Who is Allison Cartwright?

Hyde without a Jekyll: Alice watched them go hoping they had enough time
to get to somewhere safe before her daemons finally arrived to claim her. Then
again if Mz. Hyde was with Lewis how safe could she really be? The room was now
empty as Roy had been called out, and Alice was once again alone with her
thoughts. She paced in circles around the cell mimicking the laps her mind was
doing. Did they get to safety? Why didn't they stay away? Why did Lewis always
have to mess everything up?
The bustle of the station seemed to die until an eerie silence filled the
halls...this didn't bode well...they were here.
Catt
Hatter:  *The
shadow stood silently and watched from across the way. As silence filled the
station he knew something was wrong, and scanned around him for options.*
Jekyll1886:  Just
on the other side of the wall to the room with Alice's cell was a wardrobe with
police uniforms. Weir hid himself well behind these, shut its door, and
listened to the sound of silence.
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde was in the wardrobe with Lewis, she
remained silent, but had her needle drawn, her body ready to leap out and
attack.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
silence did not last long as the tapping of shoes broke it, echoing down the
hall. A man, dressed in a all black suit, approached the cell room (he
unknowingly passed a shadow that watched him), opened the door and let himself
in to where Alice could see his full figure. She flinched at the sight of
him...not at the man himself but what was perched on bond of his hat. A
shinning silver feather.
"There's my noisy finch!" The man hissed through a toothy smile. He
was young, his shoulders thrown back in a display of confidence, he was the
predator and Alice was the prey.
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde watched closely through the crack in the
wardrobe.*
Who's this guy? *She whispered.*
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
gave Mz. Hyde a gentle nudge in the ribs; he was trying to listen. The man's
voice sounded oddly familiar. He was fairly certain he'd soon place it if he
continued to talk.
Catt
Hatter:  *The
shadow moved within range, glad for the silence provide by his bare feet. He
could tell things were about to get messy.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
stiffened, the blood draining from her face. "It's about time you lot
showed up!" She tried to portray a confident image instead of the fear she
felt inside.
The man leaned against the door, his smile never leaving his face. "You've
been making quite the ruckus haven't you, nosy finch! Going into Hyde park in
the wee hours of the morning, chirping about us and punching a officer no
less!" He chuckled at that last bit, "Not that we aren't grateful for
praise and recognition, but you know how secret societies are," his tone
dropped from playful to threatening and his smile fell into a snarl, "They
like to be kept secret."
Mz.Hyde: "A secret society? Alice, what have you gotten
yourself into?!" Mz. Hyde thought.
Jekyll1886:  Now he
recognized it! This was the same man who'd snarled drunkenly at him when Weir'd
been in the midst of performing a delicate Caesarian section!
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
held his stance, poised to strike as soon as need be. He might not know or
trust this Alice girl, but she meant a great deal to Catt.
And that made her protected.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Not
very secret taking over a police station!" Alice snapped back.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures--" The man replied
before Alice cut him off again.
"Oh? Do I make you desperate? Do I weaken you're all powerful organization
with...how did you put it.. my chirping?" Alice found a crack
in the man's confidence and began to chip away at it. He did not like losing
control over the situation.
"You better shut your beak little finch," the man growled, "or
you'll soon be seeing the inside of a far worse cage."
"I don't doubt it." Alice said definitely staring him down. "But
I didn't set this up to banter with you--"
"Oh?" The man's wolfish grin returned, "And how did a little
finch get to be smart enough to "set this up", with your tiny
bird brain."
Ignoring his comment Alice continued. "I came to make a deal."
Jekyll1886:  In
which she'll request he and his organization leave the Society alone in
exchange for...what? he wondered. Scientific
knowledge? Herself? Perhaps they'd have to leave the wardrobe sooner
rather than later...
Mz.Hyde: Just who are these guys? And what do they want with
Alice?
Jekyll1886:  "A
group she ran afoul of," he whispered back carefully, still keeping an ear
to the wall. "She calls them the 'Silver Feather Men', but we don't know
the organization's true name, if indeed it has one," he explained.
Mz.Hyde: What do they do?!
Jekyll1886:  "Let
me listen, and we may just find out," he whispered matter-of-factly.
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde shuts up for once and listens with
Lewis.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man laughed at this, relaxing his position against the door frame,
"And what, pray tell, could a little bird like you have to
offer? You do realize that deals have both parties receiving something?"
Alice grinned, "I know what you want most!"
"And what, pray tell, is that? Influence among the leadership
positions and police of this grand country? Check. Money from infinite, wealthy
donors? Check. Knowledge of the political structure, the art of the media, and
science of that mad Arcane Society? Check. So what could you possible
offer us that we don't have?"
Alice stiffened at the mention of the Society but tried to maintain her
composure, "And what do you know of the Society for Arcane
Scientists?"
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
tensed, but remained at the ready. Should this stranger make the wrong move, he
would end up being a spear-cozy.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Answer
my question and I'll answer your's." he retorted.
Alice huffed seeing no way around it, "I know of a certain man that you
lot have your eye on. Dr. Lewis Weir." When recognition didn't show in the
man's eyes, Alice rolled her eyes and continued with a sigh, "About 6ft,
early thirties, brown hair, and a punch-able face?"
It finally clicked for the man, "The doctor at the brothel! That
bastard!"
Alice nodded and added, "I know where he lives and how you can find
him."
Jekyll1886:  Weir's
mouth tightened.
You ill-bred little garbage-wench! was his first thought. His
second was of ramming a spike through Alice's good eye. But his third was that
this might actually work out quite nicely: Alice wasn't offering herself, which
would satisfy Catt, and it might just provide him the opportunity at infiltration
he'd been seeking.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "That
snake got away from me once! Tell me where he is so I can serve his head on a
plate to my superiors!" The man growled leaving his position on the door
and striding towards the bars.
"In good time, but you need to remember "deals have both parties
receiving something."" She spat his words back in his face, "If
I give him to you, neatly wrapped with a bow on top to do what ever you want
with, you and your organization stays way from the Society of
Arcane Science!"
Mz.Hyde: Alice....
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
moved silently and kept the stranger in his sights.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man began to laugh at this, "Little bird! We already know all about the
Society of Arcane Sciences! And even if I could take this deal it's not within
either of our powers to keep the organization from doing what ever it
pleases!"
"I'll scream your names through the streets if you come near it!"
"Go ahead and try! You'll just end up in a cage again!"
"Only because I wanted to be here to wipe that grin off your face! If you
cannot make me the deal then get someone who can!"
"And why would they make a deal with a bratty little finch like you? I
tried to tell them about Dr. Weir, thank you for his name by the way,
and they told me to do my job instead of chasing wild geese!"
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
snickered silently at the mental image of this lout being snubbed by his
superiors...whoever they were.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "So
you're not within the Society, pathetic." Alice spat
hoping her taunting would confirm her suspicion, "And what's even more
pathetic is when you can't even recognize a golden goose when it's being HANDED
TO YOU!!"
The man's face was red with rage and he shouted back, "NO! WE ARE NOT
WITHIN THEIR WALLS,YET, BUT WE WILL BE SOON! AND I'M NOT THE IDIOT WHO CAN'T
SEE A GOLDEN EGG WHEN IT HITS THEM UPSIDE THE HEAD!"
As if on cue foot steps are heard coming down the hall.
Catt
Hatter:  *Hearing
the footsteps, Sozo relinquished his close ranged target in favour of a less
obtrusive position in the room. He would be of less use if he were caught now.*
Jekyll1886:  How
the Hell am I a golden goose? thought Weir.
Mz.Hyde: Look alive! 
*She readjusted herself.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Boy?!
What's all this shouting about?! I tasked you with one simple job, to see what
the person of interest knows and then silence them, and it seems you can't even
do that right!" Just as Sozo ducked back into the shadows, a gentleman
turns the corner. He's dressed like the younger man, in a all back suit with a
silver feather sticking out the band of his hat but he's much older, probably
in his fifties. His face was twisted into annoyance as he approached the pair.
"Speak of the devil." The younger man muttered under his breath
before turning around and addressing the man with an air of respect,
"Sorry sir but the person of interest was being...difficult." He
replied shooting a glare at Alice who was watching this new man approach.
"She wants to make a deal with us."
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
tensed, but kept quiet.
Mz.Hyde: Looks like that's the big boss!
Jekyll1886:  Weir
gave a brief nod of agreement.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "A
deal?" The man asked as he made it half way to the door frame.
"Yes sir, a deal. She wants us to stay away from the Society of Arcane
Sciences--"
"--permanently." Alice butted in.
"--permanently," the younger man added before continuing,
"in exchange for that doctor at the brothel that I reported to you about
several nights back."
The man reached the door way as the younger man finished and rubbed his eyes
with his thumb and index finger, annoyed, "The doctor who you abandoned your
post to chase? The doctor who seems to keep causing you to fail your
duties?"
That makes two of us. Alice thought. She had a better look at the
man now that he was closer. He would have had a kind face if it wasn't distorted
with annoyance and time seemed to be gentle on his features. She even felt
relaxed in his presence despite the fact that he was a Silver Feather Man.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
couldn't suppress an amused Cheshire-cat smirk.
Mz.Hyde: What are you smirking about?!
Jekyll1886:  "Drunky
MacDrunkerson there getting called on the carpet by his boss," he pointed
out in a voice only barely audible.
Mz.Hyde: What?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man blushed in embarrassment, "Y-yes. The very same."
The man continued to rub his eyes and sighed "Did you explain to her that
we don't want that man? Did you explain to her that we're going to get into the
Society no matter what deals we make with her?"
"Yes her but that's when--"
The older man cut him off with a raise of his hand with out even looking up,
"So what warranted a shouting match to erupt?"
"She's got a lip--" The younger man desperately tried to reply.
"No. Try again."
"...Nothing?" The younger man asked.
"Well colour me shocked! The boy can learn!" He replied heavy with
sarcasm.
Alice snickered at this. This was odd...why did she feel so relaxed around this
older man? He was dangerous! He could kill her or worse! But why did she feel
safe in his presence?
Jekyll1886:  "That
man was drunk and wandered into the damn operating room!" Dr. Weir told
Mz. Hyde. "He was yelling at me and the mother-to-be about messing up the
bed sheets to his usual quarters."
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
felt the shift in atmosphere within the cell, and turned his gaze in
confusion.*
Mz.Hyde: This boss doesn't take shit!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
younger man bit his tongue and his face turned red in embarrassment.
"Now let's see if I can't clean up the mess you've made--" The man
says this as he finally looks up to address the pair but he stops short at the
sight of Alice, his lips parting in an unspoken question.
"Sir?" The younger man looks concerned at his superior's unusual
demeanor. Alice looks back with just as much confusion.
After a few moments the man finally finds his words. No not words, a word. No
not even that, just a name, a very familiar name. "...Allison?"
Mz.Hyde: Her
Jekyll...but how does he know about her?!
Jekyll1886:  Weir
was just as confused as Mz. Hyde.
"Hell if I know." He shook his head.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
froze.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
room went deadly silent. Both the younger man and Alice stared at gentleman and
both had the same question sitting in their open mouths.
After a few moments the man repeated her name but it was less of a question and
more of a fact this time, "...Allison."
Alice stiffened at the second time he said her name now that the initial shock
had worn off and the younger man spoke the question on everyone's minds,
"Sir? Do you know her?"
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
flicked his gaze back to his potential targets, once again at the ready.*
Jekyll1886:  Bloody
good question, thought Lewis.
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde just stared out the crack in the
wardrobe.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I-I
wasn't sure at first since she looks so different from what I remember
but..." his voice trailed off as a smile played on his lips and in his
eyes "...but I'm convinced now that it is her. That's Allison
Cartwright."
A close eye might have noticed that Alice's hair was a little lighter and tamer
than before the man entered, as though his mere presence was calling back the
ever absent Allison. But this did not last long as the iconic dark and wild
nature of her Hyde took back control with a vengeance. "Don't you dare
say her name!"
Jekyll1886:  Internally,
Lewis facepalmed as Alice blew her happenstance cover.
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde remained silent, observing what was
happening.*
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
flinched, surprised by the small girl's substantial lung capacity.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
older gentleman looked taken aback by this harsh tone, "They told
me you had changed...but Allison--"
"I'M NOT ALLISON! ALLISON IS DEAD!" She cut him off screaming
through the bars. It was lucky that she was still in the cell otherwise Alice
might have been trying to rip his head off.
Meanwhile the younger man remained between the two looking utterly perplexed.
"What are you talking about? You're standing right in front of me?"
The older man asked his voice similar to that of a mother calming her child's
screams.
"YOU--YOU--YOU MONSTERS KILLED HER ALL THOSE YEARS
AGO! YOU BURNT DOWN THE SHED WITH HER INSIDE AND YOU LAUGHED!" Alice
screamed back forgoing all the bartering up to this point and giving into sheer
emotion.
Before the argument could continue, realization dawned upon the younger man and
he blurted out with new found insight "Allison Cartwright! I knew that
name sounded familiar! That was the girl who was trying to destroy the
world!"
Catt
Hatter:'  *How
would she even pull that off? Sozo wondered.*
Jekyll1886:  Weir's
eyes widened. His breath stilled in his throat.
Mz.Hyde: *"Alice....you and I are more alike than you
may ever know..." Mz. Hyde thought.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
was confused, shocked, livid, and terrified. The older gentleman was trying to
wrestle with the idea that the girl before him was no longer Allison giving the
younger man a chance to step in. "Yah...That's right! If we hadn't stepped
in she would have killed us all!"
It took a moment for the mans words to sink in and then for Alice to settle on
an emotion, she chose rage. "SLANDER!" She screamed, "ALLISON
WAS AN ANGEL AMONG DEVILS! SHE WAS AS BEST AS THEY COME! SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER
HURT A FLY!"
The man continued on his thought process, completely ignoring Alice's protests,
"Her and her mad science! Oh what else did that report say..." He
taps his forehead trying to remember. "Oh! Now I remember! We saved the
day like always, and she disappeared. But then...but then she came
back...different." He slowly turns towards Alice now remembering the
report in it's entirety, "It said she had taken a drug that would split
her mind in two...giving voice to her darkest of nature..." Fear was in
his eyes as he stared at Alice realizing who, what she was. Slowly backing away
he tries to play off the terror "...if that was even possible considering
her predisposition. I wouldn't be surprised if there was any good in her in the
first place."
