Lay Me To Sleep

Chapter Three- Apartment 34

Nina was awakened by someone tapping on her shoulder and then hands shaking her. She rolled her eyes mentally. She wanted just a few moments more of rest. The hands did not stop from trying to wake her. She decided now would be a good time to either yell at the idiot shaking her or just get up. By her guess- probably the first option.

"Madam... Madam... Miss.. Madam the-" the young mans train of thought abruptly crashed. Nina had opened her eyes and caught the boys hand. "Yes. May I help you?" Nina asked sternly.

"The ship, Madam, we've docked." The boy looked like he was about to faint. Poor thing. Nina quickly scrambled to get her things. "Thank you sir for waking me, sorry about that-" she was the one cut off this time.

"Never you worry, Miss. I am sorry I had to wake you," the boy said with a smile. "May I aid you in taking your bags to your carriage?" The young man looked eager enough.

"Yes. Thank you so very much. I'm not sure I could do it all in one trip." To this the boy replied by taking the heavy suitcase up the stairs and into the deck, while Nina was stuck carrying a few of her lighter luggage. Once everything was all loaded into the carriage, Nina turned to thank the young man and to tip him for his hospitality. "No thank you, Miss. I do appreciate the kindness though." He smiled and was then running back off to the ship. She didn't see him again.

She turned and the coachmen lead her inside the carriage and politely closed the door. It was going to be a long ride to her new home she was told. The driver said nearly three hours. Her home was more of a apartment. It contained three rooms and a bathroom, living space, kitchen. It wasn't huge but it wasn't cramped either. It was just right for someone like Nina. After all, it was to be just her living in the space and so she had no need of so much space. She'd rather have this space-filled apartment than a house. A house was a lot of upkeep anyway. She was told the rent wasn't too bad either. She was going to be living near the middle if the city.

As far as money was concerned, her family was fairly wealthy. Not fabulously wealthy by any means but just so she would be able to support herself for awhile until she'd be in need of finding a job. A job was the first thing she would be needing to find when she made it to her new home. She had sent a letter to a woman by the name of Lenore Abulire, in the letter she asked about a possible job opportunity and Lenore told her happily that they were in need of a maid. She had accepted gratefully, knowing that this was as close to a normal life as she could get-after her family's death and all.

The sickness or Black Death as most called it now had in fact visited Paris. It had taken the lives of many but it had done so to most of Europe. In Paris the sickness did not seem to take as many. Millions were presumably dead. But there was no way of knowing just how many had perished because most of the bodies had been burned. To prevent the spread of disease, or so they told.

But people died everyday and Nina became accustomed to the sight of death. Sometimes that fact unnerved her- that she no longer became sick at the sight of the death around her. She was far too desensitized by it now. Especially after watching the death of her family before her eyes. Her mother went the worst.  She contracted the disease from Catherine not long after taking care of her in her last moments. Nina's mother grew ill and there was nothing to stop her demise. All Nina could do was try and make her comfortable as she withered and decayed before her. She took the longest to die. Mother had the large circular markings that adorned her sickly body, she coughed up her own blood and it grew harder and harder for her to breathe. It was as if she was drowning from the inside. Catherine, being so small, did not take as long but the process was the same. In the end it amazed Nina that she too had not developed the markings and became ill herself. The more a person had contact to the dying the more they were at risk themselves or so it was said. In her own opinion, Nina had a hard time truly believing anything these "doctors" or "medicine specialists" said. Nina thought that, in truth, they were just as clueless about the disease as the people becoming infected. As far as anyone knew, we could all become infected eventually.

In the end no one knew of how it all began. Some said the disease was a curse put on the world because God was not happy with humankind's wickedness and evil. Others said it was the time for the wicked to be punished- Nina never believed that because nor her mother nor sister were wicked, but they were taken from her all the same. Maybe God was punishing Nina, maybe that's why Catherine and Mother were taken.

No one really knew it's origin. That is why they were afraid, because it was the unknown they all feared. Nina did not fear the end. She had always been shy but never fearful. Mother used to call her 'Leo' because she was said to have the heart of a lion. A brave soul. She often wondered how things would be if she had her sister and mother back. A few tears rolled themselves down her cheeks. She let them this time. She wanted this new life but wanted for her old one as well- the one with her family. She knew it was healthy to mourn their loss but to what extent? Would this paralyze her forever? No. It mustn't, Mother wouldn't want it this way for 'Her Leo'. Nina stifled her cries and gathered herself. It's what Mother would've wanted, she thought to herself.

The carriage came to a halt. Home sweet home, she thought to herself. A horse neighed and kicked up dirt in the road. The coachmen opened the door for her and helped her climb out. He helped her carry her belongings to her new home. Apartment 34. "Where do you need them?" The gruff man asked. "Oh, just set them in the hall, sir, I can take it from here." She said. Nina thanked the man and tipped him, he walked away and drove off. Alone again, she thought.

The key to her apartment jingled in her dainty hands. She stuck if into the lock and twisted. She was amazed by the vastness of it. She thought it would be much smaller, more quaint. But no, this was Paris- they had such standards. The entire room looked like it could be fit for kings. This trend could be noticed throughout the place. Nina set all her things by the door. It could wait until morning to be unpacked. The apartment was fully furnished and she would honestly not change a thing about it. It was all very regal looking.  Mostly reds and golds, silvers could be found. Her favorite colors. She plopped down on the bed, and looked around. She took off her corset and dress and changed. She was going to like it here. She jumped back into bed but not before locking all the doors and windows. She soon let a blissful sleep take her captive.

Little did she know someone was watching.