Frankenstein 2.0
In response to a short story authored by my brother in law, I was reminded of this creative writing assignment I wrote in high school and was luckily able to rediscover buried in my email archives from 2005!
Statement of intent: In this work I wanted to create a story which brought about the same feeling and mood of Frankenstein, although with a slightly different ending. In order to accomplish this I wanted to draw upon several of the traits which Mary Shelly used in crafting her work and implement them in mine. Among those which I decided to use included the use of nature as a major presence in my work. I comment upon the soothing qualities of nature while also expressing its evil side. I’ll also be using the first person narrative form to tell the story which allows for the creation of a real feeling of suspense and dread. These emotions shall also be enhanced with the addition of sensory details, which should hopefully aid the reader in picturing the scene.
Also, a similar writing structure shall be used, with long winded sentences which make up short and choppy paragraphs. These short paragraphs allow the reader to focus upon the written word, without losing focus in long paragraphs. The use of a letter shall also be seen in the work, as the letters in Frankenstein allow for the promotion of plot without forcing the narrator to recount all of his experiences.
Homecoming
The wind rustled through the trees and leafs fluttered to the ground as I unbuckled my seatbelt in my 1989 Lincoln Town Car. Without warning the heavens opened up and torrents of rain battered down upon the windshield, hammering against the safety glass like a wrathful construction foreman, as the trees moaned in protest to the ever strengthening winds.
Taking a deep breath, I reached over to the passenger seat and made sure that it was in the bag. If this meeting was forced to come to fruition, I wanted to make sure I was prepared. Grasping the bag in one hand and shaking with trepidation I slowly opened the driver’s side door and stepped into the tempest.
As I walked up the drive, which resembled an oil slick which had chose not to spread amongst the unruly grass and leaves which bordered it; I felt the creature stir once forth within me. It had ravaged and consumed me, alas I had no one to blame for the wretch I had become but myself. How foolish I was in my youth!
Upon reaching the door, I glanced through the window to see if anything had changed since my last visit many moons prior. It was like looking into the past, except now everything was covered in a fine coat of dust, and spider webs crept down from the corners of the room. I had no time to admire the complexity of the spider’s web, and opening the door slowly, I crept inside.
Checking to make sure that the shadows that danced and weaved as I walked down the hallway were figments of my mind, I began to reminisce about what had brought my return to this decrepit mansion, home to my greatest successes and failures. I had been so fool hearty in my previous days!
It had begun earnestly enough on an unseasonably warm September day three years prior. With the support of my family and friends, I had started my quest to advance human interaction in a way which had never been before completed. Having read books and been consulted by masters of the art, I thought I was ready for the task at hand.
Eventually I completed my task, but oh what a price it had cost! I had lost not only simple pleasures such as sleep, while I was consumed by my madness, but my family and friends had been afflicted by the creature. How I failed them all! Unable to come to acceptance at the creature I had created, I spent the last year at university attempting to immerse myself into other arts so that I need not remember the pain and suffering which I had caused.
Alas! It was impossible to escape my past, and a week prior my truest confidant, my eternal love Victoria, sent me an email,
November 15th 20xx
Dearest Mark, How the inability to feel your hand in mine causes me such grief during these trying days! Although the visits you afford once every four months soothe my quaking heart for the briefest of moments I yearn for your touch and wish that we settle down soon so that I may be with you for all time.
Unfortunately I bring most sorrowful news to report about your father. The beast has driven him to madness, and hence he has exiled himself into a tour of the national parks to rely upon the beauty of nature to heal his soul. No one can tame the beast, although many besides you have tried, and we need to settle the matter before more harm comes to all parties involved. I’m sure you know where to end this most troubling episode. Upon the completion of the matter, I shall be most anxious to see you once more.
May the heavens smile fondly upon you as you undertake this quest.
Your unwavering love,
Victoria
With such information in hand I quickly made arrangements to travel back to my place of residence, and gathered the necessary supplies for the task at hand. The letter resided firmly in the pocket of my jeans, and as I started up the stairs the wooden floor creaked eerily.
It was the knowledge that the beast knew I had entered his domain which was so alarming. I still attempted to hope beyond hope that perhaps he had left, that just maybe he had spared my household once more of his presence, although I knew it could not be. The house was cloaked in a swath of darkness as the storm had obviously wrecked the power lines. I dare not seek to turn on the electric lantern of which I carried, for I was afraid that such actions would allow it to know my location prematurely.
I turned quickly, having thought I saw something move in the shadows behind me, but nothing stirred. Returning to my previous direction I abhorred in horror at what lay in front of me! The creature, his eyes glowing an unnatural yellow similar in substance to that of my automobile’s aged high-beams, stood in front of me.
“Back ye beast!” I exclaimed, but his unwavering stare continued. I started to put my hand into the bag when he rushed me. Quickly moving backwards I attempted to get to the door into the master bedroom, but with no avail. I tripped over my own two feet and as the beast rushed towards me to deliver my own comeuppance; I saw my life flash before my eyes. Oh, the stink of his rotting breath, I lamented, as he stood over me waiting to deliver the death blow!
Groping blindly amongst the bag, which had fallen by my side, I was able to seize upon the article which would bring about his destruction. As his snout moved in with his foaming saliva, and hideously long tongue came ever closer towards overcoming my face, I raised in my right hand the immortal Kong! His attention was immediately diverted from ravaging my face, as he was now quite intent upon fixating his vices on the large red rubber ball which I held in my uplifted right hand.
Raising a Seeing Eye Puppy had seemed like the greatest contribution that I could make to mankind. It started out well, until the dog Spex, started eating shoes, socks, and even the molding within my family’s kitchen. Things had seemed fine until he failed his Seeing Eye exam and was doomed forever more to live within the confines of my family home. Without my omnipotent guidance and supervision the beast was left to have the run of the house and do as he wished. I had made my journey to rectify the situation as best I could.
“Sit Spex”, I bellowed as he obediently sat at my side, his glowing eyes intent on destroying the Kong. After picking myself up off the hardwood, I then reached into the bag and grabbed the leash and collar which with post haste, I placed around his neck. As I led him outside into the heavy rain, which was now pooling on the oil slick, I wondered as to what mischief he had caused since I had seen him last. “Good dog”, I whispered, as he laid down on the white leather bench seat in the back of the town car, and we retreated back into the silent night.
Word Count: 1,228
