The Plague Doctor [RATED R] ✓

THE GARDENER

2ND HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE: WAR 

"ARE YOU SURE YOU can head to class by yourself? I can accompany you if you like," Marcelino insists, making Adeline roll her eyes in annoyance before pushing him out of the house and then handing him the box that's filled with freshly picked flowers.

     "If you continue to act like this, I'm seriously going to run away," Adeline threatens. 

     Marcelino was simply worried because ever since they started living together, Adeline had been having more dreams and night terrors about her past. It could be because she's no longer in the manor where she thinks she's safest, or maybe because she's a lot more nervous about being free like this, and she's scared that her past would come back to her. Either way, Marcelino has been trying her best to take care of her until she can finally live on her own. But before then, he'll have to act like an annoying big brother to her.

     "I'm just worried, that's all," Marcelino says, and Adeline finally calms down as she looks at the man in front of him.

     "I'm fine. Now hurry off. You don't want to open the stall late again," Adeline insists, and Marcelino finally smiles and pats her head, making the little girl angrily push him away and slam the door shut, hiding behind it so that Lino wouldn't be able to see the smile on her face.

     Marcelino chuckles at the reaction. He then puts on his face mask to cover the scar beside his mouth before heading downtown.

     After the final plague, Marcelino, Adeline, Laurence, and Krimson went to a far-off city where no one could recognize them. For a while, as the case of the plague was such a hot topic, the four of them stayed at motels, inns, and other places to hide before finally going their separate ways.

     Krimson didn't say much and just went up and left. Laurence, on the other hand, rode the bus and never looked back. At times he would send letters to Marcelino and the others, but he never really told them where he went or what he was actually doing.

     When the two of them left, Adeline didn't exactly know where to go. She was still young, and she knew nothing about the world outside Capo di Monte. So with no hesitation, Lino asked her if she wanted to stay with her for the time being. Adeline was reluctant at first, but she eventually agreed.  The two of them moved to a smaller town that was beside the sea. They've been staying there together for two years now since then.

     "Good morning Mr. M," a familiar old woman says, making Marcelino smile with his eyes before waving at her.

     Marcelino arrives at a small stall just beside the port. He puts the box down, and then he removes the cover from his little stall before hanging a sign up for everyone to see. Afterward, he took the flowers out from the box he carried and started arranging them.

     Despite his tough appearance, Marcelino decided to open up a small flower stall in the town. Other than fighting in a war, Marcelino knew nothing else than to take care of flowers because of the role that was assigned to him in the manor. At first, when he opened it up to Laurence, they thought it was silly, but now that he has actually done it, Marcelino felt like this was the perfect decision, especially when flowers reminded him of his sister.

     "Mr. M!" Someone suddenly shouts while Marcelino's putting some flowers on display. He puts the flowers down and turns his head to see who it is. When he spots a familiar figure, Marcelino automatically smiles behind his mask.

     "Livia! It's good to see you this early in the morning," Marcelino says as this woman wearing a beautiful floral dress approaches him, holding onto a basket filled with fresh fish.

     "Just got back from the market?" He then asks, and Livia chuckles and replies, "You know I have to be early, or the old ones will get the big fish again."

     Marcelino laughs, looking at the fresh fish in her basket before looking back at Livia. "So, how can I help you today?"

     "Oh, yes...well, I'm going to order a bouquet of flowers that I'll bring to my father's grave later. It's his death anniversary, so I want to leave something pretty behind. I'll pass by to get it, maybe around 1 PM," Livia replies, and Marcelino nods his head and writes the details down so he wouldn't be able to forget.

     "Do you have any flowers in mind?"

     "You can go on ahead and choose what you see fit. You always make the best arrangements anyways, so I highly trust your opinion about it," Livia says, and Marcelino smiles again before nodding his head.

     "Anything else?" He then asks.

     "That will be all," Livia answers. She was about to take her leave, but then she stopped herself when he suddenly remembered to ask, "By the way, how's your sister? Every time I see her, I feel like she's growing bigger."

     "She is. And she's turning 18 too, so I'm afraid she might pack her things and just leave," Marcelino then worries, making Livia chuckle.

     "You're a very caring brother, so I doubt she'll just escape," she says before looking at the mask Marcelino was wearing. "You know, Mr. M, I've always wondered why you wear a mask. I know you mentioned that you got injured when you were serving in the military in the past, but I feel as though you don't have to hide it. Everyone in this town adores you, after all."

     Marcelino reaches out to touch his mask, but then he looks away from Livia and tells her, "I just don't have a genuine smile to show."

     "Really? Then why did you name the shop Mr. Smiley's Flower Shop then?" Livia asks him next, and Marcelino ends up smiling just from hearing others say it out loud. He wanted to explain to Livia that it originated from someone dear to him, but instead, he looked at her and said, "If I remove my mask, you promise you won't laugh or be scared?"

     "Mr. M, you've known me long enough to know that I won't do such a rude thing," Livia insists, so without any more hesitation, Marcelino pulls the mask off and shows Livia the scar he's been trying to hide from everyone.

     Marcelino was still expecting to see some sort of reaction from Livia, but as she explained, she furrowed her brows in confusion and asked instead, "Now, what on earth were you trying to hide? Because if you ask me, all I see is a very handsome man."

     Marcelino was surprised by the response, but then he started laughing.

     "You really are an amazing woman Livia," Marcelino says, and this time, it was Livia's turn to laugh.

     "I'm just a librarian, Mr. M."

     "And I see no problem with that," Marcelino says back, and for a quick second, Livia felt something sharp pierce in her chest, immediately making her look away from the kind florist.

     "W-Well, I must be going. I'll drop by later to take the flowers," Livia quickly says before rushing away from the scene.

     Marcelino laughs and looks at the face mask again. He was about to put it on, but he took a deep breath and decided to hide it inside his pockets instead.

     "Mr. M! Look out!" Another voice calls out. Marcelino turns around and spots the mailman riding a bicycle. He rushes towards him and then stops just inches before he can hit his stall, making Lino sigh because something similar has already happened before.

     "Timothy, one day, your breaks won't work, and you'll end up crashing in my stall. Pedal slower next time," Lino warns him, and Timothy, the young mailman, awkwardly laughs before handing Marcelino his mail. 

     "Whoa! So you actually have a scar from war?! That's so cool!" Timothy then says when he sees the scar on Marcelino's face.

     "For Pete's sake, just go and deliver the other mail!"

     Timothy chuckles and tilts his hat before finally driving off. As soon as he was gone, Marcelino looked at the envelope that was given to him. He opens it up and finds a lengthy letter. At first, he thought that it would be from Laurence, but to his surprise, the signed name was from someone very important to him.

     "Bishop..."

END