The Agent

Introduction

This is inspired by the image and the character in this villanelle that I created. It will sit in the Vocal Fiction/Horror Community and has threads from current and medieval times. It is set in an imaginary time and place.

The Agent

Everyone in the town was dead.

Three months ago this was a thriving community, but there was talk of plague across the land and a few people had fallen sick, but the doctors, apothecaries, nurses and pharmacists helped them recover.

There was no panic, being infected was an unpleasant experience, but with medication and the right advice, most people recovered.

Three weeks ago the agent came into town. None could see him, but there were more crows or ravens appearing around the place. Most people thought it was probably just a seasonal thing.

The reality was they were accompanying their dark master, who wore the coat and cloak they had woven for him from their smooth black feathers.

The town had several churches and everyone attended each Sunday, to listen to the sermons given and take instructions from the priests who were trusted by the populace. and they sat in courts and positions of power.

The Agent visited every priest and whispered to them. They never saw him but wondered about the black crows and ravens that landed on their window sills and rooves.

The priests heard voices in their heads and believed that God was speaking to them.

He told them:

"This is God's work. The doctors, nurses and apothecaries are consorting with witches and demons to stop God's work. You must burn them and allow God to do his work. DO IT NOW!"

So the priests denounced the medical community in their sermons and used their powers to judge and convict them.

They were all found guilty and sentenced to be burned alive.

Because they were told by their priests to do this the town's people did not question what had to be done. It had been decreed by God. The doctors and their staff were burned along with all their drugs and medical supplies.

Once the doctors and their staff were gone, people began to succumb to the plague.

People died and were left to rot in their beds. The clergy also died, after believing they had been instructed by God.

When everyone was dead, The Agent left. There were other towns that would now get his attention.