Chapter 3 – Beauty and the Beast begins at the heart of Professor Maxon’s compound, where a pivotal moment unfolds behind the closed doors of his mysterious laboratory. Two weeks had passed since a critical breakthrough had brought new energy to their scientific work. Von Horn, ever wary of the consequences, continued to keep his weapon close, mistrusting the unstable nature of the beings they were bringing to life. Their latest progress had made the professor more obsessed, focused on proving his theories with a creation that could blur the lines between invention and humanity. Despite von Horn’s reservations, he was drawn into Maxon’s zeal, curious yet concerned about the potential consequences of their success. The looming sense of danger was never far, hidden beneath scientific ambition.

Away from the laboratory, Sing Lee had his own concerns and quietly followed his instincts. His path led him deep into the surrounding jungle and eventually to the shoreline, where he stumbled upon a sinister conversation. Bududreen, the ship’s first mate, was seen speaking with Rajah Muda Saffir, a tall and imposing figure with dangerous intentions. Their hushed discussion centered on abducting a white woman to offer as a prize to the Rajah, their words sharpened by the suggestion of silencing any witnesses. The implication was clear—Virginia Maxon was in grave danger. Sing Lee, unable to confront them directly, retreated quietly to consider his next move. He knew that open confrontation would be risky, but allowing the plan to unfold unchecked was unthinkable.

Meanwhile, in the court of mystery, ethical lines were being tested. Maxon and von Horn debated the very nature of the beings they had made. Von Horn argued for destroying the imperfect ones, calling them abominations, but Maxon clung to his belief that these creatures, though flawed, held purpose and potential. He saw them as part of a greater plan to change humanity, perhaps even to replace it. Their conversation revealed not only a philosophical divide but also the dangerous extent of Maxon’s ambitions. Von Horn’s frustration was building, caught between loyalty, desire for Virginia, and fear of what their creations might become. In contrast, Maxon’s resolve was absolute, unwavering in the face of growing risks.

That night, Sing Lee returned to the lab in secret, driven by a need to disrupt what he could not openly oppose. His entry resulted in the breaking of a vat—one containing what would become the thirteenth creation. By morning, the outcome of his interference was visible. A manlike figure emerged—physically perfect, with no signs of the deformities that plagued the earlier versions. Though dazed, his demeanor was calm and almost innocent. Professor Maxon looked upon him with awe, hopeful that his masterpiece had finally been born. Number Thirteen had awakened, but no one knew yet what kind of soul lay within.

At the same time, Virginia, feeling isolated and uncertain of her place within the compound, chose to wander outside the walls. Her reflections on von Horn—his charm, his secrecy—left her conflicted. The jungle around her, once a refuge for thought, now became a setting of danger. Unknown to her, one of the earlier failed experiments, Number One, had broken free. Seeing Virginia triggered in him a terrible longing, one born not of understanding but of instinct. He saw in her something he lacked—beauty, grace, and acceptance—and this drove him to act with confused desperation.

Virginia’s scream shattered the quiet morning and alerted the camp, sending Maxon and von Horn racing through the trees. They reached the site too late to stop the encounter, but its impact was immediate. The truth of Maxon’s work—its horror and its recklessness—was made manifest in that single moment. Virginia had seen what science had created when guided only by ambition. And while her father might see promise, she saw peril. Number Thirteen’s emergence and Number One’s obsession would become symbols of the twin outcomes of the professor’s unchecked genius. As fear mingled with moral uncertainty, the foundations of trust and safety began to crumble.

The chapter offers more than just a dramatic turn of events. It lays bare the consequences of power pursued without restraint and the danger of seeing people as projects. Through Virginia’s vulnerability, von Horn’s envy, and Maxon’s blindness, readers are reminded that beauty and monstrosity often lie not in appearance, but in the choices that shape us. In that world, even a perfect face might hide chaos, and even a beast might long for more than instinct allows.