Who is Allison Cartwright?

Hyde without a Jekyll: Alice watched them go hoping they had enough time to get to somewhere safe before her daemons finally arrived to claim her. Then again if Mz. Hyde was with Lewis how safe could she really be? The room was now empty as Roy had been called out, and Alice was once again alone with her thoughts. She paced in circles around the cell mimicking the laps her mind was doing. Did they get to safety? Why didn't they stay away? Why did Lewis always have to mess everything up? The bustle of the station seemed to die until an eerie silence filled the halls...this didn't bode well...they were here.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The shadow stood silently and watched from across the way. As silence filled the station he knew something was wrong, and scanned around him for options.* Jekyll1886:  Just on the other side of the wall to the room with Alice's cell was a wardrobe with police uniforms. Weir hid himself well behind these, shut its door, and listened to the sound of silence.

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde was in the wardrobe with Lewis, she remained silent, but had her needle drawn, her body ready to leap out and attack.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The silence did not last long as the tapping of shoes broke it, echoing down the hall. A man, dressed in a all black suit, approached the cell room (he unknowingly passed a shadow that watched him), opened the door and let himself in to where Alice could see his full figure. She flinched at the sight of him...not at the man himself but what was perched on bond of his hat. A shinning silver feather. "There's my noisy finch!" The man hissed through a toothy smile. He was young, his shoulders thrown back in a display of confidence, he was the predator and Alice was the prey.

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde watched closely through the crack in the wardrobe.* Who's this guy? *She whispered.*

Jekyll1886:  Lewis gave Mz. Hyde a gentle nudge in the ribs; he was trying to listen. The man's voice sounded oddly familiar. He was fairly certain he'd soon place it if he continued to talk.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The shadow moved within range, glad for the silence provide by his bare feet. He could tell things were about to get messy.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice stiffened, the blood draining from her face. "It's about time you lot showed up!" She tried to portray a confident image instead of the fear she felt inside. The man leaned against the door, his smile never leaving his face. "You've been making quite the ruckus haven't you, nosy finch! Going into Hyde park in the wee hours of the morning, chirping about us and punching a officer no less!" He chuckled at that last bit, "Not that we aren't grateful for praise and recognition, but you know how secret societies are," his tone dropped from playful to threatening and his smile fell into a snarl, "They like to be kept secret."

Mz.Hyde: "A secret society? Alice, what have you gotten yourself into?!" Mz. Hyde thought.

Jekyll1886:  Now he recognized it! This was the same man who'd snarled drunkenly at him when Weir'd been in the midst of performing a delicate Caesarian section!

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo held his stance, poised to strike as soon as need be. He might not know or trust this Alice girl, but she meant a great deal to Catt. And that made her protected.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "Not very secret taking over a police station''!" Alice snapped back. "Desperate times call for desperate measures--" The man replied before Alice cut him off again. "Oh? Do I make you desperate? Do I weaken you're all powerful organization with...how did you put it.. my chirping?" Alice found a crack in the man's confidence and began to chip away at it. He did not like losing control over the situation. "You better shut your beak little finch," the man growled, "or you'll soon be seeing the inside of a far worse cage." "I don't doubt it." Alice said definitely staring him down. "But I didn't set this up to banter with you--" "Oh?" The man's wolfish grin returned, "And how did a little finch get to be smart enough to "set this up", with your tiny bird brain." Ignoring his comment Alice continued. "I came to make a deal."

Jekyll1886:  In which she'll request he and his organization leave the Society alone in exchange for...what? he wondered. ''Scientific knowledge? Herself?'' Perhaps they'd have to leave the wardrobe sooner rather than later...

Mz.Hyde: Just who are these guys? And what do they want with Alice?

Jekyll1886:  "A group she ran afoul of," he whispered back carefully, still keeping an ear to the wall. "She calls them the 'Silver Feather Men', but we don't know the organization's true name, if indeed it has one," he explained.

Mz.Hyde: What do they do?!

Jekyll1886:  "Let me listen, and we may just find out," he whispered matter-of-factly.

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde shuts up for once and listens with Lewis.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man laughed at this, relaxing his position against the door frame, "And what, pray tell, could a little bird like you have to offer? You do realize that deals have both parties receiving something?" Alice grinned, "I know what you want most!" "And what, pray tell, is that? Influence among the leadership positions and police of this grand country? Check. Money from infinite, wealthy donors? Check. Knowledge of the political structure, the art of the media, and science of that mad Arcane Society? Check. So what could you possible offer us that we don't have?" Alice stiffened at the mention of the Society but tried to maintain her composure, "And what do you know of the Society for Arcane Scientists?"

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo tensed, but remained at the ready. Should this stranger make the wrong move, he would end up being a spear-cozy.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Answer my question and I'll answer your's." he retorted. Alice huffed seeing no way around it, "I know of a certain man that you lot have your eye on. Dr. Lewis Weir." When recognition didn't show in the man's eyes, Alice rolled her eyes and continued with a sigh, "About 6ft, early thirties, brown hair, and a punch-able face?" It finally clicked for the man, "The doctor at the brothel! That bastard!" Alice nodded and added, "I know where he lives and how you can find him."

Jekyll1886:  Weir's mouth tightened. You ill-bred little garbage-wench! was his first thought. His second was of ramming a spike through Alice's good eye. But his third was that this might actually work out quite nicely: Alice wasn't offering herself, which would satisfy Catt, and it might just provide him the opportunity at infiltration he'd been seeking.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "That snake got away from me once! Tell me where he is so I can serve his head on a plate to my superiors!" The man growled leaving his position on the door and striding towards the bars. "In good time, but you need to remember "deals have both parties receiving something."" She spat his words back in his face, "If I give him to you, neatly wrapped with a bow on top to do what ever you want with, you and your organization stays way from the Society of Arcane Science!"

Mz.Hyde: Alice....

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo moved silently and kept the stranger in his sights.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man began to laugh at this, "Little bird! We already know all about the Society of Arcane Sciences! And even if I could take this deal it's not within either of our powers to keep the organization from doing what ever it pleases!" "I'll scream your names through the streets if you come near it!" "Go ahead and try! You'll just end up in a cage again!" "Only because I wanted to be here to wipe that grin off your face! If you cannot make me the deal then get someone who can!" "And why would they make a deal with a bratty little finch like you? I tried to tell them about Dr. Weir, thank you for his name by the way, and they told me to do my job instead of chasing wild geese!"

Jekyll1886:  Lewis snickered silently at the mental image of this lout being snubbed by his superiors...whoever they were.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "So you're not within'' the Society, pathetic." Alice spat hoping her taunting would confirm her suspicion, "And what's even more pathetic is when you can't even recognize a golden goose when it's being HANDED TO YOU!!" The man's face was red with rage and he shouted back, "NO! WE ARE NOT WITHIN THEIR WALLS,YET, BUT WE WILL BE SOON! AND I'M NOT THE IDIOT WHO CAN'T SEE A GOLDEN EGG WHEN IT HITS THEM UPSIDE THE HEAD!" As if on cue foot steps are heard coming down the hall. '''Catt Hatter:'''  *Hearing the footsteps, Sozo relinquished his close ranged target in favour of a less obtrusive position in the room. He would be of less use if he were caught now.*

Jekyll1886:  ''How the Hell am I a golden goose?'' thought Weir.

Mz.Hyde: Look alive! * She readjusted herself.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Boy?! What's all this shouting about?! I tasked you with one simple job, to see what the person of interest knows and then silence them, and it seems you can't even do that right!" Just as Sozo ducked back into the shadows, a gentleman turns the corner. He's dressed like the younger man, in a all back suit with a silver feather sticking out the band of his hat but he's much older, probably in his fifties. His face was twisted into annoyance as he approached the pair. "Speak of the devil." The younger man muttered under his breath before turning around and addressing the man with an air of respect, "Sorry sir but the person of interest was being...difficult." He replied shooting a glare at Alice who was watching this new man approach. "She wants to make a deal with us."

Jekyll1886:  Lewis tensed, but kept quiet.

Mz.Hyde: Looks like that's the big boss!

Jekyll1886:  Weir gave a brief nod of agreement.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "A deal?" The man asked as he made it half way to the door frame. "Yes sir, a deal. She wants us to stay away from the Society of Arcane Sciences--" "--permanently." Alice butted in. "--permanently," the younger man added before continuing, "in exchange for that doctor at the brothel that I reported to you about several nights back." The man reached the door way as the younger man finished and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger, annoyed, "The doctor who you abandoned your post to chase? The doctor who seems to keep causing you to fail your duties?" That makes two of us. Alice thought. She had a better look at the man now that he was closer. He would have had a kind face if it wasn't distorted with annoyance and time seemed to be gentle on his features. She even felt relaxed in his presence despite the fact that he was a Silver Feather Man.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis couldn't suppress an amused Cheshire-cat smirk.

Mz.Hyde: What are you smirking about?!

Jekyll1886:  "Drunky MacDrunkerson there getting called on the carpet by his boss," he pointed out in a voice only barely audible.

Mz.Hyde: What?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man blushed in embarrassment, "Y-yes. The very same." The man continued to rub his eyes and sighed "Did you explain to her that we don't want that man? Did you explain to her that we're going to get into the Society no matter what deals we make with her?" "Yes her but that's when--" The older man cut him off with a raise of his hand with out even looking up, "So what warranted a shouting match to erupt?" "She's got a lip--" The younger man desperately tried to reply. "No. Try again." "...Nothing?" The younger man asked. "Well colour me shocked! The boy can learn!" He replied heavy with sarcasm. Alice snickered at this. This was odd...why did she feel so relaxed around this older man? He was dangerous! He could kill her or worse! But why did she feel safe in his presence?

Jekyll1886:  "That man was drunk and wandered into the damn operating room!" Dr. Weir told Mz. Hyde. "He was yelling at me and the mother-to-be about messing up the bed sheets to his usual quarters."

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo felt the shift in atmosphere within the cell, and turned his gaze in confusion.*

Mz.Hyde: This boss doesn't take shit!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The younger man bit his tongue and his face turned red in embarrassment. "Now let's see if I can't clean up the mess you've made--" The man says this as he finally looks up to address the pair but he stops short at the sight of Alice, his lips parting in an unspoken question. "Sir?" The younger man looks concerned at his superior's unusual demeanor. Alice looks back with just as much confusion. After a few moments the man finally finds his words. No not words, a word. No not even that, just a name, a very familiar name. "...Allison?" Mz.Hyde: Her Jekyll...but how does he know about her?!

Jekyll1886:  Weir was just as confused as Mz. Hyde. "Hell if I know." He shook his head.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis froze.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The room went deadly silent. Both the younger man and Alice stared at gentleman and both had the same question sitting in their open mouths. After a few moments the man repeated her name but it was less of a question and more of a fact this time, "...Allison." Alice stiffened at the second time he said her name now that the initial shock had worn off and the younger man spoke the question on everyone's minds, "Sir? Do you know her?"

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo flicked his gaze back to his potential targets, once again at the ready.*

Jekyll1886:  ''Bloody good question'', thought Lewis.

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde just stared out the crack in the wardrobe.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I-I wasn't sure at first since she looks so different from what I remember but..." his voice trailed off as a smile played on his lips and in his eyes "...but I'm convinced now that it is her. That's Allison Cartwright." A close eye might have noticed that Alice's hair was a little lighter and tamer than before the man entered, as though his mere presence was calling back the ever absent Allison. But this did not last long as the iconic dark and wild nature of her Hyde took back control with a vengeance. "Don't you dare say her name!"

Jekyll1886:  Internally, Lewis facepalmed as Alice blew her happenstance cover.

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde remained silent, observing what was happening.*

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo flinched, surprised by the small girl's substantial lung capacity.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The older gentleman looked taken aback by this harsh tone, "They told me you had changed...but Allison--" "I'M NOT ALLISON! ALLISON IS DEAD!" She cut him off screaming through the bars. It was lucky that she was still in the cell otherwise Alice might have been trying to rip his head off. Meanwhile the younger man remained between the two looking utterly perplexed. "What are you talking about? You're standing right in front of me?" The older man asked his voice similar to that of a mother calming her child's screams. "YOU--YOU--YOU MONSTERS KILLED HER ALL THOSE YEARS AGO! YOU BURNT DOWN THE SHED WITH HER INSIDE AND YOU LAUGHED!" Alice screamed back forgoing all the bartering up to this point and giving into sheer emotion. Before the argument could continue, realization dawned upon the younger man and he blurted out with new found insight "Allison Cartwright! I knew that name sounded familiar! That was the girl who was trying to destroy the world!"

'''Catt Hatter:'  *How would she even pull that off?'' Sozo wondered.*

Jekyll1886:  Weir's eyes widened. His breath stilled in his throat.

Mz.Hyde: *"Alice....you and I are more alike than you may ever know..." Mz. Hyde thought.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice was confused, shocked, livid, and terrified. The older gentleman was trying to wrestle with the idea that the girl before him was no longer Allison giving the younger man a chance to step in. "Yah...That's right! If we hadn't stepped in she would have killed us all!" It took a moment for the mans words to sink in and then for Alice to settle on an emotion, she chose rage. "SLANDER!" She screamed, "ALLISON WAS AN ANGEL AMONG DEVILS! SHE WAS AS BEST AS THEY COME! SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER HURT A FLY!" The man continued on his thought process, completely ignoring Alice's protests, "Her and her mad science! Oh what else did that report say..." He taps his forehead trying to remember. "Oh! Now I remember! We saved the day like always, and she disappeared. But then...but then she came back...different." He slowly turns towards Alice now remembering the report in it's entirety, "It said she had taken a drug that would split her mind in two...giving voice to her darkest of nature..." Fear was in his eyes as he stared at Alice realizing who, what she was. Slowly backing away he tries to play off the terror "...if that was even possible considering her predisposition. I wouldn't be surprised if there was any good in her in the first place."