Mz.Hyde: Oh my God...
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
was able to breathe again...quietly.
No one is an angel, darling, he thought, upon hearing Alice's
tirade. If she had been, how are you here?
He listened, intrigued, as the man rambled on.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "N-No!
You're wrong!" Alice began to panic. This man had to be wrong! Allison was
a good person! The report had to be lying! But it knew about HJ7 doubt
whispered in the back of her mind. "You have to be wrong!
Allison was sweet and kind and caring. She wanted to help the world! She was
innocent and beautiful and perfect and I will not have you RUINING HER GOOD
NAME!"
The younger man lets out a nervous chuck now that he's a good 7 feet away from
the cell. "You think your precious Allison was innocent and pure?! Ha! I
hate to break it to you but she was evil as they come!" Now with a safe
distance and several thick steal bars between him and this monster his fear
morphs into hatred. A hatred for the evil in the world, a hatred for his
weakness and fear, and a hatred for Alice. That last one he could act on.
"She was thrown from the light into the darkness and she reveled in the
new found malicious environment. Disgusting!" He spat at her. "To
think that you practically worship the ground of one you deem to be
"innocent" when her soul is as damned as your's is now, if not more
so!"
Alice couldn't take it. His words hurt her very core and she lashed out.
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE THE VILLAINS HERE! MURDERING, HURTING GOOD
PEOPLE! YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HER BUT YOU DID! AND IF I'M AM EVIL THEN YOU
MUST BE THE DEVIL!"
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
paid attention to their exchange. Point, counterpoint.
Black-and-white, the both of them, he concluded, though on
opposite sides. The truth is nearly always in-between.''
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde's mouth is just hanging open as she
watches the exchange.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  This
finally stirs the older man from his thoughts. "Enough you two!" He
snipped before turning to the younger gentleman, "You weren't there! You
don't know what she was like or who she was!"
"I read the report!" He pleaded "Is there much more to say than
that!? She was going to kill us all and we stopped her!"
"YOU'RE WRONG!" Alice screamed as she threw her hands to her ears in
vain. She couldn't take much more of this.
"Well wake up and smell the shit! If we hadn't stopped her there would not
be a world to even argue about this on!" The younger man snapped back
igniting the argument again.
"I said that's enough!" The older man said with rage, for the first
time, seeping into his voice.
Completely ignoring the older gentleman Alice continued to scream at the young
man, "SHE WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD--"
"--INTO HELL!" and the young man screamed back.
The older man was done with this redundant argument...how did he let it get
this far out of control? "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!" He raised his voice
for the first time that day sending chills down both Alice and the other man's
spines. "GUARD THE DOOR AND MAKE SURE NO ONE DISTURBS US!" He said to
the younger man. That voice was one that you couldn't argue with but for some
other reason it also filled Alice with dread. Where had she heard it before?
"Whatever~" The younger man snorted in a mild protest at being
reprimanded, "How could you know what she was really was up to? You
weren't there?"
The older man pinched the bridge of his nose at the ever increasing
incompetence that this kid seem to have, "I was there. I
was there from the beginning, and unless you want to remain within
our organization, I suggest you shut your mouth, stand outside, and guard the
damn door!
The young man, defeated, shut his mouth at this, pivoted on his heel and walked
out of the room closing the door behind him.
Now left alone with Alice, the older man sighed, "I do apologize for his
ignorance. Just can't find good men like we used to..." he trails off into
a half hearted laugh. A laugh that Alice recognized.
She finally placed him, the blood draining from her face as she squeaked out
her next words, "You were there..."
"I was and--"
"--you were there! That night! YOU KILLED HER AND
YOU LAUGHED!!!" Terror, rage, pain all radiated through her body as
she screamed at the older gentleman at Allison's murderer.
Jekyll1886:  Weir
was relieved when the older man finally stepped in; the children had argued
long enough. As the conversation took its course, however, it twisted
unexpectedly. He tensed, gripping the Hatt in his hand more tightly at the
sudden revelation.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man seemed deeply hurt by her words if not a touch confused,"Allison,
please let me--"
"MURDERER!" Alice screamed as she started to back away
as a thousand thoughts boiled in her head. Why is he back? Why him out of all
the Silver Feather Men? Why was she so relaxed at the first sight of him? Why
didn't she realize the danger sooner? Why? But it didn't matter now that he was
here, and he had her locked in a cell, and all he needed to do now was burn
it to the ground. She was helpless again, a bird ripe for plucking, trapped
in a cage of her own making. There was no where to run, no where to hide. As
Alice back into a corner of the cell the thoughts simmered down until there was
only one thought, one word. Why? She collapsed into a corner,
pulled her knees to her chest, placed her arms over her head, shut her eyes
tight, and cried.
"Allison?" The man called out to her, approaching the cage but it was
no use. Alice, in that corner, had retreated deep inside herself where only her
internal screaming could be heard.
Mz.Hyde: *Since Lewis had blown her cover, Mz. Hyde charged
at the older man, her needle drawn and red hot. She points it in his face.*
Alright, nobody move or your leader's ass is fried!
Jekyll1886:  Oh,
for pity's sake... thought Lewis in
exasperation. The older man obviously wasn't getting anywhere, and was likely
making the situation worse by his very presence! He was tempted to let Alice
suffer a few minutes more, after the stunt she'd pulled selling him out, but,
in truth, he was growing very tired of keeping his six-foot frame crammed
within the wardrobe.
Necessity won out, and he exited suddenly, pushing past Mz. Hyde as he sprang
forth. With his right fist, he gave the younger man a swift uppercut, then
kneed him in the groin and shoved his head against the wall to knock him
unconscious. Damn, that felt good. He'd been waiting for an
opportunity to pay the cur back for his rudeness ever since their encounter at
the brothel.
He wrapped an arm around the man's body and slid it gently to the floor, then
donned the Hatt and strode into the other room.
"That won't work," Weir advised the older Silver Feather Man.
"She's quite beside herself--reliving the trauma, I'd wager--and you're
frankly not helping matters."
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
watched the old man attentively. Under other circumstances this
"Lewis" chap would have garnered more of his attention. But on this
occasion, he was set to help this man in safely retrieving Alice. Catt didn't
give her hatt to anyone, the thought sent a twinge of jealousy through his
chest.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
older gentleman whips around at the sudden intrusion, "Who the hell are
you!? And how did you get in here!?"
Alice can't hear the commotion over her screaming thoughts.
Jekyll1886:  "Doctor
Lewis Weir," he explained, extending his hand in a surreally ordinary
gesture. "We're here to pay her bail."
Mz.Hyde: Shut up! I'LL be asking the questions here! First
off: Who are you and what do you want with Alice and her Jekyll?!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
older gentleman appreciated Lewis's attempt at common curiosity even if he was
being overshadowed by Mz. Hyde's tenacity. He took a moment to compose himself
before proceeding, "I request that you leave us, as you're interrupting a
private engagement, and I don't know if the boy out there informed you of this
or not, but there's no one by the name of "Alice" or "Jekyll"
here."
Mz.Hyde: *She points at Alice.*
THAT'S Alice! And I'm not going anywhere until you answer some questions! Got
it?!
Jekyll1886:  "Allison
Cartwright, then," Lewis clarified. "And I'm afraid she's been
through a lot; I could illuminate you, but I have questions of my own which
need answering as well, as I'm sure you'll understand. And, as for that 'boy'
out there," he chuckled, "I'd fire him for gross incompetence if I
were you." Just for spite, he casually added, "He also frequents
brothels and drinks on the job."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
see you know Allison then," he nodded as if putting the pieces together,
"I'm afraid I'm unable to answer your questions as the organization I work
for has strict rules to not release information to the general public, as
I'm sure you'll understand." He replied, staring at Lewis. It wasn't a
glare as there were no signs of anger or malevolent in it but there was
something...cold...about it that could make shivers run down a spine. "Now
you if you'll excuse me I'll have to ask you once again to leave." He
turned, calling for the younger man "Boy! Please show our guests
out."
Jekyll1886:  "I
do," Weir owned, staring back measure for measure, "though I'm hardly
the 'general public'. Still, orders and all that, I suppose. I was simply under
the impression you might have the power to negotiate. My apologies if I was
mistaken."
The 'boy' didn't respond.
"Oh, and if you're waiting on him," Lewis added matter-of-factly,
glancing briefly over his shoulder, "it's going to be a couple of hours at
least."
As he'd looked behind him, he'd noticed an odd-looking boy crouched in the
corner. Thankfully, the older man hadn't been in a position to see his
surprised expression, which had vanished by the time he'd turned to face him
once more.
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
had been grateful for Lewis' discretion and self control to not draw unwanted
attention to his presence in the room.*
Mz.Hyde: Better start talking old man!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
older gentleman sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index and thumb
and muttered something about firing dead weight under his breath before
continuing. "Young man, don't get smart with me, and you little
lady," He said turning to Mz. Hyde, "you need to learn to respect
your elders. If there's any chance at having a decent conversation
with a person then you need to stop acting like a vagabond. Now,
I'm not being paid to teach an etiquette class today. I am simply here to calm
this girl before she hurts anyone else."
Mz.Hyde: She's not hurting anyone! In fact, from the looks of it,
you're hurting her!!
Jekyll1886:  "By
all means, then," invited Weir with a ready grin, gesturing toward Alice.
"Be my guest..." ...boy, he added silently.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Says
the girl with a sword." She shoots Mz. Hyde and her burning weapon a icy
glare, "And how could I have hurt her if she's been in the cell the entire
time and I don't have a key or a weapon on me?" He slowly opens his coat
to reveal no weapons of any sort, not even a hint of one in the lining.
"And, unfortunately, your interruption has only "hurt" her
worse." He glances back to Alice who was now shaking, terrified out of her
mind.
Mz.Hyde: She's afraid of YOU! Because of what YOU did to her
in the past!!
Jekyll1886:  "Mz.
Hyde," said Lewis in a whisper, "just let him try. He'll see what we
mean soon enough. Then we might actually get somewhere."
Mz.Hyde: *She considers this a moment, before dropping her
needle.*
Fine. Fine! If shit goes wrong, it's on YOUR head though!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Are
you two done whispering, yet? Because I have a question of my own, what
do you know of her past? Until 9 months and 21 days ago she
was living off the streets. Until 9 months and 21 days ago you had no idea who
she was. And until," he pulls out a pocket watch and glances at it,
"7 minutes and 23 seconds ago you had never met me before, Mz. Valeria
Hyde."
Jekyll1886:  "My
apologies for my attempts to smooth ruffled feathers, then, Mr. (or
Dr.).........." He waited for a name; it didn't even have to be the man's
real one. Just something to call him. He thought it a touch uncouth of the
fellow not to have introduced himself in some fashion already.
And, speaking of names...Valeria? he thought.
Mz.Hyde: Valeria?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Apology
accepted." He replies never letting his name slip before turning back to
Mz. Hyde, "That is your name, yes? Though I must admit, I'm impressed that
there's not much on you until about 6 years ago." He smiles at this,
"Now as I've said, an exhausting number of times, if you and Dr. Weir
could kindly leave I would like to conclude my business."
Mz.Hyde: My name? But I don't have a- AHH! 
*Mz. Hyde suddenly got a severe migraine in the side of her head. Her head was
throbbing painfully...and an image of something, though she couldn't tell what
flashed in her head. After a few seconds, the pain died down.*
Ughh...I'm-I'm not going anywhere! Either we stay or nothing!
Jekyll1886:  "Would
it be too forward to ask for your assurance no harm will come to her, and that
she'll still be here upon our return?" questioned Lewis.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
can guarantee that no harm will come to her...though on the matter of her being
here upon your return..."He hesitates, glancing back at Alice, before
continuing, "that's not my promise to make. You should also take care of
the life next to you before you try to take the responsibility of another,
otherwise you might...over whelm yourself." He nods towards Mz.
Hyde who just screamed out in pain.
Mz.Hyde: I'm completely fine, it was a little headache! I
came here to get Alice, and I will leave with her no matter what!!
Jekyll1886:  "And
we will," he whispered. "I gave Catt my word."
Mz.Hyde: *Her eyes glance over to Sozo and then back to
Lewis. She sighs. *
FINE.
Jekyll1886:  "You
assume much, good sir, but very well. It seems we are subject to
your pleasure. Pardon me one moment."
"Sozo is in the room, and you look in ill shape," he whispered in Mz.
Hyde's ear, positioning himself so that his body blocked the older man's view
of her face. "Let's go just outside and see what happens. If he hurts her,
we'll kill him later, alright?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I presume nothing.
I only know from experience." The ghost of a small smile played across his
lips for a fraction of a second, "I understand that you two are trying to
be what you think a "good friend" should be but you don't know
Allison and you don't know what she needs. You two will not let me leave here
unless Allison is in your arms or at your feet a sobbing mess, like she is now
in that cell." Alice was indeed 'a sobbing mess' and to the ignorant eye
the shadows and her hands made her hair even wilder and darker, but those who
knew her, also knew better than that.
Mz.Hyde: Oh yeah? And what does ALICE need?
Jekyll1886:  "It's
a lost cause, Mz. Hyde," Weir stated bluntly, at normal volume.
"This gentleman thinks he knows better than we, and he
may, but he'll make no effort to explain himself to us. He'd rather address us
in a presumptuous manner out of a misplaced notion that
dominance is beneficial to him here." He looked at the man and shook his
head. "One gets so much more with honey than with
vinegar, but life takes all kinds, I suppose." As does death,
he thought. "He also may not be at liberty to enlighten us, even had he
the inclination," he informed Mz. Hyde with a shrug. "A secret
society is just that, after all."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man chuckles at this, "I don't tell you out of dominance. I
don't tell you because of your ignorance. You both know so little
of what's at play here and you seem to refuse any other explanation other than
violence," he gestures towards Mz. Hyde's lapel, "or cheap remarks.
Though," a small ironic laugh escapes his lips, "I guess the same
could be said about me for refusing to tell you, and I will admit that is my
fault. But I refuse you for you have not shown your worthiness of this
knowledge. You claim you know "Alice" and this silly personality she
has taken on but tell me what do you know of "Allison", for she has
existed far longer than this mood." He shakes his head and
sighs, "I guess I should be a gentleman and at least give you a
chance." A memory tugged at the man, "This foolishness
started that night all those years ago..." His voice
trails and his eyes glaze over in remembrance as his forehead creases with
melancholy.
