บท 2: Young Hearts Hospice

[HENRY JEKYLL. Young Hearts Hospice, London, England. Wednesday 7th of September, 1881 Gregorian Calendar].

Henry Jekyll began to rhythmically drum his fingers upon the arm of his sturdy oak chair. Before the slim man was an even slimmer boy around the age of ten. The child seemed to be having trouble breathing and was taking fast gulps of air.

Drum, drum, drum….

The tapping started off quickly. In unison with the boy's distressed gasps. However, after a few moments, the fingers slowed in their rhythm and lessened in their intensity. As if in response, the boy's breathing also slowed and calmed. The drumming fingers had shifted from following the boy's breathing and began to instead lead. Within the space of a few minutes, the blonde child's ragged gasps had transformed into a steady and healthy pace.

"Joshua how are you feeling?" the red haired doctor asked the blonde haired boy.

Henry was confident in the efficiency of his treatment for the child. In particular, the use of hypnotic sounds to regulate the boy's hyperventilation.

"I'm fine," replied Joshua. "Thank you, Doctor Jekyll."

"Did you wish for some medicine?" queried Henry. "It can help you sleep."

"No thank you," Joshua politely declined. "I just… I was suddenly scared. I don't know why."

"Have you been scared lately?" asked Henry.

"Uh huh," the boy nodded.

"Why?" Henry questioned.

"I…." the boy hesitated.

"Please Joshua," soothed Henry. "You can tell me. Everything you say to me will stay in this room. Has someone been… hurting you?"

Henry didn't want to lead the young boy. However, he felt that there was definitely something strange going on in the Young Hearts Hospice. Although he had only started working here a month ago, it was evident that an almost tangible pall of fear hung over the place. Instead of being healed, the asylum's young and vulnerable patients were instead deteriorating. As one who had always sought to cut away all that was evil, Henry could not let such a thing stand.

After a few minutes of silence, it became clear that the young boy would not divulge further information. Whether it was due to tiredness or something more insidious. Henry did not know. He did however, know that the child before him required rest. The autumn night was closing, and it would soon be curfew for the three hundred or so young patients of the hospice.

"Joshua, you should go to bed now," urged Henry.

Offering his hand for support, Henry assisted the frail child to his feet. Then ushered for the orderly, also in attendance, to take Joshua back to his room. One of the six large sleeping chambers shared by the hundreds of children kept at the asylum.

The male orderly led the boy from Henry's office. He was quickly replaced by a different attendant. A young woman who had been specifically chosen to care for a very special guest of the asylum.

"Margaret," Henry acknowledged the young woman. "How is the princess?"

"Princess Siriporn is sleeping," replied Margaret. "She will be unable to attend dinner tonight."

"Was she at least provided food before falling into slumber?" questioned Henry.

"She ate some beef and vegetable soup with rice," said Margaret. "I cooked the rice myself in the same way as it is done in the Far East."

"Have you noted any change in Princess Siriporn's condition?" queried Henry. "Is she still seeing strange visions?"

"The visions are intensifying," said Margaret. "Plus, they are happening more often. Just this afternoon, I caught her speaking to the air. A conversation in her native tongue, as animated as that held between two associates in the same room. My only consolation was that her manner of speech has changed. She seems less frightened and more accepting."

"It could mean that she's starting to take control of her fears," Henry pondered.

"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" asked Margaret.

"That depends," replied Henry. "She originally feared her visions and so wanted to get rid of them. However, if she starts to accept them instead. It's possible that they will be much harder to eliminate."

"Do you think that someone is manipulating her?" Margaret questioned.

"I doubt it, but it is a possibility," stated Henry. "Ever since I was placed in charge of the Young Hearts Hospice, I've tried to ensure that no patient is alone with an adult. I even made sure that an orderly, picked by me, is attendant during one on one therapy.

I know it's unpopular with some of the other practitioners. They cite privacy and costs. But having myself been exposed to the evils which adults can inflict on children, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just because this is a house of healing, does not mean everyone here has the welfare of children in mind.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the children are truly safe from predators. There are always subtle ways to manipulate. Gestures, subtle sounds and sometimes a few spoken words are all I need to influence some of the children. Although I doubt any of the other doctors are as well versed as myself in hypnotism, I cannot rule it out."

"I think you overestimate the staff here," declared Margaret. "You're one of England's brightest intellects. A world leader in disorders of the mind and the body. That's why Queen Victoria herself appointed you to be her investigator in these matters. You are a truly great man… your future is limitless."

Henry took a step backwards, as the attractive and busty young attendant tried to place a hand on his chest.

"What are you doing Margaret?" asked Henry.

"I've always admired you Doctor Jekyll," Margaret smiled. "Tonight, I'm going to show you just how far that admiration extends."

"This is improper," Henry declared. "You're married to an honorable captain."

