Day 1,

Poison log.

After confirming the death of our unnamed apothecary I tested his poison on him. Muscle fermentation provides further information on uses of the mixture. This poison, which will now be further logged as Liquid Regen, prevents the muscles from relaxing, keeping them extremely stiff to prevent decomposition. As a test, pressure was put onto biceps and the stomach region which resulted in little movement. The areas tested did not recede after pressure was applied.

Liquid Regen has potential to revive organs if given a healing factor that allows blood flow.

End Log.

I finished penning my first log. I had found an empty journal lying in a high cupboard while searching for extra substances to enhance potions and poisons. I took it upon me to record my experiments for future references in case I need to refer to earlier procedures or mixtures.

I took the record book of potions and poisons and placed it in a small satchel I had, along with my journal. The apothecary's lack of actual wealth must have slowed down his study which would explain his lack of materials. I, on the other hand, did not lack in the area regardless of my dwindling appeal to the other nobles. After gathering my things I climbed back on top of my horse and trotted back to Verona. The ride to Mantua was a nightmare full of fury and pain ending the night with regret and death, this was not the case for my return to Verona.

I rode on with a focus that was visible. I didn't let even the smallest details distract me from my train of thought. My eyes were set forward and my mind was numb to exterior thinking. The only thing I knew was I was going to fix everything. Mercutio, The Jester of all people, was going to fix this.

When I arrived in Verona I stopped by the erected statues of my fallen best friend and his loved. His left arm lifted into the air, presenting the world to young Juliet. His other arm was linked to hers, as lovers should be preserved. Their eyes were locked eternally and their smiles captured their young love in a beautiful tableau. I've had nightmares of them being snatched apart. Broken by ill said words, a misplaced gesture, an act of desperation for attention. All of these nightmares were all results of my guilt, what I believed I did wrong. I always awoke in a cold sweat haunted by my own naivety. For me the nightmare never ends though. I constantly become sick solely from my thoughts. Flashbacks constantly form in my head of past night's miseries. The apothecary had added to those plagued memories. A dark dawn to be awoken by a strange man who beats you and strangles you to your death, all while you are trying to make amends. That was an undeserved death if any do exist.

I stepped away from the statues, the anxiety in me was building far to high. I took the small canteen at my hip and took a large swig before hopping back on my horse returning to the familiar trotting I so truly dreaded. When I finally arrived at the castle my brother Valentine had greeted me at the gates.

"Mercutio where have you been?" He was brash with his tone but obviously worried.

"Out."

"Not to the old tavern again?" He paced with me as I marched in. "You still seem to have both legs under you."

"I have business matters. I've had a surplus of youth and a deficit of age. It's time I grew up and gained responsibility."

As I continued on Valentine had stopped and watched as I made way up the stairs. Knowing my brother he wasn't going to let any of my matters go. He may have been worried but his being nosey was not welcomed. I headed straight into my room and grabbed my coin purse from underneath my mattress. When I stood and turned Escalus was standing in my doorway. His face was discontent as he leaned inside my door frame. I hadn't really been able to face Escalus ever since The Incident happened. I could feel the tears well up in my eyes as more and more flashbacks blinded and overwhelmed me. Just the presence of Escalus was enough to throw me off of everything I wanted to plan. I still didn't want to talk I tried to force myself past him but he stopped me with one hand. I couldn't make eye contact with him, I kept my eyes low and my head down and tried to push again. This time he put his hand on my shoulder.

"We're calling a meeting." His voice was soft but stern. It brought me discomfort but I was drained of energy.

Escalus allowed me to have a night to myself before the meeting that was to happen in the morning. Up until this point I had little sleep over the course of two weeks. I wished to welcome sleep but I feared what images would haunt me tonight. Eventually, I drifted to sleep anyway.

The sound of footsteps startled me. I sat up to see a disfigured man standing at my door. As I was trying to make out the figure he tackled me down. He screamed.

"Why did you kill him?!" He shook me violently demanding an answer. He couldn't have known about the apothecary. There was just no way.

"Kill who?" My voice cracked when I asked.

"You know who!" He punched me. Two things were clear. This man had a bloodlust stronger than the taste of my own blood and that he had dizzying strength. "Why did you kill him?!"

"I didn't kill anyone!" My words met my panic. Maybe he didn't know it was me. Maybe he would think he made a mistake and let me go.

"Don't lie to me!" He punched me again. Ok, so he knew. What could I tell him? That my best friend died because of him? That gives him all the more reason to kill me. We'd have had the same goal and same reason for killing.

"Please... Stop..." I could barely muster the words.

The man put his cold fingers around my neck. He cut off my breathing. I pried at his hands as his grip got tighter. I just wanted to fix everything I wronged. I just wanted Romeo back. I didn't want to be haunted anymore. I could feel the tear run down my cheek. The man kept screaming.

"Did you stop after my best friend died?" He pressed on. I could see the man was in tears. I was going to die. "Did you think of the lives you destroyed?"

I could no longer bare it, my body was giving away and my already dimmed vision was fading.

"...Yes." I answered the final question with the last bit of air I was gasping for. It was then I could see the hate-filled eyes of my killer. It was then his eyes went from hate to fear, absolute terror. It was then I saw the tears well up as the child inside emerge from the man whom was withering away. It was then that I saw myself, in the midst of this dim bleak dawn, hovering over me as my killer.

I woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily trying to catch my breath. The morning sun was just breaking dawn as the light made it's way through the balcony shades. Just another nightmare. Another dreadful nightmare.