Jekyll1886:  "A
gentleman's offer for you, then," Weir accepted. "I'll tell you
exactly what I know of Allison Cartwright if you can accurately tell me exactly
what Mz. Hyde here meant when she said the word 'Jekyll'. If you can't, I'll
know you're not worthy of the knowledge I possess, and that
you're likely ill-equipped to help the dear girl despite your
'experience'."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man chuckles at this, "You have a deal then. Jekyll is originally
referring to Dr. Henry Jekyll, the founder of the Society of Arcane Sciences.
But before he was the founder he was a mad scientist, who, for some reason that
escapes me, decided to "split his soul in two". Most of the time he's
the respectable Dr. Henry Jekyll: scientist and gentleman and the other half of
the time he's Mr. Edward Hyde: world class arrogant fool. Since the creation of
this formula several other individuals have developed this split persona either
via the formula or some alternative means. Jekyll is the name given to the
original being while Hyde is given to the newly created mood. How am I doing or
do you want me to start listing off people who fall into this category?"
The man crossed his arms awaiting Lewis's response.
Jekyll1886:  "Refreshingly
well," said Lewis with a genuinely relieved smile. "I must confess
I'm impressed. We might be able to help each other after all. And, actually, I
wouldn't mind if you listed more. Do go on," he joked.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "A
deals, a deal doctor Weir. We can strike up a new one after this one is
completed." He smiled as Weir tried to wiggle his way out of holding up
his end of the bargain.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
gave an involuntary chortle at Mz. Hyde's "threesome" remark, then
had to take a moment to compose himself.
"Very well," he returned the older man. "Allison Cartwright
became enamored of rogue science, though she didn't join the Society for Arcane
Sciences. She was a fantastic researcher, though she unfortunately shared her
work with no one. Once circumstances conspired against her, however, she was
driven by desperation to ingest the formula of which you spoke. It did not go
well, which is why you see her in such a state. Part of Allison's soul was
damaged, and needs to recuperate. Hence, 'Alice'," he gestured to the
figure behind the bars, "or, perhaps more accurately,
'Not-Allison-but-not-quite-Alice', the degree of each depending upon
her...'mood', I believe was the word. An accurate assessment, though it lacks
the nuance I'd prefer." He smiled, all trace of irony gone. "You're
proving remarkably interesting, my good man."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
older man laughs at this; a genuine, hearty laugh; "Same onto you! Colour
me impressed but you've done your homework! Maybe you both aren't as foolish as
I believed you to be."
Jekyll1886:  Weir
gave a polite smile, but glanced sidelong at Mz. Hyde, then back to the older
man, and raised his brows slightly. This gave the overall effect of suggesting
that he could only speak for himself...
Mz.Hyde: What are you looking at?!
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
simply looked down and coughed, as if clearing his throat.
Mz.Hyde: Oh hush!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
man looked between the two, shook his head, smiled before proceeding as his
face changed back into his typical serious expression. "You have questions
correct? Ask and I shall answer but keep in mind that you may not like the
truth you hear so choose your words wisely."
Mz.Hyde: Alright, if you won't answer questions about
yourself then you'll answer some about Allison! What did she do that would
cause "the end of the world"?
Jekyll1886:  "By
what name shall I call you," he asked, giving the man an out if he didn't
want to use his real one, "and how did you know Allison...before all
this?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
sighed, "My name is Nicholas Spinks and how I know Allison is a very long
story as I've known her since she was a lost little girl in the heart of
London." The man glanced back over his shoulder at Alice who hasn't moved
and a deep sadness vibrated through his voice as he glanced at the ground
muttering "...I guess much hasn't changed since then." before
readdressing the pair, "As for the end of the world...I wish I could say
that buffoon was exaggerating, but he wasn't...at least not entirely. If
we," he shakes his head and re clarifies his pronoun, "If I hadn't
stopped her there wouldn't have been a universe left."
Mz.Hyde: Go on...
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
simply kept quiet.
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
again wondered silently how that would be possible.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
old man paused for a long time looking hard at Lewis and Mz. Hyde before he
spoke in a whispered in a half defeated voice,"Do you really wish to know
this tragedy? For it's a tale where no one is a winner. There's no happy
ending. There's no hero to save the day. There's no miracle. Everyone suffers
and then they die. But before you try to dispute keep in mind that
there's more than one way to die. Sure we tried to pick up the pieces, clean up
the mess and struggle on with our pathetic lives but our lives were gone.
Obliterated into nothing but ashes swept away on the wind. What happened, I
will never forget as long as I live and I will have to carry that burden until
the day that I die. But you two don't know. You still have your blissful
ignorance. You don't have to carry this burden. So I want you to think before answer,
do you really want to know?" His eyes seemed haunted as though the person
who did live behind them had long since vacated the premise.
Jekyll1886:  "I'm
already involved," stated Weir. He sighed, the weariness showing in his
features. "I may as well see it through. I've witnessed much in my time,
and taken on many burdens. One more is not like to break me."
Mz.Hyde: Old man, if you know as much about me as you said
you did, then you would know the true cause of my pain and my regret....for
once in my pathetic, despicable life...I want to do something right.
Tell me about her.
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo's
ears pricked at her words. What exactly did she mean by the "true
cause?"*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
smiled at Mz. Hyde's aspiration, "Bring me that chair then," He
gestured to a nearby chair behind the desk, "as my joints are not like
what they once were and this is a story that will take time to tell."
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
went around the side of the desk that was closer to the cells, leaving Sozo
undisturbed in the corner as he retrieved the chair. He placed it just behind
Nicholas.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Thank
you."
Mr. Spinks muttered to himself as he sat down, his joints creaking from time
and experience, "Where should I begin? The night of the shed-- No that's
when everything came to a head. That night of the dinner party--No. That's too
early. The first time she came to me with a bruises? No you need to know why
she couldn't leave. The first time I met her?" He sighed again and then
settled on a setting point, "I didn't meet Allison until she was 14 but I
know from people and through people of her past before then so I should start
there, at the very beginning of it. At the first fire in Allison's life. I hope
she will approve of my telling of her story and I hope that one day she comes
to her senses again, enough to tell you of it from her own mouth."
Mz.Hyde: *Mz.
Hyde nods her head for him to continue.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  And
so he began, "Allison Carwright was the only girl in a family of eight and
her parents owed a farm outside London. She always talked about it with a
smile. She spoke of running through the fields collecting wildflowers as a
child, of how the bees would buzz making honey, of how everything was peaceful.
They weren't rich but they were comfortable. They were happy. One day on a hot
dry summer, one of the family's wheat fields caught ablaze. Maybe due to a
errant spark or by some foul means, but it does not matter as what was done is
done.
The fire spread quickly across the pasture engulfing most of their crop, their
home, and her father. Many of the children were injured and their savings, like
most of everything else, went up in smoke. Her mother once loving and doting of
her little girl, couldn't bear to look upon her face, any of her children's
faces. So she sent Allison away to the city to earn money for her family. Her
brothers remained at home to rebuild their house, their farm, and their lives.
Cast out from her home, Allison packed what little she had left, and traveled
to London in response to an add in the paper for a new house maid.
That's how I met her."
Mz.Hyde: *She nods for him to continue.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Back
in my college days I had a friend named Marcus Lyman. Marcus was...Marcus was a
lot of things." The corner of his mouth twitched into a bittersweet smile
for a second but then it was gone. "When I first met him he was working
hard to make something of himself, to make himself better than his father was.
He hated everything about his father.
At the start of college Marcus was determined, motivated, and sharp with wit
but as his new found freedom pressed upon him...he changed. Marcus began to
finally relax, he started to host elaborate parties, joined massive social
groups, and ...and all that pent up anger and emotion began to come bubbling
out, like a thick toxic sludge.
It was a slow change and it began with the smallest things. His wit once used
for humor, began to insult. The friends he drew close were crass and harsh. He
began attending fights....and then he began participating in them. Marcus's new
friends were of no help either, they pushed him on, daring him on and Marcus
did not stop. If only he had stopped for a brief moment then maybe...maybe he
would have been the Marcus I had first met, forever. Or maybe this was just his
fate, he was the offspring of his father after all.
Around this time Marcus also discovered the opposite sex, and he had a passion
for lust and a lust for passion. I heard a saying once that "To love is to
bear your entire soul."," He paused and sighed, "if that were
true then maybe Marcus had always been this way for his love left bruises. Each
night a new girl and each day they would be gone. I don't know why they kept
coming...maybe it was his wit or maybe his infectious enthusiasm." Mr.
Spinks shook his head, "I wish I had known. I wish I had
stopped him. I...I wish I had done a lot of things. But I didn't and no amount
of wishing will change that.
Mz.Hyde: Did
he hurt Allison?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
flashes a knowing, sad smile at the wall behind her and continues on,
"After college we went our separate ways but we kept in touch. Every week
I would attend one of his dinner parties where we would feast, talk, and make
merry. Marcus opened up a wealthy apothecary. He bought a small house in the
nice part of town. He never married. And I...what was I doing during this time?
I was wandering through the world looking for meaning, for truth and...and the
organization found me. It promised me a purpose, a way to help people, the
truth! I shouldn't have accepted! I shouldn't have learned the truth! I should
have kept wandering the world! I should have stayed ignorant! I...I should have
done a lot of things...."
The floor seemed to distract him, or maybe it was his memories all flooding
back as clear as day. His throat began to close but he forced it to open, he
forced himself to keep talking, he had to keep talking, no
matter what he needed to finish the story. God! Why couldn't he just stop now?
Why hadn't the world just stopped then? Why must life continue? Why must time
turn? Why was it so hard to talk? Why was it so hard to listen? Why must his
voice vibrate around his hallow skull and echo through that cavity that his
soul should occupy? Why had some force of nature not struck him down by now?
Was this his punishment? To continue to wander the London until his feet bled
and his joints ached? Would he continue to wander after his body had failed in
some decapitated corner of an ally? Death was a mercy he prayed for each day,
but he wasn't allowed to die, not yet. There was still to much to do. At
times...though he would never admit this...at times he wished that the universe
had ended. That his success had failed for his failure would have been a
success. If he had known the rewards of his success would have felt like
failure then maybe he would have made a different choice, for is no rewards at
all the greatest achievement? No reward, no noise, no life, no death, nothing.
Just nothing. Not even silence. Maybe then he could finally rest this aching
body, this agonizing mind, these torrents of emotions and memories. Just
nothing, how nice it would be. But nothing is for those who deserve it, and he
did not deserve it. What he did deserve was suffer, to talk of suffering, to
remember the suffered. So he did. He kept talking for it's what he deserved.
Mz.Hyde: Sorry
to hear that.
Jekyll1886:  "Please
continue," requested Lewis.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
met Allison her first night working for Marcus. She served me roast and wine.
Oh God! She was so young! So small! So innocent! I miss that little girl!"
He cried out before recomposing himself to the best of his ability and
continuing, "My wife and I were expecting a child, and...and I think I saw
her as my daughter to be. I know--I know it's a silly notion but everything
looked so hopeful, and she was so sweet... and kind. I took a liking to her as
she was scared back then, just having to leave her family to a new city so far
away, I though I could help her. We formed a bond, and I wanted to practice
being a parent. She was my doll and I was a child playing with her life. I was
disgusting.
I came to more of Marcus's parties under the lie to get away from my wife who
was crazed with pregnancy. This was not my true intention, not entirely
anyways. Marcus did not mind or he did not care, for his parties were a place
for him to shine and for all to be merry. Then...my wife...she had our
daughter, but my girl, my poor girl," he began to choke up at this,
"was too perfect for this world! She didn't survive a forth night!"
He trembled trying to hold back the emotion and he succeeded. Taking a breath
he continued, "M-My wife and I, as you could presume, were devastated. She
ran to the work house and I...I ran to Allison. I know I shouldn't have. She
wasn't my daughter and I was only using her. I...I was so cruel. I began to
visit Marcus's house more, not for Marcus but for Allison, my substitute
daughter. She was only 14 but she was the image of beauty! I...I began to bring
her gifts like a suitor!...But I swear upon my dead daughter's
grave, I only wanted to quell my agony!"
Jekyll1886:  "I
understand," said Lewis. "It's not strange at all to think of her as
your own. We're human; we form bonds with the people we run into as we go
through life. It's only natural. They don't have to be blood to be
family." It was readily apparent he was speaking from experience. "We
try to do right by them. Sometimes we fail, and we and they suffer the
consequences. But the only way we can go is forward. And neither Allison nor
Alice is dead, so there's hope for the both of you yet. Count yourself
lucky." The ghost of past memories lent a rueful cast to his visage as he
said, more to himself than Nicholas, "It could be so much
worse."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
half hardheartedly smiled at Lewis, "I'm glad you understand this bond,
for it still causes me shame. I know our situation could be worse and it's
bound to go that direction as we have already lost our lives. Everyone in
this story has lost their life, in so many, many senses of the
word. But even so, I appreciate your understanding, as few others took the time
to do so." He looks at the ground remembering events that flickered
through his pupils.
Jekyll1886:  Shame
is a construct invented by the manipulative and utilized by the narrow-minded
to get us so busy blaming ourselves we won't be able to counter either of them
or change the status quo for our own or anyone else's benefit. Slay your shame,
and you'll be better able to help those you love,
thought Lewis. But he didn't know if Nicholas was ready for this truth, would
ever be ready...so he said nothing and instead simply nodded in
acknowledgement.
Catt
Hatter:  *Seeing
that the others had come to a standstill, if not a truce, Sozo quietly slipped
out the door. Not wise, perhaps, but he considered it a prudent move. The
younger man from earlier lay crumpled in a heap next to the door.
Can't have you waking up and interrupting things. He
thought. After some searching he found some spare handcuffs with their keys,
and proceeded to secure the unconscious man before tucking him in the uniform
closet and shutting the door.
He crept back into the room as Nicholas was continuing his tale.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Marcus,
saw my growing affection toward her and..." His face distorted in disgust
as he spit the next words out like a poison, "...and he said to me one
night at one of his dinner parties, "She's a beauty!" I agreed and he
continued, "Only 14 too! Imagine what she'll look like as a proper woman,
though she'll be a ugly hag if I keep her on too long!" He then laughed at
this and I laughed along. Why did I laugh along?!" He
swallowed hard and continued, "He then turned to me making sure no one
else was listening and whispered in my ear with his forked tongue, "I
could give her to you. Just for a night of course, but if
that's what you desired then I could make it so." His daemon lips parted
into a smile and I turned red. I declined politely and affirmed him my
intentions were nothing of the sort. He then slapped me on the back and
laughed, "Dear Nicholas! You know I would not judge you for I was thinking
of doing the same for myself!" He laughed, I laughed. Why did I
laugh?!" He buried his face into his hands, "WHY DID I
LAUGH!?!"
