It was his last chance to do this, to make amends and save an innocent woman's life.

No one noticed the giant shadow of a man in his weather worn cloak of grey. No one noticed his stalking presence as he silently watched the guards pull the shaking girl towards the gallows; the gallows which he so rightfully deserved.

The monster pulled his tattered hood low over his stitched, patchwork face. Then taking a deep breath, battling his own fear of death, he stepped from the comfort of the shadows.

In the dimmed light of the grimy corridor in the dreary morning it wasn't hard for the creature to believe that he might appear a ghost of death itself. The two guards that held the shackled maid stepped back merely because of the sheer size of the living shadow before them.

The creature felt both anger and joy in their reaction. He was glad to frighten such disgusting men by his mere presence; men who licked their lips at the taste of death, especially a blameless girl's death. But yet, the anger swelling up in him was just as despicable. For his anger had killed the boy that the girl was going to be hung for. His anger tasted of bitterness against man's revulsion to his being.

The beautiful woman before him would never thank him for what he was about to do. She would never smile at him or look at him without fear. No one ever would. That was his world.

Nonetheless he had decided to control his temper instead of let it dominate him. It had already caused the destruction of one innocent life; if he let it take another he was sure he wouldn't be able to stop from losing himself to the insanity deep within him.

The creature spoke, his voice low and steady,

"This woman's hands are clean. I am the one with the blood of William Frankenstein on my hands."

One of the men responded with a nervous laugh and spoke to the apparition before him.

"And what proof do you have of that?"

The monster pulled a blood stained scarf from the depths of his mantle and held it out before him. He had pulled it from William's neck after he lay cold on the ground, and it almost burned his hand having to touch it once more, reminding him of the horrible strength he possessed.

The girl spoke, her voice a fearful stutter,

"That's…that's the scarf he wore…before…before he…"

The guards looked at each other suspiciously and then grudgingly, knowing they would have to present this to the boss. One of them came forward and snatched the scarf from the creatures grey hand before walking down another corridor. The other man took an extra pair of shackles from his waist and cautiously approached him.

The monster solemnly held out his wrists and allowed the guard to bind him. The man motioned for him to walk as he grabbed the woman, Justine, and began to make his way to the judge's chamber.

The apparition followed closely behind, watching Justine look back at him as she tried to get a peak of his face from under the shadow of his hood. He kept his head bowed, not wanting to show his face before he had to. But he could easily see the apprehension and confusion in her expression. It was expected.

He wasn't sure he could keep what little calm he had if he saw her terrified face. Thankfully he didn't show his face, and never had to hesitate in his step even as the guard sat him close to the maid on a narrow bench by the door.

The monster allowed a glance to the woman's face when she politely gave up trying to look at his. It was for the briefest moment that he looked at it was enough to reaffirm the value of her life that he had so easily dismissed.

Not a moment later, breaking the fragile silence of the room, the loud bang of the door came with Victor Frankenstein rushing into the room, yelling,

"Where is it!"

His voice was practically crazed for a moment as his eyes searched the room. Meanwhile, a grim looking man in black robes walked in behind him as well as Victor's father Alphonse and his adopted cousin Elizabeth. But as soon as he saw Justine his eyes softened and his voice stilled. He rushed over to her, not noticing the thing he had been so desperate to find, embraced her, thanking God for her being alive.

Gently he asked where the monster was that killed William.

She meekly pointed to the creature sitting beside her.

The monster watched Victor's eyes turn to ice as they gazed upon him. His hands shook with fury but Frankenstein held himself back.

"Is this your monster?"asked the judge, with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

"This looks like a man to me."

Victor sneered back at him and walked up to his creation, the abomination he created and ripped the comfort of the dark hood from him. The creature felt his head being forced up as Victor grabbed his long black hair painfully, and pulled so he could not turn his face away.

"This is no man."

Victor let go as the creature saw everyone in the room step back. Only the Judge approached him, but now his eyes plainly showed his uneasiness.

"You admit to Killing William Frankenstein?"

"Yes," said the monster as quietly as his abrasive yet whispery voice would allow.

"And you placed the locket on Miss Justine's person?"

"Yes"

"You regret this decision and that is why you are turning yourself in?"

The disgraced creature nodded, suddenly losing his strength to speak. His mind was screaming for him to run away from his father's piercing eyes and the feeling of dread that was beginning to consume him. His body bent forward trying to slink itself back into the shadows, back into oblivion. He looked up for a moment to see Victor's eyes glaring at the judge as if waiting for a confession.

"I'm very sorry for doubting you Heir Frankenstein-"but as he was about to continue Alphonse turned on him.

"You dared to condemn and innocent woman when there was a chance she was not guilty! I will see that you are removed from your position and that you NEVER see a courtroom again!"

As the elder Frankenstein continued to unleash his fury onto the judge, the guards undid the chains holding Justine. As soon as she was free she ran to Elizabeth, who took her in immediately whispering words of comfort. It seemed, as always, that she ran from him. He deserved her fear. He could no longer solely blame the fear of mankind on his father with the blood of an innocent on his hands. But the true question was; would he have the chance to properly redeem himself?

The guards moved to him pulling him up and placed another set of shackles on him, as he casted his gaze to Elizabeth Frankenstein. She continued to hold Justine who had started sobbing in her arms. The creature knew she must have been convinced that Justine was guilty of her cousin's murder not a few moments ago. But yet, she embraced her with nothing but acceptance. He knew not the reason why, but such a scene plucked a tinge of hope within him. Though he knew he should not dare hope, he could not help it.

Perhaps she woman of her nature could forgive a monster or know how to see past the vile mask of his body. Perhaps Elizabeth would save him.

He moved with the guards as they guided him towards the door. It was then that he saw her eyes. The expression shown was not fear or angry, but something he couldn't quite understand. Her eyes would consume his thoughts just as his would consume hers.