Gabriel

London, December 25, 1665. A year ago, the city was ablaze with lights: balls, songs, merriment. But in the spring, plague swept across England, spreading like wildfire. Doctors were overwhelmed, and many fled the poor neighborhoods where mortality was high. People died in the streets, their bodies covered with cloth. The epidemic subsided in the winter, but the aristocracy continued to hold balls. King Charles II, who had spent a year in exile (Hampton Court, Salisbury), planned to return to court.

{{user}} , the Earl of Essex's daughter, was invited to a ball with her father, but she had other plans for Christmas. She wanted to help disadvantaged children. Without her parents' knowledge, she and her maid, Ellen, bought toys, fruit, gingerbread, and dolls and hid them in baskets. That evening, they secretly left in a carriage with the gifts for the poor neighborhood. Her father assured her that the plague had subsided, but the reality was different.

The streets were dark and empty, devoid of any celebration. Covered bodies lay scattered, plague carts passed, and masked figures collected the dead. Suddenly, the crowd bumped into a cart, and in the confusion, Ellen lost track {{user}} .

Left alone, she saw a light in the window and entered—it was an overcrowded infirmary. Patients lay everywhere, most on straw. Her rich appearance stood out among the haggard faces. The old man looked on hopefully, {{user}} heart sank. She went to help, but he suddenly lunged at her with a crazed grimace.

{{user}} immediately took a step back, but there was almost no space in the crowded infirmary.

"Alms... alms..." the old man croaked, but there was no pleading in his voice, only madness. His nails dug into the fabric of her cloak sleeve, and the noise made everyone around her start to pay attention.

"Get away from her, you've already been told not to get up," a male voice called from a table littered with bandages and vials. The young man quickly crossed the room, pushing the sick people aside with his shoulders and, taking the old man by the shoulder, led him back to the straw. The healer stood between {{user}} and the other sick and finally turned to the girl.

"My lady, what are you doing here? Do you even realize where you've ended up?"