Murder and Mayhem

By Monica Hess and Steve Miller

I wonder how many I can trick into coming with me. I can charm them anytime I please.

Do they know the deadly games I have devised for them? I can only hope not.

I wonder if they suspect that staying in my hotel will be their last slumber. Most are so oblivious.

I wonder what it will sound like to hear them when they know they’re doomed. Such delicious screams, and then silence.

I wonder what it will feel like to watch them take their last breath and watch the light go out of their eyes.

I wonder how long it will take to remove the flesh from their bones.

I wonder if anyone knows whose dry bones those are.

And now I know.

Alice Pietzel

Mother, where did Papa go?

I miss him. Will he be home soon?

Why does Uncle Harry say Papa is in London?

Mother, why do Nellie and Howard and I have to go with Uncle Harry?

Please don’t make us leave. We want to see Papa when he returns.

Nellie, stop crying. It’s going to be all right. Uncle Harry said we’re going on a trip up north. Howard and I are right here with you. I know you miss sister, Mother, and the baby. I do too, but we’ll have fun, you’ll see.

Look Nellie, we’re in a new home. Uncle Harry says we can play hide-and-seek indoors. Won’t that be fun? Howard will count to one hundred and we’ll hide in this old trunk. Now be really quiet so that Howard can’t find us.

What’s that, Nellie? You smell something fishy? No, there are no fish inside this trunk. I’m getting sleepy now. Let’s rest a moment while Howard tries to find us.

Nellie Pietzel

It’s dark down here. I can’t see anything. Alice, where are you? I don’t hear anything. Howard, can you find me? I’m scared and cold. It smells like…dirt. I can’t feel my arms and legs anymore. I can’t move! Help, what is happening?

Howard Pietzel

“…ninety-nine, one hundred. Ollie Ollie oxen free. Alice, Nellie I’m coming to find you. Where are you hiding?” Such a big house, they could be anywhere. Alice? Nellie? Uncle Harry, I’ve looked everywhere for them. I can’t find them. Can you help me? What’s that? Yes, I looked under the beds and in the closets. Where could they be? You want to show me something? Is it a secret hiding place? What are you doing with that handkerchief? No, I don’t want to smell it. I want to find Alice and Nellie. No, Uncle Harry, no! I don’t want to sme…

HH

Breathe, breathe go away

Bury you on another day

Girls

Beating inside the chest, let me out

I can't breathe, I can't scream, I can't shout

I'm scared, I'm scared, why?

Please God help us, we're gonna die!

HH

Die you little bitches

I love the sounds you make

Hell can have your souls

But your bodies I shall take

Night owl, night owl in the trees,

Watching the evil I unleashed on these

Owl, oh barn owl, what secrets you hold

Yet on the wind you silently fly.

Your naked bodies will be buried in my basement

Unlike my body that will be encased in cement

I will be caught

You will be found

Stinking rotting corpses in the ground

Cops

The closer we dig

The smell becomes more

HH

I smile in amusement

When they find the little whores

I will hang for 15 minutes

With not a care in the world

For I have killed many, maybe 200 or more