Spy School: last time I fell

Heartbreak shatters ice, it doesn't build it

Bens POV

It was like time had slowed to a torturing crawl. In front of me, Erica's mouth opened, letting out a furious shriek, then she charged at Joshua. But it was too late. Catherine made a grunt of pain and a short gasp for air, then slowly collapsed onto the pavement at Joshua's feet. Next to Mike, Trixie took off after Erica. Suddenly the slow motion seemed to drop away and before I knew it the rest of us were pounding after the Hale girls. Erica reached Catherine's side, seeming oblivious to Joshua. 

"MOM!" She screamed. "WAKE UP!" She lifted Catherines head up onto her lap and searched desperately for the source of the blood that ran down her pale face. Trixie sank to her knees and grabbed Erica, burying her face in her sisters shoulder. It was the most surreal scene I had ever witnessed. Mike and I arrived at where Erica was desperately shaking her mothers limp body, as if she could somehow shake life back into it. Mike dropped to Trixie's side and wrapped his arms around her. I gently placed a shaking hand on Erica's shoulder. She turned to me, her face muddied with emotion. 

"Erica-" I choked. "we need to call someone."

"Where is he?" she asked, trying to calm her trembling voice. "where's Joshua?" I looked up. Sure enough, he was gone. He had slunk away while everyone had been distracted. 

"I don't know." 

"Ben." Erica narrowed her eyes, blinking her tears away. "he killed her- my mother- I don't know what to do- I can't help- fix it- I have to fix this!" With any other circumstances I would have hesitated, but without thinking I drew Erica into a tight hug. I didn't know what to say to her, so instead I buried my face in her shoulder, letting the tears slip out of my eyes and soak through her sleek black jumpsuit. 

"Call Alexander!" I faintly heard Jawa yelling behind us. There were a million noises all around me, but I could barely hear them. The only thing that mattered was Erica. Because I knew that while she was the strongest person physically at Spy School, she was probably the weakest emotionally.