Chapter Six. The Bloofer Lady
Dr Seward's Diary (continued) – 20th September
What a terrible few days. Lucy's mother. Then Arthur's father. And now …. yes, now Lucy.
I sat with her all night until 6 o'clock. Then the professor came in and opened the curtains. She was very, very pale and her breathing was terrible. He took the scarf off her neck. He was obviously worried, so I went to look at Lucy. Where were the marks? The marks on her neck weren't there anymore. The professor looked at me. ‘She's dying. Bring Arthur here. He must see her.'
I brought Arthur into the room and Lucy smiled at him. He smiled, too and went to kiss her. ‘No. Not now,' said the Professor. ‘Hold her hand. You can kiss her later.'
He held her hand and she went to sleep. A short time later, her breathing was better. She opened her mouth a little. Again, two of her teeth seemed longer. She opened her eyes and spoke; her voice was very strange. ‘Kiss me, Arthur. Kiss me.'
Arthur went to kiss her, but the professor stopped him. ‘NO ARTHUR! NO!' he shouted. And he pulled Arthur away from Lucy.
Arthur and I were shocked and surprised. Lucy's face was almost angry. She closed her mouth and her eyes and went back to sleep. Her breathing was weak again.
‘Now you can kiss her,' said the professor.
Arthur held her hand and kissed her. A few moments later, she died.
Arthur is a broken man. We all three loved her, but Arthur was hers. It's terrible to see him. It was strange, but when she died, some of her colour came back to her. Usually people are paler when they die. But Lucy almost looked better. I turned to the professor. ‘She's beautiful, isn't she? She's so peaceful. It's difficult to believe that she's dead. Now she can have some peace. It's all over for her.'
‘Yes, she's beautiful, but this isn't the end. It's only the beginning. Wait and see,' he said.
We made the preparations for Lucy's funeral. The professor put some garlic flowers in her coffin. He put a gold cross on her mouth.
Mina Harker's Diary – 24th September
Jonathan and I are now at home, in our new house. Today has been a terrible day. When we arrived home, there was a telegram for me. Lucy is dead. So is her mother. Their funeral was yesterday. She was my best friend.
Jonathan is asleep. He's still ill. He had a bad shock today. We were walking in London. Suddenly, Jonathan stopped. He looked very frightened. ‘It's him! It's him!' he said.
He was looking at a tall, thin man. The man was very pale and had long, white teeth. He had a very hard face. I didn't like him. Jonathan took my arm and we ran away. When we got home, he gave me his diary. He has asked me to read it.
From The Westminster Gazette - 27th September
A Hampstead Mystery
Strange things are happening in Hampstead. Last night, the police found a small child in the park. It was very late at night. The boy was very weak. He had two small marks on his neck. The marks are something like marks that an animal could make. Like a bite from a dog. The police took him to hospital. When he was feeling a little better, the boy talked about the Bloofer Lady.
This isn't the first time. A similar thing happened two nights ago. Three other children also came home with marks on their necks. They all talked about the Bloofer Lady. Police think the children mean the Beautiful Lady.
The police are watching for small children alone, late at night. They're also looking out for a dog.
Letter from Professor Van Helsing to Mina Harker – 28th September
Dear Mrs Harker,
My name's Professor Van Helsing. I'm a friend of Dr Seward and Arthur Holmwood.
I'm writing to you, because I helped poor Lucy before she died. Arthur gave me Lucy's letters and diary. I read them and I know you are her best friend. I think you can help me. I must speak to you soon.
Best wishes,
Van Helsing
Mina Harker's Diary – 30th September
I sent a telegram to Professor Van Helsing. He came to see me yesterday. He's a very nice man and he's very interesting. I gave Jonathan's diary to him. It's going to be very useful to him. I told him about the strange man Jonathan saw on Thursday. The professor is very worried about it. He's going to read Jonathan's diary. Then he's going to talk to me again.
Jonathan Harker's diary – 2nd October
This morning, I met Professor Van Helsing. He's a very kind and intelligent man. He's read my diary and some of poor Lucy's letters. He wants to help me. He also wants me to help him.
