Charles' eyes darted around the bedroom. His vision was slightly irritated by the light flooding in through the window.
Each breath he took was deep as well as shaky. The images from the 'nightmare' were still very raw in his mind. He gazed down to examine the drenched condition of his clothing, furthermore the skin coloration on the boney hands was a sickening ash white.
(Where the hell am I? I..I…I should be dead! Not in this… bizarre room. I shouldn't belong here). The thoughts ran rampant with absurd possibilities with how such a phenomenon could occur.
Inch by inch, Charles slowly sat up weakly. The bed creaked from the rigid old frames that looked like it could barely hold out a second longer. Soft breathing seized his attention. To his left was the sleeping figure of the butler.
"He..hello…?"
The word came out stiff.
"Hello"
Charles re-uttered louder, though this time he noticed something off about how it came out. Almost with a lisp.
*soft grumbles*
The sudden sound nearly gave Charles a heart attack. He scrambled slightly to do something to look busy.
"Sir. Hawthorne. You shouldn't be moving right away from what occurred. Lay back down and rest. Please, this is for your own health."
The butler shot up in full alertness. He tried to usher Charles back down gently.
"Who…"
"Shhhhhhhh"
The butler shushed him before he could say more.
"Don't talk. Your tongue is still slightly swollen from your …a… last night activity. Don't worry me so much, please!
The butler took his master's hand with a firm grip. There were no other words needed. The gentle gaze in his eyes said everything about how much he cared. Charles didn't argue back, just laid back down with a pained grunt. He couldn't do much in the situation but to follow orders.
_______
Several long days moved along with each new one bringing a discovery about who he currently was. The person he was inhabiting was a 23 year old man named Cedric Morphes Hawthorne. An outcast from a minor noble house, an estranged member of the family. The butler's name was Edward.
Charles had been spending most of his time in bed with the butler feeding him bland porridge. It was so bland, he had started missing the taste of simple instant noodles back in college. Oh how he regrets the complaints he made about those cheap noodle brands he had complained about so much now. Though he could only endure the lack of taste. He didn't want to offend the person taking care of him. The worst part was when he had to take medicine to flush the remaining poison out. Bitterness stung his tongue everyday after the bland.
"Edward, I'm in need of using the lavatory, could you possibly assist me up the bed"?
The butler smiled, getting under Charles' left arm to lift him up enough so he could move the rest on his own.
"I do quite apologize for the inconvenience I cause you so often."
Charles apologized as many times before. He truly was sorry for being a burden on such a sweet person.
"Nothing to apologize about sir, I'm just gladly performing my duties as a servant should. It's not like I move options in this economy anyway. Haha".
The joke landed flat for Charles. The truth about how hard getting employed in this world was very concerning. People would take any job if it meant either having a home or earning what little money given to workers. He laughed anyway to lighten tension.
Walking to the bathroom in daylight unveiled the dilapidated conditions of the house. Splint wood, dust, cotton webs, and faded paint ran along every corner. It was a sad sight to witness.
Charles finally reached the bathroom door on the second floor. The red wood door looked rotted. A plain brass handle no longer shows a sign of reflection. Charles ripped the handle, turning it quickly before entering quickly, shutting the door behind him. He flicked the barely working light one.
Looking into a mirror, the face that reflected back portrayed the image of a young man. Subtle sharp features, but as well as gaunt complexion from what looks like malnutrition. Silvery gray eyes peer back into his soul, though now those eyes moved up to look at his hair. A bleak blue that he originally mistook for a deep black if it weren't for the bathroom light shining bright enough to show the hue of the dark blue hue of the hair.
He sighed and turned the tab lever. No water came out. He tried the other level, still nothing came out.
"Damn, the water must've been cut off".
With the water not available, Charles simply made his way back downstairs to the bedroom.
During this time, Charles spent time gathering more information about himself along with the world in the disguise of lost memory from the poison. Reasoning it had scrambled his mind. Though what caught him off guard was his accent. Charles had been able to talk lately because his tongue had reverted back to normal size, but now he has found in a predicament. His slight French accent he had from his parents was gone. Replaced by an English accent.
