Plague Doctors: Beginning of the End-Chapter 13 - :

The next morning, in the heart of the steampunk era, the streets of Olstrum were cloaked in a thin, gray mist. The air was crisp, carrying the faint metallic tang of steam and oil that permeated the city. A mail boy pedaled his bicycle through the quiet streets, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels echoing against the cobblestones. His bag, slung over his shoulder, was stuffed with letters, each one bearing the hopes, secrets, and demands of its recipient. The boy's breath came in visible puffs as he navigated the winding roads, his movements efficient and practiced.

He reached the Glassman residence, a modest yet well-kept home nestled among rows of similar houses. The boy hopped off his bicycle, letting it lean against the wrought-iron fence as he approached the front door. From his bag, he retrieved a single brown envelope, its surface marked with a distinctive symbol, a plague mask, the crest of the prestigious Plague Medical School. The boy slid the letter through the mail crevice with a practiced flick of his wrist, the paper whispering against the slot before landing softly on the floor inside. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and mounted his bicycle, disappearing into the mist as quickly as he had arrived.

Inside the Glassman home, the early morning light had yet to fully penetrate the curtains. Ayaan, with her tousled hair and sleep still clinging to her, shuffled through the quiet house. She shared the home with her older sister, but the stillness suggested she was the only one awake at this hour. Yawning, she made her way toward the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor. The house was cool, the kind of chill that made her wrap her arms around herself as she walked.

Just as she reached the kitchen doorway, a faint sound caught her attention, the unmistakable rustle of paper sliding through the mail crevice. She paused, blinking away the remnants of sleep, and turned toward the front door. There, on the floor, lay a single brown envelope. Ayaan's heart skipped a beat as she approached it, her movements sluggish but deliberate. She bent down, picking up the letter with trembling fingers. The moment her eyes landed on the plague mask crest, any lingering drowsiness vanished.

Her breath hitched, and she straightened, clutching the letter tightly. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for. The letter from the Plague Medical School, the one that would determine her future. Her mind raced with possibilities, her pulse quickening as she stared at the envelope. The weight of it in her hands felt monumental, as though it held not just words on paper, but the very trajectory of her life.

For a long moment, she stood there, frozen in the dim light of the hallway. Then, with a deep breath, she turned and hurried to the kitchen, her footsteps quick and purposeful. She needed to open it, to know what it said, but she also needed to steady herself. The letter felt heavy, its contents a mystery that could either fulfill her dreams or shatter them. Ayaan's hands trembled as she set it down on the kitchen table, her mind already racing ahead to what it might reveal. The dawn had barely broken, but for Ayaan, the day had already changed forever.The wax seal, deep crimson against the cream-colored paper, seemed to mock her racing heart.

The letterhead loomed at the top of the page, proud and imposing:

The Plague Medical School and Training Centre

Olstrum, PC 54791

The date, February 13, stared back at her. Below it, her name and address, written in the precise handwriting she had come to associate with the institution's formal correspondences. Her eyes caught on the subject line: "RE: Revocation of Academic Discontinuation."

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Time seemed to stop as she read the opening paragraph: "I am writing to inform you that after careful review of your case, the Board of Surgeons has decided to revoke your academic discontinuation from The Plague Medical School and Training Centre."

The words blurred as tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them away furiously, desperate to read on. The letter continued, each word a balm to her wounded spirit: "The Board has thoroughly examined your academic record, the circumstances surrounding your initial discontinuation, and your subsequent appeal. Based on this comprehensive review, we have determined that you should be permitted to continue your medical studies at our institution."

Her heart leaped at the next section: "Your reinstatement is effective immediately, and you may resume your studies with the start of the upcoming term." The instructions to meet with her academic advisor, the reminders about maintaining satisfactory progress – details that would have once seemed daunting now read like poetry.

At the bottom, Chief Surgeon Clad Willem's signature flourished across the page, followed by the formal carbon copy notations to various administrative offices. The letter represented more than just words on paper – it was her future, restored.

"Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The words burst from her lips in a rush of joy and relief, echoing off the walls of her study.

Ayaan pressed the letter to her chest, feeling her heart hammer against it. The weight of the past months – the shame of her discontinuation, the endless nights wondering if she'd ever wear her leather coat again.

She stood, walking to the window where the spires of the medical school rose in the distance, their gothic architecture stark against the darkening sky. The building had haunted her dreams these past months, but now it called to her like a beacon. She was going back. She would walk those hallowed halls again, breathe in the antiseptic air of the laboratories, feel the weight of responsibility and knowledge settling on her shoulders once more.

This wasn't just a second chance, she realized. It was a resurrection. Her dreams, which had withered like autumn leaves, now sprouted anew with spring's vitality. They didn't just seem achievable – they were inevitable. She would make them so.

