Frankenstein

CHAPTER 15: The End of My Experiments

My time in Orkneys was almost over. I was supposed to meet Henry in just one short week. It had rained almost the entire length of my stay. The gray skies were comforting, in a way. My mind was cleared by the clod, wet air. The work had come along, and I was almost finished.

Finally, it was time. The sun had set hours ago and I had worked late into the night. My room was dark because I had not lit any candles. "I'm finished!" I shouted out aloud, "I've finished the second creeature!"

The same sense of gloom that I felt after bringing the first creature to ife returned. I stood and looked at her. The instruments of life were in my hands, but something stopped me.

The monster had agreed to leave, but this creature knew nothing of his plan. She didn't know she was for him. What if they didn't like each other? What if she didn't want to leave with him? What if she was even worse than he was? She would have a mind of her own. The monster could not control her actions any more than I could control his.

'No,' I thought to myself, 'I cannot bring another one of these beings to life.'

I set down my instruments. I would not light the final spark. Suddenly, the monster appeared in the window! He saw me stop just before I finished. He watched as I put down the instruments and left the room. I shook my head back and forth to tell him it was over. I wouldn't be finishing this project. He saw me and groaned. His face fell and he started to cry. Seconds later, he burst into my cottage.

"Frankenstein! Why won't you finish the work?" he pleaded. "Why can't you bring her to life? You must keep your promise to me."

"I won't creat another one like you," I said.

He insisted. "You owe me this much! I don't belong in this world. Is it your fault that I am here. If you reject me as the rest of the world has done, I'll spend the rest of my miserable life unhappy and alone. Can't you see that?"

"I'm sorry," I said slowly. "But I will not finish this work. You could no more control this person than I could control you. You do not know what might happen if I bring her to life. I will not be responsible for any more creatures like you."

He looked angry and upset. "Please understand," I said. "I know you are unhappy, but this is not the answer. Now, you must go. I am leaving the place tomorrow morning, and I am not taking my work with me. It will be burried on these islands forever."

The monster said coldly, "I will go, but I will never forgive you. You have broken your promise. You will pay for this, Frankenstein. You will. Your family is not safe. You are not safe. I will make you understand what it's like to be alone in a world where everyone hates you. Be warned. I will be with you on your wedding night."

He slammed the door behind him and ran away into the night. A cold chill went down my spine as I chased him ouside. Before I could catch up, the monster had jumped into his boat an rowed away across the water. He was soon lost in the waves. I could no longer see him.

The cottage was quiet. The only sound I could hear was the ocean. His last words echoed in my ears. "I will be with you on your wedding night."

What did he mean?

"The monster must want to hurt Elizabeth!" I panicked. For the first time in months, I sat down an cried. I had to stop him at all costs. I had to stop him before he hurt everyone I loved in the world.