The Birdcage

Worse For Wear

"I bet The Whisperer got him!"

"Voice down, Ronnie. It was probably suicide. That's why they won't tell us about it; so we don't get ideas."

"No, it's because this place is a hellhole, and they don't want to admit it."

"Anyone with a brain knows this place is a hellhole. We don't need a resident serial killer spook to achieve that."

"It is real though."

"It's not real, it's mass hysteria brought about by rumours and hearsay."

"Nyx, tell this idiot what's going on."

Nyx started suddenly at the sound of Ronnie's voice; lurching back as she blinked her drooping eyes open. "Huh? Wha- huh?"

"You're absolutely worn out, aren't you?" Perry commented; the debate between him and Ronnie currently dropped in favour of bringing around the third resident of their table. "The upstairs residents keep you awake again?"

"... Something like that." Nyx said tiredly, poking at her porridge listlessly with her spoon.

"You look like you're about to vomit." Perry observed.

"Debating it." Nyx yawned, leaning on her hand. "So, wha's goin' on?"

"Uh, hello, someone died? We've been talking about it for the last ten minutes." Ronnie said irritably.

Nyx wasn't listening. Already her eyes had glazed over, heavy eyelids drooping shut as she leant into her hand.

"Careful. Face-down in porridge is not the way anyone wants to go." Spoke a voice by her shoulder.

Nyx jumped; lurching back from the table where her face had been hanging precariously close to her bowl. Then, surprisingly, she burst out laughing. It was so ridiculous; and so funny, and she just didn't have any energy left to control herself.

"Well done, Jayson, you broke her." Perry teased.

"Eh, she's smiling." He chuckled; ruffling her hair as he passed with his tray, crossing to the other side of the table. "It's a win in my books."

***

The rest of the day was not so great; and Nyx didn't have the hours of sleep behind her to deal with this. She thought she would have been used to functioning on little rest due to her nightmares; but apparently her little misadventure had used up much more energy.

She had no will for patience, and was taking no prisoners. "I thought I was with Doctor Hannan?"

Doctor Montgomery looked at her from the other side of his desk. "As of yet we are undecided."

"What's to decide?" Nyx exclaimed. "She's good. She gets it. I want to work with her."

"As of yet, we are undecided who is the most appropriate to cover your case."

"She says she often works on cases like mine!"

As she worked herself up, Montgomery remained saintly calm; watching her with his intelligent blue eyes. "Every case is different, Miss L'ange."

Nyx flopped dramatically back to lie along the sofa; secretly appreciating how comfortable it actually was. "It's just not fair that I keep getting shunted around, that's all."

"I know, it makes it difficult." Montgomery nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm working on it. There is so much that goes into running this hospital; it's like you wouldn't believe."

Nyx suddenly got a flash of memory from the previous night; the sight of him charging down the hallway wielding a walking stick as his weapon of choice. It was kind of funny now, during the day; the walking stick was even within her line of vision, tucked against the wall behind his desk, elegantly carved and decorated with some kind of animal head at the hilt. She couldn't help the smirk that twitched her mouth at the sight.

Examining his other possessions, she ran her gaze along the objects on the desk; stopping at a small silver picture frame. Inside was a photo, of what clearly seemed to be a much younger, smarter-dressed Doctor Montgomery; and standing besides him was a tall, beautiful woman with jet black hair cut into a twenties bob; dressed in a long golden evening gown.
Against the picture frame leant a strange-shaped object; a crucifix, Nyx decided, although she couldn't see it clearly from her angle. Was he religious? It was very elegantly sculpted, she could see that; cast in metal and engraved with intricate detail.

"Whose that?" She asked, pointing at the woman in the photograph.

"That would be my wife." Montgomery replied smoothly.

"Oh." Nyx dropped her hand. "She's pretty."

He smiled; a genuinely appreciative smile. "Thank you. Unfortunately, she is no longer with us. She passed only a few years into our marriage."

"Oh." Nyx was immediately crestfallen. "I'm sorry."

Montgomery shrugged. "Don't be. She's always with me." He held his hand to his chest, over his heart. "Here."

Nyx actually felt tears bubbling in her eyes; embarrassed, she wiped them away, giving an awkward half-chuckle. "Sorry, I didn't sleep well and I'm super emotional today."

Doctor Montgomery nodded. "Understood. We'll proceed gently then. So, I understand you're adopted?"

"Yes. Love my mum, I do. She's the best."

He chuckled. "Alright then; a ringing endorsement. So, am I correct in saying that she rescued you from being abandoned on the street?"

"Yup."

He wrote it down; noting her lack of extra words this time as a warning he was heading into delicate territory.

"And what do you remember about your life before that?"

"Uh... I... don't."

I know it seems a bit of a bridge chapter, but what do you think? XD