Charles also took the time to write his experience down in a journal to keep track of the experiences as a good way to remember what he learned, but to also record the same occurring nightmares that would plague him every night. The whispers had gotten louder and now some words were audible to comprehend. It was always 'all in one' repeated over and over to the point of madness.
{ Journal entry 14. 1866, 13th day, month of the drowned god.
This world I found myself in is unique. Instead of having 12 hours in a day I'm used to, instead it's 13 hours. I found myself in a predicament trying to get used to the blue moon that supposedly occurs every week. Though what worries me most is money or lack of. Apparently Cedric died broke and now I have to deal with finding a way to pay off the tax for this manner. I can't think straight for a solution, it's infuriating how bad my luck is. I'm too hungry to even think at all. I can't afford to buy good food, though at least the butler is trying to make good use of whatever scraps there's left and now the porridge ran out. I'll have to find some kind of discount or find a way to make money…properly. I'll ask the butler to accompany him tomorrow morning at the market. I'm able to do so now thanks to his help flushing all remaining traces of poison out, however this body is still somewhat weak to move properly around with some support}.
After having finished the update in his journal, Charles slid it back into the drawer of the oak desk he had first woken up next to.
"Is this new life a gift or a punishment for being ungrateful"
Charles pondered thoughtfully.
*knock, knock*
The sudden knocking made Charles jump a little, before straightening up.
"Come in"
A gentle jiggle rattled the doorknob before turning. The door opened with the butler on the other side.
"Sir. I'll be going into the market place to see what I could possibly get. Is there anything you'd like me to attempt to get?"
A moment's second of thinking coursed through Charles' mind before responding quickly.
"Edward, might it be alright if I accompany you for this day's outing. I'd like to re-accustom myself to outside civilization again. My mind is still hazy after that event, so I'm hoping it'll help jog some memories.
The butler's eyes widened a bit in astonishment.
"Are you sure, sir? It's been months since I last saw you step foot outside. I'm not sure you're in any condition to be out yet".
The logic was sound, but Charles shook his head firmly. His right hand is resting on the butler's shoulder.
"No, I insist. You've always done work for me without complaints and you're getting older. I feel it's only right to assist you with errands".
A warm smile etched. It wasn't wide but still noticeable. His head nods slightly in agreement to Charles' request.
"Well then, shall we get your coat and hat? The sun won't remain still in the sky all day".
A light chuckle escaped his lips. Charles chuckled back in the carefree moment. He took a couple steps over to the dusty coat rack that held his worn long coat and top hat. Charles donning the two pieces. His fingers ran along the edge of the coat with a pull to straighten the wrinkles.
"Alright, I think I'm all dapper now to appear in public again"
Charles joked about his appearance. The butler gave him a light hearted giggle as his youthful humor and shook his head in amusement.
"Shall we?"
The butler asked.
"Lead the way, old friend".
Both men headed toward the door, to a market place that might not yield much fruit to collect. It was still worth the try to hustle for some food.
_______
The market place in Barnsway was a bustling mess of crowded people and vendors shouting advertisements over each other to attract whatever likely fool, dumb enough to buy their produce. There were banners and ribbons being hung up with of course the usual street fight that occurred in the corner. But what stood out most was the colorfully clad people in patterned clothes.
"Well this is a bit of an unusual day. Normally the market is full but not this brimming. Must be some kind of festival happening".
The butler commented at Charles.
*cough*
Thick smoke from chimneys bellowed out houses, causing a slight burning feeling of the lunges.
"So what kind of festive event do you believe might be happening to cause such a space to take place? Maybe one of those performers has the answers to our questions".
Charles looked at the butler, who merely shrugged. So with his mind made up, he would question a clown nearby. The clown was busy juggling balls for the entertainment of whoever was passing by, though not much attention was being drawn.
"Ah…excuse me Mr. Clown, but do you know why today's so crowded?"
*giggle*
The clown laughed. The grin on his face was as wide as the makeup itself. Their right hand pointed to the port.
