by A. M. Miller
“Why do it then? Why didn’t your spirit- I don’t know- move on? Why send the ring here,” Tiffany asked.
Raven wanted to know the answer as well. She could understand Lu’s spirit wanting vengeance for the betrayal but she didn’t understand what any of it had to do with her.
“The person who betrayed me did it so that they could help unleash an evil into your world. It is the same evil that threatened to destroy my world. My death made it so I couldn’t fulfill my duty to my queensland but I refuse to let the same thing happen again.”
“What is this evil you keep talking about?” Tiffany asked.
“For many years my people have fought against him and the spread of madness throughout the lands. No one really knows where he comes from. He appeared sometime during the white war. No one quite understands why. All we know is of his passionate desire to spread fear and chaos. For some reason he desired entry into your world and now he has it.”
A chill ran down Raven’s back. She felt something lurking behind her, standing just outside her view. When she turned her head the only thing that she saw was her J Cole poster staring back at her. Lu’s words were having an effect on her.
“So let me get this straight. You’re telling us that there is a madman from another dimension running around out there?“
Lu nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid so. Although I must warn you that he is not just any madman. He is far more powerful than you can imagine. Mad genius would be a more appropriate description.”
“I don’t understand. What does any of this have to do with me?” Raven asked. Even if what Lu said was true she doubted she could be of any help. There were better people suited to take on a madman. A doctor for example, someone who’d actually specialized in the treatment of the mentally ill. Why hadn’t Lu gone to one of them?
“I told you before that it was my duty to protect my people. All of my power resides inside of the ring. The people of my bloodline were given the ability to be able to fight madness. The third eye allows us entry into the minds of others. Once inside we work to fix what’s broken. That same power is inside you now. That was how you were able to help save your friend. That is how we must stop him.”
“Wait, so are you saying you can fix what’s wrong inside people’s heads?” Raven asked. She thought of her mother and of the many nights she’d prayed for a way to save her. She’d given up hope, but now she felt the spark of it returning.
“In some cases, yes. Although there is a point where one can no longer be saved. Once they are broken we are only allowed to bring them peace,” Lu said, but Raven was only half listening.
I can fix her. She had done it with Tiffany. She saved her friend and thinking back on it, once she knew what she was supposed to do it hadn’t been too hard. Why wouldn’t it work on her mother?
Raven thought of what it had been like before the incident. She pictured her mother’s smiling face and it almost brought tears to her eyes. It was possible for her to be like that again. Raven could fix her mother and they could be happy again. This could be the miracle she been waiting for.
“Raven,” Lu called, gaining her attention again. There was a warning inside of her bright red eyes.
“I have to save her.” Raven wasn’t asking for permission. She’d do anything to help her mother and no one was going to get in her way.
“Raven, if you’re going to stop a pigeon, you mustn’t pluck his feathers,” Lu said. The randomness of her words made them all pause.
Lu herself looked confused. She hadn’t meant to say that. “A pigeon plucked becomes a duck,” Lu said, trying again.
All three of the friends stared at her, trying to understand. Lu clenched her jaw and tried to concentrate.
“A pigeon-“ Lu started again but stopped with a giggle. The laughter seemed to bubble out of her. She placed her hands over her mouth. The laughter continued, her body now shaking with it. Tears began to form in her eyes from the force of the laughter. She doubled over, looking pained.
“I don’t think she can stop. She must be losing control again,” Tiffany said.
Lu began to fade, her image changing as she did. The black liner smudged from her eyes down her cheek. A red line appeared around her neck and dripped blood.
Dion’s eyes shifted between his friends and Lu. “Should we do something?”
“Do what?” Raven asked.
Dion didn’t have an answer. He barely understood what was going on. He wasn’t sure how they were supposed to fix something that logically shouldn’t exist, but he thought they should be doing something. The girl seemed to be struggling.
Seconds later, it was too late. Lu’s image completely disappeared. Raven dropped her hand away. For a moment they all stood still, staring at the empty space.
“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Tiffany asked.
“Probably not, but she’s already dead.” Raven turned away. Walking over to her closet, she searched for her bag. She had it prepared for special trips to see her mother. Pushing back the hangers of clothes, she reached inside. She shifted through the bag checking that everything was in place. Everything was where she’d left it.
“Damn Rae, that’s kind of cold,” Tiffany said, turning to face her.
Raven slung the bag over her shoulder. “It’s the truth. There’s nothing we can do for her.”
Raven made her way out of the room. She was halfway down the stairs when a hand grabbed her. She turned to see that it was Dion.
“Wait, Raven. Where are you going?” He asked.
“I have to go see her. I have to try.”
Dion frowned. “See who?”
“My mom.”
“Raven, we still don’t fully understand what’s going on. She said a lot of confusing stuff and we haven’t taken the time to understand any of it. Now is not the time to act rash.”
Raven pulled her arm back. “My mother’s sick. I’m going to save her. What more do we need to understand?”
Raven understood what Dion was saying but she also knew this needed to happen now. She knew that if she stopped long enough to think, doubt would sink in and hopes of saving her mother would be lost. This was her only chance.
