Chapter 20

I was sitting one evening in my lab; the sun had gone down, and the moon was rising from the sea. I didn't have enough light for my work, so I was just sitting there, debating whether to call it a night or push through and finish what I was doing. As I sat there, I started thinking about the consequences of my actions. 

Three years earlier, I had been working on something similar and ended up creating a monster whose cruelty broke my heart and haunted me with remorse. Now, I was about to create another being, but I had no idea what its nature would be like. It could turn out even more vicious than the first one and take pleasure in causing harm. While the first creature had vowed to stay away from humans, this new one might not make the same promise. And if it did, who's to say it would stick to it once it became self-aware? 

They might even despise each other. The creature I had made before hated its own appearance; what if this new one rejected its mate for being different? Maybe it would prefer the company of humans, leaving the other alone and bitter, feeling rejected by its own kind.

Even if they were to leave Europe and live in the wilderness, their natural instincts might lead them to reproduce, creating a generation of monsters that could threaten humanity itself. Did I have the right to bring such a curse upon future generations for my own benefit? Before, I had been swayed by the arguments of the creature I made, intimidated by its threats. But now, I realized the true wickedness of my promise. I shuddered at the thought of being cursed by future generations for my selfishness, potentially dooming humanity in the process.

I trembled as I looked up and saw the creature at the window, grinning at me with malice. Yes, it had been following me, observing my progress, and now it was here to hold me to my promise.

As I gazed at its face, filled with malice and deceit, I felt a surge of anger and fear. I couldn't go through with creating another like it. In a fit of rage, I destroyed the work I had been doing. The creature watched in despair and rage as I tore apart the thing it had pinned its hopes on.

I left the room, locked the door, and swore never to continue my experiments. Then, with trembling steps, I retreated to my own chamber. I was alone with my thoughts, haunted by the most dreadful of visions.

Hours passed, and I found myself by the window, staring out at the sea. It was calm, the winds quiet, and nature seemed at peace under the moon's watchful gaze. Only a few fishing boats dotted the water, their voices carrying on the gentle breeze. I felt the silence weighing on me, until the sound of oars caught my attention. Someone was landing near my house.

Minutes later, I heard the creak of my door, as if someone was trying to open it quietly. Fear gripped me, and I wanted to call for help, but I felt paralyzed, like in a nightmare where you can't escape impending danger.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, the door opened, and there stood the creature I dreaded. "Go away!" I cried. "I won't do it. I can't do what you want!" "You dare break your promise to me?" the monster asked. "I have followed you all the way from Switzerland. I have lived like an animal, just to be near you. 1 wanted to be there when my wife first opened her eyes. Now you have destroyed her!" 

"Yes, I have," I replied. "And 1 can't keep my promise. 1 will not turn another monster like you loose upon the world." "I tried reasoning with you, Frankenstein," the monster said. "But hear me now. Remember, I have power. You think you're unhappy now? You have no idea what I can do. I will make you curse the day you were born!" I told the creature that he could not change my mind. "Go away, you evil creature," I yelled. "I can't stand to look at you!" The monster stared at me. I thought for a minute that he would attack me. Then he got hold of himself. 

"Very well, Frankenstein," he said. "I will go. But you have not seen the last of me. I will be with you on your wedding night!" Then he was gone. I returned to my workshop. I gathered up all the dead body parts, and put them into a sack. I took my small boat out to sea. I rowed for hours. Then I threw the terrible things into the water. 

Feeling tired, I sat back to rest for a few minutes. I must have fallen asleep. When I woke up, a storm had come up. I couldn't see land. I had no way of knowing where I was. I don't know how I did it, but I kept the boat from going under. When the sun came up the next morning, I saw land. I made it to shore. As soon as I landed, a man came up to me, 

"You will come with me, right away," he said. "I am taking you to a judge, and then to jail." "What's this all about?" I asked. "I don't know where I am. I never knew that Englishmen were so rude." "I don't know about Englishmen," the man said. "This is Ireland. And we aren't kind to murderers." My mind was spinning. What could this be about? "I have done no wrong," I told the man. "I was lost in a storm off Scotland all night." 

"You can tell that to the judge," the man said."