The Tell-Tale Heart

I am a nervous guy, but I am not crazy. I’ll tell you the story of how I killed the old man so calmly that it will prove my sanity. It wasn’t revenge nor money that drove me- it was his eye- his pale blue eye reminded me of a vulture- it sent shivers down my spine. I concocted a plan- I was going to take the old man’s life, for that was the only way I could get rid of his evil eye.

For seven nights, I opened his bedroom door, peeked my head through, and I held up a dark lantern so that no light shined out, waiting to see his vulture eye. I was so cautious- so gentle and patient- something a madman could not do.

Who's There?!

On the eighth night, the old man got startled, but I didn’t move- I stood still because I knew that there was no way he could see me in his pitch-black room. But I heard a noise- the old mans beating heart- and it grew louder and louder. I thought his heart might actually burst! I also saw the eye- the terrible evil eye.

.

I was concerned that the neighbors might hear this loud beating! That’s when I did it- I jumped up at him, dragged him to the floor, and I suffocated him with his mattress. He only shrieked once.

AHH!!

I put my hand over his heart- he was stone dead. I had to conceal the body, so I began by dismembering the corpse- I cut off his arms, legs, and head. I then hid him under the floorboards- pretty clever, if I do say so myself. I mean, there was not a droplet of blood.

There was a knock at the door. It was three police officers- a shriek was reported by the neighbors, and they were there to search the premises. I told them that the old man was away in the country, and I let them search- there was nothing to fear.

The neighbors reported a commotion, we need to search the premises.

Oh, I just had a nightmare! You can check the house.