Abnormal

4

"Did they provide symptoms the prisoners have been having?" I ask while Namjoon and I are in the carriage.

"Only really bad fevers and sweats. No one beforehand would cough, vomit, or anything of the sort."

"That's strange," I mutter.

"What are you reading?" I raise a brow at the black and red book in his hand.

"A book about a sorcerer. He cursed anyone that would judge or harm anyone based on their physical features. They would look more hideous than the people they would insult or judge."

"Punishment for hurting or judging others, huh? Sounds like a good sorcerer if I've ever heard of one." I chuckle.

"What?" I ask noticing his stare.

"It almost seems similar to what you do as part of our deal, don't you think?" He raises a brow.

I look up in wonder.

"I'm not sure if what I do is for the good at all."

****

"Commander Namjoon and Doctor Seokjin! Welcome to Town Rosenburg!"

Namjoon shakes his hand first.

"We're honored to be here, Mayor Grant."

"I wanted to personally welcome and show you around town myself."

"You're too kind, Mayor." I shake his hand.

"I'm sure you're tired from your ride here, but time is of the essence." He sadly smiles.

"Of course." Namjoon and I nod as we glance at the men taking my bags into the house I'll be staying in.

"They'll also take your bags to the house you'll be staying in, Commander Namjoon. I made sure your homes were not too far from the prison or doctor's office."

"Shall we make our way to the prison?"

****

"Anyone that does slowly but surely fall to the disease, we have them moved to the second floor of the prison away from the others." Mayor Grant explains as we follow behind him.

"Do any of the prisoners on the second floor have anything in common?" Namjoon asks as the mayor unlocks the door to the second level.

"Only the similar intensity of the heinous crimes they committed."

The mayor and a few other guards were saying they didn't find it a coincidence that these particular prisoners ended up here.

The levels of their crimes were far worse than those on the first floor.

Some from either s****l assault or abuse to first-degree murder and so on.

"Anyone that committed similar crimes we put them in the same cells."

"Has anything changed as far as symptoms or behavior?" I ask as we pass the cells and hearing whimpers and cries from some of them.

"Besides the abnormal fevers, the majority of them will say they see things that are not there or hear things no one else can." One of the guards sighs.

I raise a brow.

"That could be due to their lack of sleeping properly from the fevers."

Namjoon nods in agreement.

"We heard you're making sure family members try not to visit for the time being until we find out what this disease is."

The mayor nods.

"We'd rather not have the town's people more worried than they may already be. I would at least like to know if this potential disease is curable."

Namjoon and I share a confused expression.

"Are you saying that you don't think this apparent disease is transmittable?"

He and the guard shake their heads.

"If that were so, the guards here would have also caught it. Not to mention the other prisoners from the first floor."

"How strange," I mutter while glancing at the prisoners in the cells. 

****

After putting my last few clothes away there's a knock at my door.

"Namjoon."

I don't really react to the person with him.

I let them in before looking around to make sure no one saw us.

Paying no mind to the person breathing heavily with the bag over his head, I focus my attention on Namjoon.

"His name is Rorey Thompson. He was arrested for sexually abusing some of the children from a church he used to go to." Namjoon simply explains.

I gesture to the chair in my kitchen for Namjoon to sit him in and tie him up.

"Thank you."

He nods before taking his leave.

I find it laughable how he trembles as his chest heaves up and down.

He screams over the cloth when I snatch the bag off his head.

I bitterly chuckle.

"You have the nerve to cry after all the damage you did to innocent children and their parents?"

"That's fine." I sigh before continuing to sharpen my knives.

"I'll make sure you cry more before I enjoy my meal."