Grigory Borzenko Jack the Ripper's last victim from the series “Time Traveler”

Grigory Borzenko
Jack the Ripper's last victim
from the series “Time Traveler”

Episode one
Gloria Evans couldn't get the collaboration offer from publisher Oliver Grant out of her head. It looked very tempting. In this situation, not everything would rest solely on her fragile female shoulders. This person, wise from life experience, could help not only with advice, but also with good ideas. As a wealthy businessman, he would also, if necessary, help with money or other important issues.
But still, the thought of possible dependence, or even bondage, could not get out of her head. The girl was very afraid of falling into a trap, from which it would then be impossible to escape. It was not for nothing that she gave Grant an example from the book “Time Stopper.” The fate of the hero of that novel really struck her. When she first listened to this audiobook until the moment when the young man acquired the ability to stop time, she mentally cried out: “I wish I had such a gift! There are so many things I could do!” But then, listening to what experiences and hardships this guy suffered because of his gift, which turned into a curse for him, I realized that not everything is so simple.
And now, on the one hand, rejoicing that she had the gift of moving in time and space, on the other hand, she was afraid that because of this she might become a dumb and weak-willed executor of the desires of those who would forcibly want to use her gift in for their own selfish purposes. This possibility was more than real. This gift could bring too many prospects and opportunities. That's why she decided to act alone for now.
And, of course, I wanted to act! Very! She was driven by both curiosity and the desire for knowledge. Curiosity, because she wanted to know more about how else she could use her abilities. And also learn how to use all this for maximum benefit for yourself.
Of course, a crazy thought occurred to her that, for example, she would appear in a bank vault or in the hold of one of the Spanish galleons of the Golden Fleet, transporting gold and diamonds from the mines of the New World to Seville, collect more goods, and again find herself in her apartment in Flint. But no longer empty-handed!
However, she understood perfectly well that such actions became the cause of the life tragedy of the guy from the novel “Time Stopper.” She, Gloria, should not repeat this path. She should be guided not by self-interest, but by goodness! Then, maybe, she will think about herself. But now she fundamentally wanted to embody the gift for the good of everyone! But where exactly? Where to begin?! Which past tense will it go to? Where exactly? To what place? What exactly is useful to do?
To her misfortune, it was at this time that she remembered how she had once heard about Jack the Ripper for the first time. How horrified I was by what his victims had to experience before they died. They experienced not only unbearable pain at the time of the murder, when the cruel maniac inflicted up to forty stab blows to the unfortunate women all over their bodies, and then also savagely dismembered their bodies. Gloria could imagine the animal fear these unfortunates experienced before death. When they began to understand what was happening and what unenviable fate awaited them.
Another random witness, if he were near the scene of such terrible crimes, would run away as fast as he could, just not to catch the eye of the maniac and not become his next victim. And then young Gloria mentally wanted, on the contrary, to rush to the aid of the unfortunate people and save them.
Now, thanks to her new gift, she had the opportunity to do this. But she perfectly remembered the moral of the film “The Butterfly Effect” and clearly understood that in no case should you interfere with the events of the past! Just as I remembered about the cult story, when the literary hero, who found himself in the times of the primitive system that then reigned on planet Earth, just stepped on a tiny and seemingly harmless butterfly. But this radically changed the course of human development. And when the hero of the book returned to his time, he found himself in a completely different world! Not the one from which he was recovering on his journey into the past.
Gloria understood perfectly well that she should not repeat these mistakes. She is under no circumstances obliged to rush to the aid of the victims, no matter how much she feels sorry for them.
But the girl also remembered very well that the last victim of the bloody maniac was Mary Jane Kelly. The Ripper killed her on November 9, 1888. The unfortunate woman's body was then found in her rented room on Dorset Street in east London. After this, the avalanche of terrible murders, which shook all of London, all of England, the whole world, abruptly stopped. The killer seemed to have disappeared into the water! Where did he go? Who was he?!
It was then that an idea came into our heroine’s head, which, the more time passed, became more and more intrusive for her. Soon she began to understand that she would certainly do what she had in mind. If only yesterday someone had told her that she would decide to do this, she simply would not have believed it! Dare to do this?! It's just crazy! Deliberately expose yourself to such monstrous danger? Is this conceivable?!
But our young heroine was obsessed with her idea. In addition to natural recklessness and courage, courage was added. When you get excited about an idea and repeat a hundred times: “I’ll do it!”, then this can be more important for a person than other monetary and other incentives!
But she, of course, never even thought about going back in time just like that, without thinking through every detail about her safety, and without preparing everything possible for this in advance. There must be a safety net, and certainly! It was for this purpose that she went to a well-known address in her hometown of Flint.

Episode two
Private detective Jack Bradley was sincerely surprised when such a young and beautiful girl crossed the threshold of his office. The detective agency where Jack worked also dealt with serious cases. But more often, older people came to them, asking them to sort out matters that Jack contemptuously called “everyday affairs.” We repeat: the main clients were elderly people or respectable businessmen. Therefore, the appearance of such a young creature caused the guy sincere surprise. And also because Jack recognized a familiar face in the visitor.
- ABOUT! I think I know you! – Jack perked up. – You are my little sister’s former classmate!
- She's the one! – The girl smiled. - I came to you with an unusual request.
Jack smiled.
- I'm used to different requests here. Nothing will surprise me. I'm hearing you.
- But I really have an unusual request. – The girl hesitated. – Very unusual. I am sure that no one has ever approached you with such a request.
Jack smiled even more good-naturedly.
- You say, don’t be shy! Tell it like it is. And then we will discuss it. Whether I can help you or not.
The girl sighed heavily, made a playful face, showing that she was very embarrassed, and then blurted out:
- I need a gun!
