The Plague Doctor [RATED R] ✓

L: de Vincenzo III

WARNING: Before you proceed, I would like to inform you that this chapter will contain dark themes such as sexual, verbal, and physical abuse that will be uncomfortable to read.  Know that these themes are a significant part of the story and are not a way to promote them in any shape or form.

Please read at your own risk. Thank you.

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THERE ARE AT LEAST a hundred people at the town square who are there to celebrate Capo di Monte's annual anniversary. You can find stalls everywhere, kids running around in the mud, and even men drinking beer on the side. In the middle, you can even find a stage where the beloved mayor will make his speech.

     Everyone was in a good mood, but a particular name was being uttered from people's mouths. A name that was starting to get the recognition of the townspeople.

     "I heard Dr. Francesco will be opening up his own clinic, and it's going to be cheaper than Dr. Romano's," an older man says.

     "He has been making regular rounds too. He visits the old folks and gives them free medicine. Dr. Francesco has really helped our town. Maybe he should run for mayor next year," a woman replies, and everyone can't help but agree.

     Chief of Police Alfredo Ricci, who overheard the conversation, rushes to a covered stall where Dr. William Romano, mayor Camillio Winchester, and businessman Finn Vanderbilt can be found.

     "We have a problem," Alfredo announces as soon as he joins the group. But when he entered, a camera flash suddenly welcomes him, making the police officer flinch and close his eyes. "Finn! You asshole!" He shouted, and Finn only laughed and put the camera down.

     Camillio, who was smoking a cigar, exhales the smoke from his mouth and looks at his friend. "What is it now? Did you catch a group of teens with drugs again?"

     "No, it's about Francesco. People are already talking about the clinic he's planning to open, and there are talks that he might even run for mayor," Alfredo explains. 

     William—who looked obviously annoyed by this—takes a sip of his alcoholic drink first before slamming it back down on the table. "That Francesco...I was only trying to help him because he seemed useful, but now he's trying to take over. Who does he think he is? Just because he's from the city, it doesn't mean he can take over this town," William explains with a bitter tone.

     Camillio finishes his cigar and puts it on the ashtray before looking out at the crowd outside. "The people of Capo di Monte are gullible. We can manipulate their thinking and turn things around."

     "But the townspeople love him," Finn Vanderbilt says, irritating the others.

     Finn, like Francesco, just moved to the town three years ago. He bought land in Capo di Monte for his tobacco business. But unlike Francesco, he doesn't care about the people in the town, which is something that William and the others like.

     "When you denied giving him that building permit for his clinic, the people practically rioted. But then our kind Francesco didn't want to argue, so he decided just to open a clinic inside his own house," Finn explains further, and all William could do was take another sip of his alcohol.

     "We have to teach him a lesson. If we put our guards down, he'll ruin everything we've built for this town," William explains, and the others can't help but agree.

     William Romano couldn't help but be extra annoyed by how Francesco was getting recognized by their townspeople. He grew up in this small town and didn't precisely finish his studies in the big city like Francesco did because he was afraid of the ongoing war. Other than that, Francesco had a beautiful wife like Adele. His own wife was infertile, so she got depressed and let herself go, which was something that William hated. He blamed her for a thing she couldn't even control.