Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Thirty Five: A Mad Mother

Bridge and the rest of the Phoenixes could not believe what They were seeing, Bridge's mother was a terrible sight to see indeed. She was in Her early fifties and had long unclean black hair that had not been tended to in years. Her face had clearly once been beautiful, but was covered in dirt and had several scabs around the mouth. Her eyes were darting everywhere and She was muttering something to Herself. Even though Bridge had not seen Her in ten years He still recognised Her somewhat and was horrified to see Her like this. Bridge had never expected to see Her again after He left, but here She was, rocking on a chair next to the grocery store counter that was but a single counter in San Francisco Plaza.

Bridge took a single step forward and carefully asked "Mum? Is that You?" Drake silently said with a tear running down His face "Your mother, Patricia, I don't think She's in there any more". Patricia muttered something to Herself and then began to speak to the people in front of Her. Patricia said in a near incomprehensible tone of voice "I......I had....a...a son. One day We went out to the uh.....the.....the Zoo and We saw.....We saw......". Patricia was silent, trying to remember the animal that had taken Tommy's life and darting Her eyes around the room. Anna carefully said "Gorillas". Patricia's eyes stopped darting and She suddenly yelled "YES!" The Phoenixes almost leapt back in fear. Patricia was acting insane and was nothing like Bridge remembered. Patricia then stuttered to the Phoenixes, who were complete strangers to Her "Then My son went to the railings and....and.....". Phinehas had a look of great fear on His face as He said "And what?" Patricia then had a look of great anger and hatred as She said in an almost incoherent manner "This....this.....this BOY ran over and pushed My son in! That BOY! That horrible BOY! He murdered MY SON!!!!!"

Patricia then started rambling on about how that "Boy" had murdered "Her Son" and the Phoenixes slowly backed away in fear. As They did so Sebastian, one of the Phoenixes who had joined after the Phoenixes made Their way through Chicago, said "She's nuts". Bridge was clearly horrified at what He was seeing and said "She's lost the plot". Drake turned to the Phoenixes and said "See! Patricia has completely lost it! When I arrived at Her grandparents hometown in Vancouver She was sitting on the porch of an old wooden shack and staring at a framed photo She had in Her hand that was of Tommy. She spoke to Me like I was a complete stranger and now it's all She says to anyone!" Anna had a look of sympathy on Her face as She said "That poor woman". She turned to Bridge and said "Bridge, listen to Me. Your mother has clearly lost Her mind and needs help".

Bridge was silent with shock for a moment, staring at Patricia rambling like a patient at a Mental Hospital while being calmed down by two members of Drake's group, but then Bridge asked His father "When did You find Her?" Drake had a look of great sadness on His face as He said "About a week ago. We went all the way up there to find Her and then We travelled back here to continue looking for You". Bridge looked at Drake with a serious look on His face as He sternly said "I went to New York". Drake's face filled with shock as He said "New York? You went there?" Bridge was clearly annoyed as He said "Yes and You would've known that if You had bothered to check the papers". Drake seemed annoyed that Bridge was bringing that up and said "Listen, I am sorry that I stopped giving You the love You needed after Tommy died, but right now Your mother needs help". Bridge crossed His arms and said "What were You expecting to happen if You found Me?" Drake struggled to find an answer for a moment, but then answered "I thought-I hoped that if Patricia saw You She would snap back to reality and We'd have Her back". Bridge was clearly annoyed as He snarled "She stopped loving Me altogether after Tommy died, did You really think that She would be happy to see Me!?" Drake quickly responded "All I wanted was for Us to be a family again". Bridge had a look of disgust on His face as asked "Did You really think that We would become a family again just like that after You found Me!? I haven't seen either of You in TEN YEARS! How could We possibly be a family again after THAT!?"

Drake was about to angrily respond to Bridge's statement, but Sebastian stepped in between Them and said "Alright, that's enough!" Sebastian looked at Drake and Bridge as He said "Listen, You two clearly have relationship problems and You both need counselling. But right now We have a world to save from the real life illuminati!" Drake looked very confused as He said "What are You talking about?" Bridge quickly and coldly responded "It's a long story, that's all You need to know for now". That was when Bridge felt a gentle tap on His right shoulder and turned around to see Michelle with some other Phoenixes who had come up and seen the whole ordeal. Bridge looked Michelle right in the face and asked "What is it Michelle?" That was when Bridge noticed Michelle breathing heavily and looked worried as Michelle said "Bridge, My water just broke". Bridge had a very worried face as He looked down and saw that Michelle's water had indeed broken, meaning one thing and one thing only: She was about to give birth. Bridge then yelled "Everyone! It's time to deliver the package!"