In The Fog of London

The Visitor

Kathrine watched John's cab drive away with worry in her heart. She wondered what had upset him so much to cause him to depart so abruptly. She had only just then remembered her odd incident in the fog with the little man and kicked herself for not mentioning it to him, but she realized she would rather not add any more troubles to Utterson's plate if she could help it, so not bringing it up was probably for the best. She unlocked her shop and walked in, lighting some lamps, as it was starting to get a bit dark. She didn't expect anyone else to be in, as her closed sign had been up all day and she didn't really want to turn it back around. "If anyone's desperate for books, though," she mumbled to herself, "the door's unlocked."
Kathrine had nearly drifted off to sleep while reading a botanical studies book when the bell above the door rang out, bringing her out of her stupor with a start. Her vision was blurred, so she couldn't quite make out the figure that was standing at the door. "H-how can I help you?" She piped a bit frantically as she rubbed her eyes. When she lifted her hands from her lids, she was startled to find the figure that once stood at the door, now loomed at the counter and leaned uncomfortably close to her. She yelped and nearly fell back out of her chair before steadying herself and placing a hand over her heart. That was the first shock, the second came when she realized who this visitor was; the odd, rude little man by the name of Hyde that she'd just been thinking about encountering."Evening, miss. It's been some time, 'asn't it?" He hissed through his uncomfortably wide grin, his horridly familiar voice grating on her ears. Kathrine felt her jaw set and her face contort slightly, so she fixed it as soon as she could, "Evening... Sir," she muttered, "what brings you in?" She scooted away from him, shifting in her seat under his gaze. "Just thought I'd pop by... See if you're still alone." Hyde took off his hat as set it on the counter and she frowned at him. "Whatever could you mean by that, sir?" She questioned bitingly, causing the man to chuckle at her tone, "Ahuhuh.. Ah, nothing that should concern you. I only mean to jest at your lonesome circumstance." Kathrine huffed, standing up in a most agitated manner. "Now, I think that's enough, sir. I'm afraid we're closed and you'll have to leave." She snapped, rushing around the counter to confront him, gesturing sharply toward the door with a pointed finger. "I think not. I'm comfortable right where I am." He growled deeply with a sense of sinister satisfaction that he'd gotten her to break composure. Though Kathrine had stayed a ways away from him before, she now approached, her face reddening with anger. "I beg your pardon??" She shrilled and, in an instant, Edward Hyde had used the handle of his cane to roughly pull her right knee forward, causing her balance to fail and her legs to buckle beneath her, bringing her down to her knees. He'd been waiting for her to leave the safety of the counter and approach him. Now he raised his leg and placed his shin on her shoulder to stop her from standing. "Then beg." He thundered, grabbing her face roughly and turning it up to face him. The redness flushed from Kathrine's cheeks then. She lost all the boldness she had in her body and her blood flowed cold as ice. She felt weak, like this action had drained her of all strength. She hoped so desperately that someone would see, that someone would walk in suddenly, that John would barge in and save her, but no one came. It was so fast, she though as her eyes welled up, how did he do that so fast?? Like I was but a toy so easily brought to the floor! She winced at the weight he put on her shoulder and tried to look everywhere but his face or directly in front of her. "You seemed so valorous before, Lynnie. What a paltry little charade you put on." He sneered, emphasizing the 'P's in each word, nearly spitting on her in the process. She was about to ask him why he called her that, having not remembered telling him her middle name, but she decided against it, not wanting to incite any more rage from this evil man. "You know, at first, I wondered why the doctor so readily invited you into his home, but now I see it," Hyde spoke breathily, looking her over, "such a pretty young thing like you alone in a big city like London. Such a dangerous situation for a little flower like yourself to be in with evil men lurking about." "Much like y-yourself?" She retorted in a small, shaky voice. It surprised Edward how she'd recovered so quickly, although she sounded almost more pathetic than if she hadn't spoken at all. "Smart girl." He rumbled, "Catching on quickly for such a naive little tart. You're very lucky I haven't clubbed you to death." Those last words shocked her. He had spoken them so freely, as if engaged in casual conversation. He slowly lifted his leg off of her shoulder, but held onto her face with a vice-like grip. She didn't dare stand up. "Why haven't you then..?" Kathrine asked in a broken whisper. Edward Hyde stared at her for a long while. His smile had faded and she could see the muscles in his face twitch. She saw his jaw set and a look of pain, and almost panic, flash across his face for the faintest moment. She could tell he was thinking, mulling over his options, while also being on the verge of hysterics. She could see murder in his eyes and it frightened her. That chilling look of hatred on his face made her think about the dreams she always woke from in the early hours of the morning. The dreams she could never remember but always left her with a sick feeling of unease, of disturbance. Hyde parted his lips as if he were about to speak, but clenched his teeth, grinding them harshly. "You interest me." He snarled, almost as if forcing the words out. She could somehow tell he was lying, or at least, not telling her the full truth. "You..." He shut his eyes tightly and she could see his pale face reddening and a large vein ran up the center of his forehead. "I'd like to kill you. I'd like to watch you bleed. But I'm afraid that will have to wait." He blurted out the words as if he were full to bursting with them before casting her face to the side, causing her to fall on her hands, and before she could get up, she heard the bell, and he was gone.
Kathrine stared at her bruised knees all night. She let her mind and heart race as she stared into nothing, replaying what had happened over and over in her mind. She didn't know how exactly to feel and, as a result, found herself wallowing in apathy. She didn't know when she'd fallen asleep that night, but she remembered having a dream. The first, since she'd moved to London.

Kathrine stood in front of Henry Jekyll's home. The gardenias were not blooming. They were not there at all. In their place were twisting brambles that clawed at the home's clean facade with animalistic ferocity. She reached out to touch the front door's handle, and found it covered in blood. The floor beneath her seemed to disappear, and she heard Henry's voice saying what Hyde had hours earlier, "You interest me." Before she felt icy hands wrap around her neck and then-

Kathrine woke in a cold sweat at the same time she always did. She clutched at her throat, her eyes wide and searching the darkness for any remnant of the terror she'd had. She suddenly became aware of the soreness in her face and knees, and she groaned as she laid back down in her bed. It only occurred to her then that Hyde had mentioned the doctor. I so hope that man hasn't harmed poor Henry. She didn't want to get up, she didn't want to go to work, but she did anyway. She hated feeling helpless, so she put on her tough exterior as she always did when faced with adversity. She put on a long dress and bloomers to cover up her bruises, and made sure she had no marks on her face before getting entirely ready. She set a kettle of water to boil, made herself food, and made her way out of her small kitchen and down to the shop to find sunlight streaming into the windows

and a letter at the door.