ALTAR
Someone appears to have constructed an altar of sorts. You quickly note the details: Six upright photos, each labeled, surrounding a red, unlit candle in the center. The candle sits atop yet another photo, this one of a girl. It’s labeled, “Elsie”. Your keen eyes affix to two worn blemishes on the table, equally spaced apart from the center – as if someone spent countless nights on their elbows, head in hands, peering at the photos before you.
You pick up the candle to inspect it. It’s a blood red candle that appears to have never been lit. Despite its relatively small size, it feels heavy in your hand. Beneath the candle is a photo.
You recognize the girl in the photo as Elsie McDermott, the daughter of Mr. Charles McDermott and, according to toxicology reports following the incident, the first victim in the mysterious McDermott House deaths. Elsie was seven years old when she was poisoned to death. Friends of the family had described her as bright and full of life, though she had fallen ill in the days leading up to her death. Elsie was named after her grandmother, the progenitor of what was known in town as the McDermott Curse… not that you pay much mind to such beliefs. She was found deceased in her bed, having nodded off into a final sleep. As you stare at the photo of Elsie, a strange feeling of confusion washes over you. A metallic taste fills your mouth, and you quickly set the photo back down and replace the candle on top.
You take a close look at the worn marks on the table. Clearly, someone rested their elbows here for long periods of time. You’ve heard that following the poisoning of his family, Mr. McDermott was plagued by survivor’s guilt, and spent the rest of his life in despair at the mystery surrounding their deaths. He fully believed that they were murdered that evening but was never able to figure out why. He claimed to be haunted by the ghost of his daughter, Elsie, who he said insisted her murderer was someone in the house that day. It was even believed by some that Mr. McDermott had figured out a way to exact a supernatural sort of revenge were he to ever identify who the culprit was.
There are six photos surrounding the candle in the center. You recognize them instantly as the six other victims of the McDermott House deaths. You and everyone else at the department have looked at this case, so you remember a few details about the victims. You can select a picture below to see what you can recall:
There’s not much in the case file on this guy. He called himself “Otto” and he had been hanging around town for about a week before the deaths happened. His business was selling toys, specifically girls’ dolls. Nothing confirming his identity was ever found, and it’s widely assumed that he was using an alias, but to what end remains a mystery. Otto had been seen canvassing the area just a day prior, and may have even stopped in at the McDermott residence. Otto’s car, with a trunk full of inventory, was found parked at the house, with no sign of the McDermott family’s vehicle. This baffled the authorities at first, until the McDermott family’s car was found broken down just a mile down the road, heading into town. Based on witness reports, it’s believed that Otto gave the McDermotts a lift back to the house just as a severe storm began to roll in. As a thank you, Otto was likely invited into the house for some refreshments and shelter, not to mention a prime opportunity to peddle his wares. His body was found collapsed on the floor, poisoned to death, another good deed not gone unpunished.
Aunt Jane was perhaps the most renowned victim of the fabled McDermott Curse, tragically punctuated with her untimely death along with the others that fateful night. What was the McDermott Curse? As much as you can surmise, just a handful of bad fortunes that seemed to follow the family around. Jane had married a handsome young man with a promising career, and together they had borne a daughter, Rose. Their happiness was short lived, however, as on the day that Rose turned four years old, her father, Jane’s husband, was killed in a head-on collision. Distraught, Jane and Rose moved to be closer to Jane’s brother and his family. Not even a full year later, however, the McDermott Curse reared its ugly head once more. While at the park with Charles and his family, Rose was kidnapped – never to be seen again. The only evidence left behind was a sinister note which chillingly taunted, “The curse is coming to get you all.” Naturally, Jane fell into a deep despair. Her brother convinced her to move in with him and his family at the McDermott House. It took a year, but slowly Jane recovered. Having her brother’s family helped, and while her life could never be the same, it wasn’t without purpose anymore. The “Curse”, however, was relentless, and on the same evening as the others, she succumbed to death by poison. Her body was found slumped in a chair, her lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.
Virgil Weber was 14 years old when he died of poisoning on that tragic night. As you recall, he was not a McDermott by blood, but rather the son of Mrs. Vera McDermott and her previous, late, husband. Virgil was somewhat of a problem child, often getting into scuffles at school and never really getting along well with any of the other children. At home, he mostly kept to himself, passing the time with what was described as his favorite hobby, writing. He was there the day Rose, Aunt Jane’s daughter, was taken. By his account, he had been playing hide and seek in the park with Elsie and Rose when they suddenly found themselves unable to find Aunt Jane’s daughter. The only thing out of the ordinary he could recall was having seen a strange man in a black hat strolling by during their games. Virgil’s body was found in the corner of the room, sitting with his back against the wall, an expression of horror written on his face.
