Disclaimer: If any of these characters (besides Kieran) belonged to me, I would be rolling in cash and therefore would definitely not be here, typing this. I wouldn't even need a freaking disclaimer. So the logical conclusion here is, since I have a disclaimer, and since I am here typing this, the characters (besides Kieran) do not belong to me. But I get so much enjoyment out of playing with their heads. Constructive criticism is much appreciated but don't be too mean about it or I'll cry. Go read Mary Reilly, by Valerie Martin. It is such an awesome book. It's brilliant! Go read it! Or add it to your MUST READ list, at least. Brilliant book.
Chapter Four: The Consequence
It started with the chills, first off. I thought it was just cold generally, as it was coming on to winter, but I soon noticed not even the roaring fires or the huge kitchen stove could keep me warm. An' it was annoying, being cold all the time. Still, I reckoned I'd be better in a jiff, so I didn't trouble meself nor anyone else with thoughts of illness.
Twas the cough that made me start worryin' though. It began just as soon after I'd finished cleanin' that awful courtyard, an' just wouldn't let up. It sounded t'me like there was water in me chest, but I wasn't sure and still reckoned it'd pass by.
I still did my duties, but slower than before, which couldn't be helped as I was coughin' me lungs out with practically every other breath. An' then Mary's mum passed on, so she had to go an' make arrangements, and Mr. Poole was bein' run ragged around London lookin' for the right chemicals for Dr. Jekyll's work, so it fell to me to draw up his fire and keep the drawing room and his room clean. That was loads more work than normal, an' it just about killed me off, or so I'm told.
I was lightin' the fire in Dr. Jekyll's room one night a couple of weeks after me punishment. Dr. Jekyll hadn't come in yet, but it was quite late and I felt sure he'd be up in no time, so I worked as quick as I could. The fire'd gone cold, so it was harder to start it up, and took me some effort in getting it to go. I felt another one of them coughin' fits comin' on, not the kind where ya have one or two short hacks, but the kind that doubles ya over and makes ya faint for want of air. While I was folded in two, trying to gain control of me lungs again, the only thing I could think was 'This is grand. I bet Dr. Jekyll walks in here any second to see me bent over like an' old hag.'
Sometimes I just have the worst luck in the world, for at that very moment, Dr. Jekyll walked in. An' yes, I was bent over like an' old hag. He looked at me, both curious an' concerned, and said, "Kieran, are you all right?"
I bit down hard on my lip and swallowed back the rest of the coughs. "Yes sir, I'm fine. Just got a bit o' ash down me throat."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...you look a little flushed..."
"Well sir, I have been workin' on gettin' this fire up for a while now, 'tis probably the heat from that," I countered.
"Indeed." Dr. Jekyll's gaze shifted to the fire, which, thankfully, was now roaring and bright.
"Well sir, if that'll be all you require, I'll leave you now," I told him, standing up slowly. The room suddenly seemed odd, as if it were spinning and shrinking at the same time. I shivered--despite the fire, to me it seemed as cold as death in that room.
"Kieran?" Dr. Jekyll's voice reached my ears from far away. I looked at the fire--it seemed to be sucking me in, filling my gaze with its strange, hypnotic roar. And I was falling, suddenly, and I couldn't stop myself.
I felt two arms around me, pulling me back from the mouth of the fire and laying me on the floor. I looked up and saw Dr. Jekyll's face, eyes searching mine, he was saying something but I couldn't hear him. I blinked, an act that took far too much effort and lasted far too long, and suddenly sound came rushing back.
"Kieran, you're burning with fever," Dr Jekyll said, even as he felt my forehead.
All I could do by way of reply was shiver weakly. I noticed a blackness in my vision, it started at the corners and was slowly working to cover everything in sight. I met Dr. Jekyll's eyes then, I can only imagine how I must've looked, half dead and scared, but we kept eye contact until the blackness took over and I couldn't see or hear anything, and all I felt was cold.
Chapter Four: The Consequence
It started with the chills, first off. I thought it was just cold generally, as it was coming on to winter, but I soon noticed not even the roaring fires or the huge kitchen stove could keep me warm. An' it was annoying, being cold all the time. Still, I reckoned I'd be better in a jiff, so I didn't trouble meself nor anyone else with thoughts of illness.
Twas the cough that made me start worryin' though. It began just as soon after I'd finished cleanin' that awful courtyard, an' just wouldn't let up. It sounded t'me like there was water in me chest, but I wasn't sure and still reckoned it'd pass by.
I still did my duties, but slower than before, which couldn't be helped as I was coughin' me lungs out with practically every other breath. An' then Mary's mum passed on, so she had to go an' make arrangements, and Mr. Poole was bein' run ragged around London lookin' for the right chemicals for Dr. Jekyll's work, so it fell to me to draw up his fire and keep the drawing room and his room clean. That was loads more work than normal, an' it just about killed me off, or so I'm told.
I was lightin' the fire in Dr. Jekyll's room one night a couple of weeks after me punishment. Dr. Jekyll hadn't come in yet, but it was quite late and I felt sure he'd be up in no time, so I worked as quick as I could. The fire'd gone cold, so it was harder to start it up, and took me some effort in getting it to go. I felt another one of them coughin' fits comin' on, not the kind where ya have one or two short hacks, but the kind that doubles ya over and makes ya faint for want of air. While I was folded in two, trying to gain control of me lungs again, the only thing I could think was 'This is grand. I bet Dr. Jekyll walks in here any second to see me bent over like an' old hag.'
Sometimes I just have the worst luck in the world, for at that very moment, Dr. Jekyll walked in. An' yes, I was bent over like an' old hag. He looked at me, both curious an' concerned, and said, "Kieran, are you all right?"
I bit down hard on my lip and swallowed back the rest of the coughs. "Yes sir, I'm fine. Just got a bit o' ash down me throat."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...you look a little flushed..."
"Well sir, I have been workin' on gettin' this fire up for a while now, 'tis probably the heat from that," I countered.
"Indeed." Dr. Jekyll's gaze shifted to the fire, which, thankfully, was now roaring and bright.
"Well sir, if that'll be all you require, I'll leave you now," I told him, standing up slowly. The room suddenly seemed odd, as if it were spinning and shrinking at the same time. I shivered--despite the fire, to me it seemed as cold as death in that room.
"Kieran?" Dr. Jekyll's voice reached my ears from far away. I looked at the fire--it seemed to be sucking me in, filling my gaze with its strange, hypnotic roar. And I was falling, suddenly, and I couldn't stop myself.
I felt two arms around me, pulling me back from the mouth of the fire and laying me on the floor. I looked up and saw Dr. Jekyll's face, eyes searching mine, he was saying something but I couldn't hear him. I blinked, an act that took far too much effort and lasted far too long, and suddenly sound came rushing back.
"Kieran, you're burning with fever," Dr Jekyll said, even as he felt my forehead.
All I could do by way of reply was shiver weakly. I noticed a blackness in my vision, it started at the corners and was slowly working to cover everything in sight. I met Dr. Jekyll's eyes then, I can only imagine how I must've looked, half dead and scared, but we kept eye contact until the blackness took over and I couldn't see or hear anything, and all I felt was cold.
