Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 45

 

45                Escape

 

Doctor Jekyll was never any better in the outdoors, but his survival instinct kicked in. He had awakened in the woods, dazed, and bruised. His hands felt as if he had punched the wall once too much; the knuckles bloodied then. His body was covered by cuts. He was in knee-length pants and without a shirt. He recalled the cell and the animals. That was about it. Rosa had asked of his mind but could not recall of her. He remembers coming to the castle that was the home of Lord Dennis.

“Lord Dennis is a good friend and will protect us.” Count Vlad told him then.

They were met by the staff and led to rest in the rooms. It was all formality offered by the staff, and Lord Dennis was not seen. The doctor was invited to the other level, leaving the count and Rosa. He had obliged, although then he was tired and concerned about the other two. He was led to the lower level and was surprised to see the elaborate laboratory there.

“Hello, Henry Jekyll.” That was Doctor Manfred, whom he knew greeting him there. He was to run, and the blow on the back of his head rendered him unconscious. He woke up chained to the wall's double chains at the wrists and ankles, one that fits him and another set wider, and in a cell with reinforced steel bars.

“Good day, Doctor Jekyll. I must apologize the way you are detained.” Doctor Manfred stood there outside of the cell with two armed guards.

“Schmidt Manfred! You bastard.” Doctor Jekyll called out. “Why are you here? To take on another’s work and make it yours.”

“Come now, Henry. I had commended you with your honorary title. Surely, I should be too, as we are both men of science. I have my contributions published and acknowledged in the journals by our peers.” Doctor Manfred smiled.

“Oh, you have not. Your contributions are deemed radical.” “Manfred, you have earned nothing to your name but deceit and taking in over other’s works. Doctor Noel Jacobs’ works on the blood disorder were hijacked by yourself, though he invited you in to work on the later parts of the research.”

“No, it was research that we were both doing and the race is whoever crosses the finish line first.” Doctor Manfred smiled. “Jacobs faltered near the end while I completed the equation. I never proclaim myself to be a partner with him. I merely lent my expertise.”

“You stole his works!” Doctor Jekyll shouted. He felt then the range in him surging and had to restrain himself. He cannot display his other self. It was a fruitless effort on his side.

Eventually, Mr. Hyde surfaced and broke the manacles, but the second set of reinforced steel held the monster to the shackles. That was when he bruised his wrists. Mr. Hyde was tested relentlessly, and even the sight of Rosa dragged before him and ravished to taunt him.

Soon, he was free of his chains, but restrained in the cell.

“Daisy….” Doctor Jekyll calmed his emotions. He was still in the woods and was near the location where he dreaded most—the burial spot of Daisy. She was buried in the family cemetery plot; some distance from the castle but within the estate. He was there last when they buried the casket.

“Daisy….” Jekyll recalled the sweet lady he once befriended and later was to challenge to win her heart with another rival.

“Edgar Wallace, you are not her type.” Jekyll told the other suitor. “You are brash, and... brawns occupied your brains.” Edgar Wallace is the son of the Rear Admiral, who got promoted to full Admiral with his political connections and became No. 2. Edgar was a lieutenant in the Navy and knew Jekyll and Daisy since childhood.

When Daisy was sent to study chemistry, Edgar was in the Naval School for Cadets, but he spent his break with Daisy. And of course, Jekyll tagged along.

“And what makes you think you are any better, Henry?” Edgar had known Henry long. “You have a long list of indiscretions with the girls. You were never a one lady’s man.”

“Sow thy seeds when young, my uncle once told me.” Henry Jekyll laughed. His uncle was a renowned banker. “Deposit them well but stay faithful at the last apple tree.”

“I am to be a commander of a naval ship, and with her, I will pour my love and care only for her.” Edgar had declared his intention. “I will sail or sink with her.”

When Daisy died, Edgar was devastated, and to preserve his son’s sanity, the Admiral sent him off to sea. He was given the seaman’s hardship so that he would toughen up. Meanwhile, Henry, then a certified chemist, went into recluse with his study of blood.

“Daisy……” The doctor stared from the distance at the cemetery plot. “I tried very hard but could not find the cure.”

“I am sorry.” Doctor Jekyll tears rolled down his cheeks. It was then he felt the presence of another in the woods. He turned and saw the young lad there. The lad was startled and was to run when the doctor grabbed hold of his left arm.

“Who are you?”

“I am Jake. I... I was in the woods to find... wild mushrooms.” The lad struggled to break loose. “Who are you?”

“Are you from the city?” Doctor Jekyll asked.

“I live near there. My mother sells the mushrooms at the market place. My dada is a butcher there too.” “Do you know Holmes? Sherlock Holmes, Baker Street.” Doctor Jekyll asked. The lad shook his head.

“Can you try to find him? Tell him you saw me, Doctor Henry Jekyll. Tell him where I am. Also tell him I need his help. Tell him to get Mycroft to bring more help here quick.” The doctor looked at the lad. “He will pay you one pound. I will repay back to Mr. Holmes.”

“Please do it for me.” Doctor Jekyll looked at the lad.

“I am in trouble here.”

In the castle, Lord Dennis stared at the gathered. The admiral had arrived there then.

“I want Henry found. Dead or alive.” Lord Dennis said. He looked towards Doctor Manfred, who was present. The doctor had presented his details of the event that led to the escape of Doctor Jekyll, aka Mr. Hyde. He had assembled two dozen armed servants to check the surrounding places at and near the castle.

“I have my men on the roads and also in your estate.” The admiral spoke out. “They will report of any unusual activities there. And the coppers are checking on all homes and farms for strangers in the county.”

“The Syndicate men will do their parts at the city.” The professor, aka Radu, was there too. “Five of my best are guarding the count and his servant.”

“For us to lure Mr. Hyde out, we need a bait.” The professor laid out his plan. “I intend to use the servant as bait. She will be impaled in the garden, and her blood will be drained into the pot below. She will remain alive for like two hours at most.”

“No! I cannot allow that.” Lord Dennis called out. “We are not ……”

“Barbaric, Lord Dennis? We are not... We are the Syndicate.” The professor glared at the Lordship. “I want Mr. Hyde captured and tested to find the cause of his transformation. The Syndicate will be stronger.”

“Can we do it... more humanely?” Lord Dennis, despite his involvement in the Syndicate, was not looking for bloody scenes.

“Professor, only five of the super-warriors are standing. We lost one in the battle. The other batch needs... organs to transform.” “Doctor Manfred, do we lack volunteers here?” The professor looked towards the doctor. “Get them from among your team. I want the Super-warriors to be doubled.”

“And release the cats. They will hunt our prey for us. And thereafter, we can hunt them.” The professor gave the command.