Everyone Descends Into Madness A Little Bit Differently

Kat had calmed considerably. With Angus with her, she found herself with no doubts that they would find Anastasia and everything would be fine. Certainly they had not found her yet. It was only a matter of time!

Right now she had retreated into her house to get them both something to drink. She hummed as she filled up the two water bottles. It was a little bit warm today, she probably should have thought of bringing these earlier. Without much thought she undid the top two buttons on her shirt as she finished filling the second bottle and screwed on the caps tightly.

Done with that, she let the water run over her hands and flung some water up into her face. She was calm. She would be calm.

And she was. Wiping her face dry with her sleeve, she had reached to pick up the water bottles when she heard the door open. She knew it was not Angus, because of the sound of the heavy boots that her brother always wore. Hands dropping to her sides, she turned to see Ivan coming in, looking absolutely frightened.

"Ivan?"

"Kat! Kat, Natalia's gone insane!"

Kat almost was concerned, until she realized what it was that Ivan had said. So instead she found herself staring at him as she had been before he had spoken. "Really?" she asked him, hoping to prod him into saying something that would sound more worthy of his current reaction. Then again, she would rather have this be because of Natalia than him realizing that his beloved cat was gone. Suddenly she was nervous again.

"Da! She said she hated me and did not vant seeing me again!"

Still trying to think of how she was supposed to tell Ivan what she was doing right now, the words caught her off guard. Actually, Katyusha doubted that she would have ever not been caught off guard hearing those words. "She hates you now?"

"Somezing's vrong!"

Before Kat could respond, there was another knock on the door. Hoping that it was Angus, Kat grabbed the water bottles and headed over.

"Kat..."

Her brother needed her!

But Ivan could learn how to deal with his own problems now, for once!

Kat hesitated in the doorway to the living room. It did not appear to matter, as the door still opened. But it was not Angus. It was Natalia. Kat thought about that. Ivan had just said Natalia hated him now. So why had she followed him here? Unless Ivan was exaggerating something Natalia had said... Kat sighed.

"Um..." Natalia fidgeted, having yet to step inside the house. "The door was ajar, so... I'm sorry for intruding... can I come in... um... sister?"

"Natalia?" Ivan asked, peering over Kat's shoulder (not that it took much, he just had to stand there). "Vhat are you doing here?"

A spasm seemed to cross over Natalia's features, but she kept her unblinking eyes on Kat. "I'm here to talk with Kat. How are you doing Kat?"

Kat stared at her.

"You followed me here!" Ivan accused, pointing at her. Natalia was chewing on her lower lip.

"N-no. I am here to talk with my sister."

Kat stared at Ivan.

"Vhat's vrong vith you?"

"I'm not here to talk with you, brother!" Natalia finally seemed to snap out of her strange shyness, glaring at Ivan. Ivan ducked so that he could not see Natalia from behind Kat.

Kat twitched.

"Talking vith Kat? You have never done zat!" Ivan accused. Natalia was seething.

But so was Kat. "Shut. Up."

Suddenly, her younger siblings had shut up. Kat could not remember the last time that they had listened so suddenly to her. She hoped this was not a once in a decade development. Her fingers were clenched around the water bottles as she took a few calming breaths.

"Just knock it off. I am so sick and tired of the both of you messing around like this. What? Do you think I'll just stand here and deal with this... this shit?"

Ivan had slid along the wall, away from her. Hopefully he was considering how much his problems were not always her problem. Kat found that she was still livid.

"I have had enough of the both of you! What did I ever do to deserve your problems?" Kat spluttered over a few words that she was not certain about in English before she suddenly felt calm again. Taking in a deep breath, she smiled at the two of them.

Aw... they are hugging!

"So Natalia. Ivan." Their names were said very sweetly. "I want the both of you to get along. Understand?"

Natalia was nodding fiercely. Ivan was simply opening and closing his mouth. Neither of which was good enough.

"I want you both to promise."

"I'm sorry brother!"

"I love you Natalia!"

Katyusha smiled at the both of them. "Aw! Now look at the both of you! You're adorable!" Neither of the other two said anything, but they were still hugging. Kat decided her work was done here. "Now if you'll excuse me, Angus needs some water."

They both got out of the way when she went out the door. Natalia and Ivan, who had been clinging to each other for dear life, stared at her retreating back. "Her pills," they said in unison.

Which meant it would only get worse.


Notes:

I do not think I did this chapter justice. Still, writing a crazy person is different than writing someone who's thoughts are slowly morphing into 'craziness' as the scene moves along. I can only hope it makes any sense.