@extraordinarygrrls - Abigail Cain
The work had been dangerous. Too dangerous to continue, although West would never admit to this. After branching out from just re-animation of corpses to the re-animation of parts, and zeroing in on the idea that reagent was less of a miracle cure and more of a nutritional supplement, he had been having more success than ever.
And then Dan had to go and ruin it.
They had been so close with Gloria. So close. Although that was years ago, not a day goes by when Herbert doesn’t think about what could have been, how they could have pushed their research, the potential she had - it was a tragedy. The collapse of the mausoleum and the deaths in Christchurch Cemetery were simply collateral damage. No, the real tragedy was the untapped potential, the poisonous dreams of what could have been. What should have been.
Francesca was…a problem. She had always been a problem. In Peru. In America. Any time she showed up, it was as if Dan’s brain seemed to cease functioning altogether. Herbert supposed he couldn’t hate her too much, however, seeing as she was willing to let him stay with them. Build a lab in their house. Be close to his only friend. Trying to keep to himself and carry on his research had resulted in an incredible change of perspective. Over the past few years, he had taken an entirely new direction. Francesca had inadvertently given him everything he needed to pursue the work.
He would continue tonight, of course. He did every night. Regardless of if he was supposed to be watching Abigail or not. While Dan was home, and appearances had to be kept up, he remained upstairs. Polite. Placid. Seemingly innocuous as he silently observed, waiting for him to leave. No mention of taking Abigail down to the lab. No inkling that she would be helping him in his research. Not until they were left alone and he hovered in the doorway, smiling pleasantly at the girl.
“Abigail.” His sing-songy voice floated through the living room. “Would you like to help Uncle Herbert in the lab tonight?”