“Raven-“
“What if it was Amber? What if it was Amber rotting away in that hospital? Can you honestly say you wouldn’t do everything in your power to help her? Even if it seemed completely ridicules, you’d still try.”
Dion didn’t say anything. Raven had already known his answer before she’d asked the question. He loved his little sister and would give his life to keep her safe.
“Raven,” Tiffany called from atop the stairs. Raven looked back at her. She could tell from the worry in Tiffany’s expression she didn’t want her to leave.
“I’m going to save her,” Raven said to both Tiffany and herself. This had to work. “Weather or not you want to be there is up to you but you can’t stop me.”
“We won’t stop you and we're not going to abandon you, Raven. I just want you to understand the amount of danger you're putting yourself in. You don’t even have a plan,” Dion said.
“I have a plan.” Raven adjusted the straps of her bag. “Part of a plan.”
“This is insanely stupid.”
Raven shrugged. “You guys are the smart ones, not me.”
“That’s not funny, Raven.”
Raven didn’t respond. Dion closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine, we can use my car.”
“Thank you.” Raven was grateful he was willing to come along but any relief she felt was ruined by the anxiety seeing her mother stirred inside her. She didn’t need to be told this was stupid. The voice in the back of her head was screaming it.
“Just hurry up before my more reasonable side realizes what’s happening,” Dion said, passing Raven on the stairs. He stopped on the bottom stair and turned back toward Tiffany.
“You too, Tee. Like you said this crazy train ain't leaving without you.” Dion said with a smirk.
Tiffany crossed her arms. “I hardly think this is the time for jokes.”
“Really? According to the girl, the world is facing emanate doom and we're helping our friend do something that could get her killed. Seems like the perfect time for a laugh if you ask me.”
44
When Raven’s father told her that her mother was being moved to a mental hospital, she’d immediately pictured a building out of a horror story. In her mind, Corvix hospital was a place that would sit on top of dark hill surrounded by thick iron gates. The doctors and nurses would all have sinister smiles. There would be big syringes, straight jackets, and bloody tools lying around.
Of course, the hospital was nothing like that. From the outside Corvix looked like any other care facility. It stood four stories high with brown bricks and square windows. The inside was full of plain white walls and the scent of disinfectants. They made emphases to stray away from anything too stimulating in designed. The littlest things could set the wrong patient off.
The front desk sat next to a door would not open without clearance. Raven walked up to the desk. The woman sitting behind the desk was as lackluster as the plain white walls. She didn’t look up as Raven approached she simply slid a clipboard forward.
“Sign in. Everyone must be cleared for visitation. Both patient and doctor reserve the right to limit and restrict visitation. Those not cleared will be turned away. If you have any problem with visitation, please see the front desk located in the B wing.” The woman said, flipping through the pages of her magazine.
Raven picked up the clipboard but did not fill out her name. Her mother was still on probation after attacking that doctor. Odds were she wouldn’t receive her visitation privileges for a while. Instead, she wrote down Angelica Donovan.
Ms. Donovan had shared a room with her mother when she’d been considered well enough to have a roommate. Ms. Donovan had a daughter named Angelica who she talked about often. As far as Raven knew, Angelica had never visited her. The first time she’d impersonated Angelica she’d almost thrown up from nerves. The second time was easier and fifth came almost naturally.
Raven handed the clipboard back to the woman.
“ID?” The woman asked holding out her hand.
Raven reached into her bag and pulled out her fake ID. The good thing about attending Rufus High was that with enough money, you could buy almost anything. She handed the ID to the woman. The woman glanced at the ID and the clipboard. She took one quick look at Raven and then handed the ID back.
“Several items are restricted beyond this point. There is a list of them located on this pamphlet,” the woman said and pointed a finger toward the stack of pamphlets on her desk. The front of the pamphlet read A safe environment is a happy environment in bold letters.
Raven didn’t pick one up. She’d been here enough to know their lists by heart.
“Feel free to go over them while you wait. Someone will be out to help you to the patient’s room shortly. Thank you for visiting,” the woman said, her eyes back on her magazine.
Raven turned away from the desk. Four blue chairs sat against the wall, functioning as the waiting area. Raven sat down in one, Tiffany and Dion followed suit. She stared at the door waiting for one of the nurses to appear. A hand rested on her knee. She turned to see Dion looking at her.
“Calm down. You look like you’re ready to jump out of your seat,” Dion whispered in her ear. Raven stilled. She hadn’t noticed she’d been fidgeting.
“This has to work, Dion. It has to,” Raven said. Her stomach was in knots. She closed her eyes and held her hands together. She tried to focus on her breathing. Dion pulled at one of her folded hands and took it in his. His warm hand held hers firm.
Raven looked back at him. His eyes were on her. She remembered the first day they met. His cardigan had been ripped and dirtied with the school logo falling off. He looked up at her through a swelling eye and she’d stared back at him. They’d both been quite a sight back them. His face covered in blood and hers in tears. She hadn’t said anything to him at first, just listened as his Spiderman bookbag hit the ground next to her. They sat on the swing set together without saying a word.