Jack's eyes widened in surprise. He expected everything, but not this.
- Don't think so! – The visitor immediately caught on. - I'm not going to shoot anyone. I'm here just in case. For self-defense. For possible self-defense. I'm sure I won't need it! I will return it to you safe and sound! I'll return it tomorrow! But I want him to be with me tonight just in case...
Jack looked at the girl with eyes wide in surprise.
“Well... What you’re asking for, I definitely can’t do for you...” he began hesitantly. “I will most definitely not give you a weapon.” But I... Our agency... We can protect you. Is someone threatening you? Tell me everything.
The visitor hesitated.
- Where I am, no one will protect me... So I will have to rely only on myself. And for self-defense. A pistol would be a great solution to the problem. I saw footage of hunting lions and bears. The wounded powerful beast rushes at its killers in rage. In strength and power he surpasses them all. He would definitely and definitely tear them all to pieces! But the hunters shoot at him, he stumbles upon bullets from which he cannot escape... Before reaching the hunters, he falls... If they had the coolest knives or the sharpest ninja swords, they would not have helped them. But bullets act at a distance... When the enemy is much physically stronger than you, only a bullet can save you. If he suddenly notices you and rushes at you...
The friendly and kind smile with which Jack began the conversation has long left his face. Now his whole appearance radiated anxiety and concern.
- Wait! This will not work! Stop getting dark! If you are in danger, please tell us about it! I ask you to!
Jack looked at the girl with a piercing gaze.
- Nobody threatens me! – The narrator wrinkled her eyebrows. - But I... I'm going to a place where I might be in danger... So I want to be on the safe side. I could buy something myself. But... A canister of tear gas is not very reliable... A villain, even blinded by such gas, can instinctively rush forward, and even blindly, by touch, catch his victim. But a can of nerve gas, that would be better... I don’t understand this much... But if the gas paralyzes the villain, then that’s good. Could you fulfill this request of mine?! Could you give me such a can?!
The more the visitor spoke, the more intense the detective’s face became. But the narrator did not let up, she continued:
- And even better - a stun gun! I've seen cops on TV shooting trespassers with it. He knocks down even a strong man! Paralyzes him! On distance! This is exactly what I need! This is not a gun! Not a firearm! Can you give it to me? Please…
And the girl looked at the young detective with such a look that even if he didn’t have what she was asking for, he would drop everything, run where he needed it, take it out, and hand it to her! Kneeling down in front of her!
But Detective Bradley knew how to distinguish official matters from personal ones. When a young and incredibly pretty girl makes loving eyes at you, this is, of course, good. But in his office, the detective must think about something else.
“Gloria...” Jack began, her voice cracking with excitement. – I think that’s your name?
- Yes... - She tried to answer in as sexy a voice as possible. It was as if the guy had asked her to sleep with her and she was giving him consent with this sweet “Yes...”.
- So, Gloria. – The detective continued in a serious voice. – I began to seriously fear for your life! I ask you to! I beg you! Tell me what's going on? What or who is threatening you?! – Seeing that she was shy, he added. – Trust me as a friend. Like your classmate's brother. As if not to a stranger. If there is some secret behind this, I will not reveal it to anyone...
But Gloria, first of all, did not want to reveal her secret to anyone. She perfectly remembered the wise expression that two can keep one secret only if one of them is dead! Brilliantly said! A secret is only a secret if only one person knows about it! If it’s two people, let alone three or four, then it’s no longer a secret! It is enough that the publisher Oliver Grant was privy to her secret! Gloria won't make any more mistakes! You need to somehow tactfully avoid the detective's questions. But how?
- Do you want me to tell you a secret? “Her voice started to sound super sexy. – Your photograph hangs in my room... Your sister saw it. She didn't tell you about this?
The change of topic was so unexpected that Jack was even confused, not knowing what to answer.
- No... - That’s all he managed to squeeze out.
“I hung up your photo a long time ago...” The girl said and looked at the guy in such a way that everything turned over in his chest. And in my head too. – You are so handsome... More beautiful than Alain Delon or Antonio Banderes... I have been secretly in love with you for a long time...
Gloria knew what she was doing. She understood perfectly well that she was very beautiful. And even more so, she knew that the guys couldn’t look at her indifferently. It would be stupid not to use this. Ingoda, to achieve her goals, she resorted to her main weapon. Sometimes all you had to do was make eyes and your opponent would give up without a fight...
Now young, but cunning and smart beyond her years, the girl wanted to use her main weapon, her, so to speak, “heavy artillery.” She really wanted to bring to life what she had in mind... For this she was ready to use any tricks.

Episode three
Gloria knew that White Chapel, the area of London where Jack the Ripper mostly carried out his murders and where he took the life of his last victim, was a complete slum. It was perhaps the poorest district of the then capital. But now what she saw exceeded all her worst expectations. The ominous atmosphere around her, enhanced by the midnight darkness, was so uncomfortable and frightening to her that she wanted to immediately go back. But what she had planned took such hold of her mind, soul and body that she could no longer stop. She really wanted to complete what she had planned. Very!
Before recovering from her visit to the past, Gloria reread all the information about the last murder of the Ripper and his victim again and again. The girl needed to know exactly the time and place when this was supposed to happen. She knew the place, that's why she came here. But time... She also knew time, but it was the time during which the murder was committed that became real torture for our heroine. The body of the murdered woman was discovered on the afternoon of November 9. Forensic experts determined that the unfortunate woman was killed the previous night, presumably at half past one in the morning. But the whole horror of this murder was that the villain not only took the life of his victim and quickly hurried away from the crime scene, but dismembered his victim within two hours! Two hours! This is exactly what became the main test for Gloria!
