In The Fog of London

The Pact

The sun rose, glittering off of fresh white snow and frost creeping across window glass as it reached over the horizon and flooded the city of London with golden light. Never had Henry Jekyll ever felt more at peace since he begun his downward spiral, and in the depths of his turmoil he was smiled upon by an angel and held in her arms. He dreamt of her often since their second meeting over tea, and although he hardly thought to spare her feelings at first, he grew much too fond of her to let her go, even if it was to her detriment. Now, however, he felt responsible, not just for her as a lover, but also responsible for her pain. She'd been untouched by such trauma; sheltered, coddled, pure and clean as the white snow that veiled the city that morning like a bride. It was only until he'd met her in the form of Hyde that she grew fearful of the world and of what lie hidden in the dark. Now, in a clear state of mind, the two parts of this man agreed that something monumental must be done. There must be a way to settle the doctor and domesticate the beast within him.

Kathrine awoke to the streams of sunlight bathing her room in a warm glow. She was alone, drawn further out of sleep when she realized her bed lacked a second body. She sat up and searched her room with her eyes. She saw the desk with the case and journal still on its surface, she saw her bathroom door was open and it was dark within, she heard nothing. Oh no, oh no where is he?? She thought frantically, slipping out of bed in her nightgown and wrapping herself in a shawl. The shop downstairs was just as empty, which drove her to even further distress. Had she not missed the note set on the counter, she might not've become so overwhelmed, but alas, she whipped back upstairs and hurriedly got dressed, putting her shoes on the wrong feet at first and not even bothering to lace them up. She hadn't even processed the sound of the bell over the door before she'd already flown back down into the shop, tumbling into the arms of a familiar guest. "Woah there, Lynn! What's got you so excited?" Utterson exclaimed, steadying the little woman. "J-John! O-oh, John, I..." Kathrine nearly let it slip, she was surprised that he'd gotten in, but assumed whoever left must've not locked the door back up. "I slept in! Later than usual, I admit. I feel a bit rushed to start the day I suppose!" She explained hurriedly, not entirely lying. "Rushed? You look frenzied... Is there something wrong, Kathrine?" John prodded, tilting his head at Kathrine quizzically. "I'm fine, John.. What brings you in today?" She huffed, finally calming herself and catching her breath. "I just wanted to visit you, check in. I've been told-" Something caught the lawyer's eye on the countertop and he took it while Kathrine was distracted fixing herself up some. The object was a small note written in a familiar hand, but John couldn't place whose hand it was.

Good morning, Lynnie!
I've gone out, but do not worry yourself, my dear, I am not in any danger and should keep myself out of it. I will try to be back before noon, if not, then perhaps I'll find my way back tonight. Either way, I will return, Lord willing.

- Your undeserving love

"I've been told by Poole that you visited the house... Kathrine, What's this?" Utterson's voice was flat and calm, nearly unreadable by Kathrine, who looked at him confused. "What's what?" She asked and he handed her the note. She paled subtly, pressing her lips together to hide their lack of color. "Kathrine, are you not telling me something? I know you're grown, but I am your brother as well as your friend. I can't pretend that you haven't been distant lately." John sounded more worried than his stern expression suggested. It was true she'd been distant, but only because of how busy she'd been. And he can't write off his own isolation. After Hyde faked his death, he was reclusive too. "I-I know, I know. I'm sorry. But, John, I haven't seen much of you either!" She attempted to lead Utterson away from the topic of the note with this new stream of thought. "I'll admit that I've been busy, and I apologize for my absence, but that's beside the point," Damn. "you have a partner??" He didn't seem upset, just shocked. "I-... Well, yes." Kathrine admitted, folding up the letter and putting it in her sleeve, "I do. A-and I just didn't want to tell you or mother and father yet because I'm not sure if he's the man I want to marry!" She quickly made up an excuse, taking John by the hand. "I was planning on telling you! He's just.. Awfully shy a-and, well... Yes. That's it." The two were locked in a contest of silence. Utterson, with his mental gears turning as he tried to figure out a number of things, especially why Kathrine was acting so strange, and Kathrine, sweating bullets as she prayed Utterson would buy the nonsense she just spewed. "Well... I suppose I should trust you, little Lynn. Goodness, you really have a love already! You truly are becoming more of a woman every day." The lawyer sighed and shook his head with a small smile, putting his hat back on. "Keep me in the know, Kathrine. I'll leave you to it." He gave her a pat on the head and departed soon after. She stood there for a while, her knees wobbly and her heart racing, recovering slowly. She reread the letter, holding it close to her as she looked outside. Carriages and people moved about in their thick coats, contrasted like silhouettes against the white snow. Kathrine felt sick with worry and her mind raced with terrible scenarios that persisted all throughout the day. She checked her clocks constantly and marked each and every chime of the nearby bell as the hours passed. Noon rolled on without event and Kathrine occupied herself by rebinding a stack of bedraggled second-hand titles she'd been meaning to fix. She worked through those and then some before sending out a few letters; One to addressed to Poole, another to her mother and father, a third to the Lanyons, and a fourth to Utterson. By that time, the sun had gone down, her patrons were dwindling, and so was the remainder of her patience. Kathrine wrote a note, much like the one left for her that morning, and left it on the counter. It read: