In The Fog of London

The Apparition

Kathrine frowned at the comment. "I just visited him yesterday, what could he want now?" She muttered almost bitingly. Utterson, surprised at her, took Kathrine's hands in his. "Listen, Lynn, I don't know. I'm just worried for him." He hissed urgently. Kathrine felt a lump in her throat. "He was busy last time. He looked so ill and pale, I.. I wouldn't know what to do if he asked me to help. I'm no doctor or close friend or anything! I'm just a girl who runs a bookstore! I don't know what he sees in me and why! Oh, Utterson..!" She broke down then, crushed by the weight of it all. John held her close trying to comfort his poor sister. "Alright, Lynnie, alright... You don't have to go. It's okay, I know it's been so hard on you with all of this. Don't beat yourself down about it." He sighed, feeling her slowly start to compose herself. "I'll take care of it."
After short while, Kathrine seemed calm enough to be left alone and Utterson bid her adieu, telling her once again that he would take care of the situation. For the rest of the day, Kathrine kept her store closed, opting to stay inside and lay in bed, feeling under the weather herself.

John Utterson's day was not so peaceful, however, as it was full of stress and anxiety over those close to him, especially Harry and Lynn. Later in the night, Utterson was visited by Poole, who reported alleged foul play at the Jekyll estate. After breaking into Jekyll's lab, they found the body of Hyde, contorted and clutching a vial which was assumed to be poison. Struck with horror and shock, Utterson needed a moment to collect himself and go over the entire situation. The body was taken away, a police report was filed, but Hyde had been so hated that no one even had the desire to touch him after his death. Burial preparations were made immediately. There would be no funeral and the body was put in a wooden coffin almost immediately after it had been taken from Jekyll's cabinet. John was still distressed, however, as Henry's disappearance was still fresh in his mind.

About a week after the death of Hyde, Utterson visited Kathrine's shop to report the remarkable passing of the felon that had terrorized the city of London for long enough. Kathrine prodded for as much information as she could, getting the whole story, along with Utterson's personal thoughts on the whole endeavor. After all was said and done, John remarked, "Poole's had his body buried the day before yesterday without a ceremony or anything. Wretched man never knew anyone who liked him, so why waste time and money on a funeral. We found the undertaker had already closed the coffin by the time we came to pick it up, but no one complained. That horrible face of his didn't deserve to see the light of day again, even after death." The two of them shared their moment of peace and relief, mulling over everything that had happened within the short span. "John," Kathrine piped after a short silence, "wh-what of Henry? Where has he gone?" Utterson looked grave and cast his eyes to the hardwood floor of the shop. "I'm... Not sure. I assume he'd gone off for a time to escape Hyde, but where to is unknown to me. I do hope he returns." Kathrine nodded along, "Likewise." She replied. The two continued to talk and enjoy one another's company until morning became evening. Once the darkness had covered London like a wool quilt, Utterson took his leave and bid Kathrine good night and sweet dreams. She took to her flat after he'd gone, starting to make some tea and change into her night shift. Suddenly, she heard a small jingling sound from down in her shop. I thought I locked that door? Perhaps John has forgotten something... She didn't bother to go down if it was Utterson, as he knew his way around her shop well enough. She listened to the steps pace around the bottom floor before slowly treading up the stairs. Oh, what could he want now? She thought amusedly, rolling her eyes as she made her way to the door at the top of the stairwell. She placed her hand on the doorknob and suddenly got a sinking feeling. Ignoring it, she turned the handle and pulled open the door. Kathrine froze. She was faced with a dead man. His visage pale and his eyes wild and black, just as alive as he had been the last night they'd spent together. "Oh, sweet Lynnie.." The apparent apparition rasped, "I've gotten myself into quite the scrap, haven't I? As well as a pinewood box, it seems." He added hoarsely. Kathrine was unable to move, unable to utter a word. She felt faint, thinking she was being haunted by this demon beyond the grave. Gravity melted away and she saw darkness closing in on her vision before the feeling of falling set in...