•| Nefarious |•

13

"Shane strangled Ben."

The whole group stopped what they were doing and froze.

"Not with the intent to kill him, but just enough to damage Ben's voice box, because he knew that singing was something precious to Ben."

Aiden continued.

"Afterwards, Ben started spiraling into depression. And then depression turned into rage. When Ben finally went back to school, he confronted the group. But even after he beat the ones who hurt him, he didn't feel better.

"He didn't know what to do.."

Aiden paused and took a breath.

"..to make the anger go away. So he kept picking fights. Even picked up street fighting. He stopped going to school and he'd always come home late.

"His parents didn't know what to do. Ben refused to go to therapy and would sneak out of the house. At some point, a kid he fought turned out to have an older brother that had connections to a gang."

"The gang found where he lived, and well- they ended up having to move. Ben was ashamed of what happened and realized his temper was far out of his control. This was when his parents suggested he come stay with us.

"Since we were always traveling, doing new things, and exploring new places, they thought it would help him find a new meaning in life. Something he loved just as much as signing.

"He agreed to start going to therapy. And so that's how he ended up living with me. His therapist also suggested taking up calm hobbies like gardening and drawing in that notebook he always carries around with him.

"He's calmed down quite a bit, but there are times where something can trigger his anger. Like when he saw Logan and the other guy in the hallway."

"Wait so he can still talk, right? Just not sing."

Tyler finally didn't make a snarky comeback.

"I mean- he can, but he doesn't like hearing his damaged voice. So he chooses to be silent. Ight bud, ya can turn off your music."

Aiden put a hand on Ben's shoulder making him take a earbud out of his ear. The whole table was silent, no one knew what to say after hearing his story. It was heart breaking he never deserved it but the world wasn't really on any of our sides.

"Alright, let's move on then-"

Ashlyn was cut off by Taylor.

"Thanks Ben. For letting Aiden share that with us, I mean. You don't even know us that well, but you felt like we should know as a team. I'm sure it wasn't easy. So, I just wanted to let you know that it was appreciated."

Ben gave a nod his face turning red as he looked down.

"I agree with Taylor. It was really brave of you to let us know so thank you."

I gave him a smile.

"Ah- sorry Ashlyn! I didn't mean to interrupt you."

Taylor rubbed the back of her neck.

"Huh? No it's alright. I also agree that it was considerate of Ben letting us know."

"Me too."

"Yeah."

Logan and Tyler agreed.

"Um...it's a little off topic but I think I have a theory of what happened in Savannah."

Logan started to say.

"Well not exactly 'what happened' but how we went from Savannah, Georgia, all the way back here to Alto, Georgia on the second night."

"That's something we've been stuck on for a while."

I picked at my food.

"Okay so what's your theory."

Tyler looked towards Logan.

"Well because of how our injuries work in relation to each dimension, I think the bodies we use here and use in the phantom dimension are separate but also...connected.

"So, if they are connected in a way what if there's a distance limit? If you travel too far from one body, then the other resets its position instead of going back where we were previously."

"That would make sense...so the question is 'how far' is the distance limit? And if we traveled too far in the phantom dimension, would our bodies here also change?"

Ashlyn asked the group. Ashlyn and Logan kept discussing the topic till Aiden slammed his head onto the table.

"I get that learning about the dimension is important and stuff, but can we talk about something more exciting?"

Tyler stood up ready to slap him before I pulled him down.

"Don't."

"What do you think about asking my parents to teach us self-defense?"

Ashlyn asked Aiden.

"Really?! Ah wait- your hair!"

Aiden grabbed her shoulders.

"He has a good point, if we show your parents your shadow that would be proof of what's happening to us."

I said to the group.

"Wow he doesn't have a brain. Who knew?"

Tyler rested his face on his hand.

"Ohhh!"

Taylor perked up, we agreed to go to Ashlyn's house after school to discuss the matter.

I was currently on my bike making my way to her house. I saw it in the distance and noticed I was the last to arrive.

"Tsk tsk you guys shoulder really use helmets."

Aiden said as I placed my bike on the ground.

"Oh like you would."

Tyler rolled his eyes as I caught up with the group. We all walked into the house as Ashlyn yelled for her parents.

"Could you walk any slower?"

Tyler asked Aiden as he started to slow down on purpose, I pushed him a bit making him move as he laughed.

Ashlyn went to the kitchen where her parents as all of us sat down onto the couch. I sat on the ground in front of Tyler since the couch was filled from the others. They arrived into the room with a tray full of snacks and set it up on the coffee table.

Aiden grabbed snacks and shoved them in his mouth as he chewed with his mouth opened. We all gave him disgusting looks as he let out a loud burp.

"Dude."

Tyler crossed his arms and gave him a disgusted look.

"So...what did you kids want to talk about?"

Ashlyn's parents said looking at Aiden with a horrid look.