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It is early morning, foggy and overcast with low-hanging clouds and just a dim amount of sunlight coming through. A man walks down the cobblestone street, tall, dressed in a wide-brimmed black hat, a black shirt, pants, and a close-fitting long black coat that reached just below his knees. In fact, the only part of his clothing that was not black was the blood red trim of his coat. Although he may only be fifty-seven he looks much older, a wrinkled pale face, and stark white hair that is just long enough to be affected by the slight breeze of the early morning, wisps of it waving in the air as he walks along at a steady pace. His eyes are a dark blue and, as most say that the eyes are windows to the soul, if you were to lock eyes with him you would not be able to keep them there for long. 
 
 
 The man ’ s boots click loudly through the otherwise quite street, carefully avoiding the many watery potholes caused by poor upkeep. If you were to take your attention off of the man you would find yourself on a rather large street lined with tall stone buildings, alleyways, and other smaller streets, all of which were in various states of disrepair. Some men and women were walking down the street to their various destinations, but their footsteps were silent, cautious as if to much noise would bring about a terrifying event. Some mothers could be found hanging up laundry from upper windows and balcony ’ s, sweeping dust from their doorsteps or if you could look through a window you might find one by a fireplace, cooking a meagre stew for her husband and children. 
 
 
 Ahh, finally another noise joins that of the footsteps, children. A short distance forward from the man five children of varying ages, genders and sizes were playing tag in the street. Dashing back and forth, talking, laughing, and other such things. During this one of the children, a young girl, with golden blond hair, possibly only six years old, hung her foot on a stone and fell. Of course, doing what only comes naturally to a hurt, young, child, she begins to cry. The man hurries up his walking going straight for the girl but is beaten to her by another girl, only a few years older. This girl, tall and slim with long black hair and green eyes, bends down and positions the girl to take a look at her knee. Without a word she rips off a piece of her long skirt and proceeds to bandage the wound with it. 
 
 
 “ Wait, ” the man says firmly, now close enough that he has put his hand on her shoulder. 
 
 
 The girl startled, jumps up and spins around. She looks at the man for a few moments and then quietly says `` What is it, sir?.'' 
 
 
 He reaches into his coat and pulls out a small bottle of clear liquid from an inside pocket. He hands the bottle to her. `` Put that on the wound, it'll sting a bit but will keep it from getting infected.'' 
 
 
'' Oh... Thank you'' she said quickly taking it and doing as instructed. 
 
 
 The injured girl yelped when the alcohol was applied but settled back down and let the other bandage her and then quickly limped to the side of the road. It was at that moment that she noticed that everyone else, man, woman and child. had left the street giving the man a wide berth and stood there watching. 
 
 
'' Do n't you dare Physician!'' A man shouts. Both the girl and the man turn to look at the man. `` You leave my daughter alone!'' he quickly strides closer. coming face to face with the doctor who looks down at the shorter man. They lock eyes for a moment, but the father quickly looks away, turning his head towards his daughter. `` Come, let's go,'' he says turning around and starting to walk away. 
 
 
'' Wait just a moment,'' says the doctor laying his hand on the girl's shoulder again `` let me ask her a few questions''. 
 
 
 The father turns around, fear written all over his face. He nods not saying a word and watches. 
 
 
'' What's your name?'' the doctor says as he turns to face her 
 
 
 the girl locks eyes with the much taller doctor and keeps the gaze `` I'm not old enough for a name, I'm only nine. 
 
 
 the doctor nods and without breaking the gaze reaches into his pocket and pulls out a scalpel. `` Hold this with your arm straight out,'' he says as he hands her the scalpel. 
 
 
 She turns facing her father and holds the instrument out. The doctor bends down and looks at the instrument. He rubs his mouth with his hand and then takes the scalpel back from the girl placing it back in his coat. 
 
 
'' How would you like to be my apprentice,'' the doctor says looking at the girl and then looking at her father who dread has turned to horror and he drops to his knees. `` You'll make a much better apprentice than my last one'' 
 
 
 
 The girls think for a moment `` You're not a good doctor, you could n't save my mother.'' She looks at her father whose eyes have widened significantly and then looks at the doctor who rubs his mouth again and then replies 
 
 
'' You're right but wrong girl. You're wrong because I am not the doctor of this precinct, so I was not the one responsible for her death. You're right because Armand is a bad Doctor.'' he pauses for a moment to let it sink in and then says `` What were her symptoms?'' the doctor looks at the father for the reply. 
 
 
 The father coughs, stands up, and brushes himself off, trying to regain a bit off his repose. `` A terrible chest pain, coughing up blood and her hands and feet began to wrinkle and blacken which spread to the rest of her body.'' 
 
 
 The doctor scoffs `` And Armand had no idea what was wrong?'' 
 
 
 The father solemnly shakes his head `` Not a clue'' 
 
 
 The doctor scoffs again and pulls out a piece of paper and a bit of charcoal and scribbles down some words. `` Here take this to Armand it should prevent any more deaths by his idiocracy'' he hands the paper along with a few coins to the father `` keep the coins as payment for delivery.'' 
 
 
 the man looks down at the items then back at the doctor `` what about my daughter? I'd refuse your offer if I could but only the apprentice can refuse an offer from a doctor.'' 
 
 
 both men look at her waiting for her final answer. `` I'll go,'' she says `` I'll become a good doctor that way no one else mom dies because of a bad doctor. 
 
 
 The father nods have already come to terms with the likely outcome. He puts the paper and coins in his pocket. `` Will I be able to visit her occasionally?'' 
 
 
'' Yes, of course, I would never completely separate a parent and child,'' the doctor says he takes out another piece of paper and writes some more. `` This is the address you may visit on her birthday and every other Tuesday. Now if you would excuse us we need to be going.'' He begins to walk away and motions for the girl to follow. 
 
 
 The father takes the paper `` what about her belongings?'' he asks 
 
 
 Without stopping, the doctor replies `` I will provide her with what she needs. Good day sir'' 
 
 
 The father watches the two until the fog swallows them. He then turns, on his way to Armand's. The crowd that had gathered on the side of the road quietly disperses and goes about their business. How he wished he could have kept his daughter but, among all the people in the city none was feared as much as the doctors. They dealt with diseases from below that if left unchecked would spread rampantly throughout the entire city. Sure it was an honorable occupation but the danger of dealing with the many strange illnesses in the city was one that no parent wished for their child. 
 
 
'' Safe travels daughter, and safer destination.'' he muttered to himself as he to disappeared into the omnipresent fog. 
 
 
 

