Virgil was jolted awake by a knock at the door. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he cursed himself. He hadn't even realised he'd fallen asleep. There were three knock at the door again.

"One second." Virgil said, worried that the loud noise would wake his brother. Quickly, he smoothed down his hair and opened the door. "Oh. Um, hi Eric."

The tailors apprentice rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, offering a smile which Virgil didn't return. "Hi Virgil."

"What are you doing here?"

"I, um, well..." Eric trailed off and took a deep breath before continuing. "My sister was the one who got sick. She had Scarlet Fever and then when your brother got ill, I thought that it was too much of a conicedence so I thought I'd try and help."

Virgil looked Eric up and down, not sure if he could trust him. Eric sighed. "I know you probably think I'm doing this just to gain your or Rose's favour but I just want to help."

Virgil sighed, not finding anything wrong with Eric's statements, and opened the door a little further to let Eric in. The candle next to Issac's bed guttered in the slight draft from the open door but didn't flicker out. Carefully, Virgil closed the door again so that the light wouldn't hurt Issac's eyes when he woke up. Virgil shook Issac's shoulder slightly.

"Issac?" He asked softly. "Come on. Wake up." Virgil's heart nearly stopped for a second before Issac opened his eyes slightly.

"Who's there?" He asked, his voice croaky and thin.

"It's just me, Issac." Virgil said, smiling kindly before looking over his shoulder. "Well, Eric's here as well."

Issac's brow furrowed as he tried to recall something. "Eric?" Then, his eyes lit up slightly. "Is Annie alright?" He asked. "Can she come and play soon?"

Eric looked at Virgil before walking forwards slightly, standing next to the candle and making it gutter slightly. "Annie's alright. She's getting better. But she can't come over any time soon. She still needs to build up her strength."

Issac nodded slightly. "Okay."

"Are you going to try and eat something today?" Virgil asked. Issac didn't reply. "It'll make me happy. It'll make me really happy." Virgil tried. Issac smiled slightly.

"I'll try, Virgy."

Eric let out a small laugh. Virgil glared at him as he got a small bowl and soaked some bread in milk until it turned into mush.

"Eric, if you want to help, try and carefully help Issac sit up."

Eric nodded and carefully eased Issac up to lean against his headboard, muttering reassurances and encouraging things as he did so.

"Virgil?" Eric asked, a small touch of panic in his voice.

"What is it?"

"How long has Issac been ill?"

"I'm not sure. Rose got the letter a few days ago and I only arrived on Thursday. Why?"

Eric looked at Issac, propped up against the headboard and lit only by the candle by his bed, and then moved slightly closer to Virgil and dropped his voice.

"He's in a bad way."

"What do you mean?"

Eric looked at Issac again, the hurt and regret raw in his eyes. "I mean I don't think he's going to survive this. It looks like he's gone past the ten day mark."

"Ten day mark?" Virgil repeated, confused. Eric sighed and brushed his fringe out of his green eyes.

"Usually, Scarlet Fever goes away after ten days. But he looks like he's been sick for longer than ten days. I don't think he's going to live."

Virgil's face spiralled through several emotions very quickly. Worry, grief, anger, pain. Then, his face hardened into a mask that Eric was unable to see through.

"Eric, if you want to help my brother recover, I suggest that you keep negative thoughts to yourself. Otherwise, get out." Virgil pushed past Eric.

"Virgil, you're not going to be able to deny this for much longer."

"Get out." Virgil repeated. Eric sighed.

"Fine. I'll leave you alone."

Virgil heard the door open and close but didn't turn around. He knew Issac was going to survive because Issac had to survive. Virgil didn't know what he'd do if he lost his little brother.