The neighbor, an elderly woman by the name of Birdie, lived a two minute walk down the road away from town. Her father had built and lived in the McDermott house long before Charles McDermott settled his family there. It was widely known that Birdie regretted losing the house, but following the death of her father and some rotten financial mishaps, she had been forced to sell the property ages ago. Nevertheless, she was a common “guest” at the door of the McDermott’s, incessantly showing up to lodge complaints against the children of the house whom she believed had been stealing various items from her own home down the road. It is not known what she was doing at the McDermott house the night of the murders, but like the others, she was found poisoned to death in a ghastly fashion, her body face-down in the hall of the house in which she had grown up.
As was common during the times, Charles McDermott rented out a spare room of the house to those needing it in exchange for some extra income. At the time, the spare room was being inhabited by a man named Emmett. He was a mysterious man, but quiet, clean, and respectful. Interviews with the townsfolk had said Emmett was popular with Elsie and her friends for the riddles and word games he’d play with them. Mrs. McDermott, it seemed, hadn’t approved of the kids becoming so close to the relative stranger in their house. Charles McDermott, however, saw nothing ill about the relationship, and was rather quite thankful for the free entertainment given to Elsie. Witnesses who visited the McDermotts noted that Emmett, who had been at the house for about a year, had grown quite reclusive in the days leading up to the deaths, so much so that some of Mrs. McDermott’s friends had prematurely congratulated her on finally getting rid of the “creepy drifter”. They weren’t far off, however, as Emmett’s body was found just outside his room, poisoned and lifeless, his hand still gripping his luggage – packed and ready to go.
Vera McDermott (formerly Vera Weber), will be forever remembered as the town beauty, and from her picture, rightfully so. Despite losing her first husband, Virgil’s father, so early in their marriage, reports indicate she found new happiness with Charles McDermott. Theirs was apparently a whirlwind romance, with him returning from what was supposed to be a business trip with a new bride and her young son in tow. Elsie was, by all accounts, instantly infatuated with her glamorous stepmother and even her stoic new brother. Little was reported on Mrs. McDermott’s life before marrying Charles, but it seemed to have taken some time for Vera to adjust to the quiet life of McDermott House, and some townsfolk had even referred to her as standoffish and haughty with anyone that wasn’t Charles. Despite the coolness she was attributed with, she must have been a warm hostess at the very least. Her body was found collapsed, poisoned to death, on the floor surrounded by a serving tray and several shattered porcelain cups.
You pick up the candle to inspect it. It’s a blood red candle that appears to have never been lit. Despite its relatively small size, it feels heavy in your hand. Beneath the candle is a photo.
You recognize the girl in the photo as Elsie McDermott, the daughter of Mr. Charles McDermott and, according to toxicology reports following the incident, the first victim in the mysterious McDermott House deaths. Elsie was seven years old when she was poisoned to death. Friends of the family had described her as bright and full of life, though she had fallen ill in the days leading up to her death. Elsie was named after her grandmother, the progenitor of what was known in town as the McDermott Curse… not that you pay much mind to such beliefs. She was found deceased in her bed, having nodded off into a final sleep. As you stare at the photo of Elsie, a strange feeling of confusion washes over you. A metallic taste fills your mouth, and you quickly set the photo back down and replace the candle on top.
There’s not much in the case file on this guy. He called himself “Otto” and he had been hanging around town for about a week before the deaths happened. His business was selling toys, specifically girls’ dolls. Nothing confirming his identity was ever found, and it’s widely assumed that he was using an alias, but to what end remains a mystery. Otto had been seen canvassing the area just a day prior, and may have even stopped in at the McDermott residence. Otto’s car, with a trunk full of inventory, was found parked at the house, with no sign of the McDermott family’s vehicle. This baffled the authorities at first, until the McDermott family’s car was found broken down just a mile down the road, heading into town. Based on witness reports, it’s believed that Otto gave the McDermotts a lift back to the house just as a severe storm began to roll in. As a thank you, Otto was likely invited into the house for some refreshments and shelter, not to mention a prime opportunity to peddle his wares. His body was found collapsed on the floor, poisoned to death, another good deed not gone unpunished.
