Plague Doctors: Beginning of the End-Chapter 14 - : Back at last

In the quiet afternoon, the air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of steam and metal that permeated the streets of Olstrum. Ayaan stood at the front door of her home, her bag slung over her shoulder, packed and ready to leave. The weight of the moment hung between her and her sister, Adele, as they faced each other. Ayaan's heart was a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, guilt, and a touch of sadness. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Adele, pulling her into a tight hug. Both sisters smiled, their faces reflecting a bittersweet sentiment. For Ayaan, it was the joy of returning to the Plague Medical School, her second chance at the life she had fought so hard for. For Adele, it was the quiet ache of watching her younger sister leave, knowing there was more to the story than Ayaan was willing to share.

Adele had made up her mind. She would let Ayaan play out her lie, whatever it was, until she felt comfortable enough to reveal the truth. She didn't want to push her, didn't want to risk driving a wedge between them. So, she smiled through her concern, her hands lingering on Ayaan's shoulders as they pulled apart. "Take care of yourself," Adele said softly, her voice carrying a weight of unspoken words.

Ayaan nodded, her smile faltering for just a moment. "I will," she promised, though her heart ached at the thought of leaving Adele alone in the house. They only had each other, and the idea of being apart felt like a small fracture in the foundation of their lives. But Ayaan pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the excitement bubbling within her. She turned and walked toward the steampunk carriage waiting a few meters away, its brass fittings gleaming in the afternoon light.

Before boarding, Ayaan turned back one last time, raising her hand in a wave. Adele stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, her smile warm but tinged with sadness. Ayaan's heart clenched, but she forced herself to climb into the carriage, the door creaking shut behind her.

The interior of the carriage was far from luxurious. It was an economic class ride, the best they could afford. The seats were slightly torn, the fabric frayed at the edges, and the faint smell of oil and damp wood filled the air. Ayaan wrinkled her nose as she spotted a cockroach scurrying across one of the seats. She hated the little critters, despite having dissected countless of them during her biology classes at the school. But she refused to let the presence of the insects dampen her mood. Nothing could, except the lingering guilt of leaving Adele behind.

As the carriage rumbled to life, its steam engine hissing and sputtering, Ayaan gripped her bag tightly, her heart swelling with a warm, hopeful feeling. This was her second chance, her opportunity to reclaim the life she had worked so hard for. She smiled to herself, inhaling deeply. The air was thick with the scent of steam and brass, but to Ayaan, it was familiar, almost comforting. She exhaled slowly, as if releasing all the tension and uncertainty that had weighed her down.

The carriage rolled through the cobblestone streets of Olstrum, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels echoing against the buildings. Ayaan gazed out the window, her eyes scanning the familiar sights of the town. As they passed the remnants of the platform where Dinah had been burned alive, her smile faded. The charred wood and scattered debris were being cleaned up, workers tossing planks and metal into a trash cart. It was a grim reminder of the town's harsh justice, a scene that always left Ayaan with a hollow feeling in her chest.

She had stayed home that night, unable to bring herself to witness the execution. The thought of it made her stomach churn. How could practicing one's innate talents, without harming anyone, be enough to condemn a person to such a brutal death? The witches of Olstrum were hunted and killed upon discovery, their magic deemed a threat regardless of how it was used. It didn't matter if they were healers or helpers; they were born to die by flame. Ayaan shuddered, pushing the thought away. She couldn't let it ruin her mood, not today. She was going home?

The carriage left the town square behind, its path winding toward the far edge of Olstrum. As they approached the Plague Medical School, Ayaan's excitement grew. The administration building loomed in the distance, its dark, imposing structure a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape. To most, it might have seemed foreboding, but to Ayaan, it was familiar, almost comforting. She had grown used to its eerie presence, as had everyone at the school.

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When the carriage finally reached the path leading to the school's gate, Ayaan alighted, her boots crunching against the snow ans gravel. She paid the driver the fare, her hands trembling slightly with anticipation. The gate stood before her, a massive structure of iron and brass, guarded by two plague doctors in their signature black masks and coats. They were armed with both melee weapons and guns, their presence a reminder of the school's strict security.

Ayaan approached the gate, her heart pounding in her chest. She identified herself, her voice steady despite the nerves. One of the guards checked the school's updated registry, his gloved fingers flipping through the pages. After a moment, he nodded, and the gate creaked open, powered by a steam engine that hissed and groaned as it melted the snow around it. The warmth of the steam washed over Ayaan as she stepped through the gate, the sensation felt welcoming.

She walked down the path, her bag slung over her shoulder, her eyes taking in the familiar sights of the school grounds. The dark, gothic architecture, the faint hum of machinery, the scent of oil and antiseptic, it all felt like home. Ayaan smiled to herself, her heart swelling with a sense of belonging. She was back.

