Murder At The Highlands

A very short story.Based on a true event but with some fiction... I tried to combine all the elements of a short story in a compact way where the term less is more suffices in this case for the reader

Murder At The Highlands/By Sami Khalil

The Revenge of the malefic husband…

Sunshine filtered through the interstice of windowsills, as the stench wafted through the mansion, compelling prohibition and plausibility.

In death’s grip, the stolen shadows slipped past frosted silences of breaths, under the shattering of echoes.

In the quiet of condemnation, footsteps faded in rapt thought, as the air was pushed in anger, traced by malignant effects.

Victoria Higgins, the Lady Of The Highlands, had her conversation with death, fated in a unified theory of circumstance.

Several minds stumbled when entering, especially Houston Pierce, the “Last Southern Gentleman”, when the myth of hard choices represented to him and others the mixture of hollow foreclosures.

As he walked in, after forcing through, along with his wife, they heard the distant sirens rushing towards them in the distance, chiming the clueless to the obvious.

Here was Miss Higgins lying, in a pool of blood, bludgeoned to eternal death. Grace fell that morning, as horror had spread in its pervasive effects of evil doctrines, while the moon slipped away behind dark clouds of altered state.

Words drifted in sorrow, bodiless and ethereal.

His wife had her unflappable hunches after several newspapers crowded her neighbor’s immaculate lawn for days on end and due to her women’s affiliation of the six senses.

For her, being tearful, after the fact, were not hidden from the thief of happiness, as she, the victim, marked the shift changes in wounds that weaved the surreal run of thoughts, ending in sad assonance and mayhem.

Now, with the law enforcements’ arrival, they tumbled over the offbeat ways to find validity of conclusive results. Many sought answers as to whether a crime of passion, hate or greed. And, as those answers persisted not, but were chased by cull leads of intrusions.

Such was the murder at The Highlands!

A mystery to unfold after the preservation of fingerprints and samples, establishing a restricted perimeter between the physical and testimonial evidences.

This time there would be no witnesses in the art of forensics, but doubts which were tossed around in solipsistic dribbles with some facts.

Details started coming out, evocative of the forged backstory where crimes speak of themselves.

Victoria Higgins was a wealthy widow, an antithesis of sinister degradation.

She had a shapely figure, wasp waisted and a velvety complexion. A dainty nose with halo-white teeth and sunshine, golden hair.

What people adored about her was her bouncy personality and vibrant clothes. A sugary voice adored with Southern slang, gave closeness to scrolled ears. She appeared a cardboard cutout of Hollywood legends, in living, breathing characters.

Most folks form their first impressions through visual clues, but apart from that, she was more complex in nature.

Come to find out, after the police discovered her biography, confessing within to pushing her husband off the long and winding stairs to his death, that the marriage was sour and headed South to divorce.

But her husband discursively transfigured into a Poltergeist, exercising the power of the abnormal, channeling horrid expectations.

Now, he can operate freely to haunt her, redefining her acknowledgment between the pragmatic and spiritual.

To find his solace, he caused her to tumble down the stairs to her final death, stabbing her in validation of high revenge.   

No flippant naysayer dared to ignore…

Reviews

[Jennie Baron]

You are a poet first and foremost as your mastery of language and vocabulary shows, and the sound of this story is lovely. I describe it as a long poem rather than a short story. The narrative is secondary to the poesy. A great read and it is a chilling story.

[Tomás Ó C..]

Yes, we have had a similar case in real life with an Irish family in America this month... cruel and gory case...

[Alfred Kukitz]

The lyrical quality beams of a radiance proportionate to the sun. Your talent sends a double barrel excitement to mind and eyes. You could fill me with holes Sami and I would take each round in delightful accomplishment.

Regards,
Al

[emmajoy]

' Now, with the law enforcements’ arrival, they tumbled over the offbeat ways to find validity of conclusive results. Many sought answers as to whether a crime of passion, hate or greed. And, as those answers persisted not, but were chased by cull leads of intrusions .'

AS ever your use of words and the placement of them shines like a beacon in the dark, Sami! However, must say after two slow reads, you toned down the blaze to write a near subtle twist in and to the tale. Tis interesting too, the mention of forensics, a word that inevitably adds substance, don't you think!

I was so near to walking away from this, because of the picture! Can't exactly say' 'glad' i didn't' because the details ares disturbing. However, looking beyond that - it was your use of words and the way they were laid, that made this the bloody but vibrant wonder that it is.

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you so much beloved poet and friend for this wonderful review and appreciation. You are appreciated naturally.

[Great Aunt Astri]

I found this story very interesting. Modern short story writers are usually advised to use simple language, short sentences and not too many descriptive words. But your story, so colourfully written was a delight to read. Your wonderful use of words created an atmosphere conducive to our imaginations. I think you could set at trend here. And I definitely won't go being a 'flippant naysayer!'

[Carol Cashes]

This has a slight Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte flavor, one of my favorites. Bette Davis could sooo do Victoria Higgins.
One question - is she still a "Miss" is she's a widow? I ask because I don't really know.
This is very good and I read it several times to make sure I got all the nuances.

[ms. barrie]

your pen never fails to transport my senses into other worlds. this is quite an intriguing tale that you've wrought, your words always captivates the reader...and leaves a remarkable impression, and something that one can take away (lingers). amazing write indeed. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing tale my friend. I had to read again. You create places and situation. I did like the photo. Thank you Sami for sharing the amazing tale.
Coyote

[Bala Gorthi]

Oh my god! Even in story a reader cannot help falling in love with your words. Such is the beauty of your story telling. Amazing. I loved the fiction you have created from a true incident.
Thank you for sharing,.

[Tony Jordan]

I love the language used here. Lord Byron might be envious. Excellent writing Sami.