My house was rather large a vision of a true colonial home, minimalistic in character but huge being three stories tall and as wide as what felt like an ocean, okay maybe not an ocean but a great river. The living room became my favorite with the comfiest of couches and the most interesting of books. I would sit for hours and hours just looking at the intricately detailed pictures and finding new words and ways of the world. Weeks past of the same old, same old and I finally reached the last of the books, at this point I couldn’t think what else I could read about (I felt like I read it all).  

The last book though was some weird book about wine (at least that’s what I got from the title) and I had read everything else so far, so I thought why not but when I picked it up it revealed a dark path behind a hidden door. Scared but eager to explore I ran to the kitchen an grabbed the closest source of light, a flashlight. The pitch-black scenery accompanied only by the small light guided by my hand, sixty-eight steps later I made it to a room, dark and frightening seemed to be the name of the game for this town. Chills were sent across my body as I searched for a light and then BAM! The light shone on barrels and barrels and barrels that went on for a while which seemed to contain wine, but something more interesting caught my eye more. A dingy poorly placed brick wall with a single broken brick, only broken at its tip. The tiniest of light peeking out of this broken brick's top. It reminded me of the flowers in Montresor’s yard showing that light always forces its way through the darkness, it really was the oddest sensation of calm. Interested as I was, I searched and searched for a tool to eventually found a big mallet hammer which started the journey of knocking down the wall. Of course, I began at the top with the hole and worked my way down. I had been knocking this wall down for weeks and nothing.  I was beginning to lose hope that anything was behind this wall at all. Then, I realized who puts a wall up in front of another wall for no reason, so every day when my parents went to work, I hacked, and I hacked away at the wall. AHHHHHHHHH! No no no no no! I was horrified by what I saw.  

Chains wrapped; ropes tied, and blood dried across the right floor corner. And the worst of it all is underneath all the chains and rope and what I presumed to be blood was a body! But not a human just his bones withering away. Real was not a question they were one hundred percent real; he was still dress in clothes from decades ago and it was if you could still see the fear in his eyes but oddly a smile on his face as if he believed it was a joke. That soon someone would find him, and hope was lost until I found him, yet I was too late. I can’t believe it. I need to leave. They were true! The Fortunato tales were true! I freaked as I began to understand that if the Florentino tales were true then.....Oh no! I knew the name Montresor sounded all too familiar. 

He did it! He killed Fortunato! What do I do now?! I started my way towards the stairs, wait what was that noise! AHHHH! I screamed again. A deep voice came creeping in “Now, now what have we caught ourselves up with” (he laughs eagerly with all too much evil in his voice). He starts walking toward me with the wickedest of smiles and a rope ready to be tied. I wasn’t ready to die, I need to escape, I needed to find a way to slip through his somewhat witty mind. And then I remembered. BONG! I hit him with the mallet hammer from before and ran. I just kept running up the stairs, out the front door, towards the town, towards anything but somehow this old man followed, and he wasn’t far behind. I rushed into the crowded streets to hide myself. Luckily, I was dressed pretty similar to this town's aesthetic, so it was fairly easy to hide. He looked through and through the crowd but lost me, finally but I knew I wasn’t safe, so I hoped into the nearest car and made my way for the highway. A peaceful journey it was until BANG BANG! The creep shot a gun at me, he had the audacity to continue to follow me and shoot at me AGHH! I swerved through the cars trying to hide myself, but he always caught up. Fearful as I was, I knew I couldn’t stop but the car had other plans.... beep....beep...... beeeeeep. The car starts slowing down. NO! It ran out of gas. I step out of the car and there he was to greet me.   

Montresor thought about ways he could escape for a few days and eventually made a plan that was perfect and would be able to get him out of the city and find his way into Naples. Out of pure excitement he yelled in his bunker, “I have found a way out and I have the perfect plan, no one ill ever have suspected that I would have left this dump!”. It wasn't until it was time to execute the plan when he started to feel doubts as he had locked someone up and is now dead, people saw him go down with Fortunado and come up alone, questions would be asked and a whole guilt trip would be happening. He finally got the courage to walk out that door and when he did the coast was clear as it was the middle of the night and the guards were lazy and just slept through most of it. To make him less suspicious he was trying to look for a policeman's uniform to blend in and make him seem less like a civilian and someone who is in charge just to give him a bit of a cover in case he does get caught, this plan fails when he is walking around and the sun is starting to come up so he just makes a run for it and decides if he runs into the middle of the woods no one will go out looking for him and he can make it to Naples fine. Montresor was on his way and all of a sudden came to a quick halt when he got this sense of evil that had just come over him and now he was really in the spirit of getting some mischievous things done. There was going to be a high chance of people roaming the streets in Naples and he decided that that was now going to be the best place for him to stay and do some mean things to the people that live there while he was on his journey. Montresor has finally made it to Naples and lucky enough he finds this tent right outside of the city so he makes the decision to set up camp there for the next few days while he observes how these people operate and looks for the perfect bate into his crimes. There is this boy in the city that goes and buys his mother bread every morning, montresor has noticed this pattern that is taking place and decides to act upon it. One week after he has set up camp he decides to leave and go to the bakery to try and scout out this tall teenager who is hard to miss and when montresor sees him his eyes light up out of pure happiness that he can finally do something bad and get away with it again. “What is your name?”, montresor asks the kid. “My name is Jeremy, nice to meet you sir!” the child replies. Montresor lures the kid into the woods after a few minutes of talking as he has asked Jeremy to come join him for breakfast. Once they are far enough in the woods montresor decided that this was now the perfect time to tie up Jeremy and start his trek back to Rome and have Jeremy become his new servant. At last the have made it back to the city of Rome but there are police surrounded by montresor's house and he has to make a decision as to how he is going to get in there without anyone noticing. It has been decided that the two of them are going to go down through the chimney and that is the safest way for both of their health. Ten years go by and Jeremy is still under the Montresors watch and decides that he has had enough of this so he makes a plan to make it out alive. He is going to kill montresor the same way montresor did Fortunado. He waits until it's dark outside and goes and gets himself some bricks to use as a barrier so montresor cannot break his way out. Jeremy waits until montresor falls asleep as he is a very heavy sleeper and won't wake up for a while and executes his plan. His plan worked and he is now finally free telling the police the torture he has been through withing the last ten years and the police applaud him and he is now the cities most appreciated person. He is the cities hero.

Besides my issues with my father, I actually have a good life here in Italy. Every year we have a carnival before the Easter holiday. There’s music, food, costumes, and friends and family come together to celebrate. While it’s my favorite time of the year, for my father, it’s not. The day of the carnival is when Fortunato went missing. But, others see it as a time to celebrate his life and remember him. On this particular night of the carnival, I remember the moon shining so bright. It was so beautiful and I remember my worries about my father just fading away. Before I headed to the carnival, I met up with my best friend, Elisabeth. She’s the daughter of Luchesi or as some people call him, “Fortunato's arch nemesis.” Like Fortunato, he was good with distinguishing alcohol and had a passion for it. Since both my mother and Elisabeth’s mother had us around the same time, we kind of grew up together. As I stopped in front of Elisabeth’s house, I waved to her. She waved back, grabbed her things, and we were off to the carnival.  

“Wow, look at the moon, it’s so bright tonight Augustus.” Elisabeth said as she stared up at the moon. “I know right? I wonder why. Maybe something amazing will happen tonight!” I replied. “Maybe. Is your father okay? I know this day is really hard for him.” “I didn’t even see him today. Mother said that he went to Fortunato’s grave to be with him today and that he wouldn’t come to the carnival until late.” “Oh, I’m so sorry. Cheer up though! Fortunato would want you to celebrate him, not keep mourning him. You’re not alone, I’m here for you.” she said with a smile. “You’re right. Thanks Lisa. Now, let’s go enjoy the carnival!”

As we both step into the carnival, our eyes light up immediately. The streets are filled with colorful lights and confetti is everywhere. People are in costumes and dancing while watching floats go by. As Elisabeth and I watched the floats we both suddenly smelled the food stands and ran as fast as we could to go get some. After we ate and danced for a while it was already time for the toast. Every year during the carnival, we all make a toast to Fortunato with his favorite drink; the Amontillado. The sergeant in our town, Vincenzo, always made the toast, not only because he had a way with words but Fortunato also saved his life when Vincenzo’s house had been robbed in the past.  As Vincenzo got on the stage with his glass, someone yelled, “The Amontillado is all gone!” Everyone was confused because we all saw all the bottles of it a while ago. “Some one must have stolen them.” said Vincenzo with an angry look on his face. I was kind of upset too because I just turned the legal age to drink this year and I wanted to try the Amontillado. Suddenly, someone runs up to me and says, “Oh! Augustus! Your family has a wine cellar in those catacombs right?” “Yes.” I replied knowing what was coming next. “Then, do you think you go get the Amontillado for us so we can celebrate Fortunato?” “I’ve never been down there before. How will I know where it is?” My mother suddenly replies by saying, “I actually found a map of the place not too long ago. This should help you find the wines down there.” I looked at the map and it looked a hundred years old and I could barely read it. I looked at my mother with a confused face and she just shrugged her shoulders with a hopeful smile. As everyone kept looking at me, the peer pressure was sinking in until I finally said, “Fine! I’ll go, but Elisabeth is coming with me.” “What!?” she replied. “I’m not going down there. It’s dark, there’s bugs and oh yeah not to mention, dead bodies!!” “So you want me to go all by myself down there?” “Yup, conquer your fears.” “What!? That’s what you need to do!” Suddenly Luchesi speaks up and says, “Elisabeth, you’re going, unless you want Augustus to get lost down there and you’ll never see him again.” I could see the panic and annoyance in her eyes as she replied with a sigh, “Fine, I’ll go too.” Everyone cheered as Elisabeth and I walked back to my house. It was time I finally saw the Montresor family catacombs. 

 

After we finally made it back to my house and to the entrance of the catacombs, we could suddenly feel a chill in the air. I knew this place would be creepy and I honestly wanted to back out of it. But, I couldn’t be a scaredy cat in front of Lisa, so I manned up and took the first step in. Thankfully, there was a very convenient lit torch that I could take so we could actually see. To break the tension in the air, I decided to tell a spooky story since we were in the catacombs. “No! I’m already scared, why do you have to make it worse.” Elisabeth says worryingly. “It’s too quiet in here. Anyway, so once upon a time…” “No!! Just pay attention to your map so that we don’t get lost.” “Ugh, fine! You win. Oh I think I see a bug.” “What?! Where?!” “Just kidding.” “You’re ridiculous, you know that? Oh, look! A pickaxe. We might need this. It’s way too creepy in here for us not to need this.” 

As we continued farther into the catacombs, it only got darker it seemed. The walls were rusted and covered in mold. Once in a while a rat would run across in front of us making Elisabeth scream. I really just wanted to find this Amontillado and get the heck out of here. After about maybe half an hour of nonstop walking, Elisabeth suddenly asked me, “Okay, it’s been a while, do you know where you’re going or not?” “Elisabeth, have you seen this map? I can barely read it let alone follow it.” “So...we’re lost in these catacombs?” “No, it’ll be fine.” “If we don’t find this Amontillado soon, promise we can leave?” I know everyone would be disappointed in us if we didn’t have the Amontillado, but I was not about to get lost and die in here.  “Yeah, I promise.” As Elisabeth let out a breath of relief, a torch on the wall suddenly lit itself. While I jumped back, Elisabeth of course screamed and tried to run but I stopped her. Suddenly, a bunch of torches were lighting it selves down a different hallway than we were following. “Whoa! Elisabeth, what if the spirits in here are leading to us to the Amontillado?” I asked suddenly. “What?! That’s crazy. But, honestly I can’t think of any reason why those torches would light themselves like that.” “Let’s follow it!” “Fine, but then we’re leaving!”

As Elisabeth and I followed the torches, they just kept lighting as we caught up. It went through so many twists and turns like it knew exactly where it was going. In just a few minutes, the torches finally stopped in a hidden hallway. I looked down and I couldn’t believe it. A bottle of the Amontillado was just sitting there on the ground in front of us. As I was staring in awe, Elisabeth runs and grabs it and says, “Augustus! We got it! Now let’s go!!” As I was about to follow her, the corner of my eye saw the hallway behind where the Amontillado was. Many bricks were sticking out from the wall like they weren’t supposed to be there. “What are you doing? Let’s go!” “Something is strange here. Look at how the bricks curve out like that. Maybe something is inside it.” “Sigh. You and your curiosity will always be a wonder to me.” “Question is, how do I break the brick?” “Oh here, take this! I knew this pickaxe would come in handy.” “Oh wow, thanks!” As I started to break the bricks, I only hit it enough so I could see inside. I then brought up my torch to the hole I created and saw a skeleton! I jumped back afraid while Elisabeth took my torch and looked inside too. For once she didn’t scream but said in a scared voice, “You know, this is common. People died and were placed here. Yeah that’s it.” “Yeah, but to me it looks like they were trapped in here and...died.” “What! No, that’s too cruel.” I looked into the hole again and suddenly noticed the skeleton was wearing clothes. They had to have died here. Then fear struck me as I saw it. It had bells on it. The only thing people remember him wearing that night was this funny looking hat with bells on it when he disappeared. “Elisabeth, I think we just found Fortunato’s lost body!”

At that very moment I grabbed Elisabeth’s hand and ran as fast I could. I followed the torches back to where we came from. “Augustus, what do you mean Fortunato? There’s no way! It can’t be.” “It was. I’m 100% sure of it. The bells are what clicked for me. He was wearing that outfit that night Elisabeth. I don’t understand why he was in our family’s catacombs. Did my father…?” “What! No way! Your father would never do that to his best friend.” We have to find him!” With the help of the torches we were able to get out of the catacombs faster than when we went in them. 

We finally made it back to the carnival and when people saw us, they were all excited. I then remembered we had the Amontillado with us. That was the whole point of this journey, but I needed to see my father and ask him about Fortunato. After Vincenzo did his speech for Fortunato, Elisabeth and I went asking people if my father had come back. They all said that he hadn’t returned yet. “Augustus, it’ll be okay. Maybe your father didn’t know he was there either.” “But what if he did know Fortunato was down there?” I was terrified and I almost started to cry when Luchesi suddenly appeared. “Hey Augustus. What happened? Are you okay?” I tried to tell him but I couldn’t get the words out. Elisabeth stepped in and told Luchesi everything. “Kids did you have too much of the Amontillado? It doesn’t make sense that Montresor would do something like this.” “That’s why we need to find him and ask him! And no, I didn’t even try the Amontillado yet. I’m too shaken up.” “Oh, I’m sorry you had to go in the catacombs Augustus. Since you seem very convinced by this, maybe I should have a look?” Elisabeth suddenly replies, “Yeah then you’ll believe us. I kind of want to see it again too. Augustus ran out after he realized it was Fortunato.” “Okay then, let’s go.” 

When we got back to where Fortunato was in the catacombs, Luchesi took a peek inside the bricks. He was silent for a while. “Luchesi?” “Dad?” Suddenly Luchesi starts to cry. “You’re right. Fortunato was wearing that exact outfit. He was trapped in here all this time.” This time Luchesi is the one that runs out. As we followed him out and back to the carnival, my heart nearly stopped when I saw my father walking around the carnival. Luchesi saw him too and ran towards my father. At that moment I ran as fast as  I could before Luchesi got to him. “Father!” “Montresor!!” My father turned around with a shocked face. “Whatever is the matter with both of you?” “What...did...you…do…to…” Luchesi said out of breath. “ What?” “Father tell me the truth right now. Did you trap Fortunato in our catacombs and leave him to die in there!?” My father took a step back in shock. People started to notice something was wrong. Suddenly Vincenzo appears and says, “Montresor, what is Augustus saying? Did you murder Fortunato?” By now everyone knew what was going on. My father with tears in his eyes suddenly tried to run. Vincenzo caught him and put handcuffs on him really fast. “If you’re not going to talk here, then maybe you’ll talk in jail!” I couldn’t believe what was happening. My father didn’t say he did it, but that look on his face couldn’t have meant anything else. This was why he shut people out when they mentioned Fortunato’s name. He killed Fortunato.

As Vincenzo took my father away, I went along with them. At the station, my father was put into a cell. Everything was very quiet at first when suddenly Vincenzo started yelling. “Montresor! How could you?! We all loved Fortunato so much! And he was your best friend!” “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You don’t think I feel bad for what I did! I regretted it the moment I did it. I watched him die right in front of my eyes and I just left like nothing happened. I hated him for so long. He always made fun of me and he was so full of himself that I couldn’t take it anymore. But, as soon as I did it, something inside me died. Ever since then, I’ve never felt true happiness.” That last comment got to me. I guess I really didn’t bring much joy to my father. Vincenzo suddenly ran out with tears streaming from his eyes. 

I looked back at my father. After knowing everything now and how my father felt such hate and jealousy towards his once “best friend” just made me feel sorry for him. “Son, I know you’re disappointed with me. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for hiding this from all of you.” “Honestly father, I’m glad that I finally know the truth about your unhappiness. My whole life, you shut me out and this whole time, I thought it was because of me. If anything, I’m sorry I didn’t try harder to help you feel better. I forgive you Father. It’s been so long since then. I’ll always love you no matter what. Please just promise me that we can get through this together now. You’re not alone.” I just realized that I was talking for a while. I looked down and in shock, saw my father having what looked like a heart attack. “Vincenzo!!” Vincenzo came running and when he saw Montresor he ran saying he was getting a doctor. “Augustus. I’m so sorry you’ve felt like this all of your life. I’ve always loved you and I always will. Keep your friend Elisabeth close. I don’t ever want you to feel alone in this world.” “Don’t talk like this Father! The doctors are coming. Hold on for a little bit longer.” “I don’t think I’ll make it till then. It’s my time. I can feel it. Don’t be sad my son. Hearing you say that you forgive me and can still see me as a good man is all I needed to hear. Thank you Augustus, I love you.” “I love you too Fa-” 

Before I could get my words out, I saw my Father’s eyes close. I was devastated, but I also felt like my father was finally free from this terrifying burden. Maybe he can finally apologize to Fortunato. Even if this whole town turned against him, I’ll remember him as a good man in the end. “Rest in peace Father. Rest in peace.”

Lorenzo and I were invited by Luchesi to come and taste some of his new wines imported from Rome.  We made way to his pleasing store and Luchesi was also excited to see Lorenzo back from his journey.  We treaded into the ambrosial wine cache as we were greeted by Luchesi and six sample glasses of wine that were dragging us like a magnet to sit down at his limestone table top.  The heat from the fireplace created a cozy feel and a homey touch seeing the flames lick the wine perfumed air.  Lorenzo and I didn’t hesitate to taste Luchesi’s newly imported bodies wine.  At first sip the sweetness level balanced out well with the acidity levels and the well sat fruity flavor from the grapes.  With every sip more pleasing and complex than the other I redirected my attention to Lorenzo and Luchesi’s conversation on the man of Fortunato.  “I can’t believe you are still friends with that Fortunato, Montresor,” Lorenzo said.  “Yeah Montresor he is a real jerk when it comes to socialization,” Luchesi added.  “Well I must say it is getting harder and harder to deal with him.  All he does is insult you and joke about what you don’t have, there are days when I just want to punch him,” I snapped in anger.  “In this business, Montresor, everyone is out to get each other, he deserves a harsh punishment, I have performed many in the past,” Lorenzo uttered.  With Luchesi nodding and me a little disturbed I finished the wine and started processing Fortunato’s jokes and insults that were haunting me throughout the rest of the tasting.  As I trudged home that night looking for a distraction I caught a glimpse of Fortunato’s Wife taking a stroll through the streets.  “Ciao ma’am,” I greeted her.  “Ciao Montresor, my husband talks a lot about you and how dear friends you both are,” she replied.  “Well anything for Fortunato,” I said in disbelief.  “Well Fortunato has left again for a wine taste tonight, he wouldn’t give me the key to his wine safe so I will probably be going to find a glass tonight,” she said irritated.  “Well Fortunato trusts me with the key I can get the wine for you,” I offered.  “That sounds wonderful,” she said.  We then started to make our way to Fortunato’s machine to fetch his finest wine.     

I unlatched the wine cabinet and the hinges creaked as I clutched a bottle of Fortunato’s Wine and poured it into a clear glass as the wine settled at the bottom of the surface.  I swirled the wine to acess the legs of the wine and releasing the aromatic part of the wine.  I placed in the delicate hands of Fortunato’s Wife and she put the glass to her lips.  “Thank you so much, you care about my wine intake,” she chuckled.  “Well I hope you enjoy it,” I said as I enjoyed the wine with her.  “Is it just me or do you also think that Fortunato has changed,” she asked through curiously.  I then got flashbacks to all of Fortunato’s jokes and insults that made my teeth cringe and my blood pressure heighten.  “That’s not my place to say, but he has not recently become one of my favorite people,” I said carefully.  She then dropped the subject and began thanking me for my kindness.  All of a sudden I saw a flash of black and white go across the background of Fortunato’s house, I immediately was overcome by panic and I started to wonder if Fortunato was back and saw me with his wife.  All of a sudden we both heard the door to the house slam shut as if I was in a horror film.  We both made way to the front of the house and saw no one.  “This is getting freaky,” I stuttered.  “Oh it probably just the wind, lets head back to the wine bar,” she comforted.  With panic running through my veins I immediately wished his Wife a nice night and left the premises in fear of what was happening.  I sat down at a local bench to catch my breath before heading back home.  As I finally gained the confidence to stand up I began trudging back to my humble home.  As I began to approach my house there were red stains on the wood next to the door of my house.  I immediately raced to the door in worry and the only thing there to greet me was red paint smeared all over my family’s name/moral.  As my eyes followed the immature behavior, the paint flowed into the words; “Montresor’s family wine deserved to die, hahaha.”  I knew the person exactly who did this and my adrenalin sprung my hands turned to fists and I aggressively punched a hole right where those letters were written.  I knew Fortunato would deny this behavior because if his reputation but I had enough and I kept saying in my head; “Fortunato I am coming for you.” 

That night I was so caught up in hatred and anger and found myself knocking on Lorenzo’s door in hopes of advice.  “Lorenzo, he insulted my family name! I have had enough! He must be DEAD!” I shouted in anger through the walls of Lorenzo’s house.  “He finally pushed you too far, its about time,” Lorenzo smiled handing me a piece of paper.  I unfolded it and it showed an invitation to Fortunato’s Wine Tasting Celebration.  “This is it,” I smiled in darkness.  I said goodbye to my friend Lorenzo and went home planning for the perfect way for Fortunato to suffer just as long as I had suffered from his immature, irritable insults.  Every time Fortunato insulted me it felt like a dagger in my chest and it was finally time for him to pay the price.   

      Fortunato and I started to work on our business plans and the days felt like they never stopped. We would spend hours planning and calling agencies, it felt like I was never with my wife. My wife didn't seem to be affected by it but she did seem a little off. One day when Fortunato and I left my spooky old aged mansion by the woods, we went out to collect bricks and wood to build our very own wine cellar. Sweat and tears came out of both Fortunatos and My eyes from all the hard work we did that day. We started to return home and  I offered for Fortunato to stay living at my house until he starts to make money from the wine business for him to be able to find his own place. When arriving back home my wife tells me she wants to talk to me. We sit down in our bedroom and looks deeply into my eyes while her voice starts to crack she says “I'm tired of always seeing you with him, we barely even talk anymore”.My heart cracked I felt so bad she felt that way, I hugged her and said “Don't worry my darling, I will try and spend more time with you it's just Making this business from scratch isn't easy” I said. We went down to the kitchen and ate dinner. The next 3 weeks were dedicated to finishing building the wine cellar next to the house we live in, I wanted to make the interior just how I have my wine cellar in my underground room in my house. About 4 days pass and the interior was done. The next step was to do the outside, and that day Fortunato canceled on me. Again the next day. Finally, I had finished the Exterior of the Wine Cellar. The only thing now was to invent the different types of wines I wanted to produce and sell out to the People in this city. My wife, Fortunato, and I started to pick out different fruits and alcohols that took your breath away from how strong it was. We did this so that we could start the production of our wines. We found 3 perfect matches for our wines and just now we picked out  the names for each 3.My wife came up with “Velur”, Fortunato came up with” Bontii” and I Came up with “Sponterin”. I honestly found these names so unique and with only 2 months of our Wine business being open, our best-seller was the ‘Velur” wine. My wife and I start to notice some weird behavior coming from Fortunato. He was acting like this business was all his and was fighting about the percentages of income. I came up with a plan to hide all the money from the wine cellar and put it in a safe in my underground wine cellar. I figured he would never go into my underground cellar and if he did he doesn't know the code to the safe. My wife told me that night, that while I was showering and she was cooking she would hear this blaring noise coming from the house. We both suspected that Fortunato was up to something against me and our business. 

        I came to the conclusion that I couldn't trust my friend that I thought would never do me so dirty. I felt betrayed, angry, and let down. My own friend that I thought would rise with me in this business was planning to do something. My wife and I came up with a plan to leave the house and put Fortunato up to a trap and see if when we come back he's in my underground wine cellar trying to open up the safe or see if we see him searching for files or records of the company's earnings. After 5 hours of waiting, we go back home. When arriving we see the house a complete mess as if someone vandalized the house. We walk in and try to make the least amount of noise we can, walking around the house trying to find where he was. My wife finds him in my office sitting at my desk, stealing some money from the files. I checked my bank statement and saw that from a month ago I had someone take money out and it was Fortunato. At this point I was done with the lies, I made it seem like I didn't know what he was up to and came up with a plan for revenge. The very next night was gonna be the last day he would be alive. I don't let people walk over and use me as if I was some puppet. That morning, I told Fortunato that we were gonna have a meeting for our wine business. He suspected nothing. When the sky started getting pitch black and the moon was out like a flashlight I told him it was time for our meeting. We both walked to my underground wine cellar at home and as we sat I pulled out the Bontii wine and we started to drink. While he was drinking his wine I had but some powder pills to put him unconscious, then kill him. When I saw that he started to get messed up, I pulled out my hunting knife and stabbed him right in the heart .*Blood splashes* you hear the blood fall on the floor and his face turning white with time. I didn't feel any type of regret for a traitor like him. I went back up to my wife and told her to help me with the body as we needed to bury it behind the house in the woods. I remember after that, the wine business blew up and life was going great for me and my wife but I started to get some resentment from the murder of my so-called friend. I made Fortunato pay for what he did to me and my business during our “friendship”.

Over the years many of my friends and family have urged me to hold a funeral and get on with my life but I could not do it. How horrible would it be if I betrayed him in that way and then he returned? I couldn’t bear the thought. Somehow that has changed. Now I can not bear the thought of sitting in this large house with its damp smell and quiet halls that use to echo with laughter and voices. We had lovely parties here. The Fortunato’s parties, I am sure the town must still speak of them. People are always whispering when I am about now. I hope it is about the lively parties, how happy we were.

The funeral preparations have given me a slight distraction. There are many decisions to make. The coffin, the vault: Yes, I am still having both even though there is no body. It will be closed casket. My dreams of the life we could have shared will be stored inside. The flowers, the speakers, everything must be perfect. Oh, and then what to wear. Not that anyone will ever look at me the same way again. Nor do I desire to be looked at. I wish that I could be an invisible guest but I know that will be far from reality.

I was once very beautiful, or at least my husband thought so. Every morning Fortunato would whisper in my ear that my long blonde hair glisten in the sun as it draped across my high cheek bones like a painting he saw in the Louvre. Now there are silver streaks down the blonde locks as if to remind me of the tears that I have wiped from my face. I will pull it back tightly at the back of my neck. I will wear a black dress that I once wore to a concert with my husband. I remember the look on his face when he saw me. I am thinner, frailer, now. I will have to have it altered to fit properly. These details keep my mind occupied and less focussed on the reality of the impending date. 

Days past as all the details of my beloved husband’s funeral came together leaving me nothing more to do but wait. And then as if in a dream I opened the front door to a crowd of people who descended into my living room. The people looked young with color in their faces and quiet conversations falling from their lips. I shook hands, lots of hands. 

“I am so sorry for your loss,” said the man with the large strong hands.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Fortunato,” said a small pair of pink hands

“Darling, you are holding together so well. Do you need anything?” said a pair of hands with long, thin fingers.

“Mrs. F-f-f-or-tun-nat-nat -o. I, I  am very sorry for causing, em, I mean, for all th-that you have endured. I ad-admire your strength,” said a pair of wrinkled, callused, tanned hands.

I looked up at to see the face that spoke to me with this strange stutter. It was Montresor.

“Montresor. It has been five years since I have laid eyes on you. I am afraid time has treated you much the same as myself. I have often thought of you and wondered about the wine that my husband was so eager to try those five years ago. It is my last memory of him,” I said.

“Ah, yes, well, my m-memory is not s-so good now,” he replied.

“Do you still have a wine cellar with the best wines?” I asked

“I don’t know i-if they are t-the best. I, I d-don’t drink much anymore,” Montresor confessed.

“Well, I would drink more now than before if I had fine  wines in my cellar. I would love to taste the wine my husband was so curious about. In his memory, maybe we could taste it together.”

“I, I”  

“Oh please Montresor. Please tell me you won’t deny a widow a last toast to her husband?” I spoke with a louder voice. Guests were starting to notice our conversation and I could see whispers circulating the room. I felt an intensely uncomfortable shifting in Montresor face. Before giving him a chance to respond I said, “I will come to your home tonight and we will toast Fortunato together.”

Then the line of people continued to fill the room and shuffle into seats. The air becomes warmer and the fragrance from the flowers began to make me feel as if I might faint. I sat clutching my hands together waiting for the Priest to begin the process of ending all hope for Fortunato’s return. As words fell to the floor around me I could not make them out into any meaningful phrase. My body was present but I felt as though the rest of me had left. I was watching like a spirit in the room. I watched sweat run down the side on Montresor’s face. His suit was so well tailored it was almost as if he were in a straight jacket. His shirt was so white it hurt my eyes and I had to look away. 

As soon as the time came for me to stand and exit towards the caravan to the cemetery I search the room for Montresor. I could not find him. He left so quickly I did not have a chance to confirm our engagement for a toast. The rest of the day went by like a play that has been acted out hundreds of times before. I observed but my mind went back and forth between the last night I had been with my husband and the strange behavior of Montresor earlier that day. Something was wrong. No, everything was wrong. Was it me, or him, or was my mind trying to escape the reality of the funeral?

As everything returned to silence I sat down in the burgundy velvet chaise. I rubbed my hand across the velvet changing its color from slightly darker to lighter over and over again. The smell of the flowers still overtook the now empty room. It was a perfume that seemed intent on staying to force me to remember when all I wanted was to forget. I stood up suddenly. I must go taste the wine. I do not care about having an invitation. 

I walked through the dimly lit streets and enjoyed the feeling of being out of my home, especially in the night air. I felt a strange energy circulating in my body that I could not explain. The street lamps flickered creating a display of shadows that I could not stop myself from watching. Montresor, Monresor, I began repeating silently over and over. I wasn’t sure why and I didn’t feel completely in control of my mind at that moment. It was like I was being led. Led by something inside of myself.

I lifted the heavy cast iron knocker from the black door and let it fall. Knock. I lifted it again, knock. Then a surge of energy and I lifted it again and again and again and again. 

“Montresori Montresor, Montresor” came from my mind to my lips but there was no response at his door.

I put both of my hands on the large cold door knob and turned it. The tongue unlatched from the door frame and the weight of the door caused it to swing wide open. I entered uninvited and called, “Montresor, Montresor, it is Fortunato. I have come for wine.” I heard my voice float down the corridors like a spirit. It came back to me in a strange echo. A lower pitched echo returned, “Montresor, Montresor, it is Fortunato. I have come for wine.” There was no response. A moment of silence before a breeze knocked the front door against the wall. Bang, Bang, tap, tap , tap. It startled me, even frightened me but I called again.  “Montresor, Montresor, it is Fortunato. I have come for wine.” 

I took a few timid steps froward past the entrance and began looking to the right and left for any signs of life. Nothing. With my heart pounding audibly in my chest for the first time in years I began to move more quickly. Room to room I looked for someone that could direct me to the cellar until my eyes found the door. A door wide open with stairs leading down. Soft light glowed up from below drawing me towards it. I stepped on the first wood stair and it creaked beneath my foot. I felt a twinge of fear but decide that I must ignore it and take the stairs quickly.  “Montresor, Montresor, it is Fortunato. I have come for wine.” There was no response. I walked quickly down the corridors when I heard a sound. Chains? I wasn’t sure but I was not turning back. I moved as fast as I could on the uneven floor towards the sound.

When I reached a sharp turn in the cellar I came immediately upon a scene that I will only talk about this one time. There was a brick wall that had been broken down with a sledge hammer. Behind the loose bricks was Montresor chained to the wall. He looked me in my eyes and said, “Take these re- re- remains. I, I,  should have g-g-given them to you before the f-f-funeral rather than after but I am c-c-coward. Take the m-mason trowel and c-c-cement to seal the wall back leaving me here. P-p-please do as I ask.” Stunned, I took a moment to look around and try to understand what he was saying to me. “I, I  sealed your h-husband behind this w-w-wall five years ago. I left him here to d-die. I am a murder and I w-want to die the same way. I want to s-s-uffer the same way,” he said to me. 

I sat on the cold floor and looked at the bones in front of me. I looked at Montresor. Then without hesitation I stood and began sealing Montresor behind the wall. I had never done this type of physical labor but I felt a strength boiling up inside of myself that I had never felt before or again. After placing the last brick I ran through the cellar, up the stairs, and out the front door leaving it open behind me. I ran holding my skirt tightly in both hands. I ran straight here.

“Madame Fortunato, are you saying that Montresor killed your husband in his wine cellar five years ago and now you have taken revenge and killed Montresor?”

“No officer, I have not murdered Montresor. He is in his wine cellar behind a brick wall, locked in chains. You will find him there and he will confess.”

I stood and walked back to my home. I fell on the burgundy, velvet chaises and rubbed the fabric back and forth. Passing in the streets I could see lights, hear dogs barking, men on foot and horse. I laid back on the chaise and felt the velvet against my cheek. A few tears ran down my face and landed in the velvet making it wet. I put my hand over the wet spot and closed my eyes. I smelled the funeral perfume, floral and earthy.

 

Jason peered out the door connecting the kitchen to the dining room, there he saw Sir Montresor and Madame Fortunato, dining as Montresor gave her that same sad smile.  Jason held his breath as Montresor flinched, the Amontillado wine had just been brought out.  Montresor’s expression grew sour, no more smiles as his face struggled to keep up the facade, you could almost hear him call out in a commanding voice ”Who authorized this!?” yet he didn’t, he kept his calm and sent the fakest smile towards Madame Fortunato, a smile only a fool would believe.  Something Madame Fortunato was not.   She in return sent a sympathetic smile as not to alarm the other guests.
 
 The dinner, aside from that mishap had gone well, and Jason
couldn't get the that wall out of his mind.  So, while the household was
sleeping, he grabbed some tools from the masonry made his way to that wall in the wine cellar.  He worked quietly and quickly as not to draw attention.  He flinched every time he made a loud noise, covered his lantern, and remained
quiet and alert until he was sure any danger of being caught.  Again, his mother’s words rang in his ear, as he again reassured himself in a quiet whisper,” Good thing I’m not a cat.”  Soon enough there was a hole big enough to fit through.  He grabbed his lantern and crawled through. His eyes were soon well adjusted and what he saw sent a shock down his spine.
 
 His heart was racing as he stared at the scene in front of him.  A decomposed corpse sat
slumped on the floor, chains that seemed to be cut through were still attached to the corpse’s wrists, in this corpse’s hands were a sharp piece of glass, the same one used to dig those holes in the brick, he soon realized all of those stains were blood.  Jason was absolutely mortified. Who was this? He dared
not touch the body.  He took in the skeleton’s appearance.  A million thoughts raced through his mind, one in particular screamed out.  It was the story in that old newspaper he read about, the jester costume matched the one in the descriptions perfectly.  This could only mean he got his answer to that terrible question.  This man was Sir Fortunato.  
 
 His mind felt jumbled, how could this happen, the best friend
of Sir Montresor was left locked in his cellar to die for fifty years.  Everything clicked into place, even the smile on the old man’s face now felt sinister.  He needed to go to the police, but who would they believe, a servant boy or a kindly old man who may have been
that corpse's friend.  
  
 Days passed as he steeled himself for what he needed to
do.  On his day off, he walked to the police station as his hands
trembled.  Yet he mentally reminded himself he was doing the right thing.  "Can I help you young man?" the kindly officer asked.  "Umm, I, well." He took a deep breath and started again
"My name is Jason Dean, I am a servant from the Montresor mansion, I-I came to request that you reinvest-reinvestigate the missing case of Sir Fortunato, I
thi- I think I found his body! I was at work and I stumbled across a huge wall in the Montresor wine cellar, when I managed to get behind the wall I found a dead body in a jester costume, I was terrified so I came here for help." As he spoke the words just began pouring out, he managed to get the
words out without stuttering too much. The office looked at him with softened eyes and then spoke, "Thanks kid, you did the right thing coming here, we'll send some men to investigate."  The turned around to bark orders at the surrounding officers, effectively scaring everyone within a few feet, including Jason.
 
 A week had passed and Jason hadn’t heard back from the
officer, he began to worry that they didn’t believe him, then the next morning a few offices appeared at the door with a search warrant in hand.  They walked over to Jason and asked in a gentle voice that he lead them to the site of the body.  Once confirming, they brought Sir Montresor in for questioning, He wasn't scared, in fact he seemed relieved, according to the gossiping maids he admitted to everything.  Weeks have passed, and Sir Montresor is
in prison.  He truly did admit to the crime and didn't struggle or put up
a fight as he was led away.  He just smiled that same creepy reminiscent smile.  Nevertheless, Jason's actions did have consequences (dirty looks from the other ex servants, to name one).  Many of the Montresor servants must search for new jobs, but he can rest easy knowing that he did the right thing right thing.  And he already has one prospective job in mind, he is determined to put that mind to work and become a detective, it might be a strange and possibly dangerous job, so it’s a good thing he’s not a cat. 
 
 

The smell of crimson rust filled my nose. It was almost unbearable in the vault. I did not even open my eyes to feel the burgundy liquid underneath my feet. I felt the damp wall underneath my hand. There was no noise besides my heavy breathing. However, I couldn’t open my eyes. I don’t know why. My heart felt like it was constricting. My chest is squeezing the air out of my lungs. Is this what guilt feels like? Do I feel guilty? Didn’t I do the right thing?I couldn’t breathe and my head started to hurt from all the thinking. I slowly slide down the rough wall. In this moment, I couldn’t see or hear or feel. I was a victim to my thoughts. 

 

“Stop! Make it stop!,” I yelled.

 

I needed to get out. I slowly got up, but my heart and chest wouldn’t stop racing. My heart and chest were running a marathon. I slowly looked at Fortunato. To another person he would appear to be sleeping if they didn’t see the blood seeping from his wound. The wound that I had inflicted.

 

“What did I do?,” I whispered to myself in disbelief.

 

My legs had a mind of their own. I don’t remember bolting out of the vault.  I remember the shadows that passed me on the wall as I ran up. I remember the way the air felt lighter. If only my emotions could feel the same. After, decades I manage to reach the door of the vault. The doorknob felt like a weight was placed on it. I looked back down the stairs. Fortunato was still down there. No one would know what happened to him, but me. I stood there staring for a couple more seconds. Didn’t I do the right thing? Then why am I still here?

 

“Open the door and you will see that this was how it was meant to be,” a voice whispered.

 

I whip my head to look around me. Wasn’t I alone down here? In the end I opened the door in a panic. Light filled my vision. It took some time for my eyes to adjust to its new surroundings. There was a cobblestone path. There were vast store carts and shops around. Nobody was around. Nobody would catch me now. Today was Sunday. That meant that everyone would be at church. For the second time that day, my legs worked before my mind could. In a span of two seconds, I was magically at my door. I frantically searched my pockets for my key. My fingers grazed something metallic. I quickly pulled it out and fumbled to open my door. The door opened and I raced inside. My house is heaven. No one could touch me in my house. 

 

I head to my washroom. I need to get rid of the stench of blood. That way I could forget what I did. The walls are aged. There are yellow stains on the wall to show how long the house had been here. There are a couple of buckets full of clean water that I boiled beforehand. The water is safer to bath yourselves in that way. I disrobe and start to clean myself with the rag. The water starts to turn a light rose color. The blood was starting to leave my skin. I could still smell the metallic rust from the blood. I was starting to hate the smell of it. It never bothered me until now. It could be because I never inflicted pain on anybody until now. I would think it, but I would never act. Once I finally get rid of the blood and in new clothes I head to my bed. There is a thin rough sheet on a creaky bed. Once I lay down, sleep overtook me.

 

“You did it, dear boy. I am so proud. You got rid of the nuisance without a sound”, a voice whispered.

 

I walked in the darkness not knowing where to go. I didn’t seem to be getting anywhere so I stopped.

 

“Who are you?” I asked.

 

“I am you. You are me. We work in perfect harmony,” the voice replied.

 

“You are the voice that I heard in the vault,” I concluded.

 

“Yes, I am. You are indeed smart. We were meant to be from the start,” the voice continued. 

 

“Why did you show up now?” I questioned. 

 

“There are more you see that have damaged your pride. It is time to get revenge so don’t cry. Paint them just like Fortunato in a red hue,” the voice answered.

 

“No! I don’t want to kill!” I desperately exclaimed.

 

“You will Montressor! You will Montressor! You will! Montressor” the voice chanted. 

 

In that moment, I opened my eyes to see my dark wood ceiling. I was dripping in a cold sweat. My heart was racing again. My breathing was rapid and shallow. 

 

“I am still here. I will never leave. This is what you are meant to be,” the voice started again.

 

“Go away! Get out of my head!” I retorted. 

 

“There is no escaping me. For I am you and you are me,” the voice continued.

 

I needed to make the voice go away. I remember that Fortunato would always drink. He was addicted to wine. Alcohol will drown my sorrows away. It can fix me. I head out the door. There was a pub near my house. Not many go there. I look at the sun to see it is late afternoon. People would be there soon so I better hurry.

 

Once I got into the pub, I head straight to the bar. The bartender looked at me as I approached. 

 

“What will it be?” the bartender asked.

 

“Vodka,” I answered.

 

The bartender nodded and handed me a glass. I drank the clear liquid as it burned down my throat. I kept ordering glass after glass. My vision started to get hazy. I couldn’t sit up right. I saw dots clouding my vision.

 

“Silly boy, now you set me free,” the voice commented. 

 

I blacked out after. I don’t know what I was doing. I don’t remember how it happened. My vision started to clear up. My head was ponding. I was run over by a car for sure. That would be the best-case scenario. When my vision was no longer impaired, I saw blood on my hands. There were covered in cherry red. In one of my hands was a large shard of glass. I immediately dropped it on the floor. I looked around me. I was besides piles of garbage. The smell was horrendous. I could also smell rotting. It was very apparent. I followed the stench to the far end of the alley. There was a lot of fog because it was very early in the morning by the rise of the sun. I saw a body laying beside the building. It was small. As I kept getting closer dread started to consume me. It was a young lady. She had brown hair that was pinned up in curls. She was wearing a beige dress that made her look like a doll. She had very pale skin. She was also covered in blood. The young woman had slash marks on her chest and arms. She was covered in them. I remember the blood on the glass shard. I did this. I killed her. I let out a loud scream. Tears were coming out of my eyes. She was innocent. 

 

I immediately hear the commotion outside of the alleyway. I need to hide the body. There was not much around me that I could use. There was only the pile of garbage. I immediately drag her body in the garbage. I surround her in it. It could at least hide the smell until I found out what to do.

 

“What are you doing?” a young man said behind me.

 

I whipped my head around. I was filled with panic. The young man was looking at me in horror. He looked down at my clothes and gasped. I didn’t know what he was looking at until I looked down. I was covered in the young girl’s blood. 

 

“Please! I didn’t mean it,” I begged.

 

“Help! Somebody help! There is a killer!”  the young man screamed.

 

I immediately bolt out of the alleyway. I need to hide. I heard quick footsteps behind me. I somehow managed to dodge the people the are starting there day. I listen to the many gasps as I race down the street. I couldn’t go home. Before I could think of a plan, I am tackled to the ground.

 

“You are under arrest!” a guard exclaims above me.

 

“I didn’t mean it,” I plead.

 

“Silence!” the guard hisses in my face.

 

My body just gave up. I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. Was this god’s punishment? Am I paying for 
my sins?

 

“Silly boy, you set me free. Now it is forever you and me,” said the voice.

     I will not turn around and say it is a joke like he would. I am nothing like him! After, I get out of this vault I will let his wife know I have not seen him for a long period of time and she will start to worry but I will be a shoulder for her and she will finally love me. I get lost in my thoughts when I suddenly hear footsteps behind me. They’re coming fast and sound heavy. The sound echoes off the walls of the cave and my breath starts to get heavy. I can hear my heart beating and I start to shake. I spin around so fast I get dizzy and fall backwards. I squeeze my eyes shut and prepare for what I may see when I open them. I decide that will open them slowly so can process what will be there. As I open my eyes, I see nothing, there is literally nothing there. But the footsteps were real, I know they were, they had to be. I put my head against the cold smooth stone and try to regulate my breathing. I think to myself, “Montresor, get ahold of yourself, think about her and how you will become hers once you get out of here, do not give up now!!”. I get up slowly and start trudging forward again. I start to feel guilty and regret my decision, but I know its too late to turn back now. He has to be gone by now. There’s no saving him, the deed is done. Why did I do this? I let my emotions get the best of me. I cannot go back, I can’t change my mind, I don’t think I understood the severity of my decision. I have to keep going though. I will gain the whole nation, come on Montresor keep going. I feel like I am drowning, and my thoughts and I need to break free. That’s when I heard it, the distraction I needed to get away from my thoughts. It’s a loud scraping noise, almost like chains being dragged and then I remember Fortunato was left in the vault with a chain. Is he coming, is he following me, does he know my plans? I don’t know what to do. Maybe I am imagining it, I keep walking. I try to control my breathing by breathing with each step I take. I continue listening and the sound is still there. This is when I decide to turn around, I turn and see nothing there. How can there be nothing? The sound was clear, it was obvious, there is something going on here.

     I am unsure of what I am experiencing but something isn’t right. I have to get my thoughts collected. I lay face down on the cold stone and breathe. I tell myself I will not get up until my head is clear. I start to doze off and just allow myself to sleep, I know I need it in order to get out of here. 

“Montresor rise!”

     I wake up to someone yelling at me. I look around and no one is here. I start to panic once again and jump and start pacing. I run and continue running without looking back. AT this point I have no clue where I am going, or which direction is correct. I just keep running and I come to a dead end. Ughhh! Just my luck. I can not catch a break; I can’t do right. I am never going to get out. Nor do I know if I even want to. That’s when the thought that’s been lingering in the back of my head makes its debut. Do I want to leave? I mean, I killed a man, I am a cold-blooded killer. Maybe, I don’t deserve to leave. Maybe, this is my fate, maybe I am stuck here forever. No snap out of it, you will become in charge of the kingdom, you will marry the love of your life, your life will be incredible. This is just a hurdle, this is just a speed bump, now you need to get out of here and claim the life you deserve. 

     I think about where I came from and which way the exit may be, and I start walking towards a familiar looking rock. I realize I am at the vault where I left Fortunato. Okay, I know where I am, I just need to go straight from here. I start trudging forward but hear pounding on the door to the vault. He is still alive! He is in there! I can fix this; I can fix all of it. I move the bones and pull open the door to see… He is laying there lifeless. He is jot moving and has a mortified look frozen on his face. I should not have opened that door. I should not have come back. This will haunt my dreams forever. I don’t think I can go on. Before I know it, I am banging my head on a wall and I feel myself fall to the ground and lose consciousness. I know I am not leaving this vault as there is not enough oxygen for me to survive. I say a quick farewell to the world and allow myself to fall out of consciousness with a vision of the last time I saw her in my head. 

            He sighed and got up, and just for safety he looked through the peephole at the door. Surprised, he goes to the back of the house, it was a man named Rexer. He was the person he blamed for the murder of Fortunato. Rexer knocked pounded the door even louder and Montresor grabbed his bag and left through the backdoor. “Montresor!” Rexer yelled. Montresor looked back to make sure he was not there and started running towards the rural area to a shed he owns. The shed is near his friend Varillo that can help him hide from Rexer while he gathers some stolen gold to convince Rexer to leave him in peace. Montresor used the other houses to get around and try not to be seen by him, but he was already right behind him with an aggressive expression. “I’m not going to let you get away this time, you tainted my reputation and ruined my relations!” I looked back in a bit of guilt; I know he is a good guy, but I just could not face the consequences. I did not say anything and focused on getting to the shed in time. I went intoVarillo’s house and told him to hold off the person at the door while het gathers everything. I dropped my bag and headed towards the shed in the back.

            Rex knocked on the door, “Excuse me sir, I need to enter your house for a moment.” Confused Varillo replied with, “And why would I let you enter my home? Who even are you?” Varillo stepped closer and said, “That man I just saw go inside, is not the man you think he is. That man is responsible for the murder of Fortunato and blamed me for it! He needs to pay for what he did and go to prison himself.” Varillo paused and before he could say anything else Rex just barged right in. Montresor faced Rex and put his hand in the air, “Before you do anything unnecessary, I have a proposition. I will give you forty-five pounds of gold which will be worth over a million dollars. And in return, you must say nothing about the real perpetrator.” Varillo was very confused about the whole situation and looked at Montresor with a serious look. “What is this man talking about? What perpetrator?” Montresor paused for a moment and thought about whether he should tell him or not. As he was going to say something somebody else entered the room. “Elizabeth what took you so long?” asked Rex. “Well if you would have waited for me, I would already have been here.”

            Elizabeth walked to be beside rex, and with this other person who seemed to be with him, Montresor could possibly convince him even more. “How about it, we are all quite old here about 70 or so. Why don’t we all spend our lives in riches instead of worrying about this. We are not going to get any younger and because you went to prison you did not earn much money. I am sure you and your lover would prefer to live in comfort and be able to provide everything for each other.” Montresor was very confident in his argument now; he was very positive that he was almost in the clear. However, he would end up losing a lot of gold. But that is ok because he is a very good thief. “I know what I did but I’m not a bad guy, and I am now a man of my word.” Rex scoffed and said, “ for some reason I am doubtful of that, moreover, maybe if you spare a little more gold, we might have a deal” Elizabeth looked at him surprised. She told him that it was dishonest and not like him at all. They whispered quietly for a few minutes and Montresor was quite nervous. 

            After a while of discussing they came to an agreement and accepted the deal. Little did Montresor know that they would end up taking the money and kidnapping him, turning him into the police. After the investigation and interrogations Montresor was arrested. He revolted in anger until the day he died, whilst Rexer lived in riches and happiness. 

Several years pass, Montresor now has a family with 2 children and a beautiful wife. Life is good for Montresor. He still lives in the same town in Italy and has moved to a bigger home. Montresor however has developed a vast  guilty consciousness. He no longer drinks alcohol and hasnt gone down to the catacombs since the killing of Fortunato. Today was the day he said that he would go back and will have a sip of his wine again. Montresor went down there with the hope of drinking the wine so that it will make him feel better and get rid of this guilty conscious that he has. Montersor is back in the catacombs and has a glass of Amontillado in his hand. As he drinks it he remembers the last person who ever drank this wine was Fortunato. He then slowly walks to the brick wall where he knows Fortunato’s body is. As he touches the cold wall he senses immense guilt. Montresor finishes his glass of Anontilado and grabs the rest of his wine and deems to never come back here again. As he rushes back to his house with his wine and places it in a safe area in his house. He then throws away the bottle of Amontillado. His wife is very suspicious of him all of a sudden Montersor has all this liquor that came from no where and cannot stop drinking. 

Montersor has been drinking for weeks now his wife says to him “perché stai bevendo così tanto dopo essere stato sobrio per così tanto tempo” (translation why are you drinking so much after being sober for so long) Montresor responds in Italian that he did something very bad and cannot get over it. 

Two decades pass. Montersor is getting old and only has so much longer to live. Montersor wishes he could undo what he had done, it haunts him everyday. Montersor is now an alcoholic and has been drinking nearly a bottle a day of anything he can get his hands on. Montersor’s kids are now adults and his wife left him 10 years ago she only stayed with him till then for the childrens sake. Montersor sold him home and is now living in the catacombs he is old and has a lot of time to think. Montersor then understands that this here is his karma for what he has done to Fortunato he will die a lonely sick man. Montersor visits both his sons from time to time however they are greatly suspicious of him after what their mother told them. Therefore Montersor doesn’t visit often to avoid all the questions. Montersor sleeps in his wine celery in the catacombs with a sip of wine next to him at all times. 

A year passes and Montersor is in even worse condition. Montersor is very weak and doesn’t ever want to eat. While he is out and about on a cold cloudy day looking for some more liquor he then has a seizure. He is taken to the local town doctor and is sitting in a bed. Montersor’s family is notified of his seizure. As the doctor is doing his final examination he then comes to the assumption that it is a liver failure. Montersor is sitting on his deathbed and now all he can think about is what is going to happen to him next. Where is he going to go. Will he be punished further? Then his family walks in. His wife who he hasn’t seen in 6 years and his two sons. Montersor was happy to see them. Montersor started to talk but later passed half an hour later with his last words being the ending of him telling the story of The Cask of Amontillado.

4 years later... I am sitting in the kitchen with my family. I am just living life and not thinking about really anything. I live in Italy and I have two amazing children. I have worked on not drinking alcohol and that has helped me cope with guilt and sadness. I had told myself years ago that I will never step foot back into the crypt, but today is when I am going down there. I have plans to drink and to not feel guilt. I find myself in the catacomb thinking about who was the last one who drunk my wine and that was Fortunato. I am not getting curious. I wonder if Fortunato’s body is still here. I start to walk over to the wall and all of a sudden, I feel like a terrible person. 

When I get home, my wife says to me, “why are you doing this to yourself?” “You have worked so hard to quit and now you have relapsed.” At this point I didn’t care because I have held in so much guilt over the years and it’s all coming out now. I decided to sit down with my wife and tell her what happened in my past. 

 

The catacombs were damp, cold, and full of nitrate. Montresor felt a cold breeze whiff right through his clothes. He felt as if death was calling him. Soon as Montresor tried to leave Fortunato, he hears the rain pouring from above him. Suddenly, a huge wave comes sweeping into the catacombs and straight to Montresor. He tried running for his life, but it was too late. He starts drowning, and drowning. Just as he tried to swim up to catch a breath of fresh air, it was too late.

 

Several hours later, a cracking noise was heard in the catacombs. Fortunato was breaking out of the barrier that Fortunato made. The huge waves must have greatly damaged the barrier. Fortunato was angry, hungry, and recovering from a hangover. He knew when he broke free, he was going to make Montresor pay for what he done. Just as soon as Fortunato broke free, he sees Montresor, dead, on the ground.

Later that night I was getting ready for bed when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it’s the maid I go and open the door, but when I open it there was no one outside. That’s when I hear it. The sound of bells coming from somewhere in the house. thinking nothing of it I head back into my room and go to sleep. The next day I asked the maid if she came to my last night and where the bells were coming from. But to my surprise, she knew nothing of this. She said that she was asleep all night and that no one had bells in the house. Now I start to panic. Did Fortunato escape? No, it can’t be but I must make sure. I rush down to the crypts to where I last saw him. To my delight, I found that the wall was still up and that non of the stones were moved. Satisfied that with what I saw I had back upstairs. 

I woke up to a strange sound coming from downstairs. I reached to the side and lit the candle. Grabbing the candle as I walking out the door, I head downstairs. The sound is coming from the door leading to the crypts below the house. As I go to open the door wider a loud voice shouts, "AMONTILLADO". I drop the candle and bolts for my room. An hour past and the was no sound to be heard. Too scared to move I fell asleep. I wake up and am surprised to find that it’s still dark outside. As I go to open the blinds, I see that someone else is in the room with me. The shadow calls out in a loud voice "NOW YOU WILL FEEL WHAT I FELT THAT DARK NIGHT". I felt my heart stop. I know that voice. It was Fortunato. But he was dead, and what did he mean by that, “you will feel what I felt.” panicking I open the blinds only to find that the window has been bricked over. In a rush, I head to the door and found that that to have been sealed. I was trapped and cursed to die the same way that I killed Fortunato.

 Against my will I took Fortunato up on his offer for a few days of enjoyment. He had been desiring to go to Paris and thought it would be good for me since I am, as he says, too uptight. Though Paris is my favorite city and fall is my favorite time of year, this trip has been miserable. Fortuanto is a bafoon and his endless foolishness is exhausting. Along the narrow streets, I have tried to get away from him to visit the quaint cafes and bookstores but he always manages to find me and ruin my mood by acting like an unruly child . I hate that I can't ever stand up to him and I suppose that is why he finds me such an easy victim for his pranks. Today I do not plan on allowing him to spoil my evening of going to the theater and enjoying a walk along the water in the twilight. 

 Fortunato said, “I have plans for us tonight. I met two Parisians who are having a masquerade tonight and we are invited.” I had no intention on spoiling my plans to go to another event where everyone is drinking and acting like fools. For once I stood up to Fortunato. I said, “not tonight, my dear friend, I have made plans to see a show and enjoy the city at night.” Fortunato laughed and mocked me for trying to be “high class”. He bowed down to me and called me your highness. I almost gave in to him but I stood my ground, got ready and left on foot to the theater. It was an informal show of performers in a relaxed atmosphere and most enjoyable. Midway through the show the performers invited people on the stage to participate. Suddenly I was chosen to go up on stage and help perform an improved skit. I resisted at first, but the performer insisted and would not leave me alone.It turned out to be the most fun and I was enjoying myself. The performer fluttered around me and I interacted back as the audience laughed. Suddenly, the performer unexpectedly pulled down my trousers and left me on the stage in my undergarments and socks. The crowd roared with laughter and I stood there frozen and embarassed like a child caught in the cookie jar. I wondered how this could be part of the act. Off to the side of the stage, I heard a loud ruckus. There was Fortunato with a group of people laughing and carrying on like jackels over the wonderful prank they manged to pull off. Apparantly one of the people Fortuanto met was a performer at the theater and arranged the prank. He actually left his party to come ruin my evening. I quickly gathered myself and ran off the stage in shame. I headed back to the hotel passing the lovely sight of the river with the street lamps glowing on the surface. I passed happy people enjoying coffee and pastries on the side of the street. I was defeated yet again by Fortunato. Later in the evening Fortunato returned drunk to the hotel room. “Was that a great show or what?” he said while slurring his words and cackling. “Yes, your finest work yet,” I said. He had no remorse or even cared of the pain and embarrassment he caused me. This is not a friend, this is a rotten relationship and I want out. It was at that moment that I decided that was the last time I will take any of his abuse and disrespect. I planned my revenge as I lay in bed not able to sleep. When we get back to Italy, Fortuanto will never again make a fool out of me. I will pull of the ultimate prank on him enough to scare the devil himself. 

 The next day Fortunato slept late as usual and I used the time to flesh out my plans. I went to the corner bakery and ordered a latte and a pastry and sat by myself. While enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery I thought about how many years I have taken Fortuantos abuse and all the things he has done to me over time. I did not realize exactly how angry I have been. I am more motivated than ever for revenge. I settled on when and how I would enact my plan. There was a party coming up back at home and it will be there that I will exact my revenge. I planned the timing and what materials I would need. It is all set. I returned to the hotel to prepare to leave. Fortunato was awake and collecting his belongings to prepare for the trip home. He said nothing about last night. It would not surprise me if he did not even remember how he humiliated me. That is typical of him. We exchanged pleasantries, spoke of nothing important and headed to the street to get a taxi to the train station. He was quiet as he always is after a night of drunkedness. I was fine not to speak of anything with him because I was reliving my plans over and over again. I stared out the window watching the scenery go by in a streak as he slept. I delighted in the thought that is the last time he will enjoy such a restful, deep sleep.

"Montresor you sneaky, sneaky man." Giovanni is meeting with me. I just told him what I did to Fortunato. Giovanni doesn't know how to react to it but I can tell he is just trying to play it cool. "I trust that you will not tell anyone about this." Giovanni looks at me in the eyes and says, "Your secret is safe with me." I was worried he was going to tell someone, but it is years later there was no proof I was down there then. Right now we're going on a walk. Giovanni seems mysteriously quiet. I want to break the silence, "so are you going to the party tonight?" Giovanni, "I was, but it is at the same place as Fortunato. Is that not weird?" I do not understand how that is weird but I go along with it, "I can see how you may think it is weird."

Giovanni, "let the party be at my house." I get this overwhelming feeling of worriedness and say, "no no no it can not be at your house. It is too late to change the venues. You will have to get over what I said." The truth is I want to check on Fortunato. I know he is dead but I want to see if anyone has found him. It will be suspicious if I walk into the house but if we have a party there then I can sneak away. I said the party was to make him come home because people think he has run away. Now Giovanni and I know the truth. But is he strong enough to hold the truth? We shall see tonight. Maybe he will break and tell everyone. I should move the body just in case. That is it, that is my plan I am moving his body tonight during the party. No one should know.

Giovanni, "look at those beautiful flowers. I shall pick some for the party. I can give them out to every beautiful woman I see." "Good idea." I said knowing this will give me more time to plan how I will get Fortunato out of the cellar. Today the sun is brighter than ever so I am sitting my back to the sun. There are ants crawling all over my shoes but that is the least of my problems. I need to focus on how I will get him out. Do I need tools? Giovanni later comes back to me with a bunch of flowers. So many that it blocks his face when he holds them out. I see red roses and pink and white carnations. "Those are beautiful."

It is night time now and I am home preparing for the party later. I have on a black outfit and a nice white hat. Going into my fridge I look at all of the wines I have. Confidently I say, "I will bring the rose for the party." This is my favorite Rose and I have invited Luchesi and I care very much about what he thinks. 

I have arrived at the party. I see Luchesi and all of a sudden grow very excited! "Hello, Luchesi! Try my Rose please?" I bow down and hold the Rose bottle above my head. Luchesi says yes and opens it. Everyone around him cheers and they all pour the Rose into their wine glasses. I see Giovanni walking with three other people and I head towards him. "Giovanni! Luchesi enjoyed my Rose! You have to try some of my wine!" The other people turn their heads away from me in disgust. I didn't know they hated wine that much. Giovanni says, "no thank you another time Montresor." That was weird. First off I never see him with other people and second, he declined my wine. Maybe he is having a bad day. I bid them farewell and walk over towards Luchesi and his friends. I can already see half of my wine is gone. "so I take it you all enjoyed my wine?" Some of Giovanni's friends whisper something to the group of friends and they gasp. One of the people standing around me says, "your wine was the most disgusting thing I have ever had!" Another person picks up the wine and throws it on the ground. I have never been so hurt. I guess it is never right to assume things.

Now is the time. Obviously, no one wants to see me after the wine incident. Now is the time I get his body out of the cellar. Walking down into the cellar I hear noises and footsteps. I rush down to see Giovanni and his patrons digging through the stone wall. I have been deceived! "What is this?" I said with great anger. Giovanni, "I am deeply sorry but I had to tell people. You should not walk away unpunished from this crime!" The people behind him cheer as they break a hole through the wall. They each crawl in there to look for the body. Giovanni and one other person stay out by me and await a response from the people inside. Giovanni, "did you find the body?" There is a long silence. 

They walk out of the room and look at me. They all bow down as they apologize for thinking I would ever do something as bad as murder someone. I say hurt, "Giovanni this was a test of friendship and you failed! How could you think I would murder someone?" Giovanni looks at me shocked and is at a loss for words. "please leave me and Giovanni to talk." They all walk away. As soon as I know they are gone I push Giovanni into the room. Chaining him up I say, "of course I moved the body before the party. I knew not to trust you. I was right!" Giovanni, "but I do not understand. You murdered Fortunato and now you are leaving me here?" I was right not to trust him.

I had finally awoken right where I had fallen. I could not tell how much time had passed nor how much farther I had to go. My head was pounding and my heart was racing. Something felt different. It felt as if I was being possessed, like I had no control over myself. I stood up leaning on the walls of the vault for support. I was able to recognize where I was now. Yes… it was where Fortunato began to have a bad cough. I must be close I thought, it must not be that farther to go. I was walking briskly along the widened area when suddenly I did not recognize where I was. I had not taken a wrong turn… or did I. I panicked and ran back to where I had just come from but nothing looked familiar. The walls seemed to cave in. It began getting dark again and so I sat on the ground of the vault. I put my head in my hands and tried to think of how to get back home. Suddenly I had a urge to cough, but it did not stop. It was a cough worse then even Fortunato had. I began to worry, I could not get back and I could barely walk, see, hear, or even breath. 

I decide I would keep going. The walls have taken in and trapped moisture making it very humid, this did not help my cough nor did my breathing. I began to look around to see if anything looked familiar but nothing did. All the paths looked the same. The walls with the nitre. The bricks along  the vault’s pathways all looked the same as well. Once being a bright red they had now turned a dark grey from dirt and dust. The cries of Fortunato had still been ringing in my ear. Overtime I would blink I could see him chained to the wall. I could not believe it, it was almost as if I had regretted it. Was it not worth the revenge? I can not bare the though that I have killed someone just because of revenge! Then suddenly I had fallen to the cold ground, where the once red bricks were now grey. Just like that everything went black. But this time when I awoke something was different, I felt what I did to Fortunato was wrong. Then in and instance I knew the reason I got lost in these tunnels was not because I did not know my way. Not because it was dark or the fact that I to had a bad cough. It was karma. 

But still I got up. I hoped that recognizing  what I had done to be bad would be enough for a second chance. So I began walking again, I did not know where I was going but I hoped that I could be forgiven.  That maybe somehow I would have clarity and the walls would seem to open up and say “this way”. That somehow my cough would disappear, that I could see and walk like I had before. That I could stop hearing the poor cries of Fortunato and his moments before death.  And at once it did. I stood tall, I could hear the water trickle from the caves, I could see ahead of me, breathing was a problem of the past. I felt better then before I had come into the vault. I ran past the walls and my feet pounding into the bricks like a horse galloping through an open field. Suddenly I new where I was going, I had never been this way before but I just knew. I saw stairs, and at the top of the stairs there was an opening. Light beamed through, the rays felt warm against my skin and almost healing the traumas of the day behind me. 

It seemed as though there were hundreds of steps to this staircase although there are about 15. As I stood at the bottom I felt thankful that after all my mistakes I could have a second chance. I took the first step and right before my other foot stood on this step it all came back. The cries were louder, my legs were shaking, my eyes filled with black smoke. I tried to run up the steps although I could not. There was wind this time, blowing me back down the steps as I reached the top. Once again I fell with only 3 steps to go I looked up and saw the sun. Knowing I was never going to make it out of the vault I just sat and felt the warmth on my skin again. Then fortunates cries stoped but it was replaced with a voice saying “you will always get back what you have given”. Knowing that my fate would be the same as the man that I had killed I closed my eyes. The voices and cries went away, and so did I. 

 

Here I sit at a table for two in the wine cellar. I have opened the Amontillado and poured as always two glasses. The table is covered in green mold from the dampness and my torch flickers from the stale air. I can remember the beginning when I would come back each year to share a glass with my dear Fortunato. This occurred for ten years until I could no longer bare the thoughts of what had happened here that fateful night. Each time in the past I swore I heard a slight tinkering of a bell and I would sit up straight and then realize of course he was gone and with him he took the laughter. Even if the laughter was at my expense, in forethought it really was not that bad, never worth my deep revenge. I have not been back in forty years all I see now is more cobwebs and rats scurrying around and the smell, oh the stale deathly smell. Across from me is the fateful wall that encases my friend. Surrounding him are the others that are buried here why would I even think that a place of death should also store the wine seems wrong now somehow. Yet maybe it is for others unlike me to be able to share a glass while reflecting on memories with the ones you have loved and lost. “Or taken, way to soon before their time.” The catacombs such a strange place for the dead to rest. They should be in the sunshine resting under a tree instead of the dank darkness, such a fate no wonder all fear death. How could I have committed my friend to this and knowing he was alive; my cruelty is beyond measure. I have deserved all that life as tossed out to me for my deception and secretary. 

 

Tonight, feels different as it should be it has been so many years gone past. “What was that? Is my mind playing tricks on me?” The bell made the tickle sound and grew louder. Suddenly a foggy mist appeared, and my torch nearly went out. The veil of mist settled down in the chair across from me and began to form to a person. My old eyes are working against me in this light or could it be the wine? I blink and blink again and clearly now in the mist is my friend Fortunato, how can this be? He is not speaking but gesturing with his hands for me to continue with my thoughts or had I been talking out loud? I do not know what he wants from me, from him I would love forgiveness, but knowing I do not deserve that from him forever. So, I tell him of what has happened to his family and to me over the fifty years. He looks concerned until the conversation is about me and he shakes his head. I understand my fate was chosen fifty years ago due to ill chosen revenge. Apologizing for it being so long since I last visited and explaining that tonight would be the last night, but I would not be returning. I take a zip of the wine and offer him his glass he waves me on. Again, I see the gesture of his hand for me to continue. I explain my life has lost its joy without him and I would give anything to have him once again trip me as I entered a room. Once again, I offer him his glass and he passed by holding his hand as if to say no. 

