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Revelation of a Tortured Soul...
Henry spent the next two weeks following his night with Lucy locked in his laboratory with nothing but Hyde's haunting voice and horrible nightmares. He had been sleeping on the floor beneath his table...wrapped in his other half's massive fur cloak Each night, without fail, he awoke repeatedly in a pool of sweat and tears, either screaming from a tremendous fear or crying from severe heartache.
He was left alone during most of his period of seclusion...but towards the end of the second week, his best friend and lawyer, John Utterson, finally felt the need to intervene and bring him back to the world. He arrived at Henry's home and began banging on the door...
"Mr. Utterson..."
"Where is the doctor??"
"He's in his laboratory but--"
"Yes, I know..he's not to be disturbed. Well, I'm sorry, Poole, but I must try to reach him."
"Good luck."
John ran angrily down the steps towards the laboratory and threw his weight against the door, shouting for Henry as he did so...
"Henry!! Let me in..." Only it wasn't Henry who he would encounter. The door swung open and he charged in, shouting still, "Damn it man! What are you doing?"
"John, John...why are you shouting?" he whispered...
"What do you mean, why am I shouting...Henry, in God's sweet name, what the hell is happening to you?" Henry laughed. "I hardly think this is something to laugh over."
"What brings you here this evening, old friend?"
"I've come to stop this madness before it consumes you completely!!" John circled the chair until he stood over him, "When you first began your experimenting period, I left you alone, Henry. You wanted to know nothing but your work, and I respected that. But ever since Emma was raped, you've gone from us all. Have you forgotten about those of us who care?? Myself, Sir Danvers...and Emma. What about Emma, Henry? Other than your father, she was your life." he growled at him and rose to his feet...
"Why are you telling me all this...garbage? That what it is, John, pure trash. Do you honestly think I care who cares about that mindless twit?"
"Who the hell..."
"I was wondering when you'd realize that it wasn't Dr. Jekyll you were pouring your pathetic heart out to." John walked over to the lamp to brighten the room in hopes that it would reveal the stranger's identity. Hyde was close behind and the moment John turned around, he grabbed at the throat, "Boo!!"
"What are you doing..."
"I've got some startling news for you, Mr. Utterson. Dr. Jekyll has become involved with something that he will never be able to escape. Neither you...nor Emma can save him so do yourselves a favor...stop wasting your time and just leave us alone." He loosened his grip and John fell to the ground.
"Who...are you?"
"I am the doctor's assistant, Edward Hyde. How do you do, sir?" he courtsied...
"I wasn't aware he hired an assistant."
"Well, surprise! Here I am. Now leave."
"Do you have anything to do with his disappearance?" Hyde turned on him fiercely...
"Are you that blind, fool?!? Can't you see the face of the man standing before you??? Here...let me show you..." Hyde crawled over to him and put his face directly in front of John's. His hot breath hit John like a gust of wind...he couldn't speak, "Aren't I stunning?"
"H-henry?"
"What an observant fellow you are, John. We share a startling likeness, wouldn't you say?"
"You're insane!!! How the hell is this supposed to save your father??"
"My father?"
"You started out on this to save your father Henry...and now look what's happened to you."
"Don't call me Henry...and that man is not my father! I didn't start this! You will never understand what has happened here John!!"
"Oh I understand completely, Dr. Jekyll. You're a drug addict and you have totally lost touch with reality..."
"Stop calling me Dr. Jekyll!!!!!" Hyde screamed at the top of his lungs and went after him. He ran around the table and tried to get out to the street but the door had slammed and locked behind him when he entered earlier. Edward stopped when he saw him struggling with the handle, "Are you panicking yet, Johnny boy?" He slid over the top of the table and tackled John. He pounded on John with every ounce of strength he possessed. He rose to his feet and kicked him in the stomach, adding to his already enormous amounts of pain, "Henry Jekyll!! Enough with this stupidity, man...trying to have your little friends save you won't ever work!!!!!!" He stormed over to the door and flung it open with one hand. He ran up the steps and out into the middle of the street laughing and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Dr. Jekyll...I am in control!!!" he tore open his shirt and dropped to his knees, "You will never win this game!! Never."
Within seconds, people had fled to their windows to see what was causing the scene in the street below. They gazed down upon this derranged man throwing a hysterical fit...he was lost somewhere inbetween laughter and tears...both sides clearly showing through as bright as the moon in the sky. But one final transformation at that point would be his downfall. Sure enough...just as a police officer slowly approached him from behind, Hyde let out such a fierce roar that the townspeople could feel the tremors surge through their bodies. His fingers clawed at the cobblestone street...stinging....he flipped over on his back and went into convulsions...right before the eyes of everyone around him. The police officer stood back and watched the spectacle in amazement and horror. Minutes later, nothing but the body of a trembling, broken man lay on the cold ground. Officer Brainard approached him very slowly. As Henry heard his footsteps he jumped and tried to pick himself off the ground...
