Chapter 7

Emily's POV…

" Emily...please let me explain" whispered Edward, but I barely heard him, I couldn't hear anything or even feel anything as my body gave way then to a peaceful darkness. I didn't hear a sound, not even my own scream. I didn't feel it as I hit the floor. All I saw was the events of it all, that man turning into the man I'd known, and even just thinking of it, I felt overwhelmed. I reveled in the darkness then, in the feeling of peace the black behind my eyes offered. Even as I wondered what would happen when I came out of it.

" You want your Edward...I'll show you who your Edward really is" I remembered that man's words, the moment when he'd swallowed that red liquid that had made Edward appear and as I did, I didn't understand it, and I was scared because that man had been right; I had no idea who Edward Hyde really was.

I wasn't sure what was happening. The man I'd met the first time was a villain, but I had seen good in him over time. I had thought he was good deep down, with just a hard coating, but now I honestly didn't know what I knew. I didn't know what this was or how it was possible. I mean, was that other man Edward or was it the other way around? Were they one in the same or was this some sort of black magic? I kept picturing what I had seen, but I had no answers. I didn't know what this was or who he was and it scared me because I had given myself to him. In every way, I had made myself his, and yet now, I didn't know who I had given myself to. I didn't know what was happening, maybe that's why I had collapsed, why I had screamed. Because it was all gone. Not just the man I loved or the life I had been living, but what I thought to be possible. Before now, I never would have played with the idea of another man existing within another. I never would have dreamed I'd see what I'd seen. Everything was all mixed up now.

" Perhaps Mr. Hyde and I are both monsters" Dr. Jekyll's words echoed in my head and as they did, I didn't know if he wasn't right, I knew that was why I had collapsed too, because I needed this time to reflect on everything, and then I wondered what would happen when I woke up.

Eventually, I knew I would have to open my eyes, and that he would be there. I didn't know what I was going to do or say. I didn't know what he would do or say. All I knew despite the craziness of it all, was I somehow still loved him. While part of me wanted that love to die after everything, it wasn't. It was staying there in the recesses of my heart, only now, I didn't know what to do with it. Because I found myself suddenly scared of Edward Hyde. Of who he might be. Of the other secrets that might still be left to find. And that didn't make any sense to me either because I shouldn't be afraid of him. I shouldn't be afraid of the man I loved, but I was. Because for reasons I didn't know, I still loved him after everything I just witnessed, and I didn't know what to do with it now.

He was no longer the Edward I knew, but some stranger. As that thought entered my mind, I felt myself beginning to stir. The blackness began to fade and I knew I was waking up. My fear shook me then because I didn't know what was going to happen now. What would he do now that I'd seen what I'd seen? He had said he had an explanation, but what kind of explanation could he possibly give? I didn't know, but part of me was afraid to find out. When my eyes finally dared to flutter open, I saw him right away. Edward was looming over me. He was holding me in his arms on the floor, but that didn't bring any comfort as I began to wake. It only served to remind me of everything I had seen.

" Emily?" whispered Edward saying my name in the form of a question as I blinked up at him at first as I came back to myself. I remembered everything then, the red liquid, the transformation I had seen, and suddenly I couldn't breath. I moved as best I could away from him as I screamed. I felt the tears as they fell down my cheeks and screaming still, I moved as fast as I could away from him.

Edward didn't try to stop me. He let me scream and he let me run from him. I moved as far from him as I could get and only then did I look at him. As I did, it was like I couldn't breath as everything saught to overwhelm me. Edward didn't move from the floor then and he looked as if he was in pain. He looked completely defeated, but I couldn't dwell on that as I looked at him suddenly scared of him. Like I had been the first night we met. I couldn't care about that though as I held my body tight against a wall. Part of me wanted to run for the door. To open it and run from this place never to return, but as I looked at him, I didn't know what he'd do if I did. Part of me felt like the man I'd known would have let me go, but I was quickly reminded that that man was gone as I remembered what I had seen. So I held myself there, not daring to move.

" Emily" whispered Edward again his voice strained this time making my eyes focus on him in that moment.

" You need not be afraid, I would never harm you" whispered Edward looking into my eyes as I trembled before him.

" I can explain all of this, if you'll allow me to, I will tell you everything" whispered Edward his eyes intent as they attempted to peer up into mine. As he spoke, he rose to his feet. He only looked at me then not making another move as he watched me with a still sorrow in his eyes. His shoulders were slumped then his hands hung at his sides in defeated fists. He looked almost as if he was in actual physical pain, but I couldn't dwell on that. I couldn't let my guard down with this man anymore. I couldn't trust this man anymore.

" How can you even begin, I mean...what the hell are you? What is this? None of it makes any sense" I exclaimed feeling a sense of dread fill me as I braced my hands against the wall as he took a step toward me.

" I know how confusing this all must be. How confused you are and scared, but I can explain. I know it won't be adequate...all I can do is try to make you understand. Just know that I heard what you said...what you told Jekyll about me not being a monster and you are right. I was a monster...until I met you. I met you, Emily, and you make me a man. I only hope you still see that" exclaimed Edward his voice quivering in a vulnerable way that I'd never seen before. His eyes finally managed to catch mine then and when they did, he held my gaze. His eyes held a sincerity then that shook me to the core. He reached his hand out to me then, a look emotion filling his eyes. Hope. Hope that I would take his hand. That I would trust him enough to do so.

I could see he wanted me to take it, but I couldn't. Despite all that had passed between us, now, he wasn't the man I knew anymore. He was a stranger and because of that, I couldn't take his hand.

" Answer me. What are you? What did I just see?" I snapped the words at him letting them hit him harshly. He still held his hand out to me then, but I shook my head. I couldn't take it. I wasn't sure if I could ever look at him the same way after this. Even after he gave me all the answers I wanted. Edward didn't give up though. He stood silently before me as if hoping I'd change my mind. I didn't and eventually, he just let his hand fall to his side in defeat. When it did, there was a deep sorrow in his eyes, but in that moment that sorrow barely touched me.

" That was my transformation, Jekyll and I, we're the same man, but also different. That time, when you were angry at me for leaving you lying in my bed, this was why. Jekyll was taking over again and I couldn't let that happen while you were in the room" whispered Edward refusing to look at me now.

" I was once made of all the monstrous parts of him. Jekyll created me, so he could go blameless as he reaped havoc on London, but over time I gained a mind of my own. Overtime, I met you and you made me the gentleman you always claimed I was. I fell in love with you, Emily. It took this moment for me to realize it and I'm sorry for that, but I do love you. I only hope this doesn't mean I'm going to lose you" whispered Edward his voice a soft quiver as he looked at me. I stared at him then, in that moment, so confused, and still so scared. Those were the words I'd been wanting to hear, but they came at the exact wrong moment.

" I can't...I just...I don't know how to do this" I whispered the words seconds before I got brave. I fled out the door before he could catch me and I didn't know if I'd go back.