Marion Poulton was awaken by a deafening scream. At first, in her exhausted state, she was extremely certain that she had imagined it. It was only when the housekeeper, Mrs. Hamilton, appeared at her bedroom door, that she was sure that the scream hadn't been a hallucination.
"Mrs. Hamilton, what is it?" asked Marion.
"It's Ms. Lucy, miss. She's had a terrible fright." said Mrs. Hamilton.
Marion, panicked by this statement, quickly crawled out of bed and wrapped herself in her evening robe. She followed Mrs. Hamilton across the hall to the bedroom of her older cousin, Lucy Davies. Both Mr. And Mrs. Poulton were already present, and standing over Lucy's bed. This was obviously not a normal nightmare.
"Is she all right? What's happened?" Marion brushed by her parents.
"She had been fine for the past hour, and then started to have a terrible convulsion. I was able to settle her, and then she began to scream. Your father heard the commotion from our bedroom."
"A convulsion? It can't be possible. She's not even had a cold in her lifetime." said Marion.
"Mrs. Hamilton, will you fetch Doctor Watson?" requested Mr. Poulton.
Mrs. Hamilton curtsied. "Of course, sir."
Mrs. Hamilton left the room and Marion carefully sat at the foot of Lucy's bed. She took her cousin's pale hand in her own.
"She's so cold, Mother." said Marion.
"She'll be all right, darling. The doctor will see to her." said Mrs. Poulton.
"This is why you were told to keep watch. Doctor Watson knew that she would become ill. It's all his fault." said Marion.
"You have no reason to speak poorly of Doctor Watson, Marion." said Mr. Poulton.
Marion sighed. "Yes, father."
Suddenly, Lucy began to murmur in her sleep. She was hardly audible, but she seemed to be saying the same thing over and over again.
"Two times...Twice....Another chance." murmured Lucy.
"What are you talking about, Lucy?" asked Marion.
"Is vadum venio bis. Vestigium mihi." murmured Lucy.
"Mother, what is she saying?" asked Marion, her voice showing her panic.
"I'm not sure, my dear." said Mrs. Poulton.
Mrs. Hamilton came rushing back into the room. "Doctor Watson will be here shortly. How is the girl?"
Mr. Poulton knelt over and touched Lucy's forehead. "She's burning up."
"There must be something that we can do." said Marion.
"It's best to wait for the doctor, Marion." said Mr. Poulton.
So, everyone waited for Doctor Watson to arrive. Thankfully, he lived very close to the Poulton home, and was there after a few minutes. He was shown upstairs by Mrs. Hamilton, and instantly began to examine Lucy.
First, he checked her forehead, apparently to see just how feverish she was. Second, he checked her heart with his stethoscope. Thirdly, he took hold of Lucy's wrist and checked her pulse. He lifted his medical bag into his lap, and took out a syringe. He stuck it into Lucy's arm and soon she fell limp. Marion gasped in horror; fearing that her cousin had stopped breathing.
"I've only sedated her. It should help her to rest easy."
"Will she be all right, Doctor Watson?" asked Marion.
"I can't say for certain. I'll have to test her blood. In the meanwhile, it's best for someone to stay with her at all hours and try to keep her fever down. Has she suffered from any convulsions?"
"Yes, doctor. Only a while ago." said Mrs. Poulton
"She'll have another before the evening is out, but the sedative should reduce its intensity. Any other symptoms?"
"She's been hallucinating, Doctor Watson. I'm hardly able to make sense of all that she's said." said Marion.
"Don't fret, my dear. Anyone is bound to speak nonsense under the influence of a fever. I'll be back in the morning."
Doctor Watson stood and left the room, but Marion followed him down the stairs and was able to stop him before he could step a foot of the house.
"Doctor Watson, there is something else you must know." said Marion.
"What is it?"
"She said something, sir. Something that even I never thought I'd hear."
"I've just told you, that the fever can-"
"She spoke another language, doctor. A language that I've never heard her speak."
Doctor Watson suddenly seemed interested. He lead Marion to a chair and sat her down; and then pulled up a chair next to her.
"What were her exact words, Ms. Poulton?" asked Doctor Watson.
"Is...vadum venio bis...Vestigium....mihi." said Marion, unsure if she was pronouncing correctly.
Doctor Watson's face suddenly went white as-a-sheet. He swallowed hard and then stood to his feet.
"Are you absolutely certain that was what she said?" asked Doctor Watson.
"I'm sure of it. Of course, I may have mispronounced a few words-"
Doctor Watson headed for the door and then left the house. Marion followed him outside and to his coach.
"Doctor Watson, what is it? Do you know what it means?"
"I only know it was Latin. Now, I must return to my house and retrieve some supplies. Good evening, Ms. Poulton."
Doctor Watson hopped in his coach and it took off at a great speed. Marion could only watch on in confusion. She knew that Doctor Watson knew more than he was telling. There was only one problem: Why didn't he want to tell the truth.