 

It seems like hours have past and though so sad it is the happiest that I have been in years, I am with my friend though thin as a veil and not speaking, I can still see his smile and that is enough for now. Once more Fortunato gestures and this time at the smaller bottle that I have brought with me tonight. He gestures as if to add it to my wine as a special addition to the flavor with a haughty quiet laugh. I smile and nod knowingly that the time is drawing near. I talk with him about how I plan to share this eternity with him from tonight forward never to leave him alone for so long again. His smile is strong and assisting me to move onward as the torch is growing dim. Looking around one last time I see the stark reality of the darkness and the sadness in this room. The smell of death only increases and makes me cough. I pour the additive to the wine and no change of flavor to the treasured Amontillado. I raise a toast “to friendship” to Fortunato and he disappears once again in the fog leaving me alone as I deserve. For anyone that would be there to watch at this time or if ever should come upon this room, the torch is out my head rests upon the moldy table and a small bottle beside my glass marked with an X would be what they would see. 

The next morning at 8:30 while everyone was getting ready for the search, I got up, got dressed, made breakfast for myself, and started my walk to work. Even though I did everything like it was an average morning, I knew it was not. Over half the town was participating in the search for Fortunato. All night long I tossed and turned debating if I should join the search or not. I, like most everyone else, knew Fortunato well and considered him a friend. We have had many drinks together in the past and I enjoyed his company. He made me feel not so lonely for living alone as an adult. We were born and grew up in this town just as most people were who live here. It was a slow day at the store, and I saw very few people pass by the store window. At around 3:00 I saw Montresor pass by. He was one of the few people who moved here as an adult. He is considered a recluse around town, but friendly enough to people he passes. I decided to go up and see how he was, and if he had heard anything about the disappearance of Fortunato. 

“Hello friend”, I said to Montresor. 

“Hello sir”, he said back. He looked a bit jumpy and sleep deprived. His eyes kept darting around, and he looked like he was wearing the same clothes from the day before. When I asked him if he knew anything about Fortunato missing, he said, “I have heard nothing, and no nothing. Good day sir.” His response would be quite comical if we were not in the situation we were in, and not talking about the subject we were talking about. Montresor seemed defensive when answering, and walked away as soon as he delivered his statement. That was my first clue. Whenever I had asked anyone else about Fortunato, they seemed somber and worried; as they should be. But Montresor seemed to be hiding something. For once I was thankful for the slow business, and allowed myself to get lost in thought. I truly wished I could be assisting in the search, but perhaps maybe staying home was beneficial. Montresor. Montresor. What do I know about Montresor?  Why would Montresor have anything to do with Fortunato disappearing all of a sudden? I think back and remember vaguely of Montresor and Fortunato getting into a little fight at a bar a few months ago. It was not a big deal because both seemed quite intoxicated, and brawls like that are never about anything important...right? As I kept thinking, I heard someone outside through the window I had propped open to catch the breeze. They were talking to themselves, and I knew I recognized the voice because I was just talking to the owner of the voice earlier that day. Montresor. 

I first thought he was back to apologize for his strange behavior. I pressed my back into the wall next to the window, and listened to Montresor’s conversation with himself. Low and behold he was confessing to leading Fortunato into a wine cellar, and doing WHAT!?! I must have misheard Montresor. He surely did not say he trapped Fortunato in the wine cellar to leave him to die! Montresor sounded regretful, and sounded like he was trying to console himself. Why he was doing this right in town square was beyond me; maybe he thought because it was getting dark, and everyone was out looking for Fortunato, he would be hidden. Little did he know my shop was still open, and because there was nobody in the square, I could hear him crystal clear. I debated one what I should do. I thought of confronting him and thought against it because I was alone, and that would be dangerous. But then I thought about how Fortunato’s life was at stake. If I missed this opportunity and Montresor happened to leave town without us getting justice, I would never be able to live with myself. I took in a deep breath, crept out the door, faced Montresor, and calmly said, “Freeze”. 

Montresor whipped around and was shocked to see me. As I laid into him by telling him I had heard his whole confession, he looked as if he was about to lunge at me, but he halted when he looked over my shoulder at something that appeared to scare him. I too looked over my shoulder and was shocked to see the search party back, and all standing behind me. “I wouldn't do that if I were you”, said Frank. Montresor paused for a pregnant second, and then took off running. I yelled to the crowd to go after him because he is guilty of Fortunato disappearing. Many people ran after him, captured him, and tied him up. The town police put him in jail till the morning when we would have a town meeting to get more information out of him. The only thing we asked of him that night was where exactly he trapped Fortunato. We went out at once to see if we could rescue Fortunato, but it was too late. Fortunato was gone, but will never be forgotten. The next morning everyone gathered in the time square to question Montresor, and decide what to do with him. He never directly told us what caused him to act the way he did, but he took his punishment better than anyone expected. He seemed distraught and regretful towards his actions. He was sentenced to ten years in jail, in another town. He also was banned from entering this town again. After the hearing, we all gathered in the local pub to process everything that had happened in the last 48 hours. The pub owner decided to change the name to “Fortunato’s Domain” in memory of our beloved friend. I do not know how we will survive without the joy Fortunato brought into our lives everyday, but we are eternally grateful for the time we had with him, and can’t wait to see him when the time comes. 

Later that night we made our way to the desolate building Montressor once called home. It was dark and humid and there was an eerie feeling lingered in the air, as if there were eyes watching our every move. Dave went to try to open the door. “Oh wow, it's locked” Tommy said sarcastically. “Nonsense” Dave responded as we watched him step back and kick in the decrepit wooden door. We cover our mouths with our sleeves as we walked into the dank, abandoned home with dust exploding everywhere. My eyes darted back and forth. Dark oak bookshelves, still lined with novels followed the back wall. Above sat a beautiful crystal chandelier that has not been lit for years, covered in webs. We decide to split up and look for clues. 

The house reeked of mold and decaying rat corpses that littered the floors. We wandered until we walked past a long dark hallway that had no doors lining its walls. Grabbing my wrist, Dave pulled me through the darkness.

We continue until we meet a set of stairs where Dave decides it would be best if we regrouped with the others.It seems he believes that we may have already found what we originally came for. We hurry to retrieve Tommy and Wilbur.

Dave calls out to us from up front.

“I found a room, it looks like a wine cellar.” Though Dave is normally very composed, it's obvious something is agitating him. 

We rush to catch up where Dave stood. It was a dead end but was lined with shelves of dark bottles. 

Tommy sneers at Dave. “Nothing’s here big man.” Besides the shelves, the walls are all stone brick up to the ceiling. “You're wrong,” Dave retorts. He points to what looks like nothing to us but as we peer closer, we notice that the wall is not uniformed in color. It's obvious that this wall has been disturbed. Wilbur approaches and pushes on the discolored bricks and they give away fairly easily. Dave must have known what we just figured out, there's a hidden room behind the wall. 

  Dave instructs us to stay put while he and Tommy run out to the shed that we saw earlier as we entered the house. It seemed hours but within minutes, they returned with a pickaxe. Tommy starts hacking at the wall. I watch him freeze as he peels away the last of the bricks. We approach and freeze and then recoil, seeing what we half expected but now dreaded to discover. There in front of us sat a full set of bones with a dusty costume. A jester hat sat on the floor next to the skeleton. Rusty chains are still bound to the wrists and ankles. Now we have a murder victim but need to confirm our suspicion.  

Dave instructs us to hurry back to the study as he calls over his shoulder 

“Investigation waits for no man.”

Though we don't know what we’re looking for, we follow Dave's lead as he starts rummaging through old books and photo albums. We hear Tommy huff, “books are so boring.” 

“Don't be daft” Wilbur muttered as he flipped through a book. I made my way to the desk that is covered with books and photos. I reached into the pile and grabs a photo of what must have been one of the party guests. Just as im about to discard it i noticed a yellow jester costume! There is drunk Fortunato with Montressor holding him up as he leads him down the very same hallway we found his remains. I let out a yelp and Dave immediately grabs the photo out of my hand. He inspects it for a moment and slowly looks up at the three of us. “Bingo,'' he says matter of factly.

A month later, the four of us reconvene, congratulating ourselves for bringing a cold case to its conclusion. The police have finished their investigation.  With the evidence we provided, they were able to go back to the crime scene and recreate what had taken place. Its turns out, Montressor had left more than one piece of evidence in Fortunado’s burial chamber. For the past month, Tommy has been rambling about a reward with Wilbur reminding him how scared that night in the old house. Dave just sat there watching Wilbur do his usual bicker and teasing towards Tommy. I flipped through today's newspaper only to find a list of people who had recently gone missing in a nearby cave system. Tommy and Wilbur became quiet as I passed it to Dave who grudgingly took it. We watch as his eyes run back and forth on the page. Lapping it down on his lap, he looks up with a devious smirk on his face. “There's a case calling out for us boys.

 ”Investigation waits for no man, once again.”

I wanted more of Victoria and our life together. Little did I know it was a partisan romance and we were actually hiding our relationship from another man. I had been in a trance, living in a false reality. I had been telling all my good friends and family everything about Victoria and my plans to marry her. I even found myself telling complete strangers about my love. So I got my mother's beautiful emerald ring she got from my late father when he had proposed and ventured to Victoria's families manor. 

“Knock Knock Knock” sounds so heavy on a great oak door that you could feel it, an inkling based on tension and fear. My subconscious echoed the unwanted answer of the most important question of my life that I was dying to ask. A servant had opened the door with a sulky look painted across his face, an older man that was very sharp and very intimidating too. “May I help you?” he said with a loud confidence, “ I'm here to speak with The Duke of Italy regarding his daughter, Victoria.” I professed that he must take me to him immediately. Sir Alby the Duke and I had been speaking and getting to know one another when I told him my idea to marry Victoria and to my surprise he granted me permission and welcomed me to the family with open arms. 

The crunches of the fall leaves and twigs in our forest of love mimicked the sound of my heart that was pounding harder than ever before. I heard Victoria's soft voice and talking to a tree or thin air, but the closer I got I was sure she was talking to someone who sounded awfully familiar. But as soon as I could see her it was all too late... Her lips were locked onto Fortunatos and she looked like a beam of light, happy as ever. I made sure they couldn’t see me, I needed to hear their conversations. “Oh Fortunato how I do truly love you, how will I tell Montresor?”. My heart sank and I realized I needed a new plan. 

“I have to get Victoria back for the pain she torments” I told myself, I brought out my best and most expensive wines and invited Victoria to the manor for supper. I made a concoction that included red wine and poison, a drink made specially for Victoria who was once my love. She arrived and we both had a glass of my finest wine. I played part in her sick love game telling her what she wanted to hear, but she had accidentally called me by his name. I couldn’t play her game any longer, I brought out her second glass which was filled with poison which she downed instantly.

 “How could you?!” I shouted in despair “I thought your father was the problem but it’s you and Fortunato!” I cried to her.  Victoria spouted “Fortunato and I are married! We have been for a couple days… When you told him about me he said that he knew I was the one,” as a tear rolled down her cheek, “ I didn’t know if I loved you but I know I love Fortunato and he loves me, and I'm sorry.”. Her eyes started to roll back, she then fell out of her chair and onto the wood floor with a loud thump and I knew my plan had triumphed. But, it was now time for Fortunato to feel the wrath of my broken heart.

It is the week of the carnival and I can hear the excited buzz of the crowds outside my residence. I decided that I mustn’t stay cooped up anymore. I must get rid of my fear of Fortunato and venture out. After all, I hadn’t done anything wrong. I deserved to enjoy the town’s festivities just as much as everyone else. I got dressed in my casual clothes and wore a simple hat. I then wore my comfortable walking shoes. After taking one final glance in my mirror, I grabbed my house keys from the hook by the door. Stepping out, I was greeted with a warm breeze. But the moment I set foot out the door, I was also greeted by snickers and rude comments. 

“Morning clumsy,” one of them called out. 

I plastered a fake smile on my face and continued down the road. After about a block, paired with more insults and gossip, I rounded the corner and saw the pizza shop. Even though people were mocking me, I still tried to enjoy my surroundings. It was a lovely day. The sun was out and I felt good. Oh who am I kidding? I felt terrible! It hurts to hold all of this in. It hurts to be constantly looked down upon. It hurts to always be the center of attention. Trying to forget all of this, I entered the pizza shop. Almost instantly, the aroma of tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella hit me. My stomach grumbled in desperation. As I walked towards the ordering line, the bell on the front door chimed, signaling someone had entered the shop. I glanced over my shoulder and froze. Standing there, surrounded by his minions, was Fortunato. Wonderful timing. The only sound I could hear was his heavy laugh, which filled the shop. Mwahahahaha. His voice echoed throughout my mind. His eyes scanned the room before they fell on me. I felt cornered just by his stare. 

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here,” he exclaimed. I turned my back and continued waiting for my turn to order. 

“NEXT!” the cashier shouted.

“Good morning sir. Can I order a pizza and some hot tea please?” I asked. Grumbling, he accepted my money and told me to wait on the other side of the shop. Those few minutes were torture as I could tell Fortunato was coming up with a plan to humiliate me yet again. Nevertheless, I picked up my fresh pizza and hot tea before exiting the shop. I could feel Fortunato’s breath on my neck as I walked out. He was following me. I quickened my pace as I walked down the bustling street. All of a sudden, a force slammed me from behind and I went sprawling down towards the pavement. Everything was in slow motion. My pizza flew out of the box. My hot tea splattered all over my new clothes. I could feel my ankle horribly twist as I went down. Out of instinct, I tried to stop my fall with my hands to prevent hitting my head. As I finally hit the concrete, I could hear the crack of my wrist bone. 

“Ahhhhhh!” I cried. All I could feel was pain and humiliation. I couldn’t stand. I couldn’t move. I felt suffocated. Fortunato’s laugh echoed through my head. Hot tears were streaming down my face. My chest was on fire and my skin was burning hot. I remained lying down on the pavement as I heard Fortunato and his gang walk away. Now I was all alone. The street that had once been bustling was now eerily quiet. After what seemed like eternity, I was able to stand up after multiple struggles. The pizza that had once been piping hot was now a cold clump of nothingness. It was already being devoured by the rodents. All alone and lost in my thoughts, I decided to limp back home. 

When I reached my house, it was empty. No one was home, which was good because I was writhing in anger. I was sweaty and hot. Taking off my stained clothes, I grabbed a wet towel and gently caressed my wrist. I was still in a great deal of pain. As I sat down at the kitchen table, I decided this was it. This was the moment that I realized Fortunato needed to be stopped. It was either him dead or me. If I didn’t stop him, I knew no one would. And if he wasn’t stopped, I would be dead sooner or later. I had a family and I couldn’t afford to endure this pain anymore. Grabbing some comfort food from the pantry, I sat down to think this through. I needed to come up with a thorough plan and then execute. It would have to be big but leave no trace behind. It would have to be discreet yet impactful. It would have to be quiet yet create a storm of wonder. What better time to execute my plan than the carnival? After hours of thinking and planning, I was finally complete. As nervous as I was about my plan, I knew it would work. I had thought of all the possible options. All I needed was a mask for the carnival and things to play out the way I arranged them. With the plan all laid out and organized, I headed out to my wine cellar to begin the setup. Fortunato, I’m coming for you. Like it or not, I’m ready for my revenge. Actually, I prefer to call it returning the favor. Of course, my dears, I simply cannot tell you my plan just yet. You’ll have to be patient and wait just a bit longer. 

Why are you such a coward?

Matias ( montesor’s son): Father said never to go down to the vaults, that it is dangerous. 

“That’s right Matias,” says My father “ it is glacial down there, no place for children. “

Father always has prohibited from exploring the depths of the vaults which contain who knows what type of curiosities. Anyways we were going to wear winter clothes for the frosty temperatures that inhabit in the vaults. Until another timely instance we will visit those underground realms. 

 

As days passed the thoughts of me lurking in the vaults became more and more intense.I went to sleep with dreams of the vaults and the great places to ply hide and seek with Matias, as I woke up the vaults invaded my mind once more. I inquired with Lightness our nanny who has raised me and Matias since our mother’s death when I was 4 years old. As I was sitting in the stool of our island I watch carefully at lightness as she prepares lunch. Chopping up vegetables, I cautiously ask “ Nana you have been with us for a long time, have you ever cleaned the vaults ?” She raises her sight, “ Yes, why?” “ Oh it’s just that my curiosity is reaching its limit on exploring there, and what a great hiding place it would be.” I say. Lightness does not answer me and instead tells me to set the table. Father is going out of town for a business trip, and I can not wait until he is out of sight to lurk in the mysterious Montesor’s vaults. As Matias and I wave goodbye to our fathers carriage I form a plan to make my expedition into the unknown. 

 

Firstly I ask Lightness to make a grand meal with the excuse of missing my father very dearly, this will occupy her for the rest of the day. Next is to prepare myself with warm clothes and convince Matias to accompany me, promising thrills and adventure. It is now evening and Lightness is still making dinner and no one else is in sight. Now is the time for our adventure to begin. As we head to the garden, each step leading us closer to our families vaults which are guarded by a silver metal door with no lock except a pin to slide. As I open the door the darkness surrounds us and no sound is to be heard. Matias is behind me as I am older and was the one who wanted to adventure here, I do not argue with him. As we head down the stair case the warmth of the evening is no longer felt. Instead a chilly atmosphere involves us and we begin to layer our clothing as the stairs are more. But Matias starts begging me to return, and his scared face leaves me no choice. Therefore we head back, our adventure once again postponed. 

 

On Saturday evening a great tremor hit our land. The see saw of my bed had awaken me from my slumber when I frantically found my father and Matias right outside my door looking for me. Afterwards the tremor had settled down we went in search for lightness and the others, to make sure they were not affected by the horrible shaking of the earth. Thankfully they were not, the main house did not suffer any grave damages, just some objects fallen to the floor. But what did suffer damage was the vault. The door leading to the vault was down and the staircase we once went through was exposed to the sunlight of the dawn. My father as always cautious stated “ Now children although the door is tumbled, this does not mean to go down this vault.” “Yes father” we answered. My mouth had said one thing but in my mind I saw this as an opportunity to satisfy my curiosity. The following day my father went in search of a carpenter to fix the door which gave me enough time to do my expedition. 

 

So down I went and into the now known staircase. I found my family’s motto and shield. Also I encountered the ashes of the once bones I assume of my ancestors who may now Rest In Peace. 

The two make their way down the stairs and found a torch on the wall to light and lead them through the darkness. To their surprise, there are huge catacombs lined with bricks and filled with wine. The two of them wander around, wondering who lives in the house above and who needs this much wine? About half an hour passes as they continue to explore and they finally reach what seems to be a dead-end, but Rosa points out how the one wall of bricks is different from the rest. Almost like something is behind it. Julian agrees, and says “Well… let’s see… see if you can feel a loose brick or something.” The two of them run their hands along the bricks until Rosa pushes a brick through the wall- falling through to the other side. Rosa and Julian look at each other in complete shock, and afraid to look through the wall and see what’s on the other side. They peek through and see a skeleton lying against the wall, chained up. “Let’s get out of here!” Rosa exclaims. The two run out of the catacombs and back onto the streets. They question telling the authorities, not wanting to bring trouble onto them but also wanting to do the right thing. Finally, they decide to tell the authorities, and they are told it will be investigated tonight. The two go their separate ways, back to their houses. A week goes by and they don’t hear anything from the authorities. One night they go to ask if they have done the investigation yet, and the authorities said they didn’t find anything… just a bunch of wine. “How is that possible?” They ask themselves. Julian says, “You know what? Let’s go check it out for ourselves again.” So, they walk to the house in the cold, to find the storm shelter door is locked now. Curiosity gets the both of them this time, they find a rock to smash the lock and break it off. They head down and find their way back to the “dead end” and the missing brick is back in place. Julian and Rosa look at each other in disbelief. They run their hands along the bricks again to see if the loose brick is still there. Rosa found the loose brick again, and it falls through the wall. She peeks through and the skeleton is gone. Both of them confused, Rosa asks, “How is this possible?”. “How is what possible?” echoes behind them, they turn around to find Montresor standing there. “You’re going to leave my catacombs and never return nor speak a word about anything you have seen down here… understood?” Julian replies, “Yes, sir” as Rosa follows. The two of them leave the catacombs and promised to never return.

For the next couple of months, from time to time, they think about what they saw but think it’s just best to forget it. So, they never quite got the answers they were looking for or the satisfying ending but they thought their safety was more important than finding those answers. As they grow up together, they never spoke a word about what they saw to another soul.

                A few days back, my wife and I decided to throw a party at my mansion to celebrate our job as wine experts. We invited friends, family members, and many from my neighborhood to come and celebrate with us. We had people playing music. There were games, food, and, OF COURSE, wine. We all had a beloved time. I had a beloved time, until this Fortunato came along. He was not invited to this party, but he found his way into my mansion to ruin my party. The way I found out he had arrived at my mansion was by one of his pranks. I was offered some wine to drink while I was talking to one of my good friends. I started drinking from the glass, when all of a sudden, I see a humongous, horrendous cockroach in my glass. I yelled so loud that it scared the people at the other side of the room. “Hello my beloved friend Montresor!” exclaimed Fortunato right after my yell. “Well if it isn’t you Fortunato.” I told him with anger. There he comes to ruin my evening at my wine party. “What brings you over here Fortunato?” I asked him. “You were not invited. No one invited you, but you still find a way to enter my mansion and pull off one of your interesting pranks on me.” Fortunato could not contain his laughter. “Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha! You should have seen the look on your face.” That’s what he told me. Fortunato was surprised that I hadn’t invite him. “How could you not invite me to this wonderful wine party my friend? You know I am a wine tasting expert and I love, love, just love wine.” What did I tell you earlier? What does Fortunato love? Ah yes, it’s wine. He then says, “Wherever there is wine, with no doubt I will do my very best to get there.” I was not happy about this situation. I told him to leave many many times, but he did not listen. He said he wanted to stay for the wine, but what I didn’t know was what he had planned for me later that evening. 

                Fortunato had pulled two other minor pranks on me, which made me annoyed. But after that, he disappeared for quite a while, bringing peace to the party room. We danced, we ate, we sang, we had fun. A few minutes passed by, when all of a sudden, I hear a loud bang. Right after that, I started seeing and smelling some smoke. “FIRE! RUN EVERYONE!” I yelled to everyone in the room. Everybody started to panic and scream. When I looked out of  window, I saw a flame of fire burst out, scaring everyone even more. The smoke started to get inside my mansion and inside the party room. Once I had gotten out of my mansion to call for help, I heard a burst of laughter. “Hahahahahahaha!! Hahahahahahahahaha!!” Little did I know that it was Fortunato with one of evil pranks. “I cannot believe my plan work out!” He exclaimed while dying of laughter. “I did think it would come out this well.” I then punched him in the face and threw him to the ground. “What kind of diabolic maniac are you?” I yelled to him with anger and frustration. “Oh, wait my friend. Do you not see what is going on?” he tells me. With confusion and anger I ask him, “What have you done to my mansion?” He told me to look around. Turns out, the fire was not on my mansion. It was located somewhere else but relatively close to it. Fortunato expresses with sarcasm, “I just wanted to give a little scare to you and your friends and family, that’s all. Don’t we all need to have a little fun?”

                After he said those words, I punched him one more time. He then got up and just left, without saying a word. My house never got damaged, so I told everyone that it was a false alarm, and we all went back in to finish the party. I said to myself, “All of this nonsense needs to come to an end. We cannot handle any of his stupid and useless pranks.” I need to get my revenge, but I need to plan out what am I going to do and wait for the proper time to do it. If Fortunato pulls one more prank on me, then this will be the end of his pranks. I am not the only one who gets pranked by this man. All of my friends and family have suffered from his evil pranks. And he says he only does them to have a little fun. No one deserves to suffer because of one of his idiotic and harmful pranks. He is going to get a taste of his own medicine. He just has to wait for the time to come. I still didn’t know what to do, until the party ended, and I put away all the wine into my wine cellar. That made me get a tremendous idea. I went back up to the party room to finish cleaning. Then it was time for bed, so I got ready, brushed my teeth, and laid down on the bed meditating on my plan. After a few minutes of thinking, I finally came up with a plan to end with Fortunato’s nonsense. “You just wait Fortunato. You just wait!”

Montresor: “Ah yes it was truly a grand display of flawless planning and careful execution that all paid of with the death of that rat Fortunato. Truly something to celebrate on this day while it rains, I shall enjoy some fine drink and self-enjoyment in my palazzo all to myself after all it is truly the only thing one can do on a day like this.”

Montresor enjoys his day until it reaches night where things are starting to get abnormal first Montresor hears a sudden crash in his kitchen. And rushes to the scene.

Montresor: “what on earth?! What happened in here how the cups in the cupboard smashed?!” 

Montresor says in confusion. Just out of the corner of Montresor eye hiding behind a corner he sees a figure which then disappears behind the corner. 

Montresor: “you there stop!” 

Montresor arms himself with a nearby kitchen knife and proceeds to follow the figure as it moves around the corner, he spots the figure moving just out of view upstairs. He continues the chase. 

Montresor: “I’ll give you only mere seconds to live if you do not reveal yourself!” 

He continues forward upstairs and sees the figure head to the bathroom he presses on in.

 Montresor: “ah nowhere to run and hide now and already I see you hiding in the shower curtain you fool!” 

Montresor strikes the curtains but only to reveal that all that is there is a bunch of objects stacked into a human figure.

Montresor: “how is-“

“Montresor old friend…”

Montresor: “Who-“

Montresor looks directly up to a horrid sight Fortunato’s rotting decerped corpse hanging directly above him his entrails hanging from his open stomach infested with all forms of pest and filth. His face mostly intact if not ragged and his left eye hanging out from his socket. Immediately from the jester outfit the monstrosity wore Montresor could already tell who he was looking at the living corpse of Amontillado. 

Montresor: “Fortunato! You live!”

Fortunato: “yes and soon you won’t be… tonight my vengeance is as burning as the fires of hell that will roast you to a crisp!”

Montresor runs to the living room downstairs and grabs a flintlock pistol he recently purchased and warns a charging amontillado to back down.

Montresor: “I’m warning you Fortunato! You best go back to that corpse infested crypt where you belong, or I will kill you again!”

Fortunato: “oh but you see that’s not how this works ill be the one killing you this time Montresor…”

Montresor opens fire in a panic shooting Fortunato in what would be his heart only to find that it has no effect on the vengeful spirit. Then a swarm of pest leave the oraphis that Montresor made and being to chase him he runs and upstairs yet again and being resourceful he uses the lamp oil in his lamp to douse the pest in oil. Then he begins to use one of the candles in his home to lite them on fire the smell of burning flesh began to fill the air. Montresor begins to hastily climb over the stair railing to escape the fire only to find Fortunato waiting for him now appearing as a giant rotting rat.

Fortunato: “is this what you think of people Montresor that most people are mere rats compared to you? well on this day you will be sorry you thought that way…” 

Fortunato begins to chase a panicking Montresor until they start to head to the stairway which led to the same crypt Montresor had committed his murder upon amontillado.

Fortunato: “do you remember the nitre… how it hung from the walls I do truly wonder what would happen if I shoved that nitre down your throat my “friend” oh how I cannot wait.” 

Montresor and Fortunato reach the deeper parts of the crypt and Montresor turns around to see Fortunato gone only to be ambushed by an amalgam of skeletons formed into one pile of writhing bones Fortunato forms to the top of the pile. 

Fortunato: “and the bones Montresor do you remember the bones and how the moisture trickled on them!”

Montresor: “this is impossible this must be an utmost horrid dream!”

Fortunato: “is this a dream to you!”

Fortunato makes the skeleton amalgam pick up Montresor and fling him further into the crypt which then he begins to chase him once more until they reach the end where the deed was done.

Fortunato: “and now here we are Montresor my resting place… a resting site that will be yours soon enough!”

Fortunato then cast Montresor into the space in which he was sealed cuffing Montresor just as he did to him then Fortunato begins to finally intact his revenge by resealing the space behind a wall as he was.

Montresor: “oh come on my friend it was just a joke I never meant to kill you see I was just tipsy of the amontillado myself and forgot I sealed you in there.”

Fortunato: “your tedious attempt at lying yourself out of this one Montresor enrages me and with that I think I’ll seal you in faster…”

Fortunato works to reseal the wall up and is finished and with one last scream of Montresor Fortunato’s vengeance has been enacted. Allowing Fortunato to rest at peace which he does soon after.

Fortunato: “sleep tight old friend the gates of hell are ready to accept you in!”

Fortunato laughs before returning to death yet again.

“Is Fortunato still in there or has he left earlier?” said the mysterious man.

“He left much earlier this day, but who are you may I ask sir?” I asked. 

“Oh, how rude of me, I am Delaiko, son of Fortunato,” said Delaiko.

“So finally to meet the son of the man I so admire, what brings you here at this time?” said I.

“I believe I saw my father walk in the cave with you, and I left for a few hours and now my father is nowhere to be found,” stated Delaiko.

“Come then, we will search for him together, maybe he came back in whilst I was busy drinking,” I told him.

The boy is far too curious, I must either convince him that his father is safe elsewhere, or give him the same fate of his father.

We began to traverse through the old and dirty cave walls. He was not saying much, but you could tell he was thinking very deeply. I was very unsure of how much he knew about the severity of the situation. He walked about a half step behind me, as if he wanted to be less vulnerable to me. Maybe he has already perceived me as a threat.

“Do you think you would like a drink sir?” I asked to ease the tension.

He responded, “No, I do not partake in the process of becoming intoxicated. It affects my thinking process.

“Worry not then, we will only search for a bit and then leave,” I replied.

The entire time we were walking, I was but only hoping that Fortunato was already dead or asleep. If he heard us walking through and woke up, he would jeopardize the whole mission and I would be forced to make his son disappear as well. As we continued through the caves, he began to hold his hands closer to his waist. I was unaware if he was armed with a weapon or not, but this definitely concerned me. He continuously asked me questions about me and his father, and it seemed as if he was trying to gather more information. He seemed doubtful of almost everything I said to him, picking apart every detail in his mind. It was almost as if this whole thing was a game to him, and he was trying to figure out how to win. His intelligence seemed to far surpass the average man, and the more he spoke, the more I began to worry. I began to become certain that I would have to take his life in order to exit the cave walls myself. As we became closer and closer to the sight of his father‘s demise, my heart began to beat faster and faster. It was not very hot, yet I began to sweat. Sadly, this did not go unnoticed. 

He asked me, “You seem very nervous, do you have something to hide?”

I took a moment to think of a good answer. He most likely would still be skeptical no matter what answer I gave him, but the way I gave them the answer was the most important part.

“I have been walking for hours, sweat is just a side effect,” I laughed, trying to show him my conscience was clear.

He did not ask anything after that, but we were arriving at the end of the tunnel. This is where his father lay behind the wall. At first he seemed OK, but then he began to make a lot of noise. I am not aware of why, but I assume it was to see if his father was near and was able to hear them. right before we left, he spotted a part of the wall that looked out of place. 

He turned to me, “ I come down here often, but that looks new.”

I had already let him gather too much information, and he seemed very suspicious of me. So I assured him that it was nothing. After a few seconds of thinking, I thought of a good plan to possibly get out of the situation. I made sure that he was not holding his weapon at the moment. So he had no quick opportunity to fight back.

“Oh look, your father is but right there,” I yelled towards him and pointed the opposite way that he was facing.

The second that he turned around, I did not hesitate at all. I swung at the back of his head as hard as I possibly could, knowing that a failure to incapacitate him could mean my demise. The blow landed and he stumbled forward and fell onto his face. Delaiko was still conscious, and from the ground he reached toward his side and pulled out a blade. I had no weapon on me so as fast as I possibly could I left towards him with no fear in my mind. As I was falling to the ground with my fist aimed towards his head, he slashed the knife through the year attempting to save his own life. The blade sliced the skin of my chest, but no further and my hand connected with his face a moment later. He was finally out cold, and I laid down to rest for a moment. 

In the end, my job was finished. I killed Fortunato, and no one will ever find out. The one man who came close now lay beside his father. I did not want to kill the boy, but his intellect was his own downfall. He was too curious and the questions got him answers that he could not go on knowing. I still question to this day, if I needed to kill him. Maybe he did not know enough to ruin my life or kill me, but I was not taking any chances. After clearing up all the evidence once again, I left the cave without anyone else spotting me, and went home to enjoy the rest of my life.

            In fact, he is here tonight standing in the corner and just staring. I will continue to ignore him and enjoy my drink or drinks as the case may be. I was chatting with the barkeep William about local politics and the state of our grain fields when he says, “That gentleman sure has an interest in you Montresor, seems perhaps tonight you should find out why. The way he stares all the times makes me think he may be a bit mad”. 

            I mulled this idea over for a while in my head perhaps tonight should be it, the evening to end this charade. “William, I think you may be right. Pour me your strongest mead and then provide one for the gentleman on my account. Ask him to sit at that far table for me to join him”. At that request William poured two fingers for me one for himself, to steady his nerves for the mere idea of chatting with that ghostly figure seemed to make his hands shake. He then poured a third and headed over to where the gent stood, still staring. 

            Moments later William returned shaking his head. He said “He is a strange one indeed. He told me that tonight shall be the night and he is ready to have a true conversation with you. Not sure what that all means but I would me careful Montresor, he has the eyes of a madman. He may try to poison your drink if you aren’t watching his hands to closely”. I laughed a hearty laugh perhaps a bit too long and loud of one because William stared at me as if I had caught the disease of madness that seemed to be pervading the tavern this evening. Grabbing my drink I strolled to the table where he was sitting. 

            “A good evening to you Sir, I thought it was perhaps time that we officially met as it seems we tend to frequent the same establishments often. I am Montresor and I was a good friend to your uncle. Never was there a keener palate than his. I hope that he is enjoying a glass wherever he may be now” I said. 

            His eyes narrowed a bit as he said coldly, “I am Eli. Yes, Fortunato was my beloved uncle. He taught me a great many things. I had hoped that he would spend his later years allowing me to be an apprentice to him as he had such a brilliant wealth of knowledge to bestow”. 

            “Yes” I replied choking back a laugh. “Your uncle was always keen on sharing his expertise on many things especially wine.” 

            “I think so many were jealous of him, so jealous that someone may have done some hideous act and ended his life. I was told that you may have some information on this. I was told that in this very establishment after a long evening with a bit too much drink you mentioned you knew exactly where my dear uncle had gone” he swallowed a bit of his swill and continued.  “I have been waiting, watching, listening hoping to gain some insight but it seems you may have only spoken of it once and never again. I am imploring your moral side to please give our family some rest and confess” he nearly shouted.

            “Ah come now “I said. “Never was there a truer friend to your uncle than I. What you may have heard I said was distorted from too many times passed around. I only mentioned that I missed his companionship and advice and if he were here he could counsel us on all important matters. Now drink with me lad and celebrate your uncle. The barkeep has been saving a special Port for me for an evening such as this. So, drink with me lad and celebrate your wise uncle” I implored. 

            With that and a quick motion the bartender and bottle serendipitously appeared along with two glasses. The young man looked defeated as if all of his hopes had been dashed all at once. “I don’t understand” he said. “I was so certain but now I feel I have made a dreadful mistake listening to gossip. I have also been terribly offensive and for that I apologize” he said nearly weeping.

            “No worries lad. Just stay a bit and enjoy this bottle. Then we can enjoy a walk along the River Tiber as we chat about happier things” I said. With that, we both sipped and smiled. He was content in knowing he had done his due diligence and I for knowing that the river current moved quickly this time of year. Far too quickly for even the strongest to fight let alone someone sleepy with drink and a bit of atropine. Just a terrible accident that would befall this curious and reckless young man. 

 

 

While Montresor has his little adventure in the forest, Lady Fortunato realizes she hasn’t seen Montresor and Fortunato in a day or two. Sure, they would have their outings and spend most of the day together, but Lady Fortunato would usually see them when night arose. She began to become worried, but she waited two more days before she decided to do anything. Those two long days pasted, and nothing. No seeing the boys, and no evidence of them even being in town! Lady Fortunato decided to take this matter to the Captain of the Knights, he would know what to do. She made her way over to the knights stable and looked around for the captain. “This place is massive,” she whispered to herself. “It sure is!” a man said coming up behind her and putting his arm on her shoulder. She pushed it off, “Who the-oh hello Captain!” Lady Fortunato’s expression changed completely when she realized it was the Captain who had just startled her. “Ah, my favorite strawberry blonde. What brings you here? Fortunato and Montresor get in trouble again?” He questioned. “Actually, you are just about right!” She said in glee. They sat down and enjoyed a cup of tea whilst Lady Fortunato explained to the Captain what had been going on. “Oh, and what do you need my help for?” the Captain questioned. “You control the other knights, correct?” “Yes? And?” “That means you can set up a search party for the boys so, we can go and find them!” she explained. The Captain stood up, “Ah, and what would I get in return?” Lady Fortunato smirked, “You get a happy lady that isn’t going to show you what for!” “Sorry miss but, I doubt you could do anything to me or my knights.” Lady Fortunato did not appreciate the Captain’s comment. She stared him in the eyes, almost in the soul, like she could see every memory and thought of the Captain’s. He was startled by this and agreed. “F-fine I’ll get a group of my knights for a search party, just as long as you never do that again.” The Captain said sternly. She smirked again, happy that she got her way and that hopefully, they will find her Fortunato and Montresor. After a day, the Captain had gathered his ten best knights. They all rode over to Lady Fortunato’s early that morning. Once they arrived, the Captain stepped off his horse and knocked on her door. She opened it and didn’t waste a single second, she immediately jumped on the back of his horse. He shrugged and jumped on as well. To the first and only place they were going to explore, the Evergreen forest. “So, why do you think they would be here of all places?” The Captain asked. “Well, occasionally, the boys would go into the forest and just, take everything in. Breathe in the fresh air, take a moment to slow down. These trips would only last one or two days, but it’s been a little over a week since I’ve seen either Fortunato or Montresor. Or even a trace of them.” The rest of the ride was silent, except the yelling for Fortunato and Montresor by Lady Fortunato.

 

As the days go by, Montresor interacts with many creatures, he makes friends with the birds and the squirrels. He fishes in the creek every morning for food, never taking any fish that are bigger than what he needs for the day. While sitting by the creek, letting his fingers run through the rushing water, he hears yelling nearby. It almost sounds familiar, but Montresor couldn’t put his tongue on who it was. It kept getting closer and closer, he quickly got up and into his little cabin. He then heard a knock at his door. “Hello? Is anyone there?” Someone said. It took Montresor a second to realize it was Lady Fortunato, and everything that was once at peace for him, was not anymore. His mind started to rush and worry. The same things he worried that night, that night that made him run away. It felt all too similar. Before Montresor could gather his racing thoughts, the door was busted down. He froze, looking at the open space that was made. Lady Fortunato and the Captain of the knights stood there. Montresor could see some knights behind them as well. Lady Fortunato exclaimed “Montresor! Where have you been? Why are you out here in the forest? Why isn’t Fortunato with you?” “I-I um, I needed a break from life and ran into the woods.” He muttered. Lady Fortunato tapped her ear. Montresor said it again, a bit louder. She tapped her ear once again. Montresor then shouted, “I needed a break!” Startled, she asked, “From what? You have a perfect life. You have everything you ever could have wanted Montresor! Even so, you usually tell me when you and Fortunato go on these little outings of yours.” “I-I might have a ‘perfect life’ and all, but my mind, my mind isn’t perfect.” Lady Fortunato looked confused, but she signaled to go on. “My thoughts, they’re bad. Not all the time, just in specific moments that they shouldn’t be. A-and sometimes I act on those thoughts thinking it’s the best thing. And then I go home and overthink those acts and thoughts and spiral into a mess. I-I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to leave. Just for a little while.” Montresor felt as if he had just confessed to the murder of Fortunato. It almost felt, relieving. “Montresor, I don’t know what you are talking about but, this forest has made you crazy! You only have those thoughts because you and Fortunato would take trips into this forest!” Lady Fortunato started yelling at Montresor. She kept on going and going about how none of that is true, it’s the forest that makes you think those things. He slowly backed into the corner of the room, with Lady Fortunato slowly raising her voice with every word. Swinging her arms around. Montresor became even more nervous when he saw the lit candle in her hand. All while this was going on, the Captain and his knights just stood, watching, talking amongst themselves. “L-Lady Fortunato. Lady Fortunato. Lady Fortunato?” Montresor said, each one getting a little louder than the last, yet she kept yelling. “Lady Fortunato!” He yelled. She stopped. “Please be careful with the candle, we don’t want to set the whole forest on fire now, do we?” Montresor said in a calm manner. She looked at the candle, looked around the house and smirked with evil in her eyes. “Well, if you won’t come home because the forest is your home now. I’ll just have to destroy it!” She moved the candle close enough to the wall that it would set fire. Montresor’s face showed betrayal, and fear. “This is how Fortunato must’ve felt.” He thought to himself. Slowly, Montresor’s little cabin set aflame. He bolted out of the house and jumped onto the Captain’s horse and rode a decent distance. He couldn’t be attacked as the knights only had swords but, they could still hear him if he yelled. Lady Fortunato ran out of the cabin and saw Montresor in the distance with the Captain’s horse. She looked to the Captain for advice. He puts a hand on her shoulder, “Let him go.” With her eyes starting to tear up, she sighed and nodded. The Captain looked to his knights, “Who wants to give me a ride?” A laugh emerged among them. 

 

Montresor took one look back before he rode away. All the memories that him, Fortunato, and Lady Fortunato had rushed through his mind. He smiled and starting riding further and further into the forest. It almost felt like it was his forest, like he was a part of it. Lady Fortunato, the Captain, and the knights put out the fire and rode back into town. They first dropped off Lady Fortunato at her home. As Lady Fortunato stepped into her home, the Captain shouted for her. She turned around and the Captain was there. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, he has gone mad.” The Captain said reassuring Lady Fortunato’s thoughts. “Thank you. I appreciate the help.” She said with a smile. With that, the Captain and his knights rode back to their stable and Lady Fortunato made herself some tea. She sat by the window, and with each sip, she felt like her life had a new turn. A new page was about to begin for Lady Fortunato, and she, well she was ready for it.

“Montresor,” Eufrasio greets.

“Eufrasio,” Montresor greets back, not very glad to see him.

“Have you seen Fortunato?” Eufrasio also grabs himself a drink, “I haven’t been able to find him for the past hour and I thought you might have seen him somewhere.”

Montresor sharply inhales, “Well, I don’t think I’ve seen him.”

“Do you know where you last saw him?”

“Look, Eufrasio, I haven’t seen him since he embarrassed me in front of everyone in the ballroom.”

Eufrasio has long known that Montresor does not favor Fortunato. So Eufrasio stands there, expecting for more answers. Montresor desperately tries to think of something else to talk about. Then, he gazes towards the night sky. 

“Wow, the sky is stunning tonight,” Montresor points out.

Eufrasio doesn’t look at the sky, but starts growing more suspicious of Montresor. He’s starting to think that Montresor is hiding the fact that he knows where Fortunato is. Not wanting more out of Montresor, Eufrasio thanks him and takes his leave. Out of all people he questioned, Montresor was the most skeptical. With a heavy sigh, Eufrasio continues his search for Fortunato. He searches in every building and in every area, with no luck. Where could he be, Eufrasio thought. After a few more hours of searching, Eufrasio has given up. He is certain that Montresor is the reason for Fortunato’s disappearance, but he couldn’t get anything out of him. Maybe turning him in to the police will get him to answer, Eufrasio assures himself. When he gets to the police building, he spots an officer at the front desk. The office sees him and greets Eufrasio with a nod.

“Can I help you with anything?” The officer asks.

“Uh yea, I want to report my missing brother, Fortunato,” Eufrasio says.

“When did you last saw him?”

“In the afternoon, he was hosting a party.”

“Do you have any other details that you want us to know?”

Eufrasio doesn’t hesitate, “I think it might be Montresor who knows where Fortunato is, he tried changing the subject when I asked about Fortunato.”

“Okay, do you want us to bring him in to get more answers?”

“Yes.”

The officer finishes typing up the information and hands a few papers to Eufrasio, “I want you to return to this building by morning and we’ll have him investigated under your watch.”

Eufrasio nods and leaves the building, having some of the weight lifted off of him. By the following day, Eufrasio returns not only by himself, but his mother has also shown up. The officer at the front desk from yesterday escorts them through the hallway and into one of the rooms. Inside, there are no windows, just walls and a table with chairs. A few officers and Montresor are present in the room. Eufrasio takes a deep breath, unprepared for what is about to happen. Both Eufrasio and his mother take their seats. 

“Alright, just so all of you know, my name is Officer Domizio and I assume that both you want answers as to where Fortunato is, correct?” Officer Domizio looks at both Eufrasio and his mother.

“Yes,” Eufrasio replies.

“So, we brought in Montresor to the investigation because Eufrasio suspects him of the result of Fortunato’s disappearance,” Officer Domizio says, running through the files. 

Everyone is silent but Officer Domizio.

“Montresor, where is Fortunato?” Officer Domizio asks.

Montresor, without a doubt, knows where Fortunato is. He was the one who buried him, after all. Whether Montresor will answer or not, he will have to face jail time. Though, if they knew, Montresor will be sentenced to more jail time, or worse for life.

“I will not repeat myself, so where is he?” Officer Domizio demands.

Again, Montresor refuses to answer. Eufrasio starts becoming very worried that he won’t get anything out of this.

Officer Domizio slams the table and Montresor flinches, “If you don’t answer, we’ll have to lock you up and court will decide on this.”

“I don’t know,” Montresor finally says.

“You don’t know?” Domizio strokes his beard, “We brought you in because Eufrasio thought no one else seemed suspicious and this is all you answer?”

Montresor shrugs, which triggers Office Domizio.

“That’s it, you’re going to be locked up until further notice,” Officer Domizio orders, “Officers, cuff him and lead him to the nearest cell.”

He then gazes to Eufrasio and his mother, “I’m sorry we couldn’t get him to talk.”

Officer Domizio leads them out of the room and back to the entrance of the building. Once Eufrasio and his mother heads outside, the mother begins to tear up.

“Oh… they’ll never be able to find Fortunato,” she sobs and Eufrasio comforts her.

“I’m sure they will, Mother,” Eufrasio says softly, but like his mother, he also doubts.

50 years later, Fortunato was never to be found. He lies there behind the walls, turning into a skeleton. Montresor is still locked up under the same building he was investigated. 49 years ago, the court decided he was sentenced for life, as they couldn’t get any answers from him. He couldn’t be paid to tell the truth because he was in jail. Many assumed Montresor killed Fortunato, other say he was shipped to another part of the world. From there, no one ever knew what Montresor did to Fortunato, except Montresor and Fortunato’s soul.

 He heads to a nearby winery, wine is his specialty. He knows all things about all wine. There he meets a beautiful lady; he comes on a little strong, so she leaves before he takes things to far. Once he met her though, he was hooked. He couldn’t think about anything else except her, Maria. He goes around the whole town trying to find her, asking people for information of where she may be. She hears about this and feels threatened and unsafe. Fortunato hasn’t told anyone his story or why he is there, so to him he is a mystery stranger. Little does he know, his obsession with Maria will cause him many problems in the future. 

Maria has an older stepbrother named, Montresor. He is like any older brother, protective and willing to do anything to keep the ones he loves safe. Montresor wasn’t as fortunate in his upbringing. His dad was abusive and never showed love or kindness. His dad eventually died from alcohol abuse, after this is when his mom remarried. She married a man who had children (thus the stepsister). Montresor was already a late teen when he became part of his new family, so he never really felt apart of it. He still suffered mentally from his past experiences and had a hard time relating to people. He had been to doctors trying to get help for his mental problems, but nothing worked. Maria is the only person, besides his mother, that he loves. 

Maria tells Montresor about her admirer and he decides to take matters into his own hands. He seeks out Fortunato and tries to get close to him only to hurt him. As is Montresor didn’t dislike Fortunato enough already, Fortunato insults him on his appearance (baggy clothes, long hair etc). Montresor continues to be “nice” in hopes of getting Fortunato alone. He tells him about a carnival happening in the town and invites him to come. Carnival time has arrived, and Montresor asks Fortunato to come with him to taste this special wine. Fortunato says no, he wanted to socialize instead. Thinking that may happen, Montresor had done some research about who Fortunato was running from. Montresor mentions that he heard the guy he was running from, was really interested in wine and that he would invite him. This scared Fortunato into going with Montresor. It was all downhill from here. 

“What were you doing out so late? It’s past midnight and you’re just getting home,” questioned Mary. I knew I had to respond, but I wasn’t sure how.

 “Uhm, I was just out visiting my parents after the carnival,” I said hesitantly. Surprisingly enough, she believed my excuse. Hoping my guilt would eventually wear off, I took a shower and got ready for bed. I lie down to sleep, but the guilt runs through my mind like a hamster on a wheel. I begin to think about the severity of the situation, I had just killed a man. It would be a short time before the town began to search for him, for he was a beloved, rich, well-known man. I toss and turn for hours on end, until I finally decide I must do something. 

I tip toe out of bed so I don’t awake Mary, and I rush back down to the wine cellar. By this time, it was six o’clock in the morning, and the people of the city would begin to wake up in no time. I knew there was virtually no chance of Fortunado being alive, but the least I could do was give him a proper burial. Hoping nobody would see or hear me, I began to break down the wall where he was trapped. I was fully aware of the consequences that are to occur if I am caught with Fortunado’s body, but I still took the risk. As I finish breaking the wall down, I untie Fortunado’s body from the wall and put him in a wagon so I can bring him up the stairs. The nearest graveyard isn’t for three miles, and I fear if I go to get the horses, I won’t make it in time before the people of the city awaken. I grab a shovel to dig the grave, an old tarp to cover Fortunado, and I pick flowers from a garden to cover the tarp and shovel, so nobody is suspicious. As the sun begins to rise, my anxiety increases dramatically, and I speed up so I make it to the graveyard faster. As I am arriving at the graveyard, I see a blank area of grass. “Perfect!”, I exclaimed, and I sped towards it. I begin to dig quickly, realizing how difficult this is. I finally finish digging a hole big enough for his body, and I tip the wagon, dumping Fortunado’s body into the hole. 

I fill the hole back up with dirt, rapidly and begin to put the flowers on the loose dirt. I feel as if somebody is watching me, and as I look up, I see a person.

 “Good morning, how are you sir?”, says Lewis Paul, a city police officer. 

“H-hello, I’m doing fine, just putting flowers on my grandfather’s grave.”

“Interesting, may I ask why there is no headstone and why the dirt it loose?” Officer Paul asked, very suspicious of me. I’m so nervous, I don’t know how to respond. I stay quiet, unintentionally increasing Officer Paul's suspicion. 

“I see you have a shovel, go ahead and tell me what you put in the ground.”

“Officer, I know this looks really bad, but trust me, I can explain.”, I mumbled. Officer Paul didn’t believe me for a second, and arrested me with no hesitation. I arrive at the police station, and hear them all discussing Fortunado’s disappearance.  The guilt weighed on me like a sack of potatoes, but I knew I had to keep my mouth shut as long as I could, or I would be jailed for the rest of my life. I was brought into a separate room to be questioned by none other than Officer Romano, known as the most intimidating police officer at the station. He’s tall, bulky, and feared by everyone in the city.

“So, Officer Paul caught you lurking around a recently dug grave, which we are investigating now. Whatever is found will be put in your hands, do you understand?”, growls Officer Romano.

“Yes,” I said shakingly. 

“Now, you have the option to come forward and explain yourself, or the consequences will be far worse when we find what is in the grave.”

I could either bend the truth and blame it on somebody else, or tell the truth and get caught. But either way they were going to find the body in the grave I dug. “Listen officer, last night Fortunado was intoxicated and fell off the ledge of his home. There was a small party at his house and he got carried away. He died because of the impact. But I felt so bad for what had happened and wanted to bury him properly, so I did. But I didn’t expect to be caught like this-”

Officer Paul rushed in to inform Officer Romano that the body identified in the grave I had dug was Fortunado’s. 

“Montresor just explained to me that it was an accidental suicide,” said Officer Romano to Officer Paul assertively.  

“Keep him in a holding cell until we examine the body and find out what really happened,” said Officer Paul. I began to worry that my story wouldn’t hold out long enough for me to get out of this situation. Fortunado’s story became the talk of the town. 

A few days passed and I went back in for more questioning.

“Montresor, when you explained that it was an accidental suicide, why didn’t you call the police for help?,” inquired Officer Romano. 

“Well, I wanted to keep things very personal, he was my best friend,” I lied. 

“Hmm, and when the body was investigated there were no signs of impact or harm done to the body, we just detected lots of Nitre in his system. Do you care to explain?” Officer Romano stated interrogatively . I knew by this time my lie could not continue and I had to come forward and tell the truth.

“Officer Romano, I lied. It was all my fault, I was selfish, and wanted revenge for Fortunado’s insults. I killed him in my wine cellar and the guilt became too much to handle, and I thought burying him would make me feel less guilty. I don’t know what I was thinking last night,” I confessed. 

“I knew the truth would finally come out, I was aware you were lying this entire time, I just needed you to tell me how it happened,” said Officer Romano, relieved. And just like that, the mystery of Fortunado’s disappearance was solved, and the city was at peace, but I am going to be jailed for the rest of my life. I waited days for the news that is to tell me my sentence. I was sentenced life in jail for the murder of Fortunado, and I became the most hated man in the entire city. I guess that’s the price I have to pay for my bad decisions. As much as I wish I would’ve left him there in the wine cellar, I wonder if I would have gotten caught leaving him there. I only have myself and my guilty conscience to blame for my horrible, horrible fate. 

“Hey!” Amy screamed. 

“There he is!” yelled the police as they ran up to him.

“What is the problem here?” asked Montresor.

“Where is Fortunato? I saw him leave with you, I heard him scream, and I never saw him return!” shouted Amy.

                Montresor calmly asked them, “What are you implying?”

Amy looked at Montresor with great anger, “You killed him” she snarled.

“Amy, how could you think such a thing of me? You are merely drunk” he said.

“Sir, have you seen Fortunato at all tonight? And what are you doing out here anyway?” asked one of the officers.

                “I spoke to him once when I first arrived and it began to get too crowded for my liking so I took a brisk walk and as I am making my way back, I get accused of murder by one of Fortunato’s drunk friends. Fortunato must be within the crowd at his party.” he explained.

                “Thank you, sir. Sorry for the inconveniences” Said the police as they walked away.

                Amy glared at Montresor as she followed the police back to the party. His heart raced at the thought that he almost got caught not even an hour after he committed the crime. He raced back into the catacombs there he locked up Fortunato to ensure he had not left any evidence of himself. He gathered everything that may have led the police to him and sprinted far into the woods where he buried everything deep below the surface of the Earth. Once he got home, he washed his clothes and body of any further evidence. He did not sleep for two nights after the event, but his paranoia slowly started to fade. He knew that if he could make it several months without getting caught, then nobody would be the wiser of what he had done. 

                On a chilly Saturday afternoon, he was victim to loud bangs on his front door. His gut told him it was the police waiting on the other side of the door even before they announced themselves.

                “It’s the police, open up!” Yelled the officer

                He took a moment to gather himself before answering the door. He opened the door to three police officers. “May I help you?” asked Montresor.

                “Yes. We have a warrant to search your residence,” one of the officers said sternly, “and I have some questions for you as well.” Two of the officers began rummaging through his things, searching for any evidence of Fortunato’s death as the third officer asked several questions. “We know you were at the party on the night of Fortunato’s disappearance, do you remember seeing him leave?” Asked the officer.

                “No sir, I only saw him for a moment when I first arrived” he answered.

The officer squinted at him as though in disbelief, “That leads me to my next few questions… Do you know why Amy was accusing you of his death? And what did you do after the Festival?”

“She was drunk, sir. When the party neared its end, I returned home and went right to sleep.” he explained.

“Do you know where he could be now?”

“I suspect he is on a long vacation. Somewhere cold.” he said. He smiled at the thought that Fortunato was indeed on a long vacation in the cold catacombs never to be seen again. The officers left as they could not find any evidence that Montresor had anything to do with Fortunato’s disappearance. As he picked up the mess that the frantic officers left behind, he received another knock. It was Amy, she insisted that he was Fortunato’s killer, that he would not get away with this murder and that she would do everything in her power to prove it. “Good luck” he laughed as he closed the door. Montresor now knew that there would be no reason for the officers to question him anymore. 

Twenty years passed, and Montresor decided to return to the catacombs where he committed the vile act. He reached the place where he locked up Fortunato and began removing the bricks. Montresor peered inside to see nothing but the skeleton of Fortunato. He placed a bottle of wine in the floor next to the bones. “Here is your Amontillado.” he laughed devilishly as he once again made his way out of the catacombs.

 

 A few days after the carnival, I was invited to a ball. I was told that Fortunato would be attending and quickly agreed to go. I told myself that this will be a great opportunity to get to know Fortunato even more! I was filled with excitement that I thought I would be flooded with it and die. I woke up the next morning, wine in hand thinking about Fortunato… I quickly remembered that the ball is today! I cleaned myself, got dressed, and out the door in a matter of minutes. I ran to the location of the ball and it was Fortunato’s house, no… MANSION! It was breath taking! Fountains, perfectly cut bushes, gold incrusted walls including the door! People have been waiting outside the mansion for the ball to start. I saw a dark figure coming out of two beautiful double doors at the top of the mansion, but I could not figure who it was. I looked closely and it was FORTUNATO! He had on a beautiful gold robe with two stunning women on each side of him. He said, “My dear people! Thank you showing up to the ball… enjoy!” People started pouring into the mansion until not a single soul was outside. I met Fortunato later in the ball and was happy to see me. He said, “My dear Montresor! You look great this evening. I have a beautiful woman that would like to dance with you. Enjoy!” I was surprised that he remembered me let alone letting someone dance with me! She greeted herself saying, “Hello handsome, my name is Natasha and who might you be? I said, “Well- uh its Montresor, you have a beautiful name.” she replied saying, “Why thank you! How about start dancing?” All I could hear was silence as she was speaking. I was so mesmerized by her stunning appearance. Fortunato looked at me with disgust but did not say a peep and let me and Natasha be to the dance floor. Me and Natasha went to the dance floor and starting slow dancing under the diamond encrusted chandeliers. We talked all night long until it was time to depart from the ball. I told her that I wish to see her again and she agreed. 

 

A few months pasted since the ball and me and Natasha started a healthy relationship a few days back. I kept inviting her on dates that you would only see in popular plays. The date I finally had the courage to ask her if we could have a relationship was on a dark night filled with stars in a field of white flowers. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress that if she had fallen, you would not be able to see her. We continued to do this for months as I kept falling deeper and deeper into love with Natasha. I quickly remembered one night alone that I cannot forget about Fortunato and all the good he has done for me. I have not seen Natasha for a while, and I began to worry about her. I decided to go buy some fine wine from the store until I spotted Fortunato’s Mansion. I thought maybe I’ll have a chat with Fortunato to get to know him more. I quickly bought the wine and headed towards the mansion. I knocked on the door and waited for a response but there was pure silence. I decided to just let myself in and started roaming the mansion to find Fortunato. I heard laughter upstairs in a room and decided to go see what it was. As I got closer to the room, I heard a familiar voice… it was Natasha! and… Fortunato!? I was about to barge in until I heard Natasha start talking about me. She said lovely thing about me, but Fortunato cut her off and said, “He’s vile! He’s similar to a dog looking for an owner that he will never find.” As I heard these words, I could not hold back the tears anymore and began crying outside the room. I slipped up and accidently dropped the wine bottle, shattering on the floor and alerting Fortunato. I quickly rushed out of the mansion tripping over everything in my path. As I got home, I almost cried myself to sleep then completely stopped. I had just realized what I had seen and began building up amounts of rage and hate towards Fortunato for ruining my life once more. I started breaking everything in my room and thought of ways I can get my revenge on Fortunato. I woke up the next morning with a horrible headache. I heard a knock at my door, it was Natasha. I was so filled with despair and embarrassment that I refrained from talking to her for days on end. I cried for days until I could not feel anything but a cold feeling of hate. I finally realized what my new purpose in life was… to murder Fortunato.

 

I began thinking of ways to murder Fortunato for what he has done. I thought a number of plans and pictured them out in my head but all failed. I then thought of the best ending of Fortunato. “The Valley of Flowers” I said. The plan is Ill invite Fortunato to join me for a bottle of wine on one fateful evening and as we talk Ill ask to dance with him in the valley. Either outcome will cost him a beautiful ending to Fortunato. I was so filled with excitement to murder Fortunato that I could not wait any longer. I grabbed a sharp knife and went to his mansion and knocked on the door until Fortunato opened the door. I quickly asked him, “Would you like to join me for a bottle of wine in the valley this evening?” He said, “My dear Montresor, that would be lovely.” Then closing the door on me. I rushed over to the valley, bottle in hand and waited. He arrived an hour later and joined me. He said, “Montresor this is quite beautiful!” I replied, “Yes, yes, it is.” I said, “Would you like to dance with me Fortunato?” He replied, “That would be delightful.” He got up and we started slow dancing in the valley. I started humming a song and faced him backside of the sun and in a quick motion stabbed him in the heart and slit his throat. Blood went everywhere as if it were paint on a canvas. The flowers were stained with corrupt blood and Fortunato layed dead in the middle. Fin.

                “Okay, its time to find out the mystery of the death of Fortunato. We need to check out all the rumors and stories that people have said about him,” says Gabriel as he is speaking to the team, “Mattie, see if you can find old newspapers from about 50 years ago about the Fortunato incident.”

                “Got it, I will get on that right away,” said Mattie. 

                “Brock, you go help Mattie, I will go with Sandra and see what we can find.” Said Gabriel.

                “Not sure if I can handle that, but ok.” Brock said in an unsure voice.

                The team starts to go their separate ways and find answers. While Gabriel and Sandra are looking around, they hear a loud sound coming from Mattie’s room.

                “Aha, Eureka!” Mattie says in an excited voice.

                “What did you find,” asked Gabriel.

                Mattie said, “We found out that before Fortunato died, he was friends with a wealthy man, Montresor.”

                “Nice, now we just have to find Montresor and we can finally get some answers.” Said Gabriel in a thrilled voice.

                Mattie keeps reading the old newspaper she found, “Oh, unfortunately Montresor died a while after his friend Fortunato died,” she said in a disappointed voice.

                Sandra has a revelation and suggested, “Maybe we can’t ask Montresor himself, but we might be able to ask some relatives of his.”

                “Smart move, Sandra,” said Gabriel.

                “Mattie, go with Sandra this time and find out if some of Montresor’s relatives are still alive. Brock and I will stay here and see if we can find anything else. We’ll meet up with you at the house when you find something.” Says Gabriel as he gives instructions to the team.

                “Got it,” everyone said.

                Sandra and Mattie start to see if any of Montresor’s relatives are alive. They look on high tech computers for any information on Montresor’s relatives. They check and check for a few hours until they come across someone who they think might have some answers. Its Montresor’s younger brother, Arthur. They find Arthur’s address and they bring him in. They gather the rest of the gang and tells him that they are an expedition team looking into the legend of Fortunato. Surprisingly, Arthur is willing to tell them everything because as luck would have it, he was skeptical the last time Montresor saw Fortunato.

                Arthur said, “Okay, it happened like this, I was at a party that Montresor had planned for quite some time. He invited all the wealthy people and even his closest friend, Fortunato, even though he was not wealthy. Then, just as Montresor was going to speak to the wealthy, Fortunato played a trick on Montresor and humiliated him in front of everyone at the party. I noticed that Montresor fell on the floor and helped him up,” ‘Are you alright,’ said Arthur to Montresor. 

“Yes, I am fine, just slipped.” Montresor said. 

Arthur continues saying: “Although Montresor said that he was fine, I could tell that something was not right with him. His faced looked as if someone was plotting something devious, but it could have been me. I still needed to make sure. The next night there was a carnival in Italy. Everyone from the lowly to the wealthy was invited to have a good time. I heard Montresor speaking to Fortunato about going to look for a rare wine in the catacombs of Montresor’s home called Amontillado. Which was strange because I knew nothing about a wine called Amontillado. I followed close behind the two down into the catacombs very quietly. I realized that Fortunato was drunk and was coughing very loudly. Thankfully, it seems that even though Montresor insisted on going back, Fortunato was too stubborn not to turn back. When Montresor and Fortunato reached where the Amontillado is supposed to be, there was no Amontillado, only a big hole. Just then, it looked as though Montresor put Fortunato in cuffs and started to seal up the hole with Fortunato inside. I was too afraid to do anything because I thought that if I showed myself, Montresor would seal me up inside as well. I could hear Fortunato telling Montresor to stop, but it was too late. Montresor applied the last brick to the wall and covered it all up. He was coming down the hall and I tried my best to hide myself. Luckily, I managed to stay hidden and leave the room. Everything that I told you is the whole truth and my story.”

The whole team is in awe, shock and surprised to hear Arthur’s side of the story.

“I think know we know what we have too do, we need to go to Montresor’s house and see if this is all true,” Says Gabriel.

With that the team says bye to Arthur and heads to Montresor’s place. Its been 50 years since anyone has been to Montresor’s house, so it will most likely be abandoned and gloomy with cobwebs all over. The team heads into Montresor’s place and starts to look around to see if they can find anything that leads to the catacombs. Sandra looks around a hallway and notices something about the walls, one section of them looks to be a different color than the rest. She believes it could be the way down to the catacombs. She checks to see if there is any kind of mechanism that will open the wall. She finds to see two unusually looking torches. She pulls on one of them, but the mechanism is so old that the wall does not open.

“This looks like a job for Brock,” says Sandra.

She calls the rest of the team and gets Brock to check the wall.

“Finally, I’ve been dying to break something.” Brock says in an enthusiastic voice.

He grabs a pickaxe and starts to rip apart the wall. Then, an open void shows stairs descending downwards. With that the team realizes they found the way into the catacombs.

“At last, lets get moving,” Gabriel tells the rest of the group.

The group descends into the catacombs carefully and slowly, since the years have made the ground rocky and unstable. They get through the cobwebs and spiders into the space where Arthur said Montresor buried Fortunato. They look through the room and find a wall fitting the description that Arthur gave them.

“This must be the spot,” said Gabriel. “Brock, you’re up.”

“It will be my pleasure Gabriel,” said Brock ready to break down the wall.

Brock grabs his pickaxe and again begins to break open the wall. With that, the smell of dead bodies came into the room. They found Fortunato’s remains lying in the hole. Finally, after years of endless searching, the team has solved the mystery of Fortunato. Their expedition goes down in history as one of the best mysteries solving stories of all time. It even inspired the creation of a movie featuring the expedition. The story of The Cask of Fortunato has been discovered.

“Fortunato! Enjoying the nice weather tonight?” Montresor calls out.

“I am simply making sure everything is up to my standards, perfection.” Fortunato replies.

Have it been the one-night Montresor has something up his sleeve, Fortunato walks right into his plan. Fortunato may be royal, but he doesn’t believe in having guards with him constantly. He is brave but old and unkind. Montresor would be his first friend of the night, because nobody would approach Fortunato especially outside of the kingdom walls. The lush forest and beautifully landscaped bushes looked very nice under the moonlight surrounding the kingdom with a mysterious yet impressive view. The perfect night for revenge. Montresor is sensitive, smart but his selfishness grows beyond control. He desires revenge on Fortunato. Fortunato had cause Montresor the most embarrassing moment of his life… and broke his trust for Fortunato. Montresor was known for having the finest art collection, until the auction. Montresor had money but never more than Fortunato, after all he is royal. He told Fortunato his plan to attend this action for a painting. It was expensive, but nobody had dared to outbid Montresor so far. The only person who knew of Montresor’s wealth was Fortunato. As Montresor was biding, Fortunato would bid higher. There was nothing Montresor could do besides lose. Montresor would never attend another auction from the embarrassment he faced. The betrayal of Montresor’s trust caused his desire for revenge on Fortunato.

“Rumor has it, you’ve achieved the finest collection of wines.” Montresor says.

“Achieved? I’ve always had the best, and I always will. It is in my blood.” Fortunato responds.

“Really—” Fortunato interrupts Montresor. “Let me show you myself.”

As they walk into the kingdom Montresor can feel his plan starting to work. The kingdom is very lovely in most sight. The guards stand at each entrance, which Montresor did not include in his plan. After minutes of walking, they near the cellar. Montresor starts to worry for his plan. The guilt of possibly becoming as low as Fortunato filled his mind. As they turn the corner Montresor stops. The hallway to the cellar is filled with paintings, Fortunato’s collection. The rigid brick walls made the paintings look stunning. Montresor felt nothing but anger. His plan to destroy Fortunato’s collection was not enough. He wanted pure revenge. They continue walking and Fortunato has a smug look on his face. Montresor stays silent, almost stomping through the hallway. When finally, they make it to the cellar door. Fortunato opens the door and steps in. Montresor rushes and slams the door shut. Locking Fortunato in the cellar was not his original plan, but he did not think twice before his actions. 