Mz.Hyde: Oh my God...

Jekyll1886:  Lewis was able to breathe again...quietly. No one is an angel, darling, he thought, upon hearing Alice's tirade. ''If she had been, how are you here? ''He listened, intrigued, as the man rambled on.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "N-No! You're wrong!" Alice began to panic. This man had to be wrong! Allison was a good person! The report had to be lying! But it knew about HJ7 doubt whispered in the back of her mind. "You have to be wrong! Allison was sweet and kind and caring. She wanted to help the world! She was innocent and beautiful and perfect and I will not have you RUINING HER GOOD NAME!" The younger man lets out a nervous chuck now that he's a good 7 feet away from the cell. "You think your precious Allison was innocent and pure?! Ha! I hate to break it to you but she was evil as they come!" Now with a safe distance and several thick steal bars between him and this monster his fear morphs into hatred. A hatred for the evil in the world, a hatred for his weakness and fear, and a hatred for Alice. That last one he could act on. "She was thrown from the light into the darkness and she reveled in the new found malicious environment. Disgusting!" He spat at her. "To think that you practically worship the ground of one you deem to be "innocent" when her soul is as damned as your's is now, if not more so!" Alice couldn't take it. His words hurt her very core and she lashed out. "SHUT UP! YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE THE VILLAINS HERE! MURDERING, HURTING GOOD PEOPLE! YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HER BUT YOU DID! AND IF I'M AM EVIL THEN YOU MUST BE THE DEVIL!"

Jekyll1886:  Lewis paid attention to their exchange. Point, counterpoint. Black-and-white, the both of them, he concluded, ''though on opposite sides. The truth is nearly always in-between.''

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde's mouth is just hanging open as she watches the exchange.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  This finally stirs the older man from his thoughts. "Enough you two!" He snipped before turning to the younger gentleman, "You weren't there! You don't know what she was like or who she was!" "I read the report!" He pleaded "Is there much more to say than that!? She was going to kill us all and we stopped her!" "YOU'RE WRONG!" Alice screamed as she threw her hands to her ears in vain. She couldn't take much more of this. "Well wake up and smell the shit! If we hadn't stopped her there would not be a world to even argue about this on!" The younger man snapped back igniting the argument again. "I said that's enough!" The older man said with rage, for the first time, seeping into his voice. Completely ignoring the older gentleman Alice continued to scream at the young man, "SHE WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD--" "--INTO HELL!" and the young man screamed back. The older man was done with this redundant argument...how did he let it get this far out of control? "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!" He raised his voice for the first time that day sending chills down both Alice and the other man's spines. "GUARD THE DOOR AND MAKE SURE NO ONE DISTURBS US!" He said to the younger man. That voice was one that you couldn't argue with but for some other reason it also filled Alice with dread. Where had she heard it before? "Whatever~" The younger man snorted in a mild protest at being reprimanded, "How could you know what she was really was up to? You weren't there?" The older man pinched the bridge of his nose at the ever increasing incompetence that this kid seem to have, "I was there. I was there from the beginning, and unless you want to remain within our organization, I suggest you shut your mouth, stand outside, and guard the damn door! The young man, defeated, shut his mouth at this, pivoted on his heel and walked out of the room closing the door behind him. Now left alone with Alice, the older man sighed, "I do apologize for his ignorance. Just can't find good men like we used to..." he trails off into a half hearted laugh. A laugh that Alice recognized. She finally placed him, the blood draining from her face as she squeaked out her next words, "You were there..." "I was and--" "--you were ''there! That night! YOU KILLED HER AND YOU LAUGHED!!!''" Terror, rage, pain all radiated through her body as she screamed  at the older gentleman  at Allison's murderer. Jekyll1886:  Weir was relieved when the older man finally stepped in; the children had argued long enough. As the conversation took its course, however, it twisted unexpectedly. He tensed, gripping the Hatt in his hand more tightly at the sudden revelation.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man seemed deeply hurt by her words if not a touch confused,"Allison, please let me--" "MURDERER!" Alice screamed as she started to back away as a thousand thoughts boiled in her head. Why is he back? Why him out of all the Silver Feather Men? Why was she so relaxed at the first sight of him? Why didn't she realize the danger sooner? Why? But it didn't matter now that he was here, and he had her locked in a cell, and all he needed to do now was ''burn it to the ground''. She was helpless again, a bird ripe for plucking, trapped in a cage of her own making. There was no where to run, no where to hide. As Alice back into a corner of the cell the thoughts simmered down until there was only one thought, one word. Why? She collapsed into a corner, pulled her knees to her chest, placed her arms over her head, shut her eyes tight, and cried. "Allison?" The man called out to her, approaching the cage but it was no use. Alice, in that corner, had retreated deep inside herself where only her internal screaming could be heard.

Mz.Hyde: *Since Lewis had blown her cover, Mz. Hyde charged at the older man, her needle drawn and red hot. She points it in his face.* Alright, nobody move or your leader's ass is fried!

Jekyll1886:  ''Oh, for pity's sake...'' thought Lewis in exasperation. The older man obviously wasn't getting anywhere, and was likely making the situation worse by his very presence! He was tempted to let Alice suffer a few minutes more, after the stunt she'd pulled selling him out, but, in truth, he was growing very tired of keeping his six-foot frame crammed within the wardrobe. Necessity won out, and he exited suddenly, pushing past Mz. Hyde as he sprang forth. With his right fist, he gave the younger man a swift uppercut, then kneed him in the groin and shoved his head against the wall to knock him unconscious. Damn, that felt good. He'd been waiting for an opportunity to pay the cur back for his rudeness ever since their encounter at the brothel. He wrapped an arm around the man's body and slid it gently to the floor, then donned the Hatt and strode into the other room. "That won't work," Weir advised the older Silver Feather Man. "She's quite beside herself--reliving the trauma, I'd wager--and you're frankly not helping matters."

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo watched the old man attentively. Under other circumstances this "Lewis" chap would have garnered more of his attention. But on this occasion, he was set to help this man in safely retrieving Alice. Catt didn't give her hatt to anyone, the thought sent a twinge of jealousy through his chest.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The older gentleman whips around at the sudden intrusion, "Who the hell are you!? And how did you get in here!?" Alice can't hear the commotion over her screaming thoughts.

Jekyll1886:  "Doctor Lewis Weir," he explained, extending his hand in a surreally ordinary gesture. "We're here to pay her bail."

Mz.Hyde: Shut up! I'LL be asking the questions here! First off: Who are you and what do you want with Alice and her Jekyll?!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The older gentleman appreciated Lewis's attempt at common curiosity even if he was being overshadowed by Mz. Hyde's tenacity. He took a moment to compose himself before proceeding, "I request that you leave us, as you're interrupting a private engagement, and I don't know if the boy out there informed you of this or not, but there's no one by the name of "Alice" or "Jekyll" here."

Mz.Hyde: *She points at Alice.* THAT'S Alice! And I'm not going anywhere until you answer some questions! Got it?!

Jekyll1886:  "Allison Cartwright, then," Lewis clarified. "And I'm afraid she's been through a lot; I could illuminate you, but I have questions of my own which need answering as well, as I'm sure you'll understand. And, as for that 'boy' out there," he chuckled, "I'd fire him for gross incompetence if I were you." Just for spite, he casually added, "He also frequents brothels and drinks on the job."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I see you know Allison then," he nodded as if putting the pieces together, "I'm afraid I'm unable to answer your questions as the organization I work for has strict rules to not release information to the general public, as I'm sure you'll understand." He replied, staring at Lewis. It wasn't a glare as there were no signs of anger or malevolent in it but there was something...cold...about it that could make shivers run down a spine. "Now you if you'll excuse me I'll have to ask you once again to leave." He turned, calling for the younger man "Boy! Please show our guests out."

Jekyll1886:  "I do," Weir owned, staring back measure for measure, "though I'm hardly the 'general public'. Still, orders and all that, I suppose. I was simply under the impression you might have the power to negotiate. My apologies if I was mistaken." The 'boy' didn't respond. "Oh, and if you're waiting on him," Lewis added matter-of-factly, glancing briefly over his shoulder, "it's going to be a couple of hours at least." As he'd looked behind him, he'd noticed an odd-looking boy crouched in the corner. Thankfully, the older man hadn't been in a position to see his surprised expression, which had vanished by the time he'd turned to face him once more.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo had been grateful for Lewis' discretion and self control to not draw unwanted attention to his presence in the room.*

Mz.Hyde: Better start talking old man!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The older gentleman sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index and thumb and muttered something about firing dead weight under his breath before continuing. "Young man, don't get smart with me, and you little lady," He said turning to Mz. Hyde, "you need to learn to respect your elders. If there's any chance at having a decent conversation with a person then you need to stop acting like a vagabond. Now, I'm not being paid to teach an etiquette class today. I am simply here to calm this girl before she hurts anyone else."

Mz.Hyde: She's not hurting anyone! In fact, from the looks of it, you're hurting her!!

Jekyll1886:  "By all means, then," invited Weir with a ready grin, gesturing toward Alice. "Be my guest..." ...boy, he added silently.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Says the girl with a sword." She shoots Mz. Hyde and her burning weapon a icy glare, "And how could I have hurt her if she's been in the cell the entire time and I don't have a key or a weapon on me?" He slowly opens his coat to reveal no weapons of any sort, not even a hint of one in the lining. "And, unfortunately, your interruption has only "hurt" her worse." He glances back to Alice who was now shaking, terrified out of her mind.

Mz.Hyde: She's afraid of YOU! Because of what YOU did to her in the past!!

Jekyll1886:  "Mz. Hyde," said Lewis in a whisper, "just let him try. He'll see what we mean soon enough. Then we might actually get somewhere."

Mz.Hyde: *She considers this a moment, before dropping her needle.* Fine. Fine! If shit goes wrong, it's on YOUR head though!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "Are you two done whispering, yet? Because I have a question of my own, what do you'' know of her past? Until 9 months and 21 days ago she was living off the streets. Until 9 months and 21 days ago you had no idea who she was. And until," he pulls out a pocket watch and glances at it, "7 minutes and 23 seconds ago you had never met me before, Mz. Valeria Hyde."

Jekyll1886:  "My apologies for my attempts to smooth ruffled feathers, then, Mr. (or Dr.).........." He waited for a name; it didn't even have to be the man's real one. Just something to call him. He thought it a touch uncouth of the fellow not to have introduced himself in some fashion already. And, speaking of names...Valeria? he thought.

Mz.Hyde: Valeria?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Apology accepted." He replies never letting his name slip before turning back to Mz. Hyde, "That is your name, yes? Though I must admit, I'm impressed that there's not much on you until about 6 years ago." He smiles at this, "Now as I've said, an exhausting number of times, if you and Dr. Weir could kindly leave I would like to conclude my business."

Mz.Hyde: My name? But I don't have a- AHH! * Mz. Hyde suddenly got a severe migraine in the side of her head. Her head was throbbing painfully...and an image of something, though she couldn't tell what flashed in her head. After a few seconds, the pain died down.* Ughh...I'm-I'm not going anywhere! Either we stay or nothing!

Jekyll1886:  "Would it be too forward to ask for your assurance no harm will come to her, and that she'll still be here upon our return?" questioned Lewis.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I can guarantee that no harm will come to her...though on the matter of her being here upon your return..."He hesitates, glancing back at Alice, before continuing, "that's not my promise to make. You should also take care of the life next to you before you try to take the responsibility of another, otherwise you might...over whelm yourself." He nods towards Mz. Hyde who just screamed out in pain.

Mz.Hyde: I'm completely fine, it was a little headache! I came here to get Alice, and I will leave with her no matter what!!

Jekyll1886:  "And we will," he whispered. "I gave Catt my word."

Mz.Hyde: *Her eyes glance over to Sozo and then back to Lewis. She sighs. * FINE.

Jekyll1886:  "You assume much, good sir, but very well. It seems we are subject to your pleasure. Pardon me one moment." "Sozo is in the room, and you look in ill shape," he whispered in Mz. Hyde's ear, positioning himself so that his body blocked the older man's view of her face. "Let's go just outside and see what happens. If he hurts her, we'll kill him later, alright?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "I presume'' nothing. I only know from experience." The ghost of a small smile played across his lips for a fraction of a second, "I understand that you two are trying to be what you think a "good friend" should be but you don't know Allison and you don't know what she needs. You two will not let me leave here unless Allison is in your arms or at your feet a sobbing mess, like she is now in that cell." Alice was indeed 'a sobbing mess' and to the ignorant eye the shadows and her hands made her hair even wilder and darker, but those who knew her, also knew better than that.

Mz.Hyde: Oh yeah? And what does ALICE need?

Jekyll1886:  "It's a lost cause, Mz. Hyde," Weir stated bluntly, at normal volume. "This gentleman thinks he knows better than we, and he may, but he'll make no effort to explain himself to us. He'd rather address us in a presumptuous manner out of a misplaced notion that dominance is beneficial to him here." He looked at the man and shook his head. "One gets so much more with honey than with vinegar, but life takes all kinds, I suppose." As does death, he thought. "He also may not be at liberty to enlighten us, even had he the inclination," he informed Mz. Hyde with a shrug. "A secret society is just that, after all."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man chuckles at this, "I don't tell you out of dominance. I don't tell you because of your ignorance. You both know so little of what's at play here and you seem to refuse any other explanation other than violence," he gestures towards Mz. Hyde's lapel, "or cheap remarks. Though," a small ironic laugh escapes his lips, "I guess the same could be said about me for refusing to tell you, and I will admit that is my fault. But I refuse you for you have not shown your worthiness of this knowledge. You claim you know "Alice" and this silly personality she has taken on but tell me what do you know of "Allison", for she has existed far longer than this mood." He shakes his head and sighs, "I guess I should be a gentleman and at least give you a chance." A memory tugged at the man, "This foolishness started that night all those years ago..." His voice trails and his eyes glaze over in remembrance as his forehead creases with melancholy.

