The Curse of Strings

Chapter 3

The Story Continues

Drozell spoke to David for hours and laughing was no longer possible for the injured man on the cot. David thought of his guest as rather interesting, but a bit on the strange side. Frank, David's brother had just arrived as lunch was being served. The warm breeze of summer swept through the tiny cottage and Drozell's aching body was able to move a little easier. He was still having trouble sitting up for long periods, but it was an improvement.

Frank looked at Drozell's face and smacked his lips. "I'd say that you've been roughed up, but nothing permanent. Skin looks a bit dry...." Franks leans in closer to look at Drozell's eyes, "seems like you had a bit of bump on the head. You're pale and I need you to squeeze my two fingers for me."

Drozell lifted his hand and did as he was asked. His face contorted in pain. His thoughts were racing of this man that was assessing the damage done to his body. "Am I going to be okay?"
Frank grimaced at the feeble grip. The larger man sighed and shook his head. "You'll die if you don't take better care of yourself. You're awful young to be suffering like this. I can say for certainty that you're malnourished and dehydrated."

Drozell's eyes grew wide. He's never thought about his own health all that much since he was so concerned on taking care of his ailing master. "How can you tell from a grip?"
"I'm a doctor. You show those signs of a weak constitution, sir. You're iron is too low and you're pale skin is evidence of it. You are anemic."

"But I was beaten. I'm not really sure what you mean by the other stuff, but what it sounds like sounds bad." Drozell was growing more frightened that he would die out here and with no one to know where he is or where he belongs. In his 25 years of life, he never felt more frightened.

Frank sighed. He knew that telling someone so young that they are in poor health when they are in the prime of their lives was the hardest task he had to deal with. "I see that you're not seeing this in reality. You mentioned that your father died of consumption and your mother died of a fever which does put you at some risk. Is it possible that you are destined to meet them in Heaven?" Frank was surprised at his own choice of words. He's never been that blunt with a patient before, but it seemed to have sunk in to Drozell's head the reality that he may face.

Drozell lowered his head and grew still and quiet. "I understand now. How long do I have left to live?" Drozell's once clinched fists are now bleeding from holding back his fear and anger.

"A few months. Maybe a year if you take better care." Frank said in a more caring tone. He knew that this news was hard for Drozell to hear and he can see it in the blue eyes of his patient.

"I have to return home as soon as I am well. I don't want to die here among strangers." Drozell's voice began to choke up. "My master is all that I have left."

"I'll arrange a cab for you. Who is your master? I'll send message to him." Frank asked softly.

"Sir Richard Mandalay in London. He's located on the West Side of Oxford closer to Tottenham Court Rd." Drozell's voice sounded sad and listless. His eyes began to darken. The very thing that he feared of his master was happening to him too. He hasn't slipped into madness the way his master had. He wasn't aging the same way his master had. He would never age now and Drozell cracked. He laughed at the thought that he wouldn't outlast his master. He would be the one to die first and he knew it all too well what impact he had on lives. He felt small and insignificant. Drozell no longer felt any pain. His mind took control of his body and he felt like a puppet on strings. He moved around on his own with lumbered steps. Frank blocked the broken man's path. He placed his hands firmly on the lithe man's shoulders.

"You are in no condition to be walking about. You should rest and I'll have my driver return you instead, if that is what you prefer. I'll say this, you're talking as if you're going to die tomorrow. That is not the case. You are in control to get well and you can if you take better care of yourself. Eating proper meals and resting properly is all you really need." Frank was firm in his belief that Drozell shouldn't be moving about until he is well enough.

"I have a promise to keep." Drozell's mind came back to reality and he plopped on the floor with his feet apart at the knees on either side of his body, his hands in front of him to hold up his torso. "I promised to make a doll for Maggie." His voice returned to its normal soft tone. "I'll stay here until it's finished."

"How long will that take you?" Frank was concerned for his patient.

"A few weeks. Since I have a lot more free time, it could be done much sooner. Maybe a week. Maybe a few days. I...." Drozell seemed listless once more, "don't know."