“WHAT IS GOING ON YOU CLUMSY FOOL?!” Yells Fortunato

“QUIET or you will not be let out.” Montresor firmly replies

Montresor had trapped Fortunato, but he knew in time he might be able to get out. Montresor sees the painting Fortunato had used to embarrass him just lying on the floor outside the cellar, around bricks and materials for constructing… Fortunato did not care for the art itself, he had purposely done it just to look good. Montresor does not think for another second. He started carrying the materials to the door. Building up a wall was not easy, but he did have the stuff required to do it. He ignored Fortunato’s demands to open the door. Blind rage some would call it, but revenge nonetheless. Montresor locks Fortunato in the cellar forever. With the wall finished, only thing left was the painting. Montresor takes a smile and hangs the painting on the wall.

“Your collection is now complete! The finest collection I have ever seen.” Montresor states before leaving.

 

THE END!

Fifty years it’s been. I haven’t aged well in the twentieth century. My bones have stiffed, and my fleshes has dissipated. My voice has irritated me for the last years! Yet! I still have brains and still can walk with breeze.

“God knows what happened!” said the lady Fortunato, a gorgeous woman, braided hair, puffy red lips, and a long dress that made her feel rich, more so than her late great husband.

I tempt to forget my past, nor do I regret my past. Yes, God knows what happened! Yet not even a judge with a large wooden hammer can reveal my awful lies!

“I know it was him!” she said, “He was a great ally to him, who hated most of his stupid jokes!”

Stupid Jokes? Stupid. Jokes? I tend not reason with that claim as those Jokes. did she not know those jokes were in front of millions? They were stupid! But she cannot reason with the truth! Nothing can be revealed.

Out came the lawyer with a binder in his big cuffs, and a suit that made him look rich. I do wonder how many cases Fortunato as won. But I’m confident as I’ve ever been.

“Gentle’s of the jury!” He said, “I am here to prosecute that Montresor is guilty for the murder of Fortunato! Charged with First degree and man slaughter!”

“Fortunato?” The Judge said with both hands on the bench, “He’s been dead for a half century! No evidence has been brought! Have you?”

“I Have!”

“Objection!!!” I stand with two feet that almost had me to the floor. The Courtroom whispers that were enough to echo the larger room, with crowd of families, and lawyers, including the Jury in the second bench, watching, and whispering, all my steps, as I come forward.

“Mr. Montresor, I had you return to your seat at once.” The judge said calmly, “Your, Attorney will be here, will he?”

“Unfortunately not.” I said, “But I will tend to ask, Lady Fortunato some questions I have, Your Honor.”

“A Lawyer is grant access too. Not the one being accused Mr. Montresor!"

“But then how will I defend myself? How can the Fortunato family and I have a fair ruling if I cannot defend myself?”

The Judge stared, and it was strategy that they were trained for, watching my body language, and speech, that I will not give in.

“Your Honor. I request to present evidence!” The Lawyer said.

“State your claim, Montresor.” The Judge slams his Hammer, and made a disturbing stare, that made the Lawyer took his seat. Yes. Yes!

I walked with my cane, sturdy in my hand as I walked to the jury.

“Hear me, to my fellow friends of the jury!” I said, “I will not yield at my accusations against me! I am innocent beyond their findings! I hope by the end. You’ll see the truth!”

I turned to Lady Fortunato. I walked to her, knowing she felt unease about my presences. Don’t mind at all.

“If you so claimed. That I did it! Than. How do we know? That you know?” I asked.

“The Stupid jokes! That’s how! You look like a devil beneath that suit of yours!”

The crowd whispers again as my hands begin to quiver, as I darted her between my eyes.

“And where were you the last time you saw him?”

“At the.” She starts, “The Wine party, where Fortunato spilled the wine and you slipped. We all laughed, and I saw how you looked at him, and the glare you gave him!” 

More whispers, the hundreds of injuries from here, was like, seeing my past grow in my present.

“Funny.” I said, “The last time I saw him, he was at a jackal party wasn’t he? Where I told him about, the beautiful amontillado I had for him!”

“Objection!” Shouted the lawyer, “There was no Amontillado cask in our grounds!!”

“The. Amontillado trades. Didn’t go as planned.”

“Explain further.” The judge said.

“I. uhh. A miscommunication with my traders! Yes! The Amontillado was supposed to. To Arrive at my Plazzo!” Chills ran up my spine, “But it arrived Elsewhere! Yes! Elsewhere! However, I was able to gain communication! had only got half of what I receive!”

“Why was the Amontillado at your plazzo and not at his? Montresor?”

“Your Honor! I. I thought I was questioning the great lady! Isn’t that an objection?”

“Overruled. sit.” The Judge pounds the hammer and I sat. There comes the lawyer which made my hands tensed and my old heart felt young as It punches through my chest.  He carried a small suitcase that imprints ‘Classified.’

“What you were told! The defendant presented, no ground evidence. What, so, ever! However!” He said, “It was a setup! to hide our great, behind his walls! In. His cellar.”

The Judge stared towards me with a glare, and I didn’t bother. My bothersome, was the suitcase.

“Confirmed by Fortunato’s great staff, including Luchesi. He claims that ‘there was no such thing as Amontillado at our grounds.’” He opens the case and what was pulled, made me sway. Yes, my trowel, was what he pulled, rusted, and dirty as it was.

“This! Is a Trowel, use by many Mason during the late 1800’s. If I hadn’t recall already. Montresor was a Mason!”

The crowd gasps that made my heart sink into thick ice.

“If Montresor claims the last time he saw him, was at a jackal party! if this trowel was found next to the walls of Fortunato fifty years ago! Your Honor! My fellow juries! does this confirm, anything to you?”

One of the juries huddled with the other, and ran to the Judge, and whispers in his ear.

“This Case will take a ten minute recess, as the jury will discuss their final verdict by eight o’ clock at noon.”

“Objection!” I stand again, the audience silences.

“Overruled.” The Judge said.

“I liked to speak more!”

“There is nothing from you!”

“I will testify!!”

Everyone sucked the air out of the room. The lawyers steps away and the Judge sits back.

One Jury stands, “It’s only fair for the defendant speak. I find him, intriguing to hear, your honor.”

The judge snaps to that jury and stares back to me. His eyes bellowed, “Sustained.” He slams his Hammer.

Lady Fortunato and I switched seats, as I sat, and twirled my fingers.

The Lawyer steps forward, as the crowd silence once more, “What happened, to our Great?” he said.

I closed my eyes and breathed, “Fifty years. I wouldn’t have thought, no one, would ever disturb those bones, and I don’t regret. May he rest, in peace.”

Epilogue: Montresor was found guilt for the Murder of Fortunato. He was sentenced to life in prison. Where his bones, will lie forever.

Thanks for reading! Hope you like it!
-Jonathan Rivero

“Hello,” a young man, somewhere around my age of twenty-four, or so, with green eyes and black hair, spoke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss. My name is Angelo, and I live in the residence just next door.”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well Angelo, my name is Clarissa.”

               “Are your parents near-by? Could I perhaps speak with them?” Angelo questioned. 

               My parents were just upstairs, however, they were busy unpacking and such, so to save them hardship I responded simply, “No, I do apologize. Is there something I could help you with?”

               “Oh, well, I was instructed to speak to them. But… I do suppose you could help,” he spoke softly and kindly, “My grand-father and I would like to invite you and your family to dinner.”

               That was my first interaction with the Montressor family, the second followed not too shortly after, as my father and mother had thought that joining the Montressors for dinner was a lovely idea. That night, my family and I sat in the Montressors’ very large, and well-decorated, dining room. There was a large, candle-lit, chandelier that hung over their long mahogany table, that created a warm atmosphere to guide the light conversation taking place at present. We had been received by the eldest Montressor with large smiles, and the occasion felt like one with old friends instead of new acquaintances.

               “Clarissa!” I heard my name called by my mother. Her hair, the same blonde as mine, was pulled into a delicate bun that did not match the severe look in her blue eyes, also a color shared between us, that she regarded towards me.  

               “Yes, mother?” I questioned respectfully, careful to mind my place.

               “Montressor was just asking you a question.” She responded in a tone that both, regarded Sir. Montressor in a tone that was one shared among old friends, and, at the same time, managed to scold me harshly for not paying attention.  

               “Forgive me,” I started, “I don’t know where my mind had gone.”

               “It’s quite alright,” Montressor looked at me intently, “I was asking if you happen to be a relation of Luchesi? He was an old friend of mine, and you look much like him.”

               “I believe so,” I responded, “distantly, on my mother’s side.”

               “Ah, he was a good man. Although, he could hardly tell amontillado from sherry.”

               “Clarissa would never make such a foolish mistake,” my father defended, “she’s quite bright. Always reading.” 

               “Is that so? Angelo is always reading as well. He has quite the collection of books.” Montressor said. 

               From this, my mother got a bright idea, I suspect as a way to get the “children” to leave the room, “Angelo, why don’t you take Clarissa to see this collection? I’m sure she would love that.” 

               After a few minutes of back and forth, “I would hate to leave so abruptly,” and “no, it would be no trouble at all,” we excused ourselves from the dinner table, and Angelo escorted me to the family study. Something I had noticed about Angelo, was that he was quite quiet. After some extended awkward silence, he told me that I could read anything I liked, and before he went to read a book, he asked me if I minded, polite as always. 

               I looked amongst the bookshelves, which were filled to the brim with many gem toned books, to see if anything interested me. Running my fingers along the spines of said books, I did find something very interesting peering up at me from behind some books stacked on top of each other, almost as if to hide it. Removing the offending books, I found a smaller book behind them, titled The Cask of Amontillado. I found it intriguing as I recalled Montressor mentioning amontillado at the dinner table, so I started reading, and familiar names pulled me into something shocking.

               “Angelo?” I called, hesitant to interrupt his reading. 

               “Yes?”

               “I think your grand-father killed someone.” I said very bluntly, and against my better judgment. I didn’t mean to say the words, they simply fell out. 

               “That’s not a funny joke Clarissa.” He answered sounding offended, with a sigh. 

               “I wish I wasn’t joking, Angelo. Come here, read this.”

               “Read- What? No, you don’t know him as I do, the man has raised me since I was small. He hasn’t killed anyone.” He answered in a very cool tone, looking back I imagine he was trying to keep calm. 

               “Fine, if you won’t read it, I guess I just have to read it for you-“ I took a breath, preparing to make good on my threat. 

               “Stop it!” He exclaimed, taking the book from me, and closing it loudly. “That’s enough.”

               “Read the book, Angelo.” I emphasized each word.

               “No.”

               “Why not?!?” 

               “Because I won’t believe it.” 

               “What will make you believe it?”

               “Where is the… person, buried?”

               “His name was Fortunato. He’s buried in this very house.” 

               Angelo looked sick. 

               Looking back, the argument had been fairly childish after all, and I could have spoken more civilly. For a while, I felt guilty for speaking to him in that manner, but once we had calmed ourselves, we devised a plan, one that went perfectly to the last detail. Angelo, having been taught the art of masonry from his grand-father, would steal some tools, we would lie our way in to the crypt below the house claiming that Angelo wanted to show me some family history, and we would ascertain that the bones of Fortunato were really there. For both Angelo’s sake, and Fortunato’s poor family, who, upon more research, we had discovered reported him missing at the time he had (supposedly, once more, for Angelo’s sake) died, I vaguely hoped that what I had read was false, for a moment, although I didn’t suspect it was. In addition to all of which I have mentioned, I warned my family against Fortunato, stating that, for now, he could not be trusted.

               The following night, we did what we said we would. We entered the crypt, each with a lantern and a bad feeling. The crypt was cold, and damp, and the further we got, the more cold and damp it became. We passed barrels and bottles of alcohol, along with a family flag that read, “Nemo me impune lacessit.” Which I didn’t understand because I had never learned Latin. We walked for quite some time.

               “It’s the fourth set of bones.” I instructed as we happened upon said bones. 

               “Are you sure?” Angelo asked.

               I quickly double checked the book by the light of my lantern before replying, “Yes.”

               The events that followed took place very quickly. Much quicker than I could comprehend. I removed the bones carefully, because Angelo was reluctant, and kept muttering something about, “desecrating the dead.” I reassured him, it was for the greater good, to which he seemingly regained confidence. Angelo began taking down the wall, in a way so as to not disturb what could be on the other side or the structural soundness of the building itself. Then? Then, we saw what we had expected. Or, forgive me, I had expected. Where Angelo had previously looked sick, at least he had color then, now he was looking even more pallor than last time. . . 

There, after fifty-some-what-years, were the bones of poor Fortunato, buried in his old jester costume. 

Everything we both had feared, was true 

(Written by Sayge Oglesby) 

     This morning, I was awoken by a knock on my front door. I looked through the peephole, and there, on the other side, was Luchesi, a taster of wine, and Elizabeth, the wife of Fortunato. Elizabeth had a sad, worried look on her face, while Luchesi had a more stern, angry look on his face. It appears they know something happened with Fortunato, and expect I had something to do with it. Of course, they would be right to suspect such a thing, but under no circumstance can I let them know that. I opened the door to welcome them in, and then, as innocently as I could, I asked why they were here. 

     “You Know EXACTLY why we’re here!” Luchesi exclaimed.

     “I haven’t the slightest clue what you could be talking about,” I replied.

     “My husband – Fortunato is missing!” Elizabeth cried, as she tried to calm Luchesi.

     “I had no idea! Wherever he is, I hope he’s okay,” I lied, “Do either of you have any idea what could’ve possibly happened to him ?”

     “That’s actually why we’re here. We were going to ask you the same thing,” said Elizabeth.

     “I haven’t seen him since last night,” I told them, “I think he left early.”

     “I saw him leave with you,” Luchesi recalled, “That’s why I thought you’d know something of his whereabouts.”

     “Oh, yes. That’s right,” I started. This complicated my original story, because what Luchesi knows contradicts the lie I was telling. I had to come up with a new lie that somewhat fits what I was saying, but also goes along with what Luchesi knows. I figured the easiest thing to do would be to tell parts of the truth, while changing the incriminating details. I told them that I was taking him to my home to taste some wine for me. He clearly had some sort of cold, so I turned around and took him home. I told them that that was the last I’d seen from him. 

     Luchesi just had to complicate things even more. Since he’s a wine taster, and the wine still hasn’t been tasted, he offered to taste the wine I had in the cellar. It was obvious he only wanted a taste to prove that I was telling the truth(which I wasn’t). Fortunato was still locked up down there, so I needed to think of something fast. I could just chain them down with Fortunato, but I’m no murderer. Sure, maybe I’ve committed one murder, but that was justified. If I haven’t crossed the line yet, I wouldn’t want to do so now. However, I couldn’t think of any other option. Any other lie. There have been too many complications.

     Luchesi decided to go ahead and go into the wine cellar. It was too late. There’s no way I would lie my way out of things now. I quickly stabbed him with my trowel. I had to do the same to Elizabeth to prevent her from telling others.

     It was at this point that I knew I crossed the line. I’d gone too far. I’d taken three lives in twelve hours. I’m a monster. I was able to justify the murder of Fortunato, but this? This is too much. I can’t live with myself now. So I won’t. The fourth life I must take in this short period of time must be my own. It is what I deserve. It is the only way to pay for my sins. 

     If you are reading this, I am already dead. I know the crimes that I have committed, and I have payed for them in full. If I could have a do-over of the last twelve hours of my life, I surely would. But thus, what’s done is done, and cannot be undone.

Signed with much sorrow and regret,

Montresor

                        A voice echoes from afar slow becoming more and more audible “…...nato, Fortunato, Fortunato” I rise my head and stumble “Yes, who is disturbing me in my slumber?!” “I don’t think passing out drunk in a bar is slumber you oaf, get up I’ll escort you home.” Montour barked loudly to wake me up. We walked to my residence without saying a word. Me and Montour are not exactly on the best of terms after we raided his crypts supply of liquor after the first of three days of the festival. Too be fair I did feel bad after the group of bandits like teens decided to steal more then just some wine. “Montour, you your name is very similar a form of beast” I hiccupped and laughed, but as I turned to Montour, he was unamused. 

“Tough crowd huh?” mumbled the man walking near us. Montour asked angrily “You his acquaintance or something?” “yes, as a matter a fact I am”. Without a second thought Montour stopped supporting my right side as I stumbled and left. “Floor is rather cold my new acquaintance, what’s your name?” the stranger looking like he was in his late teens responded with hesitation “My name…. Yes, that would be Rosewelt.” Don’t you mean Roosevelt?” “No, it is in fact Rosewelt.”   He says trying to grab my coin pouch as he thinks I am distracted. “listen kid get off me and my pouch try it again and even drunk, me and this rapier will strike you down understand me?” “You should be thanking me old man….” The young man mouths under his breath. “Why was that punk?” “Did you see the man you were with earlier? No of course you did not notice the way the man with the look of revenge was bringing you in the other direction from your residence and you were too drunk to notice.” I look around in disbelief, the man was right. “But that isn’t a reason to steal my coins, and how did you know?” He replies “Everyone in this town knows you even if you do not see it. You host every event in this sorry place.” I stand up as best I can and thank man for the input and continue home. 

I reach my residence urgently I began to plan for the second night of the festival with my group of close friends and Montour, would oddly have no input and seemed focused on something else. We agreed to have the second day be a large carnival with the local merchants setting up tents for goods in the plot of land I own behind the town I purchased 4 years ago with drunken plans of a second manor. Shortly after a maid comes to me with destressing news that it seems we are out of some liquors notably amontillado. A local favorite and is hard to come by. 

The festival begins with a bang, literally. Gods am I just the best planner I think to myself as I drink my myself into what feels like an early grave, I joke to myself. The crowds of people make it hard to see and focus as I notice myself stumbling around. Until I see a familiar face.

   It has been a very long time since anyone has heard about Amontillado, everyone had figured he died or at least they thought. Nobody knew the truth or the unbelievable things that were about to unwrap in front of their face. So, we begin into our story where a team develops, and Amontillado is finally set free. By whom you may ask? The joker himself. He was doing some not so great things when he blew up the entire wall Amontillado was stuck behind down and found him sitting there staring in shock and then screaming in absolute joy. So, the joker sits him down and asks Amontillado, “Now how did you end up here?”. Amontillado responds, “It’s a long story am I free to go?” The joker replies very softly yet demanding and says,” No not so fast, if you want to get out you have to stay with me”. Amontillado agrees, anything to finally get out of a small wall he’s been trapped between for 50 years. So, they went hanging out and enjoying life. Little did they know a new crew member would be stumbling along very soon. Then it happened they ran into Dorothy a very distressed young lady who looked to be very spooked. They went up to her and asked her what is wrong and if she is okay and she responds, “She’s after me.” “Who?” replies Amontillado. “The witch, she’s coming!” screams Dorothy. “Okay so how about you tag along with us pumpkin we will keep you safe”. The Joker replied. “Oh yes please!” Dorothy screamed with joy. Then like that they became an unstoppable team.

   For a very long time they enjoyed their stay and swore it was a miracle the joker had taken them in. I mean they were in the most beautiful place called Ireland. Surrounded by beautiful trees, lakes, colorful widespread flowers, soft grass and rainbows. The list could go on. To add to that there surrounded by the best of friends what could possibly go wrong? They then realize the Joker barely came home anymore. Barely came to see them or to feed them, it was like he had almost totally forgotten about them and the life he had at home. Until he did. Amontillado and Dorothy upset and worried were not going to handle this so fragile. Their friend was missing and nowhere to be found. They started to search around the house, for clues. Maybe as to where he had gone or where he was right now. They found nothing to lead up to where Joker was, but they had realized a bunch of their things had been taken. They didn’t know what to do confused and hopeless they both set out to look for Joker. All they found was a city full of fire and crime. It looked like a ghost town that had been hit by a number 4 hurricane. Dorothy and Amontillado didn’t know what to do. So, they kept walking yelling for the Joker. They thought he was in trouble or he had been hurt. I mean how could they possible have missed all these horrible things that had happened? Was it their fault he was gone? Would they ever see him again? So many questions raised into their minds. They had not gone far until they decided it was best to wait it out maybe he would return. “Do you think he will ever come back?” asked Amontillado. “I’m not sure but I do hope so he saved my life.” Said Dorothy. “Yes, he saved mine to, you know I was stuck behind a wall for so long I lost count of how long I had been there.” Replied sad Amontillado. “Wow I’m glad your okay that must have been hard, but how are we going to make it without him.” Said Dorothy “We will figure it out just try to get some sleep its late we will think this out tomorrow.” Replied Amontillado. So, they slept from night to the next night. When they woke up, they were a bit confused to see the darkness outside till they had realized they had slept longer then they had planned. “Oh no we slept to late what are we going to do now?” asked Dorothy. “The dark won’t stop us from doing what we really need to do, we need to collect as much food as we can and gather our supplies together. We need to make things work until Joker comes back.” Said Amontillado. Dorothy chuckles, “If he comes back.” “This is no time to be joking around let’s get to work!” yelled Amontillado. They got up and started going through the cabinets, arranging food and water for each of them every day. A few hours later they finish and then start gathering the rest of their belongings into a big black bag they found in Jokers room. Mid afternoon now they decide to get some rest and hope the Joker will return soon. 

   Amontillado and Dorothy had been woken up to a loud crash. They both popped up startled and scared. “What the heck was that?” whispered Dorothy. “Does it look like I know hurry go grab a knife I’m going to go get a flashlight from Jokers room.” Whispered Amontillado. “Okay hurry!” whispered Dorothy. Amontillado crawls fast but quietly to Jokers room and grabs a flashlight and Dorothy tip toes to the kitchen and grabs a butter knife. They meet each other in the living room. “Oh my god Dorothy what the heck is a butter knife going to do.” Whispered Amontillado scared. “I’m sorry okay I’m scared I didn’t want to be alone for long so I rushed.” Whispered Dorothy. “Great now we have nothing to protect us.” Whispered Amontillado sarcastically.  Amontillado and Dorothy tip toe to hide behind the counter in the kitchen until they hear a familiar voice scream “All I want is that black bag do not make this difficult”. Dorothy and Amontillado look at each other in shock. It had been the Joker taking their things the entire time. Was he the one who was causing all the crime around the city? Is that why he had been gone for so long? Dorothy and Amontillado angry and betrayed set up a plan quickly. “We are not going to let him get away with this, follow my lead.” Whispered Amontillado. “Okay its all yours here.” Yelled Amontillado. He throws the black bag in the middle of the living room. “See I knew you would make this easy for me.” Chuckled Joker. He grabs the bag and goes to walk out the door when Amontillado grabs a lamp and runs and hits him in the head with it. It knocks him out cold. “Hurry grab the duct tape in Joker closet.” Yelled Amontillado. Dorothy runs to Jokers room, opens his closet and grabs the tape. They work together to pick up him and tape him to a chair and call the police. The police come in a hurry because they have been searching for Joker for a long time for year’s worth of crime has committed. The police arrest him and Dorothy and Amontillado make a happy, settling living together.

One day later…

I paced outside the room filled with people chattering away and gripped my arms tight. Montresor was yet to appear, and Fortunato seemed to be scheming away with a group of people. How could I know? He kept looking to the door and whispering into their ears which would gain multiple giggles even though nothing Fortunato says is hilarious. Shaking my head with annoyance, I clenched my fists and stormed up to Fortunato as he held a glass of wine in the air. He looked over to me with a smile on his face and wrapped his arm around me without a second thought. I pushed him off and crossed my arms, “Why do I get the feeling you forgot everything we discussed yesterday?” He stopped and tilted his head like a lost puppy, “Discussed? Yesterday was all so fuzzy, Cassius, I can’t quite remember what we discussed- Oh! Oh! Here comes Montresor.” He said, pushing me to the side so he could get a good view. I turned my body towards the door and watched in horror as Montresor tripped on a string. His fake smile appeared on his face but that wasn’t what I was focused on. It was the murderous look in his eyes as he looked into mine. One look told a long story for me. A long story of suffering, pain, and annoyance. Everything seemed to fall out of place when he tripped over that string and I knew there was nothing I could possibly do to stop Fortunato’s untimely end. 

“Detective Franco,” the chief  of police yelled out to me.

“What is it sir.”

“Didn’t I tell you to give up on that worthless case. There’s no use! Now get out there and do some real detective work,” he barked.

The thing is, I can’t let it go. If Fortunato was murdered… I just can’t let this person get away with it. Not to mention I did admire his wine collection. When Fortunato’s disappearance was discovered police interviewed people who were at the carnival where he was last seen. While Fortunato made the occasional fool of himself, it was hard to imagine anyone would have a deathwish for him. After each lead led to a dead end, the case was closed after only a year. Yet, for some reason my conscience told me that there's something suspicious about that Montresor. 

I decided to first visit Fortuanto’s wife. I hoped I’d be able to get some clues for what happened to Fortunato. I got onto my black horse and began my bumpy journey. After a few hours I arrived at my destination. I approached the home and knocked, “Hello is anyone home.” Suddenly, an older woman with short blonde hair and a long expensive dress approached the door. “ Hello, who are you?” She stated nervously. 

“My name is Detective Franco, I was just wondering if I could talk to you about the disappearance of your late husband Fortunato.”

“Oh...ok s-sure,” She replied hesitantly.

When I entered the home I was a bit taken aback by the beautiful scenery and paintings on the interior of the house. I was greeted by a luxury staircase and a gorgeous crystal chandelier above my head as she led me towards the living room. Once we sat down on a white leather couch I began to ask her some questions. “So, Ma’am do you know any reason why Fortunato would want to leave and suddenly vanish?”

“ No Detective, he had his riches, a beautiful wife, and a fine taste in wine.”

“I see,” I was beginning to feel slightly worried that this would be yet another dead end. “Well perhaps you may know someone who would want to hurt him? Have you ever witnessed or heard of any conflict involving Fortunato?” I questioned inquisitively.

“ Well actually detective, I witnessed many times that poor Montresor constantly being insulted by my Fortunato while we all stood around and laughed. Although, Montresor never seemed to mind. To me they seemed like good friends.” 

“ Thank you for your time Ma'am. I promise I will find out what happened to your husband,” I said dismissively as I rushed out of her home. I knew there was something going on with that Montresor! Maybe he wanted to get some sort of revenge on Fortunato. The next day I awoke early to travel to Montresor’s estate for questioning. I intended to gain evidence for Fortunato’s disappearance. When I approached the home of Montresor I was astonished by how unkempt it was. Large weeds and overgrown bushes covered the front of the home. The walls were dirty and it seemed as if no one has lived here in years. As I slowly walked up to the door trying to avoid stepping in anything I noticed the sky grow dark and cloudy. When I knocked the door creaked open. I creeped in and was welcomed by a putrid smell. I was beginning to gag. “What's going on here,”  I said to myself. The inside of the house was dingy and dusty. With everything I touched more dust collected on my fingers. I began to walk into a room. I gasped as a loud CRACK of lightning struck the earth. That was when I realized. Montresor… was… dead. My long black hair swept over my eyes as I noticed the maggots and flies that covered his body. I began to feel sick.

“This can't be.”  Montresor's throat was sliced so deep he was nearly decapitated. I backed out of the room and decided to look around the house for any sign of what might have happened. I searched each of the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and dining areas of the home, however I found nothing. As I was leaving I could feel the cold air cut my face as I rushed towards my horse. When I was about to get on my horse I noticed something quite shiny in the dirt below me. I picked it up. “A ring?” I put it in my bag and galloped home. As the night came I couldn’t sleep. I wasn’t sure what to do. I had the image of Montresor's dead body burned into my mind. Eventually I was able to drift off to sleep. When I  awoke the next day, I was gifted with a sudden realization. The ring that I collected yesterday seems very expensive and valuable. Not many people in this town would be able to afford such such an expensive piece of jewelry. I quickly got dressed and hurried to pay  a certain widow a visit. I rushed toward the door and knocked on it repeatedly. “Oh hello again detective,” she said in a sweet yet suspicious voice. 

“Hello Ma’am may I come in?” I'm sure she has something to do with Fortunato.

“Of course.”

I entered the home. “ Is this your ring?” Her eyes widened in shock.

“W-Where did you get that?” 

“Is this yours,” I repeated.

“Yes Yes thank you detective.”

“ I found this at Montresor’s home... I also found his dead body! ” She seemed worried.

“What! That's impossible.” Her tone was disbelieving.

“It’s over! What did you do to Fortunato?”

“You don’t understand I had to!” She sobbed. “Fortunato threatened our marriage. I couldn’t let him leave me. I knew Montresor disliked him so we conspired to kill him. It was a win-win situation. Montresor and I would bothe get our revenge.”

“So you killed Fortunato?”  I asked, shocked.

“Montresor killed Fortunato 50 years ago!  And I was forced to kill Montresor when you began poking your nose around Fortunato’s disappearance, I couldn’t risk him selling me out!” 

I pulled out my handcuffs and forcefully arrested her. I brought her to the precinct where she was interviewed and confessed. “Well Detective Franco, you actually did it. I hate to admit it but I’m proud of you kid,” Chief admitted. I was glad to have finally solved the case and given it some closure after 50 years.

(Thank you for reading my sequel:)

Montresor open’s the huge black doors and asks, “Who is there? What do you want?” Montresor, a tall lad with hair as brown as chocolate and eyes and dark blue as the ocean. He’s a very mysterious fellow but he’s content with his life. As one can tell with the mansion, he’s wealthy and owns this home with his dearest wife Genevie. Unlike Fortunato, he hates wine and is rarely ever seen drinking any of the sort. He’s rather the opposite of his friend Fortunato as he’s clam and soft around close friends and family and wouldn’t change a thing in his life.

Fortunato say’s jokingly, “It’s me silly! Who else comes everyday at supper to your enormous mansion?” He walks in and asks “where’s Genevieve? I just know she’ll be thrilled to hear of my new tale!”

“She’s upstairs resting…,” Montresor replies, “You know she spends most her days in her room due to her horrible illness. I’ll take you to her.”  He guides Fortunato upstairs to their bedroom. “By the way, must you always wear these clownish clothes?” Montresor asks. 

“Well of course!” He replies happily, “My dear old friend, don’t you know me by now? This is what I always wear!” The arrive upstairs to hear a woman call out Fortunato name.

“Fortunato!” Genevie shouts enthusiastically, “Oh, you have much to tell me of your recent adventures!” Genevie, Montresor wife, with skin as white as snow and light green eyes, and hair as orange as the sunset. Genevie is quite the opposite in terms on personality of that of Montresor’s. She’s a wild card, but due to unfortunate circumstances, she’s unable to go outside whatsoever. She’s been cursed with a disease that enables her from going outside and enjoying life to it’s fullest. It could be fatal if she ever were to be outside for even a couple minutes. She’s not as happy as she’s been depressed because of this issue but get’s joy from her husband, Montresor and hearing the wonderful tales of Fortunato’s adventures.  

“Genevie!” Fortunato calls out happily, “How are you feeling? Oh, I have so much to tell you!” Montresor leaves Genevie and Fortunato to talk together alone as he doesn’t care much for his adventures, but he knows it makes his dearest Genevie so pleased to hear of his tales, as she’s never had one of her own.

“So, where to begin Fortunato?” Asks Genevie, “Did you go to the same beautifully wooden tavern again? Oh, how I love it so much!” They talked for what felt like hours, Genevie just got so much joy from hearing of his adventures. “I wish I could go with you on one of your wine-tasting adventures at that lovely tavern...” Genevie says as her eyes fill with tears. That’s when an idea popped into Fortunato’s head.

Fortunato proposed the idea, “What if, you went with me tonight…? I could sneak you out and bring you back before anyone notices you’re gone!” Fortunato knew this was a long shot, but he just felt so bad about her illness. He wanted to give her that amazing adventure, even just once.

“W-what?!” shouted Genevie, “Did you forget I have an illness or is that clown hat on too tight?!” Genevie was shocked he’d even propose such a thing, it was like a dream that’ll never happen. “How cruel of you to even suggest that Fortunato!” 

“No, no! Hear me out.” Fortunato pleaded, “I’ll take care of you, I’ll keep you safe and make sure nothing happens! No one would even know we were gone in the first place. I swear on my life, Genevie!” He saw in her eyes she was contemplating it, and a small smile appeared on Genevie’s face. 

“You promise to keep me safe no matter what? To make sure that maid Annabelle doesn’t see me leaving?” Asks Genevie. “We have to make sure Annabelle won’t check up on me like she always does.” They came up with a plan to distract Annabelle, Montresor and all the servants in the mansion so they can plan their adventure. Fortunato will sneak her out at night for Genevie’s very first adventure!

“Maid Annabelle!” Calls Genevie. Their plan was to ask Annabelle that no one disturb Lady Genevie for a good hour at most as she’ll be redecorating the room and wants to be alone. Maid Annabelle comes rushing in.

“Miss Genevie!” Shouts Annabelle, “What’s wrong?! Are you hurt!?” Annabelle has the look of worry in her eyes. Maid Annabelle, she’s a very close fiend to Genevie as she is her caretaker and maid of the mansion. She’s a short lady with eyes as black as night, and hair a brown as milk chocolate. She’s very cheerful and bubbly as she tries everyday to cheer up Genevie from her depression. She’s been there maid ever since Montresor purchased the stunning home. In her free time, she actually goes to the tavern with Fortunato from time to time.

“Oh no! I’m fine, better than fine actually!” Genevie says reassuring Annabelle, “I’m sorry I made you worry.” Genevie told Annabelle their plan to redecorate the room and to make sure no one disturbed her. They bought it! Their plan was in motion and it’s reached nightfall. May her adventure begin.

            At last, Genevie was out for the very first time in years since she was diagnosed! She was overwhelmed with joy and excitement but was also very worried. She thought to herself, “What if I get sick? What if something goes terribly wrong and Fortunato has to pay the price for my actions??” Fortunato saw the nervous look on her face as they approached the tavern, and he reassures her that everything will be alright, and he’ll protect her. They enter the tavern and all the commotion startled her and she held on Fortunato’s arm. “What do we do now?” Asks Genevie. 

“That is a question with a very easy answer, Genevie.” Says Fortunato. “Just have fun! Here, let me go fetch you drink. After all, I am the best wine-taster the world has to offer!” He starts to walk off but Genevie interrupts.

“But I don’t think drinking is such a good idea, Fortunato!” shouts Genevie as he’s already far off to the bar stand. Although, she is curious of the taste, so she doesn’t argue with him any further. He brings her a light drink to start her off and makes sure she doesn’t drink anymore than she needs too. Genevie is having the time of her life and doesn’t show any sign of sickness. 

Fortunato thinks to himself, “What if this disease is rubbish, maybe Montresor was lying to keep her all to himself-” His train of though was cut off by Genevie who wanted more drinks! He refused as she already had enough and doesn’t want to push her past her limits. They enjoy what time they have left until Genevie starts poking at his arm.

“I’m not feeling too well,” She says weakly, “I can’t really keep my balance and I feel very uneasy.” Fortunato decided it’s time to bring her home before anyone starts to notice she’s be “redecorating” for a little bit too long.

“Don’t’ worry Genevie, you probably had one too many drinks and need to rest,” Fortunato says reassuring Genevie, “After all, it was your very first-time drinking, you’re bound to feel like this. Come on, let’s take you home.” He walks her back home, and they both sneak in through her window located on the second floor of the mansion. They used a rope they tied from her bedhead and climbed their way to the top. He tucks her in and assures her that she’ll feel better by morning. He prays to himself that she hasn’t gotten sick, he’ll never forgive himself. More importantly what would he tell Montresor that he got his wife ill!?? He reassures himself that it was just the drinks and returns to his home, glad that he at least got to give Genevie her first and last adventure, as he doesn’t want to risk anything ever again that can potentially harm Genevie. 

            A week passes after their adventure and things aren’t looking well for Genevie. In fact, she’s feeling worse than the night of the adventure at the tavern. Her face is as pale as sand and her hands are as cold as ice, but her forehead is as hot as fire. Montresor is worried sick, he thinks to himself, “How could something this cruel happen to my poor Genevie?” He asks his close friend, “Oh, Fortunato! Did you see Genevie do anything to put her in this condition? Please, you must tell me at once!” 

“My dear friend, I’m afraid not.” Says Fortunato lying through his teeth. “I don’t recall seeing her do anything out of the ordinary.” He feels beyond guilty but couldn’t bring himself to say the truth. “Maybe she’ll recover,” he thinks to himself, “Then all this can stay under wraps and my friendship with Montresor can stay strong.” He then sees maid Annabelle come rushing in. He starts to sweat as if it was pouring rain.

“I might have a clue as to what happened to Genevie!” Shouts Annabelle. “A week before this all occurred, she was acting strange, she asks me to leave her be as she redecorated the room. She asked that no one disturb her for an hour. But I’m afraid that’s all I know…” Annabelle was just as worried as Montresor. She’s known Genevie for as long as she can remember, she’ll be crushed if she lost her.

“I do see she’s redecorated our room slightly,” says Montresor. “But I don’t see how this can cause her to be in this fatal condition!” Montresor already lost enough people in his life, he can’t lose Genevie too. 

Genevie calls for Annabelle in a weak voice as if she’s already almost gone. “A-Annabelle! Please… come here.” Annabelle comes rushing to her side and holds her hand. She’ll take care of her till her last breath, which she fears is coming soon. Genevie leans towards Annabelle’s ear and whispers something that brought the maid to tears, she hugged Genevie and wish she didn’t have to let go so soon. A day later, Annabelle worst fear has come to past. Genevie sadly passed away during the night. Montresor was in deep distraught. He can’t wrap his head around of how this could’ve happened. He grabs his close friend Fortunato by the arm and hugs him.

“I’m so glad I have a friend like you to have by my side during this horrifying time.” Says Montresor. “I knew she would’ve loved to hear more about your adventures. It always put the brightest smile on her face.” 

This made Fortunato be overwhelmed with guilt, knowing very well this was his doing. He had to tell him the truth! There’s no better time than now, he’ll never forgive him if he waits too long. “Um, Montresor my good friend...” Fortunato says as his voice starts to crack. “I have a confession to make, however I’m unaware of how you’ll react. But it was me…”

“It was you?” questioned Montresor. “I’m sorry but I don’t follow…”

Fortunato blurted the truth out as if his mouth was full of flies, “It was me! I took Genevie out for a secret adventure at the tavern, I didn’t think the illness was real and I took my chances! She was doing well, and I thought her uneasiness was from the wine! If anyone was to blame for her death…it’s me” He puts his head down with tears in his eyes, “I understand if you can hate me, I hate myself for this.”

Montresor was speechless, he wanted to scream but all that came out of his mouth was, “It’s fine.” Fortunato was shocked!

“Um- excuse me?!” Fortunato shouts, “Its fine??” Montresor just rolls his eyes.

“Yes, didn’t you hear me the first time!” He said trying to remain calm. “With all your childish antics, you didn’t know any better. You’re too much of a child to have understood the complexity of her illness.” 

Fortunato was relieved. He hugged and thanked Montresor for understanding and he’s glad they can keep their friendship after his horrible actions. Little did he know, Montresor was furious with him, and he’ll never forgive him for taking away his dearest Genevie. First, he lied to him for recalling any information, and most importantly he caused this mess! Montresor remained calm as he’ll plot revenge against Fortunato. He’ll play the act as his friend until the time is right to strike. He promised his wife over her grave that he WILL get his revenge. For now, though, he’ll lure Fortunato into his trap. He’ll pay for taking away his Genevie, he’ll pay with his life. 

 I walk fastly down the brick sidewalk as I don’t want to keep my dear friend waiting any longer. I finally arrive at my destination and am greeted with a warm smile and a hello from my longtime friend, Montresor.  

“I thought I'd have to drink my wine all alone this morning,” says Montresor, “I’m glad you showed up at last though.”  

“Sorry to keep you waiting, my friend, I guess I overslept a bit from the calming sound of the rain,” Said Fortunato. “Can I have a glass of Brunello di Montalcino, please?” Fortunato says to the young Italian bartender. 

“I haven't heard from my mom in a couple of days,” sighs Montresor, “It’s unlike her.”  

“Well, maybe you should take a ride down there and see if she’s alright,” Fortunato says hopefully, “I can come with you if it'll make you feel better, you know mama Montresor loves her some Fortunato.” chuckles Fortunato, in hope to cheer his best friend up. 

“That would be great actually, we could go tonight if you’re free.” 

 

 

I look out the window of the moving train as I begin to wonder what would keep mama Montresor from reaching out to her son, like she normally does. I look over and I see Montresor tapping his knee. It’s obvious he’s nervous, or maybe scared.  

“You don’t have to be so nervous,” Fortunato reassuringly says, “I’m sure she’s fine.”  

“Yeah, I hope you’re right,” Sadly says Montresor. 

“You got to be more positive, you know,” I say. 

“Well, we’re almost there so we will find out soon enough,” Says Montresor, fake smilingly. 
 

As the train stops, me and Montresor hurry off the train. We begin to walk toward the small village called Kirekwall, where mama Montresor resides. It’s a nice little, obsolete town. I look over at Montresor and I see him in obvious distress. 

“Hey, cheer up, I'm sure she's fine,” I say in attempt to shake him out of his mood. “You know how she’s constantly cooking and baking, maybe that’s the case these last few days.”  

“I don’t know, Fortunato.” Says Montresor gloomily. “This time feels different.” 

 Polite townspeople smile and wave as we head towards the petite home. I begin to see the welcoming home in the distance.  

The white pearl exterior walls, homey blood-red door, beautiful garden that starts from the front and wraps around the sides of the house. I’m right behind Montresor as he knocks on the familiar red door.  

“Knock-Knock,” We wait for an answer but we didn’t get any. We knock again.  

“Knock-Knock,” Nothing again... 

Montresor reaches into his pocket. When his hand becomes visible again, there's a key between his thumb and his pointer finger. He slides the fancy key into the keyhole and turns it to the left. The door opens slowly as me and Montresor walk inside.  

“Mama?” “Mama, where are you?” Montresor worriedly shouts. 

As we get no response, we begin to look around the house with a slight panic. Kitchen? Nope. Bedroom? Nope. Livingroom? Nope.  

I then here an awful, heartbreaking scream coming from upstairs. As soon as I heard it, I could tell it was from my dearest friend, Montresor. I ran upstairs to see what that scream was about.  

I find myself looking at the awful sight of mama Montresor in a bathtub of blood. Her head is leaned back, resting on the back of the tub. I can’t seem to find the location where the bleeding is coming from but it’s literally a blood bath... 

I look over at Montresor, who is looking at me in shock with tears in his eyes, he grabs onto me for his dear life. With his arms wrapped around me so tight, I could barely breathe, I hear him sobbing loudly.  

 

 

 

“AH!” I woke up suddenly, drenched in sweat. I look up at the clock and read 4:30. I can't seem to be getting a good night's rest anymore. Not until 2 weeks ago, when I saw mama Montresor in that tub...I haven’t heard from Montresor lately either, I hope he’s doing okay. I start to think about how he's doing as I daze off into sleep once again. 

“Knock-Knock” I hear as I knocked on Montresor’s door, awaiting an answer. He opens the door in a red silky robe, with his hair all messy and looks half asleep. He looks awful I began to think as he cuts my thinking off guard. 
 

“What?” Montresor says, “What do you want?” he says, obviously annoyed.  

I realized that I was just standing there like a fool, trying to process the sight in front of me. I hand him the piping hot soup, I had been holding, that I made for him.  

“I made you some soup!” I say cheerfully, in hope to lift his mood. “I haven't heard from you in a while so I thought I'd-”  

“Is that all?” Montresor says coldly, cutting me off. 

“Yeah, I guess...” I say a bit offended. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay after what happened on-”  

“Yes, I know what happened,” Montresor said sharply. “Tell me, what did you really come here for?” “You want to murder me too?!” He says now more angrily. 

“Wait what?!” “What do you mean too?!” I say angrily also. 

Montresor shakes his head and scoffs, like he can't believe me right now.  

“BOOM!” The sound of Montresor’s door makes after he slams it right in my face. 

Does he really think I murdered his mom?! I begin to think as I replay that conversation in my mind and head towards the wine cellar for a drink.  

    As the years went by and we both grew up more , many things did not change. Fortunato was still very much the same condescending boy , he was years ago.  I still stayed the complete same , very much quiet and to myself throughout the years. Over the summer , a new girl had moved next to mama's house. Her name was Anastasia, she was the most beautiful girl any boy has seen in italy. Anastasia was slim , had long dark hair , pale skin and blues eyes like the ocean. When speaking to Anastasia , her voice sounded like angels from heaven. Fortunato and I had soon found out that she would be hanging out with us for the summer before school had restarted. As the summer days went by , I noticed the little things about Anastasia like the way her hair flew in the summer breeze or how every time she laughed a little too much , a shade of pink skimmed across her face.  I was utterly in love with her but so was Fortunato. Fortunato did everything to make her pay attention to him . He would do the most dramatic things to try to win her over.  On the last few weeks of summer have came running rolling in , Fortunato started making comments about him and Anastasia

“ Im sorry my dearest friend but she will be mines” 

“ There is no reason for why Anastasia would not want me , i mean look at me” 

   It was a constant thing he said to me at the end of the day when Anastasia had to go home. When Fortunato spoke like that about Anastasia , it sounded like I would never win her over. So i decided with the last few weeks of summer, i was going to win Anastasia’s heart over. The first week I brought her all the things she liked which consisted of flowers , rings , necklaces and chocolate. When I gave her the ring and necklace , she spoke to me which made my heart beat out of my chest.

“ Oh my goddess Montresor , I am never talking these off my dearest friend.” spoke Anastasia 

“ only you should have the greatest of my love .” i said while putting the necklace on her

As the next two weeks passed , I truly believed that I had won over Anastasia; she had stopped hanging out with fortunato less and me more. Today was the last day before we had to go back to school. I decided to have a picnic  with Anastasia and tell her I felt. I packed the basket with all her favorite food like strawberries , turkey sandwiches , cheese and crackers with a side of sparkling strawberry juice. I grabbed a blanket and headed to the field by momma's house where I told Anastasia to meet me . As I arrived at the field , I laid out everything right before she showed up. A few minutes passed and I saw Anastasia walking towards me in a yellow summer dress. She sat next to me and said , “ This is a very lovely Montresor , but may i ask what this is for.” I looked at her and said, “ Let's eat first then I shall explain .”

Towards the end of the picnic , I decided it was time to Anastasia how I truly felt about her. I looked at to the open land with the sun going down in the background as a gently grabbed her hand, and spoke to softly saying- 

“ My dearest Anastasia , you are the most beautiful thing I have laid my eyes on. Your eyes are like the waves in the ocean , your laugh is music to my eyes, I love how when you laugh a little too much your checks skim with a rosy pink shade. I say these things to you because I , Montresor, am in love with you.” i spoke to her with my whole heart 

Anastasia looked at me with so much confusion for a while until she spoke up and said 

“ oh my Montresor , the words you speak are so very much kind and i will always remember the kind hearted person you are , but I must tell you that I am with fortunato.” she said while turning her to look at someone 

I turned my head to see whom Anastasia had been looking to only see the man himself, his hands, his pockets and a smirk plastered on his face. Fortunato slowly walked over us and stood next to Anastasia , reaching a hand out to her . 

“ you see my old pal , me and Anastasia here have been together for awhile “ stated Fortunato 

I was utterly in shock, with questions running through my mind 

“ why didn't you tell me Anastasia ? or why were you leading me on ? “ i asked Anastasia 

“ I don't know why I didn't tell you ,I should have my  friend. I never meant to lead you on . You were truly like a best friend .” Anastasia spoke , whose voice sounded like venom to my ears now 

I looked over to fortunato who still had the smirk right on his face. I was completely hurt and angry that my own pal could do this to me.  

“ why can you do this to me, Fortunato ?” i asked him 

“ Well you see my friend , I always win. I beat you for years when we raced to see who can get from momma's house to the field. Now I won the girl. Don't be so surprised .” he said while patting my shoulder 

As the words came spilling out his mouth, my skin to boil with heat at my anger increased with the man standing in front of me. It had seemed that smoke was coming out of my ears from the anger. Before I could say anything to the two people standing in front of me , Anastasia finally spoke up . 

 

“ i think we should be on our way now .” Anastasia stated as she walked hand in hand with Fortunato. 

As I watched the two walk away from the picnic , I had decided from that moment now that Fortunato was not a friend to me anymore. He was now a competitor in my eyes. I may not get my revenge now but who said I will not get into later in life.

In school things weren’t much better I honestly think it was much worse then what I went through at home I would always get made fun of at school because I would keep to myself and because I was shy and I never really talked to anyone I tried my hardest to make friends in my class but nothing ever seemed to work they just didn’t want me but I was getting tired of always being treated as if I was different when in reality I was just like everyone else but no one seemed to enjoy my company. Since I didn’t have any friends at school my parents were convinced that something was wrong with me and that I wasn’t a normal child because I didn’t do things that other children my age did like socializing. My parents even wanted to take me to a doctor just to see if something was actually wrong with me all of this bothered me because nothing was wrong with me and I knew that all I wanted was acceptance from my parents but it seemed like I would never get that from them because of the way that they treat me but this is something that I just have to deal with. As I grew up and became an adult things weren’t much better I was always getting made fun of no matter what I did it just seemed like no matter what people would always look at me as an outcast and that is what made me mad because I was tired of this treatment I deserved to be treated fairly.

 

The first time that I ever saw Fortunato was when I was invited to a gathering that was taking place in his castle I was in awe when I first saw his palace it was so beautiful it was gold and white I was mesmerized I wish I could have lived in a place like this. It seemed like things were finally turning around and that I would finally make a friend for the first time in a very long time but with time I realized that this was far from what would happen at first I thought that he would actually be my friend he quickly proved me wrong when he would make fun of me in front of everyone and embarrass he humiliated me in so many ways he did this so many times that I actually began to hate him and I wish someone would treat him the same way that he treated me so he could know what it felt like. I hated how everyone liked him so easily and how they thought that he was perfect and a nice person when in reality he was far from that I became so jealous of him all I wanted was for him to pay for everything that he had done to me over the past couple of months justice needed to be made because I was tired of being treated like this but since no one else was going to do it I decided that I would take it into my own hands and I would get revenge on everyone that has ever made fun of me or treated me differently starting with Fortunato he will pay for what he has done to me really soon.

Like a childhood toy you can’t bare to part with, Montresor still looked fondly upon Fortunato. In fact, this fondness was the only reason that Montresor had put up with Fortunato for so long. You could simply tell by looking at Montresor that he was intellectually equal to any man you could find and had a pride to match his intellect. Although he seemed reserved, he was quick to anger if one would insult him; anyone but Fortunato that is. You see, he had known Fortunato since they were both in school, and until that day, they had remained as thick as thieves.

Despite that, Montresor could feel his resolve breaking down little by little, like castle walls that had been degrading for quite some time. You see, this was the cause for his dreary countenance, the last thing he wanted to do was get mad at Fortunato, sadly, that seemed like it would happen that day. In just the three days prior to this Fortunato had insulted Montresor’s intellect, height (though Montresor was 4 inches taller than Fortunato), family, and house. Even for two friends though, it was too much.

Montresor’s mood to this day was already frustrated, but what magnified it was that the buttons on his suit seemed never to match with each other. He knew that Fortunato meant well with his slights, but shouldn’t he have known better than to insult Montresor at all? They had traveled together, succeeded in school together, gone through the best and worst of life together. Fortunato was his best friend, but Montresor simply could not stand the constant degrading comments! This series of conflicting thoughts was scarcely as frustrating as the infuriating buttons on his suit… confound those stupid buttons

While he was mulling over things, a servant came in and inquired, “Sir, will you be taking the carriage, or will you be walking?” Montresor looked at him and tried to gauge which one Fortunato would demean less, “I will take the carriage, can you help me with my buttons please?” For his buttons were still not matching up. The servant responded, “Of course sir.” After he got the buttons on his first try, he looked at Montresor and said, “Sir, I know your patience with Fortunato wears thin, but, and excuse me if this is out of line, please do not cut off anything with him due to a petty disagreement.” Montresor said nothing, because he thought it was indeed out of line, and little did the servant know then, but he would find himself exceptionally unemployed by the next morning.

Montresor walked outside of his house and admired it, for a most wonderful house it was! Ornately decorated inside and out, with only the highest quality paint and furnishing of course! “Ah,” Montresor thought to himself, “Perhaps I have been too harsh on Fortunato, I have a lot to be thankful for… I think I will cut him a little slack.” He walked over to the carriage and rode to the tavern, picking up many of his friends along the way, for almost everyone in the town was his friends, and those who weren’t, went suspiciously unseen.

As Montresor rode to the tavern with his friends, they were all thinking lovely things of him, things like, “Montresor is such a kind host”, “Montresor always keeps his cool, he’s never taken off guard with anything!” and “Wow, he and Fortunato differ in many ways, perhaps they are only friends because Montresor is kind to him.” As they were all thinking these things, Montresor said to them, as if reading their minds, “My dear friends, I want all of you to know, that as good a man as I am, Fortunato is my superior one-hundredfold. I am friends with him because we benefit from each other, and I would never have harm befall him.” He said this in part to appease his own mind, but he did mean it.

When they entered the tavern, none of them were surprised to find Fortunato there with mugs of beer and glasses of wine for them all. He smiled grandly and said with a sweep of his arms, “Come in! Come in! The first round of drinks is on me!” Then he did a jaunty little dance over to the piano and started playing the piano for them, nothing classical of course, but some jumpy background tunes. Montresor quickly took centerstage and started regaling them with tales of his and Fortunato’s many misadventures together, with Fortunato calling in with his own additions.

Though his friends were enthralled, the tavernkeeper was just amazed at how these two worked together to keep a crowd’s attention, any day that both Fortunato and Montresor were in the tavern, would be a good day for business. As the stories slowed down and the drinking sped up, Fortunato lost his interest in the piano, and Montresor conceded the floor to others who had stories to tell. They sat next to each other, and still a crowd formed around them. Montresor, who was done with the narratives for the night, remained quite; however, Fortunato was ready for his time in the limelight.

Fortunato began telling many stories, most of which ended with Montresor being in the wrong, or as the punchline of a joke somehow. Montresor, who was accustomed to these stories, let them be, for they were all true. Towards the end of the night though, Fortunato began weaving entirely new tales: tales where Montresor was still the fool, and Fortunato was the hero. This was about the point when Montresor had enough, he spun around and said to the crowd, “Ah! Are you all enthralled? Do you enjoy these stories?” The crowd was puzzled, and they gave their general affirmation that, yes, they did enjoy these stories. Montresor looked at them and said, “Would you still enjoy these stories if you knew they were works of FICTION?”

The crowd looked around and found that their answer was still a resounding “Yes!!” Montresor looked at them in disbelief and said to them, “Fortunato is both a fool and a liar! The fact that you all listen, makes you all fools too! You would be better off shunning him and ignoring him… as I should have done years ago!” He then promptly flung his very full drink at Fortunato and proceeded to vacate the tavern.

The following days, their friends were mainly miffed that Montresor did not give them all a ride home, they wrote of the public shunning of Fortunato as a mistake made in a drunken rage. They were blissfully unaware of the fact that he had not had a single drink that entire night, nor did they consider the fact that he was absent from any public gatherings or forums. Montresor remained in his house for the following two months.

Two months later, on the day of the annual carnival, Montresor asks his new servant to prepare a perfectly spiffy outfit for him, and for the first time in a long time, he is smiling. The servant quickly prepares the best suit he can find and is a tad surprised when Montresor says to him, “I will leave now, and be out late, make sure you all stay until you are supposed to leave” He knew they would leave early, and that was perfect, he was ecstatic, because that was the day that he would get his revenge on Fortunato.

 

Walking through the door had brought me directly to the supposed center of Montresor’s excess. A fireplace burning softly as to give him a light for reading. A bookshelf as a way to signify that he reads. A desk with an unlit candle, an ink-pot, and stacks of paper as a means to convey that he was a man of study and diction. The wallpapers were coated in brown and gold, top to bottom. As I surveyed his décor for a moment, he finally spoke to prove his old bones did not cripple his vocal cords.

“Are you not used to such a maximal eye for design?” he inquired. He was pouring himself a fine wine, barely able to hold the glass as his hands were instinctively trembling.

“I’m afraid to say that this is a singular display from my experience,” I uttered quietly. He chuckled softly under his breath, as though he, too, understood that his sense of aesthetic was very saturated. As he turned from the desk where he was pouring his glass, he gestured for me to sit down in one of the two chairs by his amber-tinted, rug-covered, fireside spot. I rested myself into the green leather chair, sitting there equally distanced from Montresor in a leather chair coated in red. There was a long, tense moment of awkwardness and uncertainty in how to pass the time, for I was a young man of the lower branches. My hair was unkempt and longer than the lowest hanging twigs in adversity with his clean scalp, nearly stripped dry of any hair to speak of. My arms were thin but alive. His were struggling to remain on the edges of his seat. My eyes were locked on the edges of his fireplace, adorned in patterns of what appeared to be gushing ocean currents. Montresor was known to have a fear of the sea.
 
 “Is there a concern? Your face has been locked to my wares for quite some time,” he asked, almost in a taunting fashion.
 
 “How do your acquaintances reflect upon your personal scenery?” I beckoned. He took a long sip of his wine. Long enough to generate further discomfort and smother down the topic. I was not ready to forget the room I was currently sitting in. Once more, I asked “Are some of these possessions that of your beloveds?” with emphasis. He chuckled yet again.
 
 “To tell you the fullest truth, young sir, I have none,” he revealed.
 
 I felt my chest lowering ever so slowly. “What is your occupation?”
 
 “I have none,” he muttered.
 
 The room was falling quieter and quieter. I was not giving up. “Who was the one to perish? To provide your luxuries?” I continued.
 
 “Young sir, you are asking questions which are accessorized to no possible answers,” he emphasized, developing a desperate tone to shift the topic.
 
 More sternly, I proclaimed “It is not my concern to the presence of an answer, if I request one then you are to create your own.” I was not relenting. As we stood in further silence, I looked at the rest of his studies. A cask of wine in the corner, mostly hidden beneath shadows. Montresor sported a scar on each of his knuckles, the type I would expect from an intoxicated aggressor who is foolish enough to pound the dirt. I lean in closer to him, my eyes locked with his. “Who gave you this gold?” I said, more determined than ever.
 
 “Not a soul,” he swore. I sat back, on the verge of yielding. He was a tough cavern which I was powerless to reach the core of. In the moment I was ready to remove myself, he finally opened his walls. “Not a soul that is still corporeal,” he elaborated.
 
 “Alright,” I sighed. It was on the tip of my tongue for quite a stint. The thought was edging on the back of my mind for that night, and now that he conceded the outer truth, I was prepared to extract the inner skin that he was not giving. “Whatever happened to the name of Fortunato, good fellow Montresor?”
 
 “I see,” he grumbled, looking to his side. “You wish to bring back a myth that I have already buried,” he claimed as his stubborn shell was relenting. And in an out-pour of truth, he proclaimed, at long last, “I left Fortunato behind many years. Abandoned him behind stone and never turned back.”
 
 “What of his money?” I asked.
 
 “I was the only man whom he afforded a consistent friendship. His next of kin boiled down to no one and nothing. I was the only name left for inheritance,” he revealed.
 
 “Monstrous!” I exclaimed, standing up from his now-tainted chair and setting myself to evacuate his now-tainted home. “Montresor the Monstrous, you deserve no other name to be coated in such vileness,” I shouted.

 

“Steady!” he shouted, moving up from his chair. “I have lasted 52 years with Fortunato’s name gone. The only time it is spoken is on the streets, in plain remembrance. I will not allow you to dismantle the foundation.”
 
 I ignored, turning to the door.
 
 “Please,” as he dropped to his knees to beg. “It has been 52 years. It was a vanishing. There is no proof, there was no one left. Don’t speak a word of it, young sir. I will hold nothing but a grudge,” he pleaded, at the same time demanding.

 

“No,” I said quietly. “It is no matter of names. It is a matter of evil. I may not be a perfect man, but I know the truth of morals. I know the truth of darkness, and I know my obligation to not allow it. You will face the cells tonight, and if I have it my way, you will face the court tomorrow. Goodbye.” I leave out of the door, ignoring his demands and shouts as I exit. His words became obfuscated, and eventually inaudible.
 
 It has been three hours since then. I had marched to the authorities, told them every ounce of deceit that Montresor the Monstrous bestowed to me, and left back to the streets. As I regale this experience, I am holding my head to the dirt. There still was not a single door open for me. I knew I was to sleep in the cold tonight. But as I attempted to doze off into the filth, I heard Montresor’s shouts, his demands, his pleas. They were the shouts, demands, and pleas of a creature caught with blood on its teeth. I did not have a bed tonight, merely the filth. Yet, even among the poor nature, I felt comfort in knowing that the tower was toppled and that Fortunato’s fate and image would be understood and properly mourned. In this moment, the dirt is warm enough.

    Montressor: “Welcome son. Come join us and the others in the ballroom”. “It was a pleasure meeting you”,Catrova replied. As I made my rounds visiting and discussing with the others. I noticed Fortunato had appeared. Fortunato and Montressor normally don't get along, which is why it was ironic that his presence was in the middle of the ballroom. Montressor has always believed that Fortnuato had no class and was foolish. Montressor noticed the exchanging of glances at Fortunato in the ballroom and pulled the guards aside. From what I heard Montressor asked “who let him in? And said “Whoever it was will be fired, if they don’t banish Fortunato from this esteemed gathering immediately!” Catrova then responded with “You can’t just banish this man, as he has informed me, he has never been invited to a function like this before. If you want me to stay, do it for me!” To make Catrova satisfied Montressor responded “Alright anything for you my darling”. Montressor still seemed irritated. Fortunato was still here at his gathering that he planned for which nearly took more than half the year. Fortunato was at the dessert table and eating all the exquisite treats which was the last time I saw him before the notable act he and Montressor participated in. After the desserts and fine wine Fortunato was on a sugar high just like the minors who weren't invited. After he became the center of attention, the crowd and I were entertained by Fortunato and his party tricks he performed. After discussing with all the guests this was something that has never happened at Montressor’s esteemed party before. Instead of the guests oohing and ahhing over Montressor and his riches at his precious gathering, the attention was taken away from him and eyes were now on Fortunato. Everyone was amused by Fortunato’s jokes and foolish ways that the party wanted to enjoy and focus on Fortunato. Montressor seemed rather irritated and appeared as if his feathers had been more than ruffled. The last straw for jealous Montressor was when Fortunato danced the night away with Catrova. Montressor was humiliated when Catrova chose Fortunato over himself. Montressor couldn't contain his anger anymore and lashed out on the crowd. He threw a fit where plates were broken, food was on the floor, and people were left shocked. All the guests and I left Montressor’s supposedly esteemed gathering and followed Fortunato into the streets. Montressor was left all alone and was now viewed as the town's foolish man. 

Montressor couldn't take the pain that was caused by the party and from this day forward, he has plotted revenge on Fortunato that no one knew about until...

 

                 “He’s missing?” “Yes.” One of the people answered. She began to go into a panic not knowing what to do.  She asks Montressor if he saw him after he went to the bathroom, which he replied no. Montressor is beginning to feel very nervous. He is still trying to not act suspicious. Fortunato’s wife starts yelling “Everyone! Help me find Fortunato! He is missing!” over and over again. Everyone begins to scramble. After searching for about two hours, they had no luck. His wife is in distress and doesn’t know what to do anymore. Someone said everyone should go in teams and look outside the party building. Montressor and Fortunato’s wife team up together to go searching for him. They look around the grounds of the land screaming his name. “FORTUNATO?????” No luck. It has been several hours at this point and they are dumbfounded. All the people circle together again in the building trying to figure out what else to do. At this point, everyone is tired, sweaty, and hungry. “Maybe he went home early?” someone asks. No one had thought of that. Fortunato’s wife went back to their home with Montressor. He was not there. She was so worried about him. They looked for days and days after that. No luck. No leads, no tips, nothing.  Someone finally suggested the wine cellar. Everyone went down there screaming his name but found nothing. They found the molding and some extra bricks in front of the newly built brick wall. Everyone asked Montressor what it was. He just explained he wanted the cellar to be more closed in and that there is nothing behind the wall. For some reason, everyone believed him. Maybe that was because Montressor wasn’t known for violence or for being mean. 

 

                At this point its been years. No one has even found a trace of him. Fortunato has been pronounced dead since it has been so long. Montressor is relieved but also lives in nervousness that someone will find out what he did. He is flashing back to the night he locked Fortunato in the wine cellar. “MONTRESSOR PLEASE DON’T DO THIS. WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT!” Fortunato said in a last plea. Montressor has had his last straw with Fortunato. He was so tired of the constant humiliation Fortunato put him through. He is tuning Fortunato out while he is building the wall. Montressor begins to rethink his decision to hide away Fortunato forever. Fortunato’s wife brings Montressor out of his thoughts by asking him if he misses Fortunato. “I do, but I do not miss the constant tricks he would play on me.” He replies. “I miss him too,” she begins to say. “he wasn’t the best husband though….” She trails off. Montressor is puzzled. “What do you mean?” he asks. She begins to tell him all the weird things he used to do. Montressor is shocked! “I don’t like how he teased you either.” She explained. Montressor shook his head in agreement. Montressor tries to reply to her stories but she cuts him off in a kiss! Montressor doesn’t pull away. He just looks at her. After that, they began dating. Once people found out Montressor and Fortunato’s now ex wife were dating, they began to be suspicious of them. For purposely doing something to Fortunato. No one agreed with their relationship. It was very controversial. Montressor and Fortunato’s ex wife get married. Then, the search for Fortunato begins again. Everyone believes Montressor and/or his new wife had something to do with his disappearance. Again though, they find nothing.

 

 

                Over the years, people always kept an eye out for Fortunato. Montressor and his new wife now have two children. They moved to another city in Italy before starting their family. The pressure, the stares, and the harsh comments from everyone was too much for them to handle. So, they moved away, making them look even more suspicious. Montressor’s new wife still doesn’t know what happened to Fortunato. After all these years, Montressor never told her. One day, he decides to tell her. “So, remember that night Fortunato went missing?” he asks her nervously. She nods her head yes. He begins to tell her what he did. “….and the extra bricks and molding everyone found, I forgot to get rid of them.” He finishes. She looks at him in shock, eyes widened and creating a perfect capital O with her mouth. She starts freaking out. “YOU LEFT HIM FOR DEAD?” she yells. “I… well…. Maybe…” he answers. She is extremely frustrated. She leaves him, taking the kids with her. She goes back to tell their old towns people what Montressor did. They break down the wall to find Fortunato’s skeleton wearing the same clothes he was when he went missing. Montressor was arrested. No one suspected his wife was involved in his disappearance. She felt bad for ratting him out but he deserved it. Her and her two kids live happily ever after. 

It was a beautiful day in Heed, a town that has wonderful buildings and homes. But what you didn’t know was that there was a person trapped in a wine cellar for over 160 years. His name was Fortunato. He wants revenge on Montresor and his relatives, because he was chained up by Montresor. He was planning his revenge for 160 years, waiting for the exact moment to strike on one of his sons, Theo. Theo is 13 years old, and is taking high school at Heed High. We go into the cellar, a dark, cruel, place where Fortunato and his skeleton are. Fortunato likes torturing people is his spare time. There he is now! Better hide! “I am complete with my plan!” said Fortunato in a ghostly voice. “I am not going to sit anymore in a cellar that Montresor trapped me in 160 years ago.” “I am going to make myself so powerful, that Heed will be no more!” “This is how I will do it:” It cuts out there, but what we do know is he will become a force to be reckoned with.

 

 

So now we go to Heed, where Theo and his parents are. “Hope you are ready for school!” said the mother. “Yes I am!” said Theo. He then proceeds to walk to his school when he sees an S shaped building. Curious as he is, he enters the building. It was dark and looked like it was abandoned 25 years ago. Theo was getting scared as he went deeper into the building. Then, he saw a ball of light exiting a mysterious room, bouncing off wall after wall. “What was THAT?!?” said Theo in a terrified mood. Theo went in the room and saw a man who was 6”3 tall and was skinny, wearing a magician’s outfit, with the top hat to go with it. ‘’Um, excuse me, who are you?” said Theo. “Why, I’m Presto the magician! What brings you here my boy?” said Presto in a happy-go-lucky voice. “Just visiting the building and- Why is there an old vacuum in here?” wondered Theo. “For a special purpose: to suck in spirits! Before you were born my friend, spirits ruled the city of Heed, and anyone who was not dead was killed, forcing them to be a spirit. The ruler of them all was Gill the Terrible. He was sucked in some 25 years ago and never came out of this vacuum. But the vacuum itself has a flaw. If Fortunato gets in there, he can let all the spirits out, making for a spirit takeover. That is the story of this vacuum.” said Presto in an inspiring voice. Theo was impressed by the story, and so he went out of the building. “Bye bye, by friend!” said Presto. Theo was just walking around the wet streets of Heed. It was go time for Fortunato, who is now a very powerful demon because he infused the powers of Satan in his ghostly body. He escaped the wine cellar and just seconds later, a very loud, evil laugh was heard all over the town.

