In The Fog of London

The Fog

The "party" progressed as well as a reunion between old friends could. The Dr. Henry Jekyll fellow spoke to Kathrine no more that two times after their introduction. The first, occurring when they both went to get a glass of punch in the kitchen and he asked about her life. "So, Miss Hughes, is there a Mister Hughes working back home?" He had said rather nonchalantly, seemingly comfortable asking something relatively personal. "No, sir, I've yet to meet a gentleman who intends on marrying me." She replied. "Ah, well I'm sure you'll meet a nice young man sometime... Do you work?" She responded in the affirmative, explaining that she was a librarian and ran a bookstore. He looked pleased and thanked her for sharing, all the while, wearing that handsome smile that made Kathrine's ears burn. She didn't know why, only that she thought him a very good-looking gentleman and felt comfortable around him. The other time he spoke to her was to bid her good evening when Utterson announced he'd be taking his leave and that Kathrine would be coming with him. A simple, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Hughes." Was enough to warm her heart for the night, and she continued to think about the older man while she clambered into John's cab. "Did you have a good time?" Utterson asked, sounding quite tuckered out from all of the social interaction. Kathrine nodded, "Yes. Everyone was very nice. Jillian and I became good friends, and Enfeild's such a sweet fellow." She mumbled. "Seems like something else is on your mind, Lynn." He prodded, setting the young woman off on quite the tangent. "That Doctor Jekyll man. He's... I can't place it. He's very handsome and so kind and the sound of his voice... Why did Lanyon call his studies balderdash?" She huffed. "Language, Kathrine," Utterson muttered, "Lanyon has his reasons. We've all known each other for years, so we're bound to have our differences." Kathrine sighed forcefully and stared out the window. The fog was thick tonight. Almost thicker than last. It swirled about the cab in great waves that lapped at the side of the carriage like the ocean against a ship. She said nothing for the rest of the trip back to the bookshop and John seemed resigned to her silence, saying nothing either until he dropped her off. "Good night, little Lynnie." He bid her, lowly. "And you, John." She almost whispered in response, walking to the door of her shop and listening to the cab ride away. She sighed, unlocking the door and walking inside. "How uncharacteristic," she grumbled to herself, "very unladylike, Lynnie, next time hold your tongue." She looked out the window and into the fog. "I need a walk." She stated plainly and set her mind on it. She changed out of her lovely little dress and put on some outside clothes, as the chill in the air was harsh enough to require such things. She took down her hair and let her curls fall delicately on her back and over her shoulders, ignoring how wild and frizzy her dark brown locks looked in this state. Once she was ready for her walk, she blew out all the lamps in the shop except one, locked the door behind herself, and was off.
It wasn't long before the little library disappeared from view and the mist closed like a stage curtain behind her. She liked the odd sense of seclusion from the world when she strode through the haze. She felt like she could think when she was among the clouds. As Kathrine walked, she listened to the hum of the city around her and the sound of her footfalls, alone on the street. She thought about the party and the doctors and the way Henry looked so crestfallen, yet determined when Lanyon so readily judged his scientific studies. She wondered why it bothered her so much... She was suddenly pulled from her brooding when she became hyperaware of a second set of steps. She did not know where they were approaching from, nor which direction they were heading. The sound seemed to echo around her and the thick fog obscured her view of her surroundings, causing the sound of the unfamiliar footfalls to be rather disorienting. She slowed her own pace and listened intently to the sound of the approaching stranger. The steps were quick, light, and uneven, like whoever it was walked with a cane or something to that effect. She could hear them getting closer but did not stop walking. Suddenly, and with hardly a warning, the sound of steps rose until Kathrine's body slammed into something - or rather, someone - else of about the same height. She stumbled, righting herself and dusting off her coat. The other seemed unfazed, taking another two steps before halting. This other figure was obviously a man, or was at least dressed like one, yet, his stature was very short. Shorter than any man Kathrine had ever seen. In all fairness, his posture wasn't the best and that may have contributed to his lack of stature. He was just about her height, if not shorter, and even she knew she was rather petite for a