled at him. Where’s my husband?” “Your husband is in the same place your you’ll be going soon.” Said the Ripper. "Why are you doing this to us? Are you out of you mind!" "My parents used to beat me when I was a kid.  They where heavy alcoholics, that’s probably how I got so messed up in the head."  the Ripper said solemnly. “Please let me go I’ll pay you anything you want " "Hm what was that my dear?" please let me go I'll give you all the money I have just please let me go! “No, i'm sorry this is personal.  This is for Rosie.” Jack pulled the screaming mother into the café…. Some time latter Rosie returned she had no luck finding the books that she was supposed to find.  He hoped that the librarian wouldn’t be too mad. She turned the corner into his office.  There was a nice smell in the air that she did not recognize, something sweet she looked onto the librarian’s desk.  There sat a tray of cupcakes. “Why hello there Rosie.  Did you find those books? “No sir. They weren’t there” “Hm… that’s strange oh well never mind. Would you like a cupcake?” “A what sir?” “A cupcake, there’re really good, try one.”  He said “Oh no sir, said Rosie my parents won’t let me eat anything with sugar in it they say it will rot my teeth” she said “What they don’t know won’t kill them.” He said “I still think I’ll pass on those.” She said “All right then suit yourself.”  He said taking a bite out of one. “Now down to business.  Rosie I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your parents have died tragically in a car fire.”  He said with sadness in his voice.” He said with sadness in his voice. “What?  What did you say?”  She said. “Your parents are dead.” he said again No that can’t be true… mommy… daddy… her eyes begin to fill up with tears. “Now, now, my dear I know this is hard on you, but I’ve decided, in the wake of you parents death, that I’m going to adopt you as my granddaughter and you will come live with me.” “No I don’t want to live you.  I want my mommy and daddy!” “Even though they beat you, and neglected you, you still care for them?”  He asked surprised. “Yes, they may have not been the best parents but they where mine.” “Losing family is always hard my dear.” She gives him a hug “I love you grandpa.” “I love you too Rosie.  We leave town in the morning so lets go pack your stuff.” “Can I still have one of those cupcakes?” she asks after a while “Yes my dear.” She reaches over picks one up hesitates for a little while… And takes a bite. It was the best thing she had ever tasted.