Chapter 23

We landed around eight. We walked the shore for a bit, soaking in the fading light, then headed to the inn. We just chilled, looking at the water, woods, and mountains - they were dark, but you could still see their shapes. The wind, which had died down in the south, picked up hard from the west.

The moon was high and starting to sink. Clouds zipped across it faster than a hawk, dimming its glow. The lake mirrored the busy sky, even more chaotic thanks to the waves starting to build. Then, a serious downpour hit.

I’d been cool all day, but once night made everything blurry, a million worries popped into my head. I was on edge, keeping a close watch, my hand gripping a pistol tucked inside my shirt.

Every noise freaked me out, but I was determined to fight for my life and not back down until one of us was gone. Elizabeth noticed I was all over the place, quiet and scared. But she could see the fear in my eyes. She started shaking and asked, "What’s wrong, Victor? What are you afraid of?"

"Oh, chill, babe," I said. "Tonight’s rough, but it’s just tonight. Everything will be fine. I was stuck like that for a while, then it hit me - how terrifying this fight would be for my wife. I begged her to go to bed, saying I’d join her once I knew where my enemy was.

She left me, and I spent a while wandering around the house, checking every corner for a hiding spot for my enemy. I couldn't find any sign of him, and started to think maybe something lucky had happened to stop him from carrying out his threats. Then, suddenly, I heard this awful, piercing scream.

It came from the room where Elizabeth had gone. As I heard it, everything clicked - the whole truth hit me. My arms just dropped, and I froze; every muscle went still. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins and tingling in my hands and feet.

It only lasted a second, but then the scream came again, and I bolted into the room. Oh my god! Why didn't I just die right then? Why am I even here to tell you about the destruction of the best, most amazing person on earth? She was there, lifeless, lying across the bed.

Her head was hanging down, and her pale, messed-up face was half hidden by her hair. Everywhere I looked, I saw the same thing - her bloodless arms and relaxed body, tossed onto her wedding bed by the killer. Could I even live through this?

Sadly, life is stubborn and holds on tight, even when you hate it. For just a moment, I totally lost it; I just collapsed to the floor.

When I came around, I was surrounded by the inn's crowd; their faces showed pure terror. But others just seemed to be mocking, like a faint echo of what I was feeling. I bolted to the room where Elizabeth lay, my love, my wife - just recently alive, so precious, so deserving.

She’s been moved from where I first saw her, and now she's lying with her head on her arm, a handkerchief over her face and neck. I could’ve thought she was sleeping.

I rushed to her and hugged her tight, but the lifelessness and coldness of her body told me that what I held wasn’t the Elizabeth I’d loved and cherished. There was a brutal mark on her neck, and her breath had stopped. Still grieving, I looked up.

The room had been dark before, and seeing the pale yellow moonlight flood the chamber gave me a jolt of panic. The shutters were open, and I saw the most horrifying, disgusting figure at the window.

A grin was on the monster's face; he seemed to be taunting me, pointing with his evil finger toward Elizabeth’s body. I charged toward the window, pulled a pistol from my chest, and fired. But he dodged me, jumped, and with lightning speed, plunged into the lake.

The gunshot brought a bunch of people into the room. I showed them where he’s disappeared, and we searched with boats. We cast nets, but it was no use. After hours, we came back, defeated. Most of my friends thought it was just a figment of my imagination.

Once we were on land, they split up to search the area, heading in different directions through the woods and vines.

I tried to follow them, but I only made it a little ways from the house. My head was spinning, and I stumbled like I’d had too much. I totally crashed, completely wiped out; a haze covered my eyes, and my skin felt scorched with fever.

They carried me back and laid me in bed, and I barely registered what was happening. My eyes darted around the room, like I was searching for something I’d lost. After a while, I got up, and without even thinking, I crawled into the room where my beloved lay. Women were crying all around.

I leaned over, and my tears joined theirs. My mind was a total mess, though - just random thoughts bouncing around, all tangled up with my bad luck and why it was happening. I was seriously freaked out, lost in a mix of shock and horror.

William’s death, Justine’s execution, Clerval’s murder, and now my wife... I didn’t even know if my last friends were safe from that monster. My dad could still be suffering, and Ernest might be gone too. That thought gave me chills and snapped me back to reality.

I jumped up and decided to head back to Geneva ASAP.

There weren't any horses available, so I had to head back by the lake. But the wind was totally against me, and it was pouring rain. Still, it was barely morning, so I figured I could make it by night.

I paid some guys to row, and I grabbed an oar myself - I'd always felt better when I was moving my body. But the sheer amount of misery I was feeling, and how worked up I was, just made me useless. I dropped the oar and rested my head in my hands, letting all the bad thoughts just wash over me.

When I looked up, I saw stuff I knew from happier times, places I'd looked at just the day before with her - now she was just a memory. Tears were streaming down my face.

The rain had stopped for a sec, and I saw the fish jumping in the water, like they had a few hours earlier - Elizabeth had been watching them then. It's brutal when things change so fast and drastically.

