"Please... Why are you doing this?" Thomas cried over the upbeat playing on the radio for the fifth time that day.

Making no attempt to answer, the plague doctor instead lifted the picture frame from the mantle, bringing it to his mask closely.

"My family has money," he moaned from the chair he sat on. "If it's money you want, I can give it to you."

The plague doctor suddenly turned at this, his green eyes visible from beneath his white mask. He moved away from the fireplace, stepping over the two elderly bodies lying in their own blood.

Thomas flinched as the figure with no face approached him, shrinking into himself as much as possible. It was all he could do. There were no ropes or ties that bounded him to that chair, yet he was paralyzed. His arms hung limply at his sides, rivulets of red pulsing from the gashes on his shoulders. His bare feet were glued to the floor by puddles of sticky blood that oozed from the flayed flesh of his heels.

He was at the complete mercy of the plague doctor.

"Please, whatever this is about," Thomas wheezed, slumping over. "We can work something out."

The plague doctor yanked him back by the hair, causing the man to howl as he was pulled upright. His gloved fingers did not leave Thomas's blonde strands, holding his head back over the chair.

"Why..." Thomas broke down as he was forced to look at the doctor square in the eye. "What do you want?!"

The plague doctor slowly removed his fingers and released Thomas from his grip. Holding up the picture he had taken, the masked figure pointed to the man beside Thomas.

The one with the chestnut-colored curls.

"N–Nathaniel?" Thomas blinked back tears. "You want him?"

The plague doctor nodded.

"Why?" Thomas immediately gasped at the sensation of a blade pressed against his jaw.

"Where is he?" the figure demanded in a low, gruff voice.

"I–I don't know!" Thomas yelped as the scalpel traced his jawline, drawing a bit of blood.

The figure narrowed his eyes, pressing the blade in deeper as he waited for an answer.

"He–He's at Lancaster University," Thomas sobbed, sinking into the chair. "He lives there!"

The plague doctor drew the scalpel back, seemingly satisfied with his response. He returned to the fireplace, placing the picture back in its place. Meanwhile, Thomas remained slumped in the chair, his moans echoing throughout the empty estate.

"What–What are you going to do now?" He watched as the plague doctor turned to him.

He did not answer.

"Who are you?" Thomas's moans had ceased, turning into a series of sniffles and shudders.

The plague doctor approached and placed his hands over his mask. He tugged it off, revealing his face to the horrified man.

Thomas jolted at the sight, his eyes widening to an absurd degree. "No..."

Benjamin ignored him, placing the mask back over his face. His hand went to his coat pocket and pulled out the scalpel.

"You son of a bitch! How could you?!" He rocked from side to side, trying in vain to throw a punch with his useless arms. "Why?! I thought I was your friend?! My father treated you like his own son! You were practically family to me!"

It was all true. They had been friends ever since college.

Ever since Benjamin remembered his past lives.

Tired of Thomas's repeated wailing, Benjamin placed the blade back on the man's skin, silencing him instantly. If he was going to scream incessantly, Benjamin would certainly give him something to scream about.

"Was it all a lie then?" Thomas glared at the man.

Benjamin had to admit it. This Thomas was much smarter than the previous ones. He was certainly more bearable. Maybe that's why he was able to be 'friends' with him for so long.

A part of him would actually miss his company. Despite the pretense of only bonding with him to get to Nathaniel, they had still known each other for over a decade.

But he certainly wouldn't miss that perfect, handsome face of his.

So as the doctor grabbed hold of Thomas's head to hold it still, he started to slice that enviable face until it wasn't so handsome anymore.

**

"Well, Dr. Peters, it is an honor for us to have such a respected doctor as yourself here." The dean reached out to shake Benjamin's hand.

"Thank you, Dr. Amhearst," Benjamin smiled, returning the handshake. "I am honored to be here even if it is temporary."

"I'm sure you'll make the most of your time here." The dean walked him to the door, opening it for him.

"Oh, absolutely." The warm smile never left Benjamin's face. "If you'll excuse me, I must get my office ready."

