The blood drained slowly from the lifeless body at my feet. A green mist shielded me from the view of the street and caused the crimson red blood to glow ominously in the darkness of the alley. By the side of the girl lay a half drowned newspaper in a murky puddle; only the headline was still visible - 'The Hangman strikes again'. The Hangman? Clever name for me in a way.I retrieved the noose from around the girl's neck and watched as her faint flush died at her throat. Seven down and several more to go - the thought made me smile. In the distance I could hear a woman's voice playfully teasing a young gentlemen. Spend your last nights wisely girl, I thought as I added her to my mental list.

As the last drops of blood trickled down onto the damp ground I admired my night's work. The voices from the street were growing louder and so I hastily grabbed a hold of my worn noose, tipped my hat low over my mop of hair and ran into the shadows...only allowing my red trench coat to be seen.

I was the last to see Phoebe Grimes alive and the first to see her dead...