 

 

A demon was rising from Ye Olde Cellar, a place where people watch the story of how Fortunato got buried. This scary figure was 8 feet tall, larger than the original Fortunato. Ye Olde Cellar got warped into hell first, as he had enough of people mocking him. He soon started going after the S shaped building, where Presto is. “WHERE IS THE VACUUM, PRESTO?” yelled Fortunato. “ I’m not telling you, demonic hell hound!” said Presto in an angry tone. “VERY WELL THEN, YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NOW! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!” said Fortunato as he proceeded to possess Presto so he can tell him where the vacuum is. “NOW WHERE IS IT, FOOL?” “In my room, sir.” Fortunato went in there and found the vacuum. “NOW I CAN FREE THE SPIRITS TO MY WILL! EVERYONE, YOU ARE FREE!” yelled Fortunato as he went in the vacuum, breaking it instantly, and freeing every spirit that ruled the town 25 years ago, including Gill the Terrible.  “YES! I AM NOW THE MOST POWERFUL BEING IN THE WORLD! HA HA HA HA HA! NOW TO KILL OFF THE LAST OF MONTRESOR FOR GOOD!” and off he went, going for Heed High School, where Theo is. He was in a classroom, where It was silent, but bright. “THEO, YOUR TIME IS UP! SURRENDER YOURSELF TO ME AND I WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU AND MYSELF!” yelled Fortunato as he broke the silence in the classroom. All of a sudden, spirits came in every which way possible, as Theo was forcibly dragged by some of them to Fortunato. “I WANT YOU AND YOUR PARENTS DEAD TO ME, SO I CAN GET REVENGE ON THAT STUPID PERSON WHO CHAINED ME UP! ME AND MY SPIRITS HAVE ALREADY DESTROYED THE TOWN LOOKING FOR YOU! DEATH IN 3… 2… 1!” “Please don’t kill me-“ those were Theo’s last words as he and his parents were killed by Fortunato and his spirits, making him a normal ghost again. “Yes, I finally did it. After 160 years, I got rid of Montresor’s last remaining family! Now I can live like a half spirit half demon I am!” said Fortunato. But, as it turns out, some people survived the spirit takeover, Presto and Ed were the only people left in the “town”. “Your time is up, Fortunato! You have done enough! Say bye bye to your world, as we made an extra special vacuum that is indestructible! So long, demon!” said Ed as he turned on the vacuum. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” yelled Fortunato as he got sucked in, and within a few seconds, the city was back to normal again. 

 

 

The sunny skies were back, people were playing in the playgrounds again, and everything was fine and dandy, except for Ye Olde Cellar, as it was warped to hell. Theo and his parents were alive again. They were shocked as how they survived Fortunato’s wrath. “I’m alive! I really am alive! This is gonna be an incredible story to tell one day, when I have kids of my own.” said Theo. Fast forward 75 years and we see Theo with his grandchildren. “And that’s how I survived Fortunato, the demon”. “Wow, that was the best story I have ever heard!” said one of his kids. “Yeah, you should make this whole story into a book of it’s own!” said another. And so he did, over 500 million copies, won awards and made Theo the best writer in the world. His legacy will last as long as the book and his grave are there.

One day, after coming home from a six month long business trip in Greece, Montresor kicked off his shoes, sat on his balcony, and saw one of the most devastating sights in his life. A giant, four story brick resort has just been erected right in front Montresor’s estate. The resort stuck out like a sore thumb and horrifyingly obstructed his treasured view. Montresor, building up his anger and frustration, yelled, “WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MONSTROSITY!” at the top of his lungs. After doing some thinking and calming down, Montresor decided to investigate the resort, and found out that Fortunato was behind this. Fortunato was a wealthy man who is extremely competitive and prideful. Fortunato had noticed the recent influx of tourism and wanted to capitalize on it, by building a massive resort in the middle of town to house only the richest of tourists. Montresor, who thought of Fortunato as a friend, was deeply offended by him building an eyesore in the middle of his cherished town. 

Meanwhile, Fortunato saw Montresor observing his resort and approached him, saying, “My dear friend Montresor, how great to have you back in town. If you haven’t already noticed, I built this luxurious and astounding resort as a way to revive this crippling and depressing town. Hahaha!” 

Fortunato was a man who took a lot of pride in his accomplishments. He prided his resort more than anything he ever had. 

“Oh Fortunato you always find a way to impress.” Montresor replied sarcastically. “You sly dog.” Montresor then muttered to himself. 

“Hahaha! Montresor you are so amusing! But I best be going now, as you know, business is booming!” 

Fortunato wasn’t wrong, many people all over the country were coming to stay at Fortunato’s resort. Anyone who had money in their pocket would end up staying there. One of these people included Romeo, a young and optimistic man who had obtained his wealth from his father. Montresor hated the people who stayed at this resort, especially Romeo, as they were loud, obnoxious, and threw a lot of parties. Montresor had stayed up all night due to the excessive noise from the parties being held at the resort. He could barely think, couldn’t sleep, and had nowhere else to escape to. The once beautiful and peaceful town of Rotecastello had turned into a loud, filthy, and horrendous tourist trap.  Montresor’s patience was running thin.

A few days later, Romeo had announced that he will be permanently living in Fortunato’s resort. In the town square, Romeo announces, “I have been having the time of my life these past few days and I want to spend the rest of my life here, in the town of Rotecastello.”

Adriana, Romeo’s wife chips in, “We invite all of you to come tonight and party with us, right here at the resort.” and invites only the richest and wealthiest people in town. 

Montresor overheard this news and was horrified. The past few nights in which Romeo was partying had contributed to the worst nights of Montresor’s life. All of the partying and restless nights had driven him past the point of insanity. If Romeo was permanently living in the resort then he would probably never get to sleep again. This was a problem as Montresor could not bear another night without sleep. 

Montresor decides to put an end to this once and for all. When the clock strikes midnight, he sees that the party has started on the top floor of the resort. He sets out towards the resort, dressed in all black, under the cover of night. Montresor breaks into the resort on the first floor, without the partygoers on the fourth floor noticing. He reaches for his torch and lights it using a nearby lamp. Using his torch, Montresor sets fire to the curtains, the chairs, the tables, and ultimately setting the resort ablaze. However, the drunken partygoers on the top floor do not even realize that the resort is on fire until it is too late. The resort collapses on itself and is destroyed from top to bottom. Almost everyone and everything in the resort is nothing but a piece of history.

 At last, Montresor could sleep and have his precious view to himself, now that Fortunato’s resort is in ruins. Fortunato, having survived the terrible event is in sorrow that his prided resort is no more. Montresor still despises Fortunato for what he did and gets an awful taste in his mouth whenever he sees him. One day, Montresor will come for Fortunato, too. 

    “This is not a good idea, you know.” As Luchesi and his brother Ferdinando walked down the freshly polished marble floor. “This is nothing more than a friendly wager, think nothing more than that” Luchesi remarked as he grabbed his brother’s shoulder, “Besides, I think a nice plot of land to the west will complement the house more then just the land near the hills, no?” Ferdinando chuckled and rolled his eyes ‘I guess it will be nice to see some of our land go to the sea.” The two walked to the wince cellar and started on the daily task of sealing the wine by hand in the cellar. “I wonder what the other family is doing to prepare, the season is starting soon.” 

    Meanwhile Fortunato and his family are looking at plans to sweep the competition under the rug by any means necessary. “They are fools if they think that there will be no sabotage, the land that is to be bought is going to make us rich.” Said the master of the house, Carbona. ‘Father, I don’t think this is a good idea, we should be fair and honest about it. Forget the land.” Remarked Fortunato. His father ignored it and developed a plan, to be executed tomorrow night. Fortunato was hatching a plan in his own head to make sure that this does not happen. The night moved on and the plan was simple, Light the crops on fire and the other family happen not to be home at the time.

    The day of the event was as normal as any other, the dry air was perfect for a blaze to run it’s way through a field, Luchesi and Fortunato are walking in a field, exploring the field that Is being put down for a competition. “Luchesi, we have a problem, my father is going to destroy your crops and set them ablaze”. Luchesi stopped right on the spot at these words, “This is not good, I’m the one who will inherit the farm and wine once my father is gone.” He went and sat on a rock, “You are telling me this, why? I cannot see anything beneficial for you, Unless….” Fortunato took a seat on the ground next to him, “What is it, I am doing this for goodwill. I do not approve of my father pulling dirty tricks just to win at a competition.” Luchesi paused, “We need to figure out a plan to stop this once and for all.”

    “Would it be possible to make sure that the plan does end up failing and your family is caught, Fortunato?” He thought for a second “What if the fire you start is in the land that we are getting is on fire and considered useless?” 

  “Perfect, do you agree that this is a good idea?” Fortunato waled to the stream and over the small hill. “Quite sad, this land is so wonderful.” As they walked to the corner of the two properties, the two shook hands and walked their separate paths. The sunlight was seeming to burn as it disappeared behind the tall snowcapped mountains.

“Do you know where my friend is” asked Fortunato to the mysterious but beautiful red headed woman. 

“Yes, I do, He went to my friends’ house to drink a coffee and you know maybe they’ll do something else” she responded. 

“Could you give me the address of your friend” Fortunato asked. 

“There is no problem, here you go” She said and the same time it writes the address in a piece of white paper. 

 

By: Isinelis Feliciano

As the days go by here in Pienza, Italy and the money does not catch for me and my family every day I must go work to support my family. This country is a very divided one as on the other side of the street you can see all this rich family all happy without anything too worried, but on our side is just sadness with sometimes not having the money to even buy food and having to go to bed hungry. But I know that my time will come out soon and we are going to be out of this horrible place. Every day I promise my family that they will see my wealth growing and that they will not have to worried about money anymore, but they just laugh thinking that the day will never come and a person like me would never be one of those people of the other side of the street. Today was a different day as I walk down the street I see this boy getting yell by his father and the only thing I can hear is “Loser”, “Business”, “Family”. His face was all cover with tears and his clothes with mud, I just ignore and keep walking. As my day was almost over with my shift of about 14 hours of working. I was on my way to go home walking as I suddenly bumped into someone that I might know who was it but at the same time no, I just keep walking and I heard somebody call my name “Montresor” and I was thinking who was it because nobody knows my name and as I turned around it was the same boy that his father was yelling at him. So, I ask him how he knows my name and he laugh and  spoke: 

- Every day I see you walking in this route as I was curious who were you,  I ask my people about you and I was very impressed that they know who were you as they do not care about the people on the other side of the street, in our conversation they tell me that you were a poor guy that everybody knows as a friendly person (Fortunato says).

I was very confused about how all these people know about me; I never talk to any of them and not even to the people in my neighborhood. So, I ask him what his name is and what happened earlier.

-OH yes my name is Fortunato…aa..nnnn..ddd.. about earlier it was just a dumb fight that I have with my father about the family business. (Fortunato says)

-And why he was all furious about it? (Montresor ask).

- It was he just want me to forget about the idea of being a normal teen and just focused on my future career (Fortunato says)

-And what is the problem with it I wish that my father gives me my future in my hand like yours is doing. Because people like you do not have to worried about anything in life; just maintain a business that you don’t want, but we must fight to have food on the table every day. You know what is getting late BYE! (Montresor says furious).

Days pass and we keep meeting we talk about life and even the first day I was so furious about what he tells me I understand him and in the end, we become a best friend. He teaches me different tools about business, and I teach him how to be a normal person. As Fortunato teach me everything about business and his family like me, I’m planning to make my own business. I planned it everywhere at any time I got that feeling that the day will come earlier than I expect. One day Montresor family let me stay in their house, I did not tell my parents that I was going to stay with them because they will kill me. I stay about 2 months at Montresor's house and went to a different rich party and meeting where I meet important people that will help me to make my company rise. I never went back home to tell my parents where I was; I think of them every day, but the day that I go back is when I can have my own business and show them that I did it. 

 Time pass and Montresor put his family business rise as a rocket to the moon, and mine is just a plan in mind. I got so furious with myself but also with Montresor.  I pass so much time with him that I memorized all his weaknesses and strengths.  One day he was so tired from work that when he was semi sleeping I tell him to sign a contract that was about “work” but the real thing is that the contract says that if something pass to him his business will be all mine and nobody can fight about it. His family gives me everything; treat me like his own son,  they even buy me my own house and my own car.  I keep being Montresor “BFF” so I can have the advantage of his family and one day take revenge on them and have his family business all for me. So, I can take my family from that horrible place and give them the life that they deserve.

 

 

Later that week Montresor hasn’t seen or talked to Fortunato’s wife since the day after it seemed as he was avoiding her, she did talk to the authorities and they have been searching the land extensively. Montresor is relaxing in his home when he hears a knock on his door, he slowly walks over and another knock happens, he opens the door and its Fortunato’s wife and the authorities behind her and she asks him “ Oh Montresor I still haven’t seen my baby and its been days since I last saw him, some people have said they saw you last with him.” Montresor responds with “ OH MY GOD he’s still missing? This can be possible when I last talked to him we were at the party and I went home early and he went to go talk to other people. I will do ABSOLUTELY anything possible to help you search for your beloved husband and my dear friend.” He tries to sound as shocked and as sad as possible letting her and the authorities in his home. “ Can we search your home and all your properties?” they ask “Absolutely I can show you around if you want.” They searched his home and are now going to his wine cellar. Montresor starts to sweat a little hoping he left no traces of Fortunato there. When they get there, they search through it and find nothing as they are leaving Montresor says “I hope you got all the information you need, if you need me ill be in my home, I hope you find him.”

 

More days past and now its been a week and a half since anyone has seen Fortunato more people are talking and suspicion gets put on Luchesi because him and Fortunato were always competing against each other so they went to search him home but when they enter his home they see he has been sick for the past 2 weeks and he wasn’t at the party which meant that ,that clears him of anything. So they look back into Montresor after hearing more reports from people at the party saying that him and Fortunato left the party together. When they go back to Montresor’s home they see him in a sort of panic trying to calm himself down he says “Oh hello.” “ We need to look around your property again just to confirm that you are innocent.” The authorities say. But this time there is more than 2 of them, they have a whole squad with them and they search every single corner of his home and as they make their way to the wine cellar Montresor is freaking out and he jumps ahead of them saying “I’m just trying to prepare dinner and I need a nice drink to go with it don’t mind me.” As he walks by them looking around hoping that they cant see you hear Fortunato behind this wall. One of the officers there walks up to the wall and say out loud “ was this wall always here? it seems a bit out of place and you would probably be able to get more room if you broke it down.” “This one? Oh ya I just built that a few months ago there wasn’t anything behind it, it is just another wall, I built this one right up against the other one because the other bricks didn’t fit with the cement of the wall so I put this in.” Montresor saying as he wipes his forehead. They leave and Montresor blows out a big sigh or relief.

 

 

A month goes by and nothing comes up with the search they had a huge search party and nobody found anything Montresor thinks he has gotten away with it and slowly takes up the role of a highest tier wine taster in the area but starts to get worried that people were talking about him and how he killed Fortunato so he tries to create a story where he has to leave and move far away so no one will ever be able to arrest him and he can get away but as he is plotting his story he hears a knock on the door. “ “MONTRESOR!!!!” he hears in a familiar voice, it was Fortunato’s wife, intrigued he opens the door and there she is she walks in and he shuts the door confused as to why she is here then she says “ did you do it?” “Do what?” he says “you know what I mean did you kill him?” she says in a stern tone. “No I didn’t I bet this on my life I didn’t kill my dearest friend Fortunato I cant even believe you would accuse me like this, how dare you.” He storms out of his home never to be seen again.

At the time I was living on the trifling outskirts of Rome in a small picturesque village. The cozy settlement overlooked colossal acres of wine fields. Everyone was friendly, happy and warm hearted in our quaint wine culturing village. I lived in an ancient Roman villa with my Mother and Father who both own our traditional wine company together. Our family struggles a bit, but our  wine firm is rooted in tradition and culture. My friend on the other hand is much better off. Their family owns a much larger wine firm than ours. His name is Fortunato. Me and Fortunato attend school together near the atrium of the village. Although Fortunato is wealthy, he is not at all pleasant. Fortunato is a braggart, he bolters how his wine is superior to other wines. In school Fortunato cheats on exams to get into college. I however study properly like many other students. The girls view Fortunato as handsome and brave; but that is not the case, I believe he is a coward.

One bright, warm summer day I sat upon the rim of the fountain in the atrium, reading my school books until Fortunato came along and stood in front of me blocking the sun. Fortunato said “what are you doing Monty??” I ignored him. “I SAID what are you doing Monty!”, he said in an agitated manner and pushed me back off the rim of the fountain in the water. I fell backwards, the wet was all over me and my clothes were completely soaked. As I climbed out of the fountain everyone had gathered around the fountain and laughed at me. I have never during my school time seen such a large gathering of pupils in one spot except on that unfortunate afternoon. I have never seen them laugh so heartily and uninterruptedly. I felt my heart sink, my head spun it was like my spirit wanted to leave my body for a better place. I gathered all my courage together and walked away from the situation knowing it will never happen again 

Fifteen years later, I ran my parents small yet reasonably successful winery. That is if you define success by reputation and honesty and not monetary rewards. Fortunato’s business towered over everyone’s in the region. The grapevine’s word was that he cheated and used inferior grapes and included chemical solutions which enhanced the flavor of his products. There was not a hint of proof. All the Italian wine dealers met at an esteemed market held once in 10 years. Buyers travelled from all over Europe. I hoped to get a boost for my business during this event. It was early and the place was already bursting with an animated crowd. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the humidity weighed heavily on the atrium. The buyers and connoisseurs wore elegant and carefully tailored colorful robes. They attended together with their scribes. In the midst of the crowd I felt someone pushing me. “Well if it isn’t little Monty, have you dried off yet from your fountain bath,” Fortunato laughingly exclaimed. Everyone’s attention suddenly shifted towards me as if I was the only person in the room. I felt their piercing stares. All of a sudden there was a quietness focussed on me from the chattering assembly. “I see that you have not had any customers, no surprises there. What could you produce with just one helper and lack of machinery with sour and pale grapes grown on that cloudy hill,” Fortunato burst out with laughter and the crowd cheered in. I felt defeated. I took such care and precision in growing my grapes and running my vineyard. I was proud to take my time. Fortunato gained many buyers and only one former buyer returned to me. 

Despite my best efforts a few months later I was bankrupt. All my hopes and dreams shattered and a vineyard which dated back to Caesar's Rome was no more. I needed to find out what Fortunato’s secret was. A few days later I met Luchesi in the village. “I am sorry to hear about your misfortune Montresor. We all really like your family. I always admired your diligence with which you cultured your wines.” Luchesi touched my shoulder in a comforting and encouraging way. ”Oh by the way Montresor, the wealthy French buyer who purchased a large amount of Fortunato’s harvest, he was found dead, and his fingers and toes were blue, his face was green and his tongue was yellow. He was examined by the police. They say he was poisoned.I must be going now my friend.” Luchesi rushed off. I thought long and hard of what might have poisoned the Frenchman. I remember him as a young fellow of tall statute. He was an educated and pleasant gentleman. He was known as a true connoisseur always chasing the best bottle. I started looking in my chemistry books, and there I thought I found what might have killed the Frenchman. If you brew a substance derived from alcohol and add it to the wines it makes them fuller and taste sweeter. I went to the carabinieri. At first no one believed me. Then an old doctor entered with a chemist in tow and they examined the body again. They proclaimed the Frenchman poisoned allegedly by Fortunato’s cheating wine stretched with an alcohol derivative to make it sweeter and fuller. The carabinieri rushed to arrest Fortunato at his house. He exclaimed, “you are wrong, I have done nothing.” They looked through his cellars and found an entire lab where the lethal alcohol derivative was brewed. 

 

“Where are you off to?” questioned her spouse.

 

“The town children are coming to the library in roughly an hour for me to read to. They are so lovely. Their little smiles bring so much joy to my life.” Replied Elizabeth. 

 

“Ah yes, it is Wednesday. I suppose you shall be off then. I wanted to introduce you to a life-long friend of mine,” his hand motioned to Fortunato “Fortunato, he is the son of my fathers’ acquaintance, William the Eighth.” 

 

“Hello love, it is pleasant to finally meet you. A shame it couldn’t be sooner than now. I’ve heard so much about you from this man. You’ve found yourself a nice one here. He will surely treat you as a queen.” Fortunato gleefully greeted, almost too gleeful… 

 

“As well as it is nice to meet you, I’ve also heard so many good things of you. He sure does treat me right. He is a wonderful gentle man; I couldn’t have found better.” Elizabeth stated and looked down at Montresor in the chair grinning. “Well, I best be off now. I can’t keep the children waiting. They get very antsy if left alone too long.” She planted a kiss on her fiancés forehead and waved as she walked off from the two, back on her way to the library. 

 

Once Elizabeth had arrived the wind started to pick up once again. The two men decided it would be best to head separate ways as it looked like rain clouds were rolling in. Montresor called over the servant and had him pick up their croquet pieces. The two men were then left to say goodbye. Once the goodbyes were said Montresor went inside to wash up for the evening. As he was arriving in the bathroom he peered out to the window to see Fortunato walking in the direction of the library instead of leaving, this is when Montresor knew the greed and desire had gone too far. However, he continued to go about washing up.

 

Once he had arrived at the library the clouds started to ruble and rain came pouring down. He wandered around the spacious area in hopes of running into the beautiful woman whom he had encountered just earlier. He assumed she would still be reading to the children, due to the rain preventing them from leaving. This would mean she is likely in the children’s book section. As he made his way over he could hear the voices of children whispering grow louder and a voice of an angel fill his ears. A sneaky grin instantly appeared across his face. He knew it was her. He stood nearby to listen to the rest of her story telling. By time she had finished the rain was just a slight drizzle and the children were on their way to their homes. This is when he took his chance and went to speak to her. 

 

“Hello Elizabeth.”

 

“Oh, goodness me oh my! You scared me half to death. Did Montresor send you here to tell me something?” she said, quite startled and confused.

 

“No my dear, I came here on my own doing. I just wanted to get to know you better before you marry my best lad.” 

 

“Ah, I see. Does he know of your presence here?” her brow furrowed as she said this, as they had just met and this encounter seemed a bit odd to her. 

 

“Of course, he told me that it would be lovely for us to get acquainted. So here I am.”

 

“As much as I would love to speak right now, unfortunately I have plans with my fiancé to test cakes and centerpieces for our wedding. I must be off now, I mustn’t keep him nor the baker and wedding planner waiting.” Elizabeth said as she made her way to the library door and out to the courtyard. Fortunato was deeply disappointed by this, as he had planned to sabotage the plans of the wedding. 

 

“Ah, I see. Have a lovely day Madame. Though, before you go, I must say you look absolutely ethereal in that dress.” 

 

“Thank you sir, it is very much appreciated.” 

 

And with that the two went on their separate ways. Fortunato went to his carriage and Elizabeth back to the house, where her husband was waiting in his office. When she approached the glass doors she could see Montresor using his quill and ink to write on what looked like some important documents. A light knock was placed on the door before she eloquently entered. Montresor then put his papers in a folder and shut it before she could get a look at what they said. She did not think much of this, perhaps they were confidential documents, but she did find it odd at how startled he appeared. Never the less, she brushed it off and the two went on their way to meet with the baker and wedding planner.

“Oh my dear friend!” He said before taking a sip from his wine.

“Welcome Fortunato, everyone has been talking about you.” 

“You are too kind my old friend.”

“Not a soul here today can forget your joke last week.” 

“Oh, well that was certainly a good joke.” 

Luchesi laughed and walked away from his friend as new guests began to arrive. 

The celebration went on as expected and for hours no one could stop dancing and cheering. It was already nearing sunset when Montresor walked into the gardens. 

“Oh, Montresor! Montresor!” Luchesi called as he made his way through the masses of happy guests dancing. 

“Luchesi, I must apologize for being late, you see-”

“Nonsense, nonsense, please Montresor you must follow me, I have someone you must meet!” 

Luchesi guided Montresor to the back of the party where the music seemed to die down and a few guests laughed to themselves. Some of the guests held their stomachs in laughter while others stopped to greet Luchesi.

“Fortunato you must meet my friend! He is the one I’ve told you about.” 

The circle of men laughing dispersed and from the middle of what remained walked Fortunato.

“You must be Montresor, my old friend here has mentioned you a few times.” 

“I believe you must be the famous Fortunato.” 

“Ha ha, that is me indeed.” 

“Luchesi couldn’t stop laughing about the prank you played on the so called wine expert, and I must admit neither could I.” 

“Yes well, that was a pleasant evening.” 

“Indeed it was,” Luchesi interrupted, “oh, goodness me Montresor I haven’t told you about Fortunato’s latest joke.” 

“Well then you surely must, even if it is half as funny as the last one.” 

“Believe me, it doesn’t even compare.” Luchesi ended with a laugh before walking away. 

“Well he is rather busy, would it be a bother to have the creator  himself tell me the joke?”

“Not at all, Montresor, although a good joke has to be shown, not told.” 

“If you believe that is best, then of course, lead the way Fortunato.” 

Fortunato walked around Montresor and began guiding the way towards the fountain in the middle of the garden. 

“I’ve been told you are quite the prankster yourself Montresor.” 

“Well, a few jokes here and there for sure, we all need some humor for entertainment.”

“That my friend, I must agree with.” 

They finally made it to the fountain and Fortunato stood in front of it before whistling. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to face him. 

“Hello friends, I must admit it has been fun to be around all of you today.” The crown cheered and murmured before dying down again. “I have met a new friend here and he hasn’t a clue as to what joke we have all been talking about this pleasant evening.” 

At that everyone began looking around and Fortunato was quick to point at Montresor who waved. 

“I must ask you not to reveal a thing as I tell it again for my new friend’s enjoyment.” 

At that the whole crowd began laughing long enough for Montresor to begin feeling self conscious. Eventually they lowered the volumes of their laughs and began to find a comfortable spot to sit in. In retrospect the fact that everyone moved their chairs or themselves back should have warned Montresor but caught up in the moment he did nothing but smile in anticipation. When montresor tried to follow the crown and take a seat somewhere Fortunato’s hand was quick to stop him. 

“No my friend, this is for you, you must stand at my side,” and so Montresor did. 

“I once had an acquaintance who I worked with, we were both young men back then and had just gotten the job so our boss would leave us behind to finish cleaning up every night,” The crowd’s smirks only grew wider while Montresor struggled to look at them and Fortunato at the same time. 

“You would not believe what happened the day we decided to leave early!” Fortunato said and clapped his hands together loudly, everyone’s smirks only grew.

While Fortunato got back to talking about the day and how hard it had been raining, Montresor caught a glimpse of someone running at the back of the crowd until they pushed themselves all the way to the front row. There stood Luchesi with a worried look on his face, he tried to speak but the laughter of the crowd drowned his voice at what seemed to have been a funny joke Montresor had missed. Feeling left out Montresor decided to ignore Luchesi and pay closer attention to a joke he was worried he hadn’t understood. 

“Can you imagine how angry I was? So I grabbed my things and said ENOUGH!”

Just as he said it Fortunato’s hands came flying to his sides and hit Montresor so hard on the chest that he stumbled and fell backwards. He reached for something to hold on to but there was nothing and he ended up submerged within the fountain. Montresor pushed himself up and gasped at the water filling his nose and mouth before beginning to cough. Once the coughing fit stopped Montresor heard it, the loud laughter all around him and looked up to see a sea of fingers being pointed at him. The whole guest list was laughing at him and his shocked expression soon turned into one of embarrassment, the tips of his ears turning bright red. Then he saw Luchesi, not laughing but instead, looking down and smiling shyly every time one of his laughing guests bumped against him. Looking up Montresor noticed Fortunato’s smirk as he extended him a hand. Montresor took it only to be lifted half way before being dropped back into the fountain. The laughing began all over again. Montresor groaned and lifted his forearm up, the same forearm that had softened his fall to find it bleeding. As the shock stopped and the embarrassment faded Montresor began feeling the unbearable pain in his forearm. Using his other arm Montresor got himself back up and avoided anyone’s gaze as he escaped the garden and entered Luchesi’s house. There, in the kitchen stood Luchesi’s wife who had a constipated look. 

“Oh dear, you’re bleeding.” She gasped and ran to get a first aid kit. 

“I’ve told Luchesi so many times not to invite that...odd friend of his with that terrible sense of humor.” 

Montresor swallowed his pride and forced out a dry chuckle, “Thank you ma’am but I must admit it was rather comical.” 

She gasped, “How can you say that? Look at your arm!” 

“This is nothing, merely a scratch.”

“I’m afraid not, I believe your arm is broken.” 

Montresor held back the whimper that threatened to come out when Luchesi’s wife pulled at his arm and shook his head. 

“Nonsense, tomorrow this will simply be an unpleasant memory,” and without letting her do anything else he pulled his arm away and walked towards the garden once more. The second the other guests saw him they began laughing and montresor held back a pained sob before joining in with a forced smile.

He would get his revenge, he would get back at Fortunato.

    Detective Romano has been working on this case for an exceptionally long time. There were only two times where he almost caught me, but I eventually found ways to lead it to a dead end. To this day, the poor man still looks for answers to what happened to Fortunato.

    For me, As the summers are hotter and the winters are colder I try to do the things I normally do so no one finds any suspicion. But when I get home, that’s when it starts… I hear the ringing of the bells inside of my head. It gets worse and worse. It happens all the time now. When I go to bed, when I wake up, when I leave my house. It’s. Always. There. The sound. The terrible, terrible sound of the bells jingling. 

   It is snowing outside as I go to get my horse. While I am getting my horse I see something move. 

 “Am I going crazy?! No, it can’t be…” I thought,

 “Fortunato…?” I say. 

   I blink, and suddenly he is there, right in front of me. But he looks different. He is wearing the same clothes I buried him in, but they look old and torn. His complexion looks ghastly.

 “Hello…friend” He says.

I quickly rub my eyes. When I open them, he’s gone, like no one was there.

I chuckled knowing that it was just a figment of my imagination, But the truth was, the thought was killing me.

As I was going into town, I was jumpier than usual.

“Good afternoon Montresor” a voice behind me said. 

I jumped and turned around to see Detective Romano in front of me. 

“Oh! Good afternoon, Detective….. H-How are we with the Fortunato case? Any news or leads?” I reply trying to sound more confident than I actually am because I like to keep close tabs on the case just so I know how “close” he is. 

But to my surprise He says, “ Well, since you asked, we’ve received a letter from an anonymous person that we should look in your area.”

When I heard that, I had no words. Romano has never come this close before. If I tried to stop him he would be suspicious. I felt nauseous. 

“Oh? Why would someone say that?” I said in a calm voice. 

“Beats me. But if it gets us closer to the truth, I’ll risk anything.” He said. 

Now there is nothing stopping him. But I am not as worried because even if he looks anywhere, he will not find the body because it’s in the walls.

I chuckle to myself thinking there is nothing to worry about. 

That night, as I was dosing off to sleep I heard a noise. Like someone walking around in my house. Then, I hear the jingle. I open my eyes and see Fortunato in front of me with a creepy smile over his face. 

 “Was I worth it?! Was I really worth all this guilt?!” he screamed. With a maniacal laugh he said, “You’re leading him to us”. 

“Who?! Who am I leading?” I yell. But Fortunato once again vanished. 

The next day in town Detective Romano approaches me again. “Why?” I wonder. 

“Good day to you Montresor!” he says.

“G-Good day Detective” I say more nervous than usual.

“ I have received yet another anonymous letter saying we should look through the catacombs under your home for a newly paved wall. They said that Fortunato should be in there. What do you say about this? You being accused like that?” he said.

The horror on my face was too great. But who? Who would have known that I took Fortunato down there? Who would have known that I paved a wall and put him there?

“Oh.. Tha-That is terrible news! I would ne-never do such evil things! I would very much like to know who is making these false accusations.” I replied. 

“Yes… As do I. But I am afraid that I will have to look through your catacombs” he said.

“Well alright. Whatever you need to help you with the case.”

When I got home I was thinking about who on earth would know such classified information. No one was home but me. No one was with Fortunato but me. It obviously couldn’t have been me! Just then Fortunato appeared in front of me. He looked even worse than before, and had a big smile on his face.

“Oh Montresor. Poor, poor Montresor” he said.

“Get away from me! You’re not real!” I shouted. 

“Really? Then this must be in your head! This must mean you’re going crazy! It’s only a matter of time…” he taunted.

“Only a matter of time till what?! How does he know where the body is?!” I asked him with great despair.

“ Oh my dear, dear Montresor. Is it truly that difficult?” he laughed. “If only you and I know where my body is, and I am, well, dead, and you are not…. That means your guilt is so strong you don’t even have control of yourself anymore!!” 

Just then I lunged at Fortunato, pinning him on the floor. He grabbed a knife and tried stabbing me. But I grabbed the knife away from him but he managed to get it again and crushed it into my heart. 

*Newspaper article*

  “Montresor was found dead in his home. He was found with a knife in his hand. He has committed suicide. Next to him was a letter confessing to the murder of Fortunato. When Detective Romano and his crew went down to see the location that Montresor described in his letters, he finally found it. In the wall was a man in a jester’s costume hung by his hands and a bottle of Amontillado by his side.”

“Teacher!! Teacher!! Look what I made!”, shouted the blonde haired child from his seat, disrupting everyone else. Fortunato didn’t particularly care for school so he did what he wanted.

The teacher slammed her hands on her desk, “Mr. Fortunato! Shut your mouth this instant! We are taking a test!”, she yelled at him. She gasped, “What did you do to your test?!”, she stared in disbelief. Fortunato had made his test paper into the shape of a wine glass. He pretended to take a slurp out of it. “Mmm! Delicious! Is this amontillado?”, he said and tried to imitate a french accent, earning laughter from the class. The fact that he knew what that was perplexed me.

Our teacher didn’t like him one bit. “I will not tolerate this foolishness! Fortunato, you are getting a zero and if I catch anyone else laughing that person gets a zero as well. Understood?”, she demanded.

“Understood.”, the rest of the class groaned.

After the test our teacher had planned for us to move our desks to be paired with someone else for a couple of months. I didn’t like that. No one liked me, not that I cared but, I just wanted to be by myself. As everyone chose their partners I just sat in my spot because I didn't want to move. I wasn’t going to move. I wanted to be by the window. Before you knew it, I heard a desk scooting near me and I didn’t even bother to look.

“Hi Montresor! Want to be friends?”, a voice I never expected to hear that would be this close to me. What put me in shock was that he knew my name and he wanted to be friends. I never had a friend before. I turned to look towards him. His eyes were just filled with happiness waiting for an answer. I crossed my arms and looked away from him, frowning and thought about answering or not. Me, the smartest known kid in third grade paired with an absolute fool. I took a deep breath in and exhaled. “Sure, Fortunato, we can be friends.”, I replied even though it sounded like it was forced. But, it didn’t matter to Fortunato. All he heard was “Yes” and silently danced in his seat like a toddler. And ever since then we’ve been friends until who knows how long.

As time went on, Fortunato and I got closer and closer, he even became family to my household. Then middle school happened.

“I can’t believe you made it this far Forunato!”, I said joking to him as we walked down our hometown trail to the bus stop. Our voices had matured over the years so we don't sound like squeaky little boys anymore. It was sunny out and the flowers were blooming with color. It was very peaceful here and you could talk to anyone.

He gasped playing along, “That's how you really feel my friend? I can’t believe you said that.”, he laughed.

I laughed also. Who would’ve known that Fortunato could make it to eighth grade based on how foolish and naive he was in his past. He still is but we're not going to talk about that. 

“So you still haven’t gotten along with anyone after all these years, Montresor?”, Fortunato asked, still in shock because I don’t get along with anyone except him.

“Nope! Not one!”, I chuckled as we made it to our stop.

It became silent for a while. I had a question that's been in my mind ever since Fortunato got new friends. Ever since he could decipher which wine was which by just tasting it he became popular with everyone. He’s been drinking wine ever since he was a child. 

“Um, Fortunato? How come you’ve been so dis-”

“The bus is here!”, he cut me off and waved at the bus driver joyfully.

We boarded the bus, he went to the back to greet all his friends with different kinds of handshakes, while I sat in the front alone. It used to be just me and Fortunato but now he just leaves me like I don't even exist. I stare out the window as we ride to the city where our school is. The sunny skies changing to dark gloomy clouds as we make our way there. 

At around lunch time, I’m sitting by myself on a bench waiting for Fortunato to possibly sit next to me. As I eat I see him go pass by and go to another table with his other friends. “Great. Once again, I’m left alone with these ignorant people.”, I whisper to myself. 

Someone slid over the front of me. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but hear you say “these ignorant people” want to apologize?”, this random teenager asked, trying to be nice. I didn't bother to look at him. I ignored him and stayed quiet.

All of a sudden I get grabbed from the front of my shirt and lifted up from my seat. I didn’t weigh that much so it was pretty easy to lift me up but at the same time it happened way too fast for me to process what was going on. 

“Want to apologize scrawny?”, the teen raged.

“Uh, no.”, I replied thinking nothing was about to happen. Then almost immediately I was thrown to the next table landing on everybody’s food. My arm hit the edge which didn’t feel too good. Disgusting but painful.

“FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!”, the lunchroom started to chant as screams were heard from panicking girls. I don’t even know how I got in this situation but I knew my friend, Fortunato, would come to help me anytime soon. I looked around for him and spotted him. My eyes went wide. I couldn’t believe it. Instead of helping me he pulled out his phone and started to record!

Then I got a blow to the head which made my vision blurry and the room started to spin. Then I felt multiple kicks hitting my side in the same location. I started to cry, this unbearable pain I’m feeling and I possibly have a concussion. It hurts. That's all I can think of. I curled up into a ball receiving hits from everywhere for maybe a solid minute until a teacher came to break it up. I couldn’t move. The last thing I saw was my only friend laughing at me before I blacked out.

“OH MY GOSH!”, I hear faintly as I wake up. It was my mother bawling her eyes out because of how hurt I was. I was bandaged up by whoever worked on me. My head and torso were wrapped up so I must’ve gotten hurt pretty badly. From what it looked like, we were in my room. Then I saw Fortunato acting as he was so worried for me right next to my mother. I couldn’t bear to look at him. I’m so disappointed and so angry at the same time. I slowly sat up without it being as painful and looked Fortunato dead in his eyes. 

“Get out.”, I muttered.

“H-Huh?”, my mother stopped crying and looked at me confused.

“I SAID GET OUT!”, I shouted to both of them, my voice cracked because I was getting ready to cry.

“B-But son...”

“GET OUT!”, I shouted one last time.

 

Both of them stood up and headed for the door, my mother leaving first then Fortunato. But Fortunato had said something before he closed the door. “What a fool”, he said and chuckled mischievously.

I couldn’t believe my ears. I started to think to myself as I sulked in my bed. This is what I get for becoming close to someone. If I hadn’t become friends with him this wouldn’t have happened. Friends are useless. I don’t need friends. If I hadn’t said yes I would’ve avoided this. I wish that I never met him.

After a couple of hours I fell asleep to rest my body. My mother soon came in with some soup. “Monty? I brought you some food.”, she said with a delightful tone in her voice and placed the tray next to me. I sat up and grabbed what I needed to eat. 

“Mom.”

“Yes honey?” 

“I don’t want Fortunato living here anymore. Kick him out.”, I said coldly.

“Excuse me? Where did this come from? I would never do that to my baby.”, she responded and frowned.

“He didn’t even bother to save me mom! He just sat there and laughed while I was getting beaten!”, I exclaimed.

“No. That isn't him. You probably mistaken him for someone else. Fortunato could never.”, she said, denying any accusation towards him. 

“Mom, you never listen to me. This is serious.”

“Montresor. I’m not dealing with your attitude today. You guys are fine. Now eat and get some rest. I’ll come to check on you in a couple of hours.”, she ended the conversation and left my room.

“Ugh! Fine. It's whatever.”, I mumbled.

After a few weeks I healed completely but not my friendship with Fortunato. Now there is complete silence between us. We walk to the bus with no conversation. We don’t talk to each other in class or at lunch. We don’t talk at all. And now I’m getting builded by Fortunato and his friends! I can’t believe it, Fortunato once family but now a complete enemy in my eyes. I constantly get picked on and my stuff hidden away from me or destroyed every single day. It's not fair. I don’t even say anything to mother because she's too in her feelings that Fortunato is this heavenly angel that doesn’t do anything wrong. I’m sick and tired of this!

One day at lunch I completely lost it.

“Oh look it's the all high and mighty Montresor who thinks others are beneath him but really he's just a cowardly dog that doesn’t know how to fight for himself.”, Fortunato mocked me and laughed along with his friends as they passed by my lunch table.

“You know what Fortunato…”, I slammed my lunch tray and jumped onto my table and screamed at him.

“You’re such a bully! What did I ever do to you? All you do all day is mock me! Is it because I’m smarter than you? I’m more intelligent? You are beyond stupid! You can’t do anything by yourself! You don’t even care about graduating! All you do is drink wine and tell people which one it is and call it day! I do all your work for you and help when you are struggling because that's what a friend does right? All you care about is yourself! Is it because your mom died when you were little? You think your life is so hard because you lost your mom and your dad kicked you out! Grow up!”, I shouted and caught my breath. Then I saw tears go down Fortunato’s face. I immediately regretted what I said at that moment.

“Fortunato I….”

“Just shut up! Why would you even say that?”, Fortunato yelled.

“Yeah dude that was pretty rough.”, a classmate said.

“You went too far.”

“That's wrong to say about his mom.”

“Wow, he brought up his dad.”

“You’re the bully.”, everyone started to go against me. Then everyone started throwing things at me calling me not so polite names. I rushed out of there as quickly as I could. I looked back and saw the unforgettable. Fortunato was smiling. He faked being hurt. I was immediately filled with rage and came back to the lunch room. I didn’t care that things were being thrown at me. All I know is that I punched Fortunato square in the face out of anger before being grabbed by a teacher. This is not fair! Why am I always getting punished? 

After school my mother and I had a long talk.

“Montresor! I cannot believe this behavior!”, my mother shouted at me. “You know how Fortunato is. How could you? You guys are friends.”, she cried. Mother hated seeing this tension between us.

“No. That boy is no friend or family. He’s a stranger.”, I replied. “I hate him. Nothing can change my mind.”

“Montresor, take that back!” 

“No Mom! Fortunato is not some angel you think he is! He’s a bully! A liar! A deceiver!”

“No he isn't! You guys are going to make up whether you like it or not!”

“Never. I want to change schools.”

“Montresor, you sit here and think about what you did until I come back.”, she ignores my request. “I’m going to talk to Fortunato.”, she claimed.

“I bet he’s laughing hearing this conversation.”

“Zip it!”, she said before slamming my door.

I sighed and laid on my back facing the ceiling. I continue to think about all the things Fortunato has ever done to me. “Tch! I'll show him!”, I declared. I turn to my side and face the mirror next to my bed. I look at myself and frown. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get my revenge.”

As the sun is setting against a deep red sea of scarlet layered with the subtle light of the moon, I hear a knock on the door. I briskly make my way to the door to answer. All I find is a note addressed to Guido Montressor. “Someone must have felt shy,” I thought. The note is in a tan envelope decorated with golden stickers and black ink. I unfolded it to see instructions to open the bottom drawer of the dresser in my guest bedroom. The dresser belonged to my father, as did the house. I stroll through the halls until I reach the room. With slight fear, I open the drawer to spot a string and pull it down to reveal a secret compartment with another note. This one contains a map with sketches of wine and skulls. My father used to tell me about his wine cellars, and how one day he would show them to me. He passed before I was of age, so he never got to show me. Until now, I thought I would never know where they were. I guess he had left its coordinates for me to find. I have no idea who would have left me a hint about it out of nowhere or why they would know in the first place, but I figure it must have been one of father’s old friends. Tomorrow, I will start my search and bring my closest friends along for the hunt. 

The sun creeps upon the dark night, as I awaken into excitement and nervousness. The skull on father’s note slightly worries me, but it is nothing that will ruin the adventure. I head into town and spot my friends. Carla’s long red velvet hair blowing in the wind is hard to miss. Antonia looks more tense than usual, but it is probably because I made her meet up earlier than usual. I greeted them with a cheery smile. “Why did you want meet up so early?” Carla asks. I respond saying, “I have a plan to seek out my father’s wine cellars.” Antonia seems nervous and a bit sad at the mention of the cellar, but I shrug it off as tiredness. “It seems like we need to walk a few miles through town towards the north end.” I exclaim. We make our way through town until reaching the designated spot with the first wine bottle etching. Antonia gets sweaty and asks, “Should we take a break and grab some water at the market?” I reply, “No way! We have already made it this far in good time to throw that away would be a waste. There’s a stream a few blocks down that we can visit.” She agrees and we take a trip to the stream to hydrate. As we walk back to the spot, we study the map and realize that this is the point where we go underground. Antonia gets nervous, but Carla reassures her and holds her hand while they walk down into the cellar. “It’s pretty dark down here, are we sure this is a good idea?” Antonia asks. “I brought a flashlight we will be fine as long as we stay together.” I reply. 

 The group comes together behind the light to search the cellar. The air feels thin and the smell feels old, but something about the atmosphere is unsettling. All of a sudden, we hit a wall. Carla states, “It must be a dead end.” We turn around only to realize we are trapped, but more interestingly that Antonia is missing. “Where is Antonia?” we ask in unison. “We must have lost her without realizing or maybe she turned around without telling us because she thought we would be mad,” Carla suggests. I state, “I’m worried about Antonia, but I think we have a bigger problem.” We stare at the enclosed walls surrounding us and wonder how this happened, as the anxiety and fear grows. Silence defies the room until we both lose it and try to break the room apart. Three of the walls are made of wood, while one is sealed with a wooden door.  I did not notice a door on the way in. As the fear intensifies, Carla spots something. It is a bottle opener with the word “Fortunado” engraved on the side. Carla’s mouth is wide open, while my confusion remains. “I think we’re in trouble…..there’s an old tale of a story between a man named Fortunado and Montressor that I was told as a child but never thought anything of it until now,” Carla exclaims. “Your dad must be THE Montressor from the story, so does that mean that Antonia is Fortunado’s daughter?” she continues. “If we are, what’s the significance of the story?” I ask. Carla explains that Montressor killed Fortunado and my eyes widen. “She must have known, and this is her revenge.” I say. 

“Hello.” I spoke as I walked up to her table. I misinterpreted her because she gave me a look of disgust as I spoke. Her eyes rolled as she closed her book to look up at me. “What?” A sassy remark over a decent hello. “Is this the kind of decency you show me after I pay for your drinks for two weeks?” I let my temper get the best of me. She looked surprised, but upset. So, she reopened her book and continued her reading, ignoring me. I’ll just try again tomorrow. 

Soon enough, tomorrow came. I sat next to her today. She glared at me, but moved her eyes back to her book. “Hi.” I spoke. “Hi.” She sounded angry. That made me mad. What had I done to her? “Could you go somewhere else? I would like to read and you’re in my way, and not to be rude, you stink of wine.” She dismissed me. As much as I was enticed by her, she looked more and more like the next person staying a little while in my cellar. I was enraged. I needed my revenge. “Can I ask you just, one quick favor?” I asked, as politely I could manage. She sighed, obviously annoyed and nodded her head. I had asked her to follow me and I led her down into the cellar. I had said I had a whole library of books she might like, but the brick wall was in the way and I needed someone to hold a candle for me. I could tell she was a bit hesitant before coming with me, but the mention of a library convinced her. As she held the light for me I started to move the loose bricks. Once they were all moved, she looked at me differently. Less angry. I took that moment and held a brick in my hand, and watched as the brick moved from my hand to her head. 

Next thing that I remember was her yelling for help. There was no library. When she awoke she was chained just like Fortunato 5 years back. Now that I recall, I never asked her name. The wall was finished. Her yelling was muffled and I had never felt regret until that moment. A few days later people were yelling the name “Eleonora”. The bartender said he had last seen her with me. I needed to take him out too. I tried, but it was too late. They had caught me. But I would never confess. I didn’t need to. They arrested me anyway. Soon, they found my cellar...but not soon enough to save Eleonora. The woman who was anything but decent to me. It’s been 45 years since I trapped her, 50 since Fortunato’s unfortunate end. I’ve been rotting away just like them, only slower with food and water. I’ve been writing to pass the time. Again, I have never regretted my killings, until her. Not because I was caught, but because her yelling made my stomach churn and feel differently than it has before. I wouldn’t be here. 

He said, “Why is a fine man like you doing in a neighborhood like this?” His sarcasm was deafening. 

Trying not to show my anger towards him I replied, “Just trying to get a day worth of food.”

“Well we good quite the stash of food in here! Why not join us?”

“How generous.” I said.

Even though I knew that he was doing this only for his ego, I still needed food, so I obliged.

            They gave me a room to stay, it had to be the worst one in the mansion. It reminded me of the closet I stayed in when I was young, cold and dark. They also gave me two suits for use at their nightly parties. I despise the wealthy, but this could give me a great start, so I conceded. Though this life was not as gracious as I expected. Though I attended their parties, and I accompanied them at dinner. I never felt like I belonged there, because I didn’t. They treated me like some kind of jester. I did their chores; I gave them complements. I was always the 🤬 of their jokes. It’s pathetic. But the one that I despise the most, is Fortunato. Even though he brought me into this life, I still despise him for it. This is not a life to live, especially when you are a joke to people that do not deserve what they have. But I must keep attending the parties, and dinners, so that they think that I enjoy their company, or else they wouldn’t have me here any longer.

            On one of these nights, many of the attendants were drunk, including Fortunato. I tend to resist the urge of alcoholism, though I do like alcohol. It was late, and I returned to my room. After an hour passed, I was awoken by three loud knocks. I cautiously opened the door only to be greeted by Fortunato.

“I wasn’t expecting you, Fortunato,”

“Yeah, yeah, I know…”

His drunkenness couldn’t be overstated.

“Tonight, was quite the night! Did you enjoy yourself, sir?”

“No, Montresor, not really.” He looked right at me. “You were only there for a short while.” He exclaimed with angry tone.

“I’m sorry sir, I was tired.”

“I don’t care if you were tired, you, you have to come! This is my house! If you want to say here, you have to do what I say! I own you. I control your every decision. And you can’t disagree with me.”

I stood back, I had to comprehend what was said to me. These imbecile thinks he controls me?! I almost couldn’t stop myself. I put my hands on his neck and began to choke him. A man of his entitlement should be purged from his existence on this earth. My hatred was strong, and it showed. He tried resisting, but he was far too drunk to fight back. As I squeezed, 

I thought, “shouldn’t a man like this receive a harsher punishment for a lifetime of selfishness?” 

“This is much less than he deserves,” 

I thought. Just as his eyes were shutting, I let go. I then dragged him to his room and placed him on his bed, hoping that tomorrow he would think what happened was some sort of fever dream. I was too soon finding out.

            It was the next morning, I was strolling to the never-ending hallways waiting to hear from Fortunato. Eventually I bumped into him, it seems like he just woke up.

“Good morning Fortunato!” I said enthusiastically.

“Oh, hey Montresor, how are you?” He didn’t seem to remember anything.

“I’m very good sir! Its another great day living in luxury!” I held back my contempt.

“That’s good. Say, Montresor, could you grab me some ice? My neck hurts.” 

“Of course, sir. As always.” 

Reluctant as always, I did what he asked. This will soon change. 

I needed a plan, something that was at least smart enough to get over the head of this baboon. I knew about the wine cellar that were underground. That leads to a vault, which I feel could be a great place for his bones to rot and his screams to go unheard. But how to get him there without him suspecting a thing, is the problem at hand. Based on how he acted when drunk, I feel that would be optimal for a favorable outcome. When does Montresor get drunk? At parties of course. So later that week, I went to Fortunato and made the proposition.

“Greetings Fortunato!” I exclaimed.

“Greetings to you as well!”

“I came to you to suggest a party. I rarely get any input on what happens, I hope you would allow me to host this time.”

“Why, now that you mention it, I am in quite the mood for a party, sure Montresor, why don’t you host.”

“Great! You won’t be disappointed; it will be a party you will never forget.”

            I began planning the gathering. I knew that Fortunato was quite the drink tester. I am to use that to my advantage. I know that Fortunato will not hesitate to gulf down every sample that I provide. He will enjoy his last minutes of consciousness how he lived, ignorant and entitled. And he will die as I lived, cold and dark.

 

“You’re going to pay for this Montresor and someone will find me!” Fortunato exclaimed.

 

Montresor didn’t even look back at poor Fortunato, all he cared about was that he got his revenge. As Montresor left the underground tunnel he kept hearing Fortunato scream for help, but knew he never would get it. 

 

“I’ve done what I needed to do.” Montresor told himself,

 

As Montresor got back to the party in his house, everyone was wondering where Fortunato was. 

 

Then Luchesi questioned Montresor, “Where is that man Fortunato?” 

 

Montresor responded oddly, “Umm he passed out from drinking too much wine in the underground tunnel.”

 

“And you didn’t drink any Montresor?” Luchesi asked.

 

“No I did not drink at all sir, don’t want to become drunk.” Montresor lied and laughed.

 

Everyone laughed at what Montresor said. 

 

“When will he be coming back to his home may I ask?” Luchesi asked Montresor.

 

“It should be soon that he recovers from his drunk sleep, but I will assure you that he will be coming back soon.” Montresor lied again.

 

Luchesi took Montresor’s word. Then Montresor asked for everyone to leave the party at his house. 

 

“Hope everyone had a great time today!” Montresor exclaimed.

 

“Yes we should do this again with our dear friend Fortunato again, well once he wakes up and feels better.” Luchesi laughed.

 

Montresor smiled and greeted everyone out his house quickly so his secret could stay safe. So now that everyone has left the party, Montresor started to celebrate for what he did to Fortunato. He had a drink for himself knowing that Fortunato was gone from his life. He is thrilled that he got his revenge and the best part is that nobody has no clue what happened to him yet.

 

The next day, nobody is still aware that Fortunato is missing. Everyone assumed that Fortunato came back home to his place. Fortunato is officially dead right now. Anyway it was a beautiful day outside, so Montresor decided to take a stroll outside. As Montresor takes his stroll he thinks about life. He wonders if what he did to Fortunato was wrong. All Montresor ever cared about was getting his revenge, but he thinks to himself, “was it worth it?” He felt like he would get caught eventually and realizes what he did was wrong.

 

Montresor whispers to himself, “Revenge isn’t the answer.”

 

He now questions his own bad actions and sees himself as a horrible person. In other words, a murderer. He felt like confessing himself after feeling guilt at what he did to Fortunato. Then he decided to turn around to go confess to Luchesi and tell him the truth and then “BUMP!” He had bumped into someone else as he was turning around, and when he looked at the person it was no man. He had bumped into the most beautiful human being that he’s ever seen. With curly blonde hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and nice lips he already fell in love in her. 

 

“Hello there,” the woman said.

 

Montresor looked into her beautiful blue eyes and responded, “Hi, how are you doing today?”

 

“I’m doing wonderful today, thanks for asking.” the woman responded with her soft voice.

 

“What is your name?” Montresor asked the woman.

 

“I’m Sadie and what about you?” the woman asked

 

“Well I am the great Montresor!” Montresor said.

 

Both of them decided to go on a stroll together and talk some more. They wanted to get to know each other more. Montresor had a gut feeling that Sadie felt the same for him like he did for her. Montresor asked Sadie if she wanted to have lunch with him together. She accepted his offer. They both ate the same meals and talked some more.

 

“Food is good right?” Sadie asked.

 

“Yes very delicious!” Montresor smiled at her.

Then after they ate lunch, Montresor told Sadie that he had a surprise for her and told her to wait a bit. Yes, Montresor was ready to pop the question and wanted to ask her to be his wife. Montresor wanted to buy a ring for her to propose, He didn’t care how expensive it was, he just wanted the perfect ring for a beautiful girl like Sadie. As he picked the ring, Montresor forgot about confessing himself about murdering Fortunato. He didn’t feel like doing that anymore because he didn’t want to risk losing Sadie. He wanted to have a life with her without any disruptions. So Montresor got his ring and hid it so Sadie wouldn’t see just yet. When he got back to her she was pretty excited to see what he had in store for her. 

 

‘Hey Sadie!” Montresor exclaimed happily

 

“So what’s the surprise you have for me?” Sadie asked.

 

“Well Sadie, I had a great time with you today. Walking with you and having lunch together made me happy. I also think you’re very beautiful. So I must ask you Sadie, will you be my wife?” Montresor asked as he pulled out the ring.

 

Sadie is shocked right now, like shocked in joy!

 

Sadie responded, “Yes Montresor, I love you! I will be your wife! Lets get married tomorrow!”

 

Montresor agreed, “Yes my lady! We shall get married first thing tomorrow!”

 

Then they both kissed each other, happy that they were getting married pretty soon.

 

It is now wedding day! With the future groom and bride getting ready for their big day. But back to Luchesi, he had just noticed that Fortunato didn’t come to his place to have breakfast. Then he started to realize that Montresor was up to something and wouldn’t let him get away with it at all. Luchesi decided to report this to the sheriff. Back to Montresor, he’s just getting ready for his big day without knowing what’s coming to him. He was eager to see his bride Sadie and how beautiful she looks. Then a couple minutes later, someone had knocked on Montresor’s door. He wasn’t expecting anyone right now but he still opened the door. When he opened the door he saw Luchesi and some sheriffs at his doorstep. 

 

“Good morning Montresor,” Luchesi said

 

“Morning Luchesi,” Montresor responded 

 

“I see you’re getting married today huh.” Luchesi said

 

“Yes I am sir.” Montresor said. 

 

“Your big day might come to an end Montresor!” Luchesi exclaimed angry.

 

Now the lead sheriff starts asking Montresor some questions.

 

“Montresor, do you have any idea where Fortunato is located at by any chance?” The sheriff asked

 

Montresor lied and said, “No I have no clue where he is sir, he left my house the same day of the party but I haven’t spoken with him since.”

 

The sheriff and Luchesi were not so sold on Montresor’s answer. They felt like he knew something.

 

Then the sheriff asks, “May we search inside your home just to be sure?” 

 

Montresor resisted and told him, “No I would not feel comfortable about that and I have a wedding soon so have a good day!”

 

Right when Montresor was about to close the door on them, they broke in Montresor’s house and pushed him out of the way.

 

“NOOOOOO!!! Get out of my house at this moment!” Montresor demanded.

 

Luchesi and the sheriff went straight to the underground tunnel while Montresor was chasing them after to protect his secret. They had found Fortunato’s body where it always was and then found Montresor guilty. 

 

“Don’t go any closer to Fortunato!” Montresor demanded Luchesi and the police.

 

Then the other sheriffs surrounded Montresor and there was no way for him to escape.

 

“Montresor! You’re under arrest for murder! Enjoy the rest of your life in prison!” The sheriff yelled.

 

So they took Montresor and Fortunato’s dead body outside the house. Montresor’s big wedding day officially came to an end. Sadie had just gotten to Montresor’s house, and she was confused on what was going on here.

 

Sadie asked the sheriff, “What’s going on here? Why is Montresor arrested?”

The sheriff responded, “He was accused of murder and kidnapping, I’m so sorry ma’am.”

 

Sadie cried as she found out her big day was canceled as well. She walked up to Montresor and then slapped him and put her anger on him.

 

“I’m so disappointed in you Montresor, you really fooled me good. Enjoy your time in jail!” Sadie told Montresor.

 

“Sadie I..” Montresor said.

 

“No Montresor! I hope I never see you again! Goodbye!” Sadie said in heartbreak.

 

It was a sad day in general. Montresor got arrested and leaves poor Sadie heartbroken. But in the end, justice was served!

 

                The next 50 years were simple. Montresor carried on with his life without any distractions. He loved to go to the local parties the town always has. Fortunato’s family lived their lives as normal as they could. Finally, Montresor went to the crypt where he left Fortunato. It was still so damp, cold, and the same bones laying every where from 50 years ago. After the visit, he was pleased that in was untouched for 50 years. He then went to his house and slept for the rest of the night.

                Montresor carries on with his week. Still happy there is no Fortunato there is still a smile on his face, almost as if its permanent. The towns folk remembered Montresor as being grumpy and depressed. Ever since Fortunato went missing the town realized that Montresor was always happy. Later in the week the town held a party. Many people including Montresor and Fortunato’s family went to the party. There was music that was being danced to and ale being drunk by everyone. The delicious smell of chicken cooking in the air made everyone hungry. There was only excitement in the party. Towards the end when people started leaving everyone was drunk. Some were falling and drooping out of chairs. Soon Montresor went home to sleep but as he left, Fortunato’s family realized that he had left a great deal of money. They took the small hike across town to knock on Montresor’s door. He opened the door to see who its was. He was so tired and drunk that he could barely open his eyes. Through the small opening from which his eyes were not closed he saw it was the family of Fortunato. He thanked them for returning his money. As he was closing the door, they saw quickly a poorly lit room with pictures of Fortunato on the wall. This has made them suspicions and want to know why Montresor has those pictures on his wall.

                Fortunato’s family suspicion towards Montresor grew. The next two day they had been spying on Montresor in public to see if he would do anything. They could no longer just wait and observe from a distance. The family that night followed Montresor home from a pub and Kidnapped him. The family had him in their house sitting at the kitchen table. As Montresor is shouting, they take the cloth bag that is wrapped around his head.  As they start to interrogate him, they ask why he had pictures of Fortunato almost 50 years ago. He started to explain that he had planned to kill Fortunato because of the insults thrown at him. Montresor, knowing that he is an old man and has lived his last 50 years in happiness is ready to die. He never tells where he killed Fortunato and then laughs. 

                The family grows tired and angry. They shout again and again asking where Fortunato’s body is. He still never tells and has lived his life happy. He has no regret in killing for his own pleasure or for his own good. The family brings Montresor to a river near the town. The start to dig a hole as they tie his hands and feet together. Soon after digging they toss Montresor in and burry him. Montresor laughs and smiles the whole time he is buried alive. They finish and walk away and still don’t know where Fortunato is.

          “You feel like getting out of bed today Montressor?” uttered a concerned Bella.

          One could tell by the look in his eyes, the silence, and the pure emission of self distain that Montressor had not been feeling like getting out of bed today, nor any day for the past 15 years. The guilt of what he has done to a fellow man has consumed him alive in this place like that of a parasite eating away at its victim as the toll of time takes its place. Through the decades Montressor has become more and more consumed with what he has done, to the point where he is ready to make sure it never is done to anyone again. 

          He bids Bella a, “goodbye my friend,” as he knows that this is the last time he will see anyone who even resembles a friend, or anyone for that matter. 

“Goodbye Montressor,” says a sad Bella as she knows what is to come. She dares not try to stop it as working at a funeral home can lead you to know how miserable some can become sitting and waiting to grow older and older until one day they pass away.

“When you spend enough time with someone, its almost as their thoughts and intentions are already inside your head,” said Bella to her co worker 6 months after Montressor had been found in his room.

The impact that Montressor had on others later on in life is carried through one weary soul, Bella. She knew what he was and she was ok with that because all though what he did was wrong the fact that it lived with him was comfort enough for her to know that he was human. 

He takes off his hat and enthusiastically asked "Good morning! Do you by any chance happen to be Mr. Montresor?” I reply that I am, asking the gentlemen what his business is.  

“You see Montresor, I'm a big fan of your work, and I've been reading your old articles and have a few questions I want to ask you about your past expertise” 

Confused, I ask “What subject are we talking about here exactly?”. The visitor grins, and boldly replies  

“wine” 

 With just one word, I am engulfed with memories, I go blank for a few seconds as I attempt to suppress them. I make eye contact again, and wear my best attempt at a welcoming smile and invite him in.  

“Just wait right here, I'll get the tea out in a bit” I say as I excuse myself to the kitchen. 

I prepare the tea, all the while buzzing with curiosity. Who is this man? And why is he suddenly interested in my work from so long ago? Why does he look familiar, have I met him before? Once the tea is ready, I return to the living room. 

“Anyways, you have yet to introduce yourself” I say to initiate the conversation, setting the cups down on the table. 

“My name is Paolo, and have recently joined a wine connoisseur club. In my past time I've been looking into your wine reviews from five decades ago and noticed something interesting. You see Montresor, I found out that you were part of a wine carnival on the 18th of July, exactly 50 years ago”. This grabs my attentions immediately; he is referring to that carnival. The carnival where it all happened. I try not to overthink this, but it becomes meaningless when he continues speaking. 

“Montresor, I have a brother named Fortunato that went missing at that exact party that you attended. I'm sure you know well about that however, seeing as how you two were great friends”. My anxieties were right, fate had finally come to my door step. 

 

 

 

          Fortunato. Fortunato. Fortunato. It’s a name I have avoided speaking or thinking about for 50 years. It’s a name that I refuse to say, not out of hate, but out of disgrace for myself. It had been so long since I buried him behind that wall, now the result of my crime is here. But as I've known for a while now, I still run away from my punishment despite knowing my wrong doing. Like a child that has broken a vase, but refuses to admit it. I am once again conflicted, struggling to know what's the right decision. To run away from my past or confront it here and now? 

“What's wrong? You look pale Mr. Montresor” Paolo says 

I look up, and see Paolo’s eyes opened wide, intently staring at me, reading me like a book. He must be looking at the tiny reactions I have while he speaks of Fortunato. No, calm down, he doesn’t know I did it. He only came to me because I'm a witness. That’s right, I'm just a witness. The body of Fortunato is buried behind the wall, there's no proof that I did it. Paolo puts his hand on my shoulder and softly says 

“Montresor, I understand that you and Fortunato were great friends, and it must be truly painful to have to live your life not knowing what happened to him. More importantly, now knowing who is the one responsible for his death” 

Despite the emotional conversational, it feels dead. Paolo does not have sympathetic eyes while saying these things. His stares seem to pierce my very being, it feels as though he can see my thoughts clear as day. My mind wanders again, does he already know I did it? Is he leading into something? What's his goal here? Did Fortunato's body get discovered? That would explain why it took 50 years for this to happen. No, Fortunato is nothing but bone by now, there's no way they could trace it back to me. What is happening? 

“Montresor, you are not the only member of the wine connoisseur club that I visited. I have gathered four other people whom were good friends of Fortunato. We each want to finally put an end to this case and put to light the one who did it. Why don’t you join us Montresor?” Paolo continues to stare with unsettling eyes, only getting more unbearable as he continues. 

“For the sake of your great friend, Fortunato” 

I smile gently, and say “Of course I'll help, it’s the least I can do for my friend. But there's just one thing I must ask, why now? Why are we doing this so late?” 

“Well, you see Montresor, that’s simple. A couple of weeks ago an old abandoned wine cellar was demolished to make room for renovations. And at the bottom, behind a loosely assembled wall of bricks... we found the bones of Fortunato. Someone buried him” 

The words seem to punch me in the gut, I've always been aware of what I had done. But to hear someone speak of it gives me unimaginable discomfort. 

“Any ways, with the discovery of his bones we have many more clues to follow. Thus, it's not impossible that we find the one that killed Fortunato. Me and the four others will meet up at a certain location, I'll give you the details” Paolo says as he places a note containing the time and place of the meetup down on the table. 

“I hope to see you there, Mr. Montresor” Paolo says as he closes the door behind him. 

I find myself alone in the room, despite being silent it seems to be yelling at me. The weight of the situation begins to bury me. I look at the note and read what's written, they want me to meet up at a nearby bar tomorrow at the late hours of the day. I begin to think, brainstorming what my options are. If I decide not to go, it might raise suspicions. This means I really have no choice but to go, but what do they intend to do with me once I'm there? Paolo claims we are simply working together, I can't confirm that he knows I'm the culprit just yet. However, I can't completely ignore the possibility. Paolo did seem to have an ominous appearance to him, almost as though his disdain for me is emitting. Should I be prepared to defend myself? Should I simply run away and hide? They want me to meet up tomorrow, so there's no time for that. As it stands, I don’t have much of a choice except to join the group and play innocent. I spend the rest of the day dreading the meeting, I overthink, then wonder if there's something I have not considered. Only to overthink even more. Despite my fears, I have to attend, there's no choice.  

Before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of the doors to the bar that I was told to meet at. My hand moves towards the handle, and despite my inner gut telling me to turn around and run, I twist the doorknob. The door creaks open, revealing the interior of the bar. It was a dark, dimly lit place, with very few people around. In the corner, I see a table with five people. Among those five, I instantly spot Pealo, who also spots me. He gestures me to the table, and I approach. The closer I get, the better I can see the grim stare that Paolo had. They were eyes I became all too familiar with from yesterday. 