Knowing the time, she arrived at the house where Mary Jane Kelly lived after midnight. She looked around and chose a secluded place so that from her hiding place she could unnoticed observe the room that the future victim was renting. The poverty that reigned around drove Gloria crazy. To understand the degree of wretchedness of the situation in this house, let us mention only one fact: the entrance to Mary Jane’s room was covered not by the usual door, but by an old, worn-out coat hanging in the doorway...
Everything, absolutely everything that our desperate heroine saw around drove her crazy. But everyone knows the phrase “I see the goal, I see no obstacles!” now sat very firmly in the girl’s mind. Now she was thinking about only one thing: to remember the man who was about to enter this, so to speak, “door,” to quietly and quietly leave the house, wait for him to leave, and then just as quietly, silently and unnoticed to follow him . First find out where he lives, and then unearth the main secret: who is he?
This was exactly the desperate, extravagant, ultra-dangerous, bordering on madness, plan of our reckless heroine.
But, as they say, the tale is easy to tell, but the deed is not easy to do. What can we say about how she will pursue the killer, which was the most dangerous thing in this case, if even now, having seen the killer, remembering him, and extremely carefully, quietly and inaudibly, literally on the tips of her toes, leaving the house and hiding around the corner, Gloria felt the same fear that she would feel when she followed the villain. It would seem that now nothing threatens her. She can feel safe for the next couple of hours, knowing that he won’t come out before then. After all, forensic scientists have established that the amount of work that the Ripper did took him at least two hours. But the horror was that Gloria now knew perfectly well what was happening at that particular time in that little room, the door of which was hung with an old coat...
The author really wants to write, they say, in order not to traumatize the psyche of readers and listeners, let’s omit these details and talk about what will happen next. But in order to understand why the heroine of this story decided on such an incredible act that she would do next, it’s probably worth talking about why she did it. Why did she decide to do something indescribable, something that neither she nor any other girl in her place would ever dare to do? But Gloria read the police report about what the cops saw at the scene... This police document, with a list of dryly documented facts, made such a strong impression on the girl that she therefore decided on this voyage into the past, and on an attempt to interrupt the series of these terrible crimes!
Particularly suspicious people may not read or listen to the next paragraph and skip it. But for the sake of authenticity and to understand the essence of the events taking place, we here copy verbatim the official and accessible to all to read police report on the inspection of the murder scene of Mary Jane Kelly. So! The document reads as follows:
“The naked body lies in the middle of the bed, the shoulders lie straight, but the body itself is shifted to the left side of the bed. The head is turned to the left cheek. The left arm is pressed to the body, the forearm is bent to the right and lies across the abdominal cavity. The right hand lies away from the body, on the mattress. The arm is bent at the elbow, the forearm is relaxed, the fingers are clenched. The legs lie separately, the left one is bent at the knee joint and pressed to the body, the right leg forms an obtuse angle with the pubic bone.
The entire surface of the abdominal cavity and thighs were cut off, and the entrails were removed from the abdominal cavity. The breasts were cut off, the arms were mutilated by several jagged wounds, the face was mangled beyond recognition. The tissues of the throat are cut right down to the bones. The entrails were found in various places, namely the uterus and kidneys along with one breast under the head, the other breast under the right foot, the liver between the legs, the intestines on the right side, and the spleen on the left side of the body. The surface of the abdominal cavity and thighs lies on the table.
The bedding in the right corner was soaked with blood, and two square feet of floor was soaked with blood. The wall on the right side of the bed at the throat line is stained with blood in several places.
The face is cut with deep wounds in all directions, the nose, cheeks, eyebrows and ears are partially cut off. The lips were pale and cut with several cuts, slanting towards the chin. Numerous cuts were also noted, made randomly in all places. The throat was cut right down to the vertebrae; nicks were found on the fifth and sixth. Bruises are clearly visible on the skin near the throat. The air tube is cut at the bottom of the trachea at the cricoid cartilage. Both breasts were cut off with circular incisions, as were the muscles of the ribs. The intercostal muscles of the fourth, fifth and sixth ribs are dissected, and the insides of the chest are visible through the incisions.
Skin and tissue from the abdomen from the costal arch to the pubis were removed and cut into three pieces. The right thigh was cut open from the front down to the bone, a piece of skin including the external genitalia and part of the right buttock. Skin and muscle were removed from the left thigh down to the knee.
There is a deep wound on the left calf, running through the skin and tissue to the deep muscles, it begins five inches above the ankle and extends to the knee. There are extensive lacerations on both arms and forearms. There is a superficial cut about an inch long and a subcutaneous hematoma on the right thumb, and there are several abrasions on the back of the hand.
Upon opening the chest, it was discovered that the right lung was minimally inflated due to the presence of old persistent adhesions. The lower part of the lung was torn off and removed. The left lung remained intact. A commissure was found at the top of the lung and several at the back. There were several hard nodules in the lung tissue itself.
The pericardial sac was cut from below, the heart was missing.”
This phrase, “the heart sifts out,” became for Gloria the force that uncontrollably pulled her to do what she decided to do. Doctors Thomas Bond and George Bagster Phillips, who wrote this report, had in mind, of course, the absence of a heart in the victim's body. Gloria applied this phrase to the killer. A man who dealt with his own kind with such cruelty was definitely heartless! Without pity, without compassion, without everything that makes a person human.