Dr Seward's diary – 2nd October
This afternoon, the professor came to see me. He showed me a story in the newspaper. Someone, or something, is attacking children in Hampstead. The children have strange marks on their necks – the marks are exactly like the marks poor Lucy had.
The professor talked to me very seriously. He asked me to believe him and to trust him. I was shocked by what he said. He says the marks the children have on their necks weren't made by an animal. They were made by Lucy!
I don't see how this is possible. Lucy is dead. But the professor is certain. It seems mad to me, but I know the professor. He isn't mad.
Tonight, we're going to visit one of the children in hospital. Then we're going to the graveyard. We're going to watch. The professor says that we'll see Lucy.
Later
It's late, but I can't sleep. Tonight was an incredible night. I'm very shocked. We went to see the child in hospital. The marks on his neck are the same as the marks on Lucy's neck. The little boy talked about the Bloofer Lady. He wanted to go and play with her. The professor told the doctors and nurses to watch the child carefully.
After dinner, we went to the graveyard. It was quite late. The professor took a key from his pocket. He unlocked the Westenra tomb and we went inside. In the light from his lamp, we read the names on the coffins. He found Lucy's coffin and started to open it. I was very shocked and I tried to stop him. But he continued. ‘You must believe me. You must trust me!' he said. ‘Now, look! Look inside!'
The coffin was empty. Lucy wasn't there. It was incredible.
The professor is coming again tomorrow. This time we're going to the tomb in the daytime. He says I need to see something more.
3rd October
We went to the Westenra tomb this morning. The professor opened Lucy's coffin again. This time she was inside it. I was very surprised. The professor explained to me that she isn't dead. She isn't alive. Poor, poor Lucy. She's Un-dead. The marks on her neck came from a vampire. Now, she's a vampire too. Her teeth are very long; like a dog's teeth. The professor says that Lucy is the Bloofer Lady. She's biting the children. Lucy is drinking their blood. It's horrible!
He says we must save her and we must save the children. He says we must kill her. If we kill her, then she'll be safe. He wants Arthur to help us, too. I don't know what to think. How can we kill Lucy? She's already dead. But it's true. She isn't the lovely Lucy anymore. She's a vampire and a monster. I hope Arthur will understand, too.
Later
This afternoon, Arthur, Quincey and I all went to meet the professor. He told Arthur and Quincey that we must go to Lucy's tomb. He said that we must open her coffin. Arthur was very angry, but listened to the professor's story. I also told Arthur about Lucy's empty coffin yesterday. Then I told him about this morning. The professor explained to Arthur that Lucy is Un-dead. The only way to save Lucy, is to kill her. He said we must put garlic in her mouth. We must cut off her head and put a stake through her heart. Arthur thought this was horrible. He said the professor mustn't do it. The professor asked Arthur to trust him.
After dinner, we all went to the graveyard. We opened Lucy's coffin. Arthur and Quincy were very scared. Then they looked inside; it was empty. They were very shocked. The professor closed the coffin and we all went outside. The professor locked the door of the tomb. He put garlic around the door. He put a cross on the outside of the door. Then, we all waited behind some trees.
After a short time, we saw a woman in the graveyard. She was holding something. Then we heard a small cry; it was a child's cry. The woman came nearer and we could see her in the moonlight. It was Lucy! But she wasn't the same lovely Lucy. Her face was hard and evil. She looked horrible. Arthur was very shocked. We went towards her. She was standing by the door of the tomb. The professor held up his lamp. She was holding a small child. There, on Lucy's face, we could see blood. There was blood all around her mouth. There was blood on her dress. Her eyes were red and angry. She saw us and threw the child onto the earth. Then she saw Arthur. She came towards him and opened her arms to him. Arthur wanted to kiss her. Luckily, the professor stopped him. The professor stood in front of Lucy with a cross in his hand. She didn't like it and ran back towards the tomb. She was very angry. Her face was horrible. Arthur began to understand. Then the professor took away the garlic and the cross on the door. Lucy went inside. She went inside through a small gap, without opening the door. Now we're all sure; Lucy is Un-dead.
We took the poor child to the hospital. I hope he'll live. The professor says we must go back to the graveyard in the daytime. We must kill Lucy, tomorrow.
