The Visiting Hours

Chair legs scraped against concrete throughout the makeshift chapel.

There were 14 of these chairs placed around the pool of sun that spilt through the skylight. They carefully framed the edge of the light, denying the bodies in them any warmth it might provide.

“Annalise, won’t you please begin today?”

Anna pulled her head up from her hands. Strands of dull hair fell to either side of her face. Her skin had become translucent, painting wells of navy blue under her weary eyes.

Feeling flushed from the sudden attention of 13 heads turned towards her, Anna focused on the centre of the floor. Particles of dust swam up towards the open skylight, drifting past the metal grate that covered it. She imagined how it would feel to be the dust, on its way to the outside world.

“Very well then, you’ve been given enough warnings, Annalise. Go see Mr Wilson at the office. Caroline, do the honours, please.”

A throat cleared and a meek voice began leading the prayer. Anna shuffled down the hall to Mr Wilson who looked rather displeased to be graced with her presence yet again. Glaring over the frame of his glasses (which always seemed to sit too low on his nose), he asked,

“Can you tell me why you think you’re here at this institution?”

“Well, I know you people think I’m here because I’m delusional. Is that the correct answer?” Her face grew hot again and she felt the blood pumping through her ears. Wilson clucked disapprovingly at her response.

“Dr Bates says that your imagination has been quite active lately and I want to ask if you’ve had similar symptoms to the day of the fire.” Her heart began to race at the mention of the incident. Remembering her breathing techniques, she drew a long breath in through her nose and met his gaze with pleading eyes.

“It still visits me each night. I’m just worried—"

“Anna, not the damn owls again. I’ve told you, all we have around here are pigeons at best.”

“It’s just one.” She mumbled.

“Pardon me?”

“It’s just one owl.”

He sighed and rubbed his temples. “You’ve been here over a month now and the treatment doesn’t seem to be helping. I’m going to have to speak to the doctor about changing course. Go outside and get some fresh air, please.”

Feeling defeated, Anna bit her tongue and made her way towards the yard. A cluster of girls blocked the doorway, speaking to each other in hushed tones. Tough and stoic Jen turned to her, eyes wide in horror. This was quite alarming as her face rarely held any expression at all.

“It just happened…but no one saw it happen, we just came out here and they were like this.” She stammered. Anna stood on her tip-toes to peer over Jen’s shoulder.

Arranged neatly on the asphalt of the basketball court was a circle of lifeless pigeons. She shoved past the girls to get a closer look. Standing at the edge of the court, she counted the birds. There were 13. Deep down, she knew how many there’d be before even coming outside but counted again, and again to be sure.

She searched the sky as if there would be an answer written in the dark clouds. Where had they come from?

“Anna…tell me what is going on here.” A visibly shaken and out of breath Mr Wilson appeared behind her.

“I…wish I could explain.” As if anyone would listen to her.

“Why is it that you always seem to be found at the scene of the crime?” He grabbed the back of her thin arm and dragged her towards the building.

“Everyone inside. Now!” He barked. Anna’s legs followed along but she couldn’t take her eyes off the formation on the ground. Just like the day of the fire, it all felt familiar—like she had been there before.

“No one is to come near this door until we find out who did this. To your rooms, immediately.” He yelled for the staff to call Dr Bates.

Back inside her room, Anna crawled under the covers and brought her knees to her chest. Her bunkmate, Cindy, had not returned and she hoped this would be an opportunity to sleep before night came.

☾

When her eyes opened again, she was facing a dark wall. She rolled over to find Cindy on her cot, breathing steadily in a deep sleep. Anna propped her head up, listening closely for the sound that woke her.

Since she’d arrived at Wilson’s Home for Gifted Girls, the pattern of the call had been different, but she knew it was the same owl from before.

She reached under her bed to retrieve a wooden mousetrap. A limp, flattened rodent hung from its grasp. Sticking her hand through the windows metal grate, she laid the critter on her windowsill as an offering for the owl. This was becoming a frequent ritual.

While she could never seem to lay eyes on the bird, she would wake up the next morning to find that the mouse had disappeared. Sometimes, she would drift off again in the night only to be stirred by the faint hum of beating wings. It was never clear which direction the sound was coming from, almost as if it echoed from inside of her.

☾

The daylight felt especially harsh as Cindy’s voice launched her into the morning.

“Get up! We’re being called to the main room.”

“What time is it…prayer in the main room?”

“No, it’s barely 9 am but Wilson called an emergency meeting.” Anna’s face crumpled at the news. “You look rough, you know. Visiting hours with your imaginary friend again last night?” Cindy teased.