They were never supposed to be friends, but somehow he’d fallen into her world. She didn’t remember the exact moment they became friends, but somehow, the marvel fanboy with the crooked smile had found his way through her walls.
“Thank you, Dion. You too, Tif.” Raven said looking over Dion's shoulder at Tiffany. Tiffany reached over and took Raven’s other hand. She gave it a squeeze. “I meant it when I said you didn’t have to come but I’m really glad you did.”
They were here together and that was all that mattered. When Raven turned back towards the door she could see a man in white scrubs approaching them. He opened the door and peered out. His eyes landed on them.
“Is one of you Angelica Donovan?” The man asked.
Raven stood from her chair. She walked over to the man and handed him her ID. “That’s me.”
He studied her for a moment. Raven’s hand tightened around her bag strap. She wondered if he remembered her from a visit to her mother. If that had happened, he would know that she was not Angelica and they would be kicked out. Raven didn’t remember seeing him before, but she didn’t have the most reliable memory. Just as she felt the sweat forming on her forehead the man handed her back the ID.
“Right this way, Ms. Donovan and I can take you to see your mother.” The man opened the door for her. Raven walked past him. She relaxed a little but knew this was far from over. Getting to Mrs. Donovan was easy. Getting to her mother would prove far worse.
45
Raven followed the nurse down the bright empty hallway. She glanced down at the checkerboard tiles. They reminded her of a game she’d use to play. The rules of the game were simple; if you stepped on the white tiles you died. Her mother always thought it was a silly game.
“But their like big checker boards mommy,” Raven had told her. Getting caught in the white always spelled bad luck.
Her mother shook her head but smiled as she held onto her daughter's hand. “Then I guess that makes you the queen.”
Raven found herself playing the game now. Her longer legs made the game easy but at least it was a distraction. She stopped once she noticed the strange look the nurse was giving her.
Raven kept her hands folded in front of her to stop them from fidgeting. Her nerves seemed to be getting worse the closer they got. She made sure not to do anything that might draw attention. One of the fluorescent lights overhead buzzed and flickered. Raven looked up. The flickering gave her an instant headache. She squeezed her eyes shut and looked away.
Black bird, black bird.
Raven looked behind her. The voice in her head was not her own.
What beautiful wings you have.
Checkered tiles stretched on in the empty hall. Raven’s hands tightened around her bag.
You can’t stop me. Don’t even try, Raven sent her thoughts out, assuming the ghost girl was up to her tricks again.
“Ms. Donavan?”
“Coming,” Raven said, turning back to the nurse.
They stopped in front of one of the many doors along the wall. The nurse pressed his card against the keypad. It beeped. The light on the keypad flashed green as the door unlocked. He stepped through with Raven following close behind. He put the key card into his pocket and stopped in the middle of the room. Raven bumped into the tall man, her weight causing them both to stumble. The nurse turned slightly, eyeing her.
“Sorry,” Raven said, her voice shaking. The longer the man stared at her the more uncomfortable she grew. She prayed that he hadn’t figured her out.
The man’s eyes dropped down to Raven’s scar before meeting her eyes again with a sneer. “Try to be careful. This is a hospital. You can’t just go stumbling about.”
Any bad feeling Raven had for bumping into him quickly dissipated.
“Mrs. Donovan, you have a v
isitor,” the nurse said. He turned back to face the other side of the room.
“Who is it?”
Raven stepped out from behind the nurse. She smiled at the woman sitting on the bed. She was in her late fifties and wore a purple cheetah print sweat suit. The morning newspaper sat neatly folded in her lap. Raven could see that she’d been working on a crossword puzzle.
“It’s me, mama,” Raven said, her voice bright.
Mrs. Donovan picked up the bifocals that rested around her neck and put them on. She squinted.
“Angie, is that you?” Mrs. Donovan asked.
Raven smiled and stepped closer to the bed. “Yup, it’s me, mama.”
Mrs. Donovan’s eyes lit up as she smiled back at Raven.
“Well don’t just stand over there. Come in and give mama a hug.” Mrs. Donovan said holding out her arms.
Raven walked over to the bed and pulled Mrs. Donovan into a hug. She smelled of rose perfume and hairspray. Mrs. Donovan held on tight to Raven. Despite her skinny arms, Mrs. Donovan was surprisingly strong. After a moment they pulled apart. Mrs. Donovan’s hands moved to Raven’s face.
“It is so good to see you, my angel,” Mrs. Donovan whispered. This close to her face, Raven could see the tears beginning to swell in the older woman’s eyes. “Tell me baby, have you forgiven your mama yet?”
Mrs. Donovan's words tore at Raven’s heart. She knew it was wrong to manipulate Mrs. Donovan like this. Because of early dementia, Mrs. Donovan often confused younger women with her daughter. Something had happened between Mrs. Donovan and her daughter. Mrs. Donovan had never been specific, but whatever it was it was bad enough to tear the two apart.
The older woman regretted it. Raven could tell from just hearing her talk about it. It didn’t matter what happened. From what Raven had seen Mrs. Donovan was a kind person. She didn’t deserve to be left here alone.