As It Struck Twelve At Night

It was a beautiful spring morning in London. The cool air that I inhaled freshened me up even before I brushed my teeth. I quickly dressed up and reached the dining table to have a few bites and move on with my day. I had planned for a night stay at London's most beautiful garden. It was a two - hour drive from my friend, Nancy's house. All my friends were coming along in their own convertibles. To speak of my profession, I am a detective.

On reaching our destination, we came across this poem on the entrance of the camping plot -

7 Little Monkeys enjoying the scene,

1 fell down, and then there were 6

6 Little Monkeys roaming all about,

1 split up and then there were 5

5 Little Monkeys were feeding them all,

1 was a bit and then there were 4

4 Little Monkeys lighting up the fire,

1 got burned and then there were 3

3 Little Monkeys skewing the meat,

1 skewed himself and then there were 2

2 Little Monkeys running with fright,

1 tripped over and then there was 1

1 Little Monkey all by himself,

He was fed up and then he was........

What did the last monkey figure out? What happened to him then? Something was not right. One thing really surprised me that the number of monkeys was the same number as we all were. '' Don't you dare do your sleuthing right now! We are here for a vacation. Just relax. We are going to the hilltop nearby and you have to come along. It is really beautiful there. Joey is already on his way. Come on!" said Nancy.

I tried explaining to her that this poem had a purpose but all she cared about was the hilltop. Reluctantly I walked along with her to the hilltop. On reaching the site, we were all shocked by the tragic scene that lay before our eyes. Mia, Susan, Peter, and John were all sobbing and crying. They explained to us that Joey got so excited with the scenic beauty that he fell off the cliff. I understood everything now. The poem was meant for us. We were the 7 monkeys and the first stanza had already taken place. we heard to enjoy but Joey fell down and we were five. All sad, we walked back towards our plot when suddenly Susan went missing. Now the second stanza was complete. We were roaming when one split up and as the poem states, we were 5.

The rest of us reached safe and sound. We were setting up the grill for tonight's BBQ dinner when we saw a couple of hares hopping towards us. We all decided to spend some time with them and give them herbs. The eldest one did not like the way we smelled so he stayed away. Unfortunately, the third phase took place. Peter went to comfort the elder hare but then he got himself bit by it. Well, at least that is what others say but that marks on his hand were nothing like that of a hare's bite. Rather, it looked as if something had been penetrated to his body using an instrument.

3 down, 4 more to go. Mia was lighting up the campfire for the beautiful morning had now turned into a dreadfully cold night. We were getting all the vegetables and meat together for Nancy to skew them up. Then we heard a sharp shriek and lay before us the burnt body of Mia. I couldn't have taken it anymore in usual cases but this was something to do with my friends and I had to keep up with it. One thing was clear, whoever wrote that poem knew that they were coming and he is killing everyone. Everything was now over the head. The 4th and 5thstanzas took place altogether. Nancy got herself skewed through her throat. It was a scary sight.

John started looking all about to see who was attacking them. Suddenly he tripped over a stone and hit his head on a boulder. Now, it was only my left. I felt so guilty about what all had happened that I hanged at midnight myself but before this, I knew who was the killer, Joey because he faked his death.