And my father knew that I had been ill. He would blame everything I said on my illness.

But my dear Elizabeth was there. And she answered for me. “Because we know what Justine is like,” she said. “She loved William very much. And she could never do anything like that!”

On the next day, the trial was held. Justine was brought from the jail. She could not tell how she came to have the picture. Only Elizabeth and I believed her story. But there was nothing we could do to save her. Elizabeth begged for Justine’s life. But the poor girl was taken to a tree and hanged.

Chapter 6

I had to be alone. I needed time to think. To find some way to put an end to all of this. I took a horse and went into the mountains by myself.

The higher I climbed, the worse the road became. And soon there was no road. I had to leave the horse behind. Up, up I went until there were no more trees. Now there was nothing but ice and snow—and, perhaps, the Monster. Yes, he WAS there! He was waiting for me.…

“Devil!” I shouted, and sprang at him. But he was too fast for me. I jumped at him again. But again he got away from me. “Killer!” I cried. “Child killer!”

“You are to blame!” said my Creature. “You who made me! You who gave me this face! I am your own son! But you ran from me! I want you to know what has happened to me!”

“I don’t want to hear it!” I said.

“You must! Or I shall kill everyone dear to you! You deserve it. For I alone cannot be happy! I alone cannot be loved!”

“Very well,” I said. “I will listen to your story.”

And so the Monster told me all that had happened to him. And do you know, I was sorry for him! Yes, sorry for the killer of my own brother and Justine.

When the Creature saw this, he said, “Now you must help me.”

“What do you want?”

“A wife! I want a wife! Go back to your graveyards. Make me another like myself!”

“Never!” I cried.

“Never?” said the Monster.