Jekyll1886:  "I'm
certain, in that moment, you simply didn't know what to do. He had just put
forward a shocking suggestion, then followed it up with what must have been,
for you, a rather repulsive sentiment. At times, the human response to
absurdity is simply to laugh. No doubt you also knew, even if only
subconsciously, how much trust he'd placed in you by voicing these thoughts--however
loathsome--in your presence. It's part of the unwritten social contract not to
betray trust. It's ingrained in us from a very young age. Your response may not
have been commendable, but it was natural, perfectly understandable...perfectly
human."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I...I
wish I wasn't human for then I wouldn't have laughed! Sure it was of great
trust on Marcus's part to burden upon me these ugly notionsand we
were friends since college, but I did not want to hear them! If I did not want
to hear them then why did I laugh?! Why did I egg him on?! And at the time it
must have seemed like absurdity to my innocent ears but--but... Damn it all!
But even my innocent and ignorant ears should have understood that this was not
a fool's fantasy or the talking of the drink! No! This I should have understood
was truth! Especially as he continued!" His face was red with rage. Rage
at Marcus and rage at himself. But passionate boiling of his emotions turned to
a reluctant simmer, "But that was the past...and now I know better for the
future...if that is I have one." He let out a morbid chuckle at this
statement.
Jekyll1886:  "Why
do you think you don't?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  His
eyes grew hard with determination, "Because after what I've done I don't
deserve a future, but I also don't deserve to die."
Jekyll1886:  "Then
what do you hope for? What would be the best-case scenario, to your mind?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  There
were tears in his eyes as he said one word. The one thing he wanted most in the
world but didn't deserve. The one thing that haunted his dreams and whispered
in his nightmares. The thing he was willing to lay down his life for and the
thing he was willing to keep living for. "Forgiveness."
Jekyll1886:  Weir smiled,
understanding. He nodded.
He cast his gaze to Alice and back to Nicholas.
"Then you'll need to live long enough to see it."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  A
pained smile pulled at his lips, "Yes. I will as then I'll finally be able
to rest."
After the bulk of the emotions had crawled from his mouth and now laid strewn
about the floor he was able to continue, "Now that we were on topic (such
a disgusting, horrid way of getting there), I began to inquire about Allison
and he happily told me her story. After listening to the tragedy in her life my
desire to be her father figure was only more rectified. As her newly self
appointed father I took it upon my being to prevent Marcus from defiling her. I
politely reminded him that his image could be ruined if he was found flaunting
about with one of his maids, and a young maid at this. Marcus smiled and agreed
with me saying "My old friend!" clapping me on the back he continued,
"Women are like cheese. The longer you let them sit and age the more
tasteful and flavorful they are. But you also must remember that if you wait
too long some other connoisseur may come along and break it's wax seal exposing
and taking the first bite for themselves. And if you wait much longer after
that then it might become old and covered with mold. Keep this in mind my
friend, keep this in mind." I nodded and reminded him that I had a wife
and he replied with a smile, "A wife who can't even properly give you a
child." I wanted to pummel that smile off of his mouth, but...instead we
laughed." He looked again at the ground ashamed and didn't even try to
justify his actions or fight the emotion.
Mz.Hyde: What happened then?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "That
should have been a sign to me. I should have seen it coming! I should have seen
it all coming but I didn't want to believe it! Oh God! I was a fool! Why was I
such an ignorant fool?! And now...now that I have knowledge I wish I didn't!
What a paradoxical world we live in! Can we never be satisfied? Is that just
human nature? Thomas Huxley had truth when asking "“If a little knowledge
is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?” But
that's the problem! With too little knowledge man will be in danger and with so
much--with so much they'll never be safe again!!" Mr. Spinks cried out as
though trying to find some reasoning, some solution in it all but there was no
solution, no solution at all.
Jekyll1886:  "I've
a question for you," said Lewis, attempting to calm Nicholas via
distraction.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
glanced up at Lewis awaiting said question.
Jekyll1886:  "What
is sexually transmitted and one hundred percent fatal?" he asked.
Mz.Hyde: AIDS?
Jekyll1886:  "Technically,
patients die of complications arising from AIDS--incipient
infection, for example," he corrected Mz. Hyde.
Mz.Hyde: Yeah, but it's still AIDS.
Jekyll1886:  "Not
in this time period, it's not. Now hush. You're simply confusing him."
Catt
Hatter:  *Sozo
rolled his eyes at their antics.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "What?"
he asked completely perplexed by Lewis odd and off topic inquiry and Mz. Hyde's
response.
Jekyll1886:  "Life,"
he revealed, breaking into a beautiful smile. "Whether we've only a little
knowledge or all in the known universe, we all meet the same fate
eventually." He shrugged. "Danger and safety are relative things.
It's how we live life in this moment which matters."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Mr.
Spinks smiled at this, "Life, the thing we must hang onto with every dying
grasp. I agree that safety and danger are but nuances on this journey, but even
if we are to live in the moment that moment fades to the next and then next.
Soon you're so far away from where you've started that you can no longer see
the road which you've traveled down and only the road ahead and beneath your
feet is in your view. The past is important as it tells you what and who you
have failed and drives you to do better. We may all meet the same fate but our
past defines us and makes us unique, and the only thing to remind you that
there is a past is knowledge! Knowledge of the past, your past,
of the present and of the future. It tells us we are alive and we are moving
forward. We all crave it like an addiction."
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
was pleased. Nicholas had calmed down, as he'd intended. The man had even felt
compelled to argue a counterpoint, just as Weir'd hoped. Now Spinks could get
back to sharing knowledge instead of just talking about it.
Outwardly, he merely nodded his understanding. The man did make a good point.
Mz.Hyde: A blessing and a curse.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Agreed."
He said and continued his tale. "I guess knowledge, this undying thirst
for knowledge that we all have, is what drew me to the organization in the
first place. I...I'm not what you call a genius. I have no natural instinct
when it comes to the subjects of science, writing, mathematics, or any academia
for that matter. But what I lack in general knowledge, I make up for in my
ability to seek it out. I attend lectures, I read the papers, I devoured books.
It did not matter the subject as I absorbed it all. I also seemed to have a
knack of knowing the next big invention. Darwin, Faraday, Callan, Huxley! I was
their first fanatic!
As I attended more scientific lectures I began to notice the same people over
and over again. Even if the faces were different they all had the same calling
card, a silver feather tucked into the brim of their hat." He taps the
silver feather in his hat. "Eventually I worked up the nerve to approach
them. They ignored me. But my drive for knowledge kept me on and my tenacity
finally won through. I, for better or for worse, got their attention and for my
reward they offered me a job. A job that I couldn't refuse. It was everything
that I ever wanted! Infinite knowledge! A purpose! Everything! How could I
refuse that?!"
Jekyll1886:  At
the mention of Darwin et al, Lewis raised his eyebrows and gave a short nod,
impressed.
"And what did they get out of it?" he asked when
Spinks had finished.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "They got
a new pupil, when they introduced me to the world. They lifted this fog of
ignorance that hangs over London and showed me the true shining gem beneath
that is this city. It was beautiful! Beautiful! It imprinted itself
into my eyes and is forever tattooed onto my meaningless flesh! I shall never,
in all my years, forget the euphoria that over came me, instilling a new life
into my being!" The remembrance of the emotion itself seemed to set him
alight as it glowed through his veins. His once self loathing complexion
changed to a brighter hew of hope. "But...But after reveling in this newly
discovered world, I was told the truth about the truth. I could never share
this knowledge with the rest of the populace. I did not understand why at first
and even after they explained it to me, I still did not grasp their meaning."
He sighed, "Once again, even in standing in the light of knowledge, I cast
an ignorant shadow."
Mz.Hyde: What is the "truth about the truth"?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "That
we can never share the entire truth. " He shook his head defeated,
"This organization is built around three main principals, principals that
we will do anything to uphold. First, with the ever growing potential that
science brings, it also brings great danger. We want to protect the world from
this danger and prevent the threats that might be brought about by science.
Second, the public is a fragile thing, while the achievements brought into this
world may be great, it could also harm the public if they are not ready to
accept it. Look at Copernicus! He was imprisoned and shunned because of the
truth he found, only because the pubic refused to accept it! How can you tell
me that this wouldn't happen again? It will happen and it will keep happening
if the pubic isn't slowly introduced to the idea in a safe manner. Then once
they've become accustom to it, and only then will the accept it and not harm
the truth or it's bearer. And Third, we are to remain in the shadows for the
less people know about us, the less they know about the dangers and the truth
that flows around them every day. I know it must seem harsh to underestimate
the public and criticize them but look into our past and you will see that it
is true!"
Mz.Hyde: So what does this have to do with what Allison was
trying to do?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "You
need to understand the players of this opera before I can tell you the plot and
unfortunately...the organization and I play a very large part."
Jekyll1886:  "I
don't disagree," said Lewis. "Some minds might blaze a trail; others
would look at a Victrola and deem it witchcraft."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Unlike
you I, unfortunately, did not believe in this philosophy at first. The first
night, after my recruitment, I broke the rules. My wife, my lovely wife, sick
with sorrow, who worked her hands to the bone if only to forget our daughter, I
tried to tell her that night of the real world but she did not believe me. She
called me mad and told me to stop this foolishness, but I did not heed her
words. I pressed on, convinced the truth would bring her out of her torment as
it had brought me joy. But she turned away in horror. She left our house that
night and told me, if I was to ever speak that way again, she would leave me
for good.
For weeks, months I bit my tongue. I did not utter a word of the truth but it
was forever present in my body and mind. It built up in me and clawed at my
insides like a beast waiting, wanting to be free. Then one
night I left the cage unlocked and it got out. I yelled the truth at her, into
her, but she refused to listen! When it had finally stopped it's terrible
rampage, she collected her thing and left. I have not seen her since." His
eyes grew hard and he stared at the door as expecting to see is lovely wife
waiting for him, child in arms. But she was not there and never would be.
"I had no wife. I had no child. I had no family. All that was left was
Allison. So I ran to her. It's shameful I know! I disgust myself! I put all my
hope upon this one small, fragile little girl and...and--OH GOD! I DESTROYED
HER! I--I thought--I thought I was helping her but I wasn't! No! I was sewing the
seeds of her destruction!" His shouts collapsed into whimpers, "She
was too young...she was innocent...she...she..." His voice trailed off as
the words were lost to emotion.
Mz.Hyde: You...you
drove her mad?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "If
that is how you would describe her current condition, then yes!" He
shouted.
Jekyll1886:  "That's
not how I would describe it," put in Weir. "I'd say she's simply...in
transition. Like a chrysalis before the butterfly emerges. The Allison you knew
is past, it's true. As you said, all those moments add up until we're far away
from where we started. But an Allison is still here, can
still be. Not only that, she has the opportunity to become more
fully human than most people could ever conceive of. Whatever mistakes you or
anyone else made, she's arrived at a place verdant with possibility."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
wish I could believe what you say is true, I really do! But considering the
last time I saw my Allison...she was hopeless. She saw no
future for herself. Even if she's reached "a place full of
possibility" I do not want what emerges from that cocoon. I do not want
that cocoon or that butterfly, or moth, or what have you. I just want my little
caterpillar back." He chocked up and tears welled in his eyes, "I
just want to hold her one more time. I want to tell her everything is going to
be okay and be right for a change. I want to save her from
harm instead of putting bandages on her cuts. I want to see her face and hear
her voice. I want to be able to hear the truth from her again and know that
she's not lying when she tells me that she is happy. I just want her
back." Tears began to spill from his eyes, "I just want to tell her
I'm sorry and even though I know I don't deserve it...I want her to forgive
me."
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde just stood as the man began to cry.*
Jekyll1886:  I'm
going to ask Harry for a data log of this...for later. For Alice's sake.
"Let it out," said Lewis softly. "You're among
friends and fellow sufferers here."
Catt
Hatter:'  *Speak
for yourself. Sozo thought. He never really understood this kind
of thing, wanting to be forgiven. It made no sense.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
just sat there with his head in his hands and silently cried. If it weren't for
the occasional sniff and the way his body shook as the waves of sobs washed
over him you wouldn't have known he was crying at all.
Jekyll1886:  He
weeps the way I used to.
He remembered the dreary English church, the cool touch of gray
stones, and the welcome, weary solace of solitude. The burning heat of fresh
penitence had run him through like a red-hot spike.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Taking
a few ragged breaths he let the turmoil pass and waited for the words to
return. Words-- stories, they were one of the few constants in his life.
"At...At one of Marcus's later parties I confronted her and we began to
talk." He sits up a bit and smiles at this but it's filled with pain and
he still can't look his audience in their eyes, "Allison told me of her
life back on the farm and I asked her how her new life here was. She disliked
it but she was becoming accustom to it. I asked her if she ever wrote home and
she told me every day but they never responded. I asked her what she missed the
most, and she told me the flowers...violets were her favorite." His throat
began to choke up a bit at this but he quickly regained composure and
continued, "The next time I came I brought a bouquet of flowers for
Marcus's house but in that bouquet were blue violets for Allison. This started
our blossoming relationship--friendship."
Jekyll1886:  Weir's
mind returned to the present as Spinks continued his tale.
Violets...I'll have to remember that.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Around
this time the papers had picked up tales of mad science: reanimated bodies,
ghost ships, pirates and potions! It dazzled her! I do not blame her for being
seduced by the grand promises of the impossible for I had been seduced by them
myself. With my new found power from my terribly glorious job, I was able to
easily scrounge together a collection of works and stories to fuel her passion.
It was going to be her birthday present." He started to choke up again at
this but got a hold of himself.
Jekyll1886:  "I
see."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "It
was a few months before her birthday and I was at another one of Marcus's
parties when I noticed that Allison was unusually quiet, hiding in a corner. I
saw it as my duty to see what was wrong. She took me to another room, a quieter
room before she talked. She began to tell me of her fears. Allison had
overheard some of the other servants talking of Marcus's unwanted advances and
she was worried that the same might happened to her. I attempted to calm her
fears saying she was much too young, he wouldn't dare, and these were just old
maids gossiping. But this only worried her more. I tried to calm her again,
telling her that if anything happened then the monsters from the papers would
come and to her rescue. She laughed at this. I laughed too." A melancholy
smile came about him, "Now reassured we returned to the party to make
marry once again. That night I also decided a month was much to long to wait to
give Allison her present and I came to the conclusion that the next party would
be a party for her."
