Take Heart

From the Bottom of My Heart

Emelie sang softly to Percy as she adjusted his blankets and smoothed back his hair. Though the song was lighthearted, Emelie was anything but cheerful. Another week had almost passed. Officer Desmond had not relented. He was a determined bobby, that was for sure. What was worse, if no murders took place while the officer was staking out Mr. Godwin's home, his hypothesis that Emelie was the murderer would only be strengthened.

The walls were closing in, and a sense of doom settled into her heart. She was trapped. There was no way out of this.

The laboratory door opened and closed, and Emelie could hear footsteps as someone descended the stairs. It was late. Well past midnight. Where had Mr. Godwin been?

"Mr. Godwin?"

Panic paralyzed her as she saw a large figure enter the laboratory. But then she caught a glimpse of his face and realized it was indeed the doctor. Shedding his coat and hat, he revealed that beneath his outerwear were pillows tied to his body. He removed these without a word and headed to the sink. Turning the faucet, he began to vigorously scrub his hands. Emelie approached him and gasped when she saw a stream of red circling the drain. Her gaze moved from his hands—coated in thick blood—to his face. His kind eyes were dark and clouded. They would not meet her own.

Her stomach turned. "Mr. Godwin, you didn't. Officer Des—"

"No, not him. Although I was tempted. It would be too suspicious if the Organ Harvester just happened to go after the Officer who was supposedly on their trail. No, this was a random stranger on the street. I removed his heart and several other organs, just as you always do."

Emelie winced. "Why would you put yourself through that?"

"For you, Emelie. And for Percy. If there isn't a murder while we're trapped in here, that officer will be convinced that he's right. I had to get him off our scent."

"But why didn't you just let me—"

"I'm not letting you risk your life and freedom."

"We don't have much freedom as it is."

"I was very careful. I snuck out through the back. I wore oversized clothes and padding, the wrong size shoes, doused myself in gin. No one will know it was me. So when Officer Desmond is informed that the Organ Harvester has struck again while we were all sound asleep in our beds, he'll have no choice but to move on."

He turned the faucet and the rush of water ceased. Emelie watched as he leaned against the sink and stared down at the drain. His gaze was distant and disconnected. Emelie knew exactly what was going through his head. The sound of the man's screams. The sickening crunch of bone as he cut him open. The feel of the organs as he ripped them from his victim's body. The thick scent of iron wafting up from his bloodstained hands. No amount of bathing would ever make him feel clean.

"Did you get the heart?" she asked, swallowing down her tears and the memories of her own victims.

He shook his head slowly. "I'm in no condition to perform the procedure. Besides, it would take too long to ready Percy. The heart would be useless."

Emelie nodded. "Would you like me to make you tea? Or get you some gin, perhaps?"

Mr. Godwin smiled wryly. "It's going to take more than tea or gin to wipe that experience from my mind." He looked up at her. "How do you do it? All these months, you've killed people in just the same manner. How have you kept your sanity?"

"Perhaps it's because you're a good person, Mr. Godwin, whereas I am not."

"Emelie, you're—"