“Splendid to see you here Mr. Montresor! Come, come, take a seat right here and we will begin discussing how we plan to continue” Paolo says to me 

I take a seat, and scan the four other people that Paolo brought with him. Three of the people I knew; they were members of the wine club from 50 years ago. First, I spot Marcello, an old acquaintance of Fortunato. Marcello’s business went underway after the death of Fortunato, as he was heavily invested in the business and gave him the funds to grow it. Once the money was cut, he was unable to pay with upkeep and went bankrupt. To the side of him I see Gustav. The closest friend of Fortunato, whom they grew up together. They were so close Gustav fell into a deep depression for many years after his disappearance. Often times denying that he is dead, only to understand it’s just a coping mechanism. He is a very cunning and witty man, but even he had a hard time grasping the reality of it. The last familiar person at the table was Eleanor, Fortunato's widow. While I have not had contact with her at all over these years, I heard that she became extremely bitter after his death. Often secluding herself in the mansion that they used to live in. Just as Paolo had said, he truly did gather together people that were close to Fortunato, all but one. The final member was one I did not recognize. It was a very large man, hunched over the table. He wore a leather trench coat and had his hat hanging on the side of his chair. I could not get a good view on his face, but he seemed to have a scruffy beard that obscured much of his neck. While Paolo, Marcello, Gustav, and Eleanor all wore modest clothing, the last member looked more like a thug. 

“Hello everyone, Marcello, Gustav, Eleanor, it's nice to finally see each other again after all these years” I say with a kind tone, hiding my guilt and shame. I, the man that has killed Fortunato, have the audacity to greet the very people whose lives I have altered forever, all while acting as though I did not do it. 

“And... what about the gentlemen wearing the coat? What is your name?” I direct to the last member, hoping to know what his connection to Fortunato is. 

Paolo bumps in and says “Thats quite alright Montresor, he's a man of few words and wishes to be left alone. Rest assured however; he has a very important role in this search. You will see what I mean very soon” 

Despite Paolo attempting to keep him from saying anything, he makes his own decision and with a deep voice utters  

“My name is Armand, I'm a private contractor that has been requested to work on this case. That’s all you need to know and all you will know” 

His reply only makes me more curious, why was he so defensive about it? What was his reason for being here if he has no connection to Fortunato? He might be a private detective, though that’s unlikely considering how he's dressed. Who is paying him for his work? Paolo wastes no time and begins explaining the situation to us. 

“My good friends, we all share a similar goal today. To bring justice to Fortunato, the man who was taken from us. Yes, it has been a very long time since then, but we cannot simply forget about him. We absolutely must find the one responsible for his death. And with the recent discovery of his bones in the wine cellar, this might be possible. Unfortunately, the police do not want to get involved due to how old the case is. It seems everyone has moved on, but not us. We will not give up and move on” 

“And where do you think we will find the culprit, is there any other evidence aside from the bones?” I reply back, trying to seem like a part of the effort. 

“yes, in fact there is. We have heard reports that there were empty wine bottles in the forest near the old wine cellar. The six of us will go there to investigate, if the bottles happen to be the type that Fortunato enjoyed that can give us a lead” 

The group continues to discuss their plan, all clearly very enthusiastic to finally put a close on this case. Which I found odd, because they all seemed quite confident in their ability to find the culprit. I did not take this well, I began to overthink again. Ideas and possible sceneries fill my thoughts until I feel nauseous. I excuse myself to the bathroom and leave. After a couple of minutes, I managed to calm down, and understand that it's too early to conclude anything. As I begin to walk back, I hear the group discussing. Just before turning the immediate corner to the table, I stand in silence and listen to the discussion in secret. 

“Are we really going through with this today?” 

“If the police won't take care of it, then we have no choice but to do it ourselves” 

“You all remember the plan, right? Once the job is done, we tie it down with rocks and sink it to the bottom of the pond. After a few months it will have fully decomposed” 

“a-are you sure t-there isn't some mistake? What if there were two people with the same names? What if we are getting the wrong one?” 

“No, I've been watching him closely. Theres no doubt its him. He can lie all he wants; his body language tells a different story” 

And so, it was, my anxieties prove themselves to be correct once again. It was a mistake to dismiss them as nonsense. From the very start when I met Paolo, I could tell something was off. I could tell he had a certain hatred for me. But how? How do they know it was me? Sure, the bones were discovered but that doesn’t lead them to me, so how? That doesn’t matter at the moment, right now I need to figure out a way to get out of here. In order to go for the exit, I would have to pass by their table so that’s not an option. My best bet is to join them again and pretend I didn’t hear anything, and wait for a better opportunity. I approach the table again and grab a seat, trying not to seem suspicious. We talk for a bit longer until Paolo announces that its time to leave. 

“Come along now, we best get going before it gets too dark. We can't investigate what we can't see” Paolo says as he gathers his various belongings. We make our way out the door, and then it hits me. That’s right, todays the day the market place opens up. It’s the most popular day to go shopping, thus it’s the most crowded day. In order to get to the forest, we have to pass by the market first, this is it. This is the one chance I have to run away and save myself. As me and the group approach the market, I prepare myself to run and cause confusion among the many people that are there. Once we find ourselves in the midst of the crowd, I go for it. I run as fast as I can, pushing through the dozens of people in front of me. I need to get as far as possible now before they notice I'm missing. I run towards the nearest clothing vendor, and purchase a hat and robe to disguise myself. Now I can only pray that they don’t find me. I catch Gustav in the corner of my eye franticly gazing over the entire market, clearly looking for something. He’s not with the others, they must have already split up and are looking for me. I'm right in the center, but I cannot run as that would give me away. I can only walk, slowly, all the while my heart races. Paolo runs right past me; they must not have considered that I may have changed clothing. But they eventually might. I need to get out of here as soon as possible. It only gets worse; I spot Armand forcibly taking off people's hats and looking at their faces. This is bad, they are aware of the possibility that I'm wearing a disguise. I need to think of something, and now. I’m no more than ten feet away from the group, it's only a matter of seconds before they find me and drag me off. Think, think, think. Then I see it, there's a baker booth next to me. This is it; I wait for the right moment. Once I know the group is right beside me, I go into action. I use my hands to tear open a large bag of flour laying on the table in front of me. I grab the torn bag and flail it over my head. In an instant, the whole vicinity is clouded with a thick smoke. I use this as cover, and run. I run and run, until I make it out of the market place and into a nearby forest. They will likely be on my trail soon, and I won't last long in this forest when I'm outnumbered one to five. As I approach a small cliff, I can see a large abandoned mansion not far from when I'm at. I can't turn back now, taking refuge in the mansion is my best option. 

 

 

 

          I open the large doors to the manor, and run inside. Running past the cobwebs, old furniture, dusty architect. I run to the second floor to look out the window to keep watch. After all, hiding in this mansion is not exactly unpredictable. I sit in silence, pondering on the events that just transpired. I still feel guilty for running away from what I've done, yet my instincts do not let me confront them either. I simply sit, and sit, and continue sitting for what seems like hours. Abruptly, I hear the front door swing open. It echoes throughout the whole house. I must have been zoned out and didn’t see them approaching. No matter, I somewhat expected them to eventually find me here. I sneak my way over to the kitchen to try and find some materials I can use. There, I check all the shelves and find a box of matches, so I take those with me. I can hear footsteps approaching my area, so I scurry off to the closest room. This one turns out to be the office area, I look some more on the desk and drawers. I find a small vile of ink. I hear someone right outside my door, I hastily take the items and run. By this point, I'm sure I've made enough noise for them to be right behind me. I don’t have the luxury of taking my time, I need to save myself. Turning the corner, I find myself face to face with Gustav. We’re no more than five feet apart, and he’s holding a machete in this hand. His eyes show anger the likes of which I have never seen on him. He dashes towards me, weapon above his head, about to strike me. I take out the container of ink, unscrew the top and toss it onto him. His face covered in a sticky black tar; he struggles to see as his eyes become irritated. Unfortunately, his hand was already in motion by the time he was blinded, I can't stop the blade now. The machete digs into my forearm, only stopping at the bone. I have to yank my hand back in order to take out the weapon, thereby allowing blood to pour out like a waterfall. Despite the injury, my adrenaline prevents me from feeling the pain. Gustav is still debilitated, I desperately grip my arm and run the other way. The wound is too big for me to stop the bleeding, no matter where I go, I leave a trail. The situation seems futile, it feels as though I no longer have control of my actions. My animalistic nature completely takes over, thinking only of my own survival. I run mindlessly, like a rat stuck in a maze. I have no plan, no strategy, only my final desperate attempts. I find myself in the ball room, the largest room of the house, of which only has two doors. One-way in, one-way out. This is horribly inconvenient for me, as my stressed-out mind completely missed the fact that Paolo was already in the ball room, covering the exit. As I realize this, I look behind me to try and go for the other door, to no avail. Armand had followed me, and is now covering the other door as well. I at the center of the room, with no way out. Both Paolo and Armand have weapons in their hands, and begin to approach me slowly. Think, think, think. What can I do now? I desperately try to see a way out, but come to understand that there may not be one.  

“Montresor” Paolo hollers at me, with an expression I have yet to see on him up until now. It’s a face that somehow manages to be more disturbing than his stares. Paolo had a large smile. Seemingly going from eye to eye. He was happy, he was exhilarated. It was the face of a man who looks to have finally gotten what he wanted. 

“You know Montresor, Ive been waiting 50 years to avenge the murder of my brother. 50 years. I was always taught that forgiveness is better than revenge, and maybe that’s true for some folks. But I simply can't let you walk free after what you’ve done” 

Paolo is still so far, yet he seems to be right up in my face. He swings his large hammer like a kid swings a baseball bat, excited to play the game. 

“You must be wondering how I'm so sure it was you. Well, it was foolish of you to not have killed Fortunato before burying him. You’re naïve Montresor, there was never an investigation. The case had been solved the day it was committed. And Fortunato himself was the one to do it. There was one piece of important detail I specifically never told you... take a guess as to who's name was carved on the rock where Fortunato was hidden” 

That’s right, I'm an idiot. I was so caught up with getting rid of Fortunato that I forgot to take the little details into account. I guess fate had already done its job 50 years ago, it just took some time for it to kick in. How unfortunate. Fortunato had written my name on the wall after he became sober. He knew that one day, it might just come in handy. My thoughts are cut off when I suddenly feel a hard constriction around my neck. While I was unaware, Armand had come up to me and put me in a headlock. He was strong, and there was nothing I could do to free myself of his grip. Paolo then calmly approaches me, knowing that Armand won't let go. 

“Thank you, Armand. I knew a private mercenary would come in handy for this job. I'll make sure to pay you well after this. Now hold on to him for me will you”  

Paolo raises the large hammer over his head, all the while grinning at me, and strikes my legs. While the pain had already been numbed, I can hear the breaking of bones. He strikes again and again, turning my legs into unusable mush. I do not scream; I simply swing in and out of consciousness due to blood loss and shock. My vision goes blank, only to reappear and find myself being dragged across the hallway only to pass out again. In the short bursts that I am able to think, it becomes evident that I am at my end. I cannot walk, I am weakened, I am outnumbered. My senses are loosely functional, my vison is blurry and my mind is blank. I hear a door open, but instead of being dragged more I feel my limp body ragdoll down a long flight of stairs. Hitting each edge over and over until I meet the flat surface at the bottom. I cannot make out the details of my situation, but I can faintly see its darkness, and I can feel the dust below me. I hear the door slam shut. The room is now pitch black, indecipherable from my minds vacuum like emptiness. The soothing darkness puts me to sleep. I wake up, I don’t know how long I've been passed out for, but I've seemed to regain my senses. With that, I immediately felt the pain, the pain of my past injuries. I tried to move my legs, and instantly recall what happened to them. I lay on the cold floor, on the brink of death, yet still hopelessly believing it's not the end. I go into my pocket, and pull out the box of matches I had taken earlier, and scratch one on the side of the box. The room lights up, and I can now see the fine details of my situation. I chuckle to myself; life has a funny way of reenacting the past. It's almost too comical, like something out of a weekly newspaper gag. Paolo had thrown me into the basement, which was used as a wine cellar by the previous owner of the mansion. Much like how I killed Fortunato in an abandoned wine cellar, I too find myself dying in the exact same manner. By now, it seems like I've come to terms with my fate, maybe it's because I have no other choice. I certainly won't be walking out of here. I cannot move my legs, and my bleeding will kill me in mere minutes if I shift my position. On top of that, the doors are certainly locked and barricaded. My weak mind begins to hallucinate, and once more I am reminded of my past. Right in front of me, I can see him. Fortunato. He is still laughing, thinking it’s a joke. I laugh too, how can I not. It too much effort to resist my demise, I'm willing to accept death. I have no right to complain, I've deserved this for 50 years now, this was long overdue. My mind dulls once more, though this time I won't be coming back. 

Since Fortunato’s disappearance, I have left my great estate in seek of a more peaceful abode, away from the city, the parties, and the noisy nature of the people. I do not reside far from the city, but enough to bring me peace from my surroundings of birds, trees, and fields. The air is as crisp as the birds’ chirps in the morning and the atmosphere is calm like the creaks gently flowing over the smooth stones that make up its bed. 

My estate is humble, mostly made up of land, with a comparatively small house surrounded by nature. I no longer have an affection for wine and have instead spent my time reading books from by library that composes majority of my abode, spilling into the kitchen and my bedroom, taking over the entrance, and dwarfing my dining area. The dust is sometimes overwhelming, and I must open the windows to allow the stuffy air to be cleansed by the trees.

“Montresor,” questioned Luchresi, “have you forgotten that Fortunato was never found? Why do you act so calm when we know nothing of his disappearance?” 

“Nothing has happened since,” I replied. “Should I fear all of the unknown? Luchresi, what has you so bothered that you bring up such an event that occurred nearly half a century ago?”

“I suppose you are right and there is nothing to fear, maybe I had too much to drink the night before and my drunken paranoia has stirred me up” exhaled Luchresi. “Thank you for calming my nerves, this place of yours has that effect, I suppose,” he remarked as he moved towards the door, swiftly leaving after our chat. 

“He knows more than he is letting on,” they both mumble to themselves when they are out of each other’s sights. “Should I be concerned about him?” the two question to themselves.

I have begun writing notes and hiding them in books of mine, I am hoping it eases some of my nervous thoughts. Luchresi has grown more and more cautious of myself as the days have gone by. My own paranoia has been growing after I made a secret trip to visit him and saw a spacious wall plastered with details about Fortunato’s disappearance and information about myself alongside it. Of course, he has other suspects on the wall, but that fact does not calm my nerves in the slightest. I suspect that he will make the journey to my old estate at some point or another, so I must decide what I shall do with the both of them. What shall happen to Fortunato’s grotesque carcass, and where shall it rest until my passing? What might calm Luchresi’s mind and ease his suspicions? Will he ever let me go without my retribution becoming known to the world? I must decide what my actions shall be to each of these questions, and quickly.

I have seen Luchresi pestering my old servants and the living attendants to Fortunato’s last party. Oh, why can he not let this go! He has sparked a renewed interest in the community to understand what became of Fortunato’s disappearance. If there is anyone who I could say is the real-life Sherlock Holms, it should be him. Yet, he is so paranoid, and I do not believe Sherlock did anything to warrant such paranoia, so perhaps he is not the great genius detective after all. 

Knock, Knock, Knock!

The abrupt noise has made me jump in my squeaky chair. I must hide this note in a book of mine so he cannot find it. 

 “Montresor, it is Luchresi, I hope I did not startle you,” he mocks from behind the door. 

I quickly get up and shuffle my way towards the door, trying to make my quaky feet sound as natural as can be. I tossed the book into the sea of pages that litter my floor. I open the door. To my relief, it is just Luchresi. I look around, expecting an angry mob, the authorities, or someone else to be accompanying him, but see nothing.

“Were you expecting someone else, Montresor?” questions Luchresi. “You look surprised, like you were expecting someone else? I hope I have not disappointed you,” he states as he invites himself inside.

“No, no, Luchresi. You misunderstood my reaction, you see, there has been a raven pestering me for the past day now and I expected to see the creature in the distance,” I nervously repeated. I doubt he has bought my story.

“I see,” he responds slowly. “Creatures can be quite pestering at times, but they will eventually leave, I do hope he has not disturbed you too much. After all, I have never heard a soul speak about the pestering noises of nature when they have lived in the city,” he assures me. 

“I suppose you are correct,” I exhale. “So, what brings you here today?” I abruptly state as I rummage through my cabinet looking for the tea that he so adored last visit. 

“I have been thinking about making a move and I noticed that your old property is available, I thought I might ask why you left your estate to come out here?” he carefully asks.

“Nothing more than peace and tranquility with nature.” My response is true, but sensing he wants more, I add, “I have come to appreciate the simplicity of life as I suppose all do when they have matured.” I pour the tea for us both and set the cups down with a clink on top of a pile of books.

“True, true,” Luchresi agrees, “simplicity is something the matured appreciate more than the young it seems.” 

A long pause follows as Luchresi scans the sea of books that flows throughout the house, slowly sipping his tea after myself. Before, they were scattered, but organized, like a filing cabinet full to the brim with papers, but now the files and papers are thrown everywhere, scattered, disheveled, a sign of a distressed person that he no doubted sees. 

“Thank you for your insight, but I must be on my way now,” he breaks the entrancing silence. “Sadly, I have another place to be. I just wanted to stop in for a short while, so I will bid you farewell for now,” his voice is calm, and he talks with a smile as swift as his exit. 

I watch him stride over to his loyal horse, his back turned towards me. I question, what should I do now? I cannot have him pass out from the poisonous tea in the middle of the road, nor can I control both him and his horse at once. Just then, he suddenly falls from his horse, landing on his now broken neck with a cruel snap.  

The day slowly passes by and the dark grows nearer every minute as I drag his lifeless carcass down the barren road and though the woods until I am satisfied with the distance from my estate. His mangled body is now on the other side of town. Distancing myself from the new crime scene, I make my way towards his house. I cannot have the people grow suspicious of me, so I stay in the shadows. 

“He truly was a great detective,” I repeat to myself, marveling at his wall of clues and suspects. Had he not been so paranoid and deathly curious, he might have been able to make a case against me. “What a pity,” I solemnly declare as I carefully take down all of his work. The town is quiet for now, but it shall grow noisy again in the morning when news of Luchresi’s accident reaches the residents. This thought makes me pick up the pace.

Once finished, I bring all of his materials back to my house and burn them. I am far enough away from others that no smoke shall be seen in the night. I take a fresh pair of clothes and change into them so I can through the soiled ones into the fire. I do this quickly, so to not cause the smell of smoke to seep into my new clothes. 

The crackling fire disappears with the night and soon, all evidence of my crimes are gone with the dying flame. 

Late one night I decided this is my moment. I knew this when Montresor dropped his sewing needle on the ground and he seemed not to notice it and walked out of the basement. I swung my leg toward the needle and dragged it to me. I reached for it and grabbed it and with my right hand I messed with the lock which felt like forever but then all of a sudden I was released and the shackles and I fell on the ground. I couldn’t believe I actually did it. However, it kind of felt too easy. I then started to pick and unlock the door which was so easy. I slowly opened the door and crawled my way out to the outside world. I ended up staying in the woods that night but it was better than the basement. But this gave me time to think about how exactly I would successfully trap Montresor and get my sweet revenge. I decided to wait it out till the morning because this is when he usually comes in the check on me. I just can’t wait to see the look on his face when he realizes that I am not there and how easy it would be for me to trap him. 

The night seemed like forever and then all of a sudden a gleam of light appeared upon me. I knew this was the moment I have been waiting for. I sneaked to Montresor's haunting house and slowly opened the door. As I made my way inside, I heard his footsteps heading to the basement door. He opened it and I followed my way inside. By that time, he went to look at where I usually am and I slammed and locked the door. He was in such a state of shock that he couldn’t move. I slowly walked up to him and said “what a surprise isn’t it?” he didn’t say anything but from the sweat pouring down his face it was like it was raining. I didn’t want to waste any time so I grabbed his arms and started to pull him to the shackles. He kept resisting and said “you cannot do this to me people will be asking and looking for where I am.” I grinned sinisterly and said “even if so just like you have said before no one will find you.” He started yelling and pushing me off of him. At the corner of my eye, I saw a rock and before I could even realize I picked it up and knocked him out and he fell on the ground. I then quickly dragged him to the shackles and locked him up. Then I waited till he woke up. About an hour later, he finally woke up and whispered “where am I?” and I started laughing. I just couldn’t help myself and then I stopped and said “where you belong”. Then I started to walk away to the door and I could hear the cries like a baby and the howls like a wolf.

As the days drifted by, I made his house into my own. For days I would never get quiet due to the screaming of Montresor. Especially when I bring him small amounts of food and water and he pleads for forgiveness. But like I always tell him “the damage you have placed upon me is already done.” Now that I think of it, I really was down there for 50 years. I missed out on everything more than half of my life vanished before me and it was all thanks to him. It made me so angry I blacked out. When I woke up I noticed I passed out in the basement. However, what I saw next is something I would have never imagined. I saw blood on my hands. I don’t know how it got there. Then I noticed it was all over me. I couldn’t have. I slowly turned around and there Montresor was laying on the ground with blood covering the ground. I ran to him and checked if he was still breathing. There was no pulse so that could only mean one thing. I killed him. My mind started racing. I know I wanted him dead but not like this. I quickly ran out the door and ran away. Weeks later, cops arrived at his house and yes they found the body because I left the door open by accident. They investigated and interviewed his friends and family. Everyone was completely shocked and didn’t have any clue to who or what would have had to happen for someone to do this to him. I guess he never told anyone that I was down there. But they always wondered what happened to me. I don’t know if they will find me. But all I know is that I need to go far away from this place and start a new life and to never look back. I ran and I never did look back again.

Praline says “yes”. As the mom and Praline were chatting there ran out 4 kids. The first two were around the age of Praline and the other 2 were ages seven and eight. One of them says  “let's go and play hide and seek”. Praline‘s face lit up with a smile, she immediately replies and says “my house has so many places to hide, lets go”. They all run over to her house and one kid already starts counting “Im counting up to 60, go!! 1..2..3…)”. Praline starts running down stairs towards the wine cellar thinking she would find a nice place to hide, instead, she found a body. “AHHHHHHH” screams Praline, she sprints right back up stairs to tell her nanny. “There's a body...someone died... down..” Praline says while trying to catch her breath. The nanny says “what? slow down take a breath”. As Praline is huffing and puffing she starts to calm her breathing, then clearly says “There is a dead body down stairs”. The nanny runs downstairs to see and freaks out. The first thought that came to her was to go to the police station. She grabbed Praline and sent the other kids home. She hops out of the car and walks into the station. She quickly introduces herself to the lead chief of the town. “Hello, I just moved here about 2 weeks ago and I need to report something,” says the nanny. Officer Jack replies “hello welcome to the area, i'm here to help,what happened?”. The nanny explains what happened but little did she know while she's saying all this Montresor happens to be sitting right there and hears everything. He starts to freak out and his mind is telling him “I cant get caught, go grab the body”. He quickly leaves and nobody notices he left. He walked up to the front door and everything was unlocked because the girls were in such a hurry. He goes down to the wine cellar, quickly grabs the body, and leaves. While this is happening the girls are still at the police station explaining what happened. Officer Jack says “I need to see the body so that we can start investigating”. Praline, the Nanny , Officer Jack, and his team all grabbed their things and headed to the house. They walk in and head down to the cellar. The body is gone. “What? I swear it was right here, what could have happened?” says the nanny as her and Praline stare as each other confused and in shock. They continue to look around that small area. Officer Jack says “well there's not much I can do with no crime scene, im sorry”. Officer Jack barely believed them in the first place because not one crime has happened in that little town, at the most it will be a speeding ticket, but everyone pretty much keeps to themselves and stays out of trouble. He wasn't surprised that there wasn't a body but since he is a police officer, he has to look into it anyways. Praline and the nanny carry on and tell the officers “but….were not lying, it was right here, we promise”. The officer says “there's nothing more we can do, sorry” and leaves. 5 months later the girls are doing well and although they will never forget what they saw they decided that it shall not hold them back from experiencing this new town and its amazing qualities. Nobody has seen or heard anything about the body or where it might be. At last, there was Montresor, living in his little cottage with the dead body of Fortunato, he got away once again.

            Today has finally come- the day where everyone recognizes me for what I’m good at. I’m currently in the locker room stretching for the jumping competition. After this competition- it’s the big race. Everyone participates in this race and tries to win even though it is useless because Luchesi wins every year. He is faster than a cheetah! Nevertheless, this year I’m going to win no matter what; I’ve been practicing for two weeks straight. There’s no way I can lose. 

            The jumping competition was a piece of cake. I won first as- usual. No one participates in this competition, because they are usually busy getting ready for the race. I did the same thing last year, but this year I’m aiming to win everything I can. My goal is to gain everyone’s respect. Everyone always looks over me and assume I’m just your average student. I’ll prove them wrong. Snapping me out of my mind- Luchesi says, “I see you’re trying hard this year… maybe you’ll even catch up to Fortunato this year,” he laughs and continues, “That’ll sure make him reach his boiling point!” I laugh and say, “Don’t get too overconfident- I’m coming for your crown this year. I’ve been practicing all week.” What I said- startles him. He says, “How about we have a mini race, one lap around the field for fun?” This mini race is perfect because now I can show him who he’s really up against.

            As we completed our race, someone caught my eye. It was Fortunato- he was watching us race. I swear it looks like he just saw a ghost. Getting me out of my thoughts, Luchesi says, “Woah! You did improve Montresor; it looks like I do have competition!” His compliments cause me to smile and say, “We only tied because I’m saving my energy for the real race.” After our mini race, both Luchesi and I wished each other luck and went our separate ways. He’s not a bad guy, and he isn’t someone you’d hate- he is loved by many here in Pedesina. Since it’s such a small town, everyone knows everyone. But today I- am going to crush him in the race.

            The blowing horn that signifies that the race has started causes my ears to bleed from the loudness. Nevertheless, the horn won’t distract me. Luchesi is already in the lead- and Fortunato is right behind him. I’m keeping my pace, so I won’t be as tired as everyone else at the end of the race. I’m going to steadily and easily win this race. I think the overconfidence got to my head because it looks like both Luchesi and Fortunato are ten miles ahead of me.

           Forgetting my strategy, I start running faster- now Fortunato and I are neck to neck. I take a deep breath and start using all my force and beat him. Now onto Luchesi- he isn’t far away. I can do this. My eyes were set on the cheetah in front of me and nothing else. I finally caught up to him- now it’s a race. As I take in my soon to be a sweet victory- my focus starts to shift- and I feel a sharp pain. I was looking straight at the finish line, but now I can’t even tell what’s going on. I start to hear faint voices around me, I feel the ground, but most importantly- I feel pain. My hands go straight to the ankle that got injured.

            I got moved from the field by some teachers- and now I’m in the nurse’s office. Whenever my mind goes to the race- I just got brutely kicked out of- I start to feel my ankle pulsing. It is not a good feeling- I’ll tell you that. Honestly, I’m not sure what happened; all I know is that my ankle’s sprained and that I lost the race. “Hey, do you know how this happened?” I asked the nurse. She replied, “You got tripped by that Fortunato kid that was behind you; since you were going so fast- that trip caused you to have a hard fall.” I was beyond shocked at this point. All I could feel was anger. He did this. He’s the reason why no one will respect me and see my true talents. He’s the reason I lost. He’s the reason.

           It’s now dark out, and I just got back from the hospital. I kept spacing out when the doctor talked to me. The only thing- no person on my mind was Fortunato. I will get revenge- but how? How do I make him suffer like I’m suffering? How do I make his life miserable? Yes, I probably sound crazy, but he took this away from me- something that I’ve been anticipating and practicing for. I only played in one competition out of the five. The race doesn’t count since I never finished it. I even went the extra mile and practiced in my free time. I’m too tired- I’m going to have to sleep on this.

           It’s now the next morning, and I just had the best idea. I’m going to act like everything is okay and get as close to Fortunato as possible. I’m going to find his strengths and weaknesses. Then use the information I have on him against him when the time comes. As a wise person once said, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

     Fortunado was a man of little skill. Born into immense wealth and power, he had never worked a day in his life. If asked to lift a hammer or carry a load, he would likely faint out of fear. However, there was one thing he prided himself on: his immense knowledge of the vine. Yes, Fortunado was a fine connoisseur of the aged wines. I had been working on a way to exploit this facet of his personality for several months. Now, if I could only entice his immense ego, I could exact a small revenge on my tormentor.

     That is why I invited the one and only Luchesi Attart to this New Years celebration. Fortunado’s immense love of wine could come nowhere near the decades of experience belonging to Luchesi. I had worked on building a professional relationship with Luchesi for awhile, to the point where I could include him in our festivities. For my plan to work, I had to keep Fortunado out of the know, while clueing Luchesi into my scheme.

“Mister Attart!” I exclaimed, “I’m overjoyed that you’ve decided to join us tonight!”

I spoke with a loud and irritating tone, in hopes of drawing Fortunado’s attention.

“It is an honor, dear Montressor.” replied the stately man. He stood at a tall height; around six foot two in my estimation. He wore a pretentious gold monocle, coupled with a quite frankly ridiculous looking wig. No, this was not a man I would ever want to develop a real friendship with. However, for my plan to work, I had to fake excitement.

“I must admit Luchesi,” I said, “before you arrived this party was begging to dull out of boredom.”

“Boredom?” he replied, perplexed, “Has the glass ball not just been dropped?”

“My thoughts exactly!” I responded, “I’m afraid these dear party guests of mine are too distracted by the wines I have set before them.”

I could see Luchesi visibly perk up with the mere statement of “wine.”

“Well then,” he said, clearing his throat, “I must tour this collection myself! Please Montressor, lead me to this wine tasting of yours.”

“Oh no sir,” I replied, “I cannot take credit for this spread. All of the bottles here are from the private collection of Fortunado.”

“Ah yes,” he said, “I remember you speaking of this Fortunado before. I understand he is a collector as well?”

“Indeed Luchesi.” I answered, “In fact, he has been wanting to challenge someone to a tasting for months now, but he has yet to find a suitable opponent.” 

My sly remark was enough to get Luchesi interested.

“Well that settles it then,” he said, “I must meet this Fortunado.”

    I led my guest of honor to the long table that hosted Fortunado’s many bottles of wine. Zinfandels, Malbecs, Cabernets and Merlots; the list went on and on. The only wine Fortunado ever lacked in his collection was an Amontillado; every other breed of grape could be found in his extensive library of bottles. Luchesi looked over the dozens of glasses, kegs and decanters lining the table. I could almost see him tabulating the value of each bottle in his head as he examined the setup. 

     Just then, my plan was set into action by the arrival of Fortunado. He stumbled over to where we were standing, nearly out of breath; he had just returned from chasing after some young lady no doubt, this being his custom at parties. Truth be told, the mere presence of this arrogant man turned my stomach. Nevertheless, I was stuck in a dreadful friendship with him.

“Oh, my friend, Montressor!” he exclaimed, catching his breath, “Did you see them drop the ball a few minutes ago?”

“Yes Fortunado,” I replied, gritting my teeth in frustration, “I noticed.”

Fortunado fell back onto a nearby garden bench, still panting from his previous endeavors. When he had finally composed himself, he looked up to notice Luchesi, who was by this point sampling several of the wines.

“Ah!” he shouted, “Montressor, you didn’t tell me that our esteemed guest had arrived!”

Luchesi turned around slowly, setting down his glass of Chardonnay on the table.

“You must be the Fortunado I’ve heard so much about.” said Luchesi, looking Fortunado up and down. 

“Yes, people call me that sometimes.” he joked as he rose from the bench. Luchesi extended his hand for a shake, but the careless Fortunado was too lost in thought to greet him.

I took advantage of the awkward silence. 

“Fortunado,” I began, “Luchesi here is your fellow wine connoisseur!”

“Well!” Fortunado exclaimed, “I suppose I’ve found a worthy opponent at last!”

“Opponent?!” replied Luchesi, “Oh yes, I understand. Montressor has already told me about your little game you've been planning.”

“Yes! A friendly tasting competition between collectors!” said Fortunado giddily, “we shall sample three random wines from my library, and whoever names the most will be the winner! Although I must warn you now, dear Luigi, you stand very little chance of defeating me.”

Luchesi was clearly unimpressed, both by Fortunado’s rude demeanor and his lackluster collection. 

“It’s Luchesi,” he corrected, “but I accept your challenge.” 

     Aha! My plan was finally coming together. With Luchesi accepting Fortunado’s invitation, the stage was set for his ultimate humiliation: being vested in a wine-tasting competition. We gathered the rest of the partygoers and lined up six glasses of wine for the men two drink; three for each of them. The rivals stood in front of the table, being spectated by the rest of the crowd, as they took their first sips.

      Fortunado had a huge smirk on his face as he took several sips of the wine. Surely he would be able to identify a wine from his own collection! Conversely, Luchesi took a single portion of the wine, smelling it, swirling it, and thinking deeply before jotting his answer down on a napkin. Fortunado did the same. I retrieved both of the napkins and looked at their answers:

“Luchesi is correct;” I announced, “this is a Cabernet Sauvignon!”

       The crowd started to murmur and whisper. Fortunado had a look of confusion on his red face; he was positive that it was a Malbec! If only he had known of my deception. Indeed, I had given them completely different wines from each other. So while Fortunado was technically correct, I as the judge marked him incorrect. 

       The process repeated for the other two glasses: “Merlot!” “Zinfandel!” Both times, my dear Fortunado gave the wrong response, leaving Luchesi as the victor in their competition. The guests congratulated the esteemed wine taster on his victory, while Fortunado was left to sulk, half-drunk and dazed sitting in the corner. I faked sympathy for my poor “friend,” but he would never know that I, Montressor, was behind this charade. However, I was left with a perdixament as well: how would I ever top this great humiliation that I bestowed on Fortunado? Well, I’ll figure something out....

“Wake up, Montresor. It’s your first day of school! Don’t want to be late, do you? C’mon son, get dressed. I’ll be waiting for you in the kitchen,” squaked mother.

“Man, that woman does not have a gentle vocal cord in her body,” I thought.

I sluggishly slid my way out of bed and put on my new trousers and vest. I combed my midnight brown hair into a neat and fresh style.

“Good morning, mother!” I joyously spoke. Tired as I may be, I just knew today was gonna be a great one.

Mother hesitated, “Oh, Montresor… I became distracted and all the breakfast is far too overcooked to be eaten.”

“That’s okay,” I reassured her, “I’ll survive.” She works too hard for me to be difficult.

I ignored the rough start of my morning and opened the front door with optimism. I smiled cheesily for mom, then took a big step into the world with purpose. 

“Well, this is just lovely!” I thought out loud sarcastically. I could practically feel syrup stretching and sticking to my skin from the humidity. I pushed on and finished walking to the schoolhouse. At least inside I wouldn’t have to hike through an atmosphere that has the consistency of a marshmallow.

I entered the building and located my classroom. It was suffocatingly bright and colorful. I loved it. I took a seat at the very front of the class.

“Hey doofus!” shouted a loud figure, “Nice hair!” I looked around for who was speaking and whose hair they were referring to. “Everyone, get a look at this guy! I bet he hasn’t combed his hair in months!” he shouted again. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window. Oh no! My hair must’ve fluffed up from the gloomy weather. I look like the most unkempt person in town!

I fled the room, flushed with embarrassment. In the hall, I was met with a crowd of giggling children. Gifre was responsible for my humiliation. Could today get any worse?

I shoved my way through the humoured children and found the restroom. I tried my best to tame my hair, but it was messy beyond belief. It seemed like the more I tried to flatten it, the worse it got. “Whatever,” I spoke to myself. Class would be starting soon, so I guess I better get back.

I was greeted by my teacher upon entering the room. She told everyone we must stand at the front of the class while she assigns us to our seats. Of course, I was last. I felt my skin become hot with the knowledge that everyone was staring at me shift uncomfortably. Finally, my suffering came to an abrupt pause when I heard, “Montresor, your seat will be right over here.” My relief did not last long. My desk was in the darkest part of the room in the corner. Gifre was the chairholder of the desk I chose earlier. To make things worse, the air vent was right above me. Man, today is just not my day. Tomorrow will be better.

I woke up with the same optimism as the previous day. There is absolutely no way today could be worse than yesterday.

Wow. I could not have possibly been more wrong. It’s like Gifre wants to turn everyone against me. I spoke to mother about what was going on. “You’re overdramatic, Montresor. Always have been. Maybe you should try to befriend this Griffen boy.” she said. “It’s Gifre, mom.” I reminded her. “What’s the difference?” she mocked. Oh well, maybe he’ll get tired of tormenting me.

After a few weeks of Gifre’s torture, I tried talking to him. He made fun of me and told the other children I tried to attack him. Nobody will even talk to me.

I lost hope that things would get better long ago. Now, I just hope that I can make it through the day without a new rumor circling around about me. It’s rare. Every day I am met with Gifre’s stupid, perfect golden locks and taunting, sparkling green eyes. I continued my way through primary and middle school alone.

Soon enough, it was the first day of highschool for us. We shared the same culinary class. I’ll be lucky if Gifre doesn’t try to poison me at some point this year.

The bell rang and we all found a cooking station. To everyone’s surprise, we were competing in a cookie contest today to act as an icebreaker. Oh boy, I just know today is gonna be the one! Time to reverse the cards and humiliate Gifre for once. My mother and I used to bake cookies every Sunday for our family. He doesn’t stand a chance against our secret recipe.

I prepared the cookies as I normally would, except this time I had a new type of confidence. I arranged the treats on a plate beautifully. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Gifre’s face when he loses to me.

Of course, I was in the last group of standing contestants. Now, it was just between Gifre and I. The eliminated classmates were rooting for him, as expected. They’re like his mindless personal minions. The voting was blind, so they didn’t know who they were really voting for. We tied. I was still stoked that I at least came close to winning. We had to make more cookies to do a second round to determine the true winner.

This time, I wanted to be absolutely positive that I would win. I added a little extra sugar into this batch. I also opted for chocolate chunks instead of chocolate chips to create the perfect sweet, melt-in-your-mouth, chocolatey flavor. The class won’t be able to resist the comforting aroma of my warm dessert paired with a chilling glass of cold milk.

My moment was here at last. Everyone grabbed a cookie from my platter and I braced myself from excitement as I watched their mouths open wide to take a generous, welcoming bite of my masterpiece. The suspense was killing me. Suddenly, all at once, the class spat out my art and shrieked for water. I don’t understand. I took a cautious taste for myself. Gifre. He must’ve snuck salt into my sugar! That devil! This is unforgivable.

Gifre patted my shoulder, “What’s the matter ole bud? Thirsty?” he giggled. I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I really thought he would ever give me a standing chance as being better at him at anything. “Oh, don’t be so glum!” he hollered, “It’s just a prank lil homie! Don’t get your trousers in a twist.” Well, one thing is for sure. I will be Gifre’s downfall. I have finally had enough. I vow to never let Gifre humiliate me again. Tomorrow he won’t even see me coming.

I finished the school day peacefully knowing that it would be the last time Gifre would ever be my problem. I went home and spent the entirety of the remaining day and night devising the perfect scheme to get rid of my menace.

Exhausted from the lack of sleep, the only thing motivating my energy was the plan. Walking to school, I overheard a group of children say that Gifre moved towns. Could this be true? Once again, I let him make a fool of myself. This is so typical of him, I should have seen this coming. I sacrificed my slumber and wasted my time on someone that isn’t even here. Anyhow, I am relieved that he left. It’s a shame that he departed before I got ahold of him, but at least he’s still gone. He has spoiled my hopes for the last time.

Finishing school was a breeze without the constant fear that Gifre was waiting around the corner ready for attack. All his minions stopped bothering me shortly after his disappearance.

I graduated and pursued a career in professional wine tasting. I trained at an impressive facility for years, until I was sure I was an expert of the experts.

My first adventure as a master sommelier was just a simple convention. The experience was lovely and enjoyable until I met Fortunato. We were tasting Amontillado. “It’s quite bitter,” he muttered. “Why, I have to disagree, sir. This wine is sweet.” I politely argued. He insisted, “Oh poor mistaken man, this Amontillado here is not at all sweet.” I frowned and he summoned his friends to our table. “This fool thinks Amontillado is sweet!” he cackled. The group laughed. “Now, listen here old man. You are just senile. This wine is sweet, and if you claim otherwise you are wrong. Do not laugh at me, or your pride will be the death of you.” I warned. Fortunato scoffed, “You are merely confused, young chap. I am the best wine taster there is. I am never wrong.”

I will not let another Gifre be the cause of my humiliation again. He was warned, but his ego got in his way. Something must be done.

“To you all, retribution is sweet, but what is the price, I wonder?” 

I thought to myself, “I know there is always a price to pay. The deed is done and cannot be undone. Were there witnesses? Did anyone see us together? What shall say…ah, I met my friend at the carnival, and he was so inebriated that we walked a while along the canals to clear his head. I left him there since the crowds were swelling as the revelry progressed through the streets.

Two days later a servant from Fortunato’s house arrived with a message from the Lady of the house. Lady Fortunato is much younger than her condemned husband and is occupied with the things all ladies with wealth and privledge do. Music, art, opera and parties are her focus and concern. The lady rises at sunset and sleeps at daybreak and knows how to spend money well. Would she be happy to know her husband is gone? I knew the search would be on but not so soon. With all the revelry for the last few days some people were bound to be missing. I took great care. Fortunato is not a creature of habit. 

“A message from my Lady,” said the servant as he handed the note to me. I looked at it with trepidation. The clean white envelope with my name scrawled on it be to warp and move. The  red wax seal with drips marks seem to ooze. Nonetheless, I picked it up and began to read:

 “Here is my reply. Return to your Lady with this message.” When Fortunato does not arrive at the meeting, there will surely be questions. I am sure the authorities will be called in to investigate. Not to worry! Accidents happen all the time along and in these Venetian canals. They will look for a few days and once he does not show up will rule an accidental death. Bodies often wash out to the ocean and gone forever.  Justice has been served.

“Justice,” a faint ghostly whisper. “What justice? How have I offened you?”  I turned to find the voice but nothing. 

That night during the midnight hours it rained and thundered loudly. I jumped up startled at the boom and crash and lightening streaking across the skies. I was up and looked out at the dark skies with a sense of foreboding. The curtains suddenly moved, perhaps from the wind. I looked around the room, draped in darkness with flashes of light coming through the windows. There stood Fortunato! He did not speak he simply stared and pointed a finger at me. Another crash, then, he was gone. How can this be? I hurried to dress and went out, heading for the catacombs. The chains could have been rusted and the motar is was still wet, he could have gotten out. 

Through the cold, dark subterrean tunnels I retraced my steps to his tomb wondering about the consequences…my family’s fortune and reputation. The lantern guiding my way as grotesque shadows leapt from every direction each one appearing with clawed hands as if to pull down into the deep earth. At the tomb at last! I scanned the brickwork from corner to coner, up and down, left to right, checking for any hole, any crack, but all is well. The crypt is sealed tightly!

The day of the Merchant’s Guild meeting all were present except Fortunato. Luchesi was there somewhat disheveled and short-tempered. I commented that he seemed upset and angry. I invited him over for supper that night and he accepted. I wanted to discuss the new guild laws and how it would affect our business dealings. That night all became clear!

It was not Fortunato, but Luchesi who was the scoundrel! He was the guilty one, the one who managed to slander the name of Montressor. I listened intently to his narrative of what, how and why he did it. I wanted to know every detail, who was involved and how it was done. I showed no emotion as he pleaded and begged for forgiveness. Time slowed. Each word echoed in my mind. “This is the way of business,” I said as I poured him a glass my favorite Amontillado. 

“This wine is special. It is kept in the black bottle to keep out light,” as I handed the glass to him. His confession made him thirsty and he downed the entire contents of the glass. I explained how reputation and honor were important to Montressors…how some sins were unforgivable. He listened unable to speak. His eyes began to close and Luchesi was no more.

 

It wasn’t always a feeling of disdain for Fortunato, you see. The first day I met Fortunato, I was greeted with nothing but kindness. He invited me in and treated me as an equal, as no other man had done to me before. We sat in his antique ridden library, deliberately tucked in the back of the house to give specific guests the feeling of special treatment. We sipped on a tangy red wine as we discussed the parameters of the job. We glossed oversleeping quarters, and so on, but the real meat and potatoes of the conversation was the wine. Oh, the wine! We spoke for what may have been hours over the wines Fortunato has acquired over the years. When the wine talk was over, Fortunato led me up the grand staircase to a set of mahogany double doors with golden doorknobs. “Open them,” Fortunato ushered while gesturing to the doorknobs. With that, I grabbed the golden doorknobs with both hands. They felt as if they were forged to fit perfectly in my palms. I opened the doors for them to reveal a lavish bedroom. I gazed in awe like a child in front of a window to a candy shop. “Is this....is this for me?” I uttered in awe. With a hearty laugh, Fortunato exclaimed, “For you? Of course not!” Needless to say, this was a slap in the face. “I was just showing you the fastest way to my room!” Fortunato couldn’t contain himself. “You should’ve seen the look on your face, Montresor, it was somehow more priceless than my most expensive wine! Come now, I’ll show you to your real room,” he said as he gestured a come here motion with his hand. He led me to a basic room with a bed just large enough for one weary wine taster. The room was cramped compared to the lavish master bedroom. A tuxedo was the only thing that hung in the empty and dingy closet. Here, I would reside on the nights Fortunato had parties. 

The harmless playground pranks gradually evolved over each party. They used to be minor, laughable pranks, like hiding my bow tie in profound spots like the mantle and at the top rung of the ladder in the library. There was one party in particular in which I had been holding a tray of Spanish wine. Fortunato came up to me and said my shoe was untied. My trusting and naïve self, coupled with the large platter blocking the view of my shoes, allowed him to tie my shoe for me. “There we go,” Fortunato said as he stood up. He patted me on the back. I took a step forward, and the next thing I know, I’m soaking in a pool of red wine and broken glass. At another party, this time on Halloween, Fortunato asked me to fetch a Japanese wine from the cellar. When I didn’t find a wine from Japan, I went to find Fortunato, but to my surprise, nobody was in the lounge area. I called out for Fortunato but to no avail. When I turned to leave, Fortunato jumped out from the cover of the doorway and scared the daylights out of me. The last straw had to have been when he started the rumor that I had a hand in the bank robbery in town. When questioned by police, I had the solid alibis of the two wine delivery boys, but Fortunato found it hilarious to go around telling folks that I was the getaway driver in the robberies. Every time the police would question me, I would always have an alibi, and they were starting to get suspicious. When Fortunato told a foreign baron and his wife that I snuck out the night before and didn’t come back until late, they got worried and went to the police. They had enough of this and locked me up for the night. Fortunato came in the next morning and bribed the officers to let me go. He found it hilarious. I didn’t. Fortunato had gone far enough. I was done with the games. He had to go. I sat in my room plotting. I had decided that I needed to wait until the town was no longer interested in my story. Fortunato spoke of a massive party he planned to throw to welcome the new mayor. He tasked me to get as much help as I needed to pass out refreshments. My most important task was to pick the perfect wine for the occasion. Without hesitation, I said firmly, “Amontillado. I know how much you love surprises, so I’ll keep the details a secret.” He agreed, and added, that it had a wonderfully exotic ring to it. 

The night of the party came, and the guests trickled in group by group. This party was much too big to be held in the typical lounge of the mansion. Fortunato, dressed to impress, walked up to me. “Don’t hand out the Amontillado until the mayor gets here,” he ordered. I nodded, my plan was underway. “Why don’t we go down to the cellar to retrieve it later? You and the Mayor can share the first glass together, with a toast too. It is your party after all.” I couldn’t hold back my smile anymore. Fortunato couldn’t hold back his smile either. The mere thought of the praise and social status raise delighted him. This party was most unusual, as I was confined to the kitchen, rather than buttering up guests with facts about the wine they were drinking. Soon, the time came to retrieve the wine from the cellar. I found Fortunato, incredibly drunk, but more than excited for his fame. We traversed the winding corridors, and before long Fortunato was locked away in his tomb. When the mayor arrived I told him that I had last seen Fortunato walking down to fetch the wine and that he was adamant about getting it himself and having the first sip with him. When Fortunato never showed for the rest of the night, the mayor grew drunk and impatient and left. The party ended, but partygoers were much too drunk to realize that Fortunato wasn’t there to bid them farewell. A week after, the head waiter outside told me that Fortunato had said I was never involved in the robbery of the bank and asked if this was true. The waiter explained the whole speech, or at least what he could remember before he also admitted that he too got drunk that night. “A toast to Montresor,” is what Fortunato ended the speech with. I pretended the speech humbled me, but in reality, I was glad Fortunato finally got what he deserved. 

While recounting his story to locals at the bar, another man spoke up about his suspicions. The night of the party, he had seen Montresor and a very drunk Fortunato head toward the wine vaults. Hours later he remembered only seeing Montresor return. Walking up to Montresor he asked where Fortunato was. “I do not know. I have not seen him since dinner”, replied Montresor. The man knew this to be untrue. At the time though he thought that perhaps Montresor had brought Fortunato into the home to recover and prevent others from seeing how inebriated he was. Only now did he begin to have suspicions.

Being a small town, it did not take long for rumors to begin. Soon, Montresor became aware of what others were whispering about him. Full of conceit and smugness, he continued to live his life with little regard to the rumors. He was confident they would soon pass. Once again, Montresor was wrong.

Police arrived at his door only a month after that beautiful day on the veranda. He was questioned for hours. No, he never did build the additional room on his house. Instead, he had given the items he purchased to another man. A man from another town. No, he could not recall his name. When asked about the night of the party, he had no idea what the man was talking about and denied ever speaking to him. 

After the police left his home, Montresor knew he needed to flee. He left for a small Italian town over five hundred miles away. He started a new life. A quiet and less opulent one. There he remained for fifty years living a remote and isolated existence. His life had not turned out they way he had expected, and he was angry and bitter. Killing Fortunato was supposed to have freed him and instead it had imprisoned him in his own walls. The irony was lost on Montresor. He had never had a family. No wife or children. His money had slowly depleted and his health had declined. He knew, in his heart, that he was at the end of his life. He worried often about what the next life would hold for him. One night, after consuming a whole bottle of wine, he fell asleep on the floor surrounded by old papers and books.

“Wake up Montresor!” Montresor opened his eyes and looked around. Who would be calling him? He lived alone and no one even knew his real name. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw a shadow standing in the doorway. Fortunato? Of course not. That would be impossible. He had been dead for decades. Montresor laughed at himself and decided he was still drunk. “Look at you. Lying on the floor a drunk laughing into the night.” With that, Montresor curled into a ball refusing to face the dead man. “Arise Montresor. Tonight, is your night of reckoning.”

“How can it really be you Fortunato?” whispered Montresor. In a slow and haunting voice, he whispered, “Do you doubt me? I am Fortunato. The man you chained and entombed decades ago.” Montresor could not comprehend what was happening. He began to question if he himself was still alive. Maybe he died drunk on the floor and was now facing his final judgement. Slowly he stood up and faced Fortunato. “Fortunato, I am sorry. I have lived my whole life with the guilt of what I did to you.” “LIAR”, shouted Fortunato. “If you had felt a minute of guilt you would have freed me. I spent weeks slowly dying in the prison you created for me. “What do you want from me then,” cried Fortunato. “I have had to give up everything I had and ever wanted because of what I did to you.” Fortunato looked at his front door and contemplated walking toward it. “Don’t bother Fortunato. I have used my powers to seal all the windows and doors. There is no way out and soon you will know what it is like to live the rest of your life trapped with no hope of being saved. But do not distress. Unlike me, you will not be left alone. I will be by your side until your very last breath. I will haunt your days and nights until you beg for this nightmare to be over.” Montresor already shaking, began to cry. Was this real? Was this purgatory? Would the end come soon? Closing his eyes, he began to accept his fate. 

 

 

          The next morning it’s dark and cloudy. There’s a howling sound from the wind outside. Montresor hears a knock on his front door. There’s a tall man standing at his door. “Who is it?” Montresor asked. “I am Markness, Fortunato’s oldest friend,” Markness replied. Montresor opens his front door. “What do you want?” Montresor asked. “I am looking for Fortunato, he told me he would be visiting you and he didn’t come home last night, his wife and I are worried,” Markness replied. Montresor just stared at him; his thoughts are all over the place. “You are asking the wrong man, Fortunato was a drunk mess last night and I sent him home,” Montresor replied. Markness didn’t believe a word Montresor was telling him. He just knew something was wrong he can see it in Montresor eyes. Markness is a very curious man who will stop at nothing to find the truth. He will not back down to anyone. Markness had a gut feeling that Montresor was lying to him. Montresor has met his match with Markness. “Never come back here again,” said Montresor. He then shuts the front door on Markness face. Markness then walks away into the woods surrounding the castle. That evening on his front doorstep. Montresor noticed a note. The note read, I hope you enjoy your bottles of wine, for they will be your last very soon. The note was signed your worst nightmare. Montresor felt puzzled, wondering who would dare leave him this note. Montresor thought he had escaped his revenge unnoticed, until now. I have a feeling this is that arrogant pushy man Markness who left this note. He is trying to scare me, and it won’t work. For I am the smartest man in Italy, and no one can trick me. 

“Hey beautiful,” I said to Pearl as I walked up to her. 

“Hey handsome,” She greeted me back. 

She had a bag in one hand and she took my arm in the other. We walked down into the cellar. While walking to the back, we walked past the wall with the loose brick I noticed on our last date, I paid it no mind. I sat down on the blanket she set up for us. She was telling me about her soccer game coming up and how nervous she was for it. While she was talking, I heard footsteps by the stairs that led to where we were sitting. I wanted to hide from whoever was coming, but it was too late. When I looked up, I saw Antoinette and Rufus staring at us in disbelief. “It’s not what it looks like… I can explain” I said, even though the look on her face said it all. She looked more than upset, maybe even betrayed. Pearl was trying to talk to her brother, but he started walking away. When he turned, he tripped and hit the wall. The brick I noticed prior fell out of the wall. We all stopped what we were doing and looked over at the hole. I pushed Pearl back and helped Rufus get up. I looked through the hole and saw there was another room behind it that no one knew about. I looked around for a tool to break down the wall. I noticed a mallet on the farend wall. It had to be good enough because there were no other tools. I told everyone to stand back while I hit the wall a couple times. 

“You will get nowhere if you don’t hit the wall at its weak spot,” Antoinette said. 

I stopped hitting because I knew she was right. 

“You need to hit in the bottom right corner. If you weaken that part, I think the wall will fall down,” added Rufus. I did as he told me to and the wall started crumbling. I threw the mallet aside and stepped back. As the dust settled, I looked to my left to see Rufus and Antoinette have a modified look on their faces. I felt Pearl cling to my side. I was confused by their reactions so I rubbed my eyes to get the dust out. What I saw was a human skeleton on the floor in front of us. Well, now you are all caught up.

Antoinette started scrambling for something. “What are you doing,” I asked her. 

“I’m looking for my phone so I can call the police,” she responded.

 I looked around and saw my phone on the blanket Pearl laid on the ground earlier. I picked it up. My hands were shaking so much that I couldn’t get a grip on my phone. Rufus grabbed it out of my hands and called the police. He then handed me the phone. While I was on the phone, I heard a faint cry. I turned to see it was from my sister. I explained to the police our situation, and they said they would send someone asap to our location. I went to my sister and pulled her into a hug. She clinged onto me while she weeped. I made eye contact at Pearl. She was standing with Rufus just watching at us, not knowing what our next move would be. Once I calmed down Antoinette, the police arrived. Pearl went to collect our stuff, but the police asked her no to. We all walked out of the wine cellar and into the frigid night. I gave Pearl a hug goodbye before walking back onto our property. I didn’t want to be caught on the rival’s property, especially with the rival’s daughter, so Antoinette and I snuck back in the way I left. When I went up upstairs, I hopped in the shower and got changed. I haven’t fully processed what just happened. The image of the skeleton kept flashing over and over in my mind. I wondered if it had anything to do with my great -great- grandfather that mysteriously went missing all those years ago. I was pacing around my room with that thought running through my head before deciding to talk to my sister. 

“Hey Nette,” I say while knocking on her door. 

“Hey,” she responds. Her voice sounds stuffy, like she had been crying. 

“How are you holding up,” I asked her. I want to ask her about our great- great grandfather, but I don’t know if it is too soon. 

“I’m okay. I had been thinking about it, though. I don’t know how to say this, but I think that skeleton could be our great- great grandfather’s skeleton.” She read my mind. 

“ I had that same thought, but why would his body be on the Montresor’s property?” I asked her. 

“Joey, you know that our families have been enemies for generations. I wouldn’t be surprised if our great-great grandfather’s had a grudge and one decided to act on his temptations,” she said. I thought she sounded crazy. Why would he kill our grandfather? No rivalry should go that far. 

“I don’t know. Do you think that might be a stretch?”

“Maybe.. But I think I will give Rufus a call to see if there are any old family secrets or an old wive’s tale.”

“Okay. We will probably get a call from the police soon, after they ID the body. But, until then, get a good night's sleep and I will see you in the morning. Goodnight.” 

“Goodnight, Joey.” 

I walked back to my room feeling a little better that I wasn’t the only one having those kinds of thoughts. I turned my lights off and got into bed. Before I fell asleep though, I wondered if it was possible that he was killed by my girlfriend’s great- great grandfather. 

I woke up the next morning to my sister aggressively knocking at my door. She barged in my room looking haggard. 

“ Joey, Rufus told me that there used to be a rumor that Montresor killed Fortunato when he didn’t come back after their wine tasting. That could mean Montresor killed our great- great grandfather by “burying him alive” since he was found in the wine cellar,” she exclaimed.

“Nette, we don’t even know if that is his skeleton. And besides, what would be his motive?” I said, sounding groggy. 

“I know it's a stretch, but it could be true. Then, we would finally know what happened to him,” she said. 

There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes that this would be true and we would have solved the mystery. Just then I got a call from the police station since I was the one who called them originally. They told me they identified the body. I don’t know what I was hoping for, if it is or isn’t him. They told me it was my late great- great grandfather, Fortunado. I thanked them for the call and they said they would need to do a full search of the wine cellar. I agreed. All I wanted to do was hang up the phone. I couldn’t tell what I was feeling. If I was anxious, scared, or excited that we would finally know what happened. Antoinette was patiently waiting for what the phone call was about. I told her it was from the police and they identified who the skeleton belonged to, our late grandfather. 

“No way! We actually solved the mystery,” she said. 

“Yeah, that’s great,” I said, sorrowfully. This means that my girlfriend’s grandfather killed mine. 

I called Pearl and we set up a meeting between both our families. I told them what the police said and what our theory was. They agreed with us and called the police to do a final search of the wine cellar before they closed it up for good. My parents planned to have a proper burial for Fortunato. We invited our extended family and the Montresor family. The service was beautiful. The two families ended their rivalry and came to an understanding. Pearl and I still haven't told people about our relationship, but that will happen in time. I’m happy if Pearl is happy. Also, Antoinette and Rufus are getting closer. They have a lot in common, they are both very intelligent and introverted. I still wonder what really happened that day in the wine cellar and what pushed Montresor to that point, but, it doesn’t matter. Right now, both families are sitting around the fire pit, making smores. The two families slowly went from enemies to friends. 

It is a warm, sunny morning as Montresor boards the cargo ship that will take him to Pensacola, Florida, and his final business deal. He watches fondly as the crew hurries about the ship speaking many different dialects. He thinks back to Italy and the workers that attended to his estate. That seems like a lifetime ago he thinks to himself. Expect for his haunting memory of Fortunato, which he immediately puts out of his mind, Italy is a happy recollection. As Montresor disembarks the ship, the captain wishes him well. “We hope your accommodations were to your liking,” the captain cautiously inquires. “Yes, it was sufficient, thank you.” Montresor carefully continues on his journey as a feeling of apprehension begins to trouble him.

A series of business meetings became bittersweet as Montresor walks to his next method of transportation. He realizes that his business career was ended and that the papers in his satchel must reach their destination. Once reaching Kissimmee, Montresor is directed to the train station by a newspaper boy who energetically yells, “Thanks mister,” as he runs off to spend his reward. Stepping onto the platform to board his final vehicle that will take him to his family and his intended mission, he sighs to himself. Montresor found his seat and lodgings for the hours he would be aboard the impressive locomotive. The conductor approached Montresor, “ticket please,” he asked in a pleasant voice. Montresor handed him his ticket as the conductor stamped it and announced, “welcome aboard.” Montresor sat back in the red lined seat and clutched his satchel. He thought he caught a glimpse of a man out of the corner of his eye.

He looked around to find the man but found no one. The conductor approached Montresor to let him know they would be arriving at the Tampa Hotel the next morning. “It’s quite the wonder,” the conductor told Montresor. “What’s quite the wonder, Montresor replied. “The Tampa Hotel, it costed nearly 3 million dollars to build, the conductor informed Montresor. “My name is Arthur if you need anything.” “Thank you,” Montresor answered. “Arthur did you see a man enter this seating car?” “No sir,” Arthur returned. “Besides yourself, there is only a family and an elderly widow aboard, and they have retired to their sleeping cars.” I see, well thank you,” Montresor replied. Arthur went about his duties. Montresor suddenly heard bells jingling and his suspicion about the man was confirmed. He took a seat across from Montresor. “Nice night,” the mysterious man informed Montresor. Montresor felt suddenly ill and did not answer the man. “I wonder what the other kind of night you can remember like this one in Italy.” Finally, Montresor addresses him, “I am afraid I do not understand.” Sure, you do Montresor, I bet Fortunato remembers.” “How do you know him,” Montresor nervously answers. “Because I saw what you did, I am Fortunato’s nephew Francesco D’Amelio and I followed you to the vault and I heard things.” “You killed my uncle didn’t you,” the man whispered to Montresor.  “Funny about that family motto of yours, you better watch that serpent,” as the odd man looks at him. Montresor closes his eyes and all those memories of that night sharply seize him. When he opens his eyes, the man was gone. The train’s whistle sounds as something ominous is about to happen. Montresor sits back trying get ahold of himself.

Arthur notices that Montresor seems to be sleeping and does not want to disturb him. As the train enters the station at the Tampa hotel, Arthur taps Montresor to wake him up. Montresor becomes fearful and does not want anyone to come near him. Arthur quicky runs to get help. Montresor’s family is alerted and takes him to Clara C. Frye Hospital. He is watched in the psychiatric unit as his family holds his hand. Soon Montresor suffers a heart attack and his family mourn his loss. His niece’s attorney looked over Montresor’s satchel papers he had with him. “It looks official Anna,” he states. “Your uncle left his estate to you and Rose,” as he hands the papers to Anna. “Rose will be so happy to have something of her uncles, she took his death hard,” taking the papers from the lawyer. Months pass and Rose meets her parents, Anna and Fredrick to introduce her fiancé. “Mom and dad this is Francesco, Francesco D’Amelio,” Rose proudly announces. “He used to be with a theater company, they called him the man of escape,” Rose happily stated. “Well sir is that your profession now,” Rose’s dad asks. “No sir, I am with a law firm and have my sights on a political career,” Francesco remarks. “That acting experience will sure help in politics,” Fredrick laughs. “I am counting on that sir,” as Francesco takes Rose’s hand. 

 

            “Greetings, I am Montresor. May I have your name?”

            “Fortunato, and it is a pleasure to meet you,” he responded, donning a smile almost intimidating in its friendliness. Had it not been for his inferior attire, I would have feared that he outclassed even myself in presentation. 

            “Though I am busy tonight, could we meet again tomorrow?” I asked, not wanting to let this fellow of great taste slip through my fingers.

            “Of course. I usually gather with a few associates of mine in that building, on most days,” he pointed to a fine building down the road from where we stood. With that, we parted ways for the night, both of us unaware of the tribulations that were to come.

            The following day, I had just entered the establishment Fortunato had directed me to when a hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. Confused and off-balance, it took me a second to realize that I was surrounded by Fortunato and a few other men, laughing at before I could even be properly addressed.

            “Montresor! I am sorry to scare you like that, but how are you doing?” Fortunato’s nerve made my blood boil, but I had yet to see his true character, or so I thought, so I dusted myself off and returned the greeting.

            “I am doing well.” Though my language was awkward and short, the gathering proceeded well enough after the initial disaster that was my entrance. Laughing, partying, talk of wine and the many festivities occurring just outside the front door, the conversations were diverse, but hollow. This was not helped by that initial cut into my pride that Fortunato had eagerly delivered, but I would soon realize how repetitive these incidents would become.

            The following appointment with Fortunato began not with a greeting, but with insult.

            “Montresor, how could you come here in those rags?” he said, clearly referring to my clothing, which far outclassed his from to any reasonable pair of eyes. Still, I maintained my guard of class and friendliness, responding as if nothing so gravely insulting had ever been said.

            “It is nice to see you again, Fortunato. How are you doing?” Things continued in a standard fashion from there, but I was beginning to notice something: I was the target of every joke, every mockery that was shot forth from Fortunato’s mouth. This thought was not exactly one of horror, but this realization crept over my every interaction with Fortunato from that point on like a terrible shadow that carved words of anger into my skin. He did not see them, but I felt them all the time.

            Eventually, I started to struggle with my seemingly eternal duty of holding back my outrage at Fortunato’s treatment of me.

            “Now our friend Montresor would know nothing of this vintage, would he?” he sneered, unprepared for my retort.

            “Actually, I do. That is one of many excellent vintages I hold in my cellar, though I doubt you were aware of this fact,” I responded, politely, but with concealed outrage at Fortunato’s venomous claims. The room was silent for a moment after I said this, as if by daring to stand up for myself, my name and my pride, I had committed some unthinkable crime that shook the room almost as much as the parade marching outside the building’s front door. Fortunato collected himself, smiled, and broke that peaceful silence.

            “Ah, you’re a funny one, Montresor, though I have no reason to doubt your claims. Now then, I would like to talk about…” he trailed off to me, his existence only maintaining lifeless small talk while I realized another truth: peaceful resistance to this threat would be pointless. If I continued like this, even if I were to object to every offensive comment Fortunato made, I would just be left standing there, dumbfounded at his inevitable deflection. My subtle plea had been ignored, not missed. Fortunato was no idiot, but every part of me commanded me to make him look like one. So, I started to make my way towards the door. I had thinking to do.

            “Leaving so soon, Montresor?” he said with an alarming innocence. It was as if he could not see the damage he had done. It was if, in his mind, we were still as jolly and eager to connect as we were on that first night of our now decaying friendship.

            “Yes, I have work to attend to,” I called back, weakly. I had a lot to consider, but one thing was evident: I would not allow myself to be wounded like this any longer. As I made my way back to my residence, change stirred in my head, a desire to do whatever it took to keep honor and pride close to my heart, as Fortunato intended to pry them away from me, laughing all the while.

            So, I sat alone in my bedroom that night, pondering what to do, how I could go about relieving myself of this shame. Many things ran through my head. All the mockery, devilish smiles, and the stress of being so near to someone wanting to do me such internal harm began to compound. It was as if I was going mad. However, alongside all these thoughts was the motto of my family. That motto had resided in me for as long as I can remember, promising misery to those who would wrong me. The words poured into every corner of my brain and, like a sudden gift from the heavens, I had an idea. Revenge would be mine, I decided it then and there.

            It would unfold masterfully from there: a meeting among the crowd and the promise of a bolstered ego would lure Fortunato to his death. Some would call this an extreme solution, but the injuries I had endured would not decorate my mind any longer. Like the taste of the finest wine, my vengeance would fulfill me completely.

“Madame Montresor?”

“Yes?” says I. 

“Is this land suitable for the construction of the estate?” asks Johnathan, my attendant. 

I take one final look at the domain, in all its cold, desolate glory and reply, “Yes, this will be… suitable.” As I am preparing to take out my checkbook, a short, stout woman who shared her the appearance with the likes of vermin came up to me. I could tell by the look on her face that she too desired to land, maybe even more than I. Her motivation? I was unsure, but no motivation could be greater or nobler than that of mine. 

“May I help you?”, I ask coolly, clutching my purse tightly.

“Well, darling, there could not possibly be anything you could help me with! I am here to help you! How, you may ask? Why, by informing you that this land is mine, and to not think otherwise!”, declares the mystery woman. 

Alarmed, I look at my attendant, furious that he would have the nerve to show me purchased land. He would never hear the end of this, nor would he ever have a job to speak of again. “Is that so? In that case, I can assume you’ve already placed your bid?”

“Well… I have not placed my bid yet; however, I am sure that I will be the only one to be able to afford this domain! I have already organized a grand groundbreaking ceremony, that will take place in 4 days, and extend an invitation to you. However, out of the kindness of my heart, I will let others view my land and place their bids, just to make them think they stand a chance.”

Taken aback by her rude and repugnant behavior, I say, “In that case, I will be one of the... “others” who will place their bid. What is your name, so I may check the amount you are bidding and see If I, ahem, ‘stand a chance’? “

Her expression at once morphed from smug satisfaction to pure, visceral rage. Face turning purple, she says, as composed as she possibly could, “Y... You do not know my name? Why, I know the likes of emperors, kings, and sultans and you do not know my name…?”