Jekyll1886:  "A gentleman's offer for you, then," Weir accepted. "I'll tell you exactly what I know of Allison Cartwright if you can accurately tell me exactly what Mz. Hyde here meant when she said the word 'Jekyll'. If you can't, I'll know you're not worthy of the knowledge I possess, and that you're likely ill-equipped to help the dear girl despite your 'experience'."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man chuckles at this, "You have a deal then. Jekyll is originally referring to Dr. Henry Jekyll, the founder of the Society of Arcane Sciences. But before he was the founder he was a mad scientist, who, for some reason that escapes me, decided to "split his soul in two". Most of the time he's the respectable Dr. Henry Jekyll: scientist and gentleman and the other half of the time he's Mr. Edward Hyde: world class arrogant fool. Since the creation of this formula several other individuals have developed this split persona either via the formula or some alternative means. Jekyll is the name given to the original being while Hyde is given to the newly created mood. How am I doing or do you want me to start listing off people who fall into this category?" The man crossed his arms awaiting Lewis's response.

Jekyll1886:  "Refreshingly well," said Lewis with a genuinely relieved smile. "I must confess I'm impressed. We might be able to help each other after all. And, actually, I wouldn't mind if you listed more. Do go on," he joked.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "A deals, a deal doctor Weir. We can strike up a new one after this one is completed." He smiled as Weir tried to wiggle his way out of holding up his end of the bargain.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis gave an involuntary chortle at Mz. Hyde's "threesome" remark, then had to take a moment to compose himself. "Very well," he returned the older man. "Allison Cartwright became enamored of rogue science, though she didn't join the Society for Arcane Sciences. She was a fantastic researcher, though she unfortunately shared her work with no one. Once circumstances conspired against her, however, she was driven by desperation to ingest the formula of which you spoke. It did not go well, which is why you see her in such a state. Part of Allison's soul was damaged, and needs to recuperate. Hence, 'Alice'," he gestured to the figure behind the bars, "or, perhaps more accurately, 'Not-Allison-but-not-quite-Alice', the degree of each depending upon her...'mood', I believe was the word. An accurate assessment, though it lacks the nuance I'd prefer." He smiled, all trace of irony gone. "You're proving remarkably interesting, my good man."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The older man laughs at this; a genuine, hearty laugh; "Same onto you! Colour me impressed but you've done your homework! Maybe you both aren't as foolish as I believed you to be."

Jekyll1886:  Weir gave a polite smile, but glanced sidelong at Mz. Hyde, then back to the older man, and raised his brows slightly. This gave the overall effect of suggesting that he could only speak for himself...

Mz.Hyde: What are you looking at?!

Jekyll1886:  Lewis simply looked down and coughed, as if clearing his throat.

Mz.Hyde: Oh hush!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The man looked between the two, shook his head, smiled before proceeding as his face changed back into his typical serious expression. "You have questions correct? Ask and I shall answer but keep in mind that you may not like the truth you hear so choose your words wisely."

Mz.Hyde: Alright, if you won't answer questions about yourself then you'll answer some about Allison! What did she do that would cause "the end of the world"?

Jekyll1886:  "By what name shall I call you," he asked, giving the man an out if he didn't want to use his real one, "and how did you know Allison...before all this?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He sighed, "My name is Nicholas Spinks and how I know Allison is a very long story as I've known her since she was a lost little girl in the heart of London." The man glanced back over his shoulder at Alice who hasn't moved and a deep sadness vibrated through his voice as he glanced at the ground muttering "...I guess much hasn't changed since then." before readdressing the pair, "As for the end of the world...I wish I could say that buffoon was exaggerating, but he wasn't...at least not entirely. If we," he shakes his head and re clarifies his pronoun, "If I hadn't stopped her there wouldn't have been a universe left."

Mz.Hyde: Go on...

Jekyll1886:  Lewis simply kept quiet.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo again wondered silently how that would be possible.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The old man paused for a long time looking hard at Lewis and Mz. Hyde before he spoke in a whispered in a half defeated voice,"Do you really wish to know this tragedy? For it's a tale where no one is a winner. There's no happy ending. There's no hero to save the day. There's no miracle. Everyone suffers and then they die. But before you try to dispute keep in mind that there's more than one way to die. Sure we tried to pick up the pieces, clean up the mess and struggle on with our pathetic lives but our lives were gone. Obliterated into nothing but ashes swept away on the wind. What happened, I will never forget as long as I live and I will have to carry that burden until the day that I die. But you two don't know. You still have your blissful ignorance. You don't have to carry this burden. So I want you to think before answer, do you really want to know?" His eyes seemed haunted as though the person who did live behind them had long since vacated the premise.

Jekyll1886:  "I'm already involved," stated Weir. He sighed, the weariness showing in his features. "I may as well see it through. I've witnessed much in my time, and taken on many burdens. One more is not like to break me."

Mz.Hyde: Old man, if you know as much about me as you said you did, then you would know the true cause of my pain and my regret....for once in my pathetic, despicable life...I want to do something right. Tell me about her.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo's ears pricked at her words. What exactly did she mean by the "true cause?"*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He smiled at Mz. Hyde's aspiration, "Bring me that chair then," He gestured to a nearby chair behind the desk, "as my joints are not like what they once were and this is a story that will take time to tell."

Jekyll1886:  Lewis went around the side of the desk that was closer to the cells, leaving Sozo undisturbed in the corner as he retrieved the chair. He placed it just behind Nicholas.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Thank you." Mr. Spinks muttered to himself as he sat down, his joints creaking from time and experience, "Where should I begin? The night of the shed-- No that's when everything came to a head. That night of the dinner party--No. That's too early. The first time she came to me with a bruises? No you need to know why she couldn't leave. The first time I met her?" He sighed again and then settled on a setting point, "I didn't meet Allison until she was 14 but I know from people and through people of her past before then so I should start there, at the very beginning of it. At the first fire in Allison's life. I hope she will approve of my telling of her story and I hope that one day she comes to her senses again, enough to tell you of it from her own mouth." Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde nods her head for him to continue.* '''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  And so he began, "Allison Carwright was the only girl in a family of eight and her parents owed a farm outside London. She always talked about it with a smile. She spoke of running through the fields collecting wildflowers as a child, of how the bees would buzz making honey, of how everything was peaceful. They weren't rich but they were comfortable. They were happy. One day on a hot dry summer, one of the family's wheat fields caught ablaze. Maybe due to a errant spark or by some foul means, but it does not matter as what was done is done. The fire spread quickly across the pasture engulfing most of their crop, their home, and her father. Many of the children were injured and their savings, like most of everything else, went up in smoke. Her mother once loving and doting of her little girl, couldn't bear to look upon her face, any of her children's faces. So she sent Allison away to the city to earn money for her family. Her brothers remained at home to rebuild their house, their farm, and their lives. Cast out from her home, Allison packed what little she had left, and traveled to London in response to an add in the paper for a new house maid. That's how I met her."

Mz.Hyde: *She nods for him to continue.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Back in my college days I had a friend named Marcus Lyman. Marcus was...Marcus was a lot of things." The corner of his mouth twitched into a bittersweet smile for a second but then it was gone. "When I first met him he was working hard to make something of himself, to make himself better than his father was. He hated everything about his father. At the start of college Marcus was determined, motivated, and sharp with wit but as his new found freedom pressed upon him...he changed. Marcus began to finally relax, he started to host elaborate parties, joined massive social groups, and ...and all that pent up anger and emotion began to come bubbling out, like a thick toxic sludge. It was a slow change and it began with the smallest things. His wit once used for humor, began to insult. The friends he drew close were crass and harsh. He began attending fights....and then he began participating in them. Marcus's new friends were of no help either, they pushed him on, daring him on and Marcus did not stop. If only he had stopped for a brief moment then maybe...maybe he would have been the Marcus I had first met, forever. Or maybe this was just his fate, he was the offspring of his father after all. Around this time Marcus also discovered the opposite sex, and he had a passion for lust and a lust for passion. I heard a saying once that "To love is to bear your entire soul."," He paused and sighed, "if that were true then maybe Marcus had always been this way for his love left bruises. Each night a new girl and each day they would be gone. I don't know why they kept coming...maybe it was his wit or maybe his infectious enthusiasm." Mr. Spinks shook his head, "I wish I had known. I wish I had stopped him. I...I wish I had done a lot of things. But I didn't and no amount of wishing will change that. Mz.Hyde: Did he hurt Allison?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He flashes a knowing, sad smile at the wall behind her and continues on, "After college we went our separate ways but we kept in touch. Every week I would attend one of his dinner parties where we would feast, talk, and make merry. Marcus opened up a wealthy apothecary. He bought a small house in the nice part of town. He never married. And I...what was I doing during this time? I was wandering through the world looking for meaning, for truth and...and the organization found me. It promised me a purpose, a way to help people, the truth! I shouldn't have accepted! I shouldn't have learned the truth! I should have kept wandering the world! I should have stayed ignorant! I...I should have done a lot of things...." The floor seemed to distract him, or maybe it was his memories all flooding back as clear as day. His throat began to close but he forced it to open, he forced himself to keep talking, he had to keep talking, no matter what he needed to finish the story. God! Why couldn't he just stop now? Why hadn't the world just stopped then? Why must life continue? Why must time turn? Why was it so hard to talk? Why was it so hard to listen? Why must his voice vibrate around his hallow skull and echo through that cavity that his soul should occupy? Why had some force of nature not struck him down by now? Was this his punishment? To continue to wander the London until his feet bled and his joints ached? Would he continue to wander after his body had failed in some decapitated corner of an ally? Death was a mercy he prayed for each day, but he wasn't allowed to die, not yet. There was still to much to do. At times...though he would never admit this...at times he wished that the universe had ended. That his success had failed for his failure would have been a success. If he had known the rewards of his success would have felt like failure then maybe he would have made a different choice, for is no rewards at all the greatest achievement? No reward, no noise, no life, no death, nothing. Just nothing. Not even silence. Maybe then he could finally rest this aching body, this agonizing mind, these torrents of emotions and memories. Just nothing, how nice it would be. But nothing is for those who deserve it, and he did not deserve it. What he did deserve was suffer, to talk of suffering, to remember the suffered. So he did. He kept talking for it's what he deserved. Mz.Hyde: Sorry to hear that.

Jekyll1886:  "Please continue," requested Lewis.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I met Allison her first night working for Marcus. She served me roast and wine. Oh God! She was so young! So small! So innocent! I miss that little girl!" He cried out before recomposing himself to the best of his ability and continuing, "My wife and I were expecting a child, and...and I think I saw her as my daughter to be. I know--I know it's a silly notion but everything looked so hopeful, and she was so sweet... and kind. I took a liking to her as she was scared back then, just having to leave her family to a new city so far away, I though I could help her. We formed a bond, and I wanted to practice being a parent. She was my doll and I was a child playing with her life. I was disgusting. I came to more of Marcus's parties under the lie to get away from my wife who was crazed with pregnancy. This was not my true intention, not entirely anyways. Marcus did not mind or he did not care, for his parties were a place for him to shine and for all to be merry. Then...my wife...she had our daughter, but my girl, my poor girl," he began to choke up at this, "was too perfect for this world! She didn't survive a forth night!" He trembled trying to hold back the emotion and he succeeded. Taking a breath he continued, "M-My wife and I, as you could presume, were devastated. She ran to the work house and I...I ran to Allison. I know I shouldn't have. She wasn't my daughter and I was only using her. I...I was so cruel. I began to visit Marcus's house more, not for Marcus but for Allison, my substitute daughter. She was only 14 but she was the image of beauty! I...I began to bring her gifts like a suitor!...But I swear upon my dead daughter's grave, I only wanted to quell my agony!"

Jekyll1886:  "I understand," said Lewis. "It's not strange at all to think of her as your own. We're human; we form bonds with the people we run into as we go through life. It's only natural. They don't have to be blood to be family." It was readily apparent he was speaking from experience. "We try to do right by them. Sometimes we fail, and we and they suffer the consequences. But the only way we can go is forward. And neither Allison nor Alice is dead, so there's hope for the both of you yet. Count yourself lucky." The ghost of past memories lent a rueful cast to his visage as he said, more to himself than Nicholas, "It could be so much worse."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He half hardheartedly smiled at Lewis, "I'm glad you understand this bond, for it still causes me shame. I know our situation could be worse and it's bound to go that direction as we have already lost our lives. Everyone in this story has lost their life, in so many, many senses of the word. But even so, I appreciate your understanding, as few others took the time to do so." He looks at the ground remembering events that flickered through his pupils.

Jekyll1886:  ''Shame is a construct invented by the manipulative and utilized by the narrow-minded to get us so busy blaming ourselves we won't be able to counter either of them or change the status quo for our own or anyone else's benefit. Slay your shame, and you'll be better able to help those you love'', thought Lewis. But he didn't know if Nicholas was ready for this truth, would ever be ready...so he said nothing and instead simply nodded in acknowledgement.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *Seeing that the others had come to a standstill, if not a truce, Sozo quietly slipped out the door. Not wise, perhaps, but he considered it a prudent move. The younger man from earlier lay crumpled in a heap next to the door. Can't have you waking up and interrupting things. He thought. After some searching he found some spare handcuffs with their keys, and proceeded to secure the unconscious man before tucking him in the uniform closet and shutting the door. He crept back into the room as Nicholas was continuing his tale.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Marcus, saw my growing affection toward her and..." His face distorted in disgust as he spit the next words out like a poison, "...and he said to me one night at one of his dinner parties, "She's a beauty!" I agreed and he continued, "Only 14 too! Imagine what she'll look like as a proper woman, though she'll be a ugly hag if I keep her on too long!" He then laughed at this and I laughed along. Why did I laugh along?!" He swallowed hard and continued, "He then turned to me making sure no one else was listening and whispered in my ear with his forked tongue, "I could give her to you. Just for a night of course, but if that's what you desired then I could make it so." His daemon lips parted into a smile and I turned red. I declined politely and affirmed him my intentions were nothing of the sort. He then slapped me on the back and laughed, "Dear Nicholas! You know I would not judge you for I was thinking of doing the same for myself!" He laughed, I laughed. Why did I laugh?!" He buried his face into his hands, "WHY DID I LAUGH!?!"

