Hyde Mind

The rain pattered against the window, drumming a staunch rhythm in the darkly lit room. In this small, stuffy space, stale coffee and old books hung in the air, with the faintest hint of something more sinister. Alexandra Vine sat hunched over her desk, the glowing, soft luminous light of the lamp casting a radiance over the tangled mess of papers surrounding her. Chaotic, frantic thoughts weighed upon each sheet, a mirror of the storm that brewed within her and the one outside her window.

Ever since the accident, Alexandra had fought this darkness that lurked deep in her psyche; it had begun innocently enough with a fleeting thought, a whisper of mischief that danced at the edge of her consciousness. But over time, it solidified into something palpable, a voracious need tearing her sanity to shreds. She read of it, the duality of the struggle of the angel perched on one shoulder, the devil on the other. In her case, the devil was this dark figure all too well known, who called themselves Hyde.

Hyde was the complete opposite of Alexandra, reckless, uninhibited, and utterly devoid of conscience. The times were unpredictable, usually initiated with stress or anger, and left Alexandra as a marionette pulled from her strings. Alexandra had lost count of how many times she had lost control, leaving destruction in their wake. Friends had moved away, and colleagues viewed her suspiciously. The once vibrant pulse in her life became no more than a hum.

But tonight was different. Tonight, Alexandra had made a vow.

The clock ticked steadily toward midnight, and with every passing second, the shadows in the corners of her room lengthened, their whispers growing louder, a steady susurration that slithered beneath her skin and called gooseflesh from it. She clenched her fists into her palms, the nails digging. She would not give in. She would not let Hyde win again.

The sudden crash from the alleyway outside, echoing in Alexandra's mind like a gunshot, sent her heart leaping into a recognized thrill, letting the transformation take its course. She rose and began pacing within the small confines of her room, attempting to rid herself of the dark tide rising in her mind.

"Breathe," she whispered to herself, willing oxygen into her lungs. "You are in control. You are not Hyde."

She turned toward the window, staring out into the rain-washed night. The city was alive and pulsating with a siren's call. The urge to join the revelry was nearly as strong as it surely would feel the pull of Hyde, a magnetic body promising liberation and power once the chains of morality were shed.

“Just one taste," the voice inside her crooned, as seductive and intoxicating as any lover. "What harm is it to indulgence just a little?”

But Alexandra had seen firsthand how Hyde's indulgences turned into devastation; she watched the fear in people's eyes, watched how they'd shirk back in terror from her as if she were some monster. And the last time she did lose control, she'd hurt someone. Someone she had deeply cared for. The memory of her tear-stained face haunted her, a ghost that wouldn't let her be.

She closed her eyes, willing the image of her away. "You can do this. You can resist," she whispered to convince herself it would somehow set her resolve in concrete.

But the pull of Hyde was incessant. The shadows in the room seemed to beat with a life of their own, teasing her, reminding her of the thrill that was in store if she succumbed to the delicious, tempting darkness.

There came, suddenly, a sharp insistent knocking at the door. Alexandra sprang to her feet; her heart was racing. "Who is it?" she called hoarsely, though she managed to sound steadier than she was.

“It's me," came the muffled voice in response. It was Clara, her closest friend and confidante. She had been the stalwart presence in her life, her light fighting off the shadows. She opened the door, and Clara's concerned expression inundated her with warmth.

"Alex, we need to talk," she said, stepping inside, her eyes scanning the disarray of the room. "You've been shutting everyone out.”

"I'm fine," she lied, but her quivering voice betrayed her in an instant.

"No, you're not." Clara took another step closer, and her gaze pierced through the facade she had carefully erected. "I can see it. You're fighting something, and I can't help unless you let me in."

The walls she had built around herself began to crack, and she wanted to confide in her. To share the burden of the inner demons-but the fear of what she might think paralyzed her. What if she looked upon her the same as everyone else? What if she recoiled in horror at the truth of Hyde?

"Please, Alex," Clara replied, her voice softening. "You know that I'm here for you always have been. You don't have to fight this alone."

Something in her shifted at that. She felt the darkness clawing at her resolve, yet the warmth of Clara's presence offered a glimmer of hope. Maybe she could resist Hyde, not just as an individual, but with someone by her side.

Okay," she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears. "I… I need help."

With the words spoken, it felt like the weight of the world began to lift off her shoulders. Clara reached out, wrapping her arms around her, anchoring her into the storm that raged inside. It was only a minute of vulnerability, but it felt monumental. She could almost see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Yet, when she thought that some semblance of calm was arriving, anger exploded in her soul. The anger was raw and strong, with a texture as if it could burst free of her at any moment. Shadows wove and danced in the room, filling with the figure of Hyde, who whispered promises of release.

"Why resist?" the soft, seductive, powerful voice of Hyde slithered through Alexandra's thoughts. "Embrace who you are. We're stronger than this weakness.”

Alexandra's heart was racing, fighting against the well of emotion. "No!" she screamed, shrugging out of Clara's embrace, her voice echoing off the small room. "I won't let you win!"

Clara retreated a step backward, her eyes wide with alarm. "Alex, please, just breathe!”

The battle raged inside her, a tempest of light and dark. She could feel Hyde clawing at the surface, begging to be set free. Every fiber in her body screamed to give in, to succumb to chaos promising liberation. Then she looked at Clara, indestructible support that held her fast.

"Stay with me," Clara begged, her hand clasping hers tightly.

In that moment, she remembered the power of connection, the strength found in vulnerability. She focused on Clara's presence, grounding herself in the girl's unwavering faith. The shadows began to recede, the voice of Hyde growing distant as Alexandra reached for the light.

"I am not you," she exclaimed, firm and steady, full of this new strength. "I am Alexandra Vine, and I choose to fight.

With each utterance, the gloom bunched away, the grasp of Hyde slackening their grip. Her tempest quieted, and the shadows blew back into the room's corners.

At the midnight chime, Alexandra took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision settle around her. She had done it; tonight, she had resisted.

Clara came closer, her eyes shining with pride and relief. "You did it," she said in an exultant whisper.

"I did," she returned, her smile breaking through the residue of fear that had clung to her. "But this is only the first step.

Together, they stood in the darkened room, the remnants of the storm slowly fading away. Outside, the rain continued to fall but at a slower rate, the storm passing on, and indoors, another light flickered to life. Alexandra knew her battle with Hyde was far from over, but she had chosen for tonight to face the darkness and welcome the light.

And in that choice, she found hope. Behind the hope, though, she could still vaguely hear Hyde's "We are one and I am patient," his voice fading into a laugh running a chill down her spine.