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I sat for some time considering the laboratory. With Victor in the cottage, I could not destroy it. And I was not ready to face him. He still thought me an angel, still thought he had protected me by keeping me unaware of all this. I did not know how he would react if he knew that was not the case. Doubtless he was already close to his breaking point, which could trigger a blind rage or a delirious fever.

I could only hope he would suspect the monster had taken Justine’s body after Victor refused to resume working his dark arts on her. Victor needed to believe I was innocent of any knowledge of his actions. Would that I could erase all I had done and seen!

Just as I was determined to creep back down to the dock, I again heard the approach of footsteps. My breath caught as I anticipated the monster’s return. But no. There were several sets of footsteps. Someone pounded on the door to the cottage.

“What is the meaning of this?” Victor asked.

“We are arresting you in connection with the disappearance of Henry Clerval. And we want to question you about several mysterious deaths in the area.”

“This is an outrage!” Victor said. “I cannot be held accountable for the actions of that fool. I certainly cannot be arrested for them!”

I prayed that he would not fly into a fit. If he lost control, it would only prove to them that they were right in their suspicions. I longed to run out and tell them the truth: that Henry Clerval was brokenhearted, not missing, and that any suspicious deaths were doubtless the work of the fiend, seeking everywhere to sow his murderous chaos and make Victor’s life a living hell.

But how could I make my case without sounding like a madwoman?

“Tell me where my son is!” a voice demanded. Henry’s father. So he had found Victor. There were some scuffling noises and a metallic clink, though nothing that sounded like a struggle.

“Look in that building,” one of the men directed. I froze, then darted behind the door. It opened inward, perfectly shielding me. A dark figure peered inside. All that greeted him was an empty table and the lamp I had thankfully dimmed.

He backed out and closed the door. “Nothing in there.”

“Nothing?” Victor exclaimed, his voice getting higher. I trembled, fearing what might come next. But he began to laugh. The sound had an edge to it that was worrisome, as bitter and howling as the night. At least Victor did not seem to be fighting them.

I collapsed against the wall with relief. If they had come but an hour earlier, they would have found Justine’s body! Doubtless they would have assumed evil on Victor’s part. I had not saved him from the monster. But I had saved him from himself and from the false judgment of the world. Though he was not entirely innocent—he had created the monster that had done these things—he was no murderer. His crimes were pride and ambition, stepping beyond the boundaries God set for the world. How did one punish those? The monster, surely, was punishing him enough.

The footsteps departed, taking Victor’s laughter with them.

I weighed my options, agonizing over my next course of action. Should I follow them? Plead Victor’s innocence?

And then I laughed. The monster, in its evil spree of violence, had created the safest refuge imaginable for Victor. It had no hope of getting to Victor in a prison cell. And I knew from the letters I had read that Victor’s father was already in the country. He would find Victor and easily secure his release. After that, they would travel home together, again preventing any mischief from the monster, which seemed loath to be seen by anyone but Victor.

I had not destroyed the monster, nor had I directly rescued Victor. But my trip here was not in vain.

After giving the men enough time to get their boat off and out of sight, I went back down to my own sad cargo. I practically crawled down the trail, hiding and looking behind myself for fear the monster was still on the island and would surprise me. But no one accosted me. I was alone.

I rowed back to the mainland in the dark, grateful that the fates had at last shown respect for Justine by calming the wind and giving me glassy waters. At the nearest visible town, I pushed us onshore. The spire of a church called to me. It was the work of a miserable hour carrying Justine’s body there, and then another few hours digging a grave with a stolen shovel. But the ground was soft and wet with recent rain.

I could not dig in the middle of the graveyard, but I did on the nearest border, beneath weeping boughs of a tree. Graveyards had never held any horror for me—though now I knew death was not as permanent a state as I had thought—and I relished the peaceful work of honoring my best friend’s earthly remains.

I held her body, placing a last kiss on her forehead. That was the one kindness amidst all this horror: I was able to say a proper goodbye to my truest, dearest Justine. Then I lowered her into her grave and let the earth claim her.

It was far less than she deserved but the most I could offer her. I gathered a bunch of thistles that were her favorite color and left them on the freshly turned dirt.

Morning dawned as bright and clear and terrible as glacial ice, and with it, my path:

The monster had promised its revenge on Victor’s wedding night. That meant I would know an exact time and place where I could expect it to show itself. And then I could end its sorry, hateful existence once and for all.

I would be ready.

Dear Elizabeth,

You cannot imagine my relief—and Victor’s—at hearing you are once again safe at our home in Geneva. I do not understand why you left but require no explanation. My joy at your return is enough to soothe all injuries.

You were probably quite surprised to come home and find my letter relating that I am in England. Circumstances necessitated that I travel here to defend Victor from baseless accusations of wrongdoing, leveled by Fredric Clerval.

I am sorry for your sake and for Victor’s that Henry grew to be such a disappointment, but I resent him for creating such trouble for us. I wonder if perhaps it was his plan all along as jealous revenge for Victor’s greater brilliance. Their family has been against ours all this time!

With Victor’s freedom secured, we are even now traveling back to Geneva to be reunited with you. Ernest remains in Paris at school, which is best for the time being. Let him grow and learn in peace, free from the spirit of mourning that naturally and inescapably suffuses our house at this time.