The Plague Doctor's Growth

Watch Your Friends Closely

In agony at this point, plopping onto the floor of Rae's room. Not wanting to move any more. He grunted softly as he sat back, his back against the edge of the bed. He gazed up at Rae. ".. I got shot earlier.. If you were curious.." Frowning, Rae mumbled, "It's okay. Just relax for now." The room was rather cozy. Chester was still curled up on the large bed, seemingly asleep. Rae walked over to their bed, pulling out a traditional looking doctor's bag. Crouching in front of Eri, they removed the bandages and began to treat the reopened wound.
He hissed through his teeth a bit as Rae cleaned up the reopened wound. He sighed softly, "... Can't really.. relax when it now feels like fire.." He said, trying to lighten the mood a bit. He froze, however, listening. '..Near..' He sat up a bit, gazing towards the doorway then at a desk in the room.
He would sigh softly, before turning his head, gazing towards the desk curiously. He then continued to look about the room, "..I don't remember getting you a desk, was it already down here..?" He asked curiously, trying to ignore the pain in his side.
Rae tensed up a little, glancing over at the desk before replying, "Oh... No. I-I got some stuff for myself. Just to fill the room and make it look nicer." They changed out Eri's bandages while they spoke. Eri would nod softly, waiting for Rae to finish his bandages, looking down, he would smile a bit, the smile was lopsided due to the scars on his face, and he would look at Rae, "Good work, Rae." He'd compliment, not wanting to get up still. Rae offered an awkwsrd smile back. It was hard to tell with the mask on. Come to think of it, Eri had never really seen them without it. In fact, he didn't know much about his apprentice in general.
Eri stared at the door for a moment before blinking a few times. He then spoke to Rae, "... I kind of want to head up.. But I don't know if I can trust... being around Cartyr..?" He said, gazing at Rae, "He was so... tense earlier.. and yelled.." They tilted their head and asked, "Do you want me to stay with you then? I honestly do not mind staying, Doctor." They heard a knocking on the wall, glancing over for a moment. Noticing Eri didn't react to it, they pretended to have not heard it.
He would stand, finally, and gently titled his head back for a moment, he seemed to stare at the ceiling for a second before glancing to the door. "Yes.. That way you'll also be outside of this creepy basement." He offered, gazing at the door carefully. He then stepped towards it slowly, reaching for the doorknob. Just then, footsteps are heard down the hall as a light three spaced knocks are hears on the door. Knock. Knock. Knock.  Cartyr then stops, he steps back and awaits.
Eri froze, his eyes instantly widened, he then looked over his shoulder, and mouthed something to Rae, 'Don't tell him,' as he then opened the door slowly. Rae nodded in response, gathering their supplies and putting them back in their bag. Eri peered out the door,  old bandages in his hand, having automatically picked them up when he stood. He tilted his head softly, "Hey, Cartyr- You alright..?" He said softly, not opening the door anymore. Getting ready to slam it shut if needs be.
Cartyr stepped back, stretching. "Oh! Eri! Just the man I was trying to ask Rae about! I saw you weren't in bed healin' which is an issue. I wanted to come see if Rae knew where you were, mind if I come in?" Eri hesitated, he then nodded, "Actually.. Can I talk to you.. in the hall..?" He offered, barely opening the door any more than it was. "If you don't mind, of course." He responded softly, his eyes watching Cartyr's expression carefully. Without wearing his mask, you could read every little change in his face as he stepped forward slowly.
"Uh...? yeah? Sure..." Cartyr was suspicious, 'why would Eri need to talk to me in the hall' he thought. It was quite the weird request as this wasn't even his room to say the least. Cartyr, keeping his suspicions, complied and awaiting him at the hall. Simply stretching more.
Eri stepped outside of Rae's room, out into the hall, "I was going to ask.. if we could move Rae's room upstairs." He whispered the last bit, playing on a smile, making it seem like he wanted to surprise Rae with it. "It's.. creepy down here, and not the best for mental health." He then paused, gazing down the hall towards the basement stairs. "Can you help me... choose which guest room to renovate to be their new room..?" He asked softly. "Yeah, Of course! The first guest bedroom is a little too close to the front door. I don't want to give a draft into Rae's room. However, the second one is closer, and I could have it up... let's say, 2 days minimum."
