“Then I shall kill and kill and kill. And you shall be the last.”

I thought it over. I had to do what the Creature wanted. “Will you go away?” I asked. “Will you never hurt anyone again?”

“Why should I hurt anyone if I am happy?”

“You must promise!” I said.

“I do promise. I shall go with my wife to a far-off place. No one will ever see us again.”

“Then I shall make another such as you.”

“I shall be watching you,” said the Monster. “So waste no time.”

Chapter 7

Elizabeth was waiting for me when I returned home. “I’m so glad you are back!” she cried. “I was so unhappy without you.”

“But I can’t stay,” I told her. “I must go away.”

The smile left her face. I saw the hurt in her eyes. She was thinking that I did not love her any longer. But I did! More than anything in this world. Yet how could I tell her why I really had to leave? Could I have said, “I have to go out and rob graves. I have to make a second devil!”

I tried to make her feel better. “As soon as I return,” I promised, “we will be married.” I kissed her and then I left.

I had decided to go far, far away. To take a boat and go to another country. To England. Perhaps the Monster would follow me there. I hoped he would. Then my loved ones back home would be safe.

No sooner had I started on my trip than I had a surprise. My friend Clerval turned up beside me. Elizabeth had asked him to go along with me. But how could I make a creature with him around? And I could never have told Clerval my secret. He would have thought me mad.

“I’m well again,” I told him. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. You need not come along.”

Clerval laughed and shook his head. “You can’t get rid of ME!” he said. “We are going to have some good times whether you like it or not!”

How could I have a good time? I, who had made that Thing of Death? And yet, I felt better when my friend was near.