A/N: Hello again and welcome to the next installment of 'Ravings of a Fevered Mind'. I know you've been waiting. Enjoy!

Me no own, you no sue.

Ravings of a Fevered Mind

Chapter 7: Cold

An absolute bone-chilling damp cold is almost all that I can feel in every fiber of my body. The numbing cold is even more prominent than the pain in every bone and joint. I dare not open my eyes, figuring that this is the better option for me. The only thing that I am aware of is the cold, the pain, and a few hushed voices that I am much too exhausted to concentrate on at the moment.

I hear a rustling. The rustling sound of wind through tree branches. Tree branches… we're in a forest. Why? I'm forgetting something. Wind, trees, forest. What's after? Why am I not remembering this? Something is coming back. A dark room. Bars, chains, needles, brick walls. Asylum. That's right. I've escaped from an insane asylum. It all comes rushing back now. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm in all this pain.

I hear voices again. They sound more distinct and oddly familiar. I now recognize one voice, which is that of Mary's. She sounds worried and slightly angry.

"If we stay out 'ere in this cold he's not gonna last much longer." she says sternly.

"But I don't wanna. It's dark and scary out there." replies the second voice. I recognize this one as Lucy's. Her tone is frightened and anxious.

"And your point is? Would you rather see him die?"

"No, but…but why can't you go instead?"

"Because I have to stay here with Toby."

"But why can't I?"

"Because I said so. Now I'm your older sister and you are going to do as I say."

"But…"

"No more buts. I say some smoke to the west. It's probably from someone's chimney on their house. We can probably get some help there. Now go!"

There is a moment of tense silence before Lucy finally replies "Fine." and stomps off into the distance.

I don't think that I've ever felt quite so miserable, defenseless, and desperate before in my entire life. Why did all of this have to happen? Why couldn't of I died in the asylum, instead of slowly suffering in this cold, damp forest? It would be more humane.

I hear Mary sigh and she comes and sits down next to me. She puts her arms gently around me and rests her head against mine.

"It's gonna be all right, Toby, I promise. You're gonna be all right."

I think she says this more to herself than to me, but I can't help but to wish that in the end she's right. I'd give anything in the world to make this all go away.

A dark gray mist swirls across my vision forming itself into unfamiliar shapes, then dissolving back into one great mass. I am aware that I am laying down, and on something quite soft and comfortable, too. Something that I am not very familiar with. Have I finally died and gone to heaven? No, that cannot be right, because I do not think that heaven is where I am headed. Now here comes the pain, like a huge wave that I cannot outrun. Now this is sensation that I am all too familiar with. Maybe this is hell. I do feel quite warm.

A strange buzz fills my ears. It sounds far off, but increases to get closer and more distinct. They buzz now becomes voices. At first, they all seem melded together, but now they begin to become more individual and distinct.

"Look. Look! I think he's waking up!" eagerly states one. The voice is high-pitched, that of a young girls and ever so familiar.

"Shh, shh hush now. We don't want to startle him." says another. This voice is soothing comforting, caring and soft. I believe it is that of a woman of perhaps no older than thirty years of age. This one is unfamiliar to me.

"Back off a bit now, would ya. Give the boy some room to breath." This third voice is gruff but not completely harsh and seems to be the closest to me.

I finally open my eyes, slowly at first because the light they let in is far too garish for me. When I open them to their full extent they reveal a bedroom with slate colored walls and wine colored curtains. I find that I am laying on a bed of brown colored blankets and far too many pillows for one person. The curtains of the bed which match those on the walls are drawn back to reveal a row of eager looking faces. What is this place? Where am I? I feel a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Hovering over me is gray-haired man in a black suite, eyeing me intently. I don't like the sight of him.

"'Ello lad. How are you feeling?" he asks.

How am I feeling? Like I've been trampled by a carriage, that is how I'm feeling. But, instead of answering him, I reply with a question of my own.

"Who, who are y-you?" I barely mutter. I can't get my voice above a faint whisper.

The man stands up straight and replies: " I am Dr. Frances Grimwig, the local surgeon. "

A doctor. No wonder I didn't like the sight of him. Ever since first meeting that scoundrel, Dr. Fogg, I have made a vow to never trust another doctor again. How could I ever again trust another with the same title as the one who brutally tried to kill me? I'd rather assume that all of them are in the same ranks. I detest them almost as much as Mr. Todd. Those names bring back so many painful memories. I just want to forget them all, but they won't go away. I look back up at the doctor and want nothing more than to be out of here. I go to sit up, but not minding my numerous injuries, I am meet with a reemergence of pain and collapse back onto the bed. All I can do is cry. I can't help it anymore. Each gasp and sob makes my ribs feel like they are going to shatter, but right now I could care less. I close my eyes as tight as I can and pull at my hair. Maybe if I wish hard enough this whole scene with fade away. I want all of this to be over. I want it to be some bad dream that I will soon wake up from and mum will take me in her arms and tell me that everything is all right. But, no, none of that is going to happen. Mum is gone and I've some how ended up in an unfamiliar house.

