Society of Broken Minds

4

(Flashback brought to you by Rachel)

It was about seven months ago. Dr. Jekyll showed up one day with a man in a wheelchair. He said his name was Finch. That was it, just Finch. Apparently, a friend of his had talked to Jekyll and convinced him to help Finch out. Rumor had it he had been in the madhouse. Now, I've heard what happens in places like that so it was no surprise he looked like he had been through Hell and came out unable to walk or use his left arm.

His friend, her name was Edena, she came everyday to check on him. He was always talking, said he was studying people for psychological reasons, said he wanted to create safer treatments for the mentally ill.

After about a week, Jekyll and some of the other lodges put together this bracing mechanism, said it would help him walk and use his arm again. It took a while, and he had to use a cane, but soon he was walking again. It was a happy day for all of us. Edena starting taking him for walks to the park and the museum. He was so happy.

Then came Paris.

It was almost Finch's birthday, so Edena decided to take him to see the Louve. He loved art, and he was so excited, despite the trip being a long one. He got up that morning and put on his brace all by himself, then he just stood at the door and waited.

They took a boat across the channel, then a train to Paris. They were crossing a street to get to the building, and... a horse broke free of its carriage and started down the street, right towards Finch, and he couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way.

So Edena pushed him across.

And the horse ran her down.

It crushed her head in and broke her ribs.

The police took Finch and her body to the station and called Jekyll. He went to bring the two back, but Finch wasn't the same. He didn't talk. He didn't smile. He didn't eat. He didn't sleep. He refused to put his brace back on and he threw himself into his work. He barely leaves the institute anymore, except when he goes to study inmates at the asylum down the street.