Take Heart

Trapped

A cold gust of wind bit at Emelie's face as she opened the front door. She drew her coat closer and tipped her hat down to keep the chill away. Stepping out onto the stairs, she started to make her way towards the street. Before she could take more than two steps, though, she caught sight of someone walking down the street. Stifling a gasp, she scurried back into the house, hoping they had not seen her. She locked the door and took several deep breaths before making her way to the window and peeking behind the curtains.

It was a man. He was coming closer to the house. Emelie ducked down as he passed by the window. When she dared to sneak another look, she found him standing by the stairs. Glancing up, he observed the front of Mr. Godwin's home. A smile slowly spread across his face before he continued down the street. He disappeared into the night, but something told Emelie that while he may be out of sight, he was not truly gone.

Taking one last deep breath, Emelie rushed to the laboratory.

Mr. Godwin was surprised when she practically tumbled down the stairs. He stopped the generator he was using to charge the Leyden Jar and approached her.

"What's wrong? You're pale as a ghost," he said.

Emelie removed her hat, her hair tumbling down and falling out of its braid. She must have looked a mess, as Mr. Godwin smoothed the frizzy strands away from her forehead. "There's someone outside the house," Emelie said.

Mr. Godwin furrowed his brow. "Are you sure it's not just a night flower? Or a drunk?"

"No. It was a man. And I think he was here for a reason."

Emelie explained how he had stopped and stared at the house with an unnerving smile. She saw the color drain from Mr. Godwin's face as she related the incident, and his fear only caused her worry to grow.

"What did he look like?" Mr. Godwin asked.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Emelie tried to recall his appearance. She had been so shocked to see him there, she hadn't concentrated on his face. "I think he was short. Not fat but not skinny. And I believe he had a mustache. I think? I don't know, I wasn't paying very good attention, I'm sorry."

Mr. Godwin closed his eyes and bit his lower lip. He then turned back to the Leyden Jar and busied himself with the generator.

"I believe it's Officer Desmond," he said as he turned the crank slowly, staring at Percy as he did so.

Emelie's eyes widened. "The officer who believes I may be the Organ Harvester?"

"The same."

Mr. Godwin increased the speed of the crank. The frustration in his eyes grew fiercer as the room filled with the burnt, sweet smell of electricity. There was a loud crack, and a thin, blue line jumped between the two electrodes. Goose pimples rose on Emelie's arms. No matter how many times she watched him do this, it still terrified and thrilled her.

"Apparently he has decided to take things into his own hands," Mr. Godwin continued.

Emelie returned her attention to the doctor. "What are we going to do? I can't go out and find a heart with him watching the house."

"Of course not. I can't risk you getting caught. I'm sure he'll tire of this game after a few days. We'll wait him out." He stopped cranking the machine and turned his eyes to her. "I won't let anything happen to you, Emelie."

She did not speak but nodded gratefully. Her eyes wandered to Percy. Even with the electricity running through his fragile, broken body, he did not stir. How much longer could he be kept alive with nothing but electricity and Mr. Godwin's genius? He needed a heart. A real heart.

Hopefully Officer Desmond would give up quickly so that they might resume their search.

~

He did not give up.

A week had passed. Emelie watched for him every night, and without fail, he appeared. Oftentimes he would try to hide in the shadows or disguise himself as a drunk. But Emelie always found him. She had spent so long learning how to keep out of sight herself that she was able to detect others doing the same.

They were trapped. There was no way to continue their hunt for a heart with this officer watching them every night. With each passing day, Mr. Godwin grew more restless while Emelie's hope deflated. They spent most of their time in the laboratory, watching Percy in silence. Mr. Godwin would occupy himself with formulas and sketches, trying desperately to figure out another way to save his son.

"Are you going to build him a heart?" Emelie asked as she glanced at one of the sketches he had done.

Mr. Godwin released a long sigh. "It was a thought. But I don't know that I have the capabilities. I'm a doctor, not a mechanic. I can work with generators and Leyden Jars, but my expertise is with the human body. And I'm worried it would take too long to install the mechanism and his body would give out. And even if I do successfully attach it, what if it doesn't work? Would I have time enough to hook him back up to the Leyden Jar?"

Another sigh as he ran his hands through his hair. Emelie's eyes passed over the drawing once more. It did look complicated, but she thought if anyone could do it, it would be him. Still, if he doubted his abilities, perhaps it was too much of a risk to take.

"Perhaps I can find another way to sneak out. If I go through the back door, climb over the fence, I'll—"

"He's got his sights set on you, Emelie. And he's a very capable police officer. The moment he hears the smallest disturbance, he'll come running. I can't let him find you."

"But I'm good at going unnoticed. If—"

"No." He turned his eyes to her. They were filled with regret and pain. "I can't let him catch you, Emelie. If I lose you..."

He tore his gaze away from her as he trailed off. The despair in his expression pulled at Emelie's heartstrings. "We'll find another way," Mr. Godwin said as he continued with his sketches and formulas.

Emelie did not continue to argue. She turned to Percy and gently took his hand. However, her mind was not on the little boy. It was on the sadness in Mr. Godwin's eyes. The same sadness that had been there the very first time she saw him.