I open my eyes again to see almost everyone retreating the room except for one person; a woman of perhaps thirty with pale skin, brown eyes, and auburn hair neatly tied into a bun. She approaches the bed and kneels down beside it.

"Ello there. It's all right." she says softy. I recognize her voice from one of those I heard before. She extends her hand towards me, but I shy away from it. I'm not feeling very trusting at the moment.

"Oh, it's all right. I'm not going to harm you, I promise. I'm Clara Endell. This is my house. You're safe here, I promise you that." She smiles softly to me and I give her a slight smile in return. I guess I can trust her. She brushes the hair away from my face and says "You look exhausted. I should let you go back to sleep. If you need anything, just let me know. Pleasant dreams."

She then stands back up, extinguishes the candle on the table and exit's the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Too tired to keep my eyes open another moment, I quickly fall asleep.

I've been at this residence a little over a week now, I suppose. I'm not quite sure, though; most of the time I've been asleep. I don't think I've ever slept so much in my life. To tell the truth, it's actually quite nice. Mrs. Endell is a most kind care taker. The same goes for her maid, a Miss Nancy Kingsley who has taken charge of watching over me at night. I am forever grateful for the both of them.

The doctor comes every other day to check on my progress. He seem like a kind enough gentleman, but I still feel uncomfortable during his visits. Demons come in many forms. He says that my injuries are now beginning to heal. A very slow and painful progression, but progress none the less. A low grade fever still plagues my system.

I haven't seen very much of either Mary or Lucy, but Mrs. Endell says that they come to see me every day; but I am always asleep. I miss the both of them dearly. I even miss Master Edmund, that dear rat.

The door to my room opens and in walks Mrs. Endell carrying a small silver tray.

"Good morning, Tobias. How are you feeling?" she asks cheerily.

"Umm, tired, really." I reply.

She merely smiles and sets the tray down on the nightstand. On the tray is an array of bottles of different shapes and sizes and two glasses. It's medication time. She helps me sit up in bed, propping up the pillows behind me. She then begins to pour the contents of several different bottles into one glass and precedes to hand it to me. Inside the glass is a mud-colored mixture with the most bitter odor. I turn my head in disgust.

"Come on now, dear. We've gone through this before. Just drink it down and it will all be over with soon enough." she says.

I look at the glass, then to her, then back to the glass. I really don't want to do this. I sigh and take the medicine at a single draught. I shutter violently and hand the glass back to her. Gawh, that stuff is vile! She then hands me a glass of water which I gratefully take from her and quickly drink down.

"There, all better." she says, taking the now empty water glass from me and ruffling my hair.

There is a knock at the door and Mrs. Endell goes to see who it is. She opens the door slightly and then turns to me saying "Are you feeling well enough to have some company?"

I nod yes, and running in through the door comes Mary and Lucy. Jumping onto the bed with me, they put their arms around me tightly, nearly suffocating me.

"Be easy with him now, girls." Mrs. Endell says from the doorway. They release their hold of me only slightly.

"Oh, Toby, we've been so worried about you. We've missed you so much." Mary says.

"I've… missed you… too." I am barley about to choke out.

Lucy lets go of me momentarily and takes out of her dress pocket Master Edmund Rottendam. The rat jumps from her hands and onto my lap, nudging his nose against my hand and squeaking cheerfully.

Lucy giggles. "I think that Edmund has missed you, too."

I pick up the rodent and set him on my shoulder, giving him a small pat on the head.

"How are you feeling?" Mary asks.

Oh, this really must be the question of the day.

"Eh, a little bit better, I guess. I'm just really tired." I reply.

"Aw, poor dear." Mary says, running her fingers through my hair and giving me a kiss on the temple. Lucy puts her arms back around me leans against me. Mary does the same.

"Mary, Lucy, I 'ave something I want to tell you." I say.

"Wot is it, dear?" Mary says, sitting up.

"I- I'm sorry about the way I acted the other day. I don't know what got into me. I used to never act like that. Not since…"

I stop mid-sentence. I don't want to think about that.

"Toby, that's all right, love. There's nothing to be sorry about." Mary says.

"No, no. I've never just completely broke down like that, all out of the blue, like. I feel like, like…" I can't find the words to describe it. "I 'ave this feeling that something is not quite right with me." I begin to feel shaky. I don't like this.

"Calm down, love. It's all right. There's nothing wrong with you. You're just going through a rough time right now, that's all. You'll be okay." Mary says, smoothing back my hair.

I shake my head and lean against her shoulder. I want to believe her, I really do.

"Come on now, Toby. Just take it easy."

"Yeah, you're gonna be all right." Lucy chimes in.

I guess maybe they are right. Maybe I'm just over reacting. It must be the fever. I sit up again and give them a small, reassuring smile. They smile back. Yes, I just need to keep telling myself that everything is going to be just fine.