It starts with the voice of an older lady. It's like she's reading to a child. She says, "My dear (Y/N). Let grandma Laverne tell you the tale of a man once known as Once-Ler Turner." A child's voice which belongs to you says, "What about the Once-Ler, grandma?" She says, "It all started one hundred years ago here in Ann Arbor, Michigan where we live..." 

It sets back to the year 1874. There's a Victorian mansion owned by a man named Once-Ler Allen Turner. The Once-Ler is twenty-one years old and is an attractive man. Laverne, your grandma says, "Now, the Once-Ler was not always a bad man. He used to be kind and generous, despite having been raised by a greedy, money-hungry family. His mother Isabella was especially the worst. The woman was so corrupted by greed and blinded by her own vanity and narcissism. She would even go as far as to tormenting her youngest child of the three she had. The Once-Ler was her youngest. Her eldest's were twin sons, Brett and Chet. Once-Ler's great aunt and uncle... also bad." 

You say, "What about Brett and Chet, grandma?" She says, "My dear. Those two were being influenced by their mother to bully their younger brother, despite those two being somewhat... moronic. The Once-Ler was the smartest of the bunch, but none of them approved of him and his interest in living simple. So he had changed things for himself, forever..."

The Once-Ler is sitting at his desk in the study room, writing something. He says, "I've finally managed to get this mansion. My family will just have to approve of me now. I'm about to run a business and become even more rich than I am." He sighs and smiles saying, "Finally winning mother's love. She's got to be happy for me for once because I'm a somebody, now. So, I'm writing a letter to them." 

He writes the letter and he puts it in an envelope. He licks it shut and writes the address on the front and the return address. He gets up and walks out of there. He heads down the hallway and he heads outside. He gets to his mailbox and he puts the letter in it. He shuts the mailbox and he walks back into his house.

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A few weeks have passed. The Once-Ler is running his business. His mother was happy for him for once, now that he's rich and powerful. But... it's changed him. He went from sweet to bitter. Your grandma says, "Money and riches have turned the Once-Ler into a monster, himself. By monster, I mean evil. Perhaps worse than the rest of the Turner family."

The Once-Ler is standing in front of his fireplace. He's in a green suit, black top hat, black pants, black dress shoes, etc. He's got a cigar in his mouth and he walks back and fourth. He gets the cigar out of his mouth and he says, "I've got everything I need. A mansion. My family's love for once. A business. I've become the richest man in the state of Michigan. But, something is missing." 

He stops and he says, "Ah, that's it..." He grins and says, "A wife." He hears a knock and he groans and yells, "Yes?! Who is it?!" He hears his mother Isabella yellling, "Oh, Oncie! Might I come in?" He smiles and says, "Hm... Do come in, mother." The doors open and in comes a middle-aged woman with blonde hair, a long purple dress, etc. That would be his mother, Isabella. 

She smiles and says, "I've come up to inform you that the maids have prepared our dinner for us. Do come downstairs. They expect the boss." He smiles and says, "Of course, mother." She grins and says, "Oh, I'm so proud of you Oncie dear. Finally rich and successful. Oh, how you've become my favorite child. You put your brothers to shame. Come, dear." The Once-Ler follows his mother out. 

As they walk he says, "By the way, mother." She looks at him and says, "Yes, dear?" He's walking and looking ahead and he says, "I'm looking to getting a wife. As soon as possible, that is." She smiles and says, "Well, look at you. Already planning ahead besides your business. Find an obedient one, dear. One that will give into your every command. Cook for you. Clean your office. Do your laundry. You won't be needing those good for nothing maids any longer. So long as your wife can do your dirty work for you." 

The Once-Ler smiles and says, "Oh, don't you worry mother dearest... I plan to let my wife to be know that I'm the one who wears the pants in the family. And especially give into everything I say." Isabella grins and says, "Oh, I'm so proud of you, son." They walk to the dining room to eat with the rest.

Your grandma says, "The Once-Ler succeeded in finding a woman by the name Katherine Lou Harris. All was well and they got married. But all went straight to hell once the Lady Katherine Lou Turner saw her husband's true colors." You say, "He was mean to her, wasn't he?" She says, "Yes..."

It shows Once-Ler's wife, Lady Katherine walking down the hallway with folded clothes in her arms. She's walking the direction of hers and the Once-Ler's room. She gets to the bedroom door and she says, "Once-Ler darling! I'm here!" She hears this, "Come in. I hope you have my laundry folded and perfected." The doors open and Lady Katherine walks in. 