"Well sir, aren't you a clueless fellow. We're celebrating the safe return of our young man from overseas. The war has ended in a non-aggression pact. Hahaha, isn't that great?!
The clown answered in a cheery pitched voice. The whole time still while speaking, he was still juggling with impressive control.
"I'm truly grateful Mr. Clown. Here's two shillings for your troubles"
Charles tossed two coins into the bucket the clown was using to collect money by passersby.
Thank you and 'hail the mother'.
…
Who?
Charles questioned thoughtlessly. He had never heard this term before and so was naturally curious to what it meant.
"My my, you really are a clueless fellow. My good sir, it means to thank the mother of creation for our good fortune".
An awkward silence hinged in the blowing breeze after the clown answered his question. Charles felt like he wanted to bury himself in a grave. The feeling of being laughed at for not knowing a term was more than enough to make him go red. He had always prided himself on his academic accomplishments. Then a sudden tugging pulled at his coat. Looking behind was his butler with a grin.
"Sir, Hawthorne. I didn't remember you were this uncultured".
The oblivious teasing tone struck hard, though Charles wouldn't admit it.
"By the mother, you should also be careful with how much money you hand away. We only have three pounds to our name".
The butler scolded him lightly. Internally Charles was in a haze of chaos from hearing how much money he had.
"We should properly head to the south district of the market. The fish there are cheap but abundant".
Charles gave this butler a somewhat hesitant look. The butler dragged him back to the walking path and gave the clown somewhat of a dirty look.
"How so?"
He asked the butler.
"Isn't it obvious, Barnsways is a port city. We have fishermen all the time going out for a good catch. The best spot to head first are the city's port canals. The fishermen sell them for cheaper and there isn't as much crowding if you'd go to the ocean port of the city. It's such a good way to save money, while being fed".
Charles' eyes lit up and nodded profusely. The thought of saving that much money was enough to excite him.
"Well let's get to walking before it sells out".
Both men hurried their walking pace. The idea of plentiful food was a good motivator. While walking, they noticed the crowd up further ahead in the path had started parting for something. Active talking turned to disgusted murmurs as the figures that were causing the parting came into view. It was six men in dark blue uniforms. The expressions carved onto their faces were stoic, though there was an underlying hint of guilt in their eyes. The murmuring grew louder and louder until the people were hurling insults and food at the men in the blue uniforms. Though for some reason they didn't fight or retort back from the abuse. They just kept walking in silence.
"Who are those gentleme, and why do the people seem to carry so much spite for them?"
A couple seconds were drawn out before the butler sighed before answering.
"Those men are known as the 'the blue guard' for their signature colored uniform. They used to be the most decorated unit in the police force. The people used to praise them for their analytical skills as head of investigation. However now, the reputation they once carried is washed down the gutters".
Charles looked at his butler with a still confused look. He needed the specific reasoning to why such a praised group would now be the most loathed.
"You wouldn't mind telling me the specific reason as to why this is?"
The butler looked at him solemnly. The mood had turned to something else.
"It was the 'flesh lab incident'. An unsightly event that caused the ripples for their hate. They had a reputation for finding missing people in a week or under, but this specific case was different. It took them three months to find a missing young man. By the time they found him in an illegal underground laboratory, it was by far too late. Once the newspapers got their hands on the pictures and story. It was over for them as the public witnessed such disgusting acts on another human being. The people have blamed them ever since for not finding that young man in time, moreover they blame themselves more than the people do. The code they swore to uphold is gone. And there's the reason. Anything else you'd like to say?"
No word, no sound. Charles' mouth was gaped open as if he wanted to talk, but there were no words to say. He was stunned into silence by the knowledge he had just gained.
"It's a bit much to take in isn't it. Let's just head to the canal port".
The quiet walk felt like ages, each step slower than the other. Charles' eyes gazed down during most of the walking. That quiet however was cut short suddenly.
*BANG*
A loud deafening gunshot echoed in the distance.
[Clock strikes 2, does the queen weep?]