Leaving the men behind at the bar, Frederick and his father ran to their home. Jeremiah Wille had ran for his son as soon as his daughter began to feel short of breath and vomited. He left his wife to watch over her.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Sarah's time was soon coming. Death clung to her like a second skin and it was obvious through the dark marks the sickness gave her. It killed him inside to watch her slowly be drained of life. She refused to have anyone help her, even in washing her clothes when the pus seeped from her broken skin.
But her guard was down when they arrived home, and Frederick was able to sweep her up in a hug. She nearly toppled from the tail end of a coughing fit she had when they entered. Only when her head cleared did she push Frederick away, babbling about passing her illness.
She allowed Lilliane, her mother, to hover about her as she retreated upstairs to her bed, but her discarded day clothes did not go into the family washing bin.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Sarah's time was soon coming. Death clung to her like a second skin and it was obvious through the dark marks the sickness gave her. It killed him inside to watch her slowly be drained of life. She refused to have anyone help her, even in washing her clothes when the pus seeped from her broken skin.
But her guard was down when they arrived home, and Frederick was able to sweep her up in a hug. She nearly toppled from the tail end of a coughing fit she had when they entered. Only when her head cleared did she push Frederick away, babbling about passing her illness.
She allowed Lilliane, her mother, to hover about her as she retreated upstairs to her bed, but her discarded day clothes did not go into the family washing bin.
When she was decent, the men ascended the stairs. Dark circles were present on her arms and collarbone, evidence of the disease.
Each sufferer started out with vomiting then fell only two weeks after the first blemish appeared. They began white and grew darker and darker as death came closer. Sarah had fallen ill one month ago. She was one of the lucky ones, or unlucky ones perhaps as she still suffered. Jeremiah was torn between keeping his daughter close even though she suffered, and wanting her to pass on so she could finally rest.
He once made the mistake of mention his torn mind to his son. Never had his son come closer to striking his father. He had stood suddenly from their dining room table, the force of his anger causing the stool to clatter onto its side. His hands balled into fists while his eyes flashed with anger.
That was when he had began to visit the bar more often. Jeremiah would fetch him from there from time to time, when he stayed too late or was too drunk to get home. His son's friend Tobias would watch sadly from behind the counter as he dragged his son away. Tobias was a good boy, but not suited for bartender's work.
Each sufferer started out with vomiting then fell only two weeks after the first blemish appeared. They began white and grew darker and darker as death came closer. Sarah had fallen ill one month ago. She was one of the lucky ones, or unlucky ones perhaps as she still suffered. Jeremiah was torn between keeping his daughter close even though she suffered, and wanting her to pass on so she could finally rest.
He once made the mistake of mention his torn mind to his son. Never had his son come closer to striking his father. He had stood suddenly from their dining room table, the force of his anger causing the stool to clatter onto its side. His hands balled into fists while his eyes flashed with anger.
That was when he had began to visit the bar more often. Jeremiah would fetch him from there from time to time, when he stayed too late or was too drunk to get home. His son's friend Tobias would watch sadly from behind the counter as he dragged his son away. Tobias was a good boy, but not suited for bartender's work.
Frederick stayed upstairs after his sister had gone to bed. His mother and father retreated downstairs to wait. Everyone knew but would not speak of what would happen tonight.
Frederick wailed when his sister tumbled out of bed and curled up on the floor, moaning. Before his parents could make it up the stairs, she had already passed.
Frederick wailed when his sister tumbled out of bed and curled up on the floor, moaning. Before his parents could make it up the stairs, she had already passed.
Frederick stared at his sister's grave. He had taken to coming here after his shift finished at the meat shop. Blood often stained the lines of his hands and under his fingernails. He tried to not look at them when he was at his sister's grave, after he had imagined it was her blood staining his skin.
What he tried to think of was Sarah living in the woods with their family. She could have been alive and sitting amongst the trees, making flowers crowns and insisting that he wear them. Just like when they were children.
What also dominated his thoughts was the image of his parents living out their lives in this forest, where they could die naturally, not succumbing to this pestilence. The men from the bar also entered his thoughts. The idea of picking up and moving, even without Sarah.. It still could happen. Other people could find refuge outside these walls. Away from the deadly management of this city. Food could be plentiful, profits could not be stolen by the Lord's men. People could have a chance to survive, even if Sarah couldn't.
What he tried to think of was Sarah living in the woods with their family. She could have been alive and sitting amongst the trees, making flowers crowns and insisting that he wear them. Just like when they were children.
What also dominated his thoughts was the image of his parents living out their lives in this forest, where they could die naturally, not succumbing to this pestilence. The men from the bar also entered his thoughts. The idea of picking up and moving, even without Sarah.. It still could happen. Other people could find refuge outside these walls. Away from the deadly management of this city. Food could be plentiful, profits could not be stolen by the Lord's men. People could have a chance to survive, even if Sarah couldn't.