End


Helga charged, her broken bottle raised and held downward in her hand. With Helga screaming in rage and victory and Gretchen screaming in rage and fear, they met on the walkway. Helga plunged the broken bottle down onto her foe only to find it stopped by Gretchen?s two hands. What couldn?t be stopped was the force of Helga?s charge. Helga forced Gretchen to bend back over the railing, which at first groaned alarmingly, then parted with the crack of a pistol shot, dumping both into the freezing, dark water below.

They lost one another upon impact. Helga also lost the broken bottle. The alpine lake was so cold that it almost burned. As the water sucked them beneath the surface they desperately removed their clothing so as they could swim better. Gretchen removed her skirt, petty coat, and boots. When she made the surface she was garbed in just her stockings. Helga stripped off her apron and skirt. All that remained of her clothing was a single white stocking on her left leg. Both broached the surface practically nude and shivering. Blood, filth, and flour was washed from both, revealing cuts and bruises on once lovely feminine flesh. All that was forgotten once they caught sight of one another. Each did a single kick to bring them within grappling range and began the savage struggle again. Each grabbed the wet hair of her opponent and did her level best to push her opponent under. They screamed and cried and coughed as each tried to drown the other. They tired quickly however. Pain and exhaustion combined with the coldness of the water slowed them down. Still they did not stop. Helga released Gretchen hair and grabbed the swan-like throat before her. Gretchen, with strong hands about her throat, did the same to Helga. As both squeezed, trying to throttle the life from her foe, the lake leeched the warmth from their bodies, the consciousness from their minds, and drew them deep into the depths and the darkness.

They were not found until morning. The search parties have been out all night seeking the two women. The talk of monsters had been getting wilder and wilder. It was all Victor could to prevent the party from becoming a mob. The came the shout. Men went to the bank of the lake and gathered about with disbelieving eyes. In the deathly silence Victor knelt, first prying Gretchen?s hands from Helga?s throat. Then he pried Helga?s hands from Gretchen?s throat. ?Herr Schmidt, Herr Muller, come get your daughters.? announced Victor in a terribly quiet voice. The men went down, covered their daughters? nakedness with borrowed cloaks and started to sob uncontrollably. As for Victor, he too had to fight very hard to keep control. He knew why they fought and died. ?Damn you? a vicious hiss sounded in the still morning. Victor looked up to see Herr Schmidt continue to Herr Muller. ?Damn you and your daughter to Hell!?

?Enough? Victor?s voice cracked across the stillness. ?There has been enough conflict, enough hatred.? His voice softened, ?Gentlemen, take your daughters home.?

?But what about the monster?? queried someone from the crowd.

?Fools!? Victor rounded on them, ?The only monster that visited here last night was one that had plagued mankind from the beginning?? ?Hatred.? The men about him could only nod in agreement.

Epilogue?

Today?

Even dead they still plagued him, demanding that he choose. Thoughts of them whirled in his mind as Victor sat and brooded over his coming decision. ?Helga and Gretchen, Helga and Gretchen? he thought as he drained his cognac. ?If only I can?? Victor froze as inspiration struck.

Thus the Baron, Doctor Victor Von Frankenstein decided to take the best of both Gretchen and Helga in order to make the bride that his creature had demanded.


Fin