It was anger and hatred for this fiend of hell that now forced Gloria to wait patiently in the cold November night wind for two whole hours, just to wait for the fanatic. She was sickened by the knowledge of what was now happening in this terrible house. She really wanted to rush there and do something to save the unfortunate woman. But she was very afraid of the “Butterfly Effect”. She perfectly remembered the footage from the film "Back to the Future", where the main character of the film, having intervened in the events of the past, and returning to the present, was horrified that he had found himself in a completely different world! Horrible and scary! Gloomy and creepy! Not the one from which he had recently set off on his next journey into the past. Gloria really didn’t want her, having now returned from her next voyage to the old days, to return to a changed world! A world that, because of her rash act, can change far from for the better. Now she firmly, like a covenant, repeatedly repeated to herself that the events that had already happened, and about which the whole world knows, she should under no circumstances change! That's why she waited... She endured and waited...
At the same time, she was frozen with horror, realizing that now, when the killer goes out onto the street at night and she begins to chase him, all the worst and most terrible things will truly begin for her...

Episode four
Writers of the detective genre have more than once described situations where a detective, stealthily, pursues a criminal. This is the most exciting moment. In films in such cases, disturbing music is played, and the faces of both of them, especially the pursuer, are shown in close-up. He is concentrated, his gaze is stern, his movements, although quiet and cautious, are confident.
But those cases are strikingly different from ours. There we are talking about strong and determined men. Wise with life and operational experience. A strong male trained hand squeezing the handle of a pistol. Knowing that they are doing this for the sake of fulfilling their official duty, for the sake of wages, and so on.
Here we are talking about a fragile young girl who, compared to the one she was pursuing, looked almost like a child. Moreover, she did not have any pistol with her. Yes, there was a spray can and a stun gun, but the girl was not sure that in case of mortal danger she would be able to skillfully use her arsenal.
Gloria did not do this for the sake of a salary or a job. Everything she did now was the result of his emotional impulse. Some desperate and extravagant manifestation of female solidarity. Her will and mind were paralyzed by fear, but she stubbornly continued to pursue Jack the Ripper...
Her body literally went numb with horror. But she understood that it was him! The same man who walked into Kelly's room two hours earlier. Undoubtedly, he is the Ripper that no one has ever seen. She now has the opportunity to see him! Even if in such dire circumstances, this is her chance! An opportunity to see and learn something about a person about whom the whole world has been talking for centuries. For whom this personality is shrouded in complete and impenetrable darkness. If then no one could determine who he was, then now no one can do it. But Gloria now has such a historic opportunity!
It is clear that she tried to keep a safe distance and did everything so that he would not notice her. She made short dashes, and each time then hid around another corner of the house, then behind a lamppost, then behind a tree table, or behind some other shelter. Now the main thing for her was one thing: so that he doesn’t notice her! I didn't see it under any circumstances!
Time has turned into some viscous, sticky mass. It seemed to Gloria that it had stopped. Step by step, minute by minute, she pursued the villain, and it seemed that there would be no end to this girl’s mental ordeal. This killer walked with a light and confident, almost cheerful gait. After all, he was euphoric! The day before, he experienced pleasure, receiving his bestial satisfaction from his fanaticism. But for the terrified girl, this persecution turned out to be real torture. Now she caught herself thinking that if she had known in advance that she would suffer so much fear, she would not have gotten involved in this adventure. I wouldn't go on this trip.
Finally, the villain approached the house, slowly looked around, glanced briefly and casually back, opened the door and went inside!
Gloria was overcome with indignation only for a moment. Like, what an impudent person! How impunity he feels, that he has practically no fear of pursuit or danger. But the next moment she immediately consoled herself: this is even better! Perhaps it was precisely because he felt so at ease now that she managed to do what she did! What she dreamed of! She tracked him down! Here he is! The house where the shuffled Jack the Ripper lives! She was well aware that in fact it could be some Jack Peters, Matthew Donovan or Joe Finch. Who this man really is, whose address she knew from that moment on, she will find out later by picking up and studying the archives.
It seemed that the most important thing had been done. You don't have to worry anymore. But everything happened exactly the opposite. Right now she was overcome with even greater excitement than before. She was irresistibly drawn there, towards the house. But she understood that it could be like death. That she is now in control of the situation. She sees the villain, but he does not see her. But what if he turns out to be more cunning than she thinks? What if, upon entering the house, he immediately rushes to the window and examines the adjacent street?! Then they will switch places. He will see her, but she will not see him. After all, he can look out a dark window without lighting a candle! And seeing her sneaking towards his house, and realizing that she is a stalker, this subhuman will do everything to send the strange lady to the place where he recently sent his victim...
This guess really frightened Gloria. But she didn’t want to give up either. She can now look at possible signs on houses, somehow find out the street name and house number, and leave it at that. But she was drawn more and more towards home. A premonition that had never failed her before suggested that something very, very interesting could await her there.
It is clear that she would hardly have dared to go into the house itself. She was currently interested in the windows. She wanted to put her palm on the glass and see what was inside. She was glad that the house was just one story. She couldn't look into the second floor windows. And in this situation, she can quietly, carefully and silently walk around the house, look out the windows, find out something about this person.
But then she thought: what if he, lying down on the bed, would look thoughtfully out the window, admiring the starry sky, and at that very moment he would see the dark silhouette of Gloria in the window opening? No! Is it dangerous! The girl froze in indecision...
It was at that moment that she saw a light turn on in one of the windows! It was absolutely clear that it was he, the villain, who, upon returning home, lit a candle!!!
Now no force could stop Gloria from rushing to this window and looking out of it!!!
Looking around and observing all possible and impossible precautions, she headed towards the house, looked back again, quietly crept to the window, and looked into the transparent stronghold of glass.
What she saw made her shudder in horror. She understood that the nickname Jack the Ripper sounded ominous, but in fact it could be some inconspicuous-looking person who at first glance you wouldn’t think was a murderer. What a bespectacled and quiet Chikatilo was. Who actually turned out to be a maniac, a serial killer who subjected dozens of people to painful death!
