The Plague Doctor [RATED R] ✓

(16) Criminal

⚕︎

THE WIND BLOWS COLD on his skin as Bishop walked around his old town, Totten's Landing. The townspeople didn't have faces, almost like they were all blurred out. Their voices were distorted too, but Bishop didn't find it strange at all.

     After walking past the town circle, Bishop then headed down a familiar path, stepping on mud and staining his pants and shoes as he did so.

     The voices of the people in town mellowed down behind him until there was complete silence. Bishop stopped walking, and when he looked up, he was welcomed by an old house that was burnt down because of a recent fire incident.

     Ashes were everywhere as Bishop walked closer to it. Despite the aftermath of the fire, the front door was still intact. Bishop walked towards it and opened the door. Expecting to see burnt wood and rubble, Bishop was surprised to see a house that was still intact. Evidence of the fire disappeared, almost like the fire never happened.

     "Bishop! Did you buy what I told you to buy!?" A voice from upstairs suddenly shouted, making Bishop flinch. He wasn't expecting anyone to be there.

     Bishop doesn't answer and walked up the stairs, leaving mud stains on the floor because of his dirty shoes. When Bishop arrived upstairs he sees piles and piles of books just scattered in the corridor. At the end of the corridor was a door. Bishop slowly approached it, grabbing the doorknob before stopping to take a deep breath.

     "Bishop?! Did you buy what I asked you to buy?!" the voice asked, but louder this time.

     Bishop gulped and finally turned the doorknob. He pushed the door open, and to his surprise, chained in bed was a skinny boy covered in bruises. The boy was dirty, probably because he hasn't taken a bath for weeks. The room smelled like old books and urine, which immediately made Bishop cover his nose.

     "Hello?" Bishop called out.

     The boy who was chained in bed was reading a book. He then giggled; he must have read something funny. Bishop didn't dare to disturb him, but when he took a step inside the room, the boy suddenly dropped his book and looked at him, his eyes almost hallow.

     The boy opened his mouth wide, and as the silence rang in Bishop's ear, the boy suddenly started screaming.

     The screams were high pitched that Bishop was forced to cover his ears with his hands. "Winter! Stop!" He shouted, but the boy he referred to as Winter didn't stop at all.

     Bishop dropped to the floor and closed his eyes. After a while, the screams finally stopped. Bishop slowly pulled his hands away from his ears to look back at the boy chained on the bed. To his surprise, the boy was gone.

     Bishop looked around the room, but no one was there. He then walked closer to the bed to check what the boy was reading earlier. The title of the book was 'We have always lived in the castle.' Bishop was about to pick it up, but then a cold hand touched his ankle.

     Bishop's entire body froze. The room falls silent again as he slowly looked down to check who was holding onto him. Underneath the bed was the boy from earlier; grinning at him from ear to ear. Bishop was about to scream, but then I opened my eyes and gasped for air.

     Sweat trailed down my forehead as I look around the room to check where I was. I sighed in relief when I realized that I was still in my bedroom at the manor. "My name is Bishop. My name is Bishop," I repeatedly whisper, almost like I was trying to convince myself that I was.

     I massaged my forehead and stood from the bed. Afraid that the dream that I had become a reality, I immediately looked under the bed to check if anyone was there. When I saw that the only thing there was my luggage, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.