“Well,” says I with a mischievous glare, “What is it?”

“I am the great Madame Rose, heir to many beautiful estates, company to the most rich and powerful individuals known to man!”

Madame Rose… I knew that name. I had only heard her name through hearsay and read it in the paper. The truth of the other claims, I am not sure, but I knew her claims of wealth were very much true. They say she has as much money as there are grains of sand in the world. Despite having my own claim to wealth, I could never compete with the amount she possessed. She will surely outbid me…However… I also know that she is quite lonely and is lacking any respectable being to converse with. A plan has started to form, a fledgling that will eventually turn into a terrible beast, a beast that will get me MY land.

“Madame Rose, how could I not know who you are?  To apologize for my… disrespectful behavior, please come to my home and have tea.”

Madame Rose lit up, seemingly excited that I showed “interest” in her companionship, “Why, with an apology like that…Er, yes, I will come for tea! Only out of my kindness, though, and don’t think otherwise!”

Grinning, I extend my hand and say, “Is tomorrow good?”

-          -      -

“Montresor, darling, you home is absolutely adorable!” says Madame Rose as she exits her carriage uncoordinated. 

“Hm, yes, I suppose it is... ‘adorable’…” I reply. Somehow, when I think that she cannot get any more offense or repugnant, Madame Rose always proves me wrong. Regarding her comment about my estate, however, the proper words would be… “Breathtaking” or “Beautiful”. The entrance to my home is as gorgeous as the gates of Olympus, with a variety of flowers in a large array of beautiful, vibrant colors that resemble a rainbow. As we entered my home, all I could think about as ways of getting her to talk, to tell me anything that may possibly ruin her reputation. At this moment, any chance of me obtaining that domain for the family estate is dependent on her downfall, of which I feel no remorse. Individuals such as herself are a bane to society, and only work to bring it down. The way I see it, not only am I benefiting, but so is society. “Johnathan, get the tea! Come, sit. There is much to discuss.” I say to her as we enter my parlor. 

“Darling, I would like to say that your invitation is much appreciated. Never in my time have I had someone invite me over for tea to apologize! I suppose that shows how there are barely any decent human beings in this wretched world.” Says Madame Rose, who I could see was touched by my gesture. 

This was just what I wanted: to get her comfortable with me. I thought it would take more time, but I was mistaken. She does surprise me… 

“I do agree with you, no one has the common decency or respect for their brethren anymore,” says I as I look her in the eye, “It truly is sad… Speaking of, this reminds me of the land. Did you see the absolute mass of people who came to look?”. This seemed to be a trigger of hers, as she immediately began to get flustered. I hide a small grin as she begins to dig her own grave.

“I did, darling, and it was ridiculous! How they think that individuals such as themselves could ever afford such a domain, think themselves on MY level, is… is… laughable!” shrieks Madame Rose. 

She is close to revealing her secret, I know so. I just need to pry a bit more… “I saw a friend of mine at the viewing,” I say as I take a sip of my tea, “Did you see anyone you knew? Surely you did, since this is such a popular lot of land…”

Silence ensued during the following moments, a rarity whenever Rose is around. I could see she was hiding something, with her darting eyes and fidgety movements, she was as nervous as a small child caught in a lie. What it is exactly, I am not sure, but in order to get this information, I must get to know her better. I shall invite her back for some more tea… Yes, that will do….

-          -      -

The following days were quite… unpleasant, to say the least. As I had anticipated, due to her lonely and isolated lifestyle, she opened up to me like a clam, with her secrets as the pearl.  One would think that I would start to think of Madame Rose as a friend after all the time I had spent with her. To that, I say that as I got to know her, any shred of respect or favor I had for her previously, disappeared. One could argue she is as insufferable as a cold that will not leave. Also, I had found through our extensive chats that she is also an incredibly vile human being, who used her powerful ‘friends’ for her benefit and then promptly abandoned them. Not to my surprise, she did this with her ex-husbands, (She had 9).

“9 husbands?”, I ask incredulously.

She grinned, as if what I had said was a badge of honor, something to be proud of. “Yes, darling, 9 husbands! How do you think I was able to keep up this lifestyle? You should know it is not free!”

I glare at her for a second, wondering why I was even doing this. I have endured all these insults, her insufferable company, for what? “Stay calm…” I remind myself, “Remember, this is for the family estate... the Montresor name...”

“How were you able to keep it out of the public eye? The separations, I mean.”

She glares at me with an arrogance in her eyes, “You’re a smart woman, Madame Montresor, think about it!”

Suddenly, I was able to piece it together. I thought she was evil before, but this… This truly cemented her as a villain.

“You… killed them.” I say, breathless.

She smirks, taking a sip of her tea. “Wonderful, darling, you are as intelligent as I thought! You would not be in my company if you were not. That is partially the truth, some of them survived, mostly due to my passing whim of mercy. In fact, a dear ‘husband’ of mine was viewing my land. It baffles me how he thinks he can win me back…” She glances around the room, making sure no one is in earshot. “This will be our little secret, Montresor darling, all right? One friend to another.”

“Yes, one… ‘friend’ to another…”

Finally, I had my secret. 

-          -      -

It was the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, and Madame Rose had not ceased to amaze me. She kept going on and on about how grand it was going to be, how wonderful she was going to look, like a broken record. 

“Montresor, it is going to be absolutely grand, I tell you! A wonderful display of my beauty, power, and wealth!” says Madame Rose, fixing her hair in the reflection of the carriage window. “Do I look alright?”

I sigh as I say, “Yes, you look… stunning.” I was quite relieved the whole ordeal was almost over, as the previous days had felt like 100 years. Finally, after what felt like centuries, the carriage arrived at the beautiful lot of land. I was surprised to see the venue already set up, overflowing with guests, most who looked disgruntled, as if it were a bother to be there. It was characteristic of Rose to be late to her own event. However, there was one man who beamed when he saw Rose. 

Rushing over to the carriage, he extends his hand, saying, “Rose, you look absolutely exquisite as always! May I help you out of your carriage?”

Disgusted, Rose replies, “It is Madame Rose to you, William!” Quickly adding, “Yes, you may have the privilege of assisting me.”

“That must be the ex-husband”, I think as I exit the carriage. With Rose’s time taken up completely by William, I surveyed the crowd, overhearing various conversations, many of which were against Rose. 

“She’s too arrogant, she must be hiding something!”, said one guest. 

“The only reason I came here was to see what she was going to bid.”, said another. 

Almost immediately, however, the ceremony started. I supposed Rose wanted to flaunt her power as quickly as possible, (and get away from William). Her “speech” went something like this:

“Welcome, everyone, to the exquisite groundbreaking ceremony of my land! As you all know, I am a woman with many charms, such as my beauty, intelligence an- Well, I could go on and on, but my point is that these charms got me where I am today: wealthy and powerful! I am aware that many of you are interested in this lot and have already placed your bids. However, if you have not already, I encourage you to! Hope is a necessary engine in this world, and with my graciousness I am providing it to you by not bidding until the very end! What is my bid, you may ask? Well, it is the mere sum of… 600,000 lira!” 

Gasps were heard throughout the room, myself included. That amount was unbelievable! So unbelievable, in fact, I took the opportunity to air her greatest secrets. 

I stand up, a smirk on my face, “600,000 lira, Rose? A vast amount for someone such as yourself who has not worked a day in her life, and who has no substantial family fortune. It is a pity…”

“What is a pity?” she asks, confused. 

“…A pity your husbands, who you murdered, will never see the wonderful estate you would have built!” 

Another wave of gasps echoes throughout the room, this time louder and angrier. The angry guests had taken the bait and did the rest of the work for me. 

“I knew you were no good! Someone like you could never be successful without dishonesty and lies!” 

“Yeah! You vile, disgusting murderer!”

People began to promptly leave the venue, most likely to spread this news, no longer a secret, to the rest of society. 

Angry, Rose begins to scream, smudging makeup all over her face, her hair coming undone, “It is not true! It is not true! I would never do that! I am too perfect, and kind do such a thing!”. After some time, she had realized that no one would listen, that her reputation was ruined and therefore her self-perception. Clumsily running back to her carriage in tears, she had tripped in front of me. Looking up, she saw my sadistic grin as I uttered my family mantra: No one attacks me with impunity!

“Do you know who could have done this?” asked the police officer while writing down the evidence in his notepad.

“No sir, this is my first day here and I have no idea who this even is” I say in disbelief that my first day I have to report a dead body.

The police officer then tells me to go home while they investigate the situation. My boss tells me I am off until they no longer need the wine cellar for evidence, which might take a while. During those weeks I am jobless, and scarred by the fact I had to come upon a dead corpse. A few weeks later I get a call to come back to work, which I gladly accept since I am not getting money right now. When I get back to work the first thing my boss tells me is that a man by the name of Montresor is being investigated, which I then realize is dad. Montresor is my dad who left me and my mom when I was only six years old. I could not believe that my own father would do such a cruel thing, and I knew he needed to get sentenced and punished for his wrong doings. The next day I was informed that there was a trail, and I wanted to go to see my father, and see what he would be charged with. The next day, Thursday morning I wake up to my alarm, knowing that today is a big day. I get up and get as ready as I can mentally and physically. Walking to my car, I was super nervous. I realized that today I am going to see my dad that I have not seen in 12 years, which is a big deal to me. I enter, with my nervousness flowing all over my body, and there he is, the cold blooded killer, also known as my dad, just sitting there.

“Daughter? Is that you?” Montresor says with a smile on his face but also confused how I am there. “ Why are you here? You look so grown up.”

“Why would you do such a thing, you were my father and now I can not even recognize you after what you have done. You have killed an innocent man, I never knew you had this in you. You will pay for this.” I reply while looking serious at him, even though I want to cry since I have missed my father. 

I get shocked by a loud bang, the court session just started. While walking to the courtroom, they pull me out and say it is a private event, and is only going to involve my dad, the judge and his lawyer. Two hours pass and the nerves are killing me. At this time all my fingernails are gone because the nerves made me eat them. I see him walk out with a smirk on his face. “Please do not tell me he got away with this?” I think to myself as he walks towards me.

“I do not have any charges! They dropped all of them. And how nice to see you my daughter, give me a hug” he says, “No” I reply, “ You killed him, only possible person to, and that you leave me for twelve years, for me and my mother to suffer, and now for you to act all nice, unbelievable, this is not what I deserve.” 

I am so confused of how he got away with this and no charges were put on him. Truly did not understand how the judge let him get away with this. He pulls me aside and explains that when he left me, he got a big job in a major bank, which means he has a lot of money and bailed his way out of punishment. I am in disbelief and rush to my car and drive home. How could someone just get away with murder? The next day I go to court myself and complain to the judge that my father is guilty and has to pay some sort of punishments for the severity of pain he has caused for Fortunato’s loved ones. After a lot of discussing she agrees and orders another court session.

The day of the new court trial has arrived. Shaking my leg, biting my nails, patiently waiting on him to come out and tell me what has happened. THen I see Montresor open the doors and walk towards me. He tells me that he is sentenced 10 years in prison for murder. I am immensely happy but realize that his sentence could have been lifetime, but his money reduced it by a lot. 

Now I am 23, and head of the wine cellar cleaning department. I love watching the news and one day I see my father sitting in his cell on my television screen. He got super skinny from not eating, and looks beat up. He probably got into fights because of his obnoxiously loud mouth. I felt better knowing that such a horrible person is locked up, and that we can live in peace.

Ever since I’ve lived in England, its magical scenery has provided a sense of joy. Each year they host carnivals to utilize flourishing businesses that only those from the nobility were allowed to enter. Yet again, my thriving wine production is always at the top of the list.  I fancy that is the only grateful thing I will appreciate from Fortunato. From all our years of companionships, he taught me well how to distinguish one wine from another.  Maybe that spared him his immediate death. With that being said, each year these festivities hold an auction for items sold in the carnival. This year I will place the one item that will assure not only the end of a final, long, and finished chapter, it will reassure the commencement of a new life letting go of my past. 

“It can’t be. Could it” uttered the ignorant nobleman. “Indeed. It is”. What most common folks don’t realize is that wine tasting is just like a memory game. While the memory of tasting a delicious wine may well stick around for several days or even a few weeks, when you taste many wines in a relatively short period of time they can be hard to accurately remember down to the last detail: Even if they have tried the most mouthwatering, and extravagant drink, they wouldn’t be able to recognize it. This special drink was fabricated by me, down to its basic formula. Its appearance, its taste, its overall texture is all a replica of the renowned and most celebrated wine of all: The Amontillado. Only a wise gentleman, with unnatural taste, would’ve notice its difference. I’ve only crossed paths with one man who would ever know its difference. Fortunato. What am I thinking Montresor? Obviously he’s died. After all these years, and not a word of his disappearance, means not only do people don’t know about him, but if he were to just show up, word would scatter all around town like the bubonic plague did.

One glorious winter night, As I was walking down the streets, I felt a shadow following me. As I was thinking to myself it might be the wives of husbands who need a thrilling night. But it was a constant shadow, following my every step. Every move. Every pace. I speed up. I take a left. Then a right. Until I finally loose the shadow. My heart stopped beating at an accelerating rate. It reminded me of the time I let Fortunato to rot. It can’t be. My conscious cannot take the best of me. Not now. Not ever.  As soon as I start walking again I feel the shadow once more. “I cannot be a coward no more” I turn around and there he was. My heart started palpitating again. Fast. Shocked. Startled. How could this be possible? It’s been five years. He walks towards me. I can barely move. It’s as if I was in an accident and I’ve been paralyzed from head to toe. As he finally approaches me he pulls out a weapon. Pointed straight at me, I start running. Running for my life. Once again I lose him, and I hide. It’s the 1900s what man walks without being armed. As he is searching for me, I aim. I only have one shot. The dead corpse drops to the ground. No one noticing where the shot came from, I flee. I flee to the one place I thought was in my past. 

As I arrive, the walls still felt cold and wet, the bones were still intact. How could this be possible? If Fortunato had escaped, how can the bricks and the bones that I placed be untouched? I break the walls with the nearest hatchet I found. The horrifying odor hit struck me. As I look outward, there he was. Fortunato cadaver, daggling from the shackles, his flesh almost gone, almost like the humidity preserved it. Is my mind playing games on me? Did I just kill an innocent man? Or was I just hallucinating?. If God was placing this test upon me, he had won, but if so, I would be clear that the one who hurt me the most, can never hurt me once again. Guilt. I sit down in front of the dead corpse and I grabbed the one item that I know had been there all along. The one thing my mind cannot play games with. The most exquisite and most divine drink ever made in the history of mankind. The Amontillado. This is the story of how I may have not defeated my conscious, but a glorious story of how I defeated my true enemy.

When Chief Don Polehaus of our police department in Little Italy, NY heard about this case about a week ago, he ripped open his office door and barked, 

“Rogers! Get in here pronto, I got a dandy for ya!” 

I guess it had something to do with the fact that in the short 10 years of my police career that I became known as the killer stalker, with a reputation of being the youngest and best detective in my state at thirty years old. When the chief finished briefing me, about a murdered tourist from our hometown that spent six months every year in Venice, Italy I knew it sure would be an adventure of good old gumshoe detective work. I certainly had never traveled to the other side of the world to solve a crime! The solving of this case was long overdue though, requiring someone to bring it to a close and seek justice for this Victim in Venice!

Venice is a beautiful place if you ask me, a place full of ancient buildings surrounded by water that is traveled by gondolas and cultural arts and customs that makes her unique. The few scattered people amongst the almost deserted buildings in the city however, acted spooked upon my arrival. They scurried about and avoided eye contact, as if there was a mysterious secret hidden amongst them. As I began to search around for signs of some kind of authority figure that could tell me more about the case, someone behind me began bellowing unexpectedly saying, 

"Why can't you people understand that we don't know anything about what happened to Mr. Fortunato!" His voice was bitter, full of exasperation and his eyes were narrowed slits that conveyed cynicism. 

“I… I’m sorry? but--” I was about to explain myself when he cut me off, 

“You Americans are not welcomed here, all you do is create havoc and disturb us and we’ve had enough.” 

And just like that he disappeared into the distance. It was abundantly clear that I was not welcome, but I had to do my job, so I kept looking for someone in authority. When I finally found someone, he seemed to know precisely who I was and my motives for being there. 

“Let me see, you Americans are back to your same go nowhere tactics again, aren't you?” I stared at him incredulously, 

“Excuse me?” I retorted 

He chuckled, then continued, “you know, it’s been five years and last I heard there was no sign of the killer anywhere.” 

“I’ll find him.” I said. He laughed mockingly and rolled his eyes. 

“Sure, well good luck son, his voice deep and deriding, if there is anything you need you can always find me down at the police station”, he said while patronizingly patting me on the back, “by the way my name is officer Nate.” 

“Nice to meet you Nate, I--” I said before he cut me off saying, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, go along now and do whatever you have to do.”

During the first week I meandered around town, trying to get a feel for the lay of the land. As I came into contact with the locals, I gingerly asked a bit about the case, but didn’t get many answers, just insults and a couple of obfuscations. All in all, useless talk. However, there was this old lady in particular who, unlike the rest of the townsfolk  seemed very open and pleasant. Her name was Lucia and she told me about her granddaughter, Angelica, who had previously worked at Mr. Fortunato’s house as a maid.

Upon waking the next morning, I headed over to the police station and asked if Nate could call in Angelica, “I don’t know what you are going to get out of it but why not? The sooner this is over, the sooner we can put you on a plane out of here.” At that, I nodded my head in agreement and exited the station. Approximately two days later I received a call from Nate saying that Angelica was in the interrogation room. When I entered the room I noticed that she was about 25 years old, pretty with an olive-toned complexion, and yet her face was full of exasperation. 

“Do you know why you’re here?” I asked.

“How could I not?” she huffed.  

“Look,” I told her, “I know you’re tired of strangers bothering you with this subject, but I promise that if you tell me everything you know about who murdered Fortunato, I will be on my way out of your country and none of us will ever bother you again.” She looked at me, her face irate. 

“All you need to do is be honest and tell me all you know” I gently reminded her. 

“I don’t know why you people come to me for information, I was just a maid at Mr. Fortunato’s house, I don’t know much,” she said indignantly.  

“I understand, but you have to realize that every little piece of information you give us is very valuable.” 

It was hard for me to get her to cooperate but after a ten minute staring contest between us, she finally started speaking. 

“There isn’t much to say, one day Mr. Fortunato decided to give us the day off for the Mardi Gras festival, and even though we found it very strange since he never gave us days off we ignored it and just enjoyed the festival. After that I never saw Mr. Fortunato again.” 

“Do you know if Mr. Fortunato had any enemies?” I asked. 

“Not that I know of…” she stopped and hesitated. 

“Go on” I encouraged her.

She continued, “Mr. Fortunato hated Luchesi but I never heard of Luchesi having problems with Mr. Fortunato.” After another short pause she again continued. “Maybe Montresor can help you out with that, he used to work for Mr. Fortunato as well.” 

“Okay, well thank you so much… uh?” 

“Angelica” she said with half a smile 

“well thank you so much Angelica, I appreciate your help and will try not to bother you again.” I led her out of the station and watched her as she blended into the other villagers until she eventually faded out of view.

It was about a week later until I could track down Montresor because he was out of town. When I finally found him I was able to convince him to come down to the police station to have a conversation with me. When I first laid eyes on him I remember thinking he was a very odd looking man. About thirty-eight years old, he had a very strange glint in his eyes. 

“Good afternoon Detective” he said with a grin and maniacal look in his eyes. 

“Good afternoon, Montresor. “ I replied. “Do you know why I called you in here today?” 

“Well, I believe that it has to do with my good old friend Mr. Fortunato… ah such a shame what they did to him don’t you think?” 

“It is horrible, not to mention a crime, I replied firmly. “So Mr. Montresor, what can you tell me about the whole situation and where you were on the day Mr. Fortunato disappeared?” 

“Well there isn’t really too much to tell. He was a good friend; he did not deserve an ending so cruel.” 

“Angelica, the maid, mentioned Luchesi? Would you happen to know who he is?” 

“Now that you mention it yes.” He said with a chester-cat sly grin. 

“Angelica said Fortunato hated Luchesi, do you know anything about that?” 

“Oh yes most definitely, he couldn’t stand him.” 

“Do you think Luchesi had something to do with Mr. Fortunato’s death?” 

He looked surprised and then grinned that maniacal grin again. “I would have no proof to say he did or didn’t have to do with his death, but he knew Mr. Fortunato hated him.”

 “Oh yeah?” I said  

“Yes, and maybe, just maybe, Luchesi thought Mr. Fortunato would kill him one day so he killed him before he could be killed…” 

The line was too well planned, I thought to myself, we are indeed in the middle of a game of chess! When I looked up, it was apparent that Montresor noticed that I was pondering my next move so he backed up his claim, stating, 

“Of course kind detective, this is just a simple minded conjecture of mine, it doesn’t really mean anything, just the meandering of my simple mind, that’s all.” 

“Okay well thank you for your cooperation Mr. Montresor. If we need your help later I will contact you. Once again thanks and good day Mr. Montresor and do me a favor, don’t leave town.” Montresor tilted his head and smiled slightly, unsure of what I really thought about his “conjecture” as he called it and faking calm, he proceeded to exit the station. 

That whole encounter was odd and unnerving, but even more strange was what happened afterwards… It was about a week after the interrogation with Montresor when out of nowhere, Nate called me and said Angelica wanted to speak to me again and was waiting on me at the station. Upon hearing this I dropped everything and raced to the police station. When I finally got there I could see that she was anxious and tense. As I approached the table in the interrogation room, opposite her, she began to tremble.

“Are you alright?” I asked her. 

“Yes, I mean no! The last time I was here...I didn’t really say everything I know!” 

“What do you mean? Is there something you were hiding from me?” 

As she sat there as if she was staring at a ghost in horor and seemingly momentarily paralyzed, I decided to press her to tell me whatever she was hiding. 

“Angelica, if you don’t tell me exactly everything you know I’ll see that you get locked up as an accomplice to murder! Now tell me what you know NOW!” slamming my open hand down on the desk in front of her. 

Startled, she snapped out of it and looked up at me, her eyes full of fear. “A few days after you talked to Montresor he broke into my house… he told me that if I don’t tell you that I saw Luchesi do something he would kill me just as cruel as he had punished Mr. Fortunato!” she blurted out.  

“What reasons do you think Montresor had to murder Mr. Fortunato?” I asked.

“Revenge, pure murderous revenge and everyone knows it and I don’t want anything to do with it or him!. Im’ so sorry, so sorry, she cried, Mr. Fortunato never deserved such a horrible death!” 

“It’s not your fault Angelica, don’t worry you did the right thing. The right thing. We’ll put you in the witness protection program until you testify in court and no one will do you any harm, you have my word. As for Mr. Montresor, well let’s just say he’ll soon be sent to the slammer, never see the light of day again!”

“Thank you so much.” she wept. 

“No, thank you for coming clean with all of this, we would have never found the spineless killer without your help.”

I escorted Angelica into an awaiting female officers’ custody and proceeded with starting the paperwork for a warrant, with Nate. As soon as Nate garnered the warrant for the arrest of Montresor, we raced to his property. When arrived he was tending his garden and when he looked up he flashed that same disgusting crooked grin and that maniacal glint in his eyes appeared. 

“Good afternoon Detective, is there a reason behind your lovely visit?” The sight of him and his greeting made me sick! 

“Montresor you are under arrest for the 1st degree murder of Mr. Fortunato.” He instantly tried to flee his garden but it was pointless, we had the property surrounded, still he tried. 

When the hearing day arrived Angelica, looking rested and resolute, delivered her powerful and compelling testimony without a hitch. In response, Montresor lost it and blurted out in admission to the crime, stating that Fortunato drove him insane with jealousy and he had to put an end to it and him! I will always remember the way he screamed out, 

“Yes! Yes! I did it! No one ever disrespects my family! Nemo me impune Lacessit” He screamed and admitted how he buried Fortunato alive behind a brick wall. The jury recoiled as he exclaimed his guilt and covered their mouths in horror. Upon the unanimous verdict of the jury, he was sentenced eighty-five years to life. 

As I hailed the cab summoned to the station, I felt a slap on the back and a hearty familiar chuckle. “You Americans work fast, Rogers!  Guess we’ll be seeing you!” 

“That’s right, you will be seeing me, Nate!” I exclaimed with a wink in my eye, “As my best man, you’d better see me and sooner rather than later!” as we both laughed and gave each other a burly man-hug. 

Not long after, during a sunny spring day in Saratoga Springs, New York, I married Angelica. Happy to put both the Victim in Venice case and my police detective career behind me, I looked forward to a new life running a quaint little bed and breakfast I inherited from my parents, with my new wife. 

And the rest, as they say, is history!

I knew this day would be very exciting because Baker seemed very excited and nervous this morning. “Come!” Baker called me. I ran in excitement. Maybe I’m getting another treat I thought. “Up” Baker commanded. I wagged my tail as I jumped up into the backseat of the car. The car always had a sweet smell. The car was cleaner than under the desk but there were some fast food bags left over from the night before when Baker was tracking a bad guy all night. I felt the car start to vibrate as were backing out of our parking spot. We drove for quite awhile. I was laying down taking a nap when all of sudden I felt the car stop. I heard Baker open the car door. I jumped up in excitement waiting for him to open my door. Baker came around and opened my door but he stopped me from jumping out. He said “Be on your best behavior.” I wagged my tail wondering where we were. Baker moved so I could jump out. I looked up and noticed this huge house. I have never seen such a big house. I saw a sign in the grass. I looked at Baker wondering why we were here. Maybe another investigation. “Come” Baker commanded. We walked on cement blocks leading up to the front door. Baker knocked on the door. I heard footsteps coming from inside. Suddenly a tall woman opened the marble doors. She welcomed us inside. I suddenly remember that I have seen this house before. A couple weeks ago I saw Baker on his computer looking at houses for sale. Maybe we will live here! 

We walked around to all rooms. There were so many. The lady showed us the backyard. It had lots of trees and steps leading to and from the house. I started to run around in the green grass. I was having so much fun when I noticed a smell. Something like never before. It didn't smell good, but I knew I had to let Baker know. I was now on the search for where this smell was coming from. I walked slowly with my nose to the grass sniffing a mile a minute. I walked left, right, forward, and finally left again. The smell became stronger as I walked far from the house. I came to this hatch with a lock on it. I smelt the hidden door and I just knew that's where the weird smell was coming from. I started barking to get Bakers attention but he yelled at me to stop. I always listen to Baker no matter what. So I ran to the house and jumped into the car where Baker and the lady were standing. They both had huge smiles on their faces as they shook hands and said goodbye. 

Many weeks went by before we heard from the tall lady again. She called Baker on his phone. I wasn't sure what it was about.  Later in the week we drove to the huge house again. The tall lady was standing there with keys in her hand. I noticed that the sign in the yard was gone. We got out of the car and walked over to the lady. The lady smiled widely and handed keys to Baker. I could tell Baker was super excited. I overheard the lady say “Congrats.” I then realized that Baker bought the house. We both ran into the house and when Baker walked inside he stopped. He paused for a moment. I think he was enjoying the moment. After what seemed like a million years, we walked around the house. Baker opened the back door that led out to the huge backyard. I ran outside and as soon as my legs hit the grass there was that odd smell again. I ran over to the hatch. The weird smell seemed to be stronger than the last time we were here. I started barking to get Bakers attention. This time Baker came. He also noticed the hatch and the lock. He started opening the dial lock, but he couldn't get it open. He walked inside looking for tools or something to break the hatch. He finally found some tools that he thought would open it. He walked up the hatch and with one big swing he cracked the hatch in half. He removed all the pieces of the hatch. 

I noticed many steps leading down into a dark cave. Baker is very scared of dark places, especially caves. He walked around trying to gain confidence. He walked up the steps and pulled out his phone flashlight. When he turned the flashlight on we saw many barrels. Baker whispered, “I think this is a wine cellar.” Baker looked at the steps again and the thought of walking down into a cave started to scare him. His hands started to shake. I decided to walk into the cave first. I walked down a couple of steps and looked back at Baker who was now sweating. I walked back to him and let him grab my collar for guidance. We both were walking into the wine cellar. The walls were wet and cracking. It must have been here for a while. We finally came to the end of the wine cellar and there was a cement block wall. The smell was even stronger. Baker noticed there was a block loose so he pushed it in and shined his light through the hole. “AHHHH!!” Baker screamed at the top of his lungs. I started to jump to see what was inside. Baker picked me up and I saw bones and a joker party hat. I was barking and Baker was yelling. We both ran out of the cellar. We got to the top of the steps where the sunlight was pouring in. As soon as we got out of the creepy cellar we both ran into the house. We were both out of breath. Baker called the police department for back up. Four cop cars and 2 firetrucks came in less than 10 minutes. The house was crowded with cops and firefighters. There was a lot of talking among them. One lady spoke up and started to share a story that she heard many years ago. The title of the story was “The Cask of Amontillado.” She started to explain the store and how this man named Montresor left Fortunato in a wine cellar. After 50 years, Montresor opened the wine cellar and we were the first people to see it. 

Baker left the house in a hurry. We drove back to the police department and looked up the name Montresor in the system. Montresor had died a while ago. Baker still wanted to find out why Montresor did this. After months of looking, Baker couldn't find any evidence hard enough to explain the million dollar question “Why?” The case was put into a folder in a container on the shelf with all the other unsolved cases. The firefighters took Fortunato and gave him a proper burial. Baker closed the hatch to the wine cellar. I heard Baker on the phone with a lady that sounded familiar. I remember that she was the tall lady who sold us the house. I overheard Baker say “I think we need to find another house. This one wasn't for us.” I couldn't quite hear her reply, but her voice sounded calm. After Baker hung up he grabbed a bone from his desk and said “Sit.” I sat wagging my tail. Baker gave me the treat and said “Good boy for being the best dog ever Rufus.” We never went back to that house again. 

            “Greetings my friend I am Montresor of the Montresor family it is a great honor to finally meet you I have heard all of the stories about the great Fortunato.” I said while shaking his cold hand.

            Fortunato then responded “My name is Fortunato but you already knew that and it is a pleasure to meet you.”

            I thought to myself this was a great opportunity and I should try to make the most out of the encounter “So I have heard that you are one of the best wine tasters around?”

            “Oh, why yes you have heard right after all I am the great Fortunato.” He said as he put his hand on my shoulder and grasped firmly.

            “Now I have also heard stories of your family having the biggest stockpile and wine cellar in all of the lands. Is it true?” he said with a smile on his face.

            “Yes of course the Montresor’s have been building their wealth and wine collection for centuries now and there is no one better to get the job done!” I said confidently.

            Fortunato whispered in my ear “This is wonderful news. I think that the two of us together could be the biggest names in wine tasting! I think that this could be the start of a thriving friendship.”

            My eyes widened at the thought of being friends with Fortunato. I smiled at him and reached out to shake his hand as I said “I think your right about that my friend!”

            He tightly grasped my hand and shook as he smiled back at me and said “We can talk about the details of this later, for now we can enjoy ourselves because this is a party after all!”

            I walked away wine glass in hand I couldn’t help but smile.

            Fortunato and I later that week met up to “Discuss the details” over some wine in his home. He met me with a handshake at the door and welcomed me in. “Quite the place you’ve got here” I said. He replied “Yeah wine tasting is a great job and the money that comes with it isn’t bad either.” We both chuckled. 

            As we discussed he went on about us being the great duo of the wine business. Although he did make it sound like he would be The Great Fortunato and I would be the guy with the wine. I made sure to make it clear that I wanted recognition too and not everything would be about him and he agreed.

            Several months later as our friendship developed, I had gotten to see more and more of Fortunato’s personality. I don’t know if he meant it this way but it always felt like he looked down on me and so I decided to confront him.

            “Fortunato, we need to talk about something that has been bothering me for quite some time.” I said with a bothered expression.

            “Montresor, what is wrong my friend.” He said worried.

            “You always seem to talk down upon me and I am sick of it when we started this you said it would be 50/50 and it definitely doesn’t feel that way to me!” I exclaimed angrily.

            Fortunato responded “Calm down Montresor.”

            He then followed up by saying “I never meant for it to feel that way for you I guess I just never noticed the way that I treat you was unfair.”

            I then said “That’s it I’m going home we are done here I don’t want to be part of this anymore!”

            I stormed out and went straight home and I didn’t see him for weeks after that dreadful night as I was still very upset and I thought that this was the only way that he would change was if I made him notice the problem and force him to fix it.

            After those few long weeks, I ran into him while I was out for a walk to try and clear my head.

            As soon as I saw him, I knew this would be a long conversation that I just didn’t need at the time.

            “Hey Montresor listen I know the way that I have been treating you is not a good feeling and I promise that I will treat you like an equal from now on instead of treating like an assistant. Please I need you and I know together that we can be the faces of the wine industry together.” He exclaimed with what felt like one long breath.

            I then sighed and said “Okay, I have been doing some thinking these past few weeks since we last spoke and I think that I blew it way out of proportion and I think that I am ready to start working with you again and we can get this thing back on track.”

            He smiled and said “Thanks Montresor, now as a way to show my gratitude for you and your skills I would like to throw a party tonight.”

            I smiled back at him and said “Okay, I’ll be there.”

            That night at the party we had acted as if nothing had ever happened and went back to being the two partners that were going to take over the wine industry together and although Fortunato had put this fight behind him, I would remember this for the future to make sure that we always stay as equals and remain 50/50 with each other.

            Fortunato yelled “I would like to propose a toast for my great friend and partner Montresor.”

            The whole crowd then exclaimed “Here Here!”

            I raised my glass and smiled at Fortunato for this was the start of something great.

 My father was going to teach the both of us how to be wine tasters. Fortunato is like a brother to me, so it was easy to convince my father. We got to work right away. For the first 3 months we just learned how to hold a wine glass and how to pour wine. I remember the very first time we got to taste wine. We were eating pasta for dinner, and Fortunato’s parents were eating with us. Both of our parents were so excited to see our reactions to the wine. We both ended up makes faces of disgust and only taking a couple sips. It began to grow on us fast despite this. My father taught us all his ways to knowing the differences between wines. It was hard at first because they all tasted so similar. About a month into tasting the wine, I started to taste the differences. Some wines were dry tasting, they left your mouth yearning for water. Other wines were sweet, like being a child in a candy store. 

Despite being my father’s child, I knew I would never be as good as him at being a wine taster. Fortunato on the other hand, was a natural from the first day. When I was younger, I was never scared of him being better than me at wine tasting. He comes from generations of poor people; I could not imagine him being good. Fortunato has always been more social then me. He is an extrovert, loves talking to everyone and making new friends. Every time we go to a party with my parents, I like to stay just with him and keep to myself. He prefers to talk to everyone. Flirts with girls, talks to elders about being a wine taster and my dad teaching him. He always seems to leave me out and it bothers me. He is more popular, and I admit I am jealous. My father was kind enough to teach him and he still does not mention me. 

It was a cloudy September day. My mother was throwing a retirement ball for my father. Since I was not as extroverted as Fortunato, my father did not want me to take his spot. He wanted Fortunato to.  This made me tremendously angry and jealous. I worked just as hard as my best friend, I felt like I was just as good as him. My father announced that Fortunato would be taking his spot as wine taster at the ball. I pretended to be happy for him only because there was over 400 people there. After the ball once Fortunato and I were home I started an argument. “Why would you accept the spot as the towns best wine taster when I’ve worked ten times harder than you have for it!” I exclaimed. “We have both gone through the same training for this spot.” Fortunato said. “Its not my fault that your father thinks I’m going to do a better job then you will.” “I just wanted to do it together so it can be equal!” I shouted. Fortunato stormed out of my house. I was so outraged with him. 

The night after our fight, while lying in bed I came up with a plan. If something was to happen to Fortunato, then my father would have no choice but to promote me to the towns wine taster.  I needed to get rid of him. He stole my spot. I thought all night about how to get rid of him. I could hire a hitman, but he was so popular no one would do that. I could poison him, but I do not know where to get poison. Then it hit me, if I apologized to him then it would be easier to trick him. I am going to apologize to him tomorrow morning. Then at the party for the start of the Carval season, I will get him drunk off wine. Then I will convince him to come home with me to drink my amontillado. After getting him in the vaults I will chain him to the wall and block him in with bricks. “No one will find him down there!” I thought in my head. “I will become the best wine taster in town because of this!” I went to bed with this flawless plan. I only had two days to get ready for this. Could I pull it off? 

A warm July afternoon 10 years prior to Montresor meeting Fortunato. Young Montresor young in the journey of adulthood at 20 years old meet an intriguing but delightful individual in the morning market her was Julia. Julia was part of a family of merchants that were well known for the quality of their products throughout Italy. This being the first time seeing a young women merchant Montresor was intrigued and approached her. 

“miss” said young Montresor “what have you got to offer today”

Julia grabs a wooden box and puts it on the table “we have the finest linens imported today from the silk road”

Montresor had no intention in buying linens that day, but he wanted to continue the intention with Julia. Montresor had never been interested in the ladies he’d been too focused in his studies, learning about his family history and the wonders across the world. Seeing a young woman that had seen the wonders of the world her self-intrigued him and made him fall in love instantly.

“very well” Montresor exclaimed “I’ll buy the whole box”

“good choice sir” Julia quickly wrapped the linens up for Montresor’s servants to carry, Montresor was then on with his day.

On the way back home, young Montresor was excited to tell this news to his best friend Jonathan. Jonathan had been one of Montresor’s clans’ youngest servants being the same age as Montresor, this being the case Montresor grew up with Jonathan and soon became very good friends. 

   “Jonathan today I saw a sight to see” Montresor said 

“sir?” Jonathan exclaimed “what’s that sir”

“The most beautiful women in all the seven seas” Montresor responded “she’s not only beautiful but I bet she knows all about the wonders of the world”

“A girl!? I have never seen you talk about anyone like this sir let alone a girl”

“yes, Jonathan you are correct I have never felt like this I don’t know what I’m going to do how am I going to see her again, she is a merchant you see so she has seen things I can only dream of I am afraid I won’t be able to speak to her of anything she finds interesting”

“I see sir well you are a good-looking young man I think you should just be your self and get to know her”

Montresor would then follow jonathans advise going back to that morning market every day for weeks talking to Julia and buying things he does not need. 

After a month of this it became routine Montresor would wake up at 6 am finish hi studies and go to the morning market at 8. One day Montresor got caught up reading about the golden city of Peru and the wonders of the new world. He didn’t finish his studies till later and on the way to the market he sees Jonathan on the same trail he’d take, curious Montresor follows him to see where his good friend is going. To his surprise he finds Jonathan talking to Julia hours after Montresor usually goes there. 

Heartbroken betrayed and angry Montresor rushes to find consulting in his family’s journals. Up to this point Montresor had no idea of his family’s revengeful nature he thought they were a family with a peaceful nature that got ahead by helping their neighbor, but after finding a secret journal in the family’s secret vault he reads all about the family’s pride. After this realization he knew what he needed to do.

“no one wrongs a Montresor’s man and gets away with it” Montresor thought. 

 That morning the plan was set in motion for Montresor to get his revenge. He called Jonathan over to help him with something. They made it over to the wine cellar and Montresor asked him to reach one specific bottle on the top shelve as Jonathan turned away Montresor hit him in the head with a bottle of wine. Jonathan woke up moments later in a well looking up upon Montresor. Jonathan screamed and plead Montresor was nervous that someone would hear so he through a big rock  in the well which killed Jonathan upon impact. A separate scream from a distance.

“who’s there” Montresor exclaimed

Over by a tree near the well he sees Julia terrified of what has become from the kind young man she once knew. Montresor not knowing what to do chases after her through the forest. Julia trips over a branch and falls knocking her out when she hits her head on the ground. Julia later wakes up in the same well next to Jonathan looking up at Montresor closing the well barring alive the two lovers. 

 

 

 

Knock knock! Knock, knock knock knock! Knock!

“Who could it be?” I thought. 

In reality, I knew who it had to be as no one takes any effort to visit me and I have no close friends. Could it be an investigator? I opened the door to someone who was somewhat short who had winkled clothes and hair that was fairly unkempt.

He said, “Hello Mister… umm… Let me see… Oh, right! Mr. Montresor! I have come to ask you a few questions about the disappearance of a man named Fortunato. My name is Victor. I am a detective investigating his disappearance and… do you mind if I come in?” 

I replied, “Of course! Let me get you something to drink. What would you like?”

He responded, “Oh, I appreciate the offer, but I am fine for now.” 

He then went on to say, “So, I hear that you know Fortunato quite well.”

I replied, “Yes, our friendship goes back quite a ways. We were the sort that always got along. Is it really true that he has disappeared?”

“Yes, unfortunately,” he said.

He went on to say, “When was the last time you were with or saw Fortunato?”

I said, “A week ago at a party he was hosting.”

He then said, “While the hour was getting late, were you with Fortunato?”

“No,” I responded.

He then said, “Hmm… Did you hear Fortunato when you got home?”

I replied, “No, why?”

He then said, “Well, someone has reported that they heard Fortunato’s voice outside your property.”

After hearing this, I felt a bit uneasy, but I thought to myself that covering up any complications would be easy. This detective seemed a little off, and likely unintelligent. I felt sure that my new plan would easily fool Mr. Victor and I would be the one who is Victor-ious.

After the detective left, I went off to hatch my new plan. After this, I was sure that this plan would put me in the clear. Luchesi would be my new target, which framing him would work perfectly. Everyone knew that there were tensions between Fortunato and Luchesi, not just because each one thought he was a better wine owner, but especially because there was a field that both of them greatly wanted to purchase for planting grapevines for wine. This competition between them could make it seem that there is a motive for not only a kidnapping, but murder. I just needed to frame Luchesi… 

When it was night, I sneaked out of my home where my house servants would not notice, and sneaked through the unkempt garden maze outside of my house and felt the untrimmed thorns of the bushes across my flesh. The statues of gargoyles in my garden seemed to be smiling at me approving of my plan, but I knew that this was probably just my mind reassuring me that my plan would work. I took my horse into the sparse woodlands and arrived at Luchesi’s well kempt garden with one thing in my pocket. This was a key that I took out of Fortunato’s pocket while he was drunk. Once I sneakily approached Luchesi’s house, I hid the key under a flower pot. I then quickly returned to my house.

The next day, I heard knocking at my door. It was the detective.

“Hello again,” he said, “I have come to ask you if you would like to assist me in my investigation since you knew Fortunato well.”

I replied, “Of course! I would do anything to help find my friend!”

While peering into my house he looked around at the family paintings I had and looked at the displays of knight armor scattered about my house. He caught sight of the grand chandelier inside and the gothic architecture of my home.

So, I said, “I see that you find my home interesting. It is beautiful in its own way.”

He then asked, “Are the items of your home such as the chandelier and structure of your home all antique?”

I replied, “Yes, my home and what is in it has belonged to my family for hundreds of years, including the surrounding area.”

He then replied, “So, that means… if the house is that old... and based on the structure of your home…”

“So, why are you interested in my home?” I asked.

He responded, “I remember learning about these kinds of homes and the era they were built in. There must be catacombs on the premises, if I am correct?”

“Yes,” I responded.

He then said, “Okay. Would you like to come with me to Luchesi’s house?”

“Yes,” I replied.

After that conversation, I felt that the detective was suspicious of me. Still, I did not dread one bit because I was confident that there would never be enough proof to arrest me.

Afterward, I went with the detective to the house of Luchesi. When we arrived, I noticed a search team looking around Luchesi’s house. We then went inside the house. The home seemed too neat and too orderly for my liking. Luchesi was a stickler for properness and thought a lot of himself, though he was not a very smart person. 

As we came in, Luchesi exclaimed, “What on Earth is going on! What interest does this search team have with my home! Do you think I am a kidnapper or a murderer! Look at my house, it is neat and tidy, so how can I be capable of a barbaric act!”

Victor replied, “I apologize, but there are suspicions, this is only to help remove suspicions against you so that we can be out of your way.”

Luchesi then said, “How about you look for the real criminal!”

Then, someone found the key and gave it to the detective. Then the detective was informed that it was found under a flower pot.

The detective analyzed it and said, “Hmm… Luchesi, do you recognize this?”

“No. Should I?” replied Luchesi.

Victor then said to me, “Do you recognize this key?”

I said, “I do not recognize it.” 

Victor then said, “That is interesting. We must find out who it belongs to.”

After this, the detective’s team left.

I then realized that the search team and the detective started to head to my home. After I quickly returned home, and looked into the catacombs of my ancestors, I found the search team in there. I thought to myself that they would never find Fortunato due to my clever scheme. And they did not.

I then said to the detective, “Do you think I am one behind Fortunato’s disappearance? I was especially close to Fortunato!” 

He replied, “No, we arrested Luchesi for being responsible for the disappearance of Fortunato, which the key belonged to Fortunato. Luchesi hinted to us that he must have hid Fortunato nearby. I thought that this was a good place to start. I apologize for not letting you know.”

I then said, “Oh! That makes sense. I cannot believe it was Luchesi.”

The next day I went to the newspaper to see that Luchesi was actually arrested. I found it strange how events unfolded, but I felt relief. I went to the catacombs of my ancestors to celebrate. I drank much amontillado and laughed abundantly. The alcohol eventually started to get to my head.

Although he was dead, I said to Fortunato, “Ha! I hope that you are resting well. By the way, I enjoyed hearing your last words to me. I do apologize, though, for murdering you!” which I said sarcastically.

I talked loudly and laughed as my voice echoed throughout the catacombs. I then dropped my key. As I picked it up, I realized that it was the same key that the detective asked me to identify. I then realized that the detective tricked me. I assumed he told me to identify the key I planted, but it was my key he told me to identify and I said I did not recognize it. He must have suspected me the whole time. He somehow took my key and gave it back without my knowing to test me. Then I got up and heard faint footsteps. The detective and his team were there and must have camped outside to hear my voice as I talked to dead Fortunato. What I said was like a confession to murder. 

I ran for the secret escape passage out of the humid and dusty tombs of my ancestors. I looked behind and saw that they were catching up. I reached the secret passage way, and ran through the long dark tunnel that led into the dense wilderness to never return. 

After spending over half a century away from civilization, I obtained the most recent newspaper to find that Fortunato’s bones were finally discovered from the vault of my ancestors. 

            I followed Montresor through his mansion and into his study. He sat down at his desk and wrote something in his journal and then left, for bed I assumed. After another half of an hour of hiding I finally built up the courage to sneak into his study. I opened his journal and read on the last page, “After years of planning and calculating, I finally accomplished my one true goal, and no one will ever know.”

Before I could finish reading, I heard a creak of the stairs, and I quickly snuck out the window in an attempt not to get caught with his journal in my coat. The next morning Thomas and I met George at his house to discuss the contents of Montresor’s journal.

“This is vaguest journal I have ever seen, there’s barely any names,” stated George as he flipped through the pages.

“It seems like Montresor doesn’t like one of his friends and has been lying about it,” Thomas added.

After reading the entirety of the book, we decided to return it before someone noticed it was gone. It was up to me to return the journal, and I was very apprehensive. 

“If I’m not back within a couple of hours, come look for me.”

That afternoon I walked to his house. I raised my fist to knock on the door, but before I could, it flung open. Montresor opened the door and greeted me. 

“Hello John, come in, come in, let me show you around.”

“My, your house is beautiful, and so spacious.”

“Thank you, my family is vast and quite wealthy. Would you like a tour?”

“Sure, can we start upstairs?”

We finally made our way to his study, where he explained this was where he does most of his work. Right before we left, I was able to slip his journal onto his desk. As I was placing it on the desk, he whipped around and yelled “Don’t touch that! What are you doing?”

“Oh, I was just… I was admiring it,” I fumbled. 

“Ah, I see. Perhaps it time for you to go.”

On my way home, I bumped into Mrs. Susan on the sideway and she asked me, “Have you seen Fortunato? He’s been missing for a few days.”

“Last time I saw him he was heading to Montresor’s cellar.” Then it hit me. Fortunato was the friend from the journal. I quickly turned around and went back to Montresor’s house. I slipped into his cellar from the back door. With only a lantern gathered from the door, I ventured into the great vaults alone, or so I thought. I stumbled around in the dim light looking for Fortunato, but only found a few empty bottles of wine near a wall. As I turned to leave, I was struck in the head and fell flat. The room spun for a moment before everything went black.

I awoke in chains, lying on the cold, damp ground of the cellar dazed and confused. I felt blood dripping down my face, and then I heard a voice. It was Montresor.

“You! I know what you have done.”

“You know nothing.” 

“Where’s Fortunato? I know you have him.” 

He dragged me by the chains across the cellar floor to a dark corner. He shoved me into a small room and started to build a wall around me. I knew there was no escape for me now, because he had bound me to the far wall of the small room. 

“You don’t have to do this Montresor. I promise I won’t tell anybody,” I pleaded with him. 

“You’re right. You won’t tell anybody. You can’t speak when you’re dead.”

With only a few bricks lefts to be placed before I was completely sealed into the wall, I heard a smash and Montresor fell to the floor. 

“John!” I heard Thomas and George yell out. “You in here?”

“Yes! I’ m in the wall! Help me out!” 

George broke down the wall while Thomas tied up Montresor. Frantically they ripped me out of the wall and unchained me. They took me into town to be checked out by the doctor. Once they determined I was fine, we contacted the authorities and told them what happened. 

Thomas and George took me back home and I went straight to bed. The next morning the authorities were at my door. They told me that Montresor was not where we had left him and that they could not find him anywhere. 

“Well, what do we do now?” I asked, concerned. 

The lead investigator responded, “There is not much that we can do until we find him. Keep your eyes open though, he might want to come after you.”

With that, they left, and I was alone once more. I then quickly went to George’s house, where he and Thomas tried to console me. 

Thomas said, “I highly doubt that he will come back. There are too many people looking for him here.”

“You’re probably right,” I conceded. Then I returned home. 

After a few hours of restless sleep, I heard a noise downstairs. I went to investigate but found nothing. Giving up, I returned to my room to find an empty bottle of wine and a brick on my nightstand, with no trace of the man who left them there. 

 

My dad and his new obnoxious wife never took me seriously or treated me with respect. They believed I had a mental illness and that I was a lost cause. What they didn’t know was that all I wanted were parents who would always be there for me no matter what. I went to bars because I felt like the people who worked there understood me. I drank alcohol as a coping mechanism for my depression. The more alcohol I drank the more I would think irrationally and the more bad decision I would make. My Dad gave up on me and I had no one to talk to, so how did anyone expect me to be perfect? The more my Dad distanced himself from me the later I would spend at bars. It got to the point where most days I didn’t even go home. The next day I went to the bar, something was different. I met this guy named Fortunato. He entered the bar with a stunning girl who looked like she just came out of a movie, she had blue eyes, gorgeous and flowy golden hair, knew how to dress, and had the perfect body. Everyone took them both in with open arms. I was livid, the bar was my domain, it was all I had. It took me so long to find a place where I would be treated somewhat decently, and this guy comes in and is treated like a G-D. I knew at that moment that I would not let him get away with it. I walked up to him with my head held high and said “Hello, what brings you up to these parts?” he responded very confidently saying, “I heard this was the place to be.” I looked at him in a bogus manner and said, “the people here are just lovely.” He was very confused, so I offered him a drink because I wanted to be “friends” with him, but the more I got to know him the more he annoyed me. 

 

In conclusion, I decided that the only way to be noticed at the bar again was to get rid of Fortunato for good. After thinking through different ideas, I’ve decided that the best way was to lock him up in a dungeon without giving him food or water. The problem was, how would I get him to go inside of the dungeon? After thinking through this I decided that the only way he would fall for this is if I get him drunk. I know he drinks because I met him at a bar, and I saw him take a drink or two. I must go up to him and take him down the gloomy staircase leading down to the dungeon. In order for my plan to work I need to find him alone and walk up to him and start engaging in a conversation. Once I do that I will start giving him drinks acting like we’re friends and then slowly but surely I will put him in the dungeon. This is the only way I will be noticed in the bar again. 

Day by day, I rot away. The crimes of this world are unimaginable and rapidly increase day by day as mockingjay in my face. They think of us as animals, un- treatable, un- healthy, non- existent. Oh , how I wish to change the minds of those who believe that. Firstly, let me introduce myself, the name Liam, Liam Johnson.i have been in prison for half my life, for a crime i haven't done. It is unfair to me and others who have been accused of crimes that have nothing to do with us. Many people believe the best method to decrease crime is to put those in prison to Death. People believe this punishment is fair and just. I believe this is wrong, especially for petty crimes, and especially crimes that haven't been committed. The media have made it sound normal and just to the american people, which why it makes it clear why the majority of  people believe that giving the death penalty to those who are in prison seems just. I feel sick and tired. My cell is cramp, dark, depressing and unsafe. The bars are a reminder of where my life stands. When the guards pass and check on me , it is another reminder of the danger they think I pose to them and those who are outside of prison. I go to bed , scared and hopeless for the day to be free. The day will come where I will be put to death. I have made peace with myself knowing that i will die for something that i didn't do. I have come to terms that nobody will know the truth and that's okay. 

As a few days go by, my plan is finally finished. My plan is to change up my look first without anyone seeing me. As I leave the basement I look if anyone is around, and everyone was still asleep because it was the middle of the night. As I got all the supplies I rushed back to my basement. After a few hours go by it's already morning and I know mostly everyone is awake. My look is complete and I have to go out there. At first thinking about it is scary because I have to face the people I used to see everyday. But not only that, I have to act like I don't even know them. As I walked into town I acted as if I already belonged here. Now a scary thought was having Montresor approach me first. Walking around made me realize it had been a long time, so many people I knew died. And there were so many new faces, which was a good thing for me. Not too long after walking around, I see Montresor walking in my direction. He came up to me and he said, “ hey! Where are u from? I haven't seen you around.” I said, “I came from out of town, just trying to start a new life over here!” After that conversation, I kept walking and I went to a place to be alone and out of sight. I took out my plan and read over it. I tried to think about it and see if I wanted to go through with it. Remembering my talking with Montresor made me think maybe I should just start a new life instead of my original plan. Although I remember what he did to me and nothing changed that.

As days went by I hung out with Montresor more and more. He was the same as he was years ago. And even though he didn't know it was me I still didn't trust him. I had to make sure he wasn't a step ahead of me this time. I also find out that no one used or even knows about the basement where he attempted to kill me. Now more time goes by and  I realized why he's so nice to me and not acting rude. We aren't in competition so he sees me as a regular person. Although one day we got into a fight and this was my time to use my plan finally. He asked me, “where are you taking me? No one goes in there anymore” i said, “ you might be a little more than familiar with this place” he said, “what? Who are you?” As I took off my disguise, he was shocked and almost fell to the ground. I said, after what you did to me, “I'll be doing the same thing that you did to me.” All the shock he was in made it really easy to move him where I wanted him to be. I sat him in the chair and locked him up in it. All of this was easy and smooth to do because of the shock. I started to build a new wall for him to be closed in. And as i put the last brick i paused and thought again if this was a good idea. But I stopped thinking and immediately put the last brick. I walked back into town as if nothing had happened. And weeks go by without anyone asking about him. Apparently he didn't know too many people since everyone had already passed. But I went on with life hoping he didn't escape and do the same thing. A couple years go by and I'm at the end of my life, Everyday was the same. I just sat in bed and took naps. Although one day, I woke up and saw someone familiar at the door but they immediately kept walking. I wondered who that was. The next morning I didn't wake up. The question was if i just died in my sleep of old age or was it that strange person? And was that person Montresor? At the end of time, we will never fully know those questions.

All in all, the fact that one event led to all these events, shows how it’s important not to hold grudges against people. And how silly it actually is, too many problems add up. After time They both got the revenge they wanted, although neither of them won. Fifty years went by and Fortunato was never seen again, nobody remembered him because when he came back it was all new people.. Although it was clear on how neither of them won. Both died from trying to get revenge on each other. All that time they could have used to actually make a mark on their last few years, they decided to use it on revenge. As a new generation was now formed, there were new people and new competitions. Although no one knew about the grudge and story of montresor and fortunato. Therefore no would know the lesson that was learned from that situation. And for that, this generation had to learn themselves as they went on. But that's a story for another time.

“I am Detective Doyle, sent over by the local police. I don’t have time for anything to be delaying this investigation any further. Will you please just let me in,” he didn’t even attempt to conceal the tiredness from his voice. The last thing he needed was somebody else making this more difficult. 

The woman paused for a moment eyeing his badge before nodding. “Oh, sí señor, lo entiendo. Por favor sígame.” She opened up the door fully and beckoned the detective to follow. He did so without a moment of hesitation. As she led him down the long corridors he began eyeing anything looking for clues. By the size of this place he knew this was going to be agonizingly slow.

“You must be mistaken,” The old man said. 

“Me and Fortunato use to be good chums in our days, I wouldn't hurt a hair on him.”

“Oh Montresor,” I replied. “You know full well why we've come here.”

I toss over a bag to him, the lighting revealing the brick trowel inside.

“Do you remember this, Mr. Montresor?”

He glances at the tool before returning his view to me with a smile. “I have used lots of these in my time. As I'm sure you know I retired as a construction worker.”

My hand slams the table as I lean close in an attempt to startle him. 

“Fortunato's house, the party in which you last participated in, I'm sure you remember that.”

I remember everything just as if it happened a few minutes ago. Two days ago me and my rookie, Anthony, were given a case that hasn't been solved for years. The man that disappeared, Fortunato, was last seen at his party that he has thrown. After a few months we have closed it for the residents so that we may find evidence of his wear about. As me and Anthony got out of the car to the front gates, we see a blond woman running down to us in her yellow flower dress.

“Officers!” She exclaimed. “Are you here to find my husband?!”

Anthony try's to halt her to a stop. 
“M-ma' am, you must calm down, yes we're here to help find him”

“Oh thank god, you have no idea how many people have tried but never found him.”

We start to walk over to the house where construction workers and officers have already began to investigate. 

I shook hands with her as we approached.

“My name is Johnathon, I'm a full time national detective and cop that strives to work for the protection of everyone in this country. Over here is my partner, Anthony.”

The wife smiled “That's great to hear.”

“Do you know anything that can help us on his whereabouts?”

We entered the house of Fortunato, 
“Well the last thing I remember, he was going with one of his friends to taste the cask of amontillado.”

She points to the stairs that leads to the basement. We thanked her as we start to make our way downstairs.

“Hey John, do you think that his “friend” would have anything to do with this?”

“I would bet my money on it, but lets not make any quick decisions here. And... don't call me John.” 

As we made it downstairs, there were rows of casks. We start to investigate the room until we reached the other side of the room.

“Why, there's nothing here but whine and bricks!” Anthony shouts.

“This is what being a detective is all about, rookie, you must find the gem in the sand.” 

I slide my hand across the bricks, but then notice an uneven path in the middle of the wall.

“What do we have here?” 
I start sliding my hand across the discomfort of the wall and notice that the deformation of the wall is a shape of an entrance. Maybe there's something here that nobody wanted anyone else to find!

I turned to Anthony “Quick, get me a demolition export and a blueprint to this mansion!”

After a few minutes later, we stood there with other cops and construction crews in mystery as we exposed the bone remains of Mr. Fortunato who happens to be tied in chains.

“G-good heavens!” The wife said before fainting in the back room. I gazed over as I saw a trowel, hidden underneath one of the casks.

I snickered “I think we have our killer.”
--------------------------------------------------------
I walked in to the interrogation room after I was backed from updating the report of The Missing man and the laugh of old man Montresor interrupted Mr. Johnathon from his story.

“So, you put me in custody just because of a hunch? Cause though thought I was in view of guilt?”

“Mr. Montresor,” Johnathon calmly explains. “All evidence turns to you, you were the only construction worker and the only person who has at least some knowledge of building on the premises.”

“So is thus why though shackle me in these steel handles? I was merely fixing the walls at the outer side of the house.”

As surprising as this seems, he was actually telling the truth, the wife did say she recall Mr. Fortunato's friend fixing some cracked bricks on the back of the mansion. I lean over to inform Mr. Johnathon.

“Is that really true, rook?” He whispered back.

“Without a doubt!”

He gives old man Montresor one last glare before telling me after he left. “Keep an eye on him, I'm going to run over our situation.”

The door shut before he left and silence brewed in the air. I wasn't really great on handling things by myself, especially with a possible murderer in the same room! The air was cold and as I sat at the table, the metal chair gives me a cold chill.

“You know, it's a shame I left my medicine back at home.” He melancholy said.

“What medicines? We weren't inform of anything regarding health issue.”

He did a slight grumble. “I take pills to help with my heart problems, you see...I cant last so long in this room without them.”

I'm not sure what to do. Should I send someone to got get it for him? What if they get lost? W-what if they can't find it and Montresor dies on me?! Johnny would not be happy about that! Mr. Montresor interrupts my slight panic attack.

“How about allowing me to go back home so I may take them?” He gave a heart warming smile.

“I can't, you're under inspection and need to say here for more interrogating.”

“What else is there to interrogate if I may presume? I stated my side of the situation and so far there are no other evidence that points out that I killed my poor best friend.” He said in a quite sad way.

“Well, I guess that's true, but..”

I was interrupted once again, “And if I'm proven innocent, they you are locking an innocent civilian, and wouldn't that be considered police brutality?”

I sat there to think for a while. We are locking up a civilian since nothing has been proven against him. Does that mean I'm the one with the crime for holding him up here? Is this some sort of way Johnathon's testing me on my police skills?

“Well..” I shuddered, “I guess since there really isn't anything you're being rightfully accused of, you may leave.”

I got up and walked over to used my keys to free him from the cuffs. He turns to me and gives another warming smile.

“You're doing the right thing boy.” He says before making his way out.

I stood there to think about what I have done. There's nothing bad about this...right? I left the room to inform Johnathon in his desk, but the look of his face relieved something sinister.

“J-John?”

“Hey, Montresor, wanna play a game?” I said

“ uh, what kind of game?” he responded, unsure

“ Oh come on, it’ll be fun, I used to play all the time.” I replied mischievously.

A man was delivering boxes of seeds to the vineyard. One of my favorite conquests was stealing a box of seeds and tossing them in the lake. So of course I made Montresor do it with me. He was reluctant, “ I don’t think that's a good idea, what if we get in trouble?”. I settled his nerves with my persuasive words. The delivery man came back as we were snatching the seeds, so we ran for our lives. I was finally having fun with Montresor as we laughed and threw seeds into the lake. But as we walked home there was the sheriff, the delivery man, the vineyard owner, and our parents. I knew my life would be over for good. But Montresor took the blame for the whole thing knowing I would get in grave trouble. I realized he was a true friend and that I misjudged him in the beginning. From that point on, he was my best friend.

“I am Detective Doyle, sent over by the local police. I don’t have time for anything to be delaying this investigation any further. Will you please just let me in,” he didn’t even attempt to conceal the tiredness from his voice. The last thing he needed was somebody else making this more difficult. 

The woman paused for a moment eyeing his badge before nodding. “Oh, sí señor, lo entiendo. Por favor sígame.” She opened up the door fully and beckoned the detective to follow. He did so without a moment of hesitation. As she led him down the long corridors he began eyeing anything looking for clues. By the size of this place he knew this was going to be agonizingly slow.

My name is Montresor and I was on my way to the village wine festival on a horse-drawn carriage. As the sun rose it was beating on me like a hammer. The village was in the countryside far removed from any town. I found myself often losing my thoughts during my journey. The sun was setting and I saw the town in the distance. 

As I arrived in the town I was looking for a water barrel for my horse to drink out of. The town was very lively, it seemed that everyone knew each other. While my horse was drinking water some dogs were approaching me. “Do you guys have a home?” I asked the dogs. “They’re stray,” a woman said. “They sleep by the stable. You don't need to worry about them getting food. The whole town loves them. We feed them all the time,” the woman said. “Well that's good then,” I said while I was petting them. After I put my horse in the stable, I walked around town looking for a hotel to spend the night. I checked into the only local hotel, went to my room, showered, and collapsed on my bed and promptly fell asleep. “Today is the day of the festival,” I said to myself while I stretched out of bed. I put on my overcoat, grabbed a quick breakfast downstairs, and left the hotel. I took my horse out of the stable and went on my way to the wine festival on the outskirts of the village.

As I approached the festival I heard a man yelling “pour another!”. “Drinking this early in the day,” I mused to myself while I tied my horse up to the hitching post. I saw a man approach me wearing jester clothing. “Hello my friend,” the man slurred with the smell of wine coming from his person. “Who are you,” I asked the man who was dressed as a jester. “My name is Fortunato. I am a wine connoisseur. Who are you,”  “My name is Montresor and I am also a wine connoisseur.” Fortunato and I ended up walking around the festival and we talked for hours. We found someone selling wine from France. “Wow this stuff is good!” We both said at the same time. The purveyor of the booth said it is from Paris and that it takes four years of aging for it to mature. “How much do you want for it? I want to drink the whole bottle right now”  Fortunato replied. I said, “Haven’t you had enough already? You've been drinking the whole day”. “Don’t worry. I’ve had nothing today,” Fortunato said with a grin. Fortunato bought the bottle and drank it while we looked for some more wine. We ended up meeting Fortunato’s friend who is another wine expert. “Hello Fortunato,” said Luchesi. “Hello my good friend,” said Fortunato. Luchesi bidded farewell and headed back to the hotel. Fortunato and I found another wine seller. “Hello, would you both be interested in buying my wine?” the man said. “Of course of course,” Fortunato said drunkenly. “Where is this wine from?” I asked. “It’s from Spain,” the man said. “Spain,” yelled Fortunato. The man nodded his head. “I’ll take the whole bottle,” said Fortunato. “I’ll take one too,” I said. Fortunato and I bought our bottles and we both found someplace to sit and drink. Fortunato said, “Wow, this wine from Spain is amazing!” We both finished Fortunado’s bottle and started to talk about our love of wine. We both became extremely drunk and I decided not to drink my bottle of spanish wine. I asked Fortunato, “Can you hold my bag  while I go to the bathroom?” “Sure no problem,” Fortunato responded. I went to the bathroom passing by other people drinking and enjoying their night. Once I finished using the restroom I saw Fortunato in the distance. He was drinking my wine and walking away from where we were talking before I went to the bathroom. I screamed, “Fortunato, where are you going with my wine?” Fortunato looked back at me and started to run away. I started to chase him yelling “get back here Fortunato!” I was running as fast as I could and I was catching up to him. As I was  about to catch him he fell and knocked himself out. I asked myself, “Why Fortunato why?”. Luchesi suddenly appeared and ran towards Fortunato. Luchesi said, “Sorry about him, can we talk about this tomorrow?” “Yes we can,” I replied. I walked back, got my horse and rode  to the hotel. Once I got back near the hotel I fed my horse and let him drink water and put him in the stable. Once I got back to my room, I took off my overcoat and the rest of my clothes and took a shower. When I went to bed I fell asleep with a sour taste in my mouth. I kept asking myself, “why would he steal my wine?” Instead of going to sleep, I found myself wanting revenge. I came up with the idea to steal everything he owns after we talked tomorrow.

I woke up to the sound of knocking on my hotel door. “Hello, is this Montresor’s room?” I thought that sounded like Fortunato at the door. I got out of bed, put on my clothes, and opened the door. “Hello Montresor,” Fortunato said, looking guilty.  he asked, “Can we talk about last night?” “Sure we can,” I said calmly. Fortunado said, “I'm sorry about what happened yesterday, I was on my third bottle of wine and I thought it was a good idea to steal your wine instead of buying my own or just asking for a sip. I bought you the most expensive wine at the festival as my compensation for the disgusting act I did yesterday.” He handed me the most exquisite  wine from Tuscany, Italy. For some reason all the frustration and the will to carry out my plan for revenge faded. “Thank you so much, I’ll forgive you. Now lets drink this wine together.” I said.

      I will continue to live my life easily although my heart feels heavy and guilty inside. As I go to the market no one looks at me straight in the eye. Even though I question this, I do not think about it too much. From the market I collect the groceries, my potato, chicken, beans, salad and a gallon of fresh lemonade. I go back home to cook myself a delicious meal. Now that Fortunato does not live, I shall live my life happily. I got what I wanted? Right? I deserve a great home cooked meal after all! I should feel satisfied and calm inside but why don’t I? I do not understand these feeling’s, but I am going to ignore them. I cannot let myself be like this and I am not going to. I sit down eat my meal and I get extremely full. The sun is now setting, and it will soon be as black as the night, so I go to bed and rest. 

   Another week has now gone by since Fortunato’s. Now its time to head to town again and buy some food and other supplies. As I walk through the town, I see the man who was friends of Fortunato. He looks upset and depressed and he also looks angry at something. I try to not make direct eye contact, but we still did. He approached me and I can tell with the look in his eye that he despised me. His eyes pierced right through me like a knife. This scared me a bit. This man most definitely knows something. Perhaps he knows that I murdered Fortunato. I was not scared of him. I feared myself. If I find more proof of this man knowing that I killed Fortunato I will kill him too.                                                                     

This is how our conversation went:

I avoided him and went quickly across town and back home. If I encounter this Man again, I will have to plan to kill him.