Jekyll1886:  "I'm certain, in that moment, you simply didn't know what to do. He had just put forward a shocking suggestion, then followed it up with what must have been, for you, a rather repulsive sentiment. At times, the human response to absurdity is simply to laugh. No doubt you also knew, even if only subconsciously, how much trust he'd placed in you by voicing these thoughts--however loathsome--in your presence. It's part of the unwritten social contract not to betray trust. It's ingrained in us from a very young age. Your response may not have been commendable, but it was natural, perfectly understandable...perfectly human."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "I...I wish I wasn't human for then I wouldn't have laughed! Sure it was of great trust on Marcus's part to burden upon me these ugly notions''and we were friends since college, but I did not want to hear them! If I did not want to hear them then why did I laugh?! Why did I egg him on?! And at the time it must have seemed like absurdity to my innocent ears but--but... Damn it all! But even my innocent and ignorant ears should have understood that this was not a fool's fantasy or the talking of the drink! No! This I should have understood was truth! Especially as he continued!" His face was red with rage. Rage at Marcus and rage at himself. But passionate boiling of his emotions turned to a reluctant simmer, "But that was the past...and now I know better for the future...if that is I have one." He let out a morbid chuckle at this statement.

Jekyll1886:  "Why do you think you don't?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  His eyes grew hard with determination, "Because after what I've done I don't deserve a future, but I also don't deserve to die."

Jekyll1886:  "Then what do you hope for? What would be the best-case scenario, to your mind?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  There were tears in his eyes as he said one word. The one thing he wanted most in the world but didn't deserve. The one thing that haunted his dreams and whispered in his nightmares. The thing he was willing to lay down his life for and the thing he was willing to keep living for. "Forgiveness."

Jekyll1886:  Weir smiled, understanding. He nodded. He cast his gaze to Alice and back to Nicholas. "Then you'll need to live long enough to see it."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  A pained smile pulled at his lips, "Yes. I will as then I'll finally be able to rest." After the bulk of the emotions had crawled from his mouth and now laid strewn about the floor he was able to continue, "Now that we were on topic (such a disgusting, horrid way of getting there), I began to inquire about Allison and he happily told me her story. After listening to the tragedy in her life my desire to be her father figure was only more rectified. As her newly self appointed father I took it upon my being to prevent Marcus from defiling her. I politely reminded him that his image could be ruined if he was found flaunting about with one of his maids, and a young maid at this. Marcus smiled and agreed with me saying "My old friend!" clapping me on the back he continued, "Women are like cheese. The longer you let them sit and age the more tasteful and flavorful they are. But you also must remember that if you wait too long some other connoisseur may come along and break it's wax seal exposing and taking the first bite for themselves. And if you wait much longer after that then it might become old and covered with mold. Keep this in mind my friend, keep this in mind." I nodded and reminded him that I had a wife and he replied with a smile, "A wife who can't even properly give you a child." I wanted to pummel that smile off of his mouth, but...instead we laughed." He looked again at the ground ashamed and didn't even try to justify his actions or fight the emotion.

Mz.Hyde: What happened then?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "That should have been a sign to me. I should have seen it coming! I should have seen it all coming but I didn't want to believe it! Oh God! I was a fool! Why was I such an ignorant fool?! And now...now that I have knowledge I wish I didn't! What a paradoxical world we live in! Can we never be satisfied? Is that just human nature? Thomas Huxley had truth when asking "“If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?” But that's the problem! With too little knowledge man will be in danger and with so much--with so much they'll never be safe again!!" Mr. Spinks cried out as though trying to find some reasoning, some solution in it all but there was no solution, no solution at all. Jekyll1886:  "I've a question for you," said Lewis, attempting to calm Nicholas via distraction.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He glanced up at Lewis awaiting said question.

Jekyll1886:  "What is sexually transmitted and one hundred percent fatal?" he asked.

Mz.Hyde: AIDS?

Jekyll1886:  "Technically, patients die of complications arising from AIDS--incipient infection, for example," he corrected Mz. Hyde.

Mz.Hyde: Yeah, but it's still AIDS.

Jekyll1886:  "Not in this time period, it's not. Now hush. You're simply confusing him." '''Catt Hatter:'''  *Sozo rolled his eyes at their antics.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "What?" he asked completely perplexed by Lewis odd and off topic inquiry and Mz. Hyde's response.

Jekyll1886:  "Life," he revealed, breaking into a beautiful smile. "Whether we've only a little knowledge or all in the known universe, we all meet the same fate eventually." He shrugged. "Danger and safety are relative things. It's how we live life in this moment which matters."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Mr. Spinks smiled at this, "Life, the thing we must hang onto with every dying grasp. I agree that safety and danger are but nuances on this journey, but even if we are to live in the moment that moment fades to the next and then next. Soon you're so far away from where you've started that you can no longer see the road which you've traveled down and only the road ahead and beneath your feet is in your view. The past is important as it tells you what and who you have failed and drives you to do better. We may all meet the same fate but our past defines us and makes us unique, and the only thing to remind you that there is a past is knowledge! Knowledge of the past, your past, of the present and of the future. It tells us we are alive and we are moving forward. We all crave it like an addiction."

Jekyll1886:  Lewis was pleased. Nicholas had calmed down, as he'd intended. The man had even felt compelled to argue a counterpoint, just as Weir'd hoped. Now Spinks could get back to sharing knowledge instead of just talking about it. Outwardly, he merely nodded his understanding. The man did make a good point.

Mz.Hyde: A blessing and a curse.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Agreed." He said and continued his tale. "I guess knowledge, this undying thirst for knowledge that we all have, is what drew me to the organization in the first place. I...I'm not what you call a genius. I have no natural instinct when it comes to the subjects of science, writing, mathematics, or any academia for that matter. But what I lack in general knowledge, I make up for in my ability to seek it out. I attend lectures, I read the papers, I devoured books. It did not matter the subject as I absorbed it all. I also seemed to have a knack of knowing the next big invention. Darwin, Faraday, Callan, Huxley! I was their first fanatic! As I attended more scientific lectures I began to notice the same people over and over again. Even if the faces were different they all had the same calling card, a silver feather tucked into the brim of their hat." He taps the silver feather in his hat. "Eventually I worked up the nerve to approach them. They ignored me. But my drive for knowledge kept me on and my tenacity finally won through. I, for better or for worse, got their attention and for my reward they offered me a job. A job that I couldn't refuse. It was everything that I ever wanted! Infinite knowledge! A purpose! Everything! How could I refuse that?!"

Jekyll1886:  At the mention of Darwin et al, Lewis raised his eyebrows and gave a short nod, impressed. "And what did they get out of it?" he asked when Spinks had finished.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "They got a new pupil, when they introduced me to the world. They lifted this fog of ignorance that hangs over London and showed me the true shining gem beneath that is this city''. It was beautiful! Beautiful! It imprinted itself into my eyes and is forever tattooed onto my meaningless flesh! I shall never, in all my years, forget the euphoria that over came me, instilling a new life into my being!" The remembrance of the emotion itself seemed to set him alight as it glowed through his veins. His once self loathing complexion changed to a brighter hew of hope. "But...But after reveling in this newly discovered world, I was told the truth about the truth. I could never share this knowledge with the rest of the populace. I did not understand why at first and even after they explained it to me, I still did not grasp their meaning." He sighed, "Once again, even in standing in the light of knowledge, I cast an ignorant shadow."

Mz.Hyde: What is the "truth about the truth"?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "That we can never share the entire truth. " He shook his head defeated, "This organization is built around three main principals, principals that we will do anything to uphold. First, with the ever growing potential that science brings, it also brings great danger. We want to protect the world from this danger and prevent the threats that might be brought about by science. Second, the public is a fragile thing, while the achievements brought into this world may be great, it could also harm the public if they are not ready to accept it. Look at Copernicus! He was imprisoned and shunned because of the truth he found, only because the pubic refused to accept it! How can you tell me that this wouldn't happen again? It will happen and it will keep happening if the pubic isn't slowly introduced to the idea in a safe manner. Then once they've become accustom to it, and only then will the accept it and not harm the truth or it's bearer. And Third, we are to remain in the shadows for the less people know about us, the less they know about the dangers and the truth that flows around them every day. I know it must seem harsh to underestimate the public and criticize them but look into our past and you will see that it is true!"

Mz.Hyde: So what does this have to do with what Allison was trying to do?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "You need to understand the players of this opera before I can tell you the plot and unfortunately...the organization and I play a very large part."

Jekyll1886:  "I don't disagree," said Lewis. "Some minds might blaze a trail; others would look at a Victrola and deem it witchcraft."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "Unlike you I, unfortunately, did not believe in this philosophy at first. The first night, after my recruitment, I broke the rules. My wife, my lovely wife, sick with sorrow, who worked her hands to the bone if only to forget our daughter, I tried to tell her that night of the real world but she did not believe me. She called me mad and told me to stop this foolishness, but I did not heed her words. I pressed on, convinced the truth would bring her out of her torment as it had brought me joy. But she turned away in horror. She left our house that night and told me, if I was to ever speak that way again, she would leave me for good. For weeks, months I bit my tongue. I did not utter a word of the truth but it was forever present in my body and mind. It built up in me and clawed at my insides like a beast waiting, wanting'' to be free. Then one night I left the cage unlocked and it got out. I yelled the truth at her, ''into her'', but she refused to listen! When it had finally stopped it's terrible rampage, she collected her thing and left. I have not seen her since." His eyes grew hard and he stared at the door as expecting to see is lovely wife waiting for him, child in arms. But she was not there and never would be. "I had no wife. I had no child. I had no family. All that was left was Allison. So I ran to her. It's shameful I know! I disgust myself! I put all my hope upon this one small, fragile little girl and...and--OH GOD! I DESTROYED HER! I--I thought--I thought I was helping her but I wasn't! No! I was sewing the seeds of her destruction!" His shouts collapsed into whimpers, "She was too young...she was innocent...she...she..." His voice trailed off as the words were lost to emotion. Mz.Hyde: You...you drove her mad?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "If that is how you would describe her current condition, then yes!" He shouted.

Jekyll1886:  "That's not how I would describe it," put in Weir. "I'd say she's simply...in transition. Like a chrysalis before the butterfly emerges. The Allison you knew is past, it's true. As you said, all those moments add up until we're far away from where we started. But an Allison is still here, can still be. Not only that, she has the opportunity to become more fully human than most people could ever conceive of. Whatever mistakes you or anyone else made, she's arrived at a place verdant with possibility."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "I wish I could believe what you say is true, I really do! But considering the last time I saw my'' Allison...she was hopeless. She saw no future for herself. Even if she's reached "a place full of possibility" I do not want what emerges from that cocoon. I do not want that cocoon or that butterfly, or moth, or what have you. I just want my little caterpillar back." He chocked up and tears welled in his eyes, "I just want to hold her one more time. I want to tell her everything is going to be okay and be right for a change. I want to save her from harm instead of putting bandages on her cuts. I want to see her face and hear her voice. I want to be able to hear the truth from her again and know that she's not lying when she tells me that she is happy. I just want her back." Tears began to spill from his eyes, "I just want to tell her I'm sorry and even though I know I don't deserve it...I want her to forgive me."

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde just stood as the man began to cry.*

Jekyll1886:  ''I'm going to ask Harry for a data log of this...for later. For Alice's sake. ''"Let it out," said Lewis softly. "You're among friends and fellow sufferers here."

'''Catt Hatter:'  *Speak for yourself.'' Sozo thought. He never really understood this kind of thing, wanting to be forgiven. It made no sense.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He just sat there with his head in his hands and silently cried. If it weren't for the occasional sniff and the way his body shook as the waves of sobs washed over him you wouldn't have known he was crying at all.

Jekyll1886:  ''He weeps the way I used to. ''He remembered the dreary English church, the cool touch of gray stones, and the welcome, weary solace of solitude. The burning heat of fresh penitence had run him through like a red-hot spike.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Taking a few ragged breaths he let the turmoil pass and waited for the words to return. Words-- stories, they were one of the few constants in his life. "At...At one of Marcus's later parties I confronted her and we began to talk." He sits up a bit and smiles at this but it's filled with pain and he still can't look his audience in their eyes, "Allison told me of her life back on the farm and I asked her how her new life here was. She disliked it but she was becoming accustom to it. I asked her if she ever wrote home and she told me every day but they never responded. I asked her what she missed the most, and she told me the flowers...violets were her favorite." His throat began to choke up a bit at this but he quickly regained composure and continued, "The next time I came I brought a bouquet of flowers for Marcus's house but in that bouquet were blue violets for Allison. This started our blossoming relationship--friendship."

Jekyll1886:  Weir's mind returned to the present as Spinks continued his tale. Violets...I'll have to remember that.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Around this time the papers had picked up tales of mad science: reanimated bodies, ghost ships, pirates and potions! It dazzled her! I do not blame her for being seduced by the grand promises of the impossible for I had been seduced by them myself. With my new found power from my terribly glorious job, I was able to easily scrounge together a collection of works and stories to fuel her passion. It was going to be her birthday present." He started to choke up again at this but got a hold of himself.

Jekyll1886:  "I see."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "It was a few months before her birthday and I was at another one of Marcus's parties when I noticed that Allison was unusually quiet, hiding in a corner. I saw it as my duty to see what was wrong. She took me to another room, a quieter room before she talked. She began to tell me of her fears. Allison had overheard some of the other servants talking of Marcus's unwanted advances and she was worried that the same might happened to her. I attempted to calm her fears saying she was much too young, he wouldn't dare, and these were just old maids gossiping. But this only worried her more. I tried to calm her again, telling her that if anything happened then the monsters from the papers would come and to her rescue. She laughed at this. I laughed too." A melancholy smile came about him, "Now reassured we returned to the party to make marry once again. That night I also decided a month was much to long to wait to give Allison her present and I came to the conclusion that the next party would be a party for her."