Eri leaned against Rae's door softly, mostly the doorframe. Gently bumping the back of his foot against it, making a soft noise. "You want to go take a look right now..?" Eri offered, he said this in a normal tone, so that Rae could somewhat hear through the door. "I also need to put a fcking shirt on.. I got lost getting down here, again." He said with a soft chuckle, trying to win over Cartyr enough to get the man to walk with him.
Eh.. No. it's fine, I'll go alone. I'll have Chester help dust things off. But! Thank you anyway!" he slowly walks off into the distance. Eri would nod softly, watching Cartyr walk away. He kept his back to the door for a moment, worried about turning around. He then mumbled something, and slowly grabbed the doorknob, "...Hey." He would say softly, stepping into the room, making sure to shut it behind him. "...I don't know if he can hear us... I don't really trust this house right now.." He said in a soft, almost inaudible voice. "We need to head upstairs.. and probably not stay here with someone we can't... T-trust.." He said softly, his voice breaking a bit. Panicking slightly as Cartyr had now fully disappeared upstairs.
Standing up, Rae replied, "We could go out on a walk. Just to get out for awhile." He would nod, "I just need to get up to my room and change into actual clothes, really.." He said, trying to remain calm. He slowly went back to the door, opening it, he then began to walk down the hall, towards the basement stairs. He seemed really uneasy as he climbed the stairs. Slipping on some shoes, their jacket, and tying their hair back, Rae caught up to Eri and said, "Hey, I'll come up with ya. Its no sweat."
After some time passes, The Doctor finally slips on some warm, appropriate clothing and they head for the door. Eri would begin towards the door, pausing, his gaze trailing to the kitchen for a moment as they walked passed it. He then shook his head, and continued. His gaze turning back to the door. He calmly grabbed his cane by the door, and hummed softly as he then began to open the door. Trying to be quiet about it. Just then, Cartyr appeared at the front gates, coming up the way with the groceries that they were ORIGINALLY going into town for. Seemingly just recently returning back.
Rae kept a dead expression as they boredly stared at Cartyr. They held out an arm while stepping aside to allow Cartyr in, having Eri do the same. Eri would freeze for a second, before opening the door. Letting Cartyr inside, he then smiled softly, "We're going for a walk." He said, quite calm for the fact seconds ago he was froze up like a deer in headlights.
"Oh, okay? For what? It's getting late after all. I heard it's supposed to snow! Don't what either of you catchin' a cold!" He walked over, setting the groceries on the table before leaning at the doorframe, and looking at the two individuals staring back at him. "Oh, I was gonna show Rae how to shoot a hand gun. I set up targets a couple days ago off the beaten path." Eri responded, quite calmly, in fact. A bit too good at hiding how he felt on the inside, his eyes having little to no indication of fear or really any other emotion. "I believe we won't melt in the snow, if you are worried about that, Cartyr." Rae stayed quiet, just staring at Cartyr with the same dead expression. They were still playing with their knife though.
"A.... handgun? Since when did you start using a handgun instead of your signature rifle? Before you follow up with why not, or something around that sorts. Wouldn't it just be easier to teach them to shoot a shotgun, mainly because we rarely own handguns in this household?" Eri merely shrugged, "Would rather them not break their nose with the kickback of my civil war rifle, it's not a modern weapon after all." Eri responded, tilting his head a bit, moving his coat back, now to show the holster on his hip with the hand gun in fact in it. "They're easier to conceal from others, anyway." He then began to walk out the door, motioning Rae to follow him. Not breaking character from his usual stoic self.
"Too conceal...?" This rose Cartyr suspicious ten fold, the levels not up exponentially. 'Since when did Eri care about that? Let alone holster an actual pistol.' He thought to himself. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but either way.. he decided he was going to keep his eye on em to the best of their safety and his ability.
