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The night seemed never-ending...he sat up and watched Emma as she slept.
It occured to him that it was about time to contact Sir Danvers to inform
him of his daughter's condition, even though it was so late. Exactly
how he would tell him this horrible news was not decided yet. He slowly
removed
his arm from beneath Emma's head and slid to the side of the bed. He
swung his legs over and went to the cabinets by the door. The first thing
he had
to do was change his clothes. The pants he had been wearing were soiled
with blood and dirt. He changed into a clean pair of slacks and a white
shirt,
pulled his long, black hair back into a fairly neat pony tail and tried
to find another pair of shoes since the one's he'd been wearing were completely
ruined. Before leaving, he went to Emma's side and gently awoke her
to let her know that he was leaving for her father,
"Sweetheart...how are you feeling?" he whispered wearing a soft smile...
"Oh Henry..." she mumbled, barely understandable...
"I know it hurts. But I promise you'll feel better soon. Listen, I have to tell your father what's happened. I'll be--"
"No, Henry...please, he's out there...I don't want him to hurt you, too."
"Shh, darling...he won't hurt me." She began to whimper like a small child, "Oh no, don't cry Emma."
"I'm so scared..."
"I know you are, but you have to believe me. I will be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, love...I'm sure. Poole will be waiting outside the door if you
need anything, alright? I'll be back as soon as I can. Go back to sleep."
He bent
down and gently kissed her severely swollen lips, shuddering as he
touched them. He went to the door and turned to look at her once more before
he
made his way out onto the dark streets to find Sir Danvers. As he made
his way down the grand staircase, he stopped Poole...
"Let me apologize for my rudeness earlier this evening. It was uncalled for."
"No need to worry, doctor. I understand you're concerned about Emma."
"I know you do. I'm out to go fetch Sir Danvers. Please stay close by my room just in case she needs help."
"Of course, sir."
"Thank you." Dr. Jekyll opened the large front door and made his way
down the steps. He walked, still with a slight limp...his ankle was sore,
but
much better. During his walk to the Carew home, Dr. Jekyll was given
quite a large amount of time alone with his thoughts, "Why did she have
to turn
around and come back? This would've never happened. What will I tell
her father? How do I say such things to this man? God...grant me the strength
to do this."
For the past few months, Edward Hyde had shown his face more times than
Dr. Jekyll wished to remember. He would inject himself and await Hyde's
arrival...he would make his appearance and then venture out onto the
streets in search for a new victim. When his experiments began, he merely
wished to prove his theory that a man could, in fact, be separated
into two beings...good and evil....and he had proved his theory to be true...but
he
had lost all self control...he didn't know when to stop, "He can emerge
on his own now...the drug is no longer needed...what have I done?" He
walked for quite some time and he finally reached the Carew home. He
went to the door...hesitating before he began pounding. Within seconds,
the
lights went on in the windows...he could hear footsteps heading towards
him. The door was flung open by Sir Danvers Carew himself...
"What is it--Henry Jekyll?"
"I'm so sorry to disturb you at this hour of the night, Sir Danvers, but something's happened to Emma."
"She's upstairs, Henry."
"No, she's at my home. She's been hurt."
"What are you talking about? I thought she had come home! Goodness, I must've fallen asleep...what's happened Henry??"
"I was feeling ill earlier this evening when she came by...I had sent
her home because I didn't want her to catch it...and...she left...but she
came
back..and she went into my laboratory. Some madman had broken in and
attacked her. She's very sick." A look of horror crossed Danver Carew's
face as he heard Henry Jekyll tell him that his precious daughter had
been harmed.
"Oh my God, Henry!"
"Come, I'll take you to her." Henry walked next to Sir Danvers with
his arm around his shoulder explaining the entire situation and trying
his best to
comfort him...they finally arrived at his home, "I have to tell you...she
looks terrible."
"Just bring me up to her." Henry opened the door and led him up the stairs to his room. He slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside,
"She's sleeping, try your best to stay quiet." He opened the door wider and led Sir Danvers inside, his heart breaking at the sight of his daughter.
"My little girl...what has he done to you?" He went to her side and took Emma's limp hand in his, "God help whoever did this. Henry..."
"She'll be alright. She just needs to rest. I don't think it wise to move her just yet."
"She's safe here." Henry didn't answer at first...he knew that he could
transform into Hyde at anytime, but the truth was that Emma was extremely
ill
and if she was moved, the bleeding would start again...