Jekyll1886:  "That makes sense."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "At Marcus's next party I brought Allison her present but I could not find her. I stole away from the gathering and began to roam the halls looking for her and I found her. She was outside curled into a ball beneath a tree, crying. Fearing the worst, I approached her and asked what was wrong, what had happened. She told me that Marcus was angry with her today over some spilled tea on his rug. He had grabbed her and ..." he shook his head at the memory as though trying to refuse to continue, "...and beat her. " Nicholas inhaled sharply at this.

Mz.Hyde: Oh no....

Jekyll1886:  ''How badly?'' was Weir's first thought, but he left it unvoiced; it could be seen as inappropriate here. Lewis nodded. "I once knew a man who beat his servants. I've seen what it does to them," he sympathized. ''I'm so glad I killed him. ''If he weren't having to "play nice" socially, he'd have allowed himself a smile.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "And what was your course of action?" Nicholas asked, "What did you try and do to stop it? Or was your action inaction? But...but most importantly did it work?"

Jekyll1886:  "Well," Weir explained, "as it turned out, a confluence of circumstances took their toll on him, and the servants found new employment elsewhere." A pause, a look of concern. "But I've sidetracked you; you were speaking of Allison..."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I wish it turned out that way for her..." He sighed shaking his head before continuing the story, "She rolled up her sleeves to show me the bruises on her arms. They were in the shapes of fingers and hands...his hands. She told me there were more bruises on her ribs and legs....and then...and then she yelled at me that the monsters didn't come and save her like...like I promised her they would!" He's breathing became ragged and he took a moment to recollect his scattered thoughts.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis let out a heavy breath, almost a sigh. "The only monsters in this world are the ones who walk about us every day, sad to say. Men like Marcus, it would seem."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He shook his head at this and continued, "I--I was furious at this, at him. I told her I would talk to him and he would never hurt her again. And she didn't believe me for the monsters hadn't come...and--and she believed me about that and look where it got her!" He closed his eyes and covered his mouth with his hands fearing about what he was going to say next, "But...but what I did next was truly horrific. For in that moment I was truly a monster! Not Marcus! Not the science! No! Those things in the papers and those things that the organization dealt with every day...those things were saints--angles compared to me! Oh! Why didn't God strike me down then and end the dream while it was still that, a dream! Why did it have to turn into a nightmare?!"

Jekyll1886:  "If God struck down every sinner, the world would be a ghost town," he attempted to console. ''Besides, maybe we're more interesting this way. Like ants in an ant farm: Shake things up, see what happens. Who knows? ''But he knew Nicholas had to work through this story, had to purge the anguish if he was to have any hope of reaching absolution. "How did it come about?" he asked gently.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Maybe it would be better if the world was a ghost town...but it is not and my actions still remain the same." He sighed. Taking a moment, he swallowed hard and then continued, "I...I looked her in the eyes and told her the monsters had not failed her.... They had come to save her but they were just a little late. I then pulled out a complied book of every mad science tale I could get hands on. It had stories to last her years! To fill her heart possibility! To stir her mind with inspiration! To make her forget about the bruises and save her from the pain! She took her present, rifled through it...", His eyes watered, "and then ...she hugged me." His face was distorted as his emotions fought for control. Pain, joy, loathing, hatred, euphoria, and dread to name a few. "We sat there under that tree for the longest time. Me learning how to accept her hug and her crying into my chest. She wept in pain, fear, sadness, joy, gratitude, all the emotions a 15 year old could have. If there was ever a moment that she became my daughter, it would be then. And that same moment...that was the moment it all began to come crumbling down around us. That was the moment when the dream turned into a nightmare." His voice cracked and his tears threatened to spill as he stared off into the past watching as a little girl hugged a man, both unknown about the misfortune that was to befall them.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:''' "Maybe it would be better if the world was a ghost town...but it is not and my actions still remain the same." He sighed.

Taking a moment, he swallowed hard and then continued, "I...I looked her in the eyes and told her the monsters had not failed her.... They had come to save her but they were just a little late. I then pulled out a complied book of every mad science tale I could get hands on. It had stories to last her years! To fill her heart possibility! To stir her mind with inspiration! To make her forget about the bruises and save her from the pain! She took her present, rifled through it...", His eyes watered, "and then ...she hugged me." His face was distorted as his emotions fought for control. Pain, joy, loathing, hatred, euphoria, and dread to name a few.

"We sat there under that tree for the longest time. Me learning how to accept her hug and her crying into my chest. She wept in pain, fear, sadness, joy, gratitude, all the emotions a 15 year old could have. If there was ever a moment that she became my daughter, it would be then. And that same moment...that was the moment it all began to come crumbling down around us. That was the moment when the dream turned into a nightmare." His voice cracked and his tears threatened to spill as he stared off into the past watching as a little girl hugged a man, both unknown about the misfortune that was to befall them.

Jekyll1886:  "At least, in that moment, she had someone," counseled Lewis. "If you hadn't been there, she might well be gone from this world already."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "She might have been happier then! Or she might have been at peace instead of trapped! Or at least that would have been the end of her suffering and pain instead! Or...or..." A thousand possibilities filled his mind, a thousand "Or's", as his voice trailed off.

Jekyll1886:  ''Ah, yes... thought Weir, death does seem a ready escape from pain. But we've no guarantee. For in that sleep of death, who knows what dreams may come? Whereas life...is the devil we know. Or think we do. ''He merely gave a sympathetic look.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  With a ragged breath he continued, "The next day I invited Marcus for dinner to which he happily agreed and we ate at this little shop. I had mutton and potatoes. I told Marcus that I heard some uncouth gossip about him that was starting to circulate. When he gave me a suspicious eye I told him that it most certainly couldn't be true and that if he were to tell me his opinion on the matter then it would be put to bed. Reassured I was not out to undermined his reputation, he prompted me to tell him of this rumor. So I did, I told him that he was beating his servants." He shakes his head and his lips were pursed into a frown, "But he...he just smiled and laughed at this saying, "Of course I am! How else am I to get them to obey and understand who their master is?" I think what sickened me the most, at this moment, was that he was proud of it!"

Jekyll1886:  Lewis nodded, understanding.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I tried to point out flaws in his logic. I proposed the idea of paying them for appreciation. "But then wouldn't they fear the consequences of failing," was his reply. I argued that respect could be used instead of fear. "But respect doesn't stick to the blood like fear does." he retorted. Then in one last effort I said that his employees could always leave. He laughed at this, "They can't leave! And even if they tried, where would they go? Home? Ha! Most of these women don't have a home to leave to!" I suggested how they could go to another employer, which only made him laugh harder, "If they got cocky enough to try that I would ruin them, any employer would know there name was vile and even if someone was foolish to hire them,... then I would ruin their bosses name as well." I-I was shocked by my friend's cruelty and it took me a moment to find my words again. Finally, after what felt like ages, I asked him why he would do this. To which he replied with cold, serious eyes, all hint of humor gone, "Because, Nicholas, they are mine.""

Mz.Hyde: I HATE men like that! Treating women like property and abusing them!

Jekyll1886:  ''Ah. He's one of those'', Weir concluded. His eyes narrowed and he opted to close them; his lips pressed against each other as he tamped down a feeling nestled just below his gorge. He swallowed hard, then breathed in...and out, and opened his eyes again. "I know the type," he said with a wan smile and an air of sympathy.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He nods, "I do too and I wish I could have stopped, just one, for once. I thought time and time again of taking Allison into my house, of making her my employee, but I never did. Maybe I was just scared of my reputation or Marcus or losing her. I had no servants and never had. What would the public say? They would say she was a prostitute or that she was my bitch daughter or whatever else their mad minds could come up with as they marked the days away with slander. I should have just said, "To hell with public opinion!", scooped up Allison, and run to a new city! I should have taken her far away from that house or back to her home or somewhere else! I should have saved her instead of trying to put plaster on her wounds! Wounds I could have prevented!" He cried out as the guilt began to suffocate his rational mind. But the guilt was exchanged with acceptance and he continued, "I didn't do any of those things. Instead I let her remain in that house and helped her from afar. I would give her clothes to wear when it got cold. I would give her flowers to smell instead of her own blood. I would give her stories to read when her hope became exhausted. I was just trying to repair the damage instead of preventing it."

Jekyll1886:  "I know it's cold comfort now," said Lewis, "but should you ever chance to run into such a man as that again, please do let me know."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I will...but I do hope I never met another man like him...never again..." He took a breath and continued his tale, "As her body grew her skin and bones got tougher. As her mind grew with knowledge so did her aspirations. As her soul grew so did her empathy and kindness. But even as she aged occasionally we would still sit under that tree together, just like before, her crying and me comforting her." "His beatings became more intense but he was smart. Marcus always hit her where it wouldn't show, just to keep her pristine like a china doll in the public's eye. Just to keep his house perfect." Nicholas spat in loathing.

Mz.Hyde: What a despicable man.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He nods, "I decided that if she was going to be in that house until Marcus said other wise I could at least prepare her for a life, a world outside of it. I began to give her my notes on the lectures I attended. I taught her academia until her skills surpassed mine. I implored her to read the greats, for I saw greatness in her. We would meet and she would tell me of her latest idea. While I couldn't keep up with her vivid imagination I could at least check her work and provide her with resources. We were a good team. It wasn't until we began to write down her ideas that I truly saw her genius." The fondness of these memories made him smile though...it was a knowing smile.

Jekyll1886:  ''You provided her a way out'', thought Lewis. ''An escape hatch, however small, however fleeting. You cared for her. You were her lifeline. ''"You may well have been the only thing that saved her."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I did not save her...I only hurt her worse!" He took a moment to compose himself,"My gut told me that she was the next Newton or the next Bryson, for you kids. My gut was never wrong," He sighed and looked at the floor, "and my gut was my job. So I did my job and told the organization of her, the up in coming scientist with brains that could change the world! I was still very new at the time and my credibility had not solidified itself in my superiors minds but they did listen to my report. After a week of debating and reviewing her ideas, they told me to watch her." Mr. Spinks chuckled at this, "As if I wasn't doing that already! I guess the only difference was now I was being paid to be her friend, to help her, and to guide her." His expression changed to desperation as he realized what he was saying, "But you must understand! Money wouldn't have changed my actions! I was there for Allison not for the organization!"

Jekyll1886:  "I believe you."

Mz.Hyde: I understand, but what happened?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Those next three years were some of the happiest in my life. I would meet with Allison every week either during one of Marcus's parties or away from the house on one of her errand runs. She would give me her latest ideas and I would return the previous weeks inventions with notes and corrections. Even in geniuses need a second pair of eyes. They all need a second pair of eyes...a friend's eyes..." His voice trailed off as the memories hit him like a title wave. Struggling back to the surface before the emotions can push him under again he continued, "I wish I could just stay in the memories of those years forever. Just never move forward and live in those beautiful moments...but I don't deserve that and you two want to know." He took a deep breath and forced himself to continue, "The last time I saw Allison truly happy was on Marcus's 40th Birthday. It really was a lovely night! Marcus had planned the biggest affair! Gourmet food! Amazing music! Legendary Drinks! It was surely a night for the history books! He even let his house servants join in! We all ate and danced and drank and made marry! I even got to dance with Allison." He smiled at this as he could still hear the waltz as clear as the night it was played.

Mz.Hyde: And that's when things went wrong, didn't it?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He nodded solemnly, "She was 18 then, and one of the most beautiful people I had the privilege to know. Not just physically but mentally as well. Allison had really taken to the idea that there were more universes than ours, as I'm sure you're familiar with the theory." He paused waiting for acknowledgement.

Mz.Hyde: I think so, it's called the Multiverse theory or something right? I think I've heard Catt and Dreamer talk about it before.

Jekyll1886:  "Oh, yes," concurred Weir. "I've heard tell there's even a being calling itself the Multiverse Guardian." A pause. "The theory's true, by the by," he put in casually.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "Good, though I've never heard of a 'Multiverse Guardian'," he pondered it a moment and then shook his head in defeat, "I'm glad you understand as I have a hard time grasping it myself, but Allison was an expert on the subject. She had this theory--she had a lot of theories--that she could make her own universe. Looking back, maybe it's because she wanted to get away from that house or maybe she just wanted to start over...I don't know. What ever the reason was, Allison had this idea that it might be possible to make a world in the space in between worlds. However it was just that, a idea--a theory that had only the desire and passion of a little girl behind it and nothing more. But even with so little concrete evidence that this could even be possible, I was not swayed from my duty to support her in what ever'' fancy her mind had taken hold of. She was daughter, in the looses sense of the word, and I was so proud to see her growing up into such an amazing young woman."

Jekyll1886:  "Understandably."

Mz.Hyde: So what did you do?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "That night, the night of Marcus's 40th birthday, as we danced, I told her this. I told her of how proud I was, of how I saw her as my daughter, of how I loved her. She was at first shocked by this, as we had never exchanged these words but then her shock turned to a smile and she hugged me, telling me that she felt the same." Tears began to build in his eyes, "That night, under our tree, I held her as we danced and she cried." "After the song ended, it was time for the guests--me to return home. I did not want to go but it was my time to leave. I grabbed Allison's hands once more, before I left, and promised her that I would always be there for her. No matter what, I would be there with an army of monsters to protect her and support her for she was everything to me. With our final goodbyes I returned home for the night..." He began to choke up, "...I should have stayed..."

