Crushing Daisies, Killing Roses...

Chapter Three: The Flowers

Dr Bloom was working in his greenhouse when he suddenly got this chilling, tingly sensation up his spine. He felt as though he was being watched. It was as if his body were trying to tell him something was about to happen. No matter how hard Dr Bloom tried to brush that feeling off he couldn't help but feel as though someone was lurking around his greenhouse watching everything he was doing.

"Christ sake!", he yelled in shock after a loud knock on the door. "Oh, relax Nathaniel, its only me" said an elderly woman. "Honestly mother, I need to attach a bell to your corset! You nearly gave me a heart attack" Dr Bloom frantically said. "Oh Nathaniel dear, you spend far too much time in this greenhouse. Perhaps you wouldn't be so easily startled if you went out into the world more often". "What is it you want mother, you rarely come to my greenhouse by choice" said Dr Bloom. "I'm going to ignore that... This letter arrived for you at the door, it looked rather important" his mother said handing him a pearl white envelope sealed with crimson wax. "My God..." he mumbled. "This is from Dr Morgan and the Doctor Society" he exclaimed. "Well go on... Open it. I didn't walk all the way to your greenhouse to admire the envelope" said his mother.

Dr Bloom, Nathaniel, very carefully opened the envelope so as not to damage it. He wanted to keep it so he could remember this day always. He began to read and... "Nathaniel Bloom!" his mother shouted. "Did you not hear what I said? I wish to know what it says too. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to resist the urges to open the letter myself? Honestly, its times like these I feel as though I failed as a mother". "Mother, calm yourself. It's just like you to make something important to me about you" he said trying to keep calm. His mother was a very fragile woman. Well... more dramatic if you ask me. She is never not trying to be the centre of attention but, Nathaniel loved her none the less. Despite all her theatrics she was an excellent mother and always encouraged Nathaniel to follow his passions growing up.

"I just want to be apart of this moment Nathaniel" she said very sadly. "I hardly ever get to see since you started working on your plant things". "They are not things mother..." he murmured. Nathaniel sighed and took his mothers hand, "Forgive me mother, I guess can get a bit carried away with my work" he said. "I forgive you" she said with a smirk as though she had planned and thought out this whole conversation in her head on her way to his greenhouse. "Now read the letter... Aloud" she commanded. Nathaniel smiled as he knew his mother's ways and began reading.

Dear Dr Nathaniel Bloom

I, Dr Anthony Morgan, on behalf of the Honorary Doctors Society would like to invite you to join our society for your excellent research on the effects of foreign plant species on indigenous plant species.

We are having our monthly meeting next Friday. This should give you about a week to get your orders in an affair and decide whether you would like to be part of our society.

The details of the meeting will be sent to you upon confirmation of your acceptance of our invitation.

We expect to hear from you soon.

-Dr Anthony Morgan

Nathaniel was ecstatic. He lifted his mother off the ground, gave her a twirl and a kiss on her forehead. "This is amazing mother! I have always wanted to be part of the society. I must pack at once" he said as he rushed past his mother to get ready for his trip.

Nathaniel and his mother had relocated to America after his father's death. His mother couldn't stand to stay in their old house. She spent most days crying wandering around the house in tears, barely eating, not talking. She wasn't herself. Nathaniel decided it would be best to take her with him when he left for America, where he would be conducting his research. His mother was reluctant at first but after a few weeks she was back to her theatrical self and Nathaniel had begun his research on the effects of alien plants on indigenous plants.

He never would have thought that a year later his research would get him an invitation into the Honorary Doctors Society. He would have to leave in a few days if he wanted to make it there in time, so he sent word of his acceptance of their invitation to Dr Morgan soon after he left his greenhouse.

His mother was running around making all the necessary preparations and making sure that Nathaniel didn't forget anything important. As bright as Dr Bloom was he was also quite forgetful. He went back to his greenhouse to fetch a few of his things when he found a letter attached to the door. Nathaniel suddenly remembered that before his mother had startled him he felt as though someone was watching him. He looked around him hoping to spot whoever left the letter with no luck and slowly reached out to pull the letter off the door.

Dr Bloom

There will be twenty women at the meeting next Friday. I have left a list of the flowers on your desk. Take them with you and gift one to each woman. Choose wisely.

And don't speak of this to anyone.

If you do not follow these instructions something terrible may happen to your dearest mother.

With love,

J.R.F

Nathaniel suddenly felt a pit forming in his stomach. He was so confused and anxious, he didn't know what to do so he rushed into his greenhouse and found the list. It had the names of twenty flowers, all of which were flowers growing in his greenhouse. He started picking them one by one and left them on his desk. He didn't want his mother to see because then he would have to explain, and she always knew when he was lying.

A few days later another letter from Dr Morgan arrived which provided the details of the meeting. Nathaniel wasted no time. He gathered his bags and hugged his mother goodbye. When she was back inside he rushed down to his greenhouse, looked at the list and began picking fresh ones. He had used the ones he picked before to try and understand why whoever wrote that letter wanted him to use those ones. He had only one explanation. The language of flowers.