Ben Drowned sat cross-legged on the damp wooden floor of the abandoned house, his yellow eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of decay, mingling with the lingering aura of malevolent energy. Shadows clung to the corners of the room, heavy with a presence that refused to be ignored.
A faint sound, like the whisper of a blade sliding from its sheath, broke the silence. Ben tensed, his glowing eyes narrowing as he turned towards the darkness pooling near the far wall.
"You can come out now," Ben said, his voice carrying a mix of irritation and boredom. "I know you're there."
A low, guttural chuckle filled the room, sending a shiver down Ben's spine. The darkness seemed to swell, coalescing into a form that stepped forward with deliberate slowness. Eyeless Jack emerged from the shadows, his face obscured by a dark mask, the hollow sockets where his eyes should be gleaming with an unnatural hunger.
"Ben," Jack's voice was a raspy whisper, like dried leaves crumbling underfoot. "It's been a while."
Ben's expression remained indifferent, though his eyes narrowed. He didn't trust Jack—he never had. There was something about the way the creature moved, the way he spoke, that set Ben on edge. Jack wasn't like the others. He was different. More dangerous.
"What do you want, Jack?" Ben asked, his voice sharp.
Jack's head tilted slightly, as if contemplating how much to reveal. "I need your body," he said, his voice devoid of any pretense.
Ben raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And why would I give you that?"
Jack's silence was unsettling. He stepped closer, the air around him growing colder, the darkness deepening. "Because it's already mine."
Ben's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, hard stare. "I'm not yours, Jack. I don't belong to anyone."
Jack circled him, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "You've been using the same shell for years, Ben. The same broken, cursed body. But it's deteriorating, isn't it? I can smell the decay."
Ben's fists clenched, but he kept his voice steady. "I can take care of myself."
Jack stopped in front of him, towering over Ben despite their similar heights. "You're not the only one trapped in this existence, Ben. But unlike you, I've found a way to survive. To thrive."
Ben looked up at him, his eyes glowing brighter with defiance. "And you think I'll just hand myself over to you?"
Jack leaned in closer, his mask mere inches from Ben's face. "You don't have a choice."
Ben pushed himself to his feet, shoving Jack back with a surprising burst of strength. "I always have a choice, Jack. And I'm choosing to walk away."
Jack stumbled slightly, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "Don't be foolish, Ben. You need me."
"I don't need anyone!" Ben snapped, his voice echoing through the empty house. "Especially not someone like you."
Jack's expression darkened, the shadows around him growing thicker, more oppressive. "You don't understand what's at stake."
Ben's gaze never wavered. "I understand perfectly. You're just like the others, Jack. You think you can control me, use me. But you're wrong."
Jack's hand shot out, grabbing Ben by the throat with inhuman speed. The room seemed to tilt, the shadows closing in like a vice. "You're not in control, Ben. You never were."
Ben gasped, his hands clawing at Jack's grip, but the other's strength was overwhelming, a reminder of the power he wielded. For a moment, panic flared in Ben's chest, a primal fear that he hadn't felt in years.
But then, something inside him snapped. A cold, icy determination replaced the fear, and Ben's eyes flared with a bright, searing light. He reached deep within himself, tapping into the dark, cursed energy that had bound him to this existence.
The air around them crackled with electricity as Ben unleashed a surge of power, breaking Jack's hold and sending him stumbling back. Ben's body was enveloped in a flickering, golden aura, the light pushing back the shadows that clung to the room.
"I told you," Ben said, his voice cold and resolute. "I'm not yours. And I never will be."
Jack straightened, his expression unreadable behind the mask, but Ben could sense the anger simmering beneath the surface. "You're stronger than I thought. But this isn't over, Ben."
With that, Jack melted back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had come. The room fell silent once more, the oppressive darkness lifting slightly as Ben's light faded.
Ben stood alone, his chest heaving as the adrenaline slowly drained from his system. He knew Jack would be back. He always came back. But Ben had made his decision.
He would never let himself be controlled again. Not by Jack, not by anyone.
He was free.
And he intended to keep it that way.
Suddenly, the door to the abandoned house creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside. The air in the room shifted, carrying with it a presence that was both unsettling and comforting. Jeff the Killer entered, his white, grinning face hidden beneath his hood, the soft glow from his pale skin cutting through the lingering darkness.
"Ben," Jeff's voice was low, laced with concern. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the remnants of the encounter that had just transpired. His gaze settled on Ben, lingering on the fresh bruises around his throat. "What happened?"
Ben turned to face Jeff, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing at the sight of his boyfriend. But the relief was short-lived. Jeff's eyes narrowed as he noticed the way the shadows still seemed to cling to Ben, a lingering presence that hadn't fully dissipated.
"Jack," Ben said, his voice strained. "He was here."
Jeff's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "What did he want?"
Ben hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. He didn't want to worry Jeff, but he knew there was no hiding the truth. "He wants my body. He thinks he can use it to... survive. To become stronger."
Jeff's jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with anger. "That bastard. He's not taking anything from you."
"I told him no," Ben said quickly, stepping closer to Jeff. "I told him I'm not his. That I'm not anyone's."
Jeff's expression softened slightly, but the anger in his eyes remained. He reached out, his gloved hand gently cupping Ben's cheek. "You're right. You don't belong to anyone. But that doesn't mean you're alone."
Ben leaned into Jeff's touch, the warmth of his hand grounding him. "I know. But he's not going to give up, Jeff. He'll come back."
"Then we'll be ready," Jeff said, his voice firm. "He won't get near you again. I'll make sure of it."
Ben nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm glad you're here."
"Always," Jeff murmured, pulling Ben into a protective embrace. "And I'll be damned if I let that monster take you away from me."
As they stood together in the dim light of the abandoned house, the shadows seemed to recede further, driven back by the strength of their resolve. Ben knew the fight wasn't over, that Jack would return. But for now, he was safe in Jeff's arms, and that was enough.
Together, they would face whatever came next. And together, they would make sure that Ben stayed free.
