Life Sentence

Life Sentence (#penalty)

The afternoon's soft rain changed with the sunset, becoming hard and fierce, and bringing with it explosive flashes of lightning, and the delayed rumble of thunder. Tonight, nature's power would do more than drive animals to cover and young children into their parent's arms; tonight, it was to become an ingredient - no, a participant. Tonight, it would become the realized spark from God's hand to animate a modern-day Adam.

The old building was damp, as cold drafts snuck past its brick and mortar defenses, into the large upstairs room, and through the Doctor's clothing. He took no notice, because he was accustomed to the London cold, and was sweating as a result of his evening's work. The strange machines and instruments around the room were silent, waiting to see if their invention would beget the ultimate creation: life.

A knock at the door interrupted the tension of expectation, and the Doctor ignored it as he continued the application of chemicals required in his process.

Bang - Bang - Bang.

The once polite door rapping had turned authoritative - or angry - and now demanded a response. It could be the police, who were often persistent and could force entry, thus imperiling his work. He quickly assessed if he could pause the process, decided that he could (albeit only temporarily), then walked downstairs to answer the front door.

The heavy wooden door swung open with a creak and revealed a very ordinary-looking man, not a policeman. He was wearing a mac, and the Doctor assumed that there was a nice suit underneath it based on the quality of the man's shoes.

"Doctor Victor Frankenstein?" said the man.

"Yes, I am Frankenstein... who are you, and what do you want?" he asked in frustration. He was so tired of solicitors.

"Here, I have a communication for you," and the man held out a small envelope.

"What is it?" replied Frankenstein with unrestrained annoyance.

The man gestured with the envelope to encourage the Doctor to take it.

Frankenstein took the envelope and, using a small metal tool from his lab coat, surgically cut it open. He removed the note, unfolded it, and read.

"Doctor Victor Frankenstein, your services are no longer required at the Royal Hospital of London, and you are now free to pursue your other interests.  Doctor Simon Laberge, Chief Physician"

"Have I been discharged?" asked Doctor Frankenstein, who, in truth, was surprised.

"There are rumors that the Board is unhappy with your papers regarding the reanimation of dead tissue," stated the man. He then touched the brim of his hat, turned, and walked toward a waiting cab.

"Pursue my other interests..." softly chuckled the Doctor to the cold London night.

The sky flashed and rumbled, snapping the Doctor into focus.

"That was close... it's almost time," he said as he looked up into the rain; then, he abruptly dropped the note and ran back into the building, with Fate trailing like his shadow.