The Ripper's Knife

I listened to only my own footsteps. It was an oddly quiet night for this street in Whitechapel. It was usually quieter than the main area where a lot of the streets met but still, there was almost nobody out and about.

I had been walking past a rather large alleyway when I heard quite the ruckus from inside. I thought nothing of it up until I heard a grunt, one that sounded like a harsh male’s. My curiosity ate at me, begging me to explore and find who had been making all the noise.

I stepped into the dark alley. I walked slowly as to not make my footsteps heard. I shouldn’t have been creeping around a shadow filled alley just to be entangled in someone else’s business but in Whitechapel, it was almost a saintly action considering the things that happened within the district!

I peered around the corner, hiding behind the brick wall of a large building to conceal myself. It was extremely hard to see but I could see a large black figure. I looked a bit harder, noticing that it was, in fact, two figures! One lying down and the other standing over them. Two people.

I continued to watch for a few moments. I could hear another intense grunt escape the standing figure, meaning he was the male that I had heard on the street. I flinched as I saw the standing figure raise his arms then strike the figure under him with a harsh force. I could have sworn I heard sickening cracking but it had to just be in my head! No sane man could exert that much strength on another person!

That’s when the horrifying realization hit me. That figure that was lying down was another person like I figured out only moments before. That person didn’t even make a single noise once they were hit, only the standing figure. Fearful thoughts swarmed through my mind. No, it couldn’t be something sinister! So many ideas of what was happening filled my mind. I took a silent step out from behind the brick wall in order to get a better view, even though I truly didn’t want to.

I looked at the figure that had been stricken. It was a female I myself didn’t recognize. Her dress was a wrinkled mess. I then looked down at the ground which had a dark puddle staining it. The source of the dark puddle was right under the woman or so it appeared. It then occurred to me that the woman was dead. Murdered by the male standing over her. I covered my mouth as to not let out a gasp that would reveal that I was standing there. I looked at the killer’s hand which were covered in the same disgusting liquid. He was holding a shiny knife with an exquisitely sharpened blade. The outlandish thought finally crossed my mind. Was this… Jack the Ripper?

I didn’t even attempt to think something different. It was extremely possible considering everything. As soon as I looked up I watched the murderous man began to cut into the woman’s stomach carefully. I covered my mouth again, trying not to audibly gag. He swung, stabbing into the open wound.

Time almost felt like it stopped as I had slipped up. I had gasped.

He froze. I watched him stand straight then turning to me with bright, fiery eyes. I took a step back, my entire body shaking. All I could do was fall to my hands and knees and beg. I looked up at him, my eyes showing obvious terror.

“J-Jack!” was all I could stutter out. His response was an intimidating smirk as I watched his knife drip crimson blood onto the ground. This confirmed my theory! This man was Jack the Ripper!

I hunched over, tears in my eyes, praying that I would survive. I looked up into his mad eyes, hoping. He stopped right in front of me, his knife shining in the little light that entered the alley. I shall never ever forget the glint of that knife. The way it teased so menacing.

I kept my eyes on his face. He was a man I had seen around but didn’t know myself but I had spotted him on the street. He looked so normal compared to any other male on the street that it made me sick! No wonder he had been able to escape the police for so long.

Despite us not exchanging one word, I could hear us having a conversation mentally.

“I shall let you go but on one condition.”

“Yes, Mr. Ripper?”

“You tell no one!”

“Yes, Mr. Ripper,” I said aloud with a shaky voice. “I shall tell not one soul ever!” I proceeded to run out of alley and all the way back home.

I have kept my word for years now and have told no one. I’ve continued to spot him on the street, not able to ever view him the same. Sometimes I know he spots me as well. It’s a grim reminder that if I ever share my secret with anyone else that I would meet the same fate as all his other victims.

Maybe one day, Jack will be gone and I can share my secret but for now, I’ll have to remain silent. Hopefully… someone will hear my story and I can tell them whom it was.

Hopefully...