AN- Ah, I have wanted to do a Jekyll centered story for a long while and couldn't think of anything- but here it is! Now, some of you may notice or think that the dates I have used are wrong, but I have trawled through 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' and the LXG graphic novel so I could work out my dates. Hopefully nothing has been put too out of place, as there were some things I had to shift around and improvise a little, but otherwise, it should be alright. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I'll enjoy writing…it's looking to be a long one too, which is always good! I just hope this is alright in itself...

Enjoy.

The Diaries of Doctor Henry Jekyll, 1885- 1899
25th September
1885

I have this day become 37 years old. My birthdays have always been rather quiet affairs, shared usually with my oldest friends- Hastie Lanyon and John Utterson. They dined with me this evening and presented me each with something, although I suggested that they needn't bother to get me anything. From Lanyon, I received a lecture about my chemical trials and a new watch chain. Utterson presented me with a simple but elegantly decorated leather bound book, within which I now write.

It is unusual for me to keep a journal, as I have not done so since my years at college, where I failed to add an entry each day, but as time goes on I shall see if I am successful with this one. After all- if I do not use it as a journal, it will simply end up as another book tossed to the side, filled with endless chemical equations and scribbles that I am unlikely to return to.

14th November
1885

It seems I have already failed to write in this book each day- I am already two months behind in my writing! But there has been little to write of interest. The days have passed so slowly and I fear they will drive me to madness!

I attended a dinner party at Lanyon's just yesterday evening and found myself quite lots and alone in a crowd of people. To the side is where I spent much time, conversing only now and then with particular people, but not diving in to introduce myself to new faces. My reputation preceded me in some instances, as in the case of a young woman named Miss Harborne, whom John tried to convince me would make a good wife for me, as the three of us remained bachelors- indeed! She was a flighty character, caught up immensely in the social groups around her- I could not relate to her at all!

It is also hard to socialize when one is thinking about the things that one does not want society to know about- each of us in that room was a secret sinner, all terrified that others would know of anything we had done away in private simply by looking at us, as though it could transferred telepathically. This is all I could do yesterday evening and again, tonight, it presses upon me…to lead the path of righteousness.

If one could only escape temptations…or to be able to indulge in them without the loss of respectability and a place in our society! I wish as many men do not to be outcast like that..

17th November
1885

My mind is buzzing with ideas at this very moment, and I fear that if I hesitate to write them down they will be lost to my memory forever!

I have deduced that as there is a good within us all, ensuring that we do right and lead a respectable life, its twin of evil must exist to tempt us away and it should be released rather than repressed. I know that I have been repressing these temptations for a number of years and it all builds up to a rather miserable existence.

If there were some way to let it out, without losing my reputation, my credibility…this is what I seek to find. My experiment begins tonight. I must first catalogue the exact chemicals I have stored in the laboratory and work from there. I am sure that a chemical solution can be found!

3rd April
1886

It has taken many months of continuous work, and I have been locked away in my laboratory now for almost the whole time. I am sure that my old friends will be curious and worried about me- Poole has told me when he brings meals to me that they have called at the door and written, but I could not bring myself to leave. In March, I hit a wall with my chemicals and hoped to turn to Lanyon for some assistance- but I knew he would ridicule me and tell me I was wasting my time yet again. Besides, the fresh air (or as fresh as you can expect it to be within London) did me some good and I returned to my home in better spirits.

The elixir is finished- it switched from a red to a purple colour as it was concocted, but eventually it paled to a watery green until it seemed to be colourless- much like a vial of water I held in my hands, rather than a dangerous new drug. I realise that this is in fact a very deadly experiment, and that it could only take place upon myself however, I am lucky enough to be disenchanted with life so much so that I am brave enough to drink it.

It is now very early in the morning and although I a greatly fatigued, I must add more to my entry! There was an immensely painful transformation after I took the elixir, but it subsided soon enough. I found afterwards that I was much smaller in size, and my clothes did not fit at all like they used to. Within the mirror, I saw not the Henry Jekyll I was quite used to, but something very different.

My first glimpse of the bad I have been suppressing in me. And tonight, he has had his first real taste of freedom. He was dwarfish, ugly, a mean looking brute whose appearance startled me, but then I realised as I left my home in this new guise how free I was. No-one knew me in this form and I even laughed at the thought of this!

While out, I passed few people who wandered the streets and even ventured towards Soho by way of the river, although I dared not to linger there.

This experiment is a success! But, I cannot forget that this was the first test. It is not quite done yet!

4th April
1886

Again I released my inner darkness this evening- but tonight I found myself wandering right into Soho, without a care in the world. All fear had left me after taking the potion and I walked the streets as though I was a different person- yet I was!

I looked different, utterly- no-one would ever think of this creature as old Harry Jekyll! I had nothing to fear for my credit nor for suppressing the un-gentlemanly urges did I suffer as others…

I spent hours in a bar, seedy and dark, filled with sinister characters with whom I now blended in. No- that isn't true- for no matter how I seemed to have changed, I was outcast among them, which is a relief. I would not like to think I would fit in with such ruffians and crooks as they were.

Many gave me a look of distaste, but none sought to bother me- they were afraid. I could sense it in them, in their very movement- why, even a scent of fear in the air when they glanced upon my rough face. I seemed to have heightened senses...like that of an animal. This thought perplexes me still, but I do not linger upon it so much.

This new face, this new persona, all seemed to be missing one thing- a new name. It came to me in an instant, as though someone had said to me right there in the bar.

Edward Hyde.

(To Be Continued)