literature

The Doctor's Obsession

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The Doctor's Obsession

The mist had begun to roll in when Dr. Hewley had left to begin his night's work. While he hated the chill it brought with it he couldn't deny the fact it made carrying corpses from the graveyard significantly easier to do without detection. And considering the illegality of his scientific pursuits the thick, milky shroud in the streets was quite an asset. James sighed as he carried the wrapped up body of Mrs. Flannigan up the front steps and into his home. He went straight to the stairs that led to the basement, not wanting to upset Eliza by resting the corpse in the foyer so he could take off his coat and hat. He didn't mind though, if it made her happy then it made him happy. Though a slightly wider stairwell leading down to the basement would also have made him happy.

Dropping Mrs. Flannigan onto the dissection table he doffed his hat and coat and hung them on the coatrack in the corner. It had been Eliza's idea to put a coatrack in his lab. That's what he liked about her, she was always thinking of helpful things. And he knew she'd have brought it down herself and not even said a thing if she'd had the strength. He slipped on his gloves and apron then turned up the gas for the room's lamps so he could better see his work.

"You seemed so well just a week ago Mrs. Flannigan, it is a shame to see you here. We were hoping to have you over for Thanksgiving." James said as he cut the twine holding the white sheet closed.

The wrinkled cloth fell away to reveal the pale corpse of the doctor's neighbor from down the street. Picking up his scalpel, James methodically cut into the middle aged woman. Pulling out organs one by one he inspected each carefully, discarding most into a bucket. "Your kidneys are a bit blanched, you probably were having trouble with them weren't you? Should have said something but it obviously didn't kill you madam."

And plop went the kidneys into the discard bucket.

"Your heart is quite beautiful though." He cut the heart out and held it up closer to one of the lamps. "Very lovely. I haven't seen one this lovely yet, I hope you don't mind if I keep this. I would just hate to see this in the trash with those lousy kidneys."

Going over to one of the cabinets he pulled out a clean, empty jar and put the heart in it before filling it to the top with his preferred mixture of preservatives. "Remind me to label this after we're done, madam."

Resuming his work with the scalpel his brow furrowed; he was still no closer to discerning a reason for her death. "Madam, please do tell me what was the cause of your demise. I have to know. I will not rest until I know; even if I must cut you into strips too small to hold."

The rest of the dissection went just as smoothly as it had previously. As they all did really. As James finished cleaning up the mess from the dissection he turned to the remnants of Mrs. Flannigan. "You should have come to see me when you cracked your hip, madam. I couldn't have done much but I would have at least caught the infection before it killed you. Eliza has simply been heartbroken since you died."

Hefting the buckets over to the disposal chute. He grunted as he forced the chute's door open. "I think she may be more sad over you never giving her your recipe for macarons though." He poured the contents of the buckets down the chute. "I admit I will certainly miss them. Hopefully you'll have a plate of them baked up when I join you in the afterlife." Pouring the contents of the last bucket down the chute he held the door for a moment. "Chocolate with raspberry cream would be absolutely wonderful."

And he then closed and locked the door.

He put his gloves and apron in the cabinet next to the sink and then ascended the stairs, smiling at the idea that maybe Eliza had made something special for dessert. Then again anything she made seemed special and especially delicious. Despite his very scientific way of life he figured it was because she put so much love into everything. By the time he made his way to the second floor of the house he already had his tie undone and was beaming in childish glee at the idea of sneaking up on Eliza to give her a kiss on the cheek. She'd be startled at first but then she'd laugh and embrace him. Maybe whisper coyly in his ear that he shouldn't do that since it she would be nervous the whole night after unless he stayed there to make sure nothing else happened. Quietly opening the door to their bedroom he saw her laying on the bed, resting peacefully with nothing but the scant light of the moon illuminating her form. He went over and kissed her on the cheek, stroking her bangs off her face.

"Evening, Eliza." He said, his smile growing softer the longer he looked at her. "You weren't able to even get out of bed today, were you?" Sighing, he went over to the closet and put up his vest and tie.

The room was silent aside from the rustle of clothing. "I'm working really hard to figure things out. I just got done with Mrs. Flannigan, she had an infection but I don't think that's what is the matter with you, dear." Looking over to the bed he glanced away quickly. "How about I bring you some soup? I remember when I got the flu the soup you made me had me feeling better as soon as I ate it."

Going over to Eliza once more he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "It was in the cookbook you brought here, right? I think I can manage a recipe, just another facet of science but with a dash of love thrown in!"

Once again he was beaming as he went to the door. He turned back to the bed, watching the love of his life resting peacefully. "I love you, dear. I can't wait to figure out what your malignment is so we may correct it."

She didn't stir. "I'll be back soon with that soup, sweetheart."

As he was entering the hall he paused and turned back, starting to say something but then stopping and repeating that bumbling action several times. All the happiness he had felt bubbling inside himself previously that night had ebbed and he couldn't lift his gaze from his feet. "I... I promise I won't dissect you though." He finally moved down the hall towards the stairs, pushed by the complete and utter shame he felt because he wanted nothing more than to carrying her down to his lab and cut her open that instant. Every moment of every day it nagged him in the back of his mind. Dissecting her would likely answer all the questions about her malady. He wanted to do it so badly but he had promised her he wouldn't.

And that was why he was so ashamed, because he was so tempted to break that promise no matter how she might protest and how much she would dislike him for it. But he had to know. It was driving him mad not knowing. He paused halfway down the stairs, turning to look back up them. He had to know.
Oh hey there characters from last NaNoWriMo. Swear I didn't forget you at all, obviously I didn't if I went off on a tangent and wrote up some of the Anatomist's back story.

Promise I'll actually get on task and edit that thing, hopefully before next NaNo. If only because I do love Dr. Hewley and all the other crazy cats from the asylum. And one day I'll finish that zombie movie script too.

And if I'm really on task then I'll even draw the corresponding comics for both. And thus will start the apocalypse.
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