"Yes, she's safe where she is...and I'm always close by. Sir Danvers..."
he walked up behind him and placed his hand on his shoulder, "If you like,
you can stay here with us." Carew couldn't take his eyes away from
his daughter's bruised and swollen face...
"Oh Henry, no...I couldn't impose anymore...you've done enough for us already. But would you mind terribly if I stayed a bit longer?"
"Of course not. I'll tell Poole to make us some tea."
"No..no need for that...I'm fine."
"I'll leave you alone with her. I'll be right outside."
"Thank you, Henry." Dr. Jekyll took one last look before leaving the room. As he closed the door behind him...
"Oh my Emma...my precious girl..." he went to touch her face with his fingertips and as he did so, her eyes slowly opened...
"Daddy?"
"Yes darling, I'm here. Henry told me what has happened. Are you in much pain?" She closed her eyes and whispered...
"Yes...but Henry saved me."
"I know he did. God bless his soul."
Henry cursed himself when he heard Sir Danvers say those words, "God
help my soul...if you only knew what lies behind these eyes..."
"Emma, who did this to you?"
"He's crazy..."
"What is his name? Do you know his name?"
"Hyde...Edward Hyde."
"What did he look like, Emma?"
"He was a big man...tall and muscular...his eyes, father..." He could
sense she was gradually becoming more and more distraught as she tried
to
explain...
"Shh, it's alright...you don't have to talk about this now. Relax..."
"I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have--"
"No, you've done nothing wrong, Emma..." He brushed the hair away from her face, "You've done nothing wrong..."
"I've upset you." He tried to control his tears and smile through his heartache as he listened to his daughter speak...
"Emma, what matters now is that you're alive. This horrible pain you're
feeling will soon fade away and these marks will vanish before you know
it.
But you mustn't let them scar you inside...this man will be found and
arrested for what he's done...and you will never have to worry about him
harming you again."
"I hope so, father..."
"I know it will be."
Sir Danvers waited until Emma had fallen asleep again before leaving
her bedside. He closed the door behind him and to his right, at the end
of the hall,
was Dr. Jekyll, sitting in a chair, his head hanging forward as he
was beginning to doze off. He walked over to him and patted his shoulder,
"Henry."
He jumped at his touch, thinking something was wrong...
"Is Emma alright?"
"Yes, she's sleeping. It looks to me that you should lie down. When was the last time you actually slept?"
"I don't remember."
"I'll be going now. Tomorrow morning I'll have one of the maids pull together a few of her things and I'll bring them by."
"That would be wonderful. Sir Danvers, how will you get home?"
"The way I came."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I can make it."
"Is there anything I can do for you before you leave?"
"Just look after her, Henry. Make sure she gets well. Her life is your responsibility."
"And I'll protect it with all my heart and soul, Sir Danvers, good night."
"Goodnight Henry...and thank you." He shook Henry's hand and was on his way.
Henry closed the door after watching Danvers disappear into the darkness.
He didn't think it safe to let him walk all alone at this hour of the night,
but
he apparently needed time alone to think..."Thinking...all I ever
do anymore is think." He knew he should go upstairs and stay by Emma
but he
was scared...scared at the thought that Hyde could emerge at any given
moment and perhaps finish the job and kill her. But he had to overcome
his
fear. He walked up the stairs and went inside his room. He removed
his shoes and crawled on his bed...quiet and slow enough so that it wouldn't
wake her. He rested his aching body down beside hers as close as he
could without touching any of her sensitive injuries...closed his eyes
and slept.
The most horrible night of his life had passed...he...Hyde had raped
Emma, battering her body to unrecognizable lengths and he had been left
to find
her and care for her broken body. Henry awoke early the next morning
feeling somewhat rested after only a few hours sleep. He turned over on
his
side facing Emma. The swelling on her face had gone down slightly,
but the bruises were much darker. He softly pulled the sheet down to expose
her
neck and shoulders. He peeled away the coverings which protected the
bite marks...they were starting to heal due to the medication he had put
on them
the night before. He had to pull the sheet down further in order to
check the bruises on her torso..."Please don't wake up." He removed the
sheet...there they were...more of Hyde's markings. He gently touched
them with his fingertips, praying that she would not wake up to find him
staring at her naked body. Henry silently prayed for forgiveness...from
both God above and the woman he so deeply loved. He bent down and kissed
her cool bare skin with his warm lips.."I'm sorry."