The Plague Doctor [RATED R] ✓

(31) Another

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THE CORRIDOR WAS EMPTY as I walked my way to master Claudio's office. There was this dark and unnerving atmosphere around the manor that I almost ran back, but before I could even decide on what I should really do, I realized that I was already standing in front of the door, and my hand was already knocking on it.

     "Come in," a voice says, and I took a deep breath and finally walked inside.

     Like always, Claudio's office looked like a mess, but it was even more cluttered than the last time I've seen it. If I didn't hear him speak before I got in, I wouldn't have seen him sitting on his desk, surrounded by piles and piles of papers and boxes.

     I don't say anything as Claudio continued writing something in his notebook. I just sat there and waited for him to finish. After a couple of minutes, he finally puts his pen down and looks at me, staring at my coat first before looking back at my face.

     "I forgot that your hair is still black," he comments with a quiet laugh, making me unconsciously touch it.

     "So how was your sleep? Did you rest well?" He then asks with the same smile that he gives me whenever he was trying to speak calmly and gently. Honestly, I should be the one to ask him that question, especially when he looks like he's minutes away from dropping dead.

     "Why did you want to speak with me?" I ask him instead, showing him my distaste after what he did last night.

     Master Claudio doesn't say anything and just turned the calendar on his desk so I could see it. He then points to a date; it was September 24, Wednesday. At first, I didn't understand what it was, but then my eyes widened when I eventually realized it.

     "Today is Winter's session with me, so if you may, I would like to speak with him," Claudio says, standing from his seat and searching for his mask so he could wear it.

     "Are you fucking kidding me?" I ask back, surprised that he's requesting this now after everything that happened last night. He poisoned everyone at the party and proceeded to drug me, he even placed me in a room with a dying patient, and now he expects me to just put Winter out as if nothing happened.

     "Lino told me that you're going to offer me something, and that's the reason why I'm here," I say, and Claudio chuckles and adjusts his leather gloves before looking at me.

     "For someone who threatened to kill me last night, do you think I'll easily allow you to get your way?" He asks with a menacing grin, making me gulp.

     When Claudio finally found his mask, he immediately puts it on and grabs his notebook before taking a seat on his usual chair. He then gestures at the sofa in front of me and tells me, "Bring Winter out so we can start the session. I don't have all day."

     I didn't want to listen to him. I didn't want to bring Winter out and face him, but at the same time, I knew that he wasn't going to take a no for an answer. He was definitely going to force me to take him out and we'll all be in grave danger.

     "If you don't want your precious Teo to die then I suggest you do what I tell you to do before I lose my patience," Claudio suddenly says with a demanding voice, making me widen my eyes in shock.

     The two of us didn't say anything right after that. I knew that Claudio was a hundred percent sure that I was conflicted by what he said, and it annoyed me so much that Teo has now become a weakness. All I could do was clench my fist in complete anger. Should I just grab a pen and try and stab him with it? Will I be even able to fight him? Will Lino barge in here and tackle me if he finds out about it?