The Ripper, in fact, could also turn out to be an ordinary white collar criminal. Now, looking at the killer’s face illuminated by the candle flame, she realized that all the assumptions of the artists who depicted the Ripper as some terrible monster, with an ominous face, whose face was disfigured by a scar, were correct! Yes! This is exactly what the face of this fiend was like! She didn’t see the scars, but the fact that his evil face filled her with horror was an indisputable fact.
Even everything that happened in the room looked mystical and ominous. The villain was sitting at a table on which there was a mirror. There was a candle in front of him. Although she dimly illuminated the criminal’s face, the girl still saw perfectly well how joy and euphoria his face shone.
Seeing that he began to say something, she hid, and, literally holding her breath, turned all ears. Although very quietly, very poorly and weakly, she still heard what the villain was saying.
- Well?! Did anyone doubt that I would do this?! I have accomplished another godly deed!
Maybe that’s why the girl heard what the criminal was saying, since his voice sounded loud and cheerful! He spoke sublimely and even solemnly! It sounded cynical and mean! Instead of repenting, this monster was also proud of what he had done. Gloria was filled with anger. She wanted to rush into the house, burst into the room, and strangle this bastard until he gave up the ghost. But she knew she had to control her emotions. The main thing for her now is to listen to what he has to say. For the benefit of the matter, it was even good that he spoke so cheerfully and loudly. Thanks to this, Gloria heard everything.
- Every time, Lord, after my next good deed, I report to you about my new good deed in your honor! I bring to life, Lord, your commandments, and do everything so that there is no filth on earth! I will eradicate all fornication on earth! I will strictly punish all fallen women! I will send everyone to the next world so that they do not defile this world with adultery and debauchery! I am the orderly of the world! I! Paul Crosby! God bless my name! Let the stupid newspaper men use their pens, come up with some ridiculous names for me, write nonsense! This is even better for me! Let everyone look for some Jack, and in the meantime I will do my job! In your name, Lord!
Although Gloria's mind was clouded with anger caused by the scoundrel's cynicism, she still almost screamed with joy now! At that moment, she achieved more than she had hoped for! She already knew the real name of the mythical Jack the Ripper!
- I will serve you, Lord, with faith and truth! I will continue my glorious deeds! The next sinner I will punish will be my neighbor, Melissa Brooks, who lives next door at 13 Billingsgate Street. I once saw her, the shameless one, accepting advances from some rake. I will punish her for this fornication! I tracked her down! I know that she will be working late tomorrow at the Captain Burley tavern, which is located in the port. Her boyfriend won't be there tomorrow. I’ll track her down after work when leaving the tavern, wait until she walks along the pier past a mountain of bags of tow, and send her to the bottom of the sea! Let the water take the sinner into its arms! Everything is for you, Lord! May thy name be glorified!!!
And with these words, the villain once again looked triumphantly at his reflection in the mirror and blew out the candle.
Gloria immediately backed away from the window. Hastily taking a step to the side, she quietly and silently, and then with a more confident step, hurried away from this terrible place.
A mass of all kinds of feelings were now raging in her soul. During that night she experienced and felt so much that someone else in her place would not have been able to organize her thoughts. But the decisive and courageous Gloria did it quite quickly. She knew how to quickly and decisively separate the primary from the secondary. The girl immediately realized that from that moment on she should be interested not in what was, but in what will be! She already knew what she would do next.

Episode five
- Forgive me, for God's sake! But I'm looking for Melissa Brooks. Maybe it's you?
- Yes... It's me... What did you want?
The two girls looked at each other in surprise. And the one who stood on the street, in front of the open door, and the one who opened the door for the night guest.
- For God's sake, you will forgive me for such an unexpected and late visit. In fact, in the middle of the night. But I was terribly cold... And I decided not to wait until the morning. And ask right away, right now. The fact is that I want to get a job at the Captain Burley Tavern. Where you work. I wanted to ask you to take me to the tavern, because I don’t know where it is. Maybe you could ask the tavern owner to hire me?
Hearing this, Melissa perked up.
- Wonderful! We need one more worker! Otherwise, Jenny, Katherine and I don’t have time. A lot of work! We'd love to have you! But what are we worth here? Are you coming in? Or will you go?
“I have nowhere to go…” the guest honestly admitted. – My name is Gloria Evans. I'm arriving... I have nowhere to stay... Maybe you can tell me where I can rent a room for one night?
- So you can stay with me! – Melissa exclaimed joyfully. - I have a corner for you! Take a rest. And tomorrow we will go to the tavern together. I will definitely put in a good word for you with the owner. I see you are a kind person! Come in!
They entered the room.
- Here you can lie down. Modest, but quite acceptable. Maybe you're hungry? You are coming from the road! Now, at least a little, I’ll put something on the table!
- No worries! You are very kind! I am a complete stranger to you, and you pay me so much attention!
- So you need to show concern for your neighbor! God's commandments must be kept. Then there, in heaven, everyone will be rewarded for their kindness!
- Yes, but... This is a special case... I came in the middle of the night and disturbed your sleep...
- You didn’t violate anything! I did not sleep! I can't sleep now! There are such joyful changes planned in my life, I am so filled with positive emotions that I haven’t been able to sleep lately.
- I'm happy for you! I sincerely wish that what you are thinking about comes true! And so that everything in your life is good.
- Will! There will certainly be! – The hostess chirped joyfully, placing a simple, extra-late dinner on the table. – Everything will be fine with Tom! He offered me his hand and heart. He's so nice! I'm so happy!!!
The more Melissa spoke, the more Gloria was struck by the tragedy of what was happening. Or rather, what is about to happen. To what is happening now in general, and how different people look at the same situation. Paul Crosby considered Tom's courtship of Melissa a terrible sin, fornication, and decided to severely punish her for it. In fact, in the lives of two young people there is a bright and wonderful feeling called Love, and this should not cause contempt, but sincere tenderness and joy that two loving hearts have found each other.