Jekyll1886:  "That
makes sense."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "At
Marcus's next party I brought Allison her present but I could not find her. I
stole away from the gathering and began to roam the halls looking for her and I
found her. She was outside curled into a ball beneath a tree, crying. Fearing
the worst, I approached her and asked what was wrong, what had happened. She
told me that Marcus was angry with her today over some spilled tea on his rug.
He had grabbed her and ..." he shook his head at the memory as though
trying to refuse to continue, "...and beat her. " Nicholas inhaled
sharply at this.
Mz.Hyde: Oh no....
Jekyll1886:  How
badly? was Weir's first thought, but he left it unvoiced; it
could be seen as inappropriate here.
Lewis nodded.
"I once knew a man who beat his servants. I've seen what it does to
them," he sympathized. I'm so glad I killed him.
If he weren't having to "play nice" socially, he'd have allowed
himself a smile.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "And
what was your course of action?" Nicholas asked, "What did you try
and do to stop it? Or was your action inaction? But...but most importantly did
it work?"
Jekyll1886:  "Well,"
Weir explained, "as it turned out, a confluence of circumstances took
their toll on him, and the servants found new employment elsewhere." A
pause, a look of concern. "But I've sidetracked you; you were speaking of
Allison..."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
wish it turned out that way for her..." He sighed shaking his head before
continuing the story, "She rolled up her sleeves to show me the bruises on
her arms. They were in the shapes of fingers and hands...his hands. She
told me there were more bruises on her ribs and legs....and then...and then she
yelled at me that the monsters didn't come and save her like...like I promised
her they would!" He's breathing became ragged and he took a moment to
recollect his scattered thoughts.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
let out a heavy breath, almost a sigh.
"The only monsters in this world are the ones who walk about us every day,
sad to say. Men like Marcus, it would seem."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
shook his head at this and continued, "I--I was furious at this, at him. I
told her I would talk to him and he would never hurt her again.
And she didn't believe me for the monsters hadn't come...and--and she believed
me about that and look where it got her!" He closed his eyes and covered
his mouth with his hands fearing about what he was going to say next,
"But...but what I did next was truly horrific. For in that moment I was
truly a monster! Not Marcus! Not the science! No! Those things in
the papers and those things that the organization dealt with every day...those
things were saints--angles compared to me! Oh! Why didn't God strike me down
then and end the dream while it was still that, a dream! Why did it have to
turn into a nightmare?!"
Jekyll1886:  "If
God struck down every sinner, the world would be a ghost town," he
attempted to console. Besides, maybe we're more interesting this way.
Like ants in an ant farm: Shake things up, see what happens. Who knows?
But he knew Nicholas had to work through this story, had to purge the
anguish if he was to have any hope of reaching absolution.
"How did it come about?" he asked gently.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Maybe
it would be better if the world was a ghost town...but it is not and my actions
still remain the same." He sighed.
Taking a moment, he swallowed hard and then continued, "I...I looked her
in the eyes and told her the monsters had not failed her.... They had come
to save her but they were just a little late. I then pulled out a
complied book of every mad science tale I could get hands on. It had stories to
last her years! To fill her heart possibility! To stir her mind with
inspiration! To make her forget about the bruises and save her from the pain!
She took her present, rifled through it...", His eyes watered, "and
then ...she hugged me." His face was distorted as his emotions fought for
control. Pain, joy, loathing, hatred, euphoria, and dread to name a few.
"We sat there under that tree for the longest time. Me learning how to
accept her hug and her crying into my chest. She wept in pain, fear, sadness,
joy, gratitude, all the emotions a 15 year old could have. If there was ever a
moment that she became my daughter, it would be then. And that same
moment...that was the moment it all began to come crumbling down around us. That
was the moment when the dream turned into a nightmare." His voice cracked
and his tears threatened to spill as he stared off into the past watching as a
little girl hugged a man, both unknown about the misfortune that was to befall
them.
Hyde
without a Jekyll: "Maybe it would
be better if the world was a ghost town...but it is not and my actions still
remain the same." He sighed.
Taking
a moment, he swallowed hard and then continued, "I...I looked her in the
eyes and told her the monsters had not failed her.... They had come to save her
but they were just a little late. I then pulled out a complied book of every
mad science tale I could get hands on. It had stories to last her years! To
fill her heart possibility! To stir her mind with inspiration! To make her
forget about the bruises and save her from the pain! She took her present,
rifled through it...", His eyes watered, "and then ...she hugged me."
His face was distorted as his emotions fought for control. Pain, joy, loathing,
hatred, euphoria, and dread to name a few.
"We
sat there under that tree for the longest time. Me learning how to accept her
hug and her crying into my chest. She wept in pain, fear, sadness, joy,
gratitude, all the emotions a 15 year old could have. If there was ever a
moment that she became my daughter, it would be then. And that same
moment...that was the moment it all began to come crumbling down around us.
That was the moment when the dream turned into a nightmare." His voice
cracked and his tears threatened to spill as he stared off into the past
watching as a little girl hugged a man, both unknown about the misfortune that
was to befall them.
Jekyll1886:  "At
least, in that moment, she had someone," counseled Lewis. "If you
hadn't been there, she might well be gone from this world already."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "She
might have been happier then! Or she might have been at peace instead of
trapped! Or at least that would have been the end of her suffering and pain
instead! Or...or..." A thousand possibilities filled his mind, a thousand
"Or's", as his voice trailed off.
Jekyll1886:  Ah,
yes... thought Weir, death does seem a ready escape from
pain. But we've no guarantee. For in that sleep of death, who knows what dreams
may come? Whereas life...is the devil we know. Or think we do.
He merely gave a sympathetic look.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  With
a ragged breath he continued, "The next day I invited Marcus for dinner to
which he happily agreed and we ate at this little shop. I had mutton and
potatoes.
I told Marcus that I heard some uncouth gossip about him that was starting to
circulate. When he gave me a suspicious eye I told him that it most certainly
couldn't be true and that if he were to tell me his opinion on the matter then
it would be put to bed. Reassured I was not out to undermined his reputation,
he prompted me to tell him of this rumor. So I did, I told him that he was
beating his servants." He shakes his head and his lips were pursed into a
frown, "But he...he just smiled and laughed at this saying, "Of
course I am! How else am I to get them to obey and understand who their master
is?" I think what sickened me the most, at this moment, was that he was
proud of it!"
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
nodded, understanding.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
tried to point out flaws in his logic. I proposed the idea of paying them for
appreciation. "But then wouldn't they fear the consequences of failing,"
was his reply. I argued that respect could be used instead of fear. "But
respect doesn't stick to the blood like fear does." he retorted. Then in
one last effort I said that his employees could always leave. He laughed at
this, "They can't leave! And even if they tried, where would they go?
Home? Ha! Most of these women don't have a home to leave to!" I suggested
how they could go to another employer, which only made him laugh harder,
"If they got cocky enough to try that I would ruin them, any
employer would know there name was vile and even if someone was foolish to hire
them,... then I would ruin their bosses name as well." I-I was shocked by
my friend's cruelty and it took me a moment to find my words again. Finally,
after what felt like ages, I asked him why he would do this. To which he
replied with cold, serious eyes, all hint of humor gone, "Because,
Nicholas, they are mine.""
Mz.Hyde: I HATE men like that! Treating women like property and
abusing them!
Jekyll1886:  Ah.
He's one of those, Weir concluded. His eyes
narrowed and he opted to close them; his lips pressed against each other as he
tamped down a feeling nestled just below his gorge. He swallowed hard, then
breathed in...and out, and opened his eyes again.
"I know the type," he said with a wan smile and an air of sympathy.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
nods, "I do too and I wish I could have stopped, just one, for once. I
thought time and time again of taking Allison into my house, of making her my
employee, but I never did. Maybe I was just scared of my reputation or Marcus
or losing her. I had no servants and never had. What would the public say? They
would say she was a prostitute or that she was my bitch daughter or whatever
else their mad minds could come up with as they marked the days away with
slander. I should have just said, "To hell with public opinion!",
scooped up Allison, and run to a new city! I should have taken her far away
from that house or back to her home or somewhere else! I should have saved her
instead of trying to put plaster on her wounds! Wounds I could have
prevented!" He cried out as the guilt began to suffocate his rational
mind.
But the guilt was exchanged with acceptance and he continued, "I didn't do
any of those things. Instead I let her remain in that house and helped her from
afar. I would give her clothes to wear when it got cold. I would give her
flowers to smell instead of her own blood. I would give her stories
to read when her hope became exhausted. I was just trying to repair the damage
instead of preventing it."
Jekyll1886:  "I
know it's cold comfort now," said Lewis, "but should you ever chance
to run into such a man as that again, please do let me know."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
will...but I do hope I never met another man like him...never again..." He
took a breath and continued his tale, "As her body grew her skin and bones
got tougher. As her mind grew with knowledge so did her aspirations. As her
soul grew so did her empathy and kindness. But even as she aged occasionally we
would still sit under that tree together, just like before, her crying and me
comforting her."
"His beatings became more intense but he was smart. Marcus always hit her
where it wouldn't show, just to keep her pristine like a china doll in the
public's eye. Just to keep his house perfect." Nicholas spat in loathing.
Mz.Hyde: What a despicable man.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
nods, "I decided that if she was going to be in that house until Marcus
said other wise I could at least prepare her for a life, a world outside of it.
I began to give her my notes on the lectures I attended. I taught her academia
until her skills surpassed mine. I implored her to read the greats, for I saw
greatness in her. We would meet and she would tell me of her latest idea. While
I couldn't keep up with her vivid imagination I could at least check her work
and provide her with resources. We were a good team. It wasn't until we began to
write down her ideas that I truly saw her genius." The fondness of these
memories made him smile though...it was a knowing smile.
Jekyll1886:  You
provided her a way out, thought Lewis. An escape hatch,
however small, however fleeting.
You cared for her.
You were her lifeline.
"You may well have been the only thing that saved her."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
did not save her...I only hurt her worse!" He took a moment to compose
himself,"My gut told me that she was the next Newton or the next Bryson,
for you kids. My gut was never wrong," He sighed and looked at the floor,
"and my gut was my job. So I did my job and told the organization of her, the
up in coming scientist with brains that could change the world! I was still
very new at the time and my credibility had not solidified itself in my
superiors minds but they did listen to my report. After a week of debating and
reviewing her ideas, they told me to watch her." Mr. Spinks chuckled at
this, "As if I wasn't doing that already! I guess the only difference was
now I was being paid to be her friend, to help her, and to guide her." His
expression changed to desperation as he realized what he was saying, "But
you must understand! Money wouldn't have changed my actions! I was there for
Allison not for the organization!"
Jekyll1886:  "I
believe you."
Mz.Hyde: I understand, but what happened?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Those
next three years were some of the happiest in my life. I would meet with
Allison every week either during one of Marcus's parties or away from the house
on one of her errand runs. She would give me her latest ideas and I would
return the previous weeks inventions with notes and corrections. Even in
geniuses need a second pair of eyes. They all need a second pair of eyes...a
friend's eyes..." His voice trailed off as the memories hit him like a
title wave.
Struggling back to the surface before the emotions can push him under again he
continued, "I wish I could just stay in the memories of those years
forever. Just never move forward and live in those beautiful moments...but I
don't deserve that and you two want to know." He took a deep breath and
forced himself to continue, "The last time I saw Allison truly happy was
on Marcus's 40th Birthday. It really was a lovely night! Marcus had planned the
biggest affair! Gourmet food! Amazing music! Legendary Drinks! It was surely a
night for the history books! He even let his house servants join in! We all ate
and danced and drank and made marry! I even got to dance with Allison." He
smiled at this as he could still hear the waltz as clear as the night it was
played.
Mz.Hyde: And that's when things went wrong, didn't it?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
nodded solemnly, "She was 18 then, and one of the most beautiful people I
had the privilege to know. Not just physically but mentally as
well. Allison had really taken to the idea that there were more universes than
ours, as I'm sure you're familiar with the theory." He paused waiting for
acknowledgement.
Mz.Hyde: I think so, it's called the Multiverse theory or
something right? I think I've heard Catt and Dreamer talk about it before.
Jekyll1886:  "Oh,
yes," concurred Weir. "I've heard tell there's even a being calling
itself the Multiverse Guardian."
A pause.
"The theory's true, by the by," he put in casually.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Good,
though I've never heard of a 'Multiverse Guardian'," he pondered it a
moment and then shook his head in defeat, "I'm glad you understand as I
have a hard time grasping it myself, but Allison was an expert on the subject.
She had this theory--she had a lot of theories--that she could make her own
universe. Looking back, maybe it's because she wanted to get away from that
house or maybe she just wanted to start over...I don't know. What ever the
reason was, Allison had this idea that it might be possible to make a world in
the space in between worlds. However it was just that, a idea--a theory that
had only the desire and passion of a little girl behind it and nothing more.
But even with so little concrete evidence that this could even be possible, I
was not swayed from my duty to support her in what ever fancy
her mind had taken hold of. She was daughter, in the looses sense of the word,
and I was so proud to see her growing up into such an amazing young
woman."
Jekyll1886:  "Understandably."
Mz.Hyde: So what did you do?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "That
night, the night of Marcus's 40th birthday, as we danced, I told her this. I
told her of how proud I was, of how I saw her as my daughter, of how I loved
her. She was at first shocked by this, as we had never exchanged these words
but then her shock turned to a smile and she hugged me, telling me that she
felt the same." Tears began to build in his eyes, "That night, under
our tree, I held her as we danced and she cried."
"After the song ended, it was time for the guests--me to return home. I
did not want to go but it was my time to leave. I grabbed Allison's hands once
more, before I left, and promised her that I would always be there for her. No
matter what, I would be there with an army of monsters to protect her and
support her for she was everything to me. With our final goodbyes I returned
home for the night..." He began to choke up, "...I should have
stayed..."
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
said nothing. He had grown worried at the mention of such a large, significant
birthday, such a milestone in life--doubly so when Mr. Spinks had spoken of its
elaborateness. No doubt Marcus had...consummated his relationship
with Allison, in all its twisted glory, that very night.
