Long Lankin



January 12th 1956: I... I'm here, writing this, because I need to get something out. A.. story - A tale. Now, to be honest, I have never remembered every last detail. But I'll try and fit in as much as I can about it. Well now I think about it, It's no tale or fantasy, It's a warning, A warning.

I'm going to be as brief as I need to be. Simply, my Grandfather was a Coal Miner until 1923 and let's just say, He's no longer breathing. I.. I knew, everyone knew, he was going to leave. Slowly he was dying and we couldn't do anything about it. The standard of the mines were poor and many of the toxic underground fumes must have gotten to him. I hate to go into more detail, I'm pushed for time. Around a day and a half before he left, Me and mother stayed at his side, wishing him well. But, He didn't help. He sang out of all things, sang a song. I never heard it before and from the look on mothers face, she had. She seemed shocked and looked at me, Nothing worth living for in her. I never remembered the song after that day, but I do now. I was too small to understand, until I was 17. The same scene happened except, I was the only one by the bed, Over watching mother and father had gone to work for the army forces in London. And she sang a song, the same song. Word for Word. Too this day, I remember them too, after 10 years:

Said my lord to my lady, as he mounted his horse: "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss."

Said my lord to my lady, as he rode away: "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the hay.

I never knew how she died but, she is gone now. Our family were going slowly. They have been for 100's of years, leaving the next to die like they did. After my mother died, I was left alone in the manor. It was big and fancy at one point, but no one looked after it, No light came in apart from the ones in the hinges, and nothing would open. I was never surprised at how badly treated it was, I suppose my senses only Just realised the standards of living. Back to the point, I wasn't alone for long, My aunties old baby and her dropped themselves off, she probably thought I was irresponsible but I don't care. Auntie was always one to be bust and I had to look after her baby a lot of the time. Her baby grew sick too, but auntie knew better. She called out a local nurse to come inside and help her baby. The nurse arrived and was let in fast. I didn't even hear a door or a footstep before the moment she arrived. She said all we must do is feed the child food and eventually after she left we ran out of food eventually to keep the baby happy, so I gathered on myself to step out and buy some bread for 50 pence. But just like the dead, no one wanted the doors open. I suggested the window, even though it may of ripped my dress, but no. Bolted.There was no way out and I knew why, I eventually knew why and then I sang:

"Let the doors be all bolted and the windows all pinned, And leave not a hole for a mouse to creep in."

So he kissed his fair lady and he rode away, And he was in fair London before the break of day.

I shook, Fuck, how I shook. I realised why I was locked in. But it was stupid. When something is locked, something can come in and nothing can get out. I had to escape. I packed nothing, not even my change of clothes, and ran. I wasn't coming back. I ripped the nails from the wooded windows and with blood over my hands I escaped. And for nightfall, I reached the old hill, leaving Auntie and her child unaware. I slept and cried, leaning against the hills old banks, looking back at the manor, breathing heavy but sharp. I calmed and without knowing sang:

The doors were all bolted and the windows all pinned, Except one little window where Long Lankin crept in.

"Where's the lord of this house?" Said Long Lankin, "He's away in fair London." said the false nurse to him. "Where's the little heir of this house ?" said Long Lankin. "He's asleep in his cradle," said the false nurse to him.

"We'll prick him, we'll prick him all over with a pin, And that'll make my lady to come down to him.'

So he pricked him, he pricked him all over with a pin, And the nurse held the basin for the blood to flow in.

I stopped. It was stupid, but I had to go back. The song was right. So I ran, How I ran... It was quick but my dress didn't help. I reached the manor. A basin lay on the floor with blood pouring out of it. And all over the walls, the same. I fell back crying again. I did that, I opened the window, I opened the window. I killed everyone... and at that point I heard choking coming from upstairs. I ran with all I could, trust me. I was scared. I ran up to the each room, and all were locked. Until I found one, but by then the gurgles had stopped. So did I in shock. The baby lay in the sink, blood up to the rim, with one prick in its neck, with one line of blood. And blood everywhere, all on the walls, all on the floor, and In the bath, auntie with slits in her wrists. I lost vision but I had to keep myself together and I did, breathing nice and slow.

I said slowly 'That Bastard Lankin and his fucking nu-' and I stopped for the hundredth time that day. I could see it out the window watching. It was a woman sitting on the hill, sulking in her hands. I ran again. I knew who she was. It was the false nurse. And then I remembered, Auntie obviously new I ran and blocked up the windows eve tighter, and the way I got in was now blocked by a cabinet I fell on in shock when I entered. I was trapped even worse than before.. And I had no hope.I ran down to the bottom of the stairs, and then stumbled to the front room. I would have never thought so much blood would have got in here...

My lady came down, she was thinking no harm Long Lankin stood ready to catch her in his arm.

Here's blood in the kitchen. Here's blood in the hall Here's blood in the parlour where my lady did fall.

I led myself out of the room after 5 minutes, I was confused. I didn't know where tog go or what to do but I had to do something, found out who Lankin is. I knew where to go. I went to the room where Mother died and sat beside her body and Grandfathers. We never let there bodies out, they obviously were never thrown out, but then again there's no door to throw them out of. I cried and then rested, I needed it. I then heard the baby, I swear I heard it, so I got up and what I saw... what I saw, It... It was horrible. I.. It was the reason I am writing this. It was Him, The blood crazy killer who killed everyone who ever lived here or forced them to dispose of themselves. But 'he' was not a 'he'. Bullshit! 'he' was not even human. He... was a slim figure, and was skinned black. and his eyes were hollowed, It was like you could see right through them and he walked like an insect up and down walls but he had the legs and arms of a person. His hands were long with only two fingers with claws at each end but his god-damned face was... It was hard to explain... Picture a face of pure hate, pure evil and pure innocence at the same time. At that moment, I stood there and 'he' stood back until he was gone in an instant. I was shaking like mad and I made a break for the door and he appeared again and sliced my back with two slits. I screamed and fell and grabbed what I could while being dragged backwards the way I came. I grabbed the nearest pan and threw it at him but it was no use... But he vanished and I lay bleeding. I knew I was going to die. I know I am going to die. Because here I am now, lying here bleeding, writing in this book left in the draw that was wide open, because I want father to know and come back here, and end Lankin too. But lankin is long gone... But he will be back... he may have gone to take someone else... I don't know. But I have soon made my way to the turret and looking towards London.... Father will come.. Just not before I die.And, there on the hill is Lankin. Hanging from a tree... as a person. I'm still not sue if it was him but I feel like its always been there. So father, I love you. I love you as much as anything now. Everything is gone but you and me, but Just you soon. Find out were Lankin has gone, He is still here but whatever you do, keep the windows closed and the doors locked. My tears are already on this paper... I love you. Elizabeth x

Her maiden looked out from the turret so high And she saw her master from London riding by.

"O master, O master, don't lay the blame on me 'Twas the false nurse and Lankin that killed your lady."

Long Lankin was hung on a gibbet so high And the false nurse was burnt in a fire close by.