woman. He wore a large Inverness coat, a top-hat, and held a cane that looked almost too long for him to properly use. He turned to face her, slowly, his face obscured in the shadow produced by the rim of his hat. "Shouldn't you watch where you're going, you blundering wretch??" He snarled hoarsely, rapidly approaching and holding the silver end of the cane just under her chin. Kathrine's breath caught in her throat and she paled, shocked at the ferocity of the little man's response. "I-I beg your pardon, sir." She whispered, clasping her hands at her chest. The man lowered his cane and took a step back. She could somehow feel his eyes studying her face and then trailing down her body. It made her shudder. The man seemed to relax and doffed his hat in a dramatic bow, "Please forgive me, madam. That certainly was no way to treat such a fine lady." He rumbled less harshly. She could now see his face in the dim light of the lamp they had collided under. The first thing she noted were his irises, dark and black like staring down into a well. You couldn't tell the pupil from the color, but perhaps it was due to the dark of the night, she'd thought. Then his smile, crooked, wide, and wicked with slightly yellowed teeth. It was almost too wide for any normal human, and his canines seemed sharper than a normal person's as well. His hair hung in black ringlets about his shoulders, and his eyebrows were thick and expressive. His sideburns trailed down his strong, square jaw into subtle muttonchops. The rest of his face was pale, with a heavy brow and strong cheekbones framing his features. He looked like a man in his mid twenties, yet his deep-set eyes with accompanying dark bags beneath them seemed to betray some internal struggle that stole away his youth. He unsettled Kathrine, yet fascinated her all the same. "I should be going." She replied curtly, starting off. The man followed, trotting in front of her in order to bar her escape. "Tut-tut, dear, we have yet to be acquainted. I insist you stay for just a moment longer." He spoke through gritted teeth with an odd intensity. This put Kathrine in a state of unease, so she obeyed, not wanting to provoke the man further. "Alright then," She muttered, "I'll stay." The man looked pleased and sidled nearer to her. She fought back the urge to recoil and stood her ground. "Your name, miss?" He asked with a melodic intonation. She'd hoped she wouldn't have to tell him first, but gave in without a fuss. "Kathrine Hughes, sir." She breathed, casting her eyes low, as to avoid looking at him. "How quaint," He purred, "Such a lovely name, madam." She ignored his attempt at flattery and raised her eyes to look into his with an air of defiance, "And your name, sir?" She asked, her voice firm and her face stony. The man frowned and tossed his cane in his hand once or twice before putting his hat back on. "Hyde. Mister Edward Hyde." He growled, his face hidden once again by the darkness. "It's a pleasure." Kathrine droned without the slightest intention of sounding sincere before giving a stiff, halfhearted curtsy. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Hughes. And now, I shall know you." He grumbled ominously. This, once again, put Kathrine off, and her aggression towards the odd man shifted into anxiety. "Likewise. Now, I shall take my leave. Good evening." She spoke hastily and stepped around him, heading back in the direction of the shop. "Tread wisely, dear!" He called after her, and she quickened her pace, rushing to get back home and safe behind a locked door. As she put more distance between herself and this 'Mister Hyde', she became conscious of a wave of emotion that washed over her; fear, disgust, shock, and a mix of such dreadful things. She had never beheld a man so inexplicably foul. He had no scars, no deformities, no noticeable malformation, and yet she felt as if she were gazing upon the face of a demon. She shook the feeling of his eyes on her off as if it were a cobweb. She had the most peculiar feeling that those eyes peered right into her very soul and somehow read her life as if she were a book in her shop. She hated even the mere thought of him knowing her name, or worse still, the mental image of Hyde following her home to her workplace and knowing where she took refuge. Her head swam with scenarios and feelings and unexplainable terrors beyond her comprehension. All the while she practically ran until she reached the storefront. She hurriedly unlocked the door, flung it open, and nearly leapt over the threshold before slamming the door shut and locking it. Kathrine turned all of the lamps back on after that, not wanting any part of her store to harbor the slightest sliver of darkness where the demon man could lurk. She made sure her front door was locked three times before going up to her flat above the store and changing into her nightgown and locking her bedroom door as well. Only then could she sleep soundly, and still she had trouble doing even that.