Jekyll1886:  Lewis said nothing. He had grown worried at the mention of such a large, significant birthday, such a milestone in life--doubly so when Mr. Spinks had spoken of its elaborateness. No doubt Marcus had...consummated his relationship with Allison, in all its twisted glory, that very night. He shook his head. He really did know the character of such fiends. A wisp of melancholy threatened at the edges of his mind. He sighed. "What's done is done, Nicholas. Would that regret could make it otherwise."

Mz.Hyde:......And then?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  With eyes, wild with regret and breath ragged he continued, "The night had taken it's toll on me and I fell ill. I could not eat nor drink nor move. It was a miracle that I had the strength to write a doctor. By the time I had recovered from my aliment, two weeks had pasted. Two weeks! Two weeks! That was all it took! That was all it took..." His voice was slowly being suffocated by the emotions and memories. "Finally I attended one of Marcus's gatherings when I was well enough to leave the house. Things seemed relatively normal, lively company, glowing Marcus, amazing food. But," he swallowed hard, "But when I went to Allison and I's usually meeting spot, she wasn't there. I know she resided within the house for I saw her prepping the dinner but she never turned up to talk. I was a bit concerned that something may have happened to her however I brushed the thought aside that she must have been tired or recovering from the same illness that I had contracted weeks back. I did not press the matter."

Mz.Hyde: When did you see her next?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "At Marcus's next event but the same thing happened. This time I gathered the determination to find her. After roaming the halls for a time I discovered her sitting in the backyard reading the paper. I greeted her and she jumped. God! Her eyes were wild with fear! But--but she..." He took a breath and composed himself, "But she quickly subdued herself and addressed me in an ...odd fashion. It was as though she was wearing a mask. She still looked liked my Allison but she...did not act,like her." "I asked her why she did not meet me, for I know she saw my presence at the meal, but Allison only replied that she had other obligations. I raised an eye brow at the 'other obligations' in question that she was reading...it was a story about a new rail-line. I sat down next to her and apologized for my absence due to that wretched disease. She stood up and brushed the matter aside stating that her break was over, before walking back inside the house." "These perplexing conversations seemed to grow in number. I would try to address her change in behavior but she affirmed me that all was well and not to worry. When I mentioned her new reserved nature, she claimed to be growing up and needed to learn to care for herself. I asked of her brilliant ideas and she told me that the silliness from her younger years was impractical for the real world. The real world! HA! In the real world those ideas would have changed everything! They would have brought about a new era! ...A new beginning..."

Mz.Hyde: So she just quit science all together.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "She seemed to have quit her body'' all together, leaving some preformed idealized woman...a "proper woman" in it's place. Eventually, we stopped talking all together, though, that didn't mean I stopped keeping an eye on her. It was my duty after all to report back to the organization on her work. I didn't just keep watch her for them but I did it for myself too. I didn't--couldn't believe she stopped her research, just turned off the ideas that flowed through her head like an eternal stream. Needless to say, I informed the organization of her sudden change in mood and it concerned them greatly."

Mz.Hyde: So what did they do?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "They were worried that Allison's sudden shift was a foreboding sign as though a great storm was rolling in on a changing wind. They showed me reports where the subject experienced a sudden personality change that led to rash decisions, miscalculations and eventually...villainy. Sometimes it was purposeful maliciousness and other times it was accidental, but it really didn't matter as the end result was the same: Death. Death of one, many, knowledge, beliefs, it didn't matter something always came to an end. They told me this was the calm before the storm. They told me I needed to find out what was wrong before foul acts were committed and I was to have all their resources at my disposal to do so. They told me I was in charge of this operation. Part of me was proud that I was finally given authority but the other part was just worried for Allison. Allison wouldn't talk to me any longer but I hoped she would talk to someone. I sent in dozens of men disguised as suitors, drunks, friends, anything to try and get her to talk! But they always came back with the same answers she gave me. There was no more science. There was no more brilliance. There was no more Allison. They told me she was repulsed by the idea of science that it made her "faint", but I didn't believe them."

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde quietly waited for Spinks to continue.*

Jekyll1886:  ''Desperation and despair pull people under. A last, mad thrashing for the surface comes in turn. Grasping at the straws of science or anything else is only natural when the undertow lays hold. Any organization worth its title would've helped her before it came to that.'' He felt the thrum of anger rising, a tightening of his gut, an involuntary surge of adrenaline. ''Inappropriate, for this setting. Counterproductive.'' He stopped its spread, a small twitch of his right eye's lower lid the only sign of his internal efforts. The feeling would drain off slowly, over time. He refocused on Spinks and his words.

Hyde without a Jekyll:  "We kept this charade up for two years. Two years of the same answers, two years of nothing. Finally even the organization believed her. They pulled my men and my resources and told me to move on. But I couldn't move on. I couldn't leave her. I couldn't believe that was it, so I pressed on." “I admit, my desire—my desperation to be right drove me to commit acts I otherwise would never dared of doing for I was a proper gentleman, back then. But now…but now I am a wretched thing.” He looked at the ground with self-pity…or maybe that was self-hatred. “I began to follow her. I would sit outside the house, day or night, and wait for her to leave the premise and then I would follow her. I followed her to errands, to meals, to offices and all the day to day tasks but it all yielded nothing. It all told the same story. There was nothing left."

Mz.Hyde: But there was something...wasn't there? Or else Alice wouldn't be over there now.

Hyde without a Jekyll:  He nods, “One night, the months of fruitless endeavors finally ate through me. I, who had been relentless, was finally coming to the conclusion that Allison was now this proper young woman who had no longer need of me. I didn’t want to accept this with all of my being but the world around me said otherwise. In one last attempt I wandered to the back of Marcus’s house and sat underneath our tree. The air was cool and things of the night played a symphony, but I could not see or hear it. The air felt cold and unforgiving and the night seemed to scream in agony, echoing my inner turmoil. The shadows from the trees, the shed, the house, life all seemed to cast over me. I begged for this not to be the end…and my pleas did not go unheard…though—though now I wish they did!” He closed his eyes and waited for the emotion to pass so he could continue. “I was woken from a dream, I do not know when I fell asleep under that tree nor do I know what time I awoke, but none the less I was stirred. The soft closing of the back door and the spilling of the light from a lamp pierced the inky darkness of night and there I saw her, cloaked in an orange light of the flame, slipping through the darkness. She stole across the yard and into the old shed that lay in the far corner of the lot. I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times trying to confirm this wasn’t a figment of my imagination. A hundred thoughts raced through my mind. Most prominent of which was what was she doing in that old shed? The old shed that no one dared to enter for it could collapse at any moment. It was falling apart but out of stubbornness held itself together. Marcus never repaired it or took it down; he couldn’t be bothered or spare the expense so he let it sit. After a time I was assured that the cobwebs of sleep had left me but the faint orange glow that emanated from under the door had never faded away. She was there. I stood up from my hiding place and crept over to the shed trying to peer inside without startling her. If she wouldn’t talk to me before then why would she talk to me now? As I circled around the shed for a hole or window, I was disheartened to find none." Mz.Hyde: What was she doing in there?

Hyde without a Jekyll:  “I didn’t know and I still don’t entirely know but, as I was about to enter and confront her when the doors of the shed creaked slowly open. Startled like a rabbit, I jumped into the nearby foliage for cover. Her lamp burning low, she closed and locked the shed, before retreating back inside the house. I spent god knows how long, trying to unlock that shed but the old padlock wouldn’t ever yield to me! I thought about breaking through the doors but there was a good chance the whole wretched building would come down, burring its secrets beneath the rubble. And then…and then I the most horrid idea came into my head! The most disgusting thought breathed it’s foul words into my ear! And—And I '''listened to it! God! Why did I listen to it?!'''” He squeezes his eyes tight shaking his head before finally releasing the wretched words from his mouth, “…I decided to manipulate Marcus into discovering what she was doing.”

Jekyll1886:  Weir couldn't help but think of Wilde: The only unforgivable sin is stupidity.

Mz.Hyde: What?! You decided to use the man who violated her, who-who RAPED her to discover what she was doing?! Why did you do that?!

'''Catt Hatter:'  *Resourceful, but stupid given the situation.'' Sozo thought, not horribly impressed.*

Hyde without a Jekyll:  " Please! You must understand! I had not know at the time he had raped her, for all I knew he had beaten her and that was all! I shouldn’t have done it! I shouldn't have done it! I shouldn’t have but I was desperate and—and an idiot! I didn't think she would talk to me and Marcus had the keys!” He tried to plead but he knew his actions were unjustifiable.

Jekyll1886:  ''And in the entirety of your organization, was there not one set of lockpicks?'' His lids lowered slightly as he raised his right eyebrow.

Mz.Hyde: Yeah, like that's soooo much better!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "I am a wretch! A b******! I make myself sick but I...I wish that was the end of it...I really do!" The loathing dripped off his words like acid, carving into his flesh Traitor.

Jekyll1886:  No, thought Lewis, you're merely a curious, well-meaning fool.

Mz.Hyde: Just...just tell us what happened to Allison!

Hyde without a Jekyll:  He swallowed hard, the guilt making his stomach lurch, “At our next event, I brought up how one never knows what the servants do when not under the watchful eye of their master. Marcus and I then joked and theorized but I knew I had him. I knew what I did. I had planted and cultivated a seed of curiosity in him. I just had to hope that it would grow strong enough for him to take action by our next dinner. I did not have to hope much, for the next time we met he produced a pile of papers, notes, in her hand writing. He laughed—F*** it! We laughed--at her “fanciful ideas” but—oh god! Why did I laugh!? Why did I laugh!? I was so damn proud of myself, too!,” He buried his face into his hands crying out, “I was so proud! I was so proud that I was right! She was still working and these notes proved how far she had come! Hell! She had it almost figured out! I wanted to gloat right then and there but instead I asked for them on the claim to show my fellow colleague for ‘further mockery’! I was overjoyed!” He spat, “I paraded to the organization that evening like a damn peacock! They all were shocked and then they congratulated me! I was right all along!” He shook his head, his face green with disgust.

Mz.Hyde: What did the papers say?

Jekyll1886:  "Had you any inkling what they would do?" asked Lewis.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He looked at Lewis, despair in his eyes, "They would take the papers, analyze them and then act appropriately from there, if any course of action needed of be taken." He shook his head, "I was still celebrating when they came to me with the news. Allison had figured it out. She figured out how to rip a whole between the worlds and create her own universe. And by her sketches and notes she was close to finishing a machine that would do it, too. But--but there was a problem. Somewhere along the way she had made a miscalculation--a misstep-- that would, if the machine was activated, would create an uncontrollable tear in the universe. It would expand, absorbing everything, obliterating everything into nothingness. It was going to destroy the world--the universe!" "I never saw inside the shed, but, if her notes were any indication, we didn't have much time to prevent this disaster. I begged them to let me handle it as I knew her and that she was my operation. They relented, partially due to the fact that I brought this threat to light and partially from my persistence. They gave me two days and if the correction hadn't been made by then drastic measures were to be used."

Jekyll1886:  ''One doesn't do one's best work under duress'', he reflected regarding Allison. "And during those two days...what exactly did you do?" Or fail to do?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  At first I watched her, waiting for the right time to approached. It was Wednesday...an-and she had just come out of the house for her afternoon errands...I had to make my move then. " He began to choke up. "Disguised as a drunk, as to not give my identity away, I stumbled into her. I took hold of her body before she fell and hurt herself but...but.." He swallows his emotions and continues, "but she screamed out anyway. It was not a yell of fear or a shout of anger but a gut wrenching scream of pain. I steady her apologizing profusely and began to pick up her things...that's when I noticed it. Blood soaking through her sleeve. I tried to address it but she slapped me away. Her face was a rainbow: red of anger, green of fear, and...and purple, blacks and blues... Fresh bruising...and...and his signature was all over it. I--I was shocked! I thought he had stopped! I thought she didn't need me anymore because there no more wounds for me to tend! I thought she was happy! I thought she was safe! I was right on the inconsequential details but not on the WHOLE BLOODY PICTURE!!" He shouted out in anger and despair. Before I could help her she...she had changed. She was so... angry!She hit me, over and over again. She wasn't strong but her fists carried her unspoken hatred. I fell to the ground as she battered me. I-I don't know why I didn't fight back...maybe I finally realized what I did to her...that I betrayed her...or maybe...maybe I thought...I thought that she betrayed me...I don't know...All I know is that I laid there for what felt like eternity until an approaching carriage startled her. She hurriedly picked up her belongs, and fled the scene, leaving me on the cold ground." Jekyll1886:  "You were in shock," realized Lewis. "And then mourning."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "I had one day left and no progress made. I gained broken bones and not a solution. I was beaten physically, mentally, emotionally. I couldn't sleep...not that I had been sleeping. I quit eating. All I could think about was her'', my poor Allison. She was in so much pain...and had been. Why wasn't I there for her? Why did she push me away? So many thoughts crowded in my head! I just wanted to hold her! To make everything better like all those years ago!" The agony and suffering made his voice quiver but not falter as he continued. "I had one day left...one day and one chance to make everything right. I wasn't thinking straight...but I don't think I ever was. I made up my mind to confront her. No disguise. No lie. No organization. Just us." "When night fell, I took up a position next to the shed, knowing she would come. I waited for hours. The house was dark, the street was dark...everything was dark, sleeping peacefully unaware of the danger on the horizon. Then, just as before, the house's door creaked open, the orange light of a lamp spilling forth and there she stood." "As Allison started to unlock shed I stepped out of my shadows, addressing her in a whisper. Startled, she dropped the key with a small yelp. I...I thought my presence would calm her...allow her to open up but it didn't. Her fear turned to the fires of anger and then...it was smothered by her act. She started to mumble an excuse but I cut her off. "Why?" I asked her, "Why did you stop talking to me? Why did you stop coming to me? Why didn't you tell me Marcus was hurting you? Why did you let me help you?" Her act dropped. That proper woman was gone and there stood Allison...but she wasn't my Allison. Her face twisted with anger and in a livid whisper she told me...everything." Mz.Hyde: What did she say?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "The night of Marcus's 40th birthday party, he decided to treat himself...he decided to... partake of Allison. She tried to fight him off but...couldn't. And...she blamed me. She told me that I promised to be there for her but I wasn't! I wasn't there that night or the next! For a week he did this! For a week she fought! And then...when her spirit broke, he stopped for it wasn't a challenge any longer. He threw her to the side, but kept her as a trophy! While... while his violation had stopped, his beatings didn't. And she blamed me. She blamed me for giving her hope for making her promises that I'' couldn't follow through on. She blamed me for not being there to protect her. She blamed me for him. And I understand why...I really do. I wasn't there for two weeks when this all occurred. I was gone after I promised never to leave her and it's all my fault! She wouldn't talk to me because I would only hurt her again! And--And even when she didn't speak to me, I still hurt her! The night after I planted that seed of curiosity in his mind he followed Allison out to the shed and broke in and beat her and then stole her notes! I-I never intended for that! I never intended for any of this! I--" His voice broke off, restricted by emotion. It finally leaked back in after a while, barely above a whimper, "I...I just wanted to save her...I just wanted to save everyone....I just...wanted to save someone....anyone." The tears once again began to roll down his cheeks as he failed to control the emotion this time.

