Breaking the Code

The Flow

Lawyers, doctors, counselors, therapists and new meds. Fuck it allllll. Okay I feel better. Be ready cry. Enjoy, loves!!

Corey

Brandon was absent from the apartment this morning which was probably a good thing because Raven and I weren't exactly quiet but I wanted to talk to him. The disappearing act he's been playing for the last couple days is really starting to get on my nerves. First he's all fidgety and lies to me about something when my heart was ripped out through my throat but Hacker. Then he says that same day he has something important to tell me after the meeting but doesn't and now I can't seem to get him alone.

I love Brandon but I'm about to lose it if this doesn't start making sense soon. Especially now that I think whatever is going on with him is similar to what caused Sang to rush out of class yesterday. Something caused her to wig out but I can't for the life of me figure out what.

I wait around all day for Sang to get to class, constantly checking the time. It always seems that when you want time to move forward everything freezes in place. By the time I see her enter the class room I'm about to jump out of my skin. Finally! Maybe I can get some answers!

I text Owen to see if he and Sean can leave so I can interrogate- I mean question, Sang. Owen agrees to come and watch my class and Sean will head to the hospital early. Time to put some pieces together.

Sang looks almost as worried as I do when she enters the room. She won't look towards me and is shaking slightly. I slowly make my way over to her desk after the bell rings. Owen was already here before then so I don't have to wait for anything.

"Sang, would you mind coming with me?" I'm crouched down to try and see her eyes but she won't look at me. Shrugging she picks up her bag again and stands. Shee hadn't even tried to log into her computer today. I give her a small smile to try and ease the tension but she still won't look at me.

The walk to office 14B was quiet and not exactly comfortable. Something is bothering her and I wish I knew what it was. As soon as I get the door closed behind us Sang collapses into one of the chairs and starts to fiddle with her sleeve. I take the seat next to her and just watch.

After a few minutes I guess she's had enough because she finally looks at me. There is nothing in her eyes. Everything is blank and cold. I've seen Sang pull a screen in front of her before but never to this level. She stares me down for several seconds before speaking, her voice just as blank and cold as her eyes.

"What do you people want? I've warned you to leave, I've helped you in every way I can. I haven't done anything that hasn't helped you in the long run or gone against anything reasonable you asked so please just. What. Do. You. Want!" A small crack appears in her eyes for a split second. One of us asked her to do something. One of us caused her some pain but who?

I lean forward in my chair and fight the urge to reach for her. I don't know what it is about this girl but I want to protect her from everything. Shaking my head I stand and go towards the keurig that Sean insisted upon. "Do you want something to drink? We have water, coffee and a few different teas." I glance back as I start making my tea. The bewildered expression is better than the dead blankness of earlier.

Sang slowly nods her head and looks over our tea selection. A flash of something lights up her eyes followed immediately by a slightly watery gaze. Locking her eyes with me she slowly points to the chamomile tea. I don't know what she's trying to tell me but I want to.

I start making her tea slowly. "So it wasn't a mistake in your game then?" Making my voice lighter I try to ease the tension in the room. When I smell the tea my mind flashes to Hacker. Our ongoing argument about tea was something we always did just to make our heavy lives seem lighter.

A small voice comes from behind me pulling me out of my thoughts. "I never mistake my tea." I glance back and see a determined look on her face. "Chamomile tea is the balm to your soul." That saying. Grabbing the mug I slowly turn around. There's no way, right? I feel my eyes well up slightly, the question clear on my face. Is this her?

With dead eyes Sang grabs the mug and takes a sip. I can't move, I can't breathe. Is it possible? Does she know? If this is her and she knows then why did she give me that last letter. I still haven't moved by the time Sang has drained her mug.

She looks back at me and I see another small crack in her eyes. "Don't call my home again. I left yesterday for good reason. I have taken care of myself for years and I don't need someone trying to help because it never works." Turning and swinging her bag over her shoulder Sang pauses once more. With a heavy sigh she says two words that cause everything to crumble around me. "Goodbye Crawler." With that she disappears and I'm still frozen.

I don't move. I don't move when the bell rings. I don't move when Owen enters. I can't seem to hear him. Everything is underwater. I can feel the sting in my eyes from the tears falling but I can't move. Hacker is here. She knows who I am and she doesn't want me around. I can't move.

Suddenly I snap out of everything and my vision goes red. Brandon. He had to have figured it out. This is why he was so fidgety. This is why he wanted me to listen to the letter. This is why he's avoiding me. But how, how did he know before me?

Spinning in place I throw the mug still in my hand and have a brief satisfaction as the pieces fly everywhere. I look back at Owen and apologize. "Sorry, I'll get that cleaned up but right now. Right now I have a brother to kill." With that I storm out of the room.

Making it home in record time I slam open the door to the apartment and hollar for Brandon. "WHERE. ARE. YOU!" My breaths are coming in puffs instead of normally but I don't take the time to fix them. I throw open his bedroom door and freeze again. No! "Brandon!" I race over to him and whip out my phone redlining Axel.

*Call*

Corey: Get here now! It's Brandon!

*End Call*

I hang up before he answers and run to the bathroom. Grabbing the first aid kit and a wet washcloth I race back to his side. Wiping the tears from his closed eyes I start to clean the new marks. "Brandon, damn it. I know why you've been off the last few days but don't do this. I need my brother. I need you."

I'm wiping the last of the red from him when Axel enters. Immediately we grab him and start towards the cars. I don't know how bad it is this time or what he took but we need to get to the hospital. I'm so focused on him I don't even try to clear my eyes. Today seems to be the day for my tears to flow.