“Please don't. Wilson already thinks the pigeons were my fault.” Anna groaned.

“Well, was it?”

“I don’t know.” And the truth was, Anna couldn’t be certain. As much as she hated that other people were afraid of her, she was afraid of herself.

“Whatever, they think we’re all witches here. Let’s go, the trial awaits.” She knew Cindy’s jokes were her way of coping with their situation, but as she dressed for the meeting, it truly felt like she was preparing to be burnt at the stake.

☾

The girls filed into the room finding seats on the couches and floor. Wilson stood at the front of the room, brow furrowed and arms crossed over his chest.

“I don’t mean to scare anyone, but we have reason to believe that there were 13 pigeons to match the number of residents here. If we find that this was some kind of threat, you will be moved to maximum security within the day.”

Anna tried not to look at Caroline who was next to her, sniffling back tears.

“And if someone intended to cast a spell…” He always felt the need to use air quotes at the mention of what he calls "occult activity". “Well, you know what Dr Bates will think of that.”

Mrs Keller clutched the crucifix on her chain and did her best to speak with authority.

“The girls who were present at the scene will have their main room privileges suspended for the time being. They will also have extra community service this week at the Sacred Heart Shelter until we get answers. Starting Monday, the van will arrive at 5 pm sharp and we expect you to be waiting in the hall for inspection at 4:45 pm.”

☾

After the residents of the shelter finished their meals, Anna began to clear the trays from each table. She made her way towards a grey-haired woman who sat unusually still and alone in the corner. Anna was unsure how to approach her due to the dark sunglasses that covered her eyes.

The woman held out her tray.

“I’m blind, not deaf.” She chuckled, detecting that she had startled the girl. "My hearing is like another form of sight. A blessing and a curse, really.”

“I understand that. Sometimes I feel like I hear things a little too well.”

“What are you hearing?” The woman patted the table, an invitation for Anna to sit with her. Grateful for a listening ear, she obliged. It seemed easier to pour your heart out to a stranger, especially one whose eyes would not be full of judgement.

“I know it sounds crazy but I hear the same owl each night. I can’t tell what it’s saying to me but I wake up with images in my mind. A bit like pieces to a puzzle.”

“Young lady, I’ve lived on the streets for over a decade now. Nothing sounds crazy to me anymore.” A proud smile lit up the woman’s face, displaying a set of tarnished and partially missing teeth. “Let me guess, that’s why you ended up at this dreaded home for gifted girls?” The woman reached for Anna’s hand and squeezed it. Her skin was soft and loose like baggy silk. “Do you know what a familiar is?”

“Not beyond the usual sense of the word, no.”

“It’s possible that this owl could be your spiritual familiar from another plane. A protector and informant of sorts.” Anna nodded, already knowing the truth.

Jen stormed past the table carrying a stack of trays, motioning for her to get up and help.

“I know you have to go but one more thing, dear.” The woman held on tighter, sensing she was about to leave. “You are young. If you can be on your best behaviour, they will soon welcome you back into society. Just remember that this ability you have, it will never be welcomed. It’s like asking everyone around you to describe a colour only you can see. Find the other people who can see that colour and you will be safe.”

Anna smiled through the lump in her throat. She felt more seen by a blind stranger than she ever had by anyone in her life before. She thanked the woman and returned to the other girls, ignoring their small talk while she replayed the conversation in her mind.

☾

The next day, Anna was disappointed to wake up in a fully lit room. She had not heard the owl call during the night and the mouse offering remained on the window sill. Despite never having known the heartbreak of ending a romance, she imagined that this is what it would feel like.

She stumbled through the motions of the morning in a haze, imagining reasons for the owl’s absence. Remembering what the blind woman said, she made a vow to behave as the staff at Wilson’s Home wanted her to. It was the only way to freedom. This meant that when Mrs Keller turned to her during prayer circle, Anna read the words from her book without hesitation.

Satisfied with her participation, Mrs Keller asked if she would lead the closing prayer as well. But as Anna opened her mouth, she was interrupted by a shrieking Cindy who began climbing onto her chair, prompting the others to do the same. When Anna realized the cause of their hysterics, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.

A small, brown mouse had landed in the middle of the circle. Terrified by the commotion, it darted in every direction until finally escaping under Jen’s chair.

“It dropped from there! There’s a barn owl!” Cindy screamed, turning everyone’s attention to the open skylight. Anna leapt from her chair to stand under the window. There, peering into the room with piercing, black eyes, was her familiar.