Empathy [Ben Hargreeves]

Episode Six. Part I.

"The Day that Wasn't"

Eloise knew that she should have gone back home like she wanted to, but Allison had insisted that Elle stay at the Academy while she was recovering from both the car crash and previous concussion.

"Eloise?" Luther knocked on his pathokinetic sister's closed bedroom door after not seeing her for several hours. "Elle?" There was no response, so he let himself in with a twinge of worry about what he might find. Elle wasn't allowed to be on her own for long periods of time when they were younger for good reason.

The room was quiet and empty with no sign that Elle had even slept on her made-up bed when they returned the night before. Hesitating for only a moment, Luther turned and went one room over to knock on Ben's closed door. "Eloise?"

"Go away!" Her voice was laced with tears, much to her dismay.

"Elle, I'm sorry, but it's important." Luther spoke through the door so his voice was slightly muffled. "We're having a family meeting in the living room as soon as you and Klaus come down."

"I'm busy." Elle sniffled and hugged Ben's blanket to her chin. She was tucked into his twin bed with tears streaming down her face. If she inhaled deep enough, she could still smell his fresh minty scent on the pillowcases.

The wooden door swung open without Elle's permission. The hall light in the dim bedroom made Elle squint her pale blue-grey eyes at Luther. She had been hiding and crying in Ben's dark room all night. "The world's ending in three days," he informed her. "Meet me downstairs."

Elle blinked slowly at her Hulk-sized brother. The world had survived beyond December 21, 2012 when life was supposed to end as the Mayan calendar predicted. Why was April 1, 2019, the new date for the end of the world?

Luther read her look of confusion. "I'll explain downstairs, come on." He pulled out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and moved into the room to hand it to her.

Elle sat up in the bed with the blankets pooled around her legs. She mumbled a small "merci" and used the hankie to wipe her wet cheeks.

Luther eyed her with concern. There were questions that he wanted to ask and questions that he was trained to ask. He sighed and rubbed his chin.

"I'll be down in a minute," Elle told Luther quickly before he could start prying, or worse, lecturing her.

He nodded before heading out. "Don't take long, or I'll send Diego to retrieve you," he added and left the door open.

Elle forced herself to her feet. She pulled on a hoodie before leaving Ben's room. She ended up colliding with Klaus coming out of the bathroom when she was on her way in. She avoided his gaze and pushed past him.

"Hey, hey, darling." Klaus caught her arm. Klaus and Elle were in a weird place, but they still cared about each. He was worried about her puffy red eyes. "Who made you cry?"