The Doctor then nodded to his 'friend' as he exited, looking over his shoulder at Cartyr, "..I got shot at the black market.. I think carrying a gun that's easier to conceal, is safer, Da- Cartyr." He caught himself, looking away abruptly, he then began down the porch before stepping down the stairs and towards the main gates. "Alright. Goodbye, Cartyr."
Cartyr then shut the door and carried on with his business as the two walked off. Hearing the door shut, Rae let out a sigh and relaxed a bit. As if they had been holding their breath the whole time. They took in the fresh air, closing their eyes and enjoying the crisp feeling in their lungs.
Eri gazed ahead at the gates, he muttered something under his breath. Not breaking character, even his slight limp was gone. He walked with almost a proud form of walk. His head up, back straight, shoulders back, almost walking with a grace. Even if there was pain etching it's way across his side. He turned his head for only a moment, whispering to Rae, almost inaudible in his mask. ".. I have a feeling.. he'll be watching." He turned his head back to the gates, as they reached them, he stepped through them. Letting his mind wander for but a moment, the voices started up aggressively, rising in volume, to the point he couldn't hear anything but them.
'RUN. RUN, ERI.'  'Take your gun out, Eri! TAKE IT OUT. Take your knife AND ETCH LINES INTO YOUR WRISTS.' 'ERI... ERI RUN.. RUN.. RUN.. YOU DENSE FOOL. LEAVE RAE THERE AND RUN.'
And yet, he remained beside Rae, seemingly calm as they walked. But there was this darkness swirling behind his eyes. He walked with Rae to his left, so he could see Rae constantly. He spoke softly, "You know.." He sounded darker than before, his voice almost harsh. "Cartyr.." He'd say his name in a different tone. "Isn't able to save us... from himself." He spoke with venom behind his words. His head turned, and his eyes had pure hate in them. Yet, he didn't attack Rae, no.. but he was different, entirely different. He was giving out such a dark, and menacing aura.. His blue eye almost darkened as he gazed at Rae. "He can't... Save me from myself." He said, his voice holding only venom when speaking about Cartyr.
Rae frowned, holding one of their arms as they mumbled in a meak voice, "Y-yeah..." They didn't meet Eri's gaze, looking at the ground instead. It seemed like they were almost making themselves look smaller than usual. They kept their head low, dragging their feet a bit as they walked.
Looked back ahead for a moment before muttering something, "You're just going to let me bully you, Love?" He said, a bit of spite edging in his voice as he spoke. "Come on. Stick up for yourself." He said, gritting his teeth a bit behind his mask. He seemed to turn his gaze back to ahead of them for a good while as they walked the main trail.*
'....Eri, are you going to hurt Rae..'  'I don't think Eri is home.'  "Eri isn't home, not right now." He said under his breath, his eyes sweeping the area around them. He gritted his teeth again, feeling his side spike in pain. He sighed softly, and touched his side for a moment, walking normally still.
Rae flinched, hugging themselves a little as they mumbled, "Its fine, sir..."
'Stop being such a coward. Listen to him! Stick up for yourself damn it!' 'Just stay quiet. He's the authroity. Fighting will cause trouble. It'll go away. Fighting back never ends well.' Rae kept their gaze lowered, quietly keeping to themself.
Eri flicked his gaze towards Rae, putting his hands in his pockets slowly. He seemed to hum softly for a moment before the softest click of a knife could be heard between the sounds of leaves and gravel crunching. Eri pulled his hands out, and turned to Rae for a moment, smiling to the point his eyes crinkled in the corners before he just, very quietly, whispered. "... Run." He then slashed at Rae with the knife, missing on purpose, laughing behind his mask maniacally towards his actions.
Rae gasped, falling to the ground and scrambling backwards. They felt panic rise as they stared up at Eri, frozen like a statue before hearing all voices say, 'RUN.' Their eyes seemed to flash white for a moment as they glanced to the house and then to the woods. Suddenly, they got up and dashed to the darkest parts of the outer forest, shifting their way to go and hide.