"I'll send for you in two weeks. That should be plenty of time for you to rest and finish the doll." Frank began to move out of the tiny room.

"Thank you." Drozell spoke in a whisper. "I know what I must do now."

Frank stopped in mid step and looked over his shoulder at the man on the floor, now seeming to have trouble getting up to his feet. Frank turned to help him up to the cot. "You're welcome. As a man, you have every right to finish your tasks before you pass away. I must say that you're spirit is still strong, which is a good thing to help you along. Just remember that."

"I will." Drozell sat on the cot with his head still cast down to his feet. "Will I feel pain when I die?"

Frank was taken aback by the question. "Stop speaking so negatively." Frank sighed in frustration and chose to answer his patent's question. "I'm not sure. If you pass away in your sleep, most likely not."

"I see." Drozell's voice sounded melancholy and soft. "Thank you for telling me the truth."

Frank gave a soft smile and left his patient. He stopped to regard his brother and nodded. "You're guest is quite extraordinary. Take care of him well and I'll return in a two weeks."
"Thank you." David said as he watched his brother leave the tiny cottage and to the awaiting driver and carriage.

"I wonder...." David was now curious about what was said to Drozell. Even in the tiny cottage, there was an element of privacy that went about in the rooms. He took this opportunity to speak with Drozell once more.

David knocked on the door frame of the open room and smiled when he saw that Drozell was working on the doll that was promised to his daughter. His skillful hands worked the wood and plaster pieces, wire holding together the plaster hands, feet and head to the wooden body of the doll. The rough framework shown considerable amount of skill. "My, it's already looking like a doll of fine quality."

Drozell looked up from his work and smiled softly to David. "I still have a long way to go. This is only a rough model. I still have to carve out the features and figure. Unlike those made in molds, these dolls are made to fit the person who owns them. I would like to meet Maggie so I can see for myself what type of person she is so I don't make any mistakes."

David turned to look at his wife and daughter in the front room and smiled. "I'm sure that she would like to meet you too. Come." David helped Drozell to his feet and they made their way to the front of the cottage.

Maggie was playing with the rag doll that her mother made for her and he smiled and knelt down. "My that's a fine doll. May I?" Drozell held out his hand and waited for Maggie to hand the doll over.

Maggie looked up at her mother and she nodded her approval, handing the doll over with a smile. "My mum made it for me."

Drozell smiled genuinely and sat in front of Maggie cross legged and studied the doll. "Very nice. I see the love in every stitch. You must be very proud."

Maggie smiled brightly like the sun in the daytime sky which brightened Drozell's spirit considerably. "Yep and she's all mine too. She's my bestest friend in the entire world and I can tell her my secrets. She's good at keeping them."

"I'm pleased to hear that. I know that you'll take very good care of her. She is very blessed to have a child like you to hold her and keep her safe from dogs and rats."

Maggie and the rest of the household giggled at the statement and Drozell seemed truly happy for the first time in a long time."How would she feel if she had a sister to play with?"Drozell's tone seemed very light in comparison to the heavy news he received. David knew that Drozell was hiding something terrible but chose not to address it at this moment when everyone was so happy to see their guest.

Maggie's face brightened and her eyes sparkled at the thought of having another doll. "Oh, she would be thrilled, she is! Thrilled, I would be too!"

Drozell's features appeared younger and less ominous as he spoke to the young girl. "I'm so happy just now to hear this." He handed the rag-doll back to her owner and grunted as he stood. His body still ached terribly, but it was much more bearable since he forced himself out of bed. "I'm going to go for a walk and I'll be back by tea."

David stood up and followed Drozell out the door. "I'm going with you. If you collapse again, it's best that someone strong enough to carry you back. You still look like hell."
Drozell chuckled at the insistence and allowed David to follow him on his walk.

A/N: I generally don't like writing about death. In this case, I made an exception since it's canon that Drozell died five years prior to the Phantomhive's discovery of the Puppeteer.