White︱BenEarth AU

16

"I don't understand."

Ben mumbled out as he looked through some security tapes, seeing Earth being strapped on a chair, dry tears staining his face while seeming to be asleep.

"Of course you don't." Dome said, standing right next to Ben. "This is not normal schizophrenia your friend is dealing with. That's why we are doing these tests, because we don't know what this is either."

Through the cameras, Earth looked so weak and fragile. Ben couldn't even imagine what he was going through right now, in a space like that, all alone with the demons his mind created.

"The things he sees, are real."

Ben frowned, turning to look at Dome questionably. "No, that's not true. He visited one patient at his old hospital, the patient didn't exist." 

"Sure, but whatever that was, were the effects of his schizophrenia. The normal stages of it, this is something way more interesting." Dome took out a yellow file and opened it to the table in front of Ben. "He's been reported to be seeing a clown, the same clown every time - according to the description - which follows by a moment of memory loss. This clown he sees, was real. He lived in 1840, and look at this photo right here."

Ben pulled the photo near his face. It was certainly old and had lived through a test of time. The corners looked like they were burned, and the whole picture looked like it was taken through a cloud of dust. He saw something, near the said clown guy that was dressed in striped clothing. A young boy, wearing all white. 

He could see the resemblance. "But that's... him. That's Earth."

"Yes, but no." Dome took out a newspaper with an even larger picture of the boy. "That boy was killed a few days after that photo was taken. He was murdered, by the guy in that clown costume."

"This doesn't make any sense, can you please elaborate."

"It seems as if Earth has the memories of this kid. And since they look similar, it's fair to think that they're somehow related."

"So, are you suggesting a shared psychotic disorder?" 

"No, the two people need to be in a close relationship for that. That can't be the case." Dome said and closed the files. "That's why we need the tests, to figure out what this thing is and how to cure it. Hence why we need to see what he sees."

Ben glanced at the cameras. "I want to see him."

"That's not wise." Dome said sternly. "He's more vulnerable on his own, thinking he's alone. We can get better visions and reactions from him."

"Yeah well I don't care. I want to see him."

"No."

Ben took a deep breath and crossed his arms. "Name your price." He hoped Dome would not gave him a price that included money, since he had none, but he would do something, just anything to see Earth, make him calm.

Protect him.

"Do a job for me." Dome said after thinking for a while. A short while. "You can go to him, but you need to tell him that you can never see him again, and that you will be leaving him alone."

"What?!" 

Dome shrugged. "It's for the experiment. Once that's over, you can see him again, but he needs to think that he lost you. I want to see his reaction to that, and maybe we can make some progress."

Ben felt his chest tightening. He hated the idea of doing something so cruel to Earth, the innocent boy that didn't know anything about this. It made him wonder again, why people like him were made to suffer, without an explanation. It was unfair.

"Can I think for a little while."

"Sure, but don't take too long."