He shook his head. He really did know the character of such fiends.
A wisp of melancholy threatened at the edges of his mind.
He sighed.
"What's done is done, Nicholas. Would that regret could make it
otherwise."
Mz.Hyde:......And then?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  With
eyes, wild with regret and breath ragged he continued, "The night had
taken it's toll on me and I fell ill. I could not eat nor drink nor move. It
was a miracle that I had the strength to write a doctor. By the time I had recovered
from my aliment, two weeks had pasted. Two weeks! Two weeks! That
was all it took! That was all it took..." His voice was slowly being
suffocated by the emotions and memories. "Finally I attended one of
Marcus's gatherings when I was well enough to leave the house. Things seemed
relatively normal, lively company, glowing Marcus, amazing food. But," he
swallowed hard, "But when I went to Allison and I's usually meeting spot,
she wasn't there. I know she resided within the house for I saw her prepping
the dinner but she never turned up to talk. I was a bit concerned that
something may have happened to her however I brushed the thought aside that she
must have been tired or recovering from the same illness that I had contracted
weeks back. I did not press the matter."
Mz.Hyde: When did you see her next?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "At
Marcus's next event but the same thing happened. This time I gathered the
determination to find her. After roaming the halls for a time I discovered her
sitting in the backyard reading the paper. I greeted her and she jumped. God!
Her eyes were wild with fear! But--but she..." He took a breath and
composed himself, "But she quickly subdued herself and addressed me in an
...odd fashion. It was as though she was wearing a mask. She still looked liked my
Allison but she...did not act,like her."
"I asked her why she did not meet me, for I know she saw my presence at
the meal, but Allison only replied that she had other obligations. I raised an
eye brow at the 'other obligations' in question that she was reading...it was a
story about a new rail-line. I sat down next to her and apologized for my
absence due to that wretched disease. She stood up and brushed the matter aside
stating that her break was over, before walking back inside the house."
"These perplexing conversations seemed to grow in number. I would try to
address her change in behavior but she affirmed me that all was well and not to
worry. When I mentioned her new reserved nature, she claimed to be growing up
and needed to learn to care for herself. I asked of her brilliant ideas and she
told me that the silliness from her younger years was impractical for the real
world. The real world! HA! In the real world those ideas would have changed
everything! They would have brought about a new era! ...A new
beginning..."
Mz.Hyde: So she just quit science all together.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "She
seemed to have quit her body all together, leaving some
preformed idealized woman...a "proper woman" in it's place.
Eventually, we stopped talking all together, though, that didn't mean I stopped
keeping an eye on her. It was my duty after all to report back to the
organization on her work. I didn't just keep watch her for them but I did it
for myself too. I didn't--couldn't believe she stopped her research, just
turned off the ideas that flowed through her head like an eternal stream.
Needless to say, I informed the organization of her sudden change in mood and
it concerned them greatly."
Mz.Hyde: So what did they do?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "They
were worried that Allison's sudden shift was a foreboding sign as though a
great storm was rolling in on a changing wind. They showed me reports where the
subject experienced a sudden personality change that led to rash decisions,
miscalculations and eventually...villainy. Sometimes it was purposeful
maliciousness and other times it was accidental, but it really didn't matter as
the end result was the same: Death. Death of one, many, knowledge, beliefs, it
didn't matter something always came to an end. They told me this was the calm
before the storm. They told me I needed to find out what was wrong before foul
acts were committed and I was to have all their resources at my disposal to do
so. They told me I was in charge of this operation.
Part of me was proud that I was finally given authority but the other part was
just worried for Allison.
Allison wouldn't talk to me any longer but I hoped she would talk to someone. I
sent in dozens of men disguised as suitors, drunks, friends, anything to try
and get her to talk! But they always came back with the same answers she gave
me. There was no more science. There was no more brilliance. There was no more
Allison. They told me she was repulsed by the idea of science that it made her
"faint", but I didn't believe them."
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde quietly waited for Spinks to continue.*
Jekyll1886:  Desperation
and despair pull people under. A last, mad thrashing for the surface comes in
turn. Grasping at the straws of science or anything else is only natural when
the undertow lays hold.
Any organization worth its title would've helped her before it came to that. He
felt the thrum of anger rising, a tightening of his gut, an involuntary surge
of adrenaline. Inappropriate, for this setting. Counterproductive. He
stopped its spread, a small twitch of his right eye's lower lid the only sign
of his internal efforts. The feeling would drain off slowly, over time.
He refocused on Spinks and his words.
Hyde without a
Jekyll:  "We
kept this charade up for two years. Two years of the same answers, two years of
nothing. Finally even the organization believed her. They pulled my men and my
resources and told me to move on. But I couldn't move on. I couldn't leave her.
I couldn't believe that was it, so I pressed on."
“I admit, my desire—my desperation to be right drove me to commit acts I otherwise
would never dared of doing for I was a
proper gentleman, back then. But now…but now I am a wretched thing.” He looked
at the ground with self-pity…or maybe that was self-hatred. “I began to follow
her. I would sit outside the house, day or night, and wait for her to leave the
premise and then I would follow her. I followed her to errands, to meals, to
offices and all the day to day tasks but it all yielded nothing. It all told
the same story. There was nothing left."
Mz.Hyde: But there was something...wasn't there? Or else
Alice wouldn't be over there now.
Hyde without a
Jekyll:  He
nods, “One night, the months of fruitless endeavors finally ate through me. I,
who had been relentless, was finally coming to the conclusion that Allison was
now this proper young woman who had no longer need of me. I didn’t want to
accept this with all of my being but the world around me said otherwise. In one
last attempt I wandered to the back of Marcus’s house and sat underneath our
tree. The air was cool and things of the night played a symphony, but I could
not see or hear it. The air felt cold and unforgiving and the night seemed to
scream in agony, echoing my inner turmoil. The shadows from the trees, the
shed, the house, life all seemed to cast over me. I begged for this not to
be the end…and my pleas did not go unheard…though—though now I wish they
did!” He closed his eyes and waited for the emotion to pass so he could
continue. “I was woken from a dream, I do not know when I fell asleep under
that tree nor do I know what time I awoke, but none the less I was stirred. The
soft closing of the back door and the spilling of the light from a lamp pierced
the inky darkness of night and there I saw her,
cloaked in an orange light of the flame, slipping through the darkness. She
stole across the yard and into the old shed that lay in the far corner of the
lot. I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times trying to confirm this wasn’t a
figment of my imagination.
A hundred thoughts raced through my mind. Most prominent of which was what was
she doing in that old shed? The old shed that no one dared to enter for it
could collapse at any moment. It was falling apart but out of stubbornness held
itself together. Marcus never repaired it or took it down; he couldn’t be
bothered or spare the expense so he let it sit.
After a time I was assured that the cobwebs of sleep had left me but the faint
orange glow that emanated from under the door had never faded away. She was
there. I stood up from my hiding place and crept over to the shed trying to
peer inside without startling her. If she wouldn’t talk to me before then why
would she talk to me now? As I circled around the shed for a hole or window, I
was disheartened to find none."
Mz.Hyde: What
was she doing in there?
Hyde without a
Jekyll:  “I
didn’t know and I still don’t entirely know but, as I was about to enter and
confront her when the doors of the shed creaked slowly open. Startled like a
rabbit, I jumped into the nearby foliage for cover. Her lamp burning low, she
closed and locked the shed, before retreating back inside the house. I spent
god knows how long, trying to unlock that shed but the old padlock wouldn’t
ever yield to me! I thought about breaking through the doors but there was a
good chance the whole wretched building would come down, burring its secrets
beneath the rubble. And then…and then I the most horrid idea came into my head!
The most disgusting thought breathed it’s foul words into my ear! And—And I listened
to it! God! Why did I listen to it?!” He squeezes his eyes tight shaking
his head before finally releasing the wretched words from his mouth, “…I
decided to manipulate Marcus into discovering what she was doing.”
Jekyll1886:  Weir
couldn't help but think of Wilde:
The only unforgivable sin is stupidity.
Mz.Hyde: What?! You decided to use the man who violated her,
who-who RAPED her to discover what she was doing?! Why did you do that?!
Catt
Hatter:'  *Resourceful,
but stupid given the situation. Sozo thought, not horribly
impressed.*
Hyde without a
Jekyll:  "
Please! You must understand! I had not know at the time he had raped her, for
all I knew he had beaten her and that was all! I shouldn’t have done it! I
shouldn't have done it! I shouldn’t have but I was desperate and—and an
idiot! I didn't think she would talk to me and Marcus had the keys!” He tried
to plead but he knew his actions were unjustifiable.
Jekyll1886:  And
in the entirety of your organization, was there not one set of lockpicks? His
lids lowered slightly as he raised his right eyebrow.
Mz.Hyde: Yeah, like that's soooo much better!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
am a wretch! A b******! I make myself sick but I...I wish that was the end
of it...I really do!" The loathing dripped off his words like acid,
carving into his flesh Traitor.
Jekyll1886:  No,
thought Lewis, you're merely a curious, well-meaning fool.
Mz.Hyde: Just...just tell us what happened to Allison!
Hyde without a
Jekyll:  He
swallowed hard, the guilt making his stomach lurch, “At our next event, I
brought up how one never knows what the servants do when not under the watchful
eye of their master. Marcus and I then joked and theorized but I knew I had
him. I knew what I did. I had planted and cultivated a seed of curiosity in
him. I just had to hope that it would grow strong enough for him to take action
by our next dinner. I did not have to hope much, for the next time we met he
produced a pile of papers, notes, in her hand writing. He laughed—F*** it! We laughed--at
her “fanciful ideas” but—oh god! Why did I laugh!? Why did I laugh!? I
was so damn proud of myself, too!,” He buried his face into
his hands crying out, “I was so proud! I was so proud that I
was right! She was still working and these notes proved how far she
had come! Hell! She had it almost figured out! I wanted to gloat right then and
there but instead I asked for them on the claim to show my fellow colleague for
‘further mockery’! I was overjoyed!” He spat, “I paraded to the organization
that evening like a damn peacock! They all were shocked and then they
congratulated me! I was right all along!” He shook his head, his face green
with disgust.
Mz.Hyde: What did the papers say?
Jekyll1886:  "Had
you any inkling what they would do?" asked Lewis.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
looked at Lewis, despair in his eyes, "They would take the papers, analyze
them and then act appropriately from there, if any course of action needed of
be taken."
He shook his head, "I was still celebrating when they
came to me with the news. Allison had figured it out. She
figured out how to rip a whole between the worlds and create her own universe.
And by her sketches and notes she was close to finishing a machine that would
do it, too. But--but there was a problem. Somewhere along the way she had made
a miscalculation--a misstep-- that would, if the machine was activated, would
create an uncontrollable tear in the universe. It would expand, absorbing everything,
obliterating everything into nothingness. It was going to destroy the
world--the universe!"
"I never saw inside the shed, but, if her notes were any indication, we
didn't have much time to prevent this disaster. I begged them to let me handle
it as I knew her and that she was my operation. They relented,
partially due to the fact that I brought this threat to light and partially
from my persistence. They gave me two days and if the correction hadn't been
made by then drastic measures were to be used."
Jekyll1886:  One
doesn't do one's best work under duress, he reflected regarding
Allison.
"And during those two days...what exactly did you do?" Or
fail to do?''
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  At
first I watched her, waiting for the right time to approached. It was
Wednesday...an-and she had just come out of the house for her afternoon
errands...I had to make my move then. " He began to choke up.
"Disguised as a drunk, as to not give my identity away, I stumbled into
her. I took hold of her body before she fell and hurt herself but...but.."
He swallows his emotions and continues, "but she screamed out anyway. It
was not a yell of fear or a shout of anger but a gut wrenching scream of pain.
I steady her apologizing profusely and began to pick up her things...that's
when I noticed it. Blood soaking through her sleeve. I tried to address it but
she slapped me away. Her face was a rainbow: red of anger, green of fear, and...and
purple, blacks and blues... Fresh bruising...and...and his signature
was all over it.
I--I was shocked! I thought he had stopped! I thought she didn't need me
anymore because there no more wounds for me to tend! I thought she was happy! I
thought she was safe! I was right on the inconsequential details but not on the
WHOLE BLOODY PICTURE!!" He shouted out in anger and despair.
Before I could help her she...she had changed. She was so... angry!She
hit me, over and over again. She wasn't strong but her fists carried her
unspoken hatred. I fell to the ground as she battered me. I-I don't know why I
didn't fight back...maybe I finally realized what I did to her...that I
betrayed her...or maybe...maybe I thought...I thought that she betrayed me...I
don't know...All I know is that I laid there for what felt like eternity until
an approaching carriage startled her. She hurriedly picked up her belongs, and
fled the scene, leaving me on the cold ground."
Jekyll1886:  "You
were in shock," realized Lewis. "And then mourning."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
had one day left and no progress made. I gained broken bones and not a
solution. I was beaten physically, mentally, emotionally. I couldn't
sleep...not that I had been sleeping. I quit eating. All I could think about
was her, my poor Allison. She was in so much pain...and had been.
Why wasn't I there for her? Why did she push me away? So many thoughts crowded
in my head! I just wanted to hold her! To make everything better like all those
years ago!" The agony and suffering made his voice quiver but not falter
as he continued. "I had one day left...one day and one chance to make
everything right. I wasn't thinking straight...but I don't think I ever was. I
made up my mind to confront her. No disguise. No lie. No organization. Just
us."
"When night fell, I took up a position next to the shed, knowing she would
come. I waited for hours. The house was dark, the street was dark...everything
was dark, sleeping peacefully unaware of the danger on the horizon. Then, just
as before, the house's door creaked open, the orange light of a lamp spilling
forth and there she stood."
"As Allison started to unlock shed I stepped out of my shadows, addressing
her in a whisper. Startled, she dropped the key with a small yelp. I...I
thought my presence would calm her...allow her to open up but it didn't. Her
fear turned to the fires of anger and then...it was smothered by her
act. She started to mumble an excuse but I cut her off. "Why?" I
asked her, "Why did you stop talking to me? Why did you stop coming to me?
Why didn't you tell me Marcus was hurting you? Why did you let me help
you?" Her act dropped. That proper woman was gone and
there stood Allison...but she wasn't my Allison. Her face
twisted with anger and in a livid whisper she told me...everything."
