The wooden shutters of the window were propped open, allowing the light summer breeze to cool down the inside. Although the city was located on the banks of a river, the season could sometimes bring stifling heat. Especially for someone working in closed spaces and layers of clothes.

Benjamin paused from his writing, looking up from his desk and towards the opened window. Leaves rustled in the light breeze, swaying from the treetops above the houses. He could hear the sounds of the bustling city around him. The horses trotting down the cobblestone streets, the people conversing as they walked, wagons loaded with goods being pulled. Ordinary sounds you would expect in the nation's capital. But what Benjamin had not been expecting was the peace to be interrupted by a hurried knock followed by a man bursting through the door.

"Is the physician here?" the younger man asked breathlessly.

"No, he is on holiday in the isles," Benjamin answered after recovering from his startle. "What is the matter? Who are you?"

"I have been sent by the Eldridge family to fetch physician Amherst," he explained, recovering his breath. "'Tis an emergency."

Benjamin hesitated with a frown, turning back to his writing. "I am afraid I can not help you. I am merely a surgeon, an apprentice."

"Please, sir." The messenger stepped forward. "I must bring someone back. Their daughter," his voice dropped to a whisper. "She has the plague."

Benjamin's eyes immediately widened at the word and he felt the quill release from his hand. His blood suddenly ran cold, freezing the veins within him. Had he heard that correctly?

The plague?

After a moment of silence, Benjamin took a sharp breath in and answered. "Then surely I cannot help you. The girl is as good as dead."

"You must," the messenger pleaded. "You are studying under the best physician in the realm. Please, I beg of you. You will be compensated well, I assure you."

Benjamin regarded the messenger with no hint of sympathy. But inside, something tugged at his heart, urging him to at least investigate the girl. At the very least, she deserved to hear the fatal prognosis; to be granted the visit of a physician, or his assistant.

"Alright." His wooden chair groaned as he stood. "I will follow you."

"Thank you." The messenger smiled. "I will prepare the horses."

Once the man left the dwelling, Benjamin couldn't help but curse himself as he gathered up instruments and jars. "You are a fool, getting tangled up with the plague. Nothing but disaster can come from that."

He placed the accouterments into his medical bag, noticing something tucked away in the corner of the room. Slowly approaching it, Benjamin couldn't help but smile in relief when he recognized the suit.

He brought his fingers to the coat, feeling the oily leather of it. On top of it rested a bird-like mask, which Benjamin raised up to his face. Staring into the black sockets, he saw his own reflection in the glass.

Turning it over, Benjamin brought the mask back to the shelves filled with herbs and began stuffing the beak with them.

**

"We are here," the messenger announced as his horse pranced to a stop.

Benjamin studied the fawn apartment in front of him, counting each of the four stories. "Which floor is hers?"

"The uppermost." He hopped off his filly, leading it around towards the back.

Watching with disinterest, Benjamin made no attempt to dismount. "Are we not going through the front?"

"No," the messenger glanced around. "No one must know you are here."

"Understandable." Benjamin finally quit his horse. Following the messenger beyond the paddock, he stepped across the threshold of the rear entrance and was ambushed by two men.

"You are not the physician." The older one glared.

"My apologies, sir. I am his apprentice. I have been charged with looking over things while Amherst is away." Benjamin bowed his head.

"I see," The older man gritted his teeth. "Well, I suppose you will have to do then since you are already here."

"Nicholas," the man barked at his son. "Guide him upstairs."

"Yes, father," Nicholas complied, gesturing for Benjamin to follow.

The ascent to the fourth floor was as silent as it was uncomfortable. Several times Benjamin opened his mouth, only to shut it again. What was there to say? I am sorry about your sister? Benjamin shook his head, mentally answering his question. He did not want to sound more incompetent than he already was.

"She is in here," Nicholas whispered, stopping in front of the bolted door. He must have noticed Benjamin's curious look since he quickly added, "We do not wish for any stray children to wander in by accident."

It was a foolish plan, but Benjamin said nothing of it, thanking the young man instead.

