#xx7

“What?!” She jumps back as his hand rests upon the hilt of her blade. She grits her teeth, fear prickling the back of her neck. “I have no idea what you are talking about, but you need to leave. I’m not looking for a fight.”

Whispers hammered at his ears as the young man sat in the holding room. On one side a woman, younger than him by only a little, bent at the waist to reach his ear; on the other, an older man did the same. Each murmured of lies and deceit, each telling him it was all to hurt him more - the people here, they were frauds, trying to capitalise of a disturbed man's delusions. Nathan put his hands to his head shakily, elbows rested on the table. The man's gaze bore into the surface, thumbs drawing sharp circles into his temples as he awaited the sound of the doors opening. Inside his head was a tangled confusion of crossed wires and broken connections - was he supposed to be excited? Or dubious? He'd been here a long time; a few short of ten years in this place had worn through his soul long ago. 

Fists balled either side of his head, knuckles white. There wasn't much he felt any more - or rather, ever had - but this anger that filled him now was all consuming. Nathan felt enraged. If he had family left aside from his parents who'd long ago given up visiting, why was it only now that they appeared like gnawing, pestilent worms through the woodwork? He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing premature crows-feet at the edges. 

A doctor kept a watchful eye on the patient, all too familiar with his bouts of violence and unpredictable mood swings. A needle in his pocket filled with sedatives was tapped repeatedly with his fingernail - a nervous tick picked up long ago, ever-ready for the inevitable. He knew the circumstances, he had vetted these people, after all, but he wasn't sure his patient could handle it. The delusions he suffered were a direct result of his siblings being removed from his life at such a young age, coupled with an already disturbed mind, seeing them now didn't seem like the best idea; but unfortunately, his hand had been forced.

An attorney stood in the corner beside the doctor, looking over proceedings only for future reference and insurance, really. He chewed his pen nervously, though betrayed no other evidence of fear - he'd been chosen over a senior female colleague of his, due only to Nathan's perceived hatred of women. His gaze shifted from the man in the centre of the room - the same man who was shaking his head from the voices, he'd been told his client heard.

As the door lock clicked, three sets of eyes snapped to it. Motionless, the man in the centre stared at the handle - it turned slowly, frustratingly slowly. His frown furrowed deeper. Knuckles paled impossibly. Had anyone been watching the unstable man, they would have seen the minute tremble of his fists as he tried to contain himself. A second ticked past on the clock, followed by another, and another, before the door finally opened.

Almost immediately, Nathan felt the presence behind him fade. It shifted, and disappeared. A heavy weight of loneliness spread over him as he gazed at the faces of his siblings. Voices spoke in unison.