The smile vanished as soon as he left the office. Now that he was free from the man, he could drop the facade and get back to business.

Finding Nathaniel.

Once he had taken care of that obstacle, he could complete his final mission of finding Emilia. He knew she was here. Even if he hadn't checked for her enrollment status, he knew Nathaniel would lead him to her. They were tethered to each other just as he was tethered to Emilia.

The fallen foliage crunched underneath Benjamin's boots as he walked across the campus lawns. Orange, yellow, and red leaves shook on their branches before coming loose and blowing through the air. Some scattered over him, landing on his hair and coat.
He paused to wipe them off with his hand and heard the sound of a crow cawing from somewhere in the near distance.

As he buttoned up his coat, the caws were replaced with a roar of laughter from the side of him. He turned, feeling his heart leap at the sight. There, sitting by a table, was Emilia. She was smiling and laughing with a group of people. Not a blemish, bubo, scar, or injury on her.

She was healthy. Perfectly healthy.

Benjamin continued buttoning his coat, taking his time. He had only been watching for a few seconds when another man crossed in front of him, blocking his view briefly.

It wasn't until he saw those brown curls did he realize who it was.

Nathaniel.

A surge of anger and giddiness rushed over him at the sight of the man he had been looking for. Finally.

"Hey," Nathaniel called to the group.

"Hey." Emilia smiled up at him.

He took his seat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What did I miss?"

"Gwen was telling us about her night at the Copper Fox," she giggled.

"Oh really?" Nathaniel turned to the red-headed girl in question. "What happened?"

"Ugh," Gwen groaned. "I'm not telling it again. It was bad enough the first time."

Emilia laughed. "Just admit it, Gwen. You liked the attention."

"Maybe if the guy was sober. And taller. And had hair," she retorted.

"Oh, come on. You know those types of guys don't go into the Copper Fox." Another guy chuckled. "It's the bald, fat men who want what you're serving."

The group burst out laughing again, but this time much louder.

"How was work?" Nathaniel looked at Emilia, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"Don't remind me." She rolled her eyes. "My boss has been on me to replace the mask that was stolen. Like it's my fault someone broke in and took it!"

"Yeah, why would he even blame you for that?" Nathaniel frowned.

"I guess because I was the one who brought in that medieval exhibit. But how was I supposed to know that would happen?" She shrugged.

"Why would someone even want that thing?" Nathaniel asked. "Those masks are freaking creepy."

"Who knows?" She huffed. "I just hope they bring it back when they're done with it."

"Are you sure? What if they're some sort of freak?" Gwen joined in the pair's conversation.

"In what way?" Emilia raised an eyebrow.

The group only broke into another fit of giggles.

"Anyway," Emilia continued. "Who else is ready for the Halloween party this weekend?"

The group of friends all cheered in response.

"Hell yeah." Nathaniel raised his fist into the air. "You guys better be there or else, Christopher's going to be pissed."

"So much planning went into this," the one Benjamin assumed to be Christopher said. "This is the hottest party on campus and you're even lucky you all got an invite. But since I'm the president of Delta Chi and seeing as you all know me, well I was gracious enough to extend the offer."

"Oh, shut up!" Gwen playfully pushed Christopher, who nearly fell off his seat.

"Well, as long as I don't have to dress up as part of the Star Trek characters again, then I'm good." Emilia chuckled.

"Star Wars!" The rest of the group corrected in unison.

Deciding he had seen enough, Benjamin slowly began to walk away from the area. He should've expected Emilia to have an even larger circle of friends at this point, yet the realization hadn't dawned on him until he saw it.

This was a problem. After all, it had been her associates that caused her deaths. It never once had been one of her illnesses.

But in a way, weren't these people plagues themselves?

Back when Benjamin first remembered his past, he vowed to save Emilia by any means necessary. He told himself it was because he was so tired of failure, especially after three lifetimes of it.

But the truth was, he was desperate. And it would be this same desperation that made him decide to get rid of her friends–these diseases who only hurt Emilia.

One by one.

**

A/N: I hope you all can notice the change in the lingo as the chapters progressed with the times.