Looking at how joy Melissa’s eyes were now shining, how happy she was now, Gloria shuddered from the thought that the next night someone’s bad will would not only disrupt and destroy this happiness, but also end an innocent life...
Looking at the hostess over and over again, seeing what positive and bright energy she radiates, the guest once again thought about how vile the crimes of this terrible Jack the Ripper and other maniacs and murderers are! By depriving someone of their life, they don’t think about the fact that they are cutting off someone’s life’s flight at the very takeoff. In a moment of happiness and spiritual triumph. In the hour of dreams and expectations of a long and bright future. People are rejoicing and waiting for something good, just as Melissa, glowing with happiness, is now waiting for it. And then, in an instant, everything ends... Cruelly, cynically, vilely... Because someone imagined something... And he decided in the name of the Lord to do something that could not be called a godly deed.
Gloria was struck by how contrasting the references to God by Paul Crosby and Melissa Brooks were. If a girl said that in the name of the Lord one must do good deeds and bring joy to one’s neighbor, then the villain in the name of God killed people, brought them not joy, but suffering and grief... There is an incredibly powerful saying: “The ways of the Lord are mysterious...” It would be more correct to say that the inscrutable are the roads that each servant of God chooses specifically for himself. For one, this may be a Bright path, strewn with goodness and grace, while another, during his life’s journey, will leave only grief, tears, groans and corpses on the dark sidelines...
When they soon blew out the candle and went to bed, they could not fall asleep for a long time. Talked. Gloria heard Melissa's voice radiating joy in the darkness about how happy she was that Tom had appeared in her life, and how blindly she believed that they would live a long time, in peace and harmony...

Episode six
The whole next day was very eventful for Gloria. She was glad that she was hired at the tavern. She definitely needed to be closer to Melissa.
All day our heroine was thinking not so much about work as thinking about what would happen the coming night. On the one hand, nothing should happen. After all, Mary Jane Kelly was the last victim of Jack the Ripper. Therefore, something should happen not to the murderer’s victim, but to himself. Perhaps he himself will become a victim of some unforeseen circumstances. Maybe he will die suddenly, or his conscience will suddenly awaken and he will decide to no longer do what he has been doing lately? On the one hand, it was hard to believe, but, on the other, since history no longer recorded the murders committed by the Ripper, it means that nothing should happen to Melissa today! No need to worry!
But in Gloria’s ears the ominous voice of this terrible man still sounded, which clearly indicated that he was filled with the desire to kill, kill and kill again! There was reason to worry about the fate of Paul Crosby's future victim! Therefore, our heroine waited with excitement and anxiety for the end of the working day.
In a different situation, we would have been happy to describe the adventures with which Gloria’s first day of work at the tavern passed. How the regulars of this drinking establishment, flushed with alcoholic drinks, paid attention to the new worker with a pretty face. Everyone tried to give her as many compliments as possible, and find the moment to playfully slap her delicious ass. But these, as they say, were everyday moments that were then customary for working in taverns and taverns, and which our heroine tried not to pay attention to. She only thought about the end of working hours, and about what would happen next. She remembered the ominous threat of the Ripper. She understood that if nothing happened to him, he would try to fulfill his promise. This is what scared Gloria...
When, finally, Hour X arrived, Melissa turned to her new friend in a tired, but still joyful and friendly voice:
- Maybe you can spend the night with me today? I sincerely invite you! We can go to my house together!
- Thank you, you are so kind. – Gloria hastily answered, realizing that she was offered the worst of all possible options. – But I already agreed with the owner. I'll spend the night at the tavern. At the same time, I’ll keep an eye on everything here. And tomorrow I’ll decide what to do. Thank you for everything! For taking care of me!
“It’s a pity...” Melissa was sincerely upset. – I’ll have to go myself... Late night... It’s a pity that Tom left... But nothing! He'll be back soon and we'll figure something out! Till tomorrow! Goodbye!
- Goodbye! – Gloria answered just as affably, pretending to continue going about her business.
But as soon as Melissa disappeared behind the door, the heroine of our story immediately dropped everything and hurried after her friend.
It is clear that she paused, giving her the opportunity to move forward. Of course, she followed Melissa at a great distance from her so as not to catch the eye of the Ripper. Gloria understood that this should not happen today. If Mary Jane Kelly was the last victim of the maniac, then nothing should happen today! But still, just in case, the time traveler decided to play it safe. This is, in fact, why she made this visit to the past.
Today her mission was much more difficult than yesterday. Last night she was in complete control of the situation. Yesterday she was in hiding, she understood that she saw the villain, but he did not see her. Today they have practically switched roles. Now the Ripper, if he keeps his word and comes to the port, to the tavern, to kill his victim, will be in hiding and remain invisible. And it won’t be someone who will be watching him, but he himself will become an observer of those who will leave the tavern. It is clear that he will only hunt down Melissa. Of course, he has no idea that the one who wants to protect her should go after her. But if the villain notices that someone is relentlessly following her victim, it is clear that this will attract his attention. Therefore, now the first and foremost task for Gloria was one thing: to be invisible!
So far everything was going well: Melissa walked along the edge of the pier, her dark silhouette clearly visible against the background of the light moonlit path reflected in the water. No one was following her. But there was no one around! But ahead we could see mountains of bags stacked on the edge of the pier. That's where the attacker can hide! This is where the main danger may lie!
As Melissa began to walk past the bags, Gloria's heart began to beat faster. She remembered the expression: “It’s now or never.” The maniac will attack either now, or he won’t be there at all. Or Mary Jane Kelly will really be Jack the Ripper's final victim.