The Board of Surgeons had given her more than just a reinstatement; they had renewed her purpose. And Ayaan Glassman intended to prove, with every fiber of her being, that their faith in her was well-placed.

Ayaan's sister, Adele, shuffled into the kitchen, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. The faint scent of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air, mingling with the warmth of the morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. She found Ayaan in the middle of a small, private celebration, her face lit up with excitement. The moment Adele stepped into the room, Ayaan's ears perked up at the sound of her sister's approach. Instinctively, she tucked the envelope she had been holding behind her back, her movements quick and furtive.

"Hey, what's got you so excited?" Adele asked, her voice still heavy with sleep. She had heard Ayaan's muffled cheers all the way from the base of the staircase, and curiosity had drawn her to the kitchen. Her dark hair was tousled, and her eyes were half-lidded, but there was a sharpness in her gaze as she studied her younger sister.

Ayaan turned to face her, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and guilt. "Uhm, I'm going back to school, today!" she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. She forced a wide smile, hoping it would mask the nervous energy coursing through her.

Adele's brow furrowed slightly, her confusion evident, though she quickly masked it. She remembered the letter she had found two days prior, the one announcing Ayaan's discontinuation from the Plague Medical School. She had stumbled upon it while tidying up Ayaan's room, her curiosity getting the better of her. The contents of the letter had been a shock, but she had kept it to herself, unsure of how to broach the subject. She couldn't admit to snooping, and she didn't want to risk a fight. The last thing they needed was more tension between them.

"But... the week ends the day after tomorrow. Why leave so soon?" Adele asked, her tone casual, though her mind was racing. She acted oblivious, her expression carefully neutral as she watched Ayaan for any signs of deception.

Ayaan hesitated for a fraction of a second before launching into her explanation. "I just... I want to get back and handle things at school early. Warm up for any field studies they may have in store for us and practice. Who knows what they'll throw our way?" she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. She thought she had convinced her sister, her lie seamless and her excitement genuine.

Adele nodded slowly, forcing a small, fake smile. "Alright," she said, her voice soft. She didn't press further, though her mind was a whirlwind of questions and concerns. She watched as Ayaan brushed past her, dashing up the stairs to her room with the energy of someone who had just been handed the world.

Adele stood in the kitchen for a moment, her gaze lingering on the empty staircase. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Was Ayaan putting on an act to maintain the lie she had told? Or had she truly convinced herself that she was still a part of the school? Adele didn't know, and the uncertainty gnawed at her. Unbeknownst to her, however, Ayaan's discontinuation had been revoked, and the letter she had received that morning was her reinstatement notice.

With a heavy sigh, Adele made her way to Ayaan's room, her footsteps slow and deliberate. She found her younger sister packing, her movements quick and efficient. Ayaan didn't have much to pack, just a few belongings stuffed into a worn leather bag. The sight of her preparing to leave so abruptly filled Adele with a sense of unease.

Adele leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed as she watched Ayaan. Her baby sister, so full of life and determination, seemed so far away in that moment. Adele's heart ached with a mix of sadness and guilt. Had she done something wrong? Had she failed Ayaan in some way, making her feel like she couldn't confide in her about the discontinuation? Was their relationship so strained that Ayaan would rather maintain this lie and disappear to who-knows-where than face the truth?

The questions swirled in Adele's mind, each one more painful than the last. She blamed herself, wondering what she could have done differently to make Ayaan feel safe enough to share her struggles. The thought of Ayaan carrying this burden alone broke her heart. She wanted to reach out, to pull her sister into a hug and tell her everything would be okay, but she didn't know how. Instead, she stood there, silent and watchful, hoping that one day Ayaan would trust her enough to reveal the truth.

"Done!" Ayaan exclaimed, her voice snapping Adele out of her thoughts. She zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, her face beaming with excitement. "I'm ready to go!"

Adele blinked, her mind struggling to keep up. "Wait, you're leaving right now?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Ayaan paused, her enthusiasm faltering for a moment as she realized how abrupt her departure must seem. "Oh, uhm, I guess we can spend some time together at the bakery?" she suggested, her tone softening. She felt a pang of guilt for being so caught up in her own excitement that she had forgotten about her sister. They only had each other, and the thought of leaving Adele alone in the house filled her with a sudden sadness.

Adele forced another smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll make breakfast," she said, turning back toward the kitchen. "Here."

Ayaan's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait, here?" she asked. They usually had breakfast at the bakery, so this was unusual.

"Yeah... I think the bakery won't open today," Adele said, her voice trailing off. "We can spend some time together before you go."

As Adele left the room, Ayaan felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so focused on her reinstatement, so eager to return to the life she had fought so hard for, that she had forgotten about the one person who mattered most. Adele had always been her rock, her constant source of support, and now she was leaving her behind. The excitement that had filled her just moments ago was now tinged with sadness, a reminder of the sacrifices she had made, and the ones she was still making.