        Two days after I went to town again and I see the man from afar. I will not do anything unless he approaches me. I walk for a while and enjoy the view of the mountains and fresh air. People look at me differently than before and I wonder why. As I sit down, I am going to think. The man could have spread the rumor that I killed Fortunato. He is kind to everyone and helps everyone that needs him. People will always believe in him. This man now walked towards me. 

I now have all night to think on how to kill this person. He definitely is planning to do something himself. Let me think. Should I stab him? Hang him? Choke him? I stay thinking all night until the next morning. 

      It is now Morning time and I know exactly how to murder the man. I will be there early and prepare a trap. Once I have him tied down in the trap, I will stab him and bury him myself. As I arrive the destination, I see a several people outside, but overall everything seems normal. I make my way in to find the mystery man. I get scared because as I walk in, there he is standing with completely black clothes. I have no time to prepare any trap. Little did I know he already had one. Suddenly, A brick hit my back causing me to fall to the floor. The man with more power and strength got over me and with tears in his eyes he asked why I killed his dad. I was shocked. As soon as I heard those words come out of his mouth, I knew this was the end for me. The man crying uncontrollably put a knife over my chest and asked me to apologize for what I did to his father. In those last few seconds of life, I did not open my mouth I just thought about how even though I got my revenge I was never satisfied and now I will be killed in the same way. Fortunato’s son killed me and now got his own revenge. I hope he can now live guilt free unlike I did for days and months after Fortunato’s death. 

 I wonder what it is going to be like for me to be here at carnival after such a long time. I have been avoiding this because I did not want to stir up old memories, some things are best forgotten.

"Luna, I think your husband is daydreaming!"

"Yes, Luigi I think his head is in the clouds. He does a lot of that."

"Oh, stop it you two, you are always picking on me. I have brought you here today to celebrate Carnival, and to reminisce about our glory days. It has been 50 long years since I attended Carnival and I would like this one to be incredibly special for all of us. Luna why do you not start for us. I am sure the liquor has loosened our tongues enough for us to begin."

"I propose a toast to my wonderful, loving, and caring husband who is a saint among men. You have always been there for me in my time of need with your unwavering fidelity. Luigi it is your turn."

"I raise my glass to my most trusted friend. You are the one person in the world that I can always count on and you would never do me wrong. When I first met you my wife and son had just died of the pox. You took me into your home when I was at my most vulnerable and when everyone else had forsaken me. I trust you with my life. I would die for you." 

"Stop you two, you are too kind. I am not the prefect person you make me out to be. In my youth some 50 years ago I let my emotions get the better of me and I caused the death of a fellow countryman. His name was Fortunato and I buried him alive."

 

"Greeting and salutations my dear Montresor! Thank you for setting me free by confessing to my murder. I have been trapped in this crypt for 50 long years because somehow, I offended you with my words."

"I can see your face Fortunato instead of Luigi’s and I can hear you, but your lips are not moving."

"My dear Montresor, that is because I am speaking to you telepathically. I can read your thoughts and you can read mine. I am speaking with you telepathically so that Luna and Luigi do not know I am here. For them time is frozen." 

"I never explained to you, Fortunato why I caused your untimely death. It was a foolish youthful mistake and one that I have regretted ever since." 

"Regardless of your motives you have committed a mortal sin by seeking revenge against me and I am here now to seek my revenge on you. You and all the people you hold dear are now in danger because of your foolish ways."

"Please, Fortunato I beg of you do not harm others for my crime!"

"I will not listen to your pathetic groveling Montresor as you did not let me apologize for my misspoken words to you. I am going to go to Saint Peter’s Cathedral to pray for your soul. I shall return!"

"Luna, I think your husband is daydreaming again. He has that blank stare on his face again."

"Husband, are you here with us?"

Did this really happen, was Fortunato’s ghost here or was the wine playing tricks on me? Maybe I should not have come here tonight. It is just bringing back terrible memories. 

"Yes, everyone I am here but I think we have had enough wine and should depart for the evening. I will call for the carriage."

"What a beautiful black carriage with blood red leather interior and four black beauties to pull it. I have nothing that compares to this and what a beautiful evening with the full moon to go for a ride."

"Let us all get in the carriage but remember ladies go first and since I am the only lady, I will be number one. Make haste driver as we must drop off Luigi and then continue to our home. Oh my, do you see all that lighting in the distance?" 

"Yes, I do my dear wife. The roads will be slippery and meandering. I hope we have a safe journey and nothing bad happens."

I wonder if this is something that Fortunato had arranged to punish me for my terrible actions 50 years ago. I do not know what power a ghost might have. 

"Ahhhh! Help me husband we are going over the cliff!"

"Greetings Montresor, it is me Fortunato again. Did you enjoy your trip? I see your wife and best friend are dead and you are a quadriplegic. You no longer have your sweet wife to nurse you or your best friend to confront you.  Now you know how I felt trapped and buried alive. I have now gotten my revenge for your foolish mistake."

Well I guess this answers the question of whether it really was Fortunato or the wine talking. 

            You see she was the daughter of Fortunato, who I got revenge on after years of him teasing me, and saying he was the better than me at everything. I went to comfort her so that I wouldn’t raise suspicion, as I was known as his friend, so it would only be fitting for me to comfort his daughter while he had gone missing. No one knew he was dead yet, but by the looks of Elizabeth it seems like she had assumed. “I’ve been better, but thank you,” she said, “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?” I couldn’t not accept, I had no where else to be and tea sounded lovely, so I followed her inside. She led me to the kitchen, where there was fresh bread on the wood countertop. “My father has been missing for a month, I shouldn’t say this but…” she sighed, obviously trying to hold back tears, “I- I- I think my fathers dead.” 

            “Well there is still hope, maybe he got lost and is on the outskirts of town where he doesn’t know anyone,” I said, trying to make her hopeful. 

            “I truly hope so, Montresor,” she said, sighing and looking down. It was obvious she knew that wasn’t true. She looked up at me, “I want to learn where my father went if he is lost still. If he is dead, I want to learn who killed him, he was in perfectly good health so there was no way for him to have died naturally.”

            “I can help you with that investigation if you’d like me to,” I said. I thought about whether or not she would figure out it was me, she had always been an intelligent girl. She had solved the case of who killed Mrs. Furrgison when she was 7. Now she’s 19 and who knows how much she could figure out. 

            “The would be amazing,” Elizabeth said, “Let me go grab something from upstairs so as to help me remember details. Please stay right here if you could.”

            “Alright,” I said as she ran up the stairs. “What an odd girl,” I thought. 

            She came back down the stairs with a pen and a pad. Elizabeth asked, “When was the last time you saw my father, if you don’t mind me questioning you?”

            I thought about if there was harm in telling her, but I realized if I lied she could have asked anyone else and they would have told her. “At the party with your father,” I said. I realized she was at the party and may have seen me and her father go down the stairs, but I didn’t get too worried yet, she didn’t seem to notice anything by her facial expressions. 

            “Alright,” she said, writing down something in her notepad. 

            “Where was this party?” she asked, probably trying to figurer out if she’s thinking of the right one. 

            “Well the last party your father hosted, actually,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. “That might have been a mistake,” I thought. 

            She wrote something down in her notepad, her expression changed a bit. She wrinkled her brow and pursed her lips a bit. She was obviously realizing something, and I really started hoping she didn’t know. She looked at me, up and down for a second, her pen in her mouth, arms crossed. “You seem to have noticed something,” I asked. 

            “Well I was at the party you were talking about, and you went off with my father to have him taste some wine I believe. I had had a few drinks myself so I don’t know, but that’s what I remember,” she paused. “You didn’t come back that night, and my father was called as missing the next day.” 

            “You must be mistaken, it could not have been me. I stayed at that party all night long.” I hoped she didn’t notice my face going a bit pale. 

            “I am not mistaken at all actually, you were wearing the same hat you are now. With the black feather,” she said, pointing to my hat, pen still in hand. 

            “W-w-well I’m sure you are mistaken,” I stammered trying to calm myself down a bit. “I’m sure there are plenty of hats of the same style, and with a black feather.”

            “Well there might be, but you had the same shirt on as well,” she said. “I really am screwed,” I thought. I looked around the room, looking for something to help me with this problem. I saw a knife block in the corner of the room. I started moving towards it, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “You returned to the party without him actually,” she said. “I might be able to go ask someone else who was at the party to clarify for me, of course everyone was drunk so they may not have noticed…” she muttered, trailing off. 

            “Well, I was actually hoping to be the one you married one day, with how beautiful you are, and you have much wealth. I guess that won’t be happening now,” I said. 

            “What was tha-” I covered her mouth from behind, and put the knife to her throat. 

            “Such a shame that a girl with such a pretty face as yours has to be so bright,” I whispered into her ear. I cut her throat as deep as I could. “Really, it is such a shame.” I let her eyes roll back into her head, and I wrapped my handkerchief on her neck so it wouldn’t be a clean-up. I brought her body to a room right next to where I killed Fortunato. Elizabeth would lie next to her father, forever, and neither were to ever be found. 

As he looked over in my direction his smile changed into an expression that those who knew nothing of Montresor, would assume was the expression of a man who was properly annoyed. Despite that, I, Fortunato, knew this expression, it was the average representation of my good friend. Cold and completely deadpan. He stared over at me, then spoke in a relaxed manner, “I’ll come for you in the morning.-” He spoke so quietly, yet so confidently. I wasn’t sure if he spoke anymore as the sound of bricks blocked much of it out already. Even with this, I still could hear his grim chuckle, before reaching for another brick. “Morning? You couldn’t possibly leave me here; I’ll starve by then!” I added on a laugh, as I knew a good friend such as him would leave me of all people to die. “Such a horrendous sense of humour.. You ought to lighten up and be more playful..” I mumbled to myself, almost certain he had heard me. He carried on with placing brick after brick, his pace only growing, until there was not one bit of light shining through. That was it, he finally finished the wall, he told me he’ll return in the morning. Despite this horrible sense of humour, I thought nothing of it and let him continue.

What felt like a day had passed, even though I doubt that was the case. “Montresor! I’m beginning to think you’ve gotten carried away with your joke, it’s been quite a while!” I called out, before continuing further, much louder than the first “You haven’t forgotten about me have you?” the sound of my voice echoing within the small room. Other than the diminish echo, it was purely silent; I could hear my own breathing, even my own heartbeat. The closed area began to feel uneasy. I called out once more, “Montresor? Are you there?” once more, the only sound I could hear being my own beating heart and my own voice. An unnerving coldness traveled across me, that chill, it was completely impractical there were no vents, no openings, absolutely nothing! “If I didn’t know any better I’d assume you were trying to kill me!” I hollered out, a nervous laugh following behind it. A few more minutes passed, in which I sat in the room, “Montresor! MONTRESOR!” I called out once more, no response once more. He wouldn’t have possibly left me alone here, he’s only ignoring me, yes? I sat back, closing my eyes mumbling various puns to myself, in the meantime of waiting, perhaps take a short nap in the meantime?

I jolted awake, my stomach felt tense, I had lost track of time entirely though if I had to guess it had to have been at least 24 hours. I began to feel nauseous despite the emptiness in my stomach I felt, my mouth was parched, and my patience started to run low. “He’ll come back for me, I’m certain, he might be running late” I mumbled, my voice as raspy as could be. I could feel myself picking at the ground, in search of something to do. Occasionally, picking at my own skin, it was almost as if there were spiderwebs growing on me. 

Montresor.. He never had a good sense of humour; in fact, I began to think he wasn’t even able to make his own jokes! I was always the jester of the group and was always the one with a good joke or two. He wasn’t the only one who never understood or laughed at my jokes, in fact there was this woman, whom I recall wore a red dress last time I had seen her, despite always speaking of hating that exact colour. She never seemed to enjoy my jokes,  she found them rude, and uncivilized. I could hear her, it was almost as if she were laughing with me, or even possibly at me. What sounded like Montresor’s laughter joined in, it sounded as if they were in the room with me. I quickly looked around, but absolutely no one was around. Is it possible he had formed this joke with that woman, and they’ve came to get me? 

“Montresor! Is that you out there?” I attempted to yell out, but it felt as if nothing escaped from my voice, besides a raspy cough. “Montresor!” I hollered again, once more I couldn’t hear my own voice, but I felt as if I could hear others. More people joined in the laughter; some simply spoke. I recall the voices exactly, along with the laughter, the expressions. I continued to think back on my jokes, I even repeated a few to myself to get a good laugh. Everyone knows a good comedian must be able to laugh at their own jokes just as much as their audience! As I cast through my own mind, my heartbeat sped up. That cold chill had returned, the same I felt when I first saw Montresor’s expressionless face. I recall the party, in which I made a joke, directed at Montresor, everyone had laughed, besides two people. Montresor, and the woman who wore red. In fact, he was annoyed, he seemed to have despised it. “I’ll get you back for this.” I muttered soundlessly to myself, every word shaking, that’s what he had said to me, and this must be what he meant. It was only now I realized; this wasn’t a joke. I bellowed out, in hopes he’d finally respond “-Montresor! Are you there?” The silence and shakiness in my voice remained, though I tried to keep myself composed. Once more, the only noise to be heard, was the sound of my heart that seemed to become quieter, and slower paced. 

More time had passed, it’s definitely been a least a few days, The cough had returned, my skin felt cold, truthfully, my entire body felt completely weak. The room around me began to feel bright and felt as if it was spinning almost. I rushed to stand up, despite feeling lightheaded. Once more I pushed my hands against the wall, attempting to push the bricks. They didn’t nudge, not an inch, not even a centimetre. I kept on banging the palm of my hand on the bricks, attempting to move them. My cough was only growing worse, and it felt as if the room was growing smaller by the second. “Montresor! This isn’t funny anymore!-” I struggled to speak, every word I spoke felt empty and purely silent, my breathing began to grow more intense. My abdomen felt as if it had just been stabbed, my head felt as if someone bashed a hammer into it. I dragged my hand down the wall, finally giving up. I slid my back down the brick wall and rested into a sitting position. I knew I had a little longer left in me, so as I sat against the wall, I thought back on my jokes. The good times I had spent with my friend Montresor. I felt one last smile show up on my face, as I allowed time to pass 

As I sat at my desk devouring my first cup of espresso a woman burst into my office with obvious destress written all over her face. Her voice trembled as she stammered to tell me about the disappearance of her husband. “Detective! Detective! My husband has vanished. Something isn’t right; something bad has happened. Please…” I stopped the woman and introduced myself “Ma’am I am Detective Verita, and I will help you, but I  need you to slow down. What is your name and who is your husband?” She said that her husband is Fortunado, and her name is Sfortuna. I immediately knew I had met her husband once before. Like many others in this town I love wine and I had asked his opinion of a high quality wine I had bought. I directed my thoughts to this distraught woman and asked “Sfortuna now as calmly as possible can you walk me through your concerns about your husband?” She blurted out “Yes sir, well it started at the Carnival two nights ago. We had been drinking as you do and we were having a lavishly good time.” She went on to say “We had become separated as I talked with some of the other ladies and, Fortunado went with the men to talk about politics and the policies of the newly elected Pope Pius IX.” Sfortuna stated that during her conversation with the ladies, she had become weary and desired to go home, but Fortunado was no where to be found at the Carnival. She was not worried at that time and thought that perhaps he had already walked home to their nearby house. “When I arrived back home he was not there and I began to worry”. There was not much she could do until morning when Fortunado had still not arrived home and she was able to find a horse and buggy for a ride into town. Fortunado had still not been seen by the time she arrived in my office at the police station.

Her account of the events that had transpired since last night concerned me in a way that I could not shake. I felt an ominous chill in my bones. The first thoughts that ran through my head were homicide. Could this be in such a small, respectful town as ours? Or would we be lucky and find that Fortunado may have become too drunk and passed out at the local bar? As I was taking notes and processing this information, I immediately sent for a search party to commence at the Carnival. I then asked “Sfortuna could you provide me a list of people who were at the Carnival? It will be a starting point for me to question people”. “Of course I will get the invitations from my servant”she replied. I then assured her “Sfortuna my investigation starts now, and I will do everything in my power to figure out what happened to your husband and bring him back to you.” She left my office still pale as a ghost but had a remnant of hope that Fortunado would be found. 

That afternoon I began my investigation by studying the list of names that Sfortuna had provided. One name jumped out at me on the list which was Montressor because I had heard about disputes between Montressor and Fortunado. Nevertheless I wanted to question everyone on the list who may have seen Fortunado last night. Most everyone who had been at the Carnival had no meaningful information. There were two witnesses who provided statements that they had seen Montresso and Fortunado together that evening, including a woman who said she saw them leaving the Carnival together. Another gentleman stated that he heard Fortunado and Montressor speaking about the Cask of Amonteago… This evidence left me with no choice but to go to Montressor’s home to question him. My first impression of the house was that it seemed to be an enormous mansion but slightly neglected. 

Detective: “Montressor I have witnesses who say they saw you leaving the Carnival with Fortunado last night. Did you know that he is missing? 

Montressor: “Fortunado my dear friend? What a terrible thing, how could he go missing? My dear friend and I indeed did come back to my house but only for him to make sure my Amontillado was authentic.”

Detective: “When did he leave your house then?” 

Montressor: “Well Fortunado has a real love for his alcohol, so he became too intoxicated and I told my servants that he needed assistance getting home.” 

When I spoke with Montressor, I had a melancholy feeling that washed over my body; something was not right. He was very evasive and presented with a phony sense of being concerned about Fortunado’s disappearance. After speaking with him, I spoke with his servants who advised that Montressor had ordered them to be at his house the night of the Carnival. I asked “Did you see Fortunado leave the house or did you see anything that concerned you?” Montressor then interrupted abruptly replying “No Detective Verita! We saw nothing of interest, but Fortunado did not let us assist him home.” 

Montressor was the only lead that I had on Fortunado’s disappearance, so we conducted a search of his home. In the house we searched but found nothing that was out of place and no signs of a struggle that would support my theory. After the search was conducted in the main house I searched the catacombs. As I searched I saw the remains of one deceased family member after another until I came upon an out of place brick wall. Upon returning to the house I inquired “Montressor when I was in your catacombs something caught my eye. Why is there a brand new wall constructed in the depths of your catacombs?” Montressor’s eye twitched as he calmly said “Oh dear Detective Verita that was such a burden. Last year that part of the catacomb had started to fall and it needed repair. It took so much preparation and work. Thankfully it is taken care of now.”  This seemed to be a sufficient response, but to this day I still do not have a good feeling about that part of the catacomb. 

Overall absolutely no evidence was found regarding Fortunado’s disappearance. There were no leads anon new theories. The case started to tear at my sole because in my gut I felt as if something terrible had happened to Fortunado and the somehow Montressor was the culprit. Many months later nothing new had arisen from Fortunado’s disappearance and the shocking mystery of Fortunado started to fade in people’s minds. Through the years I would bring his case back out and relook at the evidence, but as years passed it became a form of self torture for me. Fortunado’s case still brings me sorrow and the guilt I feel for not bringing his story justice will haunt me for the rest on my days. 

 

    Years have passed, Scarlett and I are married, and the business has been open and running for 15 years now. I recently stopped taking my schizophrenia medication because I believe it makes me a better lawyer, which has been stressing Scarlett out more than ever before. “I really think you should go back on your medicine.” exclaimed Scarlett. “Absolutely not! It would affect the business side of my brain and our income would decrease exponentially.”, “I can’t believe you would even say something so stupid!” I yell as I start to get angrier and angrier with Scarlett. “I’m sorry for bringing it up, forget I even said anything.” Scarlett cries as she runs out of the room. “Hey, I heard you crying are you okay?” Fortunato whispers to Scarlett who is making herself a glass of water. “No, Montresor being off his medication has been causing so much pain and he lashes out on me just about every night over the simplest things.”, “I’m tired.” Scarlett weeps. “It’s okay, come here.” Fortunato says as he goes in for a hug. The two sat in the kitchen passionately hugging until they heard a loud voice creep in, “What in the world is going on?” I yelled with an angered expression going across my face. “Nothing.” they promised nervously. There was no way I could control myself any longer and being off my medication only made this situation worse. I started frantically pacing around the room, pulling at my hair, yelling at myself, and lecturing Fortunato for attempting to get close with Scarlett in that manner. Scarlett tried to intervene but there was no stopping me until I was ready to be stopped.

 

  “Here comes Montresor the schizophrenic” Fortunato whispers to all our work mates as I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. Fortunato has been teasing me constantly since the outbreak and it has yet to stir up another one, which I know is what he wants. “I won’t feed into your mind games Fortunato.” I said with a confident tone of voice as I opened the fridge to find breakfast. “You already have.” Fortunato stated. Days go by and the mocking continues, which gets me so fed up I decide to create a plan that will remove Fortunato from my life forever. I sat in my office trying to create something perfect, “Should I end him fast or make him suffer?” I questioned out loud. I continued to ask myself many different questions and took my mind to numerous scenarios throughout the following months and finally decided I was going to make Fortunato suffer. “I’m going to lure him into the wine cellar, force him to try special wine which will be laced with something to make him sleep, tie him up inside the building and repair the bricks around him to ensure that he will never escape.” I was ready to execute my plan and remove Fortunato for good.

"Yeah, I thought I was a dead man last week. I was chained to a wall in a wine cellar by-" 

Fortunato was talking but he stopped just as he heard something thump behind him. I had thrown something behind the table in hopes to draw their attention away from the conversation. Once they gave up looking for the cause of the noise, they continued talking but they all seemed too intoxicated to remember. I knew I got lucky this time, knowing that if I don't kill Fortunato soon, my life will be ruined. I waited and waited until the group decided to head home from the night of drinking. 

Hours had passed and everyone was tired, but I had a plan to secretly follow them. I followed as they left the building.  I put my money down on the table and left without finishing my drink. I kept my distance behind, and nobody suspected a thing. I followed them for quite a while, still staying concealed until they reached a house where Fortunato and another man went inside. I realized that this made things a lot harder now that I have another person to worry about other than my target. I decided to set up camp outside the house and across the street. I sat there, hiding in the shadow of a wagon full of hay,  watching the door in hopes someone will walk out. Fortunato must have known that he had to get out of there, so as his drunkenness fades he packed his things as his friend slept. Hours have passed by the time he leaves, and I wake up outside against the wall. I was tired the night before, but it worsened due to the boredom of waiting for my prey. 

Fortunato was wearing a different robe and he wore some type of hat, making him look different from the last time I had seen him. I woke up to find him gone and the upstairs window was still open, meaning someone had left from the top floor. There was a large piece of wood that was set down to make it up onto a roof, meaning he had used that to get into the next house's roof. I sighed, knowing that it would be hard to find him. But luckily, I had a lead. I climbed up the building and started going forward, jumping onto each roof, noticing a person doing the same thing far ahead. By the way things were going, there was no way I would catch up to Fortunato. I knew I could make it to him faster on foot, but the issue was that if I run through the streets, it would be suspicious. I climbed down, keeping an eye on the roofs ahead, using the alleyways to run in the direction Fortunato was heading. I sprinted as fast as I could, wanting to get as far and quickly as I can. 

I only slowed down when I would walk into the street to get to the next alleyway. I could see Fortunato every time I got into the street. I was getting closer and closer each alley way I went through, knowing that at this pace, I could kill him in no time. We reached the end of the town and both of us were tired. Fortunato jumped down into a bunch of bushes and started walking out of the town, knowing the directions to a nearby village that might let him stay if they find out what his situation is. I had a small dagger in my bag that I always keep on me. Neither of us were experienced with combat so this fight would be interesting. Thankfully, I was still hidden from Fortunato, making sure he was oblivious to my presence. 

We are about 200 feet apart, both of us incredibly alert, but Fortunato keeps forgetting to check on the right side where a tall hill is. I am on that hill, staying behind the trees and other plants so I would stay completely hidden. My adrenaline was wearing off fast and exhaustion was kicking in. I'm incredibly tired now, not knowing how I'm going to be able fight Fortunato. With a further examination, it appears Fortunato is also very tired. I start to approach him a little faster, not caring if I am spotted. We are far enough into the woods that nobody will be able to hear us. Fortunato turns around and gasps as I charge at him with the dagger in my hand. He knew there was no way he could outrun me this time. 

He picks up a large stick with a heavy end that would undeniably hit me hard. He swings just before I’m able to reach him and smacked me hard in the head, knocking me down and making me bleed a bit. I was too busy charging at him to realize the stick was coming my way and I deeply regretted my poor decision. Fortunato swings the stick at me again, but I roll out of the way, getting up quickly and kicking Fortunato in the knee, breaking it. I swung my dagger and it cut his stomach pretty badly. He looks down at his bloody stomach, grabbing his wound, yelling out in pain as he falls to the ground. I jump onto him and repeatedly stab at his neck, his face, and his stomach. After we struggle for a few moments, Fortunato stops moving and soon stops breathing. I slowly stood up, panting as I rub the wound on my head from the branch, looking down at the corpse. I rolled Fortunato's body into a nearby creek and then walked away, never returning to this spot in the woods.

It all started on a windy fall day in Creek Middle School,  My first day of middle school, I had finally decided that I was going to give humanity another chance, that i was finally going to try and make friends again. It had been a long 11 years of my life with zero recognition and zero friends and I was so very tired of this nonsense. I had decided that today I was going to reinvent myself and give it another final shot. As I was getting ready I heard my mom yell from downstairs “Montresor breakfast’s ready”, I grabbed my backpack and yelled back “Ok mom, i'll be there in a sec.” By the time I got downstairs it was time to head to school, so I just grabbed the delicious cinnamon rolls my mom had made and saved them for later. I then headed to school, and when I got there I saw a group of boys playing with a ball. I asked if I could join and to my surprise they accepted, their names were John, Gillian, and James. 

A few weeks later, I had finally found happiness and the recognition I had so desperately hoped for when I was younger, finally, it was my moment, my time to shine. Today was going to be a good day, me and my friends were going to a carnival after school. All this nonsense running through my head, in the middle of my math class. I was just about to start writing a note to pass to my friend Gillian, when out of nowhere the school headmaster comes into my classroom and behind him a young man, he seems to be about my age, head held high, nice clothes and a grin on his face. I thought to myself “he looks nice, I hope I can be a friend to him.” The teacher introduced him to the class “Class, meet Fortunato, your new classmate.” Fortunato then sat next to me and my friends, I introduced myself “Hi, my name’s Montresor, what do you like to do in your free time?” he then said to me ‘Hi, I'm Fortunato.” He had ignored my conversation, I thought it was strange but perhaps he was just tired about his long trip here, so I decided it wasn't noteworthy.  The end of the day came, it was finally time to head to the carnival with my friends, I headed towards the outside of the school so that I could meet up with my friends, in order for us to head to the carnival together. As I almost reached my friend I noticed that Fortunato just happened to be with them. I was unsure why, so I ran over and my friends told me they had invited Fortunato to come with us, I thought it would be fun, a new member to our friend group. We all headed to the carnival, but I noticed every time I talked, I would be ignored. My friends were too busy paying attention to Fortunato, who had essentially stolen the show. He would just talk and talk and they would only listen to him, regardless of what I did or said, they would pay zero attention to me. This nonsense went on the entire night, by the end of the night i was fed up, then something happened, something that striked my last nerve, i tried to talk to my friends and they were all too busy to talk to me, in fact I had to stop to readjust my shoe, and fortunato just told them to keep walking, and they did, that's it, they had completely forgotten about me, Fortunato had taken over. Later that night, when I had finally gotten home, I had decided I needed to get revenge on Fortunato, he had taken away the one thing i had longed for most in my entire life, and the moment I had finally achieved this, this little 🤬 took it away from me. I decided I needed to take action against him, revenge. So I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote my plan out. Tomorrow morning I would trick him into going to the third floor and dress up as a ghost to scare him, this way he would learn not to mess with me anymore. I didn't sleep at all last night, I was preparing for what would happen tonight. The morning went by and everything was fine, no one suspected a thing. During lunch I called Fortunato over and said “hey Fortunato, I have something to show you on the third floor, meet me there at the end of the school day.” Fortunato then said, “ok i'll meet you around 5, I have to get some work done before.” The end of the school day came and it was finally time to meet fortunato and get revenge, as time was getting closer and closer, I could also tell a storm was forming outside. I could hear Fortunato, calling out my name “”Montresor”, “Montresor, where are you?” I hid quietly in the shadows as I waited for him to come near me. Just as I was about to jump out and scare him I heard a loud thunder and then boom, lightning shook the school. I could see Fortunato had fallen, it seemed he had gotten hurt. I could take this, this perfect moment to leave and get my revenge on him without even trying, but should i?

A few minutes had passed, and then I heard Fortunato crying and calling my name for help, I decided I should help him. Even though he had hurt me, I still wanted to give him another chance. I decided to run to him and help him stand up, it seems he had hurt his ankle when he fell. I apologized to him and said, i was welcome to help him. '' Instead of thanking me for helping him he said “yeah, thanks for helping me as you shouldve.” This didn't sit well with me but i decided that i wouldn't mind it. Time passed and i became more acquainted with Fortunato, I watched as he continued to get the recognition that was once mine, i watched as i slowly became an outcast once more. My hatred for Fortunato started growing with time, and I slowly started to regret not leaving him there. Nevertheless, I decided i would plot my revenge but this time when no one would be expecting it, and this time i would finally succeed.  

Finally, I was able to cast back on my laughter. It was the most I have laughed in my entire life! Montresor then asked me, “Fortunato, can I come out now? An hour has passed, and I would like to go back to my own home.” “Oh yes! Of course, great Montresor!” and then I pushed the latch keeping the gate in front of the stairs back up closed and the gate treaded upward, and it made an opening for Montresor to come back up. He walked slowly up the line of stairs, clearly with no more energy left in him. He came back out from the left side of my saloon and gave me a look with a bit of despair in his face. “Quite an eventful day you’ve had, Montresor!” I told him. “I am sure this day will be unforgettable! I hope you have a nice rest of your night!” Montresor said nothing else to me and just walked slowly away and exited the room. Maybe I have taken this too far, but I am sure Montresor would understand and would not lash at my back! He is a man of true Italian virtuoso, after all! I can always rely on my good friend Montresor.

            “Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” I said, speaking more quickly than my mind could follow. Onlookers stared at us. Rumors had been spreading like wildfires about his terrible deeds. At least that is what the folks here thought. Amontillado lent me a hand, and in doing so, dropped his fat sack of money. 

            “It’s quite okay. You don’t need to apologize. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I’m the one who should be apologizing,” Amontillado replied graciously with a slight grin. 

            “Going somewhere with that shabby sack?” I asked. “No one owns that much money around here.” Amontillado looked down at his fulsome hand that was once again gripping the bag of coins. Silence surrounded the two of us. I wondered to myself if he was taking the time to fabricate a lie. Not wanting to succumb to my suspicions, I banished the thought.  

            “This money….” Amontillado began. “It’s for the pitiful orphans. The winters here are just unbearable. I must give them something to keep hope in their hearts.” It was at this moment I felt relieved. My worst fears about him were apparently unfounded.   

            “They call me Fortunato,” I declared. 

            “Yes, the fortunate one,” he gloated. “I am Amontillado.”

            “You should probably deliver that generous quantity of silver to the orphanage,” I said. Amontillado did not reply but with a slight nod of his head, walked off in the direction of the childrens’ home.

            

 

“Yeah, yeah, thanks”, I said, smiling back.

Montresor and I are preparing for the ball in the formal dining area at his house. After many attempts of trying to find my outfit, I have finally decided to wear a deep red gown, paired with glass heels and silver jewelry; specifically, the silver necklace my grandmother had gifted to me before she passed; it is a symbol of good luck. Montresor coordinated his outfit with mine. He was wearing a black suit with a deep red vest, and a black tie with silver specs.

“Looks like someone wanted to be like me”, I laughed to Montresor after seeing his outfit choice.

“Oh, hush”, Montresor replied sarcastically.

After the both of us finished getting ready for the ball, we walked to the living room, waiting for our driver to arrive. I am a bit nervous of what to expect of the ball. I like to keep to myself mainly, but Montresor insisted that I come. 

“This better be worth it”, I told him.

“It will be, I hosted it”, he said, jokingly.

A loud, obnoxious bark let off suddenly. That was Montresor’s doorbell. I am not sure why that was his choice of sound, but it is funny. Montresor is quite the jokester.

“That’s him”, said Montresor, referring to the driver.

Montresor walked out and I followed him to the carriage.

“We will be heading to 102 Avenue, where the ball will be located”, he stated to the driver.

“You’ve got it, I’m Fortunato by the way”, told the driver.

I was not paying them any attention because I was busy enjoying the scenery. The trees were swaying beautifully. Watching the scenery was my grandmother and I’s favorite thing to do together. Meanwhile, Montresor and Fortunato were chatting up a storm. If there was one thing Montresor was good at, it would be conversating. They seemed to have enjoyed each other, but their conversation came to an end as we pulled up to the palace.

“Would you like to come to our ball? It starts at a quarter after 6”, Montresor asked Fortunato.

“Sure! Meet you then”, replied Fortunato.

Currently, it is five o’clock and we have just over an hour to gather things together in preparation for the ball. There were ladies in the kitchen of the palace that had cooked some amazing-smelling food that I definitely will be eating. Montresor made the tables, while I placed the food in its designated area. After what felt like years, we finally finished preparing. The clock had just strike six. It was beautiful inside here. The tables were organized and were gathered towards the back of the room, while the confections were parallel to the tables. Also, there was a dance floor, which I am excited about. One thing many people do not know about me is that I love to dance. 

“How are you feeling?”, Montresor asked me.

“A bit nervous”, I replied.

“Don’t worry, I am always here if you need me”, he said, slightly smiling.

My stomach filled with butterflies. He had been very kind to me today, which is odd because our relationship is more so friendly and playful. He is my best friend of many years and counting. I like him, but I do not think he knows that. Sometimes, I wonder how he feels about me.

“Thank you”, I said back.

“How about yourself? How are you feeling?” I asked.

“I am ready!” he shouted.

A couple of Montresor’s friends came in. Then, around ten more people showed up. Eventually thirty other guests came. Music started playing and the lights dimmed. A slow song played, but I was too nervous to dance with Montresor. We looked at each other, then I looked away. To save myself from awkwardness, I went to go get some food.

“I am getting some food, do you want any?”, I asked.

“Not right now, thanks though”, he told me.

Before I went to get food, it was just Montresor and I sitting together at the table, but when I returned, Fortunato had joined us.

“Melina, meet Fortunato. Fortunato, meet Melina”, he told to the both of us.

“Hi”, we said simultaneously.

Something does not feel right. Fortunato gives me a feeling I cannot explain. I just ignored it and focused on devouring this food. While I was eating, Montresor and I’s favorite upbeat song started playing. We both looked at each other and smirked, and we headed to the dance floor. I could hardly dance in these heels, so I went by the fancy staircase to drop off my shoes. As I was heading back, I was met by Fortunato.

“When I picked you and Montresor up, I thought you were amazing, but I was too afraid to speak to you”, Fortunato said to me.

I did not know what to say. It was hard to focus with my favorite song blaring in the background. However, my heart was racing.

“Thank you”, I swiftly replied.

“I wanted to ask if you’d like to go out sometime”, he uttered.

I looked at Montresor and could tell that he could see Fortunato and I chatting from across the room. He seemed to be waiting for me to dance with him.

“I’d have to think about that”, I told him.

“Let’s just ditch this place, come with me”, Fortunato replied.

“I can’t, Montresor’s waiting for me”, I told him.

I then headed back to Montresor. He had an upset demeanor.

“Cheer up, we’ve got the little bit of this song left!”, I shouted.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you something”, he said, completely changing the subject.

“What is it?”, I asked.

“I would like to take you out”, he said.

In this moment, my heart dropped. I felt confused and indecisive of what to do. Fortunato wanted me to be with him, while Montresor liked me.

“Fortunato asked the same thing”, I replied.

We were still standing on the dance floor, and to no surprise, Fortunato joined us to dance. None of us were dancing in this moment. Montresor’s fury was easy to see through his expressions.

“I can’t believe you!”, said Montresor with anger in his voice.

I stood there, not knowing what to do.

“What are you talking about?”, asked Fortunato.

“You knew I was going to ask her out!”, yelled Montresor.

“So”, Fortunato replied.

I could not believe that Fortunato showed that he did not care. They kept arguing, but it was all one noise to me. I was shocked, in tears almost. Things gradually got physical between them and I just stood there. I cried for them to stop, but not much changed. I have never seen this side of Montresor. Once people started to notice what was happening, they crowded around the fight. Few people tried to break it up. I then ran away, but ten minutes later returned to collect my shoes. When I arrived, most guests had already left. It was like an empty house. 

As I was eavesdropping on a few of the guests leaving, I overheard that the altercation was torn apart by two of Montresor’s friends. Apparently, they made up within 10 minutes and ‘forgave’ one another, which is shocking news because Montresor is not a forgiving person. They also talked about how Montresor will be hosting another gathering next week, to which I will not be attending.

Macchiato and I prepared for the carnival the next day; he was excited to revisit such a place.

“Montresor, how exciting is it? To revisit a place from our youth.” Macchiato asked.

“It’s… terrifying.”

“Now why is that?”

“I can not explain, it is a tale from my history, you would only be distraught from your knowledge.”

“As you wish, Montresor. I have no obligation to know.”

“Farewell, Macchiato, I will meet you at the carnival tomorrow.”

“Yes, tomorrow, farewell!”

I headed back to my abode, and decided to retire for the night.

“Montresor…”

I heard a voice during the night, which made me awaken.

“Montresor… Montresor…”

The voice was increasing in volume, and I soon noticed that it was the voice of Fortunato! But how! Fortunato had passed 50 years ago, and was trapped in the vaults. Could he have escaped? No, impossible. I figured I must be hallucinating. Perhaps of old age. I decided to ignore the sounds and return to slumber.

But the sounds continued.

“Montresor, you could not have forgotten, could you?”

“Oh, Fortunato, I regret my actions…”

“Oh, I understand. But you cannot erase history.”

I awoke. It had only been a nightmare. I was still terrified of the carnival, and that encounter during the night only increased my years of fear of what could possibly happen, even if it was only myself. I was reluctant to prepare myself for the day, and I contemplated staying home, but I could not leave my friend Macchiato.

When I headed to the carnival, met with Macchiato.

“Montresor, you arrived!” Macchiato exclaimed.

“Yes, hello, Macchiato.”

“I couldn’t help but notice that you have forgotten your costume, so I brought one for you.”

It was a jester’s costume.

“Oh, no, no, I can not wear that.” I said, knowing that was the same costume Fortunato wore 50 years ago.

Macchiato replied, “Oh, Montresor, I insist. We are at the carnival; you must wear a costume.”

I reluctantly complied.

I felt a wave of terror come upon me, as I had been dressed the same as unfortunate Fortunato 50 years ago. Would Fortunato return and bring me my fate? Or am I just haunted by the past? I went with Macchiato to the carnival, scared for my life of what could possibly happen.

“Oh, what a good time this carnival is today!” Macchiato exclaimed while impaired by the drinks he had drank prior.

“Yes… good time.” I replied slowly.

“Why don’t we celebrate today with a glass of fine Amontillado?”

“Amontillado… No, no, Macchiato, why don’t we settle for a Sherry, Amontillado is too costly for us today.”

“But my dear Montresor, today is a fine day, and it is worth celebrating a fine day with a fine Amontillado.”

“No, we cannot drink Amontillado. I simply cannot bring myself to do it.”

“Why, Montresor?”

“Fortunato… 50 years ago… Amontillado… cellar…”

“Did you mention Amontillado was stored in your cellars? Then we must go! If cost is not a factor, we can enjoy all the fine wine you have!”

“No! We can not go to the cellars!” I shouted.

Macchiato insisted that we head to my cellars, so much that he felt required to physically pull me there through the crowd at the carnival. While he had consumed many drinks from the start of the carnival, I have refrained from alcohol, as it could lead me to my fate, but I guess Macchiato’s personality could not stop me from going to the cellars.

As Macchiato and I descended into the cellar, I started to become sick, perhaps from the nitre walls covering the dank staircase. Macchiato suggested I drink some wine to aid my sickness, and I did so reluctantly. 

We reached the bottom of the very long staircase leading to my cellars, and there was a poorly constructed stone wall at the bottom, a wall that had been standing for exactly half of a century. Macchiato grabbed a sledgehammer that had been abandoned at the bottom of the staircase and began to swing. I stopped him, as I knew what was behind that wall.

“Macchiato, you must stop!”

“No, Montresor, I can destroy this wall! Are you doubting my strength and ability? I can not take such an insult lightly! You will see.”

Before I could even respond, Macchiato had already demolished the wall, and laying up against it, there was a skeleton whose bones belonged to Fortunato. I felt relieved, as Fortunato had not escaped, he had not been plotting his revenge against me for many years. I was excited at the fact that I could now carelessly enjoy Amontillado with my good friend Macchiato.

“Macchiato, the Amontillado is in the cask over there.” I said, while pointing to a large barrel.

“Now… the time drinking.. all the Amontillado!” 

Macchiato was now impaired to the point where his speech was incoherent. Nevertheless, I drank many glasses of Amontillado. It was the finest wine I had ever tasted, and Macchiato agreed. Eventually, I had dozed off, and Macchiato had wandered away. I thought nothing of it until the next morning, where I woke up, and I heard a voice. 

“Montresor…”

It was the voice of Fortunato! But how? Am I still asleep?

“nemo me impune lacessit” I heard faintly.

I quickly traveled to the exit, but to my surprise, the wall had been rebuilt, Macchiato was nowhere to be found, and I had been trapped in my own cellar, suffering Fortunato’s fate. The alcohol had wore off, and I sat next to Fortunato’s skeleton. My fate had been decided, whether it was Fortunato, or Macchiato, I accepted it, and make no effort to escape.

 

            "Come now Montresor, don't look so glum! Just some harmless fun," he says, loud enough for everyone to hear.

            "Your "harmless fun" has cost me a shirt," I say, perhaps with a bit too much venom.

            "Not to worry. I will buy you a new one! And in a much better style too," he laughs again, the sound digging under my skin like ants. Just then, Ballard taps a fork against his glass, getting everyone's' attention.

            "I have an announcement. Because of the unfortunate circumstances in which Sir Carleton has passed, a new President has not been chosen. Therefore, as his adviser, I have devised a way to settle this matter fairly. We will have a contest. It will span three days and test the taste buds of each one of you. Whoever is left by the end of the three days will be declared the new President." Intriguing. I glance at Fortunato out of the corner of my eye, noting the arrogant smirk on his face. I will enjoy finally putting this insufferable buffoon in his place.

 

            I awake the next morning and rub the sleep from my eyes, peering at the clock on my bedside table. Eight o'clock!? The first test starts at 7:30! I spring out of bed, instantly awake. I don't bother with breakfast or a shower, throwing on my clothes and rushing out the door. Breathless, I arrive at the clubhouse and press my hands to my knees, trying to compose myself. Just then, Ballard walks up the stone steps, fiddling with a set of keys. When he looks up, surprise flashes across his face. "What are you doing here so early Montresor?" he asks.

            "Early...?" I pant.

            "Yes. The meeting doesn't start for another half hour." Sure enough, when I look down at my watch, 7:05 looks up at me innocently. Silently, I follow Montresor inside and flop down in one of the plush armchairs scattered throughout the room. I sit there, pondering how this could have happened when Fortunato walks through the door, his face lighting up when he sees me. My hair was disheveled and my clothes were still crooked from my run. He comes up to me, that insufferable grin on his face. 

            "Wake up late Montresor?" He taunts. "And yet you're still the first one here. Really. It's okay to be a little late now and then." I grind my teeth but manage to respond in a warm tone.

            "What can I say?" I stand and straighten my clothes, turning away from Fortunato. I'm sure he's to blame for this. I just don't know how he did it. I don't have time to dwell on it anymore as everyone else arrives and the meeting starts. Ballard passes out the first drink and I try to clear my mind of Fortunato as I take a sip. Too easy. I spit it out and write down my answer, placing it in the bucket at the front of the room. Ballard then looks at all the papers and dismisses those who got it wrong. The next hour passes this way until there's only half of us left. 

            As I leave, I lock eyes with Fortunato as he snickers behind his hand. I catch my reflection in a mirror in the front hall and notice a leaf in my hair that has no doubt been there the entire day. I angrily throw it to the ground and step on it, imagining it to be Fortunato’s head.

 

            The next day I make sure my clock is right and take my time getting ready. Fortunato has another smirk on his face when I arrive. I'm instantly wary of everything around me but don't notice anything amiss. The tasting goes on normally until after the fourth wine when I take a sip of water to clear my palette. I'm shocked to find lemonade instead. And not even good lemonade! The sourness of it makes my eyes water. I cough and attempt to get the taste out of my mouth as Fortunato laughs hysterically. I'm tempted to go over and sock him for this clear attempt at sabotage but restrain myself when I see Ballard frown and approach Fortunato. I take much satisfaction in the way the smile drops off his face though I can't hear what they're saying. Despite Fortunato's attempt to knock me out of the game, I'm among the winners as another half of us leaves.

 

            On the final day, I'm the most guarded I've ever been in my life. Every little thing looks like a threat. However, nothing happens as one by one people are eliminated. The final glass is handed to Fortunato and me. The last two. I sniff it carefully, noting the darker color. Taking a delicate sip, a dryness meets my tongue. A wine flashes through my mind and I've always been one to go with my first instinct. Confidently, I write down oloroso on my slip of paper. I watch as Fortunato turns in his paper, that smirk back on his lips. Ballard reads them and looks up with what almost looks like disappointment in his eyes. "Fortunato is the winner," he declares. I stand there, mouth agape. How?

            "You never could tell Amontillado from Oloroso could you Montresor?" he says as he swirls the rest of the drink in his glass, downing it in one gulp.

 

            I can't stop thinking about Fortunato all the next week, letting my hatred simmer. It's when I walk into a friend's house for a party and a bucket of Amontillado spills onto my head, Fortunato’s laughter echoing throughout the room, that that anger turns into a boil. When he approaches me I smile. Careful not to let him see beneath the mask as plans start to form in my mind. This is the last time you will humiliate me, Fortunato. The last time you will humiliate anyone.

I sit at the top of my vast vineyard as I watch the groundsmen go to work. It's been 5 year since I caught the last glimpse of Fortunato and his crippling body. I chuckled at the thought. I sipped from my most prestigious wine that has awarded me all over the word, as my refined taste buds took in the flavors of the wine, suddenly hear creaking from behind. I turn around to find my lovely wife who has brung me a cheese board. 

“I've brought you this Montresor”, said Graciela.

I took the board gently but did not respond. Graciela and I stood in each other's presence in awkward tranquility. 

“The groundsmen have notified me that this picking of grapes will be the most decadent and more delicious batch of wine we will have yet”, said Graciela. 

“Perfect”, I muttered. 

I looked out into the blue abyss, with only a few visible amounts of clouds in the sky. I felt the perfection of my life and the feeling of a king sat atop my shoulders with nothing to stand in front.

I clicked back into the real world, as I heard soft whispering in the background. 

It was Graciela speaking to me, “You must know that today is Friday, right?”

I replied, “Yes, it is my big day, as all the towns people will meet in the center yard for the town's biggest feast yet”. 

“You must not forget to speak to Grato,” said Graciela. 

I looked away after she spoke those words. For Grato is the only one to keep my mind uneasy. My mind took a turn and thought of our past. Remembering Fortunato's face and the thought of being the king after his death. I had moved on from that cursed town from where Fortunato's body laid. After Fortunato's last day I moved swiftly to Spain, where I found only the smallest of towns where word had not gotten out about my enemies death. But Grato. He had trailed along the whole time, knowingly of the speculation that I was the reason for Fortunato's death. That I fled the town after his death. We do not speak in terms of friends but hide the fact of Fortunato's death as if he was to speak he will end up as Fortunato did. 

My mind flickered out of a sensation I could not control but one I must live with for the rest of my life. I got up from my throne and walked towards my wardrobe where I will wear the most rich and profound cloth the townspeople will ever see. 

Graciela rustled with my tie, as the whole town could hear the 8th bell strike. 

“We must hurry Graciela, or I will be late for my people.” I said.

“Yes, I am trying” she responded. 

She adjusted the tie perfectly where it fit perfect with my attire. I walked toward the caddy where 3 men stood below me. As I got closer with every step they did not more, until with perfection they moved to open the door for my wife and I. We boarded the vehicle and were headed for the town center court. 

Looking out the window of the caddy, hundreds of townspeople stood cheering my name. They were in awe of my excellence and the thought of the joy I brought with my wine and my presence. I looked on and saw Grato in an apron as he stood by the sign of his restaurant. His shoulders were slouched and stood there timid as we made eye contact. I looked away with a minuscule grin that hid the fact of the secret he knew. 

I was gestured out of the car by one of the doormen.

I walked towards Grato in a demonizing fashion. I meant no harm but only to assert my dominance. I did not want to look weaker than one of the townspeople and allow him to release the secret. Grato was in charge of cooking for the whole town. I supplied the ingredients and he would make a world class meal for all the people. 

“How is the meal looking ?” I said.

Great, it is almost done, we are just waiting for the bread to finish rising” Grato said nervously.

“Good, all the townspeople are hungry and waiting”

Grato nodded and walked back into the kitchen to finish preparing the feast. Deep down, something about Grato, scared me. The idea of him knowing. The thought of it getting to the townspeople. The revolt. EVERYTHING. 

Dinner was one to remember for the townspeople and I. Grato made great food and everyone had a great time. 

In a few days I must go off to a wine connoisseur convention. Many vineyards would like me to try their wines. Although my wine is the best, some many taste okay. 

The day of the convention I sat on my throne overlooking the vineyard like any other day. Graciela walked in with a tray of goods. 

“Here you go darling, I've brought you tea and some cheese from the local farm” she said. 

“Thank you.” I said. 

She waited for me to try the cheese and tea. So I took a bite of the soft cheese. It was delicious, it was creamy and smoky. I could taste the flavors.

“Is this Gruyere?” I said.

“Why yes it is! How did you know?” Graciela exclaimed.

I chuckled and responded, “Why must I be the best cheese connoisseur in the world as well”. 

I reached for the cup of tea. I could feel the warmth coming through to the metal handle. As I took a sip, I frantically threw the cup, hurdling it over the balcony. I could feel my tongue burning with agony as I wailed my hands looking for something to cool my tongue. 

“Oh no! I will get you some water!” Graciela said. 

“YES, HURRY, NOW”

My tongue burned in agony for the next hour which felt like days. I sat on my throne, holding the base of my tongue, looking out into the distance. 

“I've brought you some honey. It is supposed to help your taste buds” said Graciela as she walked through the doors frantically. 

I took the spoon and anxiously shoved it into my mouth hoping it would help me. 

“I cannot taste anything. My tongue is burned beyond ends. I must not go to the convention now for I will not be able to taste any of the wines and they will think I'm a fool.” I said in a whimpering voice. 

I was saddened by the fact that I could not attend this convention but it was for the best. 

The next day, I proceeded with my day as if nothing happened the previous. I sat with Graciela at the dining room table for our routine breakfast then headed down toward the front to check for mail. As I approached the mailbox I found a letter on top of the letter. At least 200 letters. I thought to myself, what in the world could this be for. I glanced at the letters and viewed the senders and I rage furiously at the thought of all the letters. I've received hundreds of letters from the convention about my absences from the event and how disrespectful it was of me. I was furious at the moment in time but I could merely care for their wine as it was most likely below par. 

I gathered all the mail in a basket and burned them so the smoke could burn through the chimney.

I was headed for the vineyard to my sight of darkness in the distance. Dark clouds racing towards my estate and grapes. Down a close alley I saw my groundsmen. 

“Sir there is a big storm coming, we must get inside” they exclaimed. 

“What about my beautiful vineyard? It must be protected.” I responded.

“There is nothing. We must seek shelter or we will all be endanger” 

I watched out the window as I saw grapes fly across, trees being knocked down. My prestigious land, gone in less than an hour. I reflected on the days that had gone by and the events against me. I thought, who has wished this upon me, who has the power of this to cause so much pain against me. 

Graciela walked into the room, with a saddened face. 

“I'm sorry for all these tragic events,” she said. 

I nodded unnoticeably. 

“But my mother always told me, for every action there is an opposite reaction. I must not believe that you can just merely be handed this pain.” 

We stared at each other silently, she finished quietly with “What have you done Fortunato?”

I became infuriated with her. 

“How must you think this is my fault! I've only lived on this peaceful land with you and you think this is my fault.” 

As I spoke those words a creeping thought reached the top of my head. A feeling similar to Gratos but only worse. Montresor. 

Graciela broke up my thought as she said “ You must have done something. This is someone's karma and you must solve it”

Karma. what if it's true. This cannot be Karma. Fortunato is dead, how could he have such a force. But I can be. I second guessed myself. I cannot find a side. 

The next passing days, I stayed inside, afraid of the thought of a next bad event. Fortunato s Karma. I wanted to think it was merely a joke being played in my head but I believed it. I was being punished for my wrong doing. 

I had a restless night after restless nights. My eyes became red bags during the day. The thought of all of it had contemplated life. Graciela became worried about me and so did the townspeople, but I must not let the word get out. I had to hide the secret, but I did not know for how much longer I could do that. 

It was Friday, and it was another town center gathering. My mind has crumbled and I couldn't take it anymore. I have worn the same rob for days. I must tell the people and hope this ends my misery. I had no other ideas in my brain that could fix my problems. 

I told the townspeople to set me a small stage because I had words that needed to be spoken. I hoped this would fix my problems. But what if it didn't. What was my punishment? Death?

I followed my routines, hoping if I didn't go out of line I could have been punished for my Fortunato's karma. 

As I entered the caddy and rode towards the town center, I saw mixed faces, some happy for my arrival, some confused for I have trapped myself in my estate for the past days. 

I exited and the applause was quieter than usual. I walked towards the stage with sweat dripping down the side of my head. I was nervous for my life. The people had no idea what i was going to utter and i had no idea the punishment but i prayed it would fix my pain. 

My actions were punished for I can write the story in my ending days from the same cave where I had got revenge on my enemy. I lay helplessly next to the dirt and rubble of Montresor. I was given a letter before the walls were closed which I could barely read in the midst of darkness. I read what I could and what the townspeople had said. They had burned everything I had. Everything that was not mine and all belonged to Montresor. I had not deserved any of this and now I have been banished , living my final days writing this story for the next prisoner to walk into. The story will never get out but at least the next person of karma will know my hateful story.

“ Well I’m so sorry Sir...I was just walking by and seem to have bumped into you” 

“ No need, may I ask what’s your name”

“Well Sir, it’s Anne”

“ Ah, I see.”

“Sir, your mansion is just so lovely, I could die to live here” 

“Ha Ha Ha, why thank you maybe you just will” 

“ Very funny Sir” “Well lemme go back to doing my chores Sir, I will see you around”

Oh how it was that curious woman, and she just acted as if she were to bump into me by accident. What a Pest!

After that day, I started noticing her more and more. Every single day as I passed her while she was doing her chores, she stopped immediately and came towards me. She asked me questions as if we were friends.  She always found a way to get my attention and every time she gave me that hideous smile, I always found it hard to keep my calm. Then one day I have had enough of her. I decided to go down my long dark stairs and to the floor level of my catacombs. I dugged a whole specifically just for her. Between my other holes that I have covered up, the newly made hole was now waiting for her, and to getting her down here with no suspicions was now the next step. While walking out of the catacombs I established my plan on luring her down into the catacombs. It was all set and just needed her now. 

Sitting in my office, I called Anne to the room. 

“Hello Anne”

“Afternoon Sir, lovely day ain’t it” 

“ Oh why yes it is” 

“Do you need anything Sir” 

“ Why yes… yes I do” 

“ If you don’t mind, would you please do me favor and fetch some fine wine down my catacombs” 

“ why yes sir, I will, may I ask which one would you like sir” 

“ Oh no, surprise me” 

“Yes sir, I will go on my way now”

After she left, I waited a few minutes before following her.

Trying to follow her as quietly as I could she walked out of the inside of my mansion and out onto the yard. Following behind her she finally made it to the catacombs. It was dark in there so of course she had to light a torch. Since I wanted to do this as sneakily as I could, I didn’t light a torch and just kept following her inside the catacombs.  She seemed scared, and afraid of the dark, cold, humid, and echoey stairs while walking down. Finally she reached the floor level of the catacombs. As for me, I hid in an unknown place where she would not notice me until I chose to come out. As I was watching her, it seems to me that she noticed the holes on the ground but later ignored it and didn’t seem to care about it too much. She started heading towards the cellar and looked for a fine wine. After minutes of her searching and finally picked a wine, I came out of hiding and popped up behind her. She was frightened to death, but not as much as she would be later on when I get to her.

“ Oh Sir!! You frightened me” 

“ I’m so sorry Anne, excuse me for the invasion” 

“Ha ha,not at all sir… um what are you doing down here” 

“ Well I forgot to tell you to do one more thing, and I just decided I might as well just come here myself now”

“Oh is that so sir”

“ Yes, since we are down here, do you mind if we grab a drink together”

“ I’m so sorry sir, but I do not drink”

“ Oh what a bummer, but I insist you do… you wouldn’t want to come out as rude. Now do you?” 

“ No! No,of course not!”

“ Then I insist you drink” 

“Well if it is what you want, I will follow” 

“ Ha ha, cheers then” 

“ ha ha, cheers…” 

What she doesn’t know is that I spiked her drink with something that will make her lose consciousness for a while. Oh how sad it was going to be when she wakes up in a cask scared. 

“Cough* cough* sorry sir… I don’t know what’s with me right now”

“Hmm, oh no are you not feeling well… we can leave this place now to get you some fresh air” 

“Yes that would sound lovely right now” 

When she started walking her way towards the stairs, she collapsed. I knew it was time to finally finish my plan. 

“Sir.. if you don’t mind… may you please help me up,” beggs Anne breathing heavily. 

“I’m sorry but I would kindly reject your offer” 

“Excuse me?” says Anne confused. 

“That’s right. I do not wish to help you. In fact, I put you here so that you can be put in this position today.” 

“ What why? I didn’t do anything to you”

“ Oooh you know why!” Shouts Montresor. 

“ but all this time I thought I was good to you, wasn’t I… I followed your orders, I did all the chores… aren’t we friends?”

“ Ha! FRIENDS? No not even close. You see, you have annoyed me so much these past few days when you started working here. Trying to find every excuse to get my attention. But I’m smarter than that to fall into your little tricks. I see how you always look at my precious mansion. I see how you always ask questions to everyone. You think I wouldn’t notice what you’re trying to do here.”

“What… are… you… talking… about” stuttered Anne.

“If you don’t admit it it’s fine. Since you won’t be living for long anyways.” 

“ What do you mean by that” whispered Anne. 

“ You’ll soon know”

“Someone help!” Yelled Anne.

“Ha! No one can hear you sweetheart. No one ever heard all the other cries that came out of this place. So why would it be different for you?”

“Please no… please…” as Anne slowly passes out into unconsciousness. 

Finally this little brat passed out. I was wondering when the drugs were going to kick in. I lift her up from the ground and put her in the brand new cask which I made just for her. After that I closed the cask shut and brought her cask into the dugged out dirt. Once the cask was put into the hole. I finally covered the huge hole up with dirt. It took me hours to cover up the dirt, but once I was done I heard a banging noise. It seemed like it was coming from Anne when she finally woke up from being unconscious for hours. I heard this banging sound for minutes, until it finally stopped. It looks like she finally gave up.I started laughing out non stop because of this. Oh how fun it is to see people struggle to live. 

Months passed by and no one still hasn’t found out about the things I do. Like all the rest of the bodies in the catacombs. Fortunato, Anne, and all the other rest of the people who had insulted me are still within the catacombs. 

 

After completing the brick wall around Fortunato, I begin to ascend out of the cellar back to the party above. When arriving above ground the hills are rolling with luscious plant life and beautiful green grass, the sun is shining and it seems like a perfect day, but I feel uneasy. Why would not I with his on my conscious, how do I convince everyone I do not know what happened to Fortunato. Just as I begin to panic, I hear a voice behind me “Hi sweetie, where have you been,” said my wife, Elizabeth, a fair skin woman with silky black hair and eyes like honey. “Oh, I have just been out and about my darling,” I replied sweating nervously. How long can I keep this up before I break? Then I had an idea, what if everyone just knew Fortunato died, I could fake his death, and no one would be suspicious. I must begin to plan this, before it is too late. 

If I could design a mannequin that looked like Fortunato and cast it over a cliff like an accident my worries will go away, so I get to work. I go into my house and enter my workplace to begin constructing the mannequin. Using hay and clothes I created a mannequin like a scarecrow. Just as I begin to think this may work Fortunato’s wife knock on my door, “Amontillado what happened to my dear Fortunato,” she asked. Why must this be so difficult? To avoid having to speak with her I exit through the cellar and ascend where Fortunato’s house resides. With everyone at the party I can easily sneak in and steal some clothes for this mannequin. So, I set off up the hill toward the main gate of Fortunato’s house. The closer I get to the steps the more guilty I feel, how could I not I just killed a man, maybe I should just come clean and tell everyone what I did. That is when I realize, his wine collection will be mine. So, with my resolve back intact I enter through the side door and begin my search for clothes. The corridor I entered the house in was massive, the roof was 2o feet tall with pillars and paintings for decoration. I have never seen anything like this, how eccentric. “I must not get distracted,” I said out loud so I could snap myself out of my daze. 2 more doors down the corridor I saw it, the laundry room. All the clothes I will need for my mannequin was right there ready to be taken, and so I grab it and run back down the corridor and out of the front gates to return to my workplace. That is when I encountered my next obstacle. 

After seeing the mannequin at the bottom of the cliff what would I do if they try to retrieve the body, they will see it is a mannequin. After hours of vigorous brainstorming it hit me, right down the road there is a cliff that descends into the ocean. If I can make everyone see that Fortunato fell into the ocean there will be no way for them to retrieve the body. With my new solution I decided I would need help, and there is only one man I trust with everything, my brother Dontillado. Dontillado is my 2-year younger brother who is a blacksmith at the bottom of the hill. My brother always preferred a simple life with a quaint home and farm crops for dinner, whereas I prefer big houses and imported goods. Differences aside he was my brother, and we were best friends from the day he was born. So, while building up the courage to ask for his help I descend the mountain. After walking for nearly two hours I see my brothers house where he lives with his wife, Alicia. Alicia was a blonde girl with blue eyes and an hourglass shape only obtainable through a life of working. “Brother,” I call out as I get closer. With a look of confusion, I see my brother emerge and his eyes light when he realizes it is me. “brother, what are you doing here,” he asks, and with a grave face I reply, “We must talk in private.” As I finish explaining the story of what I did in the cellar my brother sits quietly. Afraid of what he might say I can only bring myself to stare at the wood floor. After a few more moments of silence he says, “I have an idea.”

With my brother at my side we ascend the mountain prepared to act out our stunt in the morning. As sun the rises over the hill I come running back to the houses, yelling “Everyone come quick there has been an awful accident.” People begin rushing up the mountain to help Fortunato. I stay behind snickering at the fact our plan is working. My brother waited at the top of the hill where Fortunato “fell over the edge.” His genius plan was going to work, and I was going to be free of this guilt. So, as not to look suspicious I climb the mountain with the group of people to save Fortunato. As we reach the top of the hill, Dontillado is acting his heart out, screaming “I could not hold on and he has fallen into the ocean.” Curious as to how he made it look myself I peer over the edge. At the bottom I see the mannequin begin to sink into the ocean along with my worries.

It only took weeks for the people to move on from Fortunato’s death. We all returned to our normal lives and unknown to everyone, Fortunato’s wife, Emily, who was small woman with red hair and tiny feet, announced to the people that she was pregnant and it was a boy. My heart dropped, is it possible for Fortunato’s son would discover the truth, perhaps I should not worry, no one would believe the boy if he only found a skeleton. 

It was the middle of the night, a few years after the Montresor killed Fortunato. Montresor wakes up suddenly startled. “What was that it felt so real, it must have just been a bad dream” he says. For some reason after all these years he was wondering if what he did was the right thing and if there is a possibility that he might get caught. He was having a hard time going back to sleep after the bad dream. “It felt so real, is its possible Fortunato escaped” He thought. “No way it is impossible to escape a wall that thick and he was already coughing from being down there”. He finally falls back to sleep after a few hours but once again he wakes up from his slumber. “Why is this happening it has been years since I killed him why am I having dreams he could have escaped now?” he thinks. “In the morning I will go back down to that wretched place and check so I can finally get a good night rest” he decides.  

The Next morning 

Montresor gets dressed and ready for the day. He grabs a light so he can see in the dark. “It is finally time to put this to rest and assure myself that he is dead and there is no way for him to be alive”.  He arrives at the catacombs. “I do not miss this wretched place; it is always so cold, and it feels haunted and just creepy”. He finally reaches the wall where he killed Fortunato, but something was not expected. “The wall is open!” he yelled. “How could the wall be open I sealed it and he could not have kicked it down with how weak he was when I put him in there!” he said concerned. “I need to leave because this means that someone was down here.” he thought. Just before he left, he saw something with the light he had, it was Fortunato’s bones. “These must be his bones, so he did die but someone came down here... I wonder why”. As Montresor was leaving, he heard people talking “I am sorry kid, but we will find who did this” a soldier/ cop said. “What was your name one more time to make sure we know who your dad is?” the officer said. “I am Fortunato jr son of Fortunato” the kid said. “What! Fortunato had a kid!” Montresor thought. “Why is he looking for his dad's killer now after all these years he looks like a teenager with brown hair, fair face, but there is no doubt that it is indeed Fortunato’s kid”. 

He goes back to his house 

“My worst fear has come true; they found the body and now they are looking for me” he says. He realizes what he must do “I need to cover my tracks and make sure there is no way for me to be caught”. “Oh, Fortunato even in the afterlife you find a way to make my life hard and torture me, but I am going to make sure there is no way for me to be caught you will not win this” he says to himself calmly but inside he is frightened. “For now, I must get rest for I have a long day tomorrow” Montresor says. Once again in the middle of the night he wakes up scared and sweating. “Why is he still haunting me, and I keep having the same dream of me getting arrested and thrown in the same wall as I buried Fortunato”. “The last faces I see are his kids face and my own as I watch myself buried but right before the last brick is placed, I always wake up”. He stays up all night for he cannot sleep while he knows that he is being looked for. 

The next morning 

He gets ready so that way he can start to cover his tracks and make sure there is no lead to him. “I am so tired; I have gotten no sleep because of that dang Fortunato the whole reason I buried him was so I can never deal with him again and so no one can find him and yet he haunts me with his kid and in my dreams” Montresor says angrily. He walks over to the catacombs to see if there is anything that could give them a lead to him. The weird thing is he feels like he is being followed but when he looks there is no one. “I have to make this quick before someone sees me walking in and out of that wretched place.” He checks around him before going down and quickly walks down and starts looking for any sign or material that could lead to him. He finds a medallion with a crest on it and his name on the back that he dropped and a few other things he left or dropped behind before the murder. He gets to the wall with something again unexpected. “The bones they, they are gone” he says scared. They have been down there after he left the first time which means they were already looking for clues. He packs everything up and quickly tries to leave the catacombs but before he gets out the officer was waiting for him and surprises him. “Montresor what are you doing down there this is a crime scene?” officer says suspiciously. “I heard about the death of my dear friend Fortunato, and to think this whole time I thought he just moved away” Montresor says nervously. “Well do not walk in and out we are trying to figure out who did this, but it is difficult, and I apologize for you loss.” the officer says trying to help. “Well, I shall be on my way thank you officer and good luck” Montresor says pretending to be sad and hopeful when he is laughing because they are struggling. Montresor walks away and goes home but the officer waits and goes down into the catacombs. 

In the catacombs 

“Let's see if anything was moved” the officer says. The officer has been down there many times looking for details and trying to figure out any clues that could lead them to the killer. Montresor moved many things and trying to hide what could possibly lead them to him, but the officer notices the things missing and realizes that Montresor is trying to cover it up possible. “I felt bad at first because you seemed really sad and to think it was just a cover so you would not get caught but too bad, I pay attention to the details like how your hands were always hidden behind you back and the footprints that were here when we came match the shoes you were wearing today” the officer says confidently. He leaves the catacombs and comes up with a plan. 

At Montresor's house 

“There is no way for me to be caught now it will be like a mut chasing its tail oh it was too easy” Montresor says confidently. “Well now I will be able to rest without the nightmares of a dead man or his son”. Little does Montresor knows that he might be awaiting a rude awakening.  

Right before the break of dawn at Montresor's house  

The door is kicked open and men swarm into the house looking for Montresor. They find him in his room still sleeping and they grab him. Men are talking and trying to get him restrained as he wakes and tries to fight out of their hands. “What are you doing get you filthy hands off me” Montresor says angry. “Montresor you are under arrest for the murder of Fortunato” the officer says. Montresor is restrained but has a look of fear and is stunned about what is happening.  