When Gloria saw the dark figure of a tall man break away from one of the piles of bags and follow Melissa, her heart sank. This was no longer a premonition or anything else, but a fact that was beyond doubt: the next murder of Jack the Ripper was about to happen!
Now it was impossible to rub for even a second!
Events began to develop very quickly!
Gloria rushed as fast as she could to help her friend.
She ran as fast as she had probably never run so fast before. She understood that she had to do this as silently as possible, so as not to scare the villain ahead of time. But it was, of course, impossible to do this in the silence of the night that reigned around. It seemed to her that the stomping of her feet was so loud that everything around her shook.
But the villain, apparently, was very keen on pursuing his victim, and did not pay attention to anything. Gloria was rapidly approaching the duo in front, and saw how the killer inevitably overtook his victim. A little more and the irreparable will happen.
Paralyzed by fear, Gloria saw the villain take out a knife and raise it over his victim. The huge blade flashed ominously in the rays of the bright full moon.
- No! “Our heroine screamed with all her might, realizing that in a second this terrible blade would plunge into the back of the one who so dreams of a long and happy life with her beloved.
The killer turned sharply at the scream.
Melissa also looked around. Seeing the ominously sparkling blade of a knife literally above her head, she screamed shrilly and loudly, and ran away as fast as she could.
The killer did not pay any attention to her. He glared ominously at the one who had thwarted him in his plans.
Both were frozen in a daze.
If someone from the outside were looking at these two now, he would call what he saw the battle of Goliath with his opponent. Against the background of the luminous lunar path of the waters of the port, the huge dark figure of the killer, with a knife raised above his head, seemed like a giant, a monster, a dinosaur! And the dark silhouette of the tiny girl looked like a helpless victim who would inevitably fall under the strength and pressure of her opponent.
The Ripper made an ominous sound, more like the angry growl of a wild beast, an experienced predator, and moved towards Gloria.
She was numb with horror. For the first time during her stay on this journey into the past, she not only regretted her adventure, but almost howled with fear and hopelessness. In such cases, a person no longer thinks about anything other than how to save his life. This is exactly what our heroine should have done! But she continued to stand in a daze, doing nothing! Panic, fear, is something that really has the ability to paralyze a person’s will and body, preventing him from doing what he simply must do in moments of danger! Gloria is not the first and not the last who has become a victim of such a phenomenon.
She was also paralyzed by what was now revealed before her eyes. The full moon illuminated the face of the legendary killer well, she saw him perfectly, and this filled her with even greater fear. No wonder artists painted him as a monster! He truly was a monster! It was impossible to look without horror and shudder at the killer’s face, distorted by anger and hatred.
He kept getting closer and closer. Now the irreparable will happen. Gloria remembered the police report from the murder scene of Mary Jane Kelly and almost vomited. She imagined that with her, with Gloria, he would now do the same thing as with that unfortunate woman... She wanted to howl in despair, to run away from danger, but her body did not listen to her...
Gloria loved reading detective stories. And about Sherlock Holmes, and about Ned Baxter, and about Jack Bradley, and about Commissioner Maigret. She was always confused by stories about murders. She thought then: God forbid that she experience what the victims experience before their death. What fears and horrors overcome them. Now our heroine has drunk this bitter cup to the bottom. She felt, second by second, step by step, what the victim was going through a moment before the irreparable...
But there was no time for further reflection. The killer was very close. He had already raised his hand to strike. Just a little more, and everything really can’t be changed...
But for now she still had some moments left for salvation. Now, with sobering clarity for herself, the heroine realized that if she did not do something right now, at this very moment, then what she feared most would certainly happen.
Gathering all her will into a fist, Gloria grabbed a stun gun and shot electrodes at the Ripper...
He shuddered, as if he had stumbled upon an invisible wall, staggered, and, unable to maintain his balance, fell...
Since they were standing on the very edge of the pier, he fell not just anywhere, but into the water!
A splash was heard, small circles began to flow across the bay...
The girl, numb from the new shock, watched as these circles slowly dispersed...
A minute passed, then a second, a third, a fifth...
When about ten minutes had passed, our heroine realized what had just happened. That the crimes of the world famous maniac Dec the Ripper were put to rest not by anyone, but by her... Gloria Evans...

Episode seven
- Finally, I've been waiting for you! If only you knew how glad I am that you came! How great it will be if you accept my offer and we will begin our cooperation! We are wasting precious time! We need to act!
The owner of the office, publisher Oliver Gran, was beaming with joy.
- And I have already begun to act! – The guest smiled mysteriously, sitting down on the offered chair. – True, I’m still afraid to advertise my abilities. I gave you an example of a guy from the book Stopping Time. Have you read it?
The publisher hesitated.
- Frankly, no... - He became embarrassed. - Everything's going on, you know...
- Things will pile up endlessly. There will never be an end to them. I recommend reading a good book. Moreover, it concerns our business. Otherwise, you demand action from me, but do nothing yourself.
- Guilty! I'll fix it! – Grant said cheerfully and decisively, but then added. – What did you mean when you said that you had already begun to act?
Gloria smiled.
- I have already implemented your first proposal. You then expressed an interesting idea that we could solve the mystery of who the unknown and mysterious Jack the Ripper was. I found out both his name and his address. Here, take it..
And the girl placed a sheet of paper on the table in front of the astonished publisher.
“Paul Crosby...” he read slowly, drawing out the words. - Who is this?
There were so many emotions on Oliver Grant's face that the girl allowed herself to smile tenderly.