There stands the Once-Ler. He sees his wife with folded clothes. He smirks and he approaches her. He pats her on the head and he says, "Very good. Now, put those in the dresser. Second drawer. Pants separate from the shirts." She nods and says, "Y-yes, dear." He says, "I'm going to shower, now. No leaving the room until I come back." She nods and he heads out. He walks down the hallway, to the bathroom. 

Your grandma says, "Little was the Once-Ler aware, one of his twin elder brothers was eavesdropping. Brett. The first born. Something inside of Brett was starting to have a change of heart..." 

Brett was peeking from the other end of the hallway and he says, "Oh no. I get a gut feeling about this. What has mother turned the Once-Ler into? He's worse than she is, now." He walks towards the bedroom door.

Lady Katherine hears a knock and you say, "Once-Ler? Did you need something, darling?!" The door opens and there's Brett. He says, "Pss. Hey... Lady Katherine. Might I come in?" She smiles and says, "Brett. Of course." He looks around and he steps in, shutting the door.

He approaches Lady Katherine saying, "My lady. I'm terribly sorry you've had to end up with such a man." She says, "Oh. It's quite alright." He says, "No. It's not. He should not treat a woman like garbage. Like he does with you." 

She looks at him and she says, "Well... I'll admit. It gets old." He nods and says, "I see. You are sad. Deep inside, you long for compassion. For someone who actually loves you for your heart and soul and not your ability to cook and clean all the time." She says, "Wait. Brett. Are you saying?..." 

He takes the folded clothes and he puts them in the drawer, himself. He closes the drawer and he approaches Lady Katherine. He grabs her hands and he says, "Shh." She looks at him. He says, "While the Once-Ler is showering... let me keep you company." She blushes and she sighs. 

She says, "This is just the love I've wanted. So long as he never knows." He leans in and he whispers, "What he does not know won't hurt, my lady.~" They kiss each other. He pulls away and he says, "Sneak out of here later and come see me in my room." She smiles and nods. He leaves the room. 

Just in time not to be seen. He walks off and the Once-Ler comes back. He gets in his room to see Lady Katherine. He smiles and says, "Good. You stayed just like I said." He approaches the dresser and he opens it. He says, "Neatly folded. Correct place." 

He closes the drawer. He smirks and says, "This my dear is why you're wife material. You do as a wife should. It's your purpose to serve your husband. Come with me downstairs." She nods and she says, "Yes, dear." He heads out and she follows behind him.

********************************************************

What happens is, the Once-Ler eventually finds out about his wife's affair with his brother Brett and he is beyond furious. He drags Lady Katherine back to their room, leaving her screaming and begging for mercy.

He had taken her in there to have his way with her. But that part of the story is what your grandma didn't tell you since you were too young to know about that. She did tell you that he hurt her and that Brett has had enough. He had eventually snapped and he pulled out a revolver, putting the gun to the Once-Ler's head and pulling the trigger, killing him. 

He killed the rest of his family along with it and he took Katherine with him to leave town for good and to not be seen once the officers show up at the mansion to find the dead bodies of the Once-Ler, Isabella, Chet, Grizelda and Ubb. Brett and Lady Katherine end up married to each other and living happily until they both die eventually.

Right out of the story your grandma had told you, you're seen sitting in a tent. Turns out, your grandma Laverne is an older gypsy woman. She's your paternal grandma. You're both at the carnival in her tent. The year is 1964 and you're nine years old.

She says, "The bodies of the Once-Ler, his mother, his brother Chet, great aunt and uncle have been taken out of there. The family were buried... but the Once-Ler's soul never left. In fact, legend says that his soul still haunts that very mansion." She gets up and you do too.

You follow her out of the tent. You walk around with her. You get to a Victorian mansion and you gasp. You say, "Is this it, grandma?" She says, "Yes. You may go anywhere in this carnival. But I would advise you never and I mean never to go into this mansion under any circumstances. Understand, dear?" 

You look up at her. She looks at the mansion and she sighs and says, "A friend of mine and I sneaked in here forty years ago. 1924. I was sixteen. It was nighttime. We saw him. The monstrous form of the Once-Ler." You gasp and you say, "You did? How did you two get out?"

She says, "I did... but Ruby didn't. I witnessed it with my own eyes, dear. Ruby's brutal death. Oh, it was a horrendous sight, (Y/N). I was left petrified, but still managed to get out of there, alive. I've lost my best friend to that monster. The Once-Ler will attack and kill anyone who walks in there during the night. Even a child. So do your grandma a favor and never go in there. Understood? Especially at night." 

You nod and you say, "Okay." She says, "Good. Come with me, dear. I'll get you some food." You say, "Okay, grandma." You follow your grandma. You peek back at the Victorian mansion with question. It's as if... you had something planned for the place in the future.