The monster answered, its tones so low I could not understand the words.

“Never will I create another like you, equal in deformity. Leave my sight forever.”

There followed a conversation that, because of some shift in position, I could not make out. Victor was enraged, and the garbled and tortured voice of the monster was impossible to interpret. I imagined he shrieked and growled, grunting his wishes and forcing Victor to glean some meaning from them.

Finally, Victor shouted, “Devil, cease! Do not poison the air with your filth. I will have nothing further to do with you. I am no coward to bend to your threats. Leave me. Nothing can bar me from my decision.”

My heart soared. Though I had removed Justine, it was evident Victor had already repented of his willingness to do the creature’s bidding. He would not have brought her back to life, even without my intervention.

And in that moment, I understood in part what had driven Victor in the first place. Because as soon as I knew Justine would, of a certainty, not be brought back…I wondered if she could be.

If I knew I would get her back—even without a soul, with just her heart and mind—would I ask him to do it?

It was more tempting than I cared to admit. I, who had struggled so, who had loved so little in my life, could be tempted to break the very laws of God. Could consider tampering with a creative force that had obviously bent itself to destruction. How much worse must it have been for Victor, who had the actual ability to call forth life? How much harder to resist the temptation to defy the natural bounds of our mortal coil?

But we both knew the cost, even if I would pretend I did not. I had already resolved it. If I confessed to Victor what I had seen, he would have to explain to me what he had done to Justine’s body and what he might have done further. I did not want to speak of it.

Ever.

Victor could keep this secret. I would leave it to him so that I could forgive and love him still.

The door to the cottage flew open, and as that barrier was broken, I could at last understand the monster. To my shock, his voice, though deeper than any man’s, was accompanied by speech as eloquent as any I had ever heard.