- This is the real name of Jack the Ripper. His name was neither George Chapman, nor Francis Stambalti, nor Done Druli, nor Mikhail Ostrov, nor Kasminsky, or Leather Apron, or whatever their correct name is, I don’t even remember. Those whom the police suspected of these crimes. Did you ask for an information bomb? Here she is! Your newspapers could tell the whole world the real name of Jack the Ripper! And thereby increase your circulation! This is what you wanted!
The publisher looked confusedly, first at Gloria, then at the piece of paper, trying to comprehend what he had heard.
- So you are... Were you there? Have you gone back in time? Have you seen Jack?
The girl sighed heavily and smiled sadly.
- As much as I don’t want to reveal my secrets, I understand that you want to hear about what happened. As a courtesy for the fact that it was you who suggested the idea to me with Jack, I will tell you everything! Listen!
The more the listener listened to the storyteller, the wider her eyes opened in surprise. He was amazed by what he heard.
When Gloria finished her story, silence reigned in the office for a long time.
- Wow... - Grant finally squeezed out, slowly drawing out the words. “You and I can do great things!” Great secrets to reveal! Wow…
- Stop! – The girl said in a firm voice. – I haven’t given any consent to cooperation yet! For now we won’t do anything. I just gave you information for which I don’t even ask for money. I'm just giving it to you! With a strict and unconditional requirement that you not only did not mention me anywhere, but also the very fact that someone went on a trip to the past!!! And thanks to this, he revealed this secret! Until you read Time Stopper, you won't understand what I'm talking about.
- I will definitely read it! I promise you! But it would be beneficial for us to cooperate... You shouldn’t refuse...
- And I don’t refuse. I'm still thinking about it. In some matters we can really help each other...
Seeing that the girl was thinking, the publisher perked up.
- What do you have in mind? Share your thoughts. I will definitely support you. Definitely!
Gloria rubbed the bridge of her nose thoughtfully and straightened her hair.
“I just don’t want to go back in time.” “She finally started enthusiastically. – And even more so to change something there. We all remember the butterfly effect, and I take this phenomenon quite seriously. In no case, under any circumstances, will I change anything in the past that has already happened! What the world knows about and what can change the course of history and the development of evolution. But here's what hasn't happened yet...
The narrator thought about it. The listener raised his eyebrows in surprise, trying to understand what she meant. He wanted to ask her about this, but, being a smart man, he understood that there was no need for this. Since the girl started this conversation, she will now talk about what worries her.
“How can I explain this to you…” She continued thoughtfully, as if half asleep. “As much as I felt sorry for Mary Jane Kelly, and as much as I wanted to rush to her aid, I should never have done that.” If I had saved her, then the events that happened next would not have followed. Lots of newspaper articles about her murder, gruesome photographs of her dismembered body! Which are still published today! Yes, they are terrible, but they have been published for two hundred years, and this can no longer be changed! But, if, for example, a person disappears without a trace, and nothing is heard about him in the future, and he does not influence the course of history, then one can become interested in such a person and such a case. At the very least, solve the mystery of his disappearance. God! There are so many such things! You can’t count them all!
Gloria put her finger to the bridge of her nose, thought again for a moment, but then continued.
- The attack on Melissa Brooks could not have happened because Paul Crosby died suddenly, or something else happened to him. And the previous murder of Mary Jane Kelly was indeed his last crime. But it so happened that it was not Crosby’s illness or something else that put an end to his atrocities, but me! I! Coming to the past from the future, and breaking the chain of sinister atrocities! After this, events took their course. It turned out that I didn’t change anything in the past, didn’t violate it, didn’t influence the further development of evolution. It turns out that this visit to the past was, as it were, pre-programmed. These are the kinds of trips into the past I can make! In those places and cases where, in the event of my intervention in events, nothing will change.
The publisher listened attentively, marveling at how wisely this girl, smart beyond her years, thought.
- For example, the secret of the legendary Amber Room... Everyone knows that during the war the Nazis took it out of the Soviet Union. Since then she disappeared without a trace. May I appear at the moment when this priceless relic began to be taken out of the palace. And, if possible, trace her path. Some say that it was walled up in a tunnel in some mountain, others claim that it was hidden in an underwater cave. Be that as it may, all these years no one knew about her, and she did not influence the course of history. If I, returning to the past, find out about the place where the relic is hidden, then, coming here again, we will inform the world about where exactly to look for the Amber Room, or we will find it ourselves, then by doing this we will not step on the wings of an imaginary butterfly ! We will not change the course of history and evolution! These are the kinds of things you can do!
- A most wonderful idea! – Grant perked up. - Most beautiful!
- Or, for example, missing people. There are many such cases. Mysterious and mysterious. Investigating the disappearances alone, you understand that there a person could freeze in the endless icy desert, or somehow get lost, and then die in some way. But there are such strange disappearances that many still doubt that it, as such, ever happened! Many assume that some people themselves staged their disappearance in order to hide from debts, police, court, wives, and so on. They say that Hitler, for example, poisoned his double instead of himself, and he himself quietly and secretly lived the rest of his life in peace and quiet. These are the kinds of things we can do!
- So let's get busy! My dear! Am I against it?! Let's! What is required of me?
- Tell me about such cases, by taking up which, I will not need to change anything in the past. I’d rather find out some important information there, with the help of which we can then change everything here, in the present! It will be logical! We won't break anything with this!
- You are a genius! You are very wise! With you we will change the world!
- Well, you don’t need to turn it over, but you can do good deeds! As Melissa said, you need to take care of your neighbors, bring joy to people. How kind and bright she is! How glad I am that I saved her life! I wonder what her fate would be like in the future? Where and how do their grandchildren and great-grandchildren live with Tom now?

Completion date for this story: December 12, 2023
Place of birth of the story: Great Britain, North Wales, Flint, Bolingbroke Street 135.