He took another step backwards but stopped as the back of his knees encountered the seat of his chair. The young orderly quickly took advantage of the situation and pushed him back. Forcing Henry to be seated. What was once his supportive throne was now part of a cage created by the brazen woman in front of him.

"I think you're suffering from hysteria," stated Henry. "It is a problem that occurs more often with women whose husbands are away for long periods of time."

"Hysteria?" sighed Margaret as she grabbed hold of Henry's shaking right hand. "Doctor Jekyll… how will I be cured?"

"I…." Henry hesitated. "I think you could practice… self-pleasuring. I know the church looks down upon masturbation… but I'm not a religious man. So, I feel it's fine. "

"Oh," smiled Margaret as she licked the tips of Henry's fingers. "I think you should show me how to perform proper masturbation. I've heard such acts can end in great pleasure. Yet have never managed to achieve such a state. Perhaps your skilled hands… could alleviate me of my hysteria."

"This is wrong," muttered Henry.

His hand had now been placed under the young woman's skirt. Making contact with the warmth and wetness of her most private place.

"How is it wrong?" asked Margaret.

"You're married," Henry tried to explain using the fading vestiges of his moral mind. "This is adultery."

"This is love," moaned Margaret as she began rubbing Henry's palm across her crotch. "I was forced to marry my whoring, idiot of a husband, so my family could attain wealth in line with their status. Foolish nobles who thought nothing of forcing me into a loveless marriage, simply for crude profit.

Dr Jekyll… I was an innocent. Just like these children you work so hard to protect. To save. Please save me. Save me Dr Jekyll…."

"I'll save you Margaret," declared Henry as he stood up. "I'll use you like a man should use a woman."

Henry's once refined voice suddenly seemed much more guttural. He began to thrust his fingers into the young woman's welcoming passage. While at the same time, using his free hand to remove his own pants. For her part, Margaret had started to also undress. While planting kisses upon Henry's neck. These kisses became bites and Henry retaliated with his own teeth upon her pale nape.

Soon, free from the restraints of clothes, the two bodies joined in true intercourse. Henry forced Margaret to her knees. He took her from behind, so that he no longer needed to view her face. As if feigned anonymity would clear the stain of adultery.

Henry 's frenzied rutting and guttural growls made the scene reminiscent of wild animals mating. He no longer cared that Margaret was a married woman. He no longer heeded morality. He only cared about the pleasant sensation of thrusting himself into a beautiful young woman. He emptied his seed into her but even that couldn't satiate his lust.

"Dr Jekyll," a musical voice intruded into the world of his sinful pleasures. "What are you and Mrs Kenner doing?"

The words brought him back from his state of frenzy.

"Princess Siriporn!" gasped Henry.

He quickly pushed his partner away and did his best to cover his shame with his cast-off coat.

"Doctor Jekyll," Margaret smiled as if caring nothing for the fact that their moment of passion had been watched by a child. "I felt your seed enter me. I wonder if I'll become pregnant."

"So that's how children are made," Princess Siriporn mused as if to herself. "Only adults can make children. I see now where I went wrong. You've been very helpful Doctor Jekyll. I owe you a favour."

"This isn't happening…" Henry muttered to himself. "This… oh God… please let this be a nightmare. Nothing but an intangible dream."

Henry closed his eyes and began feverishly praying to a God he didn't believe in.

"Doctor Jekyll," a polite voice and gentle touch caused him to open his eyes.

"Margaret!" Henry exclaimed in surprise, at the fully clothed women in front of him.

"I've brought Princess Siriporn to dine with us, as per your request," the young woman reminded him. "Were you having a bad dream? It seems everyone in this place has been having those."

"Yes," replied Henry with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. "It was a dream… a nightmare."

"Did you wish to speak about it?" asked Margaret with clear concern in her voice.

"No," replied Henry. "In fact, I'm already forgetting it."

"Are you sure?" Margaret pressed on.

"How did you inure your neck?" Henry drew attention to a small bruise on the woman's pale nape, in order to change the subject.

"I think a bug bit me," stated Margaret. "I'll rub some ointment on it later tonight."

"There are a lot of bugs here," Princess Siriporn joined the conversation. "Though sometimes I don't know whether to squash them or play with them."

"Only a child would wish to play with bugs," chuckled Henry.

"Sometimes bugs can teach us things," explained Princess Siriporn. "In fact, a pair of bugs taught me something very interesting this evening."

"Perhaps we can discuss it during dinner?" said Henry as he ushered his two dining companions towards his private living area.

"No," declined Princess Siriporn. "I'd rather talk about those visitors who are coming here soon. I heard one of them was from China. That's near my home country of Siam."

"As you wish Princess," replied Henry.

He truly enjoyed conversing with this intelligent child. If she could overcome her penchant for hallucinations, he expected her to have a limitless future.