Chapter 2

Jacques' POV

The streets looked barren. Although the sun was up high, the air felt damp and dark. I could feel giant beads of sweat in my brows forming behind my fogged monocles.

I could hear the sound of myself breathing and smell the aromatic herbs stuffed in the mask I just bought.

I pulled out my list and began counting the corpses laid in the cold cobblestone pathway.

42 corpses

"It just keeps getting higher," I muttered.

"Daily complains from doctor Jacques Horace Faucheux! As if you could do something about it." A muffled voice replied.

"Well, Victor it's been three hundred years. Someone must have a cure for this."

The bastard laughed that I fought the urge to grab his mask and shove his face to the corpses.

"If they do indeed, we won't be here counting rotten bodies, aren't we now?" He said sarcastically.

"You know what, how about you just do your job, some people are dying and we are out here earning money by putting numbers on papers." he continued.

True. I do love a handful of coins but hoping to see the glorious skies of Venice isn't bad either.

After a horrible day traveling across the town with rotting bodies on the streets, I proceeded to the de Mercier residence for my weekly check-up.

The owner owned a huge amount of riches and yet all the money in the country can't protect him from the plague.

I knock the door twice as her wife greeted me,

"How is he?" I asked.

"It's getting worse, doctor. I don't know what to do, I followed your instructions but nothing seems to work." She started to cry and I noticed small boils on her arms. She also caught the plague.

Actually, we physicians don't know the exact cure for the pandemic. We just stick to the alternatives to at least give the dying patients some hope.

We often perform bloodletting in which we cut the boil, so the blood and pus will ooze out from the body.

I approached the wealthy man at his deathbed, I didn't even try to touch him and inspected him with my cane instead.

He was breathing ghastly. The boils on his arms were as big as an apple. I noticed his nasty excretion laid in a bucket beside him. I was relieved knowing I had my mask on. I sighed in dismay as I told her wife to leave us as I perform my surgery.

I minced some herbs and stirred it in a bowl. I slipped in some cyanide quickly before I tucked my vial back inside my pocket.

I handed it to the man as he hastily chugged on the solution. I didn't feel any regret, I was saving him from his agony. No one deserves to suffer like this, what they really need is an eternal serenity along with God.

He started to choke before passing out. All the doctors and medical practitioners are very busy at this moment, they wouldn't bother to perform an autopsy to this corpse.

"I'm sorry, madame," I told her wife as she broke down into the floor, dropping a pouch of gold and scattering it all over the floor.

I hastily picked it up one by one as I left their mansion. I grabbed my note and stroke one more line in the death toll, heading to the local tavern.

"Come vata, Jacques?" Victor muttered beside me. Why is he asking me about my day now? The bastard must need something. Luckily, the tavern was pleasant enough for me to clear my mind and not explode in anger.

My appetite wasn't there with me so I just closed my eyes and thought about when this anguish ends.

"Horrible as always, " I replied casually. I don't want to consider Victor as a friend at first since he's more like that co-worker you hate but you don't have a choice since you need your humanity stabilized by talking to another physician but I grew to appreciate the guy and became good friends.

"Well, I was thinking—"

"Oh my God Victor, I am not running a charity." I glared at him.

I take back what I said.

"Come on pal, per piasser, just one last time. I promised I won't ask for more. My landlady is going to kick me out the next day." He pleaded.

I sighed in defeat, he won't stop till I give in. I scooped some coins and gave it to him before he grinned.

"Gracie, my friend." He said sheepishly.

"Where do all your money go, anyway?" I asked him. I can't convince myself about him not earning.

"Erm- Supplies! Supplies that every physician will need." He said bobbing his head, making me catch a glimpse of a hickey on his neck.

"Or maybe you spent it all on your whores, you sick idiot. Aren't you a bit disgusted?"

I should have known.

"Who the hell are you anyway? You can't tell me what to do!"

"Wow, so much from a friend now, yes Victor?" I scoffed before he sighed.

"Okay fine, sorry, el me scuxa" He said. I rolled my eyes at his lies. There are only a few physicians living around the town and we're not supposed to be near to each other but he was just the most reckless, easy-going person.

"Actually, I've been robbed the other day. The infected jerk even tried to take my mask off and touch my face!"

I took pity at the guy, he's very smart and yet so naive. I couldn't let him die even though he's a huge pain in the ass everything single time.

"So what is that on your neck?"

"Well, I didn't say you were wrong about my whores."

"You're going to hell." I chuckled.

"At least, I've reached the heavens a couple of times. How about you, eh Jacques? When was the last time you make love?" He wriggled his bushy ass brows.

I scoffed at him. I don't have a time for that kind of thing. What I'm really after is the cure that will end this plague. Maybe the heavens are punishing us for our tainted souls and ungodly vices.

"I don't have time for that." I replied. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously as I stopped myself from punching his face.

I was about to tell him about my thoughts when three guards rushed into the tavern with mugged faces. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed a familiar crest in their chest.

"Is Dr. Faucheux here? He has committed a blasphemous sin by murdering the lord of our house!"

My eyes were wide open, and I didn't move a single muscle. Good thing I was tracing the doorway. Victor glanced at me with the same look I had plastered on my face.

"YOU TWO!" One of the guards said. I could hear their footfall's getting louder. Victor hastily grabbed his cane and pointed it to them.

"If you please, spare some distance between us."

I heard the guard grunting as they backed away.

"You two looked like doctors, do you know some named Jacques Horace?"

Victor darted his eyes at me for a second. I'm a goner if he'll tell them. I tried to relax my shoulders and looked at them, immediately regretting why I did.

They had rashes on their faces and major symptoms from the plague. My stomach lunged as my urge to flee tries to escape.

"Er- yes," Victor said before I shot him a quick glare.

"You, have you seen him?" One of them narrowed their eyes on me. I feel like my throat was clogged up.

"Speak up!"

"Er, my friend here, Francis, can't speak. I actually told him he should try puppetry for once." He said before letting out an airy laugh.

"Have you seen him?! Answer our question!"

"Actually, we, me and Francis here have just talked to the lad. Do you need anything? I could pass the message to him if you wish." Victor grinned. Such a bastard

"That 'physician' just committed murder! We found traces of cyanide in our master's bedroom."

Victor gave me a disappointed look before rolling his eyes.