The morning at a courthouse 

They drag Montresor in, and he sees Fortunato’s kid and wife. “Montresor after your arrest the officers searched your house and found the things that were moved and taken out of the catacomb” the judge says. “Yes, I took some things from the catacombs because Fortunato was a good friend, and we were down there many times” Montresor says nervously still trying to lie. “You see Montresor that is very believable but the only reason we know that it was you is because someone followed you in the catacombs, but we could not be sure until now and we found you fingerprints on the chains that he was chained up to” the judge says fiercely.  Luchesi was the one to follow you but we could not develop a case because of the little evidence until you went and tried to cover it all up, so as punishment you will spend the rest of your time in jail but not any jail in the same wall where you murdered Fortunato” the judge says angrily as a finally decision.  

In the catacombs 

The officers dragged him over to the catacombs as he fought the whole way trying to escape and almost doing it a few times. Fortunato’s family was them just to be sure that he was gone forever in that wall. “Your father was ruining my life and he deserved what he had coming to him if only he was not so full of himself, he might have been smart to realize what was happening but that old man could not do anything” Montresor says angrily and laughing. They chain him up and put him in the wall. “Please do not do this I will give you anything you might have ever wanted and then some” Montresor says trying to get out of the mess he put himself in.  He continues to beg for mercy as they put the bricks up and they are almost done. Montresor’s last words before the last brick were “Dang you Fortunato curse you and your wretched family and generations of your blood for as long as they walk on this soil!” he says yelling and angry. Right as they put the last brick, he seems Fortunato's kid, his wife, Fortunato! Then the officers put the last brick in, and Montresor sees it all go dark and then wakes up.  

Back in Montresor's house 

Yelling from his sleep he wakes up “AHHHHHH, what was that what is happening am I dead!” He is confused, sweating, and frightened. “Was it all a dream what is happening it felt so real” he says. “I have got to be sure of what is happening”. He gets up and walks to the catacombs to see nothing has changed and the wall is still up, so he heads back home and stays up wondering what was happening and why to only figure out that he was asleep for 3 days. “I thought I was going to die maybe I did die, or I hit my head”. Then after visiting the catacombs a day before this all started, he must have inhaled to much of the chemicals in there and been poisoned or something. After everything he sits on the bed making sure he is ok and not dreaming still. After everything he has been through only to figure out it was all a dream. 

            As I'm trudging down the worn grey steps, my mind races and raves about many things. “will his spirit attempt to take vengeance,” “will his body be in good condition,” “what will I do if things go wrong?” There is seemingly no end to these questions. I continued to make my way down the uneven steps until I finally reached the wall that was blocking my old friend’s, no, Fortunato’s tomb. I closely examined the wall with my lamp and noticed that it was brittle and eroding. I set down the lamp and built up whatever strength left I had in my old bones and charged at the door hoping that I would not break anything in my shoulders. The door thankfully burst open as I tumbled into the room.

            I slowly stumbled up, grabbing my lantern in the process. My heart pounded but slowly returned to normal as I surveyed the room. I saw the place where I chained up Fortunato and noticed there was no body. My heart began to race again as I poked at the many empty bottles and busted casks of liquor with my rapier. I then saw what I was here for, just across the room, there was an old jester costume draped across an unopened cask of alcohol. I picked up some of the fabric with the tip of my sword and threw it across the room. The silver bells on the costume jingled a bit when it landed and revealed the dried-up skeleton of Fortunato.

            “He must have died of either alcohol poisoning or hunger,” I thought as a sudden chill went down my spine. I thought I felt a slight cold breeze rush around the room but that had to just be my anxiety. Suddenly, I started hearing bottles and casks of alcohol start to crack and break. “This is it; he is trying to kill me.” I thought as I started to quickly pace towards the entrance, sword in hand. I then turned around only to see my oil lantern burst and the alcohol started to burn. I started to run as fast as my elderly body could take me while the fire spread and grew more furious. Sweat was pouring out of me like a leaking faucet as I stumbled and dashed up the stairs. When I reached the wooden door at the top I burst through and continued to run out of the manor in blind panic. Once I got to a safe distance, I stopped to catch my breath and watch my life go up in flames. There was no turning back, I had to leave to a place Fortunato’s spirit will never be able to haunt me again. 

            I caught a carriage that was leaving the town I grew up near and began my journey out of the life I once held close to me. I reminisced about my childhood, including the parts before my good old friend betrayed me. I thought about the guilt I felt and how the revenge I so longed for was not worth it in the end. This little stunt of mine only deepened my guilt. After days of traveling and steeping in my thoughts, I finally found an old cabin in the woods that I could make into my new home. I lived out the rest of my days in fear and loneliness, wondering if Fortunato would somehow find me, and succeed in his revenge. 

         When Fortunato went missing, there was a feeling that crept up, one that told me his disappearance did not follow the excuses being made. Of course, Montresor was a constant thought given the closeness of the two friends, but he had isolated himself from many by then. Fifty years later, and a chance encounter with Montresor led to the putrid scent I had come to know well. When away from his home, my husband Andrik and I would enter the catacombs underneath his home, a place where something peculiar was bound to happen.

            “Jelena, is there an ounce of doubt that you don’t think it was Montresor?” Andrik said in a whisper as we continued walking with torches in hand. “If you’ve followed any of the statements made in the past about the two, one could easily conclude there was no evidence to paint Montresor as guilty.”

            “The best of friends, sure. The best of friends with occasional conflicts, correct. Were any of the conflicts serious? Not at all, and yet Montresor was always the vengeful type.” I said, correcting Andrik’s ever-so analytical mind. “I know you’re refraining from using the typical argument that smelling something putrid doesn’t equate to a sound conclusion.” Here I had brought Andrik, looking for any sign that Fortunato’s figure would suddenly appear. Was I right to think he would understand after seventy years of knowing me?

             Our first clue concerning Fortunato came as we turned a corner to see a long table that wore a white tablecloth and wine glasses as accessories. The wine glasses looked like they hadn’t been touched in years, possibly yearning to have the wine that used to fill them each night. Seconds after coming across the long table, a putrid smell arose. It was one of rotten meat, eggs, and fruit—not necessarily the best-smelling trifecta. Such a smell brought me closer to a wine glass at the end of the table, near what seemed like a room made of cinder blocks.

           “So your sense of smell led you to a wine glass? Jelena, it’s much more plausible that Fortunato really did move away. I mean- what in the world would a wine glass tell you abo-”

         “Andrik, look underneath the table, where the wine glass is positioned.” There, shards of glass were spread out on the cold floor, almost like an ominous message.

        “Well, you’re not wrong.” Andrik expressed, disappointed that he had doubted one of my eccentric ideas for the hundredth time. “It’s definitely a sign, especially one of struggle.”

        “We’re in a lesser-known part of the catacombs, one that seems like no one has been in for years. What are the chances we find a broken wine glass?”

            Just as I asked a rhetorical question, a small, golden bell could be seen from the corner of my eye, waiting to be acknowledged like one of the wine bottles on the shelves. It was a bell that was both familiar yet unfamiliar because of the time that had passed since. It lost all of its significance during that time, and quickly gained it with a quick glance. I stood up to hold it, expecting the jingle that one would so often hear when working with Fortunato.

         “It’s from Fortunato’s hat, he would wear it for every wine tasting.”

       “Coincidence no longer, but unless there’s any evidence, we cannot claim Montresor did whatever you’re accusing him of.”

        “It’s not an accusation at this point, Andrik. It is a mere fact that I’ll show for.” 

       Suddenly, the same putrid scent I had encountered a short moment ago seemed to have been coming from the one cinder block room that looked out of place. The bell had been left in front of the room, and perhaps it was the reminder of Fortunato that made it all the more convincing to look behind the walls. However, there was no opening—the cinder blocks toppled over each other in the same pattern until they reached the ceiling. However, as I turned to the right side, I encountered one cinder block that could easily be removed because it was not sealed correctly.

       “What are you doing now?” Andrik expressed with some type of newfound curiosity as he saw my finger touch the one block. 

Without much thought, I pushed against it, struggling as it was still wedged between other blocks. Andrik saw what I was attempting and quickly rushed to help, but with his old age, I had little hope he would prevail. This thought quickly diminished as minutes later, we were both able to see the inside of the now slightly-sealed room and the misery that would come with it.

         “Fortunato.” I said, staring at a tiny, comical hat that sat atop the bones that oozed melancholy and despair. The disturbance upset me, yet I had trespassed into Montresor’s home in order to find evidence pointing to Fortunato’s disappearance—knowing that my assumptions would eventually be proven correct.

        “I’m assuming Montresor is the only explanation?” Andrik asked, to which I slowly nodded my head, unable to make sense of the last few moments.

            You see she was the daughter of Fortunato, who I got revenge on after years of him teasing me, and saying he was the better than me at everything. I went to comfort her so that I wouldn’t raise suspicion, as I was known as his friend, so it would only be fitting for me to comfort his daughter while he had gone missing. No one knew he was dead yet, but by the looks of Elizabeth it seems like she had assumed. “I’ve been better, but thank you,” she said, “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?” I couldn’t not accept, I had no where else to be and tea sounded lovely, so I followed her inside. She led me to the kitchen, where there was fresh bread on the wood countertop. “My father has been missing for a month, I shouldn’t say this but…” she sighed, obviously trying to hold back tears, “I- I- I think my fathers dead.” 

            “Well there is still hope, maybe he got lost and is on the outskirts of town where he doesn’t know anyone,” I said, trying to make her hopeful. 

            “I truly hope so, Montresor,” she said, sighing and looking down. It was obvious she knew that wasn’t true. She looked up at me, “I want to learn where my father went if he is lost still. If he is dead, I want to learn who killed him, he was in perfectly good health so there was no way for him to have died naturally.”

            “I can help you with that investigation if you’d like me to,” I said. I thought about whether or not she would figure out it was me, she had always been an intelligent girl. She had solved the case of who killed Mrs. Furrgison when she was 7. Now she’s 19 and who knows how much she could figure out. 

            “The would be amazing,” Elizabeth said, “Let me go grab something from upstairs so as to help me remember details. Please stay right here if you could.”

            “Alright,” I said as she ran up the stairs. “What an odd girl,” I thought. 

            She came back down the stairs with a pen and a pad. Elizabeth asked, “When was the last time you saw my father, if you don’t mind me questioning you?”

            I thought about if there was harm in telling her, but I realized if I lied she could have asked anyone else and they would have told her. “At the party with your father,” I said. I realized she was at the party and may have seen me and her father go down the stairs, but I didn’t get too worried yet, she didn’t seem to notice anything by her facial expressions. 

            “Alright,” she said, writing down something in her notepad. 

            “Where was this party?” she asked, probably trying to figurer out if she’s thinking of the right one. 

            “Well the last party your father hosted, actually,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. “That might have been a mistake,” I thought. 

            She wrote something down in her notepad, her expression changed a bit. She wrinkled her brow and pursed her lips a bit. She was obviously realizing something, and I really started hoping she didn’t know. She looked at me, up and down for a second, her pen in her mouth, arms crossed. “You seem to have noticed something,” I asked. 

            “Well I was at the party you were talking about, and you went off with my father to have him taste some wine I believe. I had had a few drinks myself so I don’t know, but that’s what I remember,” she paused. “You didn’t come back that night, and my father was called as missing the next day.” 

            “You must be mistaken, it could not have been me. I stayed at that party all night long.” I hoped she didn’t notice my face going a bit pale. 

            “I am not mistaken at all actually, you were wearing the same hat you are now. With the black feather,” she said, pointing to my hat, pen still in hand. 

            “W-w-well I’m sure you are mistaken,” I stammered trying to calm myself down a bit. “I’m sure there are plenty of hats of the same style, and with a black feather.”

            “Well there might be, but you had the same shirt on as well,” she said. “I really am screwed,” I thought. I looked around the room, looking for something to help me with this problem. I saw a knife block in the corner of the room. I started moving towards it, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “You returned to the party without him actually,” she said. “I might be able to go ask someone else who was at the party to clarify for me, of course everyone was drunk so they may not have noticed…” she muttered, trailing off. 

            “Well, I was actually hoping to be the one you married one day, with how beautiful you are, and you have much wealth. I guess that won’t be happening now,” I said. 

            “What was tha-” I covered her mouth from behind, and put the knife to her throat. 

            “Such a shame that a girl with such a pretty face as yours has to be so bright,” I whispered into her ear. I cut her throat as deep as I could. “Really, it is such a shame.” I let her eyes roll back into her head, and I wrapped my handkerchief on her neck so it wouldn’t be a clean-up. I brought her body to a room right next to where I killed Fortunato. Elizabeth would lie next to her father, forever, and neither were to ever be found. 

                “I have some terrible news about your husband Julie. Fortunato ha...” I was ruddily interrupted by Julie crying and shouting, “Of course, He must have left with someone younger, probably prettier.” As she went on about this story. I thought I could use this information to persuade her that her husband left her. No, this would not work because everyone else would find it off that Fortunato left with another woman that was prettier that Julie, for Julie was the  Julie the prettiest in our city. Great now I got to find a way to quite her. This is why I never married, to much work. Julie was still going on her story, “She must be amazing cook because he isn’t getting the chef…” I interrupted her,“ Julie please be quite and listen to me.” I sat across from her and I tried rubbing my hangover and my new headache away. I started talking after Julie only made sniffles. “Let’s try this again.” I said, “Julie your Husband…” Julie started laughing once again and said, “Why would he leave me? I am gorgeous and have a chef. I mean what is he going to eat if the chef isn’t going to…” Julie stared at me as I grabbed her hand. “Mr. Montresor your smiling again. Stop that! If you have a creepy smile, d not to use it.” Julie released her arm by grabbing a tissue which was conveniently there like someone knew this would happen. Julie spoke once again after blowing her nose. “Do I have terrible smile? Is that why he left?” I tried to assure her, “Julie you don’t have…” “Don’t lie to me!” she shouted. I heard some noise from some boys outside the tent. I turned to their direction to yell at them. Then I saw a familiar looking little goblin who was chasing a Fortunato ghost who ran to Julie's crying face. The little goblin then looked at me and asked, "How do you do Mr. Montresor?" I bent down to little goblin and said, "I'm just fine. I'm telling your mother something important Fred, so why don't you and your..." "He was my brother Frank, sir. He has been learning abroad for last few years." he said and then moved his hands to cup and whispered in my ear "Creepy is it not? How similar he looks like my dad?" I nodded while standing back up. I looked up to hear Fortunato twin talk to Julie. “Well I’m glad I gave you some tissues Mother because you would have been disgusting mess in front of this tiger.” “Who are you calling a tiger?” I yelled. Frank turned to me and said, “My apologies...” “It’s Mr. Montresor” Fred said and continued, “and he looks more like a zebra because he is… ” Fred stopped explaining who I was and both boys looked at me. Fred opened his mouth, however, he shut it because I soon learn Fred was smarter than his brother. “Wow! You have the creepiest smile I have seen in my life, and we are in carnival so that is saying a lot.” Frank said and turned to his brother. “You’re right!” He turned back to and said, “Sorry, Mr. Montresor. My brother was right you are more like zebra. “What?” I looked at him. “I thought you were a tiger about to hunt my mother’s looks and money, but I was wrong you are a creepy smile and had a rough time getting to the carnival.” Frank said and pointed at my ripped black jacket that did make look like a tiger with my orange shirt underneath my jacket. Then we all turned to Julie as she said, “Told you so! You should not smile” I was so upset I started to smile as she was finishing up her statement.

 I looked at the boys and said, “Leave I have somethings to discuss with your mother.” Fred started to leave but Frank grabbed his brother’s collar and said, “Whatever you have to say to her, we have to listen too because zebras symbolized a prisoner.” “I don’t think that is right Frank.” Fred said as he started to release himself. Then Julie started to cry once again and said, “Boys he is about to tell us that your Father left me for someone prettier.” “What?” Frank said while turning. “Why? You are the prettiest person out there.” Fred said with care in his eyes. Frank then shouted, “I hope he knows that he will not be getting the chef because… wait!” Frank turned to me and asked, “He didn’t leave my mom for the chef because he loved both equally?” “What?” I asked with concern that his family has this much fear about losing their chef. They kept asking stupid questions and I was unable to talk. I could no longer handle the laughing, the crying from their mother, and questions from the annoying little brats who would not leave or listen. "Enough!!!" I finally shouted. "Listen I killed your husband and father. You guys would not be quiet enough for me to tell you my fake story. I'm just so frustrated." I said while squatting in a fetal position. 

            It was finally quiet. No more laughing, crying, and stupid questions from the giant blue tent we were under. It stayed like that until I felt a tiny hand on my shoulder. “Did you really kill him?” Fred asked with tears in his eyes. I wipe the tears off his face and said “Yes, I could not let him…” “H-hey there is no excuses-s why you did it.” Frank said with most vulnerable face I seen him make. “I’m sorry” I said now feeling a pain of the guilt. “No, Thank you!” Julie said to me. “What?” I said nearly to tears like Fred. “Thank you! Mr. Montresor” Fred said before blowing his nose with his mother’s tissues. “Yeah, thank you zebra!” Frank said about to fall on the floor before I catch him. “Why are you thanking me? I just killed your father and your husband.” I said with one tear dripping out of eye. “No, you saved us from him Mr. Montresor. He was a monster who sent my brother to a different country.” Fred started to explain. “He only allowed mom to spend her money on one thing which is the chef, and he would lock me up in the library when he was drunk.” Fred could not keep talking  because he was drowning in his own tears. Julie was next to me and her boys and said, “Thank you so much! You saved me and the boys from my husband.” “Don’t worry I will take care of you and the boys until you no longer need me.” Fortunato was right. Karma did come fast. I have to live the rest of my life with his annoying family.

Emilia came to my side as I stared up at the house, not fully sure if I wanted to walk inside or not. She wrapped an arm around me and squeezed me tight.

 “How are you feeling, Andrea,” she asked. 

“Nervous.”

“You aren’t alone, you know. We can do this together.”

Emilia and I walked up to the front doors of the manor. We opened the doors and stepped inside. The interior designer outdid herself. The walls were a light shade of blue. It almost looked white. I liked the subtlety of the way the colors were presented on the wall while the furniture and decor explored different shades of brown and slight hints of pastel yellow. It was beautiful, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. 

Emilia walked into one of the rooms. 

“Where are you going,” I asked.

“I want to make one of the rooms my workshop. It would be nice to have all my clocks in one place.”

“Oh, okay. Have fun! I’m gonna look at the rest of the rooms and see if I can find something.”

“What are you looking for?”

“I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve done something wrong.”

Emilia walked over and placed her hands on either side of my face, caressing my cheeks gently. “You miss your dad,” she said. “We’re moving into his house and we’ve changed it. I’m sure he wouldn’t get mad about something like this. He would have wanted us to be happy here.”

“I guess you’re right.” 

Despite agreeing with her, I wanted to know for sure that something wasn’t wrong. Emilia would never believe in something supernatural unless she saw it herself, and I don’t blame her for it. I just needed to make sure this feeling I had was just a feeling.

I found some spare keys and wandered around the house. Once I made it upstairs, I knew this floor was just as well designed as the first floor. I went into the farthest room down on the right side and opened the door. The room was massive. I walked inside and looked around, taking in the view. The room followed a similar color palette to the rest of the house, yet somehow it felt different. There was so much space that everything seemed too big. Right when I went to sit on the bed, I saw something move from the corner of my eye. I walked over to the door and looked down the hall. Emilia wasn’t up here. 

I held my arms and hugged myself a little, rubbing my arms to warm myself up. I saw something move again. The figure was blurred most of the time since I could only see it for a moment. It looked like black smoke, but it moved with the urgency of a scared squirrel. The figure led me back downstairs to a door I hadn’t seen when wandering around before. When I was younger, my father told me the story of a Fool who got drunk and went down into the catacombs and got himself killed. It was more of a cautionary tale to keep us from going inside, but I never believed it. This was the perfect time to find out what’s behind the door. The door was huge. Most doors in this house were like that. It was painted a ghastly shade of white. I pressed my hand against it and once I lifted it off and looked at my hand, I saw the collection of dust I had gathered. It seems even the designer ignored this place. I cleaned my hands off with my pants, then pulled on the handle. The door wouldn’t budge. 

I grabbed my keys and shuffled around until I found one that fit the keyhole. I turned the key and opened the door. I stared down, looking at the darkness at the end of the stairs. After turning on the light, I walked down the stairs to find yet another door. This door looked sturdier, and it was dark. I found the key that fit this lock and opened the door. I stepped inside and the humid air washed over me. It was thick, and my breathing became shallow. I walked forward, trying to ignore the foul smell. I heard the door shut behind me, then turned around and tried to open it. Even when I tried putting the key in, the door wouldn’t give in. I slammed my hands against the door, trying to make enough noise to get Emilia’s attention. 

I heard the faint sound of laughter behind me. When I turned around, I saw the figure of a man. The feeling of dread washed over me as I looked up at him. My legs shook under my weight, and I pressed my back up against the wall to create some distance. This thing, it was tall. Despite some of the features being more clear than others, the image of black smoke swirling around to create a silhouette was the most noticeable to me. 

“Hello, Andrea,” said the figure. 

“How do you know my name?”

“I know everything about you, child. I’ve been stuck in this godforsaken house longer than you’ve been alive.”

“So the stories were true? You’re the fool who got himself killed here?”

The air seemed to get thicker. I walked further in the catacombs, looking around doe something that could give off light. I knew the figure was following me. I could feel a chill while I was looking around. I was trying to contain my terror, but being in the dark with a spirit doesn’t help. 

“I am no fool!” the commanding voice of the spirit shook me. “I am Fortunato, and I did not get lost in here by myself and die. Montresor cuffed me and let me die inside a wall.”

“You’re lying. Father is not a murderer. Dying a fool must have been humiliating if you think it justifies lying about my family.”

The air even thicker and before, and I felt myself getting tired. I leaned against the wall and gasped for air. 

“You have it easy. When I was dying, I couldn’t breathe or eat. I was stuck there for days, waiting for the end to come,” said Fortunato.

So I was dying. The doors are all locked, nobody could hear me, and even if they could, I couldn’t breathe well enough to muster the energy to scream. When it was all over my body collapsed to the floor and I fell unconscious. I watched my lifeless body lay there for hours as Fortunato’s laughter filled the room. He was a fool who got murdered in this house, and I was a fool for tempting his anger. 

After hours passed, I watched as Emilia came down the stairs and found my body. Her screams were heartbreaking and her cries hurt me even more. I would have lived longer if I had ignored this feeling. I should have helped her find the perfect room for her workshop, and made us a nice meal to celebrate our new home. She called the police. They found Fortunato’s body and his spirit was able to leave the house. My body was gone, but for some reason, I was still stuck in the manor. Emilia left me about 30 years ago, and nobody has been inside this wretched place since.

“Madeline please,” my voice was flat, not a hint of consent. 

“I simply must do my job,” I told. 

Her freckled face was filled with distaste, “must you Montresor? Why must you file to your parent’s cruelty?”

 My father Stephen smiled softly, his salt and pepper hair finely slicked back, and his sharp hazel eyes were filled with a look of pleasure. 

My mother Abigail held his hand. Her black hair was picked up in a large, messy bun. Her Crooked smile only grew, “oh Stephen we've done well.” 

“Yes Abigail, Montresor has learned well,” Stephen grinned. 

I smiled at Madeline, yet it had no feeling. 

“Apologies my love, I must depart,” I said. 

As I headed out the cold, dull, cinder block house, I could only think of my younger brother Thomas. An image of him in his hospital bed cluttered my mind. 

“Montresor be careful,” he told me one afternoon as I was leaving from our daily visits. His large hazel eyes were filled with innocence, and his black hair was a mess. 

“The city’s dangerous, do take precaution. You worry me,” his smile was filled with warmth and care. As I walked out of the house the memory still clung to me. 

“This,” I thought, “is the beginning of a long, cold road.”

 

I went to meet with my colleagues with Luchesi and Fortunato. Both had dark hair and brown eyes. Luchesi was a quiet, simple man, yet Fortunato was a mere fool. A clown, not a sophisticated man. 

“Salutations Montresor, you look well,” Luchesi smiled. 

“Good evening, it's a pleasure to see you again,” I replied.

“You sure look great Montresor old friend!” chuckled Fortunato, “I love what you've done with your hair!”

I placed my hand over my bare head, not a strand in sight. 

Luchesi held his breath, obviously he desired to laugh. However, he attempted to maintain a good composure. 

“How comical Fortunato, your jokes never halt their purpose now do they?” I asked as I put on a painful grin. 

Fortunato patted my shoulder with a laugh, “everyone loves a good laugh my friend.” 

Of course,” I retorted with a hint of bitterness. 

I was reaching my peak with Fortunato, what a joke he is. I put up with his insolence simply for business purposes. 

“The lengths I go to for a mere occupation,” I thought with a heavy sigh. 

Luchesi cleared his throat as an attempt to break the silence of the heavy seeming room. 

“Shall we continue gentleman?” He asked. 

“But of course,” Fortunato smiled. 

“I suppose so. Wine won't make itself,” I answered.

 

Later the next evening I went to visit Thomas. When I walked into the hospital room, my eyes went straight to Madeline who sat on the chair next to my kid brother. 

“Madeline,” I uttered. 

Her smile was directed to Thomas. Not glancing at me once she spoke, “Montresor… Thomas here has been speaking of you.” 

My eyebrow raised in curiosity, “he has now?” 

“Oh yes, he speaks so highly of you, “she smiled, “much like I used to.” 

“Madeline must you start this now? And here?” I sighed. Thomas looked around with confusion, “brother what is the problem? What ails Madam Madeleine?”

His huge, intelligent, hazel eyes were filled with worry. 

“Nothing, she'll be on her way now,” I glanced at Madeline. 

She glared her emerald eyes at me, “why did I fall for a man with no heart? You won't even tell Thomas what is going on. He deserves your consent, he desires your time and care... much like I do.” 

Her eyes went from an angry glare to a soft, sorrowful expression. 

“Go Madeline,” I commanded.

With a look of pain in her eyes she turned away, “fine... do as you wish.” 

The hospital room had felt stiff and empty. This same heavy feeling once again, I simply ignored it. 

“So, Thomas, how are you?” I quickly tried to change the mood.

 

“Don't change the subject brother, Madeline is in distress,” Thomas grimaced.

 This young man, only fifteen years of age, although very sickly he spoke with such strength and certainty.

“She's not your concern,” I told. 

Thomas shook his head, “she's like family... speaking of family... this is mother and father's doing isn't this?” 

He sat up with distress, “please Montresor no. They're crooked and vile I know it! They’re murderers, you know that. What they do to maintain being at the height of their work, they eliminate their competition.”  

I held my tongue for I knew it was true. 

“Whoever crossed them even the slightest would be returned tenfold,” Thomas told. 

“Yes, so must I if I continue to support this family. I must show no care for anyone else, kindness won't benefit my work whatsoever. Mother says so,” I retorted. 

Thomas shook his head and cried, “but, who cares! As long as you have your family and loved ones who needs to go that route?” 

“You’re too young to understand,” I spoke. 

“Don't you love me?” He asked. 

“You're my brother, of course I do,” I replied. 

“Then decide... is it me or is it your work?” he asked. 

I sighed feeling the heaviness of the room worsen. 

“Must I really choose?” I thought.

 

When I came home that evening, I saw my mother tying up Madeline with a thick rope. 

“What's going on? I said with shock. 

“This woman of yours nearly ratted us out! She attempted calling Luchesi and Fortunato for help,” my mother told me. 

“You're evil! Montresor please! They’re murderous creatures, not even human like... Montresor you can halt this vicious cycle, “Madeline pleaded. 

I felt pain in my heart, I truly loved her. Yet that was merely an unnecessary feeling, love would get me nowhere. 

My father Stephen walked in with a stern look. 

“You've brought her into this, so you'll end it. She will jeopardize this family's reputation. Put an end to her blabbering, she’s irritating me,” he spoke with no remorse. 

I sighed with great hurt, “yes father…” 

I stepped over to her with a look of pain. I grabbed her head with one hand and her neck with the other, “apologies my love, Thomas has his answer... my work comes first.” 

Madeline’s face was drenched in tears, “don't! Montresor please!” 

“Farewell,” I said coldly as I snapped her neck. 

Her body jolted at the force I put on her, yet with that quick jerk there was no further movement. She lay there cold and dead. 

“Well done son, Well done, my father applauded. 

My mother smiled with great pride, “that's our boy.”

My first kill yet not my last. I felt great distress over my cynical act. For a moment I stood frozen. Then I quickly dusted myself off and fixed my composure to hide my inner pain. 

“I'll be cleaning up now, Fortunato is expecting me for a party,” I informed. 

As I walked on, I thought upon my actions. A horrible way to end my dilemma, this is not what I hoped for, yet this is now my path to follow. Farewell Madeline, farewell Thomas.

“This is good idea but what are we going to wear, I'm not going to go we look dumb and when I mean we I mean you”. 

“What do you mean me”? Isabella augured back 

“Sorry your style just sucks big time, but you should let me give you a makeover”. Mia insisted  

“What no I don’t need a makeover and style doesn’t suck, your does”! Fired back while crossing her arm while leaning back on the chair. 

“Well, I’m just saying, you have been single for a long time you know and I just thought that maybe you would like to get a little dressed up because you always dress down and plus were going to a festival not to the store”. Mia said to her sister who was giving her a dirty look. They both stood in silence staring at each other.  

“Fine”, Isabella gave in,” You can give me a makeover”.  

Mia screamed, “OH MY GOODNESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH”!  

Isabelle laughed and reassured her, “You can do what you want but I'm not your little test dummy, just think of it like a business and I'm your client”. Mia’s eyes glowed with joy and nodded her head and exclaimed, “you're the best”! 

During those days between now till the festival, they baked and baked. Mia went out shopping for her sister and went to go get her a dress without her knowing. Mia was generally excited about getting her sister a makeover. When she was at the store, she saw this beautiful deep red dress for cheap even though it was missing something but, she would figure it out and add on to the dress. The day finally comes and they get all of the food they cooked and put it together in a wagon and get ready to go. Mia fixed the dress up over the days and gave it to her. Isabella looked at the dress and her jaw dropped. As she stared at the gems and shiny beautiful dress, she couldn’t believe it. She looked at her sister and said, “Mia, you have talent”.  

Mia smiled and teared up, “Thank you”. 

They left to the festival after getting done. Laughing along the way to pass time, they finally made it. The festival was full of people and other food stands which means more competitors to go against. They set up their stand and they put our food up and put out their signs around the stand. The warm smell reached the people’s noises and they all start to come one by one to get some delicious pastries. While selling the food Mia noticed that’s Isabella's eyes kept wondering off, looking at all the entertainment they had. Mia whispered to Isabella, “You can go and have fun Issy I got this covered”. 

“You sure? I don’t want to leave you here selling all by yourself. I think it would be very unfair to you” replied Isabella in a concerning voice. She didn’t want to leave her sister there doing everything by herself. 

“Don’t worry I got this so go have fun, now go before you get any older”. She crackled to Isabella 

“Okay fine, but I'll be back soon I won't take long”. Isabella said before leaving. She walked off into the festival looking around at all it had to offer. She looked at the different stands and took her time at each one. After her buying a couple of things here and there, she finally starts walking back to her sister. Her not paying attention and still looking around she bumps into someone dropping her items, she quickly gets back up and helps the person she just bumped in too up. 

“I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to bump into you”. Isabella said while looking down at his item that he dropped, it was a wine bottle. She grabs it for him while the man is rubbing his head in pain. As she grabs it, she read, “Montresor”. She handed it back to him and apologized again.  

“No, it would have been okay if you were paying attention to where you were going”. He remarked as he grabbed the bottle from her hand. Isabella not being pleased with his response he gave to her over a simple mistake, gave him his bottle back but not without her questioning him, “Are you Montresor’s son”? 

“Yes, I am, and who wants to know”? He replied in a low tone. She was looking for any blood of Montresor to get revenge on for her father. Later that day she told her sister a plan that she was going to sneak into his house and kill him. Mia was a little confused and didn’t know if that was a good idea but she didn’t care because no matter how much she tried to conniver her to not go, she still wouldn’t listen. So, Isabelle left the next day and left Mia in charge of the shop. She told her what to make and how to make the food so that she isn't so clueless when she's gone. It didn’t take her long to find out where he lived because he owned a pretty big wine shop with his house behind it. Isabelle decided to go at night where everyone was about to get ready to sleep to intrude. She disguised herself and knocked on the door and acted as if she was a damsel in destress. As the thunder clashed and the lightning sparked, he opened the door with only he cloths on and a glass of wine in his hand and was shocked and let her in side. He sat her down quickly by the fire and question her. 

“what are you doing here late at night in the rain”? He cross-examined her while Lifting his glass up to take a sip.  

“I was out with someone and they just kicked me out the carriage and left me there so I had to look for some place fast that was warm looking and so therefore I saw your home and thought it looked cozy so I came here”. She responded with a charming smile. “By the way I'm Isabelle what's your”? She asked in a soft warm voice. 

“I’m Giovanni”. He said but not after taking another good look at her. "You look very familiar...” Isabelle gulped when he asked that question.  

“Heh, yes you also look very familiar as well”. Isabelle stated to make him feel like she was thinking the same thing as well. Then she blurts out the festival. He nods. 

“Oh yes I remember now you had bumped into me that day”. He grunted, “It's okay I forgive you”. 

“Oh, okay thanks I guess" Isabelle replied in an awkward tone. Hey both sat there not know what to say to each other.  

“Welp, I am going to bed. You can have the couch”. He gets up and head to his room, while Isabelle sits and plans. She goes to sleep finally and the next morning she gets up and makes him some breakfast. He walks up to the table and tilts his head.  

“What's this. Why did you make me food”? He questioned as he poked at the food. She giggles at him. 

“I made it as a thankyou gift for letting me in last night”. He pushed the plate closer to him. Giovanni looked at the food confused but yet grateful because he was really hungry. As he took piece of the pastry she made and took a bite, his eyes expanded with savor. He ate all of the pastry and looked at her.  

“You should live here and cook for me”. He said quickly. Isabelle didn’t know what to do but she would stay to kill him anyway.   

“Sure, why not”. She replied. “Let me just send a letter to my sister”. He nods and goes and hands her a pen a paper. She grabs it and tells her that she trying to get close to him to kill him. Two months later while Isabelle is waiting for a reply, she cooks for him every day, evening and night, and she even helps with his wine business. She finally gets a letter back from her sister about how she is doing. Mia is now using the bakery as a clothing business and its going very well.  

Every day that Isabelle stays there with him she starts to hate him less. Just something about his charming smile, and his funny voice seem to make her calm. One day they were out together walking and they locked eyes. It was funny at first till they shared a kiss. She knew it was bad so she threw him off. When they head back home, she wants to throw off the plan and stay with him. The next day she goes to talk about the kiss but when she looks outside, he is with another girl. She changes her mind and goes to kill him the next day. She poisons his food and takes all his money. Isabelle and Mia open two stores, one with cloths and one with food. 

“Montressor! Just the man I was looking for. How do you do?” the voice asked. It belonged to an old friend; I hadn’t seen since a few carnivals ago. 

“Wonderful! This time of year, is my favorite. What can I do for you?” I responded wondering why he’d be looking for me, 

“I will be a judge at this year’s carnival wine tasting event and was sent to ask you if you would like to be a contestant. All in town know just how marvelous your wine is and we’d like to offer you the opportunity to present your wine to the jury in front of a large crowd. If the jury picks your wine as the best tasting, it will be sold in stores worldwide at a very high price! No doubt, you will become rich and beloved!” his words poured out of his mouth like wine intoxicating me with excitement . 

“What a true delight that would be. I would love to be a contestant. My wine is the best tasing of all. I’m confident the judges will not even want to taste any other wines, once mine has captivated their pallet and mesmerized their minds with its sweet aromas!” my words came out elated, bursting with confidence but I couldn’t help it. I was ecstatic, what a true blessing this was. No ne was more fortunate then I. 

As I walked through town and back towards my home, I was drunk on the invitation I had just accepted and dizzy with anticipation. The faces of my peers and strangers whom were roaming through the town were no longer dim like they were earlier. They were now bright and colorful, and my mouth felt obligated to invite any and all to what was going to be a wonderful event. 

“Come to the wine tasting event at this years carnival!” I shouted with conviction as I danced with the colorful leaves that continued to plunge off the tree’s and fall with the wind.

“You will get to taste my wine, the most marvelous wine you will have ever tasted!” I continued to shout overjoyed with delight. 

“I’ll secure seats for all. Please do come. How unfortunate it would be to miss such a wonderful event!” I continued to belt; my words, like my excitement could not remain contained.

“Be sure to come and try my wine! After this event, it will be sold worldwide and prove to be far too expensive to purchase!” my words shout out of my mouth like bullets that couldn’t be retracted as I spun and sang and danced and marched with the colors of season all the way home. 

 

The intensity of the wind increased making me feel energetic and powerful right before finally arriving home.

            Before I knew it, the day had arrived. It was carnival. Giggles and chatter filled the stadium where the wine tasting was to be held. The excitement that I had upon getting invited to participate in the wine tasting had transformed into angst. When it was my turn to go on stage and stand before the judges as they tasted my wine, I grew dizzy. The jury, dressed in all black, sat before me and their gazes grew daunting. Whispers of uncertainty and doubt filled my mind as I stood before the jury and a full stadium of people. My mind felt tormented, angst was an unfamiliar emotion for me and had never taken shelter in my mind before but it was here now. My hands were damp with perspiration and the apprehension of the moment. Stomping and quick feet scurried to and from the stadium seats and voices echoed in erratic tones. One such voice wouldn’t get out of my head and as I went to speak it stopped me;

“You are a murderer!” the voice muddled. 

I again went to speak before the judges, “this wine is….” And again was interrupted by a scream protesting; “YOU ARE A MURDERER!” this time the voice grew louder. 

I looked to see who it was but when I peered into the audience I grew dizzy. It was so bright.

The voice grew louder; “YOU ARE A MURDERER!!!!” it came from behind me and when I turned to see who it was, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I again looked at the audience to see if they were witnessing this. The audience was so bright and colorful. I felt blinded and turned my face to the side of me again and there he was, grinning at me. Confused and dizzy and overwhelmed I screamed; "Fortunato, I killed you, how are you here?! Get out of my head!!" 

I couldn’t believe the words that just came out of my mouth. I looked at the jury, they were all peering at me as if they had their verdict. 

 

 

 

By AJ Hall


The dark, gloomy night was settling into the streets of Italy in the year of 1850. The moon was full, and the sky was covered with clouds alit by the light of the moon. Montresor was walking down the empty street, where his apartment lied a couple blocks over, after a hard day at the shoe factory. It has been four years since the murder of Fortunato. Judging from Montresor's life now, he had gotten away with it. Montresor took his keys out as he was approaching his apartment.  His apartment wasn't anything special or luxurious, it was just a small and cozy apartment. It was late at night when he arrived, and he was surprised that his wife, Amelia, greeted him at the door.

Amelia had a beautiful smile on her face when she finally saw her husband after a long day. It was a relief for her. "Montresor! Oh, thank the heavens you’re back! Why were you gone for so long?" Amelia questioned. "I messed up on a boot at the factory and almost lost my job. I had to make it up to my boss and stay for a couple of more hours" Montresor replied. Amelia was not happy for Montresor's boss to be so harsh. What right does his boss think he has to make him stay up for almost the entire night! "Your boss is crazy for making you work until this time of night. Who does he think he is!?" yelled Amelia. "I know. Trust me, it’s nothing. I’m going to bed. Good night Amelia" said Montrosor. "Good night Montrosor" Amelia sighed. They went off to bed in a soundless sleep as it began to rain outside. 

A knocking sound from the front door was carried to the bedroom. Montrosor and Amelia woke up in shock, thinking who could be at the door this late at night. Montrosor shook his head annoyed and walked to the door while his wife followed close behind him. Montrosor looked through the eye hole of the door. "Police! Please open up" a voice came from outside. Montresor’s eyes struck fear as he slightly hesitated to open the door. He opened the door anyways and outside were two black uniformed officers. “Hello Sir and Madam, we are sorry to interrupt you both at this time of night. We came here because we are investigating the murder of Fortunato, who has been missing for four years. And now some evidence has led us here. Did you two happen to know him?” one of the officers asked. “What? Why would we be involved in a murder? You two officers must be at the wrong house because we don’t know anything about that!” Amelia said. However, in silence, Montresor knew exactly why they were at their house. How did they find him? What was going to happen? Could he lie to the officers and get away with it? Questions in Montresor’s head were running like wildfire and he was frantically becoming very nervous. “Yeah? We’re not involved in s-some murder. You might have to double check your evidence o-or something” Montresor stuttered with anxiety. “We did Sir, we triple checked actually. No doubt the evidence leads right here. In fact, it leads right towards you” an officer said. “What?! Are you in fact accusing my husband?!” Amelia asked aggressively. “H-How could it be me o-officer?” Montresor was panicking. His wife would be going to know. He would lose her, lose his job, lose everything! “Fingerprint markings suggest that it was you who held the shovel that scraped the bricks to seal Fortunato in. At the exact time during the festival four years ago” the officer said. “Now don’t worry, we are not exactly sure that it could be you Sir. We just need you to come to this address tomorrow. Be there” the officer said while giving Montresor a piece of paper that had the address to the police station written on it. “Good night you two and have a good evening” the officers said while walking away. Montresor was scared out of his mind, but he and his wife went back to bed and waited for tomorrow.

 

The next day, Montresor was getting ready to go to the police station. Amelia was coming along as well. Amelia hoped that her husband didn’t do anything wrong and that it was all just a big mistake. When they arrived at the police station, the officers escorted Montresor to what seemed like an interrogation room and left Amelia waiting in the lobby. The interrogation room had stone walls and the light of the lantern was bright while slightly flickering. There was a long table with two chairs at each opposite end and Montresor took a seat on one of them. He waited for at least ten minutes until a different officer entered the room and took a seat on the chair across from him. “Good afternoon Sir, Montresor was it?” the officer asked. “Y-yes” Montresor answered. “Ok, good. So, did you have any relationship with Fortunato four years ago?” the officer questioned. 

 

“Yes, we were friends. A long time ago.”

 

“Ok, did you have any bad relations with him?”

 

“Well, he would always prank me with his awful acts! I felt insulted many times.”

 

“If I may ask, what type of “pranks” did he do to you?”

 

“Anything humiliating, even in front of the public.”

 

“Ok, are your nervous right now?”

 

“N-no”

 

“Judging from you stuttering, are you lying to me?”

 

“No, I just never been in a situation like this before.”

 

“That’s understandable. Well, we have a lot of proof that you were involved in the cause of the murder. Do you have any suspicions of anyone that may be the murderer despite you? The reason I’m asking you this is just in case you happen to not be the murderer.”

 

“I have a frien- I mean I know someone, named Rico and uh, he was there at the festival.”

 

“And how do you know that?”

 

“We were friends before, but I saw him go down the cellar with Fortunato and then I saw him come back up without Fortunato. T-that means he could be the killer! I think he lives down Oliver Road, just two blocks to the left and you will see, I think, a red apartment building. Please officer, you have to believe me!”

 

“Hmm. Ok, well I think that concludes the interrogation for now”

 

“That’s it?”

 

“Yes, I got everything I need to know. We will pay Rico a little visit and see if there is any evidence pointing towards him. If there isn’t any, we will have to take a closer look at you again. Have a nice rest of your day.”

 

The interrogation ended and Montresor came out to see his wife Amelia waiting in the lobby. “What was that all about?” Amelia asked. “Don’t worry about it” Montresor answered. Montresor was starting to form tiny beads of sweat on his forehead fearing what might come next. 

 

In the dusk of night, Montresor tried coming up with a plan to frame his friend Rico, but no plans came to visit his mind. He barely has seen him lately and he had only hung out with him in the past. Once again, he heard knocking on the door. Montresor went to the door hoping it wasn’t the police. He opened the door steadily and slowly and didn’t see any officers. Montresor saw a man with blue eyes, a well-trimmed mustache and wearing a black coat. He had a cap on his head that matched his coat. “Rico?” Montresor asked surprised. Montresor’s question was answered with a swift punch to the face. “What the heck man!? Officers showed up at my apartment and told me that YOU told them to come to my home because I murdered some guy?” Rico said with aggression. “Did you try to frame me?! I thought I was your friend!” Montresor was still clutching his chin after he got punched hard. “You never see me anymore!” Montresor replied, shrugging his shoulders. “So that means we still can’t be friends? We still have contact once in a while. The reason I don’t see you that often anymore is because I have a life! I’m always busy, but you just couldn’t see it, could you?” Rico was flustered with anger and his face was as red as a tomato. “I don’t want to see you ever again, you hear me?! I thought you were my friend, but you only care about yourself! Goodbye Montresor and go to hell!” Rico yelled at him before he left, feeling betrayed. Montresor felt heart-struck. He felt slightly guilty and regret for framing his one and only friend, and now he had lost him because of his lies.

 

When the next morning came, Montresor woke up along with Amelia. They were about to make breakfast and take relief after this mind-boggling, busy week. More knocks on the door interrupted the two. Montresor went to get the door as usual and was confronted by the same officers who were at his house before. The officers barged in to handcuff him. “Sir, you are under arrest for the murder of Fortunato!” one of the officers said. “Wait! Why are you arresting my husband!?” Amelia asked in shock, confused of the situation. “Your husband will be convicted of the murder of Fortunato four years ago” an officer said. “What? My husband wouldn’t do something like that, right Montresor?” Amelia asked. She stared at her husband. Montresor couldn’t but let out a sigh. He had to tell the truth. He was hoping to relieve the guilt and stress that he felt. They caught him and they would make it worse for him if he continued to lie. “Y-yes Amelia, it is true. I am very sorry, but I k-killed Fortunato” Montresor admitted. Amelia started to burst into tears, both in despair and hatred. “What!? You are a murderer?! How did you k-kill him?” Amelia asked starting to bubble in fury. “I sealed him in a stone wall and left him to starve because I wanted revenge” Montresor replied. Montresor was about to lose everything, and he hated himself for it. “Revenge!? Revenge for what?!” Amelia yelled. “Fortunato insulted me and humiliated me many times by his pranks” Montresor replied. “Pranks?! You took his life in vain because of pranks?! You lied to me and hid yourself as a murderer all this time?! My husband is a MONSTER?!” Amelia was in deep rage at this point. “Ameli-” Montresor was interrupted by a slap across the face from his wife. “Officers take him away and make sure I NEVER see him again” Amelia said before leaving the room, slamming the door, to let the police officers do their job.

 

 Montresor went to court and was found guilty. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison. The cell he was in had stone walls, floor, and ceiling and it was musky. Montresor had secretly stolen a rope from one of the horse carriages that brought him here and he knew exactly what he would use it for. “Fortunato, you vowed a thousand insults toward me four years ago. I shall end it here and now. I have lost my friend, my wife, I have lost everything. It has been a long time Fortunato, and I will do something I thought I would never have to do. It is time that I join you now.”

 

The End

” Has anyone seen Fortunato? He has been gone for almost an hour. “, Emilia concerningly pointed out.  

” I saw a man with a black mask lead him away. “, Antonio responded.  

” The man led him away from everyone. They seemed to be friends, so I thought nothing of it. We need to inform his cousins. “, Angelo added. 

I stopped walking once I heard my Emilia. Her piercing emerald eyes, milky skin, and short curly raven hair engrave into my mind. She is the most stunning woman I've ever laid my eyes on, but she never loved me back. Her heart held an undying passion for Fortunato. He has ripped everything from my hands. Emilia was the only person bringing me happiness in a world that belittled me and stepped on me with no remorse even as I begged for mercy. The restless nights I cried to god to make it all stop. I was brought into this world to suffer at the hands of a cruel humanity.    

I felt tormented as I continued walking home. The breeze of the wind seemed to be crying out Fortunato's name. The dark night sky was void of any stars as if mourning his death. The leaves were falling for every minute of his disappearance. I ran until I could no longer feel my legs. My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw his helpless face staring back at me. I am a monster, birthed from the hatred of society. Days after his death, I refuse to leave my apartment. I feel so paranoid. My apartment is completely dark, blinds shielding any source of light that can peek through and remind me of the world outside. I can't remember when I last ate. Suddenly, I hear a knock coming from my door. Unconsciously, I jump at the noise but hesitantly open it. There is a man with a thick brown mustache and an intense gaze expectantly waiting for me. I notice he is wearing a brown coat and hat.    

” Hello sir, may I ask who you are? “, I question.    

” Good Morning, sir. I am Detective Ambrosio. I have heard accusations that you know something regarding Fortunato's death. Fortunato's Cousins, Isabella and Dante called me here. May I come in to ask you a couple of questions?     

“I don’t mind at all. Come in.”  

Those wretched cousins. Cocky and conniving. I will never forget the harm they have done me. I hear their taunting laughs ringing in my ears and their piercing dark eyes blankly staring back at me like I was nothing but a pest. Everyone praises them, while I live with nightmares of their mistreatment every day of my life.  I try to hold my nervousness as best as I can and guide the detective to my neglected dining table.  I can't bring myself to look at the man Infront of me, I know that he knows. I force myself to meet his observant eyes and clear my throat to break the heavy tension in the room.    

“I know about your degrading comments towards Fortunato. Emilia told me you would attend the carnival, so where were you that night?”, He stated with a hint of accusation in his tone.  

“I did attend the carnival, but I left early. The carnival food made me feel sick.”  

“The culprit was wearing a black mask, what were you wearing?   “  

“I was wearing a gold mask and a purple cape “, I assertively responded.   

At this point, I didn't care that I was lying. Fortunato deserved what came to him.   

I could tell the detective was growing frustrated that he wasn’t getting the answers he wanted, and I internally laughed.   

“May I use your bathroom? “, he asks out of nowhere.   

“Yes. It is the first door on your left. “  

As soon as he leaves, I smile widely. He is so oblivious. This was easier than I thought, and I wait patiently for him to return. I began to feel a little anxious at how long he is taking but I calm my nerves, there's no way I will get caught. After five more minutes, I feel my stomach turning and head upstairs to check if everything is ok. My heart drops at the sight. Detective Ambrosio was not in the bathroom. He is in my room, a black mask in his hand that I recklessly placed under my bed.   

I have not seen the light of day since I was arrested for the murder of Fortunato. I got stares of disgust and shame from all the townspeople, but the damage was already done. I took their precious Fortunato. If I close my eyes, I can still see Isabella's disheveled light brown hair and angry expression. It makes me go into a fit of laughter.  I laugh until my stomach hurts.   

“He's gone, He's gone!” I yell triumphantly from my cold jail cell. I may be in jail, but I am in peace knowing he is gone. That is enough to brighten my days for the rest of my life. Farewell, Fortunato. 

The dinner began as Fortunato and I took our seats at the table by the window, giving us a wonderful view of our beautiful Italian town. We had a feast laid out before us, one that my wife spent ages preparing. “How excellent, the meal.” Fortunato remarked as we relaxed ourselves in our chairs. “It’s been worked on all day, but feast to yourheart’s content, old friend.” I replied with a cheerful grin. I cut a loaf of bread for the both of us and slathered butter on each piece, intending to hold us over as my wife prepared individual plates for us. Fortunato bit down onto a slice and peered out of the large window. His expression was a reassuring calm. I was set on trying to make a comfortable experience for him, as he was like family to me. Later on, as I carved the roast, Fortunato began to ask about the wine. “Where are you keeping this wine of yours?” he asked, taking his plate of meat, vegetables and bread to his side of the table after my wife had finished preparing it for him. I shook my head and chuckled to him “Don’t be so impatient. We shall have the wine at the end of dinner.” I remarked before taking a plate for myself. Fortunato frowned, but began eating regardless. Dinner consisted of idle chit chat. “I heard that Amontillado was being sold in town.” Fortunato said. His obsession with wine was as charming as it was repetitive. I could tell he was getting antsy.

I called my wife over, she quietly approached. “Retrieve the bottle for our guest here from the catacombs.” I said, sending her off to get the fancy wine. Once she had left, Fortunato and I continued our discussions. “I should get a cask of it sometime.” I said in reference to his previous statement. We continued to discuss wine, trade, and the upcoming carnival, up until my wife returned with the wine. I took it and poured two glasses. We both took small sips of the wine, attempting to take in the flavor. This wine in particular had a bitter, sour taste to it, with a bit of a tart aftertaste to finish it off. I was fond of it, but I could tell Fortunato felt the opposite. “Vile! How vile, a substance!” He exclaimed. “I haven’t tasted such a wine before, Montresor, dear friend.” He complained, sounding like an entitled brat. I hid my feelings about his reaction, but as the evening went on, they only worsened. After we finished the wine, we examined the bottle. It turned out that the wine my wife had retrieved was a throwaway brand, cheap and not extraordinary. “Oh what a bother, your wife took the wrong bottle, the wench.” He said, verbally insulting my love, my wife. Once he left a while later, I was filled with a certain rage, an indescribable rage. In a way, I still saw Fortunato as a friend, but I could not bring myself to call him such a thing. He had insulted my tastes, both in women and wine. He had harmed my pride, and I was not about to let him get away with it.

This carnival, I plan to buy a cask of Amontillado. I will keep it in my catacombs for Fortunato, but only to bring him down to where the skeletons lie. He will pay for what he’s done. Once I had passed him on the streets of our gorgeous town once more, I promised him I would provide him a wine suitable for his taste, and that we may retrieve it ourselves, but what he isn’t aware of, is that I plot now to dispose of the fool I once called a friend, Fortunato. He will soon repay for how he damaged my pride. He should have never crossed me.

   After leaving Fortunato to die, I soon realized I needed to cover my tracks so I grabbed a bottle of wine and returned to the party. I then searched for his wife Maria. Maria has been a dear friend of mine since we were children. I always thought one day she and I would be married and have children of our own until Fortunato came along. 

   I soon found Maria sitting on the steps of the gazebo as her daughter Lily braided her beautiful, long, curly, black hair and watched her son Sterling running in the wind. “Maria love, have you seen Fortunato? He was supposed to give me his genius opinion on my Amontillado.” I said to her hoping to keep her off my trail. “No, I haven’t seen him. That’s not like him to disappear. Do you think something’s happened?” She replied nervously. It took me a moment to answer as I found myself getting lost watching the way her blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight. I finally pulled it together and tried to ease her mind. “I’m sure everything fine. Take the kids home and get some rest. I’m sure he’ll be right by your side when you wake up in the morning.” 

  The next morning, I woke up from my drunkenness to a loud banging on my front door. It was Maria. It was obvious she hadn’t slept even a second and that she had been crying. “Monti, he hasn’t come home. Something has happened. I’m sure of it!” Seeing her worry gave me a small ounce of guilt for what I had done. Although, I soon got over it as I remembered why I did it in the first place. To finally get Maria to myself.  To get what was always meant to be mine. To live the life that was stolen from me by that imbecile, Fortunato. He never deserved her. “We need to go search for him! All of us!” She said. She was starting to worry me. If she had a search party, they would soon find him in my cellar. However, if I joined her then I could take charge and make sure no one is to ever find him. “That’s a great idea!” I exclaimed to her. “I’ll round everybody up and take care of everything. We’ll find him. I promise.” Although I didn’t like lying to my love, it’s what is best for her and the children. 

   Later that day I had all of our friends in family gathered together in the dining hall. “Loved ones, we must come together in this difficult time to find our friend!” I said sternly to them all. They all shouted in agreement and just like that we split into groups and assigned each group a place to search. I made sure to have every group searching as far away from the cellar as possible. Although since Fortunato’s last known whereabouts were at my party, it only made sense to have them search my property, so of course I made my property my groups priority. We divided the property among the group and I obviously volunteered on my own to search the cellar.  No one had reason to suspect me of anything so I was very calm. 

   A month has gone by and still no one has any idea what happened to Fortunato. Maria and the children have come to terms with the fact that he’s probably dead. In the past few weeks Maria and I had spent many late-night talks and reminiscing on old times. Her, Lily, and Sterling were living at my house because she didn’t feel comfortable being in her home. Of course, I’m not going to complain. I have enjoyed every minute of them being here. The bond and connection I have with Maria has started to grow more and more. 

   It’s been about three months since Fortunato disappeared, and tonight is the night that I tell Maria how I feel about her. I have a lovely dinner prepared for her and have been practicing for weeks what I’m going to say to her. We sat down and enjoyed our meal together and it was finally time to tell her. “Maria there’s something I need to tell you.” She could see the seriousness in my face. “I love you Maria.” I said nervously. I don’t think she understand the context of what I said. “Well, of course I know that Monti. I love you too.” She laughed as she said it. “No Maria. I haven’t just loved you. I’ve been in love with you. Ever since we were children, I have loved everything about you. Your laugh, your smile, your determination, your loyalty to those you care about, everything about you is so perfect. My heart ached as I watched to marry another man. I should have told you how I felt back then. I want to be with you, Maria, more than anything. I love you and the children so much and I would do anything to be a family with you guys.” Her eyes lit up as I spoke. Although what she said next shocked me even more. “Monti I’ve loved you since the day we meant. I wanted to be with you, but I didn’t think you would ever want to be with me. Once Fortunato came along, you started spending so much more time with him than you did with me. I didn’t want to marry him, but my parents made me. They figured he was a good man and would give me children and would take care of me. They insisted I took advantage of the opportunity while I could.” We ended up talking all night long. We both regretted not coming forth with our feeling sooner, but now it didn’t matter. Now we could be together. 

   It’s been five months since me and Maria have been together. We are getting married in a week. Her and the kids are all moved in with me and we are all so happy together. Oh, and did I mention she was pregnant? We’re having a little girl and growing our family together. I finally have the life that was always supposed to be mine. 

Montressor comes back to a wine tasting party not too long after leaving Fortunato to die in a room made out of stone. He walks into the beautiful mansion. The mansion had a lot of expensive décor, it had red silk curtains with big windows hiding under them. The walls were decorated with gold lamps and magnificent white paint and the doors were made out of what felt like amazing premium oak.

Everything inside was elegant and beautiful and so were the people. Everyone was dressed in expensive clothes and beautiful dresses.

 

                Soon enough Montressor ran into Luchesi. “How are you my friend!” ,Luchesi Yelled “ Oh great” Montressor answered. “How is the wine going for you? Luchesi asked. “It’s going great I have big plans on staring my company and plenty if wine is already being produces” Montressor told him. After the encounter with Luchesi, Montressor has gotten a little nervous because he remembers what he has done to Fortunato. Montressor thought of no regret but he was anxious about being caught by Luchesi.

 

A couple of weeks later…..

                Montressor is at a wine tasting party yet again but this time when he encounters Luchesi something different goes down. As soon as Montressor walks through the door he sees Luchesi walking right at him and he is walking fast. Luchesi stops right in front of Montressor’s face and angrily whispers “I know what you’ve done you sicko!”. “What are you talking about?” Montressor asks in a calm voice. “You killed him!” Luchesi quickly accuses him. “Who are you talking about?” Montressor pretending to be confused. “Fortunato, you killed Fortunato!” Luchesi angrily says. “How dare you accuse me of such thing! Please come over to my house sometime and I will make sure I prove to you that I have not. Fortunato left the city a long time ago.” Montressor nervously says. “Yeah will se about that.” Luchesi says with his eyes squinting and casually walks away. The same night Montressor goes home and starts planning his revenge on Luchesi.

 

                A couple of days go by after the encounter and Montressor is on his way out of the back door of his house when….. Luchesi appears out of nowhere with a gun. “I have caught you haven’t I?” says luchesi in an angry voice. Montressor raises his hands and says “Luchesi I have done nothing wrong I would never do such a terrible thing.” “Prove it then let me come inside.” Luchesi asks. “Please come in.” Montressor says. “We can have a taste of my freshly fermented wine.” Montressor offers. “That would be great.” Luchesi answers. A few hours later they have drank a whole three bottles of it and Montressor proceeds to offer Luchesi to go down stairs and show him the rest of the stuff he has and the way he makes his wine taste so good. Montressor takes Luchesi down stairs while supporting him from one side since he has had a little too much to drink. “Oh, my lord this place is fantastic.” Luchesi says. “ I am very sorry for accusing you of such terrible things my dear friend.” Luchesi says. “Oh, it is all okay my dear Luchesi, it is all okay” Montressor says in an evil voice. They continue walking through the winery. They laugh and dance together. They tried every single wine that Montressor had in stock. Luchesi had gotten so drunk to the point where he collapses on the floor and falls in deep sleep. Meanwhile Montressor had been drinking water instead of wine in order to stay sober and alert.

He then proceeds to drag Luchesi to the same room Fortunato was put in. He ties him up and makes a little opening in order to put his body in with Fortunato. 

 

A few hours later Luchesi wakes up and sees nothing but darkness. He feels something is next to him and thinks it must be Montressor. Montressor then makes a new opening in one of the walls of the room and the light hits the decaying body of Fortunato. Luchesi sees it and screams on the top of his lungs “HEEEELLLLPPPPP, HEEEELLLPPP MEEEEE HE IS GOING TO LET ME ROT IN HERE!!!!”. Montressor peaks through the window and says “Oh you are awake, finally!”. “You are a monster Montressor. You are a sick man. You are a killer!” Luchesi says while shaking in fear of his own death. Montressor then points the pistol that Luchesi had pointed at him earlier and says ”What do you prefer, the pistol, or to hang out with your little friend there.” Luchesi not knowing what to say completely scared out of his mind says “Kill me get it over with please I don’t want to die in this room please!” Montressor agrees with him and says “Sure but if you want the quick way out you are going to have to do it yourself” So he unties one of Luchesi’s hands and hand him the pistol. Luchesi was cinfused and scared he knew he could not kill himself so he was trying to think if he could possibly shoot Montressor and get out. However, Montressor had already thought about that so he simply put the bricks back in the wall and sealed it. Luchesi was screaming in fear until….. BANG, BANG. Luchesi could not go through and suffer. Montressor had not only fooled him but made him kill himself. From that day on Montressor was a wanted serial killer. He left town and escaped to America in order to get away from the police and start a new life until he was caught by the police one day. He went through many courts and was sentenced to death. He was taken back to Italy and was burned to death in the center of the city in front of everyone who thought he deserved it. His revenges and gruesome desires had let to his own death.

                Montresor swinging his sword at the man, the man with lighting speed reflexes and foreseeing the attack pulls out a glowing red blade with no heat at all and cuts Montresor’s sword in half and the cut parts of the sword being hot. The man then kicks Montresor to the ground and pointing his red blade at Montresor. Montresor being scared and shocked says, “What kind of magic is that, how could you cut my sword like that so fast.” The man did not respond. Montresor then asking, “Who are you and what do you want.” The man replied in a deep, “I am Revan and I have come to seek vengeance.” Revan then told Montresor, “I know what you did so you might as well confess before I kill.” Montresor then replies in a nervous manner, “I killed Fortunato because he insulted me,” and then yelling getting courage to standing up for what he did, “HE DESERVED IT.” Revan then knocks out Montresor by just a slow wave over Montresor’s face without even touching him. Revan then carries Montresor across the town into the forest to a small starship. He puts Montresor into the starship and takeoff towards the moon. Revan flies to the dark side of the moon where there is a massive starship that was the shape of two curves, one at the bottom and one at the top but the top is longer than the bottom both having tips points. At the back of the ship standing up was a small T shape structure that was bridge of the ship. Revan lands his starship in the hangar area of the ship and waiting for Revan were to two men part of the crew of the ship wearing all black clothes. The hangar was all grey and reflective with different color lights on the ground for where ships land. The two men then drag Montresor to an interrogation room that too was all grey and reflective with white lights. They put Montresor on a table that will lock his arms and legs. Then the men bring in a black box and one of the men says to the other, “This guy is probably not going to live very long after we leave.” They then put box down and leave the room feeling sorry Montresor knowing what Revan probably going to do. Revan then enters the room and closes the doors. Revan then wakes up Montresor with a shot of electricity from his fingertips. Montresor in pain and confused asks, “Where am I”? Revan replies by saying, “You killed a close friend of my Fortunato who came to your planet to live the rest of his days in peace.” Revan continues by saying, “I kept in contact with Fortunato but when he fell out of contact, I knew something must have happened to him. I came to where he was staying no where to be found and I could sense he was dead somewhere in your little town. I tracked his body to the catacombs and found where you put him chained in the wall with Amontillado.” In the box was Fortunato’s bones that were found inside the catacombs where Montresor had led Fortunato to and buried him alive in a hole in wall and let him die. Revan in anger tells Montresor, “I will kill you in a similar way in which you killed Fortunato.” Revan then asks Montresor, “Were you hired to kill Fortunato.” Montresor replies by saying, “No, I killed him because he insulted me.” Revan then electrocutes Montresor for saying he killed him over an insult. 

                Revan continues to electrocute Montresor while contemplating on how he should kill Montresor. Revan then stop electrocuting Montresor. Montresor then begins to think to himself on why he did kill Fortunato over an insult. Revan then tells what he wants to do to Montresor by saying he is going to, “I can either send you in a pod into the Sun, electrocute you to death, launch you into the cold dark abyss of space, disintegrate you, make you a slave for someone in the galaxy, put you in the front lines in one of my ongoing wars with the galaxy, lock you in a room and suck out all of the air, suck the life force out of your body and destroy it.” While Revan is deciding on what to do with Montresor, Montresor begs to him, “Please do not kill me, I will do whatever you say as long as I live, I will be an indentured slave to you if you let me live.” Revan then tells Montresor, “You have lost your right to live by killing somebody unsuspectedly and not killing him in traditional combat therefore you are now sentenced to die by my choosing.” Montresor realizes he is going to die no matter what he does. Revan calls in two crew workers and drag Montresor to an air lock and put him in the airlock that leads to space. Revan then hit the button that releases Montresor into the vacuum of space. Montresor trying to beg but can’t be heard in space as he dies. 

            “Hey Amontillado, I’m going to English class, want to come with me and walk together?” Being friendly said, Fortunato.

            “Sure, I would like to, and maybe after class we can do something together!”

They walked together to class and after class, Amontillado was waiting for Fortunato where they always met to go home. Amontillado waited at their spot for more than an hour, until he sees Fortunato across from the place talking to a girl.

            Amontillado walks up angrily to Fortunato and says, “Hey Fortunato, I was waiting for you in our regular spot for more than an hour now what happened?”

            “Hey, sorry I’ve been with my new girlfriend, you should be able to take care of yourself Amontillado, we are seniors in high school, get a life.”

            “Well then!” Amontillado angrily walks away. 

            They both arrive home in silence.

 

            Amontillado locked himself in the room, Fortunato was very upset with him for embarrassing him. Fortunato was wondering what Amontillado was doing locked in his room. Amontillado would only go out his room to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even then when Amontillado will go out his room, he felt mad, jealous, and sad, because Fortunato was spoiled, always go the attention, yet he still acted like a fool, filled of selfishness.

            “Hey Amontillado, miss you bud, but if you really want to lock yourself in a room all day, be my guests.” Fortunato making fun of Amontillado said.

            “Now, now Fortunato, it’s not very nice to tease other people like that.” The parents said.

            Amontillado’s parents were the only ones who were there for him, yet Fortunato having all the money his parents gave him, he never really took real good care of them. Amontillado could never help his parents because all their money was funded to Fortunato. Once Amontillado figured this out, he had to have a conversation just with his parents.

            “Hey mom and dad, can we sit down please and have a talk?”

            “Well sure son.”

            “As you and I know, you have funded all your money to Fortunato, so I will like to please get a job outside in the real world and earn my own money.”

            “Well, son, I hope you know the money was given to Fortunato, but it is surely for both of you, we love you both the same.”

            “Yes, I do know that, but me and Fortunato are having a real hard time bonding, I prefer him to have all the money and take care of you guys.”

            The parents laughing said, “Yes, you can get a job, you know you have our full support.”

            “Thank you, mom and dad, this means a lot.” Happily, said Amontillado.

            The real reason behind this, that Amontillado wanted a job, was because he wanted to strive greater than Fortunato, and wanted a plan to descend Fortunato. Amontillado went and got a job to sell wine and make it. Selling wine would get him to grow into a lot of money. He had a plan to keep all the wine as a secret. He thought to store it and make it in the basement at his house. Amontillado bought all the materials he needed in order to make the wine.

            Fortunato aggressively walking up to Amontillado said, “Hey bro, I heard you’re going to start working, why is that, if I have all the money our parents gave us?”

            Amontillado turns around and says, “Hey bro, I’m still very angry with you, but to answer your question, yes I am starting a job, and it’s because I know you are going to be keeping the money dad and mom gave you.”

            “Keep the money to myself, I would never.” Laughingly says Fortunato.

            “Yeah, ok whatever.”

            “Either way, where are you even getting a job?”

            “See, that’s none of your business.”

            “That is so rude of you to talk to me like that, and the fact that my parents even adopted you ahah.”

            “You know what, I’ve never disliked anyone in my life, until I met you, your parents got me where I’ve needed to be brought, but I never asked for a brother, especially not like you.”

            Fortunato angrily walks away. His plan was to go tell on Amontillado of all the mean things he has said to him, once he walks up the stairs, both parents are in the floor.