Anarchists Rise

Chapter 2: Crow

"You gonna go in?"

Dee rolled her eyes and sat down on the step.

Leaning against the stair railing, I tapped my foot. "So... why'd we come if you don't even want to see her?"

"Fuck off, Phoenix," she hissed, wringing her hands.

Letting out a deep breath, I sat down a step above my sister. "She makes me mad too, you know."

"It's not the same," replied Dee in a quiet voice. "Every time I see her," she clenched her fists. "If it's all in her head, maybe a few good blows could fix it."

I shrugged and chewed on my fingernail. Biting off a piece, I spat it onto the step. "She was never normal, Dee. Even if it did work, it's not like dad would take her back."

"She was once," she snapped. "Along time ago, but she was normal." My sister shifted her weight and eyed an old man across the street that was staring at us. "Sort of."

He was lingering longer than necessary and eyeing my sister.

Spotting a plastic bottle along the sidewalk, I stood. "What little I remember before she was brought here, mom's was always a bit different." I picked up the bottle and swirled around the yellow liquid inside.

"Doesn't mean anything."

"She's insane, Dee." I swirled the cap, so it was barely on. "Nothing's going to change that."

I chucked it at the old man, hitting him in the back. The bottle open and sprayed his pant leg with whatever liquid had been inside.

Turning to my sister, I shrugged. "So, you wanna come in? I'll go by myself if not."

Dee was just smiling as the man cursed at us. "You better go, before he comes over here to kick your ass."

"Have fun." I put my hands in my pocket and walked up the steps to the front door.

A woman with her hair in a tight bun sat at the receptionist's desk.

She's finished what she was typing and give me a practiced smile. "How can I help you?"

"I came to see my mom."

"Okay, what's her name?"

"Hope Laden."

She pursed her lips and checked her tablet. "It seems Mrs. Laden is in the cafeteria."

I nodded and stared down the hallway. "Thanks."

"Do you need someone to show you the way?" she called.

"Nope, I know where's she at."

A guard was standing at the cafeteria door. He recognized me and nodded me through. I slipped inside to see an arrangement of patients and nurses. This city had its fair supply of nut jobs, and my mother happened to be one of them. I didn't need to look to know where she was at. I walked across the room, avoiding a brawl as a patient was tackled by two guards, and made my way to the window overlooking the garden. There she sat in her usual place, a bag of harden crushed up piece of bread in her hand. Her black hair was loose and hung about her shoulders. It had gotten longer since I had last been here, but that had been three months ago.

Grabbing a chair, I pulled it up next to her. "Hey."

She didn't respond, but that was typical.

"Mom, it's Pheonix."

She sprinkled some of her crumbs on the windowsill.

I took a deep breath. It was probably a good thing Dee had stayed outside. The guards have thrown her out before, because of her temper.