A Web of Spider Bites

Chapter 16

Bell must have sobbed for at least an hour but Ben didn't mind and Bell was too worked up to feel weak. Bell felt safe in someone's arms, she felt loved: wanted, she felt..... at home. It's been a while since she had contact from someone like this; it feels like a life time before she actually felt love. Bell doesn't even know why she's crying; she knows her Mum is still under there and not dead, she knows her Mum will help her out. She doesn't know why, though. She doesn't know what would possess her Mum to find her let alone help her go back to the house. So why is Bell crying? Maybe she's been strong for too long, maybe she's reaching breaking point. She doesn't know, but Ben thinks he does. He thinks it's because she lost her Mum. Despite the last few years the relationship of her mother and Bell has gone downhill but there is some good before the family split. The memories that little girls have with their Mum's of going to the park, going shopping and looking through the Mums make up to see if they can steal anything.

As Ben holds Bell in his arms, he feels sorry for Bell and guilty. Why did he have to take away a child from their Mum before they fixed the relationship? The irony of it all is Ben thought Bell would be an easy target because she's from a broken home but she turned out to be extremely difficult. Just shows how good people are about hiding what they feel.

Hiding your emotion can be a vicious circle for a number of reasons but the one people forget about is how the victim sees, mentally. They know they have their own problems and they also know they can cover it all up, which makes the think "what if others are doing the same?" this then makes them believe they shouldn't open up; my problems won't be as big as theirs, they're not important they think. Most people don't see this as a reason but for most people it's the biggest reason for not opening up.

Ben looks down at the beautiful mess underneath him and, in a moment of weakness, he kisses her forehead. He knows that, now, people know her Mum's dead and they will notice Bell isn't home. They will start looking for her. As he kisses Bells forehead he starts to think, what's the point in breaking a broken girl? What's the need? There isn't any.

Just like the break of a magic spell, Bell calms down after the kiss. Her breathing calms down and she opens her eyes and comes back to normality. She looks around for a moment, like she has forgotten where she is. She blinks a few times to adjust to the light, even though the basement is dark, closing your eyes tightly is darker. She is still shaking in Ben's arms but Ben doesn't mind, he simply watches her. Bell looks down and sees Ben's arms, she doesn't care either; she's numb now. Nothing will make her feel anything. She lays her head back onto Ben's chest and closes her eyes again: feeling at peace.

"Are you feeling better.... At all?" Ben asks daringly as he tests the waters.

Bell doesn't say anything at first; she doesn't know what to say. What is there to say? My Mum isn't dead she hiding around there?

"I need to get you something to eat, Bell" Ben whispers.

Once again Bell doesn't answer.

Ben reaches over and unchains her, the chains fall to the ground so fast it looks like they don't want to be used anymore; they're upset about holding this poor girl down. Ben then picks up Bell bridle style and walks up the screaming stairs, Bell must be numb because she doesn't realise that she's leaving her Mum alone in the basement. Maybe she'll get a taste of her own medicine.

What are you doing?

You're meant to hurt her not look after her.

Her Mum has just died, use this, use this!

The voice in Ben's head just gets louder but he manages to block it out somehow. He doesn't feel the need to hurt anyone or anything, he doesn't see why, he doesn't want to feel powerful. He has a girl in his arms that is shattered and has gone through enough; he doesn't need to add anything else to her list.

I don't need you anymore

You're not going to control me anymore

Ben fights back, luckily, to no reply. Ben smiles to himself as he puts Bell down on his bed, he may have just beaten his mind: the one that's meant to never turn against you. Ben goes back to lock the door to his room as he remembers when Bell tried to escape. Admittedly, he doesn't think that Bell will run but the trust is hard to get with a circumstance like this.

"Bell" Ben whispers "You don't have to go down to the basement again"