"Don't...move..."
"What's going on??" muttered a panic stricken Dr. Jekyll...
"You're a real nut case, ya' know that fella?" he spoke with a slight Irish accent. He went to grab Henry but he pushed his hand away...
"What am I doing here..."
"You've just had a nice little fit in the middle 'a the street. I think it best you come with me, sir." Just then, John appeared..his face covered in his own blood and clutching his side...
"John!! What's happened to you??" He looked down upon him and whispered.
"Take this man away from here...now...he's dangerous."
"What are you saying? John..." he mumbled, sounding heartbroken and betrayed. The police officer grabbed him by his arm and pulled him to his feet. He struggled, but he was too weak to break free of this man's hold so he did what he was told...as the officer fiddled with the cuffs in order to restrain Henry's hands...
"Go with him Henry...this is the only way you can be helped..."
"Why are you doing this..." he tried to fight the tears. John approached him slowly, took his face in his hands and whispered...
"Look at me, Henry...you did this."
"No, John..." the tears began to trickle from his eyes, "I...would never..hurt you...that wasn't me...it was--" Officer Brainard interrupted...
"Alrighty, enough small talk, I've got to take this man down to hospital where he belongs...along with the other sickos...come along..." He escorted Dr. Jekyll over to his wagon and threw him in, "Sit tight now, we'll be there in no time..."
Within fifteen minutes, they arrived at the hospital. Officer Brainard
pulled him down and brought him inside. The first person they encountered
was Dr.
Slusar, a slightly older man graced with astounding intelligence and
a kind heart who had bared witness to Dr. Jekyll's many visits with his
father. When he saw Henry being escorted in by a policemen, he was shocked...
"Dr. Jekyll? What's happened to you?"
"Dr. Jekyll? Eh, so this is the great Dr. Jekyll...not exactly what one would picture, now is it?"
"This is unbelievable...what is this all about?"
"Well, it seems ya' friend here had a little altercation with...ehem...himself...in the middle of the street a lil' while ago. I think ye' should take a look at 'im."
"I most certainly will." Officer Brainard removed the uncomfortable cuffs from Henry's wrists, tipped his hat and was on his way. "Henry, what was that man talking about?"
"Christopher, how is my father?"
"In the same condition he was when you saw him last...but tell me what's going on." He took him by the arm and escorted into a room further down the hallway...closing the door behind them. Henry fell back into a chair and stared off into the distance...
"My life has been seriously altered, Dr. Slusar..."
"How do you mean?"
"My main purpose in life ever since father has taken ill has been to develop a cure..."
"I'm aware of that...but what--"
"Let...me finish..." he caught himself before he raised his voice even further, "I have developed a formula that will separate the good and evil deep in the soul of a human being..."
"Dear God, Henry..."
"But...I needed to find some way to experiment with the drug to see if it did, in fact, work. It was supposed to destroy the evil within...but..."
"But what, Dr. Jekyll?"
"Instead of disappearing, it surfaced...bringing with it a whole new hell of it's own..." Dr. Slusar stared at him with a look of confusion, "I tried this drug on myself...end result...Edward Hyde."
"That name sounds familiar..."
"Of course it does!! He's the madman who's completely destroyed everything in his path. It was he who killed Lord Glossop...it was he who killed Lady Beconsfield...it was all his doing..."
"How do you know all his??" He rose from his seat and went to the doctor...
"Because I am Edward Hyde, Christopher. He lives in me...we are one in the same. Look in my eyes...can't you see?" Dr. Slusar stared at him with a look of pure terror...
"I can see something there, Henry...you've gone mad..." he tried to reason with him...he tried to get Henry to admit that he was making this story up, "There is no way that this could be possible, Dr. Jekyll. It's nothing but a mere hallucination due to severe exhaustion..."
"But it is possible...I've just lost all self control...it's like an addiction, Christopher. I can feel his energy pulsing through my veins. Look, can you deny that you said his name is familiar?? He's being hunted like the animal that he is..he does exist..."
"I've heard the name and he does exist...but he is not in you, Henry!! There's not an ounce of evil in your body."
"There is a dark side to every man, Dr. Slusar. I've merely set mine free...you have to believe me...I'm not crazy."
"Dr. Jekyll, if this story of yours is true, what keeps him from surfacing now? Right here, at this very moment??"
"He does it to torture me. He won't give me the satisfaction of letting you see the truth." There was a long silence between them before Dr. Slusar spoke...
"I think I should leave you now. Try to get some rest. You'll most likely be expected to explain your behavior to the board of governors tomorrow. You'll need all the energy you can get."
"I forgot what it was to sleep..."
"I suggest you try to remember. Goodnight Dr. Jekyll...and God bless
you..."