Jekyll1886:  He wasn't at all surprised by Marcus's behavior, though he felt for Allison. And her feelings toward Nicholas were understandable. ''She blamed him more for giving her false hope than Marcus for the beatings.'' But he couldn't help but see Spinks's point of view as well. After all, wasn't that what he himself was trying to do here...and at the Society? And the fellow was eaten up with guilt and remorse. ''Hardly a life at all, that. ''"As do I."

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde once again fell silent, before speaking again.* I...I know how you feel...

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Mz. Hyde's words fell on deaf ears as he continued, "A-After she finished telling me the truth, she hit me again. She hit me and then left me. I did not follow. I did not deserve to follow. I went there to stop her and instead...instead she stopped me. God! God! Why didn't I do my job!" He pressed his head to his hands, the top hat toppling off his head and rolling across the floor, "I went back to the organization empty handed. I couldn't get her to listen... I failed them. I failed her. I could not do one wretched thing right! My two days--my two chances were up and now...now the operation was handed off."

Mz.Hyde: I'm sorry sir, I know how you feel...I really do! But what was Allison working on that was going to Jekyll1886:  A tragedy of errors, thought Lewis.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "They quickly brought in a very important, very powerful member who took charge of the situation. I was to be his right hand man for I knew the case like no other..." He looked at the ground and muttered, "I just wish I knew Allison that well." before continuing, "I quickly brought him up to speed and he made the decision to initiate a drastic preventative action. Their plan risked exposing our agency, as it was something that could never be done discretely in such a short time frame and with so many operatives involved, but at this point any risk was worth preventing the destruction of the world. After gathering the necessary materials and personnel we began." "It was sunset and there were dozens of us. We dressed in our typical uniform but this time we covered our faces with black scarves to keep our identities secret....I didn't want Allison to know I was involved with this, for if she knew she would loath the ground I walked upon, forever." "As we entered the house, we drugged it's inhabitants with a serum that would not only knock them out but also affect their memory. They would be out of the way and in the morning the ordeal would feel like a vague nightmare at the most. We tossed the entire estate looking for Allison or any of her notes that might have been hid however neither were present. Gathering outside we knew there was only one place left, the shed. The leader of this operation pulled me aside and said "Do you know if she has any notes besides those in the shed?" I shook my head at this, "Alright then. We need to confirm this. You and I will go in and interrogate her and scare her into revealing any other places she might have stored them. I want you to follow my lead on this and, while I have her distracted, I want you to collect her papers, and pour the acid, we brought, on her machines. I'll drug her and then carry her away from the shed before we burn it to the ground." I nodded as it was a good plan but...I guess that's why he was the new leader of the operation." "If all went well then Allison would be forced to start over and hopefully correct her mistakes in the process. The organization would have her research to study and determine the best way to prepare society for this world changing knowledge. While this achieved all the organization's goals, part of me just hoped that this would finally give her that new beginning she was looking for. A way to get out from under Marcus's thumb and to make something truly of herself. I know it was a silly idea but...but I was clinging on to any piece of hope I could get." He looked at the ground, ashamed. Mz.Hyde: Go on...

Jekyll1886:  "A good plan, in theory," admitted Weir. "Though I wouldn't have gone with fear." ''Poor girl'd been through enough. 'Bet it was counterproductive at best, a catalyst for tragedy at worst. This organization seems wise in the ways of science, but not of people.''

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He shakes his head, "As the other members encircled the shed, we entered. Allison was hiding under a bench, shaking with fear. What had I done to her?! But I could not back out now, I needed to follow through with this not just for the organization but for the world. The plan was in motion and nothing could stop it now." "As I began to collect her papers, my superior questioned her, "Who have you told about your work?" he asked but Allison denied any knowledge of her research. "Where is your work?" the boss repeated and again she had denied everything. She was so scared. How did we get there? She was happy--we were happy and now...now there was only hate and fear in this decrepit shed! "Is it in here?" The boss looked over at me to see if I had discovered her work. I had found traces of it and nodded solemnly back. Allison kept denying everything, fear in her voice. Even as we ripped the place apart, collecting her work, destroying her machines; she kept denying everything. Under the floor boards, down in the dust, we found a complete collection of her work. I called out to the rest of the members, informing them of our discover...and that was when Allison dropped her act. That's what finally made her snap. Allison went into a rage, screaming--lunging herself at us. I had to restrain her until she calmed down--no not calmed down....until she accepted defeated. "Now she admits to it." My superior joked and I laughed but it was not funny. No. I laughed this time because I could not scream. I could not let myself feel. I could not let my emotions loose...like Allison... I had to be better than that. I had to take the high road. He continued to question her, "Who else knows of this? Do you have other notes?" But she kept denying everything even though the evidence was in our hands. Why did she keep lying? Her refusal for cooperation only made us doubt her words more. We had to be sure she was truthful, so we began to use harsher tactics. "Answer our questions or we’ll kill you." He replied calmly. I knew he would never do this--I wouldn't let him--but it was the only way to protect her, protect the world. We thought that if she feared for her life enough then she would do anything to protect it. It sickened my stomach but I had to help, "NO one will miss you." The harshness of my words--of my voice ...it was demonic! But if only Allison could see the pain in my eyes or hear my thoughts that I would miss her with all my heart, then she would know that I did not mean a word of it! "Do you have any other notes?" He asked her again and her answer was not of denial but instead that they only existed on paper and in her head." He shook his head trying to refuse the reality of his next words,""Well then I guess we’ll have to destroy that too then." He replied and I laughed, for there was no alternative to express...this!" Scrunching his face up in pain, disgust, despair, and guilt he continued to trudge through his tale. "As he injected her with the drug, I whispered an apology, but...but I don't believe she heard it." His voice cracked, his hat on the floor, and his face was wet but he had no dignity left to salvage as it had been absent for years. "We finished collecting the work and destroying the machines. Finally, when we had finished, I carried her out of the shed and onto the grass, where I laid her down. And then...and then I walked away. I could hear the fire crackling behind me as the shed burned. I could feels the wind rushing past me as we all dispersed back into the shadows. I could smell corroding metal. But I couldn't see anything. I didn't want to. How did we get here? How did we get so far from where we stared?" When he finally finished, his eyes were red and he seemed decades older. "That...that was the second time I've spoken of what happened. It doesn't help. Time doesn't make the pain better it only embeds it into the very fabric of your being. Speaking doesn't help either...it only reopens the old wound." He stared past Lewis and Mz. Hyde, his throat convulsing as it tried to contain an animal noise. He failed. Jekyll1886:  "If that's the case..." asked Lewis after a long pause, "then when, pray tell, did she have a chance to ingest the Jekyll-and-Hyde potion?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He was silent for a long time, the tears streaming down his pale cheeks. When he finally spoke, his voice was that of a whisper for anything louder was impossible, "I don't know."

Mz.Hyde: When did Alice first appear?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The internal storm grew and raged on until it could not long be held within his frail body and burst forth from his lips, "Damn it! I don't know! I don't know! I left Allison in the grass! I left her and walked away! She was not found in the morning! Three days later I found her again! I was returning home and I saw her! I called out to her but she did not answer. Fearing she was a figment of my grief stricken mind, I went up to her. My Allison! I thought she had returned from whatever dark corner of London she had retreated to and I tried to embrace her! But she pushed me away and swung at me! Again! I caught her arm this time but I also caught her eyes. They were terrified! They were in pain! They were not her eyes! I let go and that girl ran off down an alley."

Jekyll1886:  ''Then what the Hell did happen?...'' wondered Weir. "I see," he said. "When did you encounter her next?"

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He shook his head, "From there it was on and off. No one knew what she was doing and we tried to keep an eye on her, the organization and I, but she was so hard to track. One minute she would appear in an old warehouse the next an abandoned factor on the other side of town. Over the years we started to piece together what she was doing..." His voice trailed off as his face grew green, "...but what she was doing was...disgusting."

Mz.Hyde: What was she doing?

Jekyll1886:  Lewis merely looked down and to the right, then left, then right again, before flicking his gaze back to Spinks as he began to speak.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "At first we thought she was rebuilding the machine but then..." He swallowed hard before uttering his next words, "...but then the bodies stared turning up. They were in the buildings, the streets, the river. They were often criminals but occasionally--occasionally they the homeless, the poor, the desperate. Whoever they were, the organization had great interest in them and I was charged with collecting them." His stomach lurched at the memories of picking up the carcasses, burned and tortured. "Please don't ask me to describe them. Please! I beg of you do not ask me! I do not know what was done to them and I do not know why the organization wanted them...or what was left of them. I did not ask and I did not care to know, for I have had enough of the truth!"

Mz.Hyde: Why?

Jekyll1886:  He'd suspected as much. A person didn't become an effective torturer without a stomach-churning amount of practice first, after all. ''Hydes... So true to type.''

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  "I do not know! I do not want'' to know!" He screamed, burying his face in his hands.

Jekyll1886:  "I do," ventured Lewis. "But that's neither here nor there. The organization has obviously put you through far too much, and you have my sympathy; you couldn't have known what you were in for. Let me just ask you this: Did you come here on their behalf, your own, Allison's, or a combination thereof? Because I do want to help you--and Allison--but I don't know what their agenda is, what they'd do with...or to...her--and that's assuming they'd tell you the truth of their intentions."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He lifted his head in defeat, "I came here for them--the organization, as I did not know she was involved. They told me someone knew of us and I was sent to ensure their silence, through what ever means I deemed necessary. I have had no reason to doubt the organization. They've only tried to help. They've only tried to make the world a better place. They--"

"Lies." A small voice drifted out from behind Nicholas, it was weak but filled with emotion. Attached to that voice was a small girl, one which many had forgotten about in light of recent events. Alice. She had her back towards them, knees hugged to her chest, and eyes staring unwavering at the beige walls that make up the corner of her cell.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:''' He lifted his head in defeat, "I came here for them--the organization, as I did not know she was involved. They told me someone knew of us and I was sent to ensure their silence, through what ever means I deemed necessary. I have had no reason to doubt the organization. They've only tried to help. They've only tried to make the world a better place. They--"

"Lies." A small voice drifted out from behind Nicholas, it was weak but filled with emotion. Attached to that voice was a small girl, one which many had forgotten about in light of recent events. Alice. She had her back towards them, knees hugged to her chest, and eyes staring unwavering at the beige walls that make up the corner of her cell.

Mz.Hyde: Alice!

Jekyll1886:  Lewis did not like the sound of silence the organization had in store for Alice--and, likely, him. Though he wondered now what Nicholas would do. Weir felt they could have been--or even could become, depending on Spinks's actions--friends. These thoughts stopped dead at Alice's word. His head whipped in her direction. There's life in the old girl yet! He broke into a relieved smile.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  Nicholas's head quickly turned to look at  Allison  Alice'' (that name didn't feel right), "Lies? What reason would I have to li--" "Lie. Lies. Liar. Because you are liar!" Her voice slowly grew in volume and intensity from the weak whisper it had started at.

Jekyll1886:  ''Oh my. Here it comes,'' thought Lewis. ''The floodgates open. Hm. Best to let them flow, I suppose. Flush the poison. ''"Which parts were lies, Alice?" he asked, coming to stand beside Mz. Hyde. He looked at her, then back to the prisoner. "We need to know."

Mz.Hyde: Please Alice.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Nicholas tried to protest, " None of it wa--" "Shut up!"Alice yelled her anger dripping from her words, refusing to turn around,"You lied! She was in the shed that night it burn to the ground! If you lied about that who else knows what you're lying about!" He had to be lying right? But what if he wasn't lying? What if it was all the truth? Alice pushed the repulsive thought out of her head, he had to be lying. It was the only option.

Mz.Hyde: But Alice....if Allison was in the shed as it burned down....then how are you here?

Jekyll1886:  Weir was content to watch the scene play out. These two had history. They needed to resolve it. And he knew he wasn't Alice's favorite person.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  She was silent for a long time. When Alice finally spoke her voice small and filled with fear, "I-I don't know...but I remember her digging out the formula and drinking it right before..." trailing off the scene played before here eyes. The cracking of wood. The stinging of fire and smoke. And then...the shed came down. Nicholas was silent. He had pulled her from the fire. He had tried to save her. He had saved her.

Jekyll1886:  Privately, Lewis wondered whether Alice had any burn marks. That would set the matter straight. But he doubted she'd ever let him examine her. ''Of course, that's assuming Spinks didn't pull her from the fire and that she didn't have a moment of "F*** it all" later and take the potion then.''

