"Being Ben's"

36. Tell me more

Ben and I stayed silent anymore, him more then me because every move I made hurt something. After the Novikov incident, I did have energy to speak and Ben white hot mad then he broke out in tears, crying harder then I even had.

It happened a couple times following and I begged and Ben begged but he didn't relent.

It's been days, maybe weeks... I'm not sure, time isn't relevant anymore. I think I heard Novikov had to go back home or somewhere else to "deal" with some stuff, probably to torture other people.

I sighed loud and long, sitting against the wall, staring at the wall opposite me. In my field of vision I could see Ben's head hanging to his chest as he finally got the sleep they weren't giving him. He probably could sleep for month if they never woke him up, I don't know why I was able to sleep and he wasn't.

Don't jinx it.

Also, I didn't know how we weren't dead, with the small bits of bread and capfuls of water that they've been giving us for well... food and water. I refused to eat it at first but Ben asked me to take what I could, so I did now. Though it only made me hungrier/thirstier when I took the portions.

I put my head down on my knees and looked towards the door, afraid of when it was going to open again. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Fe- Felix?"

"Hmm?" I said with my eyes still closed. "I'm here, Ben. Are you okay?" I asked him, clearing my throat. He groaned softly. "I just... I had a nightmare."

I opened my eyes, looking at him. "That's not surprising." I tried chuckling but ended up coughing. He cleared his throat. "I don't... dream very often."

"I have nightmares often." I haven't been having them lately but I was thankful because this was nightmare enough. "Did you get eno-?"

Ben's head whipped toward the door and I shut myself up. "He's coming." He said in one breath. I nodded watching the horror door open and Valentino, as well as Lorenzo step through the threshold.

My stomach did an awful, bile wrenching flip.

They've been working at me, for days after Ben threw a huge fit after Novikov did what he pleased just to spite Ben. They were getting to Ben through me and I was worried he would break soon. Not that I cared they were hurting me I'd rather it be me then him because they've done enough to him all his life.

They didn't ask much about Marcus's whereabouts or any other questions any more, they either enjoyed the abuse or thought we would break and tell them anyway.

"We found him." Valentino clasp his hands together, standing between the two of us. I looked at Ben who didn't move, maybe he didn't hear him or chose not to. Valentino shrugged. "Thought I would've had more of a reaction to that."

"You're a lair." Ben said, then dropped his head backwards to look at the ceiling. He stared, neutral faced but I knew he was thinking. "You'd have brought him here already." I watched his Adams Apple bob as he spoke, his neck bare, the hickeys I gave him faded.

I shifted, the chains chiming awfully against each other and the floor. Valentino's attention was turned to me. "You're right." He said. I heard Ben sigh. "You're not a very good liar." He picked his head up and looked at him. "Never have been."

Valentino walked over to Ben, who was glaring at him, sleepiness carved into his face in the bags under his eyes and the slight part of his mouth. "You must really like watching your loved ones suffer." Valentino growled, flicking Ben's temple.

I looked away, towards the blank wall.

"I can't wait till karma catches up with you." I heard Ben growl, through gritted teeth. Then I heard him bare his teeth in a scream. I closed my eyes tight, tears I didn't know where there fell. "Stop, please.... Just stop." I said softly.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Valentino stopped with Ben and came over to me. I shook my head. "I don't want to see Marc hurt anymore then he does." I looked up and sprawled my legs out. "Like he said you have enough."

"Shut up!" Valentino stepped on my ankle, I doubled over in pain. "You don't know when to shut your mouth do you?"

I was baring my teeth, listening to what I thought was my bones cracking. Black around my field of vision getting bigger and bigger until he backed up and got off.

"Fucking... try me." With each word I had to pause to take a breath. Valentino's nose flared and he leaned down to my ear. "Better watch it I'll get Novikov." He whispered. My eyes widened and I sat there frozen looking up at him as he rose. "In fact... I think I will."

I shook my head, tears streaming from my eyes. "No! No! Don't, please."

"What did he say? Valentino, what did you tell him?" Ben watched Valentino leave. I had to find the courage to try and calm myself to try and tell Ben what he told me. "H- he's bringing Novikov."

"Valentino!" Ben yelled. "Fuck! shit!"

"I see there's some excitement toward my arrival." Novikov said coming in through the door a few minutes later while Ben was still yelling for his brother. "Get out!" Ben yanked at his restraints. "I'll kill you, leave him alone!"

"You shouldn't have forbidden him from me. Maybe I've had been on your side through this." He shrugged, kneeling done and lifting my chin with a finger. I turned my head and had the feeling of being sick.

"Do. Not. I cannot watch you torment him."

"Then close your eyes."

Be went silent and I looked at him, he had his thinking face on. I shook my head. "Don't." I said shivering as Novikov slid his finger down my neck. He lifted his eye and glared at me, at Novikov. "I'll tell him." He said softly. "I tell him! Just get your hands off my boyfriend."

"Just o-."

"Valentino!"

"Ben!"

"I'm done, Felix. I'm done, I'm done trying to be the nice guy. I'm done trying to fix everything and I can't just sit back and watch you get hurt anymore. I tell him where Marcus is and I'll tell him where the papers are, whatever they need to know. Valentino! Novikov! I swear!" He stomped, surprisingly scaring Novikov and me. I've never seen him this angry. Neither Novikov or I knew what to do.

Valentino finally came in, slamming the door open. "What?!"

"He's in Canada. My neph- Marcus. Ontario, Canada. Please just him the fuck out of here. Let us out of here. The papers are in a purple bag in a folder and if he put it we're I told him to they'll be under his mattress. You can do anything you want with anything you want just... please. Te digo la verdad... por favor." He leaned forward in the chair.

Valentino had a look on his face like he was considering his options then waved Novikov out and I felt like I could breath again... well I could breath just as well as a fucking pug with asthma, every breath hurt.

He came into the middle of the room, slowly. Going behind Ben and undoing his restraints then he walked over to me. I saw a look on his face that I didn't like and he was being too quiet, he was up to something.

And I could see by the way Ben was sitting on the edge of his chair, staring at him he could see it too.

"Well!" Valentino shrugged dramatically. Ben and I glanced at each other. As much as I wanted to run at him and wrap my arms around his neck, I was scared to move. Valentino scoffed and pulled out a small gun from his pocket. "I guess I was too obvious." He pointed it at Ben, who's eyebrows had furrowed deeply in anger.

"You're useless... and well I always wished you dead ever since mom chose you as her favorite but I could use Felix..." He pointed towards the door. "He could use Felix. He'll be my new money maker and with you gone it'll make it a lot easier to deal with him."

I stood still with tears in my eyes. Ben looked up to me and his face softened. "I love you, Felix. I'm so sorry."

Valentino scoffed and cocked the gun. "See you in hell, little brother."

I ran at Valentino but the sound of multiple gunshots went off in my ear.