Fatal Attraction

Chapter Two

My skin crawls as a group of townspeople walk by, glaring at me as if I were killing someone right in front of them.  Their tired eyes raking over every inch of my body, muttering insults under their breath. I begin to tap my gloved fingers impatiently on my arm, irritation creeping its way in. Soon the melancholy streets of London begin to fill, the sick carrying the bodies of the deceased through the common streets. A blood curdling scream erupts to my right, my head snapping to find the source. A woman is sat on the ground, cradling a small child in her arms, each sob shaking her frail frame. I push myself off the wall and rush over to her,  pushing through the sea of people. As I reach her, her piercing eyes bore into my soul. "No, stay back!" she yells, hugging the deceased child closer to her chest. 

I stop dead in my tracks and hold my hands up, staring down at the child. I take note of the blood seeping from her mouth and nose, and the lack of color in her face. "Madam, if you would jus-" "she's not dead! Don't touch her!" I kneel down a few feet away from her, gesturing to the child's face. "Look at her face, see how pale she is?" I say softly, watching as the woman's eyes trail from mine, to the child's. The woman's eyes widen as realization hits her, a hand coming to her mouth. I frown beneath my mask watching as the woman lays her child down on the ground, tears rolling down her pale face. "I am so sorry for your loss," I say softly, bowing my head to her out of respect.

"It's not your fault," her quiet voice croons, my head snapping up in surprise. I eye her carefully as she brushes a strand of the child's hair out of her face. "We are all doing the best that we can to fight this," she whispers softly, a tear dripping from her nose to the dirt below. By now, an audience has formed around us, sadness hanging heavily over each bystander.  From the corner of my eye, I see Ósmund join the crowd. The apprentices eyes are wide as he watches the interaction between Felagi and the woman. 

I stand up and look down at the woman, reaching my gloved hand out to her. She looks down at her daughter, then up at me, sadness swirling deep in her eyes.  My extended hand lowers slightly, a pang of guilt in my heart. "I will see to it that your child has a proper burial," I say, turning my head to Ósmund. He quickly comes to my side, still holding the heavy boxes in his arms. "Deliver those to the clinic, then meet me back here with a sheet. We are going to give this child a proper burial, not a mass grave." "But sir-" I quickly turn my head and glare at him, silencing the skittish apprentice. 

After a moment of hesitation, Ósmund runs off in the direction of the clinic. I look back at the woman as she takes my hand in hers, using my hold to steady herself. My eyes scan over hand, notices dark spots beginning to form on the top of it. She follows my eyes to her hand, the color draining from her face at the sign of the forming blisters. I look back up at her, meeting her eyes with sadness tugging at my heart. "After we bury your child, would you mind coming to the clinic?" The woman, fresh tears forming in her eyes, hastily nods and smiles sadly at me. I let out a soft sigh and look at the people surrounding us. Sadness fills their exhausted eyes as the situation in front of them begins to sink in. 

I will do everything in my power to help this woman.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ósmund and I look up at the woman as we pick up the sheet containing her daughter, preparing to lower her into the shallow grave. The woman, clutching on to the coarse fabric of her husbands shirt, nods slowly as the tears begin to fall once more. I look back at Ósmund and nod, the apprentice helping me move the child into the shallow grave. The woman approaches us and kneels beside the grave, running her head over the girls covered head.  Her husband stays in place with his arms crossed over his chest, refusing to show any kind of emotion. But his eyes give him away, for within them is a deep and dark pain unlike any other. 

The woman's wailing sobs send a chill down my spine, goosebumps forming along my skin. Seconds turn into minutes and the only two things that can be heard are her cries and the rolling thunder in the distance. Ósmund places his hand on top of the woman's, "we need to cover her, ma'am." The woman nods and stands up, bowing her head to me in respect. I return the bow and stand up straight, using my foot to cover her child with the fresh dirt.  The woman returns at her husbands side, holding his arm tightly as they watch in horror. 

As the last bit of dirt is added, I kneel down and place a lone flower on the dirt mound. Ósmund does the same, placing his flower beside mine. The four of us stare down at the dirt mound, flashes of lightning illuminating this dark day. After a quiet prayer, I turn to the woman with an aching heart, "let's get to the clinic-" I glance at Ósmund who nods quickly and joins the two, holding his covered hand in the direction of the clinic, "please come with me." As the three walk off, I look up at the grey sky, drops of rain colliding with my mask. If there is a God, then he is a cruel one. Why have we not come up with a cure for this yet? So many have died. I will not let this mother and father die just as their child, I refuse.

(OK! I am SO sorry that it has taken me so long to release the second chapter. Writers block hit me HARD,  I was just burnt out. But I have written a few chapters in advance, and will continue to write more until I get writers block again. My hope is to release one chapter a week if I can. Things have been fairly hectic for me, as I am working and trying to get into college at the same time. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, again I am so sorry it took so long! Much love!)