We had now spent two happy weeks in the protection of Harry's home and the three of us couldn't be more grateful for the warmth that the building brought us. There had been no more news of the Hangman since he had burned down the bakery and even then inspectors had said that no body had been found among the charred remains - we were led to believe that things were starting to take a turn for the better on the London streets. Harry and I awaited in the drawing and played with Mary whilst Jane dressed herself to go for a walk; we smiled down at the cheery baby girl who bounced upon Harry's knee. Even after a month Mary was beginning to look a lot like her mother, only I had noticed one thing...her eyes. They weren't Harry's eyes that was certain... they seemed so familiar but at the same time I couldn't place who's eyes dear Mary had.

Pushing the thoughts away I walked to meet Jane at the bottom of the staircase - she looked beautiful as always. The two of us laughed as she curtsied uncomfortably before she stumbled and fell into my arms in an almost perfect feint. We continued to laugh as Harry, Elizabeth and Mary joined us to say goodbye to us. Our plan was to walk along the Thames and then see the damage at the bakery before arriving back at Harry's for supper; after saying our farewells the two of us headed out into the winter sun.

Walking along the Thames, Jane and I became aware of the severity of the wind and I felt Jane edge closer to me every time the wind gave a sharp bitter blow in our direction. The sun was setting quickly as the evening wore on and by the time we had reached the bakery sunset was closing in on us. A moments recollection and remembrance was taken when we came to face the old bakery where the girls had grown up; there was no sign of Carolina around her old home but then again she never appeared to be there even before it was burnt to the ground. Jane sniffed lightly beside me and I turned to see if she was crying - she wasn't. Instead I saw that the cold winter air was having a larger affect on her than I had originally thought; placing a gloved hand on her shoulder I turned her in the direction to begin heading back to Harry's.

Just as we turned onto his street a green mist surrounded us both and Jane's grip on my arm tightened just as I had tensed my shoulders. Out of the mist a shadowy figure emerged gripping a dagger in one hand and a hanging noose in the other; his silhouette grew larger and larger until finally he stood before us...my own brother.

He stepped forward towards Jane and raised his knife above his shoulder - it didn't take me long to realise his intentions and it took me even less time to do something about it. I kicked out at him, knocking him to the ground with a gasp, and pinned him to the icy cobbled streets. Jane cried out as she watched my brother and I struggle on the ground...I reached for his dagger...

The blood smeared knife clattered to the ground to my right before I was even aware of what I had done. The green mist cleared and displayed a surprisingly empty street. Shaking, I scrambled to my feet, grabbed the bloody dagger and ran with Jane to the safety of Harry's home. Looking back I saw only the red trench coat stained with the blood of many innocent young women. He was gone...

The Hangman was dead...