I had locked myself in the washroom as soon as we arrived back at the house and had left Jane to account the shocking events from our evening's walk; I could hear Elizabeth's gasps and Harry's quiet curses from behind the door. I myself sat trembling at the floor staring at the dagger; a mixture of emotions came over me and I no longer knew how I felt. Numb - I had just lost the brother who I had always looked up to. Scared - I had killed a criminal but in doing so had become one myself. Ashamed - the girl that I loved had just watched me murder a man. Angry - Mary had James' eyes and it was then that I remembered that he had one courted Elizabeth...he was killing for revenge after she had left him for Harry. 

For some reason that I couldn't quite place I was no longer angry at James - I was angry at Elizabeth. She had started this. This was her fault. She had turned my brother - my inspiration into a monster... into a criminal. Now she leads a false life with a fiance who she has fooled into believing that Mary is his child - but no. No more. I would not let James die in vain. Not my brother. 

Flattening myself up against the wall I was able to look through the slight crack between the door and it's hinges. Elizabeth was stood on the other side of the door - now all that mattered was the timing. Behind me sat the open window waiting to aid me in my escape and then I would run - run until I could not be found by Harry; then I would come back for Jane and the baby...I would kill the baby. Despite my new-found anger at Elizabeth my hatred for James remained; I wanted rid of any trace of them both and that meant Mary too...I watched as Harry led Jane down the stairs and watched as Elizabeth turned towards the door to my hiding place. Stepping forward she placed a hand against the door and called my name - asking me to come out and talk to her; said that she would understand. After a few deep breaths I opened the door; Elizabeth's arms were around me in moments and then I felt the silky warmth on my hands...

With a twist of my hand and a shallow breath that shook as it escaped her lips Elizabeth crumpled to the floor; a red stain covered her corset...

I ran...

Ran until I could hear the screams of both Jane and Harry...

Ran until I had to stop.

Had to stop because I couldn't breath. The laughter bubbled to the surface of my lungs. I laughed...laughed...smiled...laughed again...now I understood James...the adrenaline kicked in...I felt good...I felt mad...I felt bad...I felt criminal....