As she made her way toward the administration building, the weight of her journey settled over her. This was her second chance, her opportunity to prove herself once more. The school had swallowed her whole, but for Ayaan, it wasn't a prison. It was a sanctuary, a place where she could rebuild her life and chase her dreams. And as she stepped through the doors, she knew she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The crisp, biting air of the early morning clung to Ayaan Glassman's skin as she stepped out of the administration block, the brass key cold and heavy in her hand. The receptionist's voice still echoed in her mind, a simple transaction that carried the weight of her second chance. "Here are your keys," the woman had said, her tone indifferent, as though she hadn't just handed Ayaan the key to her resurrected dreams. Room 54. The same room she had lived in for nearly a year before her world had crumbled. The same room that had witnessed her tears, her struggles, her failures. And now, it would witness her return.

The cobblestone pavement beneath her feet glimmered faintly, the frost from the night before catching the pale light of the overcast sky. The stones were uneven, worn smooth by countless footsteps over the years, and they seemed to guide her forward, as though the school itself was welcoming her back. Ayaan tightened her grip on the small bag of belongings she carried, her fingers numb from the chill. She didn't mind the cold, though. She was back. That was all that mattered.

Around her, the school buzzed with its usual eerie energy. Students hurried past, their footsteps quick and purposeful. Some wore the distinctive plague masks, their beaked faces giving them an otherworldly appearance. Others were clad in scrubs, their arms laden with books and medical supplies. Ayaan spotted two surgeons in their long coats, their masks and gloves making them look like figures from another time. They moved with a confidence she envied, their presence a reminder of the hierarchy that governed this place. She was just a student, one of many, but she was determined to rise above that. This time, she would not fail.

The dormitory loomed ahead, its granite walls dark and imposing. It stood in a corner of the school that seemed perpetually shrouded in shadow, the architecture both grand and foreboding. Four floors of rooms, each one a microcosm of the lives within. Ayaan had never paid much attention to the building's eerie aesthetic before, and she didn't now. To her, it was simply home. Or at least, it had been. She wasn't sure if it still was, but she was willing to find out.

She walked the familiar path to the front door, her footsteps steady despite the turmoil in her chest. The door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound a strange comfort. Inside, the air was warmer, but no less heavy. She climbed the stairs to the second floor, her feet carrying her to Room 54 without conscious thought. She had made this journey so many times before, her body knew the way even if her mind was elsewhere.

The door to her room was just as she remembered it, the number 54 etched into the wood in bold, black numerals. She inserted the key, turned it, and pushed the door open. The room was exactly as she had left it—on her side, at least. Her bed was neatly made, her desk cluttered with books and notes, a few personal items arranged just so. It was as though time had stood still in her absence.

But Andrea's side of the room was different. Empty. Stripped bare. The bed was made, but there were no personal items, no traces of the girl who had once occupied that space. Ayaan's chest tightened as she looked at it. Andrea was gone. Dead. The school had evicted her belongings, sent them to her family. Ayaan had known this would happen, of course, but seeing it was another matter entirely.

She felt a pang of guilt as she set her bag down on the floor. She had used Andrea's death to her advantage, lied in her letter of appeal to get readmitted. She had claimed that Andrea's death had affected her grades, that they had been close friends, practically family. But it was a lie. They had barely spoken, let alone been close. Ayaan had been too consumed by her own struggles to form any real connection with her roommate. And now, Andrea was gone, and Ayaan was here, alive and with a second chance. It felt wrong, but she pushed the guilt aside. She couldn't afford to dwell on it. Not now.

She sank onto her bed, the familiar creak of the springs a strange comfort. It wasn't a comfortable bed by any means, but it was hers. It represented her dreams, her determination, her second chance. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, a small smile tugging at her lips. The last time she had been in this room, she had cried for hours, devastated by her discontinuation from the school. But now, she was back. And this time, she would not fail.

Her moment of peace was short-lived. An alarm blared through the dormitory, sharp and insistent. Ayaan sat up, her heart racing. This wasn't the usual assembly alarm. This was the one that was hardly ever used, the one that signaled something serious. Potentially life-threatening. The school was under attack.

She scrambled to her feet, her mind racing as she pulled on her scrubs. Around her, the dormitory erupted into chaos as students rushed to prepare. She opened her door to see others doing the same, their faces a mix of fear and determination. Some were already in their plague masks and coats, armed with weapons. Others, like her, were still in their scrubs, hurrying to join the assembly.

Ayaan joined the stream of students heading toward the main courtyard, her footsteps quick and purposeful. The school was already gathered, a sea of scrubs and masks and coats. The surgeons stood at the front, their presence commanding. They wore their signature beak masks, each one unique in its design, their coats ranging from dark green to black. They were rigid, unmoving, their eyes scanning the crowd with an intensity that sent a shiver down Ayaan's spine.

Charlotte, stepped forward, a brass megaphone in her hand. Her voice was steady but carried an undercurrent of something darker. "The school is under lockdown," she announced, her words cutting through the tension like a knife. "I'm afraid the Chief Surgeon is...dead."