Before-note: Dear TheAwesomeCocoPuff , your wish is granted. I have updated. Thanks for the support.
Pneumonia 3
I came to, once again, shackled down. The leather straps had left bruises on my wrists and ankles where I had struggled to get free. I refused to open my eyes. I knew what I would see. Still, I felt them flutter and someone's footsteps approached me, a soft, velvet voice said something unintelligible. I did not have to look to know it was Sebastian, back to mark me again. I tensed, waiting for the brand. Cool fingers came down and I flinched. They brushed the sweat matted hair from my eyes. Something wasn't right. That touch was too gentle. This thing I was bound to, it was almost soft, and warm. I felt myself frown. I tried to pry myself free of the restraints, but they were strong as ever, holding me in place. Something was pulled up across my chest, settling lightly. A blanket. I realized I was clothed. This was not the nightmare I had come to know. His voice came back.
"It's alright, Young Master. All is well. You are safe." He was, comforting me? I briefly allowed my eyes to open a crack before I forced them closed again. He room was white. Somewhere behind me, there was a beeping, keeping time with my heart. Vague memories started coming. I was lying down on something. I was moving. The men in white cloaks and white masks were standing over me, binding me down. Something stabbed my arm and I fell asleep. The something was still there, I could feel it. This was not my normal nightmare. The fever must really be messing with my head to have change my dream so drastically. I didn't like it. At least I knew what to expect from my usual nightmare. There was no telling how this nightmare might play out. How these people would torture me here. I kept my eye closed. All I could do was wait and see what happened next. "Young Master, I know you are awake, please open your eyes." He was pleading with me. He said I was awake. Had the nightmares become real. "Please. It's okay. You are safe. No one is coming to hurt you. I won't let them." I finally opened my eyes, slowly.
"Se-bas-tian?" My mouth was dry. I was parched. I felt like I did right after an asthma attack.
"Sir. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"Wa-ter. I need water." He nodded. He turned around and grabbed something from behind his back. I could here the noise of falling water.
"Here you are." He tilted a glass of cool clear liquid to my lips. My hands were still bound to the bed I was in. A hospital bed. The water felt good sliding down my parched throat. Instead of his usual smirk, Sebastian was watching me with deep concern.
"What happened. Why am I tied down to a hospital bed." Sebastian sighed.
"You ran from me last time I tried to give you your syrup. You collapsed in the hall and the carpet caused your asthma to begin acting up. You needed care from a professional, and I am no professional. So I brought you here." He gestured to the room we were in. "They had to tie you down because you were struggling so much. You were becoming hazardous to your own health, and that of the staff trying to help you." He watched me as I processed this, certain memories starting to make themselves known as different from the dream. White cloaks becoming white coats. Masks covering eyes became that covering mouths and noses. I realized that I had been partially awake when they brought me in, my memory twisted in with my dream.
"How long have we been here?" Sebastian looked up at a clock above my head. About an hour and a half. It would be time to take your medicine but I want to wait for clearance from a nurse or doctor." At that moment, both came bustling into the room.
"Good, you are awake." The doctor smiled down at me while the nurse got to work, checking the monitors above me. "I understand if you feel disoriented. According to your butler, you had quite the adventure to land you here." He nodded to Sebastian and he returned the nod, never looking away from me. I looked to the doctor.
"Can you untie me now?" We both looked down at the restraints. I could see bruises beginning to make their presence known.
"That depends. Are you tired?"
"No."
"Then yes, but we may have to put them back on when you fall asleep again." I nodded as he untied the restraints, freeing me. It made sense that they would put them back on when I fell asleep. That was when I did the most thrashing. He stepped away from me and we looked at each other. He was a young man. He had blonde hair and the beginnings of a beard. The nurse jotted a few notes onto a clipboard before handing it to the doctor and leaving. "Alright, Ciel. Apparently, you've had pneumonia for the past two weeks, correct?"
"Yes."
"According to your butler, a fever induced nightmare caused you to run away from him. Afterwards, you collapsed and the dust in the carpet caused an asthma attack?"
"I guess. I don't really remember."
"Well, that's alright. Do you remember what medications your doctor prescribed you?"
"I do, I have it here." Sebastian pulled a bag up from the floor, containing all my medicine and the sheet of paper containing the instructions for dosage. The doctor read over the instructions, frowning.
"When was the last time he took the pills."
"About two hours ago."
"Then it is time for another dosage. Here." He handed me a pill while Sebastian handed me a cup of water. I took it easily as always. The doctor watched. "Well done." Then he stared at the syrup. "When was the last time you took this?"
"Breakfast."
"You didn't have any with lunch."
"It was while giving him it that he ran from me. It does not go down easy for him, I have to hold his mouth shut to get him to swallow." The doctor glanced at Sebastian. He looked unhappy.
"And you are the one who gets the prescription filled?"
"No, that would be one of the other servants, a man named Baldroy. Is something wrong?" Sebastian was immediately suspicious.
"This medicine is not for pneumonia. In fact, it is not even legal."
"What?" Sebastian's eyes widened and his voice shot up an octave. I just sat, processing what he was saying.
"It is a drug that messes with a persons mind, causing the to relive their worst memories while altering them to make them afraid of the people they trust most. It was experimentally used to torture people before the Pharmacy Act of 1868. Tell me about this Baldroy." This time, I spoke.
"He tends to be incompetent when he is on his own, but he is loyal. He would not have done this knowingly." The doctor looked to Sebastian, who nodded.
"Well then, I think it is time to call in the police. This is outside of my jurisdiction, I'm just a doctor. You are welcome to call the other servants and fill them in." H nodded to a phone beside the bed and left. Sebastian watched him go before turning back to me. His face was covered in guilt. He knelt by my bed, hanging his head.
"Master, please forgive me. I have failed you. My ignorance has allowed you to fall ill and to victim to this drug which I forced you to take…" His guilt was self inflicted and unnecessary.
"Shut up, Sebastian. You did nothing but what you were told. It was not your place to argue with the doctor. Or whoever caused this mess. But I want whoever is behind this punished." I felt the authority in my scratchy voice. He did too.
"Yes, Young Master. I will make sure of it." At least he had the sense about him to remember my previous order. I doubt I could stand hearing him say 'My Lord.' "Shall I call the other servants?"
"Yes, I suppose we should warn them about the impending investigation, which we will also be conducting."
"Perhaps, we could leave this one to the yard."
"But.."
"You are still sick, Young Master. If they are truly so incompetent that they cannot solve this case before you are better, then we could pick it up. Until then, it would interfere with your well being. Therefore, I simply cannot allow it." It was useless. Whenever anything might put my health at risk, Sebastian was contract bound not to let it happen. I sighed.
"Fine, but as soon as I am well, we follow the trail. This person will not walk away unpunished. That is an order." I was tired again, so I was already drifting to sleep as he said it.
"Yes, Young Master."