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  The air was stale. "I swear on my life she was not in that shed when I left." Nicholas stated breaking the eerie silence. This was the last straw. Alice whipped around, her blue eye filled with anger, fear, despair, and something else; her other eye was dead as ever, "LIER! I REMEMBER HER IN THAT SHED!" "If you remember that then how did you get there? Do you remember me dragging you out?! Do you remember her trying to escape?! Do you remember the truth?!" Nicholas was done with this denial. He had put his heart, his soul, his story out there and he would not let this thing crush it...even if it might be Allison. Alice closed her mouth. She did not remember, no. She remembered Allison hiding under the benches, the silver feather men interrogating her, them injecting her and then...and then it was blank until Allison was digging out the serum with her bloodied and burnt fingers. Why was everything so sketchy? Why couldn't she remember everything--anything!

Mz.Hyde: Alice...if she was in the shed...and got out...then you must have burn marks, right?

Jekyll1886:  "You said the chemicals you injected her with were meant to cause memory loss, didn't you?" Lewis asked Nicholas. He looked from him to Alice. "If that's the case, both things may be possible."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice looked at Mz. Hyde, such an amazing person...why would she waist her time on her? She was just a...thing. A shadow of Allison--no not even a shadow, a fraction of a shadow. She looked at Mz. Hyde and it hurt her deeply. Why? Alice didn't know, but she felt like she at least owed her this. Alice looked at Mz. Hyde then looked down at her hands and then back, "Yes." Slowly, she rolled up her sleeves and removed her gloves revealing scared flesh--burned flesh. The wounds where in all manor of patterns. Long scars more prevalent followed by small burns that traveled down hand across her arms, but underlying it all was faint distortion of the tissues. A discoloring of this that could only be caused by one thing, fire. These were the hands that suffered, that killed. They caused Alice shame so she hid them...but she also loved them. - Nicholas turned towards Lewis, "Yes, it does but wha--" recognition lighting up his face, "Oh! You're right! That could have certainly affected her memory but...it also raises another question. How did she get back into that shed?"

Mz.Hyde: Those look painful...you can hide them again if you'd like.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice nods, quickly pulling her sleeves back down so the cover her hands but she doesn't put the gloves on.

Jekyll1886:  "I'm guessing either your organization or Marcus, if he was conscious by then. Unless it was some unknown person, in which case I haven't a clue. All this assumes that she didn't go back in there by--or for--her own power, however..." he trailed off, letting the words linger in the air between them.

Mz.Hyde: However what?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Nicholas shook his head, he couldn't believe what Lewis was suggesting. It just wasn't possible! His Allison would never do that! "She would never go back into that shed out of her own will! Never! I saved her from that fate! She would never go back in there!"

Jekyll1886:  "The Allison you once knew, perhaps," he stated. "But what of one who thought you'd betrayed her? One who knew you didn't save her and had thereby broken your word? More than that, one who may well have lumped you together with the organization--and leader--you served, whose lead you followed?" A pause for effect. "What might that Allison do?" He looked at Alice. "What might she look like, hmm? What might she think of you, even now?"

Mz.Hyde: But she's not your Allison anymore!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  His face became flush with anger, "I KNOW THAT! SHE HASN'T BEEN MY ALLISON FOR YEARS! For years even before ...this..." His voice trailed off as the passion flooded out of him, "She's been gone for so long... She--She must hate me. She must curse the very ground I walk on for what I did to her." He began to choke up tears threatening to fall, "I betrayed her. I betrayed so many times and...and now she's gone...and I can't even tell her how sorry I am..." Those last words echoed in Alice's mind ''and I can't even tell her how sorry I am.'' How many times had she thought this? How many times did she just want Allison to come back...just for a moment? To tell her how sorry she was for hurting her? Every second of every minute of every day! Why hadn't she come back? Did she hate Alice is that why? Of course that was why. She was always to blame! She was always the problem! Why did Allison make her suffer like this? Did she deserve it? Alice thought she was doing right but...but it was never enough to bring her back. She must deserve it. Right?

Jekyll1886:  "Yes, you can," Weir stated unequivocally. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret," he said, his voice hushed but not so much that Alice couldn't hear. "Two of them, actually. First: As long as the Hyde lives, the Jekyll's still in there somewhere--assuming they've not been physically separated, of course. Second: Those who take the potion voluntarily, and don't do so out of mere scientific curiosity, often have another goal in mind. You see, to become a Hyde is, in effect, a handy solution for the desperate. You get to cease to be--or at least, cease to be as you were, with all that nagging guilt and painful self-awareness. It's a way to die without actually killing yourself." A pause. "And, honestly, if death is looking like a good alternative, who cares if you loose a Hyde on the world in the process? What better tool for vengeance that a fallen angel?" A longer pause. "So would go the thinking, anyway."

Mz.Hyde: What if there was a way to talk to her?

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "Even if what you say is true, how would we even talk to her? Years! I haven't seen her in years!" Nicholas was skeptical but maybe he just didn't want his hopes crushed again at seeing his sweet little Allison one last time. Alice also sat up at this. A chance to see Allison one last time, even if it was coming from Lewis. But it didn't matter she was willing to risk anything--everything to see her one last time. "What do we need to do?" Her voice was determined but her body trembled slightly from fear, anticipation, excitement, hope, or anger-- Maybe all of them at once.

Jekyll1886:  "Give her something to live for."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  They looked at him confused. "She already has something to live for!" They protested simultaneously. Nicholas thought it was himself or a life away from Marcus and Alice believed it was the Society and all the wonderful people there.

Jekyll1886:  "You're both basing your assumptions on a person you don't know." He turned to Spinks. "What she wanted in her younger days may not be at all what she desires now." He addressed Alice, "And what you cherish is, well, yours." He looked into the distance, at nothing in particular. "Did you know...coma patients are aware of everything going on around them, despite all signs to the contrary. When the body is injured, it has to rest. Souls are the same. She's not gone...just recuperating. Even if neither of you sees her, she's there. She'll hear you. But if you do want her back," he said, turning to Alice and Nicholas in turn, "you have to let go of fear. Stop trying to control the situation or force the outcome. Just let it go. She'll come back in her own time...when she figures out what she wants out of life, and is ready to handle it."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  "But it's been almost 5 years!," Alice protested. Meanwhile Nicholas remained silent, thinking about what Lewis said.

Jekyll1886:  "And people have awakened from comas after forty. There's no rushing these things. In the meantime, live your life. You have one, while so many others don't. Don't waste the opportunity."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'  Your life'' this was a new concept for Alice and she flinched at the words. She shouldn't have a life, she didn't deserve one. Allison should be the one with a life, not her. But...what if Catt was right...what if Lewis was right...what if she did get a life? What if she had one already? What had she been doing with it? Hurting people that's what. She had her chance at life and she wasted it on malicious acts, she didn't deserve it any longer. Nicholas had very similar thoughts. He had a life before it was destroyed. Now his life was making up for his past mistakes, saving what was left of Allison. It was much of a life but it was all he had left. Cleaning up after her, as some penance for what he had done. Only after he had amended his mistakes could he finally rest--only after Allison came back could he rest. He was so tired. Alice spoke, hugging her knees to her chest, "It's already been wasted."

Jekyll1886:  "Are you ever aware of your own heartbeat, Alice? One gets only so many beats in a lifetime, and we never know when the last will come. Don't waste any more regretting those which have already passed."

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice nodded. She was a good person! She could fix things! She could make up for what she had done! She still had time! ...Right? But then again, sometimes the only way to solve a problem is to remove yourself from the equation. Maybe that was the solution, to remove herself to prevent any further damage.... No! No that wasn't the solution! She could still fix this!

Jekyll1886:  "Besides, if we don't return with you, Catt will take not only her hatt but my head," he half-joked.

Mz.Hyde: He's right ya'know!

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice smiled at this. She did do something right! She had Catt and Mz. Hyde and hell maybe even Lewis! But what if she just hurts them. What if she only causes them to suffer more? She did hurt Catt what's not to say it won't happen again? Alice has that say! She could prevent it from happening again!

Jekyll1886:  Weir picked up Spinks's hat and handed it to him. "What will you do?" he asked.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Nicholas took his hat back but didn't put it on, "You both are so good to her, in a way I never was." He sighed, "This was going to be the last straw. If I couldn't convince my superiors that she wasn't a threat, then I would have had to take her into our custody." He stood up groaning, "I'm getting to old this. I've seen more than my fair share of the world and I've had more than my fair share of life." He turned around to look at Alice, "I don't know who she is any more. She's not my Allison and I don't think anything I do will her bring back. But you two," He turned back to look at them, "you two know her. This her."

Mz.Hyde: *Mz. Hyde pokes her head through the bars.* Alice? Are you ready to come home with us?

Jekyll1886:  "And you," he added. "It's been a genuine pleasure, Nicholas." He extended a hand. It was up to Spinks's discretion whether to shake it or use it to hoist himself up. Weir felt the chap had more than earned the courtesy.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Nicholas stood up and then shook Lewis's hand, "And you Dr. Weir. Thank you--both of you for finally allowing me to understand that it was not my job to protect Allison until she finally returned to her senses, but to protect her until she could finally have a safe place to call home, with people who love her, and will look out for her when I no longer can. It is in my personal opinion to release Allison into your custody but if I do so I must make some rules very clear." His face grows serious, "Allison cannot ever pull a stunt like this again. She cannot ever get on the organization's nerves. She cannot ever become out of control. It will be your duty to make sure this doesn't happen as I will no longer be here to protect her from them and they do not know her story like I do." Alice looks up at Mz. Hyde, her face full of hope, "Can I come...home?" Though the word felt foreign on her tongue it somehow felt right.

Jekyll1886:  "I don't think that will be a problem," said Lewis. "She only did it this time because she thought my presence at the Society might endanger it after that organization lad tried to tail me the other night. Now that you've set the matter straight, I believe we can lay it to rest."

Mz.Hyde: Yeah! You know...with me, and Lewis, and Catt, and Nex, and Dreamer, and Helen, and Elania, and everyone! We paid your bail and everything, but I guess if you WANT to stay in a musty, old prison cell...that's cool too.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He smiled at this, "Good. Now that my job is finally complete I'm going to take a much needed leave...maybe I'll finally get to see France." He chuckled to him self and then looked down at the hat in his hand, "I don't think I'll be needing this anymore but perhaps you could find some use for it, as you seem to have a find collection of top hats already." He holds out the organization's iconic hat--a olive branch and nods to Catt's top hat. "I...I would like to come home." A grin lights up her face and she stands.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis chuckled. "Very true. Thank you," he said, accepting the offer as well as the topper. "And I'm sure you're going to love France. Paris speaks for itself, but if you want to relax, Grez is a lovely little artists' colony, right in the middle of the Fontainebleu Forest." He took off the hatt and replaced it with Nicholas's.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The Hatt was mildly offended by the gesture, but also understood it's purpose.*

Mz.Hyde: So would we! * She holds up the key to the cell and puts it in the lock.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice stepped out of the cell, now free from so many cages that once plagued her, though new chains now bound her but their weights were lighter and she had  friends  family to help carry the load. -- Nicholas chuckles, "I'll have to keep that in mind! Thank you for the tip!" He turns and begins leave but stops at the door, "Oh! One last thing before I go, did Allison ever complete her work? Did she ever finish that new world?"

Jekyll1886:  Lewis placed the Hatt on Alice's head. ''No sense running the risk of anything ill befalling her on the way home. ''"I honestly don't know," he replied, looking to Mz. Hyde and their new charge for an answer.

'''Catt Hatter:'''  *The Hatt made a sound uncannily similar to a huff as it was set on Alice's head.*

Mz.Hyde: Well Miss. Alice, how was your first night in jail? * She grinned.*

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice grins, "It was a bit cold...and the food was terrible!" When the huge hatt encompasses her head it startles her at first but the familiar smell of Catt quickly calms her fears. Turning to Lewis and Mr. Spinks she answers the question, "I did...it's in her satchel now but...it didn't bring Allison back." Nicholas looks a bit worried at first however he relaxes, "I wouldn't have expected it to, but in that case I should warn you, then. The scientists at the organization predicted that if her work was to be completed there was a danger. If the container that stabilized the tear between the universes was ever damaged, the consequences would be dire."

Mz.Hyde: Then I guess we'll just have to keep it safe.

Jekyll1886:  Lewis's eyes widened at the new information and he drew in a soft breath, but then Mz. Hyde spoke, and her words reassured him. He nodded his agreement. ''And if that so-called Multiverse Guardian is worth a farthing, he'd better not let that come to pass. Or we will have words.'' He had half a mind to speak with him as it was.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  He smiles, "Please do and..." he hesitates and for the first time all night he seems... relieved, as though a weight has been lifted and it has. He's finally found what he's been searching for. Not Allison, not what she could provide him, but something that only himself could give, "Thank you, for everything." With that he took his leave. In the hallway he found a top hat with a silver feather lying on the ground. Damn kid!, he chuckled to himself as he picked up the hat and quit the station, walking out into the light of day.

Jekyll1886:  Weir smiled. Things rarely went so well. "Shall we?" he asked Mz. Hyde and Alice.

'''Hyde without a Jekyll:'''  Alice nods, a permanent smile on her face, not caring about the past or the future but for once just enjoying the moment, "Please."

Mz.Hyde: *She puts Alice's hand in hers.* Let's go home.

Epilogue
Jekyll1886:  After all was said and done, Alice and Catt had been reunited, and Lewis had gone home, he took a moment to pull a slim device out of its hiding place. He attached a filigreed, copper-mesh circle to it, gave this a half-turn clockwise, and spoke. "Harry?" A few moments' pause. "Yes?" "Would you mind jaunting this data log back? I won't have need of it after all." "Not at all. Simply place it on the ground and give me approximately ninety seconds to lock onto it." "Thank you." Weir set it down and stepped away. "No trouble at all." Eighty-nine seconds later, the last physical evidence of Alice's regrettable night with Catt ceased to exist in their universe.

Forgiveness Part 2

Forgiveness Part 3