Aunt Jane was perhaps the most renowned victim of the fabled McDermott Curse, tragically punctuated with her untimely death along with the others that fateful night. What was the McDermott Curse? As much as you can surmise, just a handful of bad fortunes that seemed to follow the family around. Jane had married a handsome young man with a promising career, and together they had borne a daughter, Rose. Their happiness was short lived, however, as on the day that Rose turned four years old, her father, Jane’s husband, was killed in a head-on collision. Distraught, Jane and Rose moved to be closer to Jane’s brother and his family. Not even a full year later, however, the McDermott Curse reared its ugly head once more. While at the park with Charles and his family, Rose was kidnapped – never to be seen again. The only evidence left behind was a sinister note which chillingly taunted, “The curse is coming to get you all.” Naturally, Jane fell into a deep despair. Her brother convinced her to move in with him and his family at the McDermott House. It took a year, but slowly Jane recovered. Having her brother’s family helped, and while her life could never be the same, it wasn’t without purpose anymore. The “Curse”, however, was relentless, and on the same evening as the others, she succumbed to death by poison. Her body was found slumped in a chair, her lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.
Virgil Weber was 14 years old when he died of poisoning on that tragic night. As you recall, he was not a McDermott by blood, but rather the son of Mrs. Vera McDermott and her previous, late, husband. Virgil was somewhat of a problem child, often getting into scuffles at school and never really getting along well with any of the other children. At home, he mostly kept to himself, passing the time with what was described as his favorite hobby, writing. He was there the day Rose, Aunt Jane’s daughter, was taken. By his account, he had been playing hide and seek in the park with Elsie and Rose when they suddenly found themselves unable to find Aunt Jane’s daughter. The only thing out of the ordinary he could recall was having seen a strange man in a black hat strolling by during their games. Virgil’s body was found in the corner of the room, sitting with his back against the wall, an expression of horror written on his face.
The neighbor, an elderly woman by the name of Birdie, lived a two minute walk down the road away from town. Her father had built and lived in the McDermott house long before Charles McDermott settled his family there. It was widely known that Birdie regretted losing the house, but following the death of her father and some rotten financial mishaps, she had been forced to sell the property ages ago. Nevertheless, she was a common “guest” at the door of the McDermott’s, incessantly showing up to lodge complaints against the children of the house whom she believed had been stealing various items from her own home down the road. It is not known what she was doing at the McDermott house the night of the murders, but like the others, she was found poisoned to death in a ghastly fashion, her body face-down in the hall of the house in which she had grown up.
As was common during the times, Charles McDermott rented out a spare room of the house to those needing it in exchange for some extra income. At the time, the spare room was being inhabited by a man named Emmett. He was a mysterious man, but quiet, clean, and respectful. Interviews with the townsfolk had said Emmett was popular with Elsie and her friends for the riddles and word games he’d play with them. Mrs. McDermott, it seemed, hadn’t approved of the kids becoming so close to the relative stranger in their house. Charles McDermott, however, saw nothing ill about the relationship, and was rather quite thankful for the free entertainment given to Elsie. Witnesses who visited the McDermotts noted that Emmett, who had been at the house for about a year, had grown quite reclusive in the days leading up to the deaths, so much so that some of Mrs. McDermott’s friends had prematurely congratulated her on finally getting rid of the “creepy drifter”. They weren’t far off, however, as Emmett’s body was found just outside his room, poisoned and lifeless, his hand still gripping his luggage – packed and ready to go.
Vera McDermott (formerly Vera Weber), will be forever remembered as the town beauty, and from her picture, rightfully so. Despite losing her first husband, Virgil’s father, so early in their marriage, reports indicate she found new happiness with Charles McDermott. Theirs was apparently a whirlwind romance, with him returning from what was supposed to be a business trip with a new bride and her young son in tow. Elsie was, by all accounts, instantly infatuated with her glamorous stepmother and even her stoic new brother. Little was reported on Mrs. McDermott’s life before marrying Charles, but it seemed to have taken some time for Vera to adjust to the quiet life of McDermott House, and some townsfolk had even referred to her as standoffish and haughty with anyone that wasn’t Charles. Despite the coolness she was attributed with, she must have been a warm hostess at the very least. Her body was found collapsed, poisoned to death, on the floor surrounded by a serving tray and several shattered porcelain cups.