Clutching his bag tighter, the apprentice's eyes gazed back upon the door. It might as well have had 'abandon all hope, ye who enter' carved onto it because it seemed like the very entrance to the underworld itself. It was as black as death and for a moment, Benjamin thought he saw it pulsating against the wall.

"Here is the key." Nicholas's voice brought him back to the present; to reality. Benjamin nodded, taking it in his gloved hand.

"Um, you have something to wear, correct?" Nicholas asked, looking at the man worriedly. "For protection?"

"Oh, yes." Benjamin raised his bag. "'Tis in here."

"I will leave you to change then." The boy took his leave.

With a sigh, Benjamin took out the items, placing the coat on first. The sweltering hallway was the worst place to don an ankle-length leather outfit, but he would rather risk heatstroke than infection.

He stalled, taking his time adjusting the white mask under his hat. He thought delaying would somehow save him from going inside; from seeing what was inside.

In a strange way, he hoped Baron Eldridge would come and dismiss him, telling him he was not qualified. Benjamin would not even care about the affront to his dignity; he would thank the man. But no amount of stalling would prevent the inevitable. In fact, staying out here in the hot, cramped corridor was only increasing his anxiety.

He reminded himself that he just had to give the prognosis, apologize to her and her family, and then leave. He was not required to cure her. There was no cure. That was beyond his realm of qualifications; that required a miracle from God.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Benjamin turned the key and pushed forward. He had not realized he was shutting his eyes until an unseen woman called to him.

"Are–Are you the doctor?"

Benjamin's eyes fluttered open, taking in the gloomy room before him. The windows were shut, casting out the sunlight and swathing everything in gray. Only small beams of sun seeped through, giving off enough light for him to see by.

The woman studied him with skepticism. "Are you the doctor?"

"I–I am his assistant." He came closer, and she pressed back into her pillows, as though hiding.

"Do not be frightened." He tried to soften his voice, hoping to soothe her.

"Forgive me, but your costume. 'Tis quite ghastly." She tried not to look away.

"Yes, but 'tis the only way to–"

"To protect yourself from this?" She suddenly eased forward, working the sheets from her body. "I understand."

Benjamin froze at the sight, growing dizzy at the buboes covering her beige skin. They were not large, not yet at least. But there were many of them. His gaze lowered to the tips of her fingers, which were already blackened.

"Oh my God..."

"'Tis not as bad as it looks." She attempted to smile.

The man could only stare at her, eyes wide, with his shoulders slumped. There was no possible way to heal this.

"Well?" She wrung her hands.

"I am going to be honest. I never had the chance to study a plague victim–"

"You mean the fortune," she corrected.

Benjamin continued, ignoring her. "I know about it. Extensively. But there is no foreseeable remedy for this. I am sorry..."

She nodded, breaking her gaze from his. "Do not be sorry. 'Tis not your fault."

"But I am sorry," he apologized again, at a loss for words.

"Is there really nothing you can do?" Her voice cracked.

"I can examine you if you would like," he offered, holding out his hand.

She bit her lip, gripping the sheets beside her. "A–Alright."

He could sense her reluctance and frankly, he did not blame her. Being in a room with a stranger dressed in such an outfit would cause anyone to hesitate. Before her trembling fingers could grab her nightgown, he stopped her.

"There is no need to disrobe. Just tell me where they are." The unbearable warmth in the room caused him to perspire and he longed for air. Fresh air, freedom from this stifling heat.

"On my neck and underneath my arms," she responded shyly.

"May I see your hand?"

The woman slowly extended her arm, letting him grab it. Benjamin gently took her fingers in his own, examining her fingers closely and turning them over. All the while, he remained silent.

"'Tis bad, is it not?" she whispered. "You can tell me. Please, be honest."

"I am going to die, aren't I?" Her dark brown eyes met his green ones. He knew she couldn't see them though, but it felt like her gaze penetrated through the mask and pierced his very soul.

Yes, you are going to die.

That was what he wanted to say; what his mind was ordering him to say.

But before his mind could comprehend what his mouth was speaking, he heard the words fall from his lips, "You will not die, I promise."