Ch, 6

843 2 0

by emmy1024

by emmy1024

When I returned to college, I found the following letter.

To V. Frankenstein,

My dear Victor,

You have been waiting impatiently for news of when you can return home. I at first only wanted to give you that brief information, but that would be a cruel kindness. What a sad surprise to you, expecting a happy welcome, to find tears in lieu? I know not how to relate our misfortune. Your distance from us does not change how you feel.

William has died. The happy and gay child is dead. On May 7th, my niece and your 2 brothers went for a walk, and stayed out longer then usual. When they returned, William was missing. Williams brother, Ernest, visited and asked us if we had seen Ernest, because William had run away to hide himself and had not been found. This worried us.

We searched for William until night fell, and then searched the next morning. At 5 AM I found my boy stretched out on the grass, dead. We took him home. Elizabeth wanted to see his corpse. At first we denied her, but she persisted. When she saw the body, she exclaimed that she had killed the boy, and thusly fainted. When she awoke, she explained that she had allowed the boy to borrow a fine necklace of hers, and that it was gone. We figured the murderer did what he did to steal the valuable necklace.

Please return home, Victor, you alone can comfort Elizabeth. We are all unhappy, but you shall be our comforter. Do not attempt revenge, only healing.

Your loving father,

Alphonse Frankenstein

May 12th, 17-

Clerval, who saw me read the letter was surprised to see my despair. He wondered if I was destined to always be unhappy. I told Clerval to read the letter himself. He was equally upset. He asked me what I intended to do, and I told him I was to go home to Geneva immediately. On our way to fetch the horses, Clerval comforted me by way of saying William was in a better place. I bid goodbye to him and began my journey.

My trip was melancholy. At first I wanted to go fast to comfort, but near the end of my journey I slowed, fearing the changes that had happened during my absence of nearly 6 years. I remained 2 days at Lausanne, gripped with fear. The calm landscape calmed me, and I continued towards Geneva. There was still building dread, and I felt near mockery at the fine weather and topography. When I arrived home, it was dark, and there was a great storm.

The storm was so strong, and clasped my hands and exclaimed that this was Williams funeral. I looked into the distance, and saw a terrible figure. I saw the monster to whom I had given life. Could he be the murderer of sweet William? No sooner had I thought that than I was convinced of its truth. I spent the rest of the night in the storm, feeling it none, only my grief.

In the morning, my first thought was to tell what I knew of the murderer. But how mad I would sound! I would have to tell the story of creating a monster, and the monster meeting me at an inaccessible mountain. Who could arrest such a creature? I had just been ill with madness. They would not believe me. I arrive at my fathers house at 5 AM, and waited for him to awaken.

I spoke to Ernest first, and him seemed distressed as well. I asked how Elizabeth was, how my father was. He said that they were both distressed, but that since the murderer was discovered-

I was confused, and was not sure how anyone could catch that demon. Ernest was confused as well.

Justine Moritz had been charged with the murder. No one believed she was guilty at first, but the circumstances added up to be her. Her trial was today. The stolen necklace had been discovered in her possession. I tried to acquit her, but it was of no use. Elizabeth was also upset, for if Justine was in danger, who among us is safe?

I tried to comfort them, while we waited for the trial.