Mz.Hyde: What
did she say?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "The
night of Marcus's 40th birthday party, he decided to treat himself...he decided
to... partake of Allison. She tried to fight him off
but...couldn't. And...she blamed me. She told me that I promised to be there
for her but I wasn't! I wasn't there that night or the next! For a week he did
this! For a week she fought! And then...when her spirit broke, he stopped for
it wasn't a challenge any longer. He threw her to the side, but kept her as a
trophy! While... while his violation had stopped, his beatings didn't. And she
blamed me. She blamed me for giving her hope for making her promises that I couldn't
follow through on. She blamed me for not being there to protect her. She blamed
me for him. And I understand why...I really do. I wasn't there for two weeks
when this all occurred. I was gone after I promised never to leave her and it's
all my fault! She wouldn't talk to me because I would only hurt her again!
And--And even when she didn't speak to me, I still hurt her! The night after I
planted that seed of curiosity in his mind he followed Allison out to the shed
and broke in and beat her and then stole her notes! I-I never intended
for that! I never intended for any of this! I--" His voice broke off,
restricted by emotion. It finally leaked back in after a while, barely above a
whimper, "I...I just wanted to save her...I just wanted to save
everyone....I just...wanted to save someone....anyone." The tears once
again began to roll down his cheeks as he failed to control the emotion this time.
Jekyll1886:  He
wasn't at all surprised by Marcus's behavior, though he felt for Allison. And
her feelings toward Nicholas were understandable. She blamed him more
for giving her false hope than Marcus for the beatings. But he
couldn't help but see Spinks's point of view as well. After all, wasn't that
what he himself was trying to do here...and at the Society? And the fellow was
eaten up with guilt and remorse. Hardly a life at all, that.
"As do I."
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde once again fell silent, before speaking
again.*
I...I know how you feel...
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Mz.
Hyde's words fell on deaf ears as he continued, "A-After she finished
telling me the truth, she hit me again. She hit me and then left me. I did not
follow. I did not deserve to follow. I went there to stop her
and instead...instead she stopped me. God! God! Why didn't I do my job!"
He pressed his head to his hands, the top hat toppling off his head and rolling
across the floor, "I went back to the organization empty handed. I
couldn't get her to listen... I failed them. I failed her. I could not do one
wretched thing right! My two days--my two chances were up and now...now the
operation was handed off."
Mz.Hyde: I'm
sorry sir, I know how you feel...I really do! But what was Allison working on
that was going to Jekyll1886:  A
tragedy of errors, thought Lewis.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "They
quickly brought in a very important, very powerful member who took charge of
the situation. I was to be his right hand man for I knew the case like no
other..." He looked at the ground and muttered, "I just wish I knew
Allison that well." before continuing, "I quickly brought him up to
speed and he made the decision to initiate a drastic preventative action. Their
plan risked exposing our agency, as it was something that could never be done
discretely in such a short time frame and with so many operatives involved, but
at this point any risk was worth preventing the destruction of the world. After
gathering the necessary materials and personnel we began."
"It was sunset and there were dozens of us. We dressed in our typical
uniform but this time we covered our faces with black scarves to keep our
identities secret....I didn't want Allison to know I was involved with this,
for if she knew she would loath the ground I walked upon, forever."
"As we entered the house, we drugged it's inhabitants with a serum that
would not only knock them out but also affect their memory. They would be out
of the way and in the morning the ordeal would feel like a vague nightmare at
the most. We tossed the entire estate looking for Allison or any of her notes
that might have been hid however neither were present. Gathering outside we
knew there was only one place left, the shed. The leader of this operation
pulled me aside and said "Do you know if she has any notes besides those
in the shed?" I shook my head at this, "Alright then. We need to
confirm this. You and I will go in and interrogate her and scare her into revealing
any other places she might have stored them. I want you to follow my lead on
this and, while I have her distracted, I want you to collect her papers, and
pour the acid, we brought, on her machines. I'll drug her and then carry her
away from the shed before we burn it to the ground." I nodded as it was a
good plan but...I guess that's why he was the new leader of the
operation."
"If all went well then Allison would be forced to start over and hopefully
correct her mistakes in the process. The organization would have her research
to study and determine the best way to prepare society for this world changing
knowledge. While this achieved all the organization's goals, part of me just
hoped that this would finally give her that new beginning she was looking for.
A way to get out from under Marcus's thumb and to make something truly of
herself. I know it was a silly idea but...but I was clinging on to any piece of
hope I could get." He looked at the ground, ashamed.
Mz.Hyde: Go
on...
Jekyll1886:  "A
good plan, in theory," admitted Weir. "Though I wouldn't have gone
with fear." Poor girl'd been through enough. 'Bet it was
counterproductive at best, a catalyst for tragedy at worst. This organization
seems wise in the ways of science, but not of people.''
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
shakes his head, "As the other members encircled the shed, we entered.
Allison was hiding under a bench, shaking with fear. What had I done to her?!
But I could not back out now, I needed to follow through with this not just for
the organization but for the world. The plan was in motion and nothing could
stop it now."
"As I began to collect her papers, my superior questioned her, "Who
have you told about your work?" he asked but Allison denied any knowledge
of her research. 
"Where is your work?" the boss repeated and again she had denied
everything. She was so scared. How did we get there? She was happy--we were
happy and now...now there was only hate and fear in this decrepit shed!
"Is it in here?" The boss looked over at me to see if I had
discovered her work. I had found traces of it and nodded
solemnly back. Allison kept denying everything, fear in her voice. Even as we
ripped the place apart, collecting her work, destroying her machines; she kept
denying everything. Under the floor boards, down in the dust, we found a
complete collection of her work. I called out to the rest of the members,
informing them of our discover...and that was when Allison dropped her act.
That's what finally made her snap. Allison went into a rage,
screaming--lunging herself at us. I had to restrain her until she calmed
down--no not calmed down....until she accepted defeated.
"Now she admits to it." My superior joked and I laughed but it was
not funny. No. I laughed this time because I could not scream. I
could not let myself feel. I could not let my emotions loose...like Allison...
I had to be better than that. I had to take
the high road.
He continued to question her, "Who else knows of this? Do you have other
notes?" But she kept denying everything even though the evidence was in
our hands. Why did she keep lying? Her refusal for cooperation only made us
doubt her words more. We had to be sure she was truthful, so
we began to use harsher tactics.
"Answer our questions or we’ll kill you." He replied calmly. I knew
he would never do this--I wouldn't let him--but it was the only way to protect
her, protect the world. We thought that if she feared for her life enough then
she would do anything to protect it.
It sickened my stomach but I had to help, "NO one will miss you." The
harshness of my words--of my voice ...it was demonic! But if only Allison could
see the pain in my eyes or hear my thoughts that I would miss
her with all my heart, then she would know that I did not mean a word of
it!
"Do you have any other notes?" He asked her again and her answer was
not of denial but instead that they only existed on paper and in her
head." He shook his head trying to refuse the reality of his next
words,""Well then I guess we’ll have to destroy that too then."
He replied and I laughed, for there was no alternative to express...this!"
Scrunching his face up in pain, disgust, despair, and guilt he continued to
trudge through his tale.
"As he injected her with the drug, I whispered an apology, but...but I
don't believe she heard it." His voice cracked, his hat on the floor, and
his face was wet but he had no dignity left to salvage as it had been absent
for years.
"We finished collecting the work and destroying the machines. Finally,
when we had finished, I carried her out of the shed and onto the grass, where I
laid her down. And then...and then I walked away. I could hear the fire
crackling behind me as the shed burned. I could feels the wind rushing past me
as we all dispersed back into the shadows. I could smell corroding metal. But I
couldn't see anything. I didn't want to. How did we get here? How did we get so
far from where we stared?"
When he finally finished, his eyes were red and he seemed decades older.
"That...that was the second time I've spoken of what happened. It doesn't
help. Time doesn't make the pain better it only embeds it into the very fabric
of your being. Speaking doesn't help either...it only reopens the old
wound." He stared past Lewis and Mz. Hyde, his throat convulsing as it
tried to contain an animal noise. He failed.
Jekyll1886:  "If
that's the case..." asked Lewis after a long pause, "then when, pray
tell, did she have a chance to ingest the Jekyll-and-Hyde potion?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
was silent for a long time, the tears streaming down his pale cheeks. When he
finally spoke, his voice was that of a whisper for anything louder was
impossible, "I don't know."
Mz.Hyde: When did Alice first appear?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
internal storm grew and raged on until it could not long be held within his
frail body and burst forth from his lips, "Damn it! I don't know! I
don't know! I left Allison in the grass! I left her
and walked away! She was not found in the morning! Three days later I found her
again! I was returning home and I saw her! I called out to her
but she did not answer. Fearing she was a figment of my grief stricken mind, I
went up to her. My Allison! I thought she had returned from whatever dark
corner of London she had retreated to and I tried to embrace her! But she
pushed me away and swung at me! Again! I caught her arm this time but I also
caught her eyes. They were terrified! They were in pain! They were not her eyes!
I let go and that girl ran off down an alley."
Jekyll1886:  Then
what the Hell did happen?... wondered Weir.
"I see," he said. "When did you encounter her next?"
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
shook his head, "From there it was on and off. No one knew what she was
doing and we tried to keep an eye on her, the organization and I, but she was
so hard to track. One minute she would appear in an old warehouse the next an
abandoned factor on the other side of town. Over the years we started to piece
together what she was doing..." His voice trailed off as his face grew
green, "...but what she was doing was...disgusting."
Mz.Hyde: What was she doing?
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
merely looked down and to the right, then left, then right again, before
flicking his gaze back to Spinks as he began to speak.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "At
first we thought she was rebuilding the machine but then..." He swallowed
hard before uttering his next words, "...but then the bodies stared
turning up. They were in the buildings, the streets, the river. They were often
criminals but occasionally--occasionally they the homeless, the poor, the
desperate. Whoever they were, the organization had great interest in them and I
was charged with collecting them." His stomach lurched at the memories of
picking up the carcasses, burned and tortured. "Please don't ask me to
describe them. Please! I beg of you do not ask me! I do not
know what was done to them and I do not know why the organization wanted
them...or what was left of them. I did not ask and I did not
care to know, for I have had enough of the truth!"
Mz.Hyde: Why?
Jekyll1886:  He'd
suspected as much. A person didn't become an effective torturer without a
stomach-churning amount of practice first, after all.
Hydes... So true to type.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "I
do not know! I do not want to know!" He screamed, burying
his face in his hands.
Jekyll1886:  "I
do," ventured Lewis. "But that's neither here nor there. The
organization has obviously put you through far too much, and you have my
sympathy; you couldn't have known what you were in for. Let me just ask you
this: Did you come here on their behalf, your own, Allison's, or a combination
thereof? Because I do want to help you--and Allison--but
I don't know what their agenda is, what they'd do
with...or to...her--and that's assuming they'd tell you the truth
of their intentions."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
lifted his head in defeat, "I came here for them--the organization, as I
did not know she was involved. They told me someone knew of us and I was sent
to ensure their silence, through what ever means I deemed necessary. I have had
no reason to doubt the organization. They've only tried to help. They've only
tried to make the world a better place. They--"
"Lies." A small voice drifted out from behind Nicholas, it was weak
but filled with emotion. Attached to that voice was a small girl, one which
many had forgotten about in light of recent events. Alice. She had her back
towards them, knees hugged to her chest, and eyes staring unwavering at the
beige walls that make up the corner of her cell.
 Hyde
without a Jekyll: He lifted his head
in defeat, "I came here for them--the organization, as I did not know she
was involved. They told me someone knew of us and I was sent to ensure their
silence, through what ever means I deemed necessary. I have had no reason to
doubt the organization. They've only tried to help. They've only tried to make
the world a better place. They--"
"Lies."
A small voice drifted out from behind Nicholas, it was weak but filled with
emotion. Attached to that voice was a small girl, one which many had forgotten
about in light of recent events. Alice. She had her back towards them, knees
hugged to her chest, and eyes staring unwavering at the beige walls that make
up the corner of her cell.
Mz.Hyde: Alice!
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
did not like the sound of silence the organization had in store for Alice--and,
likely, him. Though he wondered now what Nicholas would do. Weir felt they
could have been--or even could become, depending on Spinks's actions--friends.
These thoughts stopped dead at Alice's word. His head whipped in her direction.
There's life in the old girl yet! He broke into a relieved smile.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Nicholas's
head quickly turned to look at Allison Alice (that
name didn't feel right), "Lies? What reason would I have to li--"
"Lie. Lies. Liar. Because you are liar!" Her voice slowly
grew in volume and intensity from the weak whisper it had started at.
Jekyll1886:  Oh
my. Here it comes, thought Lewis. The floodgates open.
Hm.
Best to let them flow, I suppose. Flush the poison.
"Which parts were lies, Alice?" he asked, coming to stand beside
Mz. Hyde. He looked at her, then back to the prisoner. "We need to
know."
Mz.Hyde: Please Alice.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Nicholas
tried to protest, " None of it wa--"
"Shut up!"Alice yelled her anger dripping from her words,
refusing to turn around,"You lied! She was in the shed that night it burn
to the ground! If you lied about that who else knows what you're lying
about!" He had to be lying right? But what if he wasn't lying? What if it
was all the truth? Alice pushed the repulsive thought out of her head, he had to
be lying. It was the only option.
Mz.Hyde: But Alice....if Allison was in the shed as it
burned down....then how are you here?
Jekyll1886:  Weir
was content to watch the scene play out. These two had history. They needed to
resolve it. And he knew he wasn't Alice's favorite person.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  She
was silent for a long time. When Alice finally spoke her voice small and filled
with fear, "I-I don't know...but I remember her digging out the formula
and drinking it right before..." trailing off the scene played before here
eyes. The cracking of wood. The stinging of fire and smoke. And then...the shed
came down.
Nicholas was silent. He had pulled her from the fire. He had tried
to save her. He had saved her.
Jekyll1886:  Privately,
Lewis wondered whether Alice had any burn marks. That would set the matter
straight. But he doubted she'd ever let him examine her.
Of course, that's assuming Spinks didn't pull her from the fire and that she
didn't have a moment of "F*** it all" later and take the potion
then.''
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  The
air was stale. "I swear on my life she was not in that shed when I
left." Nicholas stated breaking the eerie silence.
This was the last straw. Alice whipped around, her blue eye filled with anger,
fear, despair, and something else; her other eye was dead as ever, "LIER!
I REMEMBER HER IN THAT SHED!"
