Today’s piece is inspired by a true crime mystery.

Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?

Back in 1944 a skeleton was found inside the trunk of a wych elm tree by some kids that were poaching on private property. Despite being afraid of getting into trouble, the youngest of the kids told about the skeleton which lead to its exhumation. Almost an entire skeleton of a young woman was found inside this tree. I say almost because the only thing missing was her hand. That was found a little further off all on it’s own apparently having be cut off. Despite some clear clues that should have helped identify her, such as hair still on the skull and missing teeth, police were never able to figure out who she was.

There are a lot of theories as to who she was and what happened to her. And this is where she gained her name as “Bella” instead of the usual “Jane Doe.” One missing person that lined up with her disappearance was a local prostitute named Bella. Some theories say she was killed by spies for knowing too much. Others say she, herself, was a spy, or that she was killed as a sacrifice in a ritual to create a hand of glory. We may never know. But what we do know, is that she was a least found. And that, even if we don’t know her true name, she has not been forgotten.

To Inspire You:

Under the Unflinching Stars

In the embrace of
the swaying wych elm, Bella
rests her head and grins.

For the secrets she
knows will come bubbling to
the surface again.

~Jeanette Andromeda

Created by You

Last week I invited you to join me on the Horror Haikuesday Train. And here’s what wonderfulness you created:

The metal beast crawled
Through the overgrown weeds to
Stalk its human prey#horrorhaikuesday #AllAboard pic.twitter.com/V7wPZhUqNK

— Immortal Alexander (@HtvImmortal) March 7, 2018

Dead train, lost train, toot! Dark things done in dark places, Victims never found. #HorrorHaikuesday pic.twitter.com/TaL6dFhsQK

— Dennis Liggio (@DamnedLiesProj) March 7, 2018

#HorrorHaikuesday

“Oh please!” cried Thomas,
“Can’t I be repaired? Refuelled?
Was I a bad train?” pic.twitter.com/1SsqjTZpwV

— David Tully (@CynicalEyebrow) March 7, 2018

the conductor comes
to punch your ticket at last
it’s your final ride

#horrorhaikuesday pic.twitter.com/DNX2DFfAgV

— Kylie Goetz (xkg) (@eXtremeKylieG) March 6, 2018

#HorrorHaikuesday
Train screeching to hell
Engine breathing fire and smoke
There is no escape
pic.twitter.com/QseOV5YZA4

— Eric Zmuda (@zmudae) March 6, 2018

Echoes through valleys
Clacking along decayed tracks
Phantom whistles whine#horrorhaikuesday https://t.co/EBvKH7BlKx

— Kerry E.B. Black (@BlackKerryblick) March 6, 2018

throw away your stub,
the journey has ended now;
no return tickets.@horror_made #horrorhaikuesday

— book mongrel (@bkmngrl) March 6, 2018

Ghostly guards wither
Marching each haunted morning
To their journey’s end#horrorhaikuesday #haiku #horrorprompt #vss365 #darklines p222 #PoemTrail #Btr2sday https://t.co/15tmu3WOHP

— P (@epower05) March 6, 2018

All aboard! An echo
as eyes peer and the wind howls
End of the line- Death #HorrorHaikuesday https://t.co/5iKy4SguuP

— A. F. Stewart (@scribe77) March 6, 2018

#HorrorHaikuesday
Last destination
Only bodies disembark
Ghosts ride forever pic.twitter.com/7ZKpGAqFw3

— Debbie Cribb Owens (@CribbOwens) March 6, 2018

Confusion besets
Lonesome traveler who finds
Weeds grown around train#haikuchallenge #amwriting #horrorhaikuesday pic.twitter.com/Xyh6joiez0

— Veronica Hosking (@HoskingPoet) March 6, 2018

#HorrorHaikuesday

all aboard
the ghost train
one-way ticket pic.twitter.com/dpynVsZFuE

— ¡ r e n e (@_Irene_Dreams_) March 6, 2018

Aww. Lost your ticket?
Then you cannot disembark
until you find it.#horrorhaikuesday pic.twitter.com/GTGvJtOapR

— Chris Fischer (@SurlyByDefault) March 6, 2018

a life derailed
left out to rust and ruin
and going nowhere#horrorhaikuesday pic.twitter.com/R6IFtAZnbp

— Kylie Goetz (xkg) (@eXtremeKylieG) March 6, 2018

#HorrorHaikuesday

Old rotting metal?
Or a train to a new stop?
Only nature knows pic.twitter.com/YobKkyqTyb

— Ace Face (@AshVulpine) March 6, 2018

Want access to full resolution downloads of Haikueday artwork?

If you become a patron on my just-launched Patreon for $2 a month, you’ll get the full resolution files of each and every Horror Haikueday piece. And if you become a sponsor before June 2018 you get to help me build the rewards. I’ve put some placeholders in there for now, but my early supporters will get a say in what rewards are going to be created for each tier of support. So if you like what I’ve been bringing to you, please consider supporting my journey as an artist.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JeanetteAndromeda

Thank you as always and have an incredibly spooky day!