The Silent War

Chapter Six

Nancy ran over with Josh, closely followed by Rochelle and a nearby Super who had been watching from his balcony. Nancy skidded to the ground and held Ben's head in her hands, brushing his hair from his brow trying to wake him, as he lay there motionless.

'Ben! Ben, honey wake up! Benjamin please, please get up baby, it's Mom.' She turned around frantically until she saw Rochelle, her eye contact prompting her to scream desperately for the Healer to bring her son back. 'Rochelle! Rochelle, do something! Please, oh God please, do something...'

Her voice began to break as she broke down and sobbed, still stroking Ben's face. Josh knelt beside her, resting his head on her back as she remained hunched over her eldest son.

Sobs and screams were coming from nearby Supers who had witnessed the event. Noises, echoing around the grounds, eventually fading out as I chose to hear nothing, except my own muffled shrills as I closed my eyes and stayed with Ben. I wished so badly that I had of forgiven him this morning and stayed. If I hadn't tried to get out of Serenis, none of this would have happened. I held onto his shirt, gripping it for dear life, fearing someone would try and pry me away from him. My Ben, my perfect Ben who did nothing but protect me, was gone and I was left with half a heart that was already aching for him.

I pressed my face into the familiar dent of his chest, my eyes closed but tears still streamed down my face as I replayed the images and dreams I'd held in my head for so long. Years of daydreams playing like a movie, of Ben and my wedding, our house, our kids, our life that before today I would have sold my own soul for. My head began to lightly throb as the images flooded my mind, taking me to a nicer place, a future with the man I loved. The throbbing in my head grew heavier and louder until I realized it wasn't coming from me, but instead from Ben. His heart was beating and slowly getting stronger. I pushed myself up quickly and stared down at his chest, trying to see if he was breathing. Ry reached down and wrapped his hand around my arm, gently pulling me away as Rochelle lent over Nancy, comforting her as she gestured for Tobias and Jay to come and help move Ben's body from the grounds. I pushed Ry away. 'Stop! Stop! Nancy, he's alive. Ben! Ben, wake up!'

Ry quickly released me as I felt Ben's chest frantically for a heartbeat. Nancy looked at me with wounded hope. 'Evie....'

'No! I felt it, I heard it! It's just like Thimble, I brought him back, and I think I did the same for Ben.' I gripped Ben's hand, kissing it as I focused intently on his face desperately wanting to see the signs of life I had heard. 'Ben please, please, please. I know you're alive; please wake up.'

We all watched on, the intense energy from the nearby onlookers abruptly changing as Josh's voice squealed with excitement. 'He moved! He's waking up!'

Instant relief hit me, feeling like a punch to the stomach, banishing the dread I'd felt moments before as I felt Ben's hand lightly squeeze mine as his eyes began to open slowly. 'Evie?

I forced my words over sobs, holding Ben's hand to my face to once again feel his touch. 'Ben I am s...s..so sorry. I didn't mean to do it, I, ...I'm sorry.'

Ben lightly smiled. 'I will never fight with you again Evie Jennings. You play dirty.'

I broke down and buried my face into my hands. 'Don't joke about it. I can't believe I nearly lost you.'

He slowly sat up with the help of strong hands from Jay-Ry, Nancy lunging at him, cradling his head to her shoulder as she struggled to get her words out. 'Sweetheart...I thought....Just... Don't do that again understand? Next time, just... You scared me, honey.'

Ben gripped his mother's arm as she wiped away tears of joy. 'I know Mom, I know.' She released him, standing to comfort Josh who was still in shock from almost losing his big brother.