"If you remember that then how did you get there? Do you remember me
dragging you out?! Do you remember her trying to escape?! Do you remember the
truth?!" Nicholas was done with this denial. He had put his heart, his
soul, his story out there and he would not let this thing crush it...even if it
might be Allison.
Alice closed her mouth. She did not remember, no. She remembered Allison hiding
under the benches, the silver feather men interrogating her, them injecting her
and then...and then it was blank until Allison was digging out the serum with
her bloodied and burnt fingers. Why was everything so sketchy? Why couldn't she
remember everything--anything!
Mz.Hyde: Alice...if she was in the shed...and got out...then you
must have burn marks, right?
Jekyll1886:  "You
said the chemicals you injected her with were meant to cause memory loss,
didn't you?" Lewis asked Nicholas. He looked from him to Alice. "If
that's the case, both things may be possible."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
looked at Mz. Hyde, such an amazing person...why would she waist her time on
her? She was just a...thing. A shadow of Allison--no not even a shadow,
a fraction of a shadow. She looked at Mz. Hyde and it hurt her
deeply. Why? Alice didn't know, but she felt like she at least owed her this.
Alice looked at Mz. Hyde then looked down at her hands and then back,
"Yes." Slowly, she rolled up her sleeves and removed her gloves
revealing scared flesh--burned flesh. The wounds where in all manor of
patterns. Long scars more prevalent followed by small burns that traveled down
hand across her arms, but underlying it all was faint distortion of the
tissues. A discoloring of this that could only be caused by one thing, fire.
These were the hands that suffered, that killed. They caused Alice shame so she
hid them...but she also loved them.
-----------------------------------------------------
Nicholas turned towards Lewis, "Yes, it does but wha--" recognition
lighting up his face, "Oh! You're right! That could have certainly
affected her memory but...it also raises another question. How did she get back
into that shed?"
Mz.Hyde: Those look painful...you can hide them again if
you'd like.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
nods, quickly pulling her sleeves back down so the cover her hands but she
doesn't put the gloves on.
Jekyll1886:  "I'm
guessing either your organization or Marcus, if he was conscious by then.
Unless it was some unknown person, in which case I haven't a clue. All this
assumes that she didn't go back in there by--or for--her own power,
however..." he trailed off, letting the words linger in the air between
them.
Mz.Hyde: However what?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Nicholas
shook his head, he couldn't believe what Lewis was suggesting. It just wasn't possible!
His Allison would never do that! "She would never go back into that shed
out of her own will! Never! I saved her from that fate! She would never go back
in there!"
Jekyll1886:  "The
Allison you once knew, perhaps," he stated. "But what of one who
thought you'd betrayed her? One who knew you didn't save her and had thereby
broken your word? More than that, one who may well have lumped you together
with the organization--and leader--you served, whose lead you followed?" A
pause for effect. "What might that Allison do?" He
looked at Alice. "What might she look like, hmm? What might she think of
you, even now?"
Mz.Hyde: But she's not your Allison anymore!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  His
face became flush with anger, "I KNOW THAT! SHE HASN'T BEEN MY ALLISON FOR
YEARS! For years even before ...this..." His voice trailed off as the
passion flooded out of him, "She's been gone for so long... She--She must
hate me. She must curse the very ground I walk on for what I did to her."
He began to choke up tears threatening to fall, "I betrayed her. I
betrayed so many times and...and now she's gone...and I can't even tell her how
sorry I am..."
Those last words echoed in Alice's mind and I can't even tell her how
sorry I am. How many times had she thought this? How many times did
she just want Allison to come back...just for a moment? To tell her how sorry
she was for hurting her? Every second of every minute of every day! Why hadn't
she come back? Did she hate Alice is that why? Of course that was why. She was
always to blame! She was always the problem! Why did Allison make her suffer
like this? Did she deserve it? Alice thought she was doing right but...but it
was never enough to bring her back. She must deserve it. Right?
Jekyll1886:  "Yes,
you can," Weir stated unequivocally. "I'm going to let you in on a
little secret," he said, his voice hushed but not so much that Alice
couldn't hear. "Two of them, actually. First: As long as the Hyde lives,
the Jekyll's still in there somewhere--assuming they've not been physically
separated, of course. Second: Those who take the potion voluntarily, and don't
do so out of mere scientific curiosity, often have another goal in mind. You
see, to become a Hyde is, in effect, a handy solution for the desperate. You
get to cease to be--or at least, cease to be as you were, with all
that nagging guilt and painful self-awareness. It's a way to die without
actually killing yourself." A pause. "And, honestly, if death is
looking like a good alternative, who cares if you loose a Hyde on the world in
the process? What better tool for vengeance that a fallen angel?"
A longer pause.
"So would go the thinking, anyway."
Mz.Hyde: What if there was a way to talk to her?
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "Even
if what you say is true, how would we even talk to her? Years! I haven't seen
her in years!" Nicholas was skeptical but maybe he just didn't want his
hopes crushed again at seeing his sweet little Allison one last time.
Alice also sat up at this. A chance to see Allison one last time, even if it
was coming from Lewis. But it didn't matter she was willing to risk
anything--everything to see her one last time. "What do we need to
do?" Her voice was determined but her body trembled slightly from fear,
anticipation, excitement, hope, or anger-- Maybe all of them at once.
Jekyll1886:  "Give
her something to live for."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  They
looked at him confused. "She already has something to
live for!" They protested simultaneously. Nicholas thought it was himself
or a life away from Marcus and Alice believed it was the Society and all the
wonderful people there.
Jekyll1886:  "You're
both basing your assumptions on a person you don't know." He turned to
Spinks. "What she wanted in her younger days may not be at all what she
desires now." He addressed Alice, "And what you cherish
is, well, yours." He looked into the distance, at nothing in
particular. "Did you know...coma patients are aware of everything going on
around them, despite all signs to the contrary. When the body is injured, it
has to rest. Souls are the same. She's not gone...just recuperating. Even if
neither of you sees her, she's there. She'll hear you. But if you do want her
back," he said, turning to Alice and Nicholas in turn, "you have to
let go of fear. Stop trying to control the situation or force the outcome. Just
let it go. She'll come back in her own time...when she figures
out what she wants out of life, and is ready to handle it."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  "But
it's been almost 5 years!," Alice protested. Meanwhile Nicholas remained
silent, thinking about what Lewis said.
Jekyll1886:  "And
people have awakened from comas after forty. There's no rushing these things.
In the meantime, live your life. You have one, while so many others
don't. Don't waste the opportunity."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:'  Your
life this was a new concept for Alice and she flinched at the
words. She shouldn't have a life, she didn't deserve one. Allison should be the
one with a life, not her. 
But...what if Catt was right...what if Lewis was right...what if she did get a
life? What if she had one already? What had she been doing with it? 
Hurting people that's what. She had her chance at life and she wasted it on malicious
acts, she didn't deserve it any longer.
Nicholas had very similar thoughts. He had a life before it was destroyed. Now
his life was making up for his past mistakes, saving what was left of Allison.
It was much of a life but it was all he had left. Cleaning up after her, as
some penance for what he had done. Only after he had amended his mistakes could
he finally rest--only after Allison came back could he rest. He was so tired.
Alice spoke, hugging her knees to her chest, "It's already been wasted."
Jekyll1886:  "Are
you ever aware of your own heartbeat, Alice? One gets only so many beats in a
lifetime, and we never know when the last will come. Don't waste any more
regretting those which have already passed."
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
nodded. She was a good person! She could fix things! She could make up for what
she had done! She still had time! ...Right? 
But then again, sometimes the only way to solve a problem is to remove yourself
from the equation. Maybe that was the solution, to remove herself
to prevent any further damage....
No! No that wasn't the solution! She could still fix this!
Jekyll1886:  "Besides,
if we don't return with you, Catt will take not only her hatt but my
head," he half-joked.
Mz.Hyde: He's right ya'know!
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
smiled at this. She did do something right! She had Catt and
Mz. Hyde and hell maybe even Lewis! 
But what if she just hurts them. What if she only causes them to suffer more?
She did hurt Catt what's not to say it won't happen again? 
Alice has that say! She could prevent it from happening again!
Jekyll1886:  Weir
picked up Spinks's hat and handed it to him.
"What will you do?" he asked.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Nicholas
took his hat back but didn't put it on, "You both are so good to her, in a
way I never was." He sighed, "This was going to be
the last straw. If I couldn't convince my superiors that she wasn't a threat,
then I would have had to take her into our custody." He stood up groaning,
"I'm getting to old this. I've seen more than my fair share of the world
and I've had more than my fair share of life." He turned around to look at
Alice, "I don't know who she is any more. She's not my Allison and I don't
think anything I do will her bring back. But you two," He turned back to
look at them, "you two know her. This her."
Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde pokes her head through the bars.*
Alice? Are you ready to come home with us?
Jekyll1886:  "And
you," he added. "It's been a genuine pleasure, Nicholas." He
extended a hand. It was up to Spinks's discretion whether to shake it or use it
to hoist himself up. Weir felt the chap had more than earned the courtesy.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Nicholas
stood up and then shook Lewis's hand, "And you Dr. Weir. Thank you--both
of you for finally allowing me to understand that it was not my job to protect
Allison until she finally returned to her senses, but to protect her until she
could finally have a safe place to call home, with people who love her, and
will look out for her when I no longer can.
It is in my personal opinion to release Allison into your custody but if I do
so I must make some rules very clear." His face grows serious,
"Allison cannot ever pull a stunt like this again. She
cannot ever get on the organization's nerves. She cannot ever become
out of control. It will be your duty to make sure this doesn't happen as I will
no longer be here to protect her from them and they do not know her story like
I do."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Alice looks up at Mz. Hyde, her face full of hope, "Can I come...home?"
Though the word felt foreign on her tongue it somehow felt right.
Jekyll1886:  "I
don't think that will be a problem," said Lewis. "She only did it
this time because she thought my presence at the Society might endanger it
after that organization lad tried to tail me the other night. Now that you've
set the matter straight, I believe we can lay it to rest."
Mz.Hyde: Yeah! You know...with me, and Lewis, and Catt, and
Nex, and Dreamer, and Helen, and Elania, and everyone! We paid your bail and
everything, but I guess if you WANT to stay in a musty, old prison
cell...that's cool too.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
smiled at this, "Good. Now that my job is finally complete I'm going to
take a much needed leave...maybe I'll finally get to see France." He
chuckled to him self and then looked down at the hat in his hand, "I don't
think I'll be needing this anymore but perhaps you could find some use for it,
as you seem to have a find collection of top hats already." He holds out
the organization's iconic hat--a olive branch and nods to Catt's top hat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I...I would like to come home." A grin lights up her face and she
stands.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
chuckled.
"Very true. Thank you," he said, accepting the offer as well as the
topper. "And I'm sure you're going to love France. Paris speaks for
itself, but if you want to relax, Grez is a lovely little artists' colony,
right in the middle of the Fontainebleu Forest."
He took off the hatt and replaced it with Nicholas's.
Catt
Hatter:  *The
Hatt was mildly offended by the gesture, but also understood it's purpose.*
Mz.Hyde: So would we!
*She holds up the key to the cell and puts it in the lock.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
stepped out of the cell, now free from so many cages that once plagued her,
though new chains now bound her but their weights were lighter and she
had friends family to help carry the load.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Nicholas chuckles, "I'll have to keep that in mind! Thank you for the
tip!" He turns and begins leave but stops at the door, "Oh! One last
thing before I go, did Allison ever complete her work? Did she ever finish that
new world?"
Jekyll1886:  Lewis
placed the Hatt on Alice's head. No sense running the risk of anything
ill befalling her on the way home.
"I honestly don't know," he replied, looking to Mz. Hyde and
their new charge for an answer.
Catt
Hatter:  *The
Hatt made a sound uncannily similar to a huff as it was set on Alice's head.*
Mz.Hyde: Well Miss. Alice, how was your first night in
jail? 
*She grinned.*
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
grins, "It was a bit cold...and the food was terrible!"
When the huge hatt encompasses her head it startles her at first but the
familiar smell of Catt quickly calms her fears. Turning to Lewis and Mr. Spinks
she answers the question, "I did...it's in her satchel now but...it didn't
bring Allison back."
Nicholas looks a bit worried at first however he relaxes, "I wouldn't have
expected it to, but in that case I should warn you, then. The scientists at the
organization predicted that if her work was to be completed there was a danger.
If the container that stabilized the tear between the universes was ever
damaged, the consequences would be dire."
Mz.Hyde: Then I guess we'll just have to keep it safe.
Jekyll1886:  Lewis's
eyes widened at the new information and he drew in a soft breath, but then Mz.
Hyde spoke, and her words reassured him.
He nodded his agreement.
And if that so-called Multiverse Guardian is worth a farthing, he'd better
not let that come to pass. Or we will have words. He
had half a mind to speak with him as it was.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  He
smiles, "Please do and..." he hesitates and for the first time all
night he seems... relieved, as though a weight has been lifted and it has. He's
finally found what he's been searching for. Not Allison, not what she could
provide him, but something that only himself could give, "Thank you, for
everything." With that he took his leave.
In the hallway he found a top hat with a silver feather lying on the
ground. Damn kid!, he chuckled to himself as he picked up the hat
and quit the station, walking out into the light of day.
Jekyll1886:  Weir
smiled. Things rarely went so well.
"Shall we?" he asked Mz. Hyde and Alice.
Hyde
without a Jekyll:  Alice
nods, a permanent smile on her face, not caring about the past or the future
but for once just enjoying the moment, "Please."
Mz.Hyde: *She puts Alice's hand in hers.*
Let's go home.
=== Epilogue ===
Jekyll1886:  After
all was said and done, Alice and Catt had been reunited, and Lewis had gone
home, he took a moment to pull a slim device out of its hiding place. He
attached a filigreed, copper-mesh circle to it, gave this a half-turn
clockwise, and spoke.
"Harry?"
A few moments' pause.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind jaunting this data log back? I won't have need of it after
all."
"Not at all. Simply place it on the ground and give me approximately
ninety seconds to lock onto it."
"Thank you." Weir set it down and stepped away.
"No trouble at all."
Eighty-nine seconds later, the last physical evidence of Alice's regrettable
night with Catt ceased to exist in their universe.
== Obtained From ==
Forgiveness
Forgiveness Part 2
Forgiveness Part 3
Category:Main Plot
Category:Forgiveness