The sun could be shining, or the clouds could be rolling in, but nothing looked the way it did yesterday. A total nightmare had ripped away every chance of happiness. I was the most miserable person ever; it was a one-off, a seriously messed-up thing to happen.

But why should I even go into what happened after that? My story’s been a total horror show; I hit rock bottom, and anything else I tell you will probably just drag on. Just know that my friends started disappearing, one by one. I was totally alone.

I'm completely drained, and I'm just gonna tell you, in a few words, what’s left of this awful story.

I got to Geneva. My dad and Ernest were still around, but Dad totally tanked when he heard the news I brought. I can picture him now, this awesome, respected old guy!

His eyes were just wandering, like they'd lost their spark - his Elizabeth, who was more than just a daughter, the one he adored with all his love. You know, a guy who’s getting older and doesn’t have a ton of people left, so he really holds onto what he has.

Seriously, I curse the person who brought so much misery to his silver hair and doomed him to waste away in sadness! He couldn’t handle all the awful stuff happening around him; his life force just gave out. He couldn’t even get out of bed, and he died in my arms a few days later.

So, what happened to me? Honestly, I don’t even know. I just lost it, and chains and darkness were all I felt. Sometimes, I’d dream I was wandering through fields of flowers and chill valleys with my old friends, but then I’d wake up in a dungeon.

I was super down, but slowly I started to understand my situation and all the bad stuff I’m dealing with. Then, I was finally released from my prison. Turns out, they thought I was crazy, and for months, as far as I could tell, I was stuck in a single cell.

But freedom didn't mean much to me until I started thinking clearly and, at the same time, wanting revenge. As I remembered all the bad stuff that happened, I started thinking about why - the monster I created, this pathetic demon I unleashed on the world to ruin me.

I was consumed by this crazy rage when I thought about him, and I desperately wanted to get my hands on him and totally destroy him.

I didn't let my hate just simmer, you know? I started thinking about how to actually catch him. So, about a month after I got out, I went to a judge in town and told him I had something to report. I knew who destroyed my family, and I needed him to use all his power to find the killer.

The judge listened closely and was really nice. Don’t worry, sir, he said. I’ll do everything I can to find this guy. Thanks, I said. Listen to what I have to say. It’s a wild story, I know, but you gotta believe me. There’s something real about it, even if it sounds crazy.

"It wasn’t a dream, and I’m not lying about anything." I kept my cool as I spoke, but I'd already decided I was going to hunt down my destroyer and not stop until he was gone. That focus calmed me down, for a little while anyway.

I told him my story, keeping it short and to the point, remembering all the dates and not getting all worked up. At first, the judge looked totally shocked, but he started paying closer attention as I went on.

"I could see him shudder sometimes, and other times his face showed real surprise - like he actually believed me. When I was done, I said, "This is the guy I’m accusing, and I’m asking you to use all your power to bring him in and make him pay.

"It’s your job as a judge, and I think you’ll do the right thing."

This address totally changed the look on my listener's face. He’d heard my story with that kinda half-belief you give to tales about ghosts and stuff; but when he had to act on it officially, all his doubt came flooding back.

Still, he replied calmly, "I’m happy to help you out with this, but the creature you’re talking about seems to have powers that would just shut down anything I could do. Who can chase an animal that can cross the ice sea and live in caves and dens where no one would even dare to go?"

Plus, it’s been months since he did what he did, and nobody can guess where he’s wandered off to or what area he’s in now. "I’m sure he’s lurking around where I live, and if he’s taken refuge in the Alps, they could hunt him like a chamois and take him down like a predator.

"But I get what you’re thinking - you don’t believe my story, and you’re not gonna go after my enemy with the punishment he deserves." As I spoke, fire flashed in my eyes. The magistrate looked freaked. "You’re wrong," he said.

"I’ll do everything I can, and if I can catch this monster, you can be sure he’s gonna face consequences for his crimes. But honestly, based on what you’ve told me about his abilities, I think it’s gonna be next to impossible."

So, while we’re doing everything we can, you should brace yourself for disappointment. "That can’t be; but anything I say won’t really matter. My revenge isn’t your problem; even though I know it’s a bad thing, I gotta admit it’s the only thing consuming me.

"It’s insane to think that the murderer, the one I let loose on society, is still out there. You’re denying my fair request, so I’m left with just one option - I’m dedicating my life, or my death, to destroying him."

I was seriously shaking, like, totally rattled, when I said that. There was this wildness in how I was acting, and I bet I looked fierce - like those old martyrs, you know?

But to a Genevan judge, who was preoccupied with way different stuff than faith and bravery, it just looked like I was losing it. He tried to calm me down, like you would a kid, and went back to my story, thinking it was just a fever dream.

"Dude," I yelled, "you’re so clueless with all your supposed wisdom! Seriously, you don’t even know what you’re saying." I bolted out of the house, super annoyed and messed up, and went off to figure out another plan.