[A/N: Warning Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Graphic Descriptions of Corpses, Frankenstein Monster!Colin, Reanimated Colin, Dark Penelope Featherington, Regency Era, Grave robbing, limb removal, limb stitching, body mutilation, Everyone is normal except Penelope, Colin comes back but he isn't the Colin we know]
Penelope refused to believe that Colin was gone. It was not possible. No, it was more likely that Colin was just taking a break from humanity. While the critical parts of Colin's body were recovered from the sea accident, the rest of his body was lost to the waves.
Not for the first time, Penelope dug up a newly filled grave. They were the least likely to appear disturbed - plus the parts were fresher. With two new legs and one arm, Penelope was close to fixing Colin up. It had already been a nightmare to find a corpse with two legs perfectly intact. But this project was not for the faint of heart. There were many things Penelope could be described as, but faint of heart was not one of them. Colin's head, his torso, and his thighs were all that remained.
Though this new arm wouldn't be the same dimensions as the other arm she'd collected for him, the difference would be minimal. Besides, Colin could handle having slightly lopsided arms. With this arm, Penelope could put her plan in motion. Hacking off the arm with the shovel, Penelope knew any errors could be fixed once she left the graveyard. Once the arm was free from the corpse - she threw it up toward the level ground. From there, she hefted herself out of the grave. Putting the arm in a leftover box from the modiste, Penelope began refilling the grave. She'd had to cut off most of his thighs to make room for the new legs.
Replacing the flowers set on the top of the grave, Penelope also added a new bouquet. It was her way of thanking these departed souls for the remains they'd left behind. Pulling her hood down over her head, Penelope lifted the modiste box and hurried home. Cautiously, Penelope snuck up to her bedroom and changed into more socially acceptable clothing. Stashing the arm in the back of her closet alongside the rest of future Colin, Penelope prepared for the day. It was a miracle Colin's body had retained its foundation.
Physically, she sat down to breakfast with her family. Mentally, she was running through the notes from the newly controversial publishings of Dr. Frankenstein. Penelope had memorized his process and was ready to begin at a moment's notice. First, she needed to convince her mom that she wasn't feeling well. It would get her out of the night's ball. At lunch, Penelope feigned a fever. According to the captain's log, the storm had come out of nowhere.
As her mother and sisters left, Penelope glanced up at the darkening sky and the full moon. Tonight would be perfect. Thankfully, her mother had removed most of the servants after Lord Featherington's death. Dismissing Mrs. Varley and the cook, Penelope got to work. Colin had no chance of staying safe on that deck at the time.
She had already used her stitch work to connect Colin to each of his new limbs except for the arm. Knowing that she needed complete darkness, Penelope set about attaching the new arm to his torso. Using her superior skill, Penelope ensured no seams were visible between the new attachments. Though the skin color wasn't perfect, it could be explained away. Maybe. Colin was better at being charming, so she'd leave it up to him. Of the ten men thrown overboard in the storm, the crew only saved the remains of four.
Penelope relocated everything she needed from her room and the closet to the cellar. The window providing enough light, Penelope left the cellar unlit. With everything in position, Penelope followed each instruction to the letter. It was time to infuse Colin with life again and end his break from humanity. With a deep breath and a final prayer, Penelope completed the last step. The captain described his horror at finding the bodies the next day and seeing a blue cravat floating in the water not far from the gentleman; he felt a moral obligation to bring what was left home for the families.
A large gasp broke through the silence. "Penelope?" Colin's voice called out. It was dark in the room, but Penelope's distinctive red hair was visible by the moonlight creeping in from the window. "What has happened? Why do I feel as though I died?"
"You just had a momentary medical mishap. Everything is fine, Colin."
"Penelope! We're alone without a chaperone. I don't want to ruin you." Colin was distressed. He rose from the chair and stepped awkwardly toward her. She was pleased to see his face had regained its color.
"Love, I'm so glad you're back!" Penelope stepped up to him and wrapped him in a hug.
"Love? Penelope, why is it hard to move?" Colin instinctively wrapped his arms back around Penelope.
"What do you remember? While you were out of it, I shared details on the next steps." Penelope prompted him. This was a risk. He might have remembered everything she said, but it was just as possible he didn't remember any of it. She stepped back out of the hug.
"Something about Gretna Green?" Colin was confused.
Penelope smiled. "Yes, the medical treatment for you was very taxing and we could be ruined if we are found out. So, to ensure neither of us is ruined we must get married. The plan is for us to head to Gretna Green once you are well."
"What? But, where is Anthony? How did he secure a medical treatment that would allow you to be ruined?" Colin asked.
"He doesn't know. Your family believes you to be dead."
"Penelope, you aren't making any sense. Maybe I should go see my mother." Colin's newly animated color started to drain.
"Colin! Sit down, this process is very new. I don't want you to overexert yourself." Penelope guided him back to the chair.
"Penelope, I promise that I'm fine. This is just a lot of information very quickly." Colin said.
"Do you," Penelope bit her lip. "Do you not want to marry me?"
"Of course, I want to marry you! Penelope! You know this. I was on my way back to begin our courtship in the eyes of the ton." He stood up again and placed his new hands on her cheeks. "You feel different."
"You've been gone a long time, Colin. Maybe this is just how I feel now." Penelope refused to get into the details just yet. "Now, we must make haste and get on the road to Gretna Green."
"Wait, Pen." Colin lowered his head to hers. Using his grip on her cheeks, he tilted her head up and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Penelope let out a sigh. "Colin . . . we don't have time."
"What about once we get in the carriage?" He asked teasingly.
Penelope smiled and started pulling him toward the stairs out of the cellar. Colin and Penelope would be together anew and forever.
The End