There is Power in Death

Chapter 23

TW:  Mild panic/anxiety attack, Slight cursing

I wake up from another dreamless sleep. I get off my bed and try to search for the light switch in the dark. The walls are all bare, which is weird considering I have quite a lot of posters that were hanging there yesterday. I can't find a switch or the door. Seeing as it's useless to search more, I decide to go back to sleep. I walk around the room to find my bed, but it's gone too. I start panicking and sit down in the corner of the room.

Where am I? Where is Benji? Where is Al? Why am I alone? I didn't ask for this, so why? Why is this happening to me? I finally convinced myself that I'm okay, so why? I hoped that this would never happen again

I'm trembling and crying now. My thoughts are jumbled and I don't what to do. I don't even know where I am anymore.

"-Lex, Alex! Alex, wake up!"

My eyes flash open and I see Benji hovering over me. My face is wet from tears and I immediately hug them.

"I-it was dark. I-I was alone. I d-didn't know what to do. It was c-cold and empty. I-it felt s-so real." I say through my tears.

"Shh, It's okay. You're okay. I'm here, you don't have to worry."

"H-how did you know?"

"I woke up and started feeling sad. I didn't know why and remembered that I can feel your emotions too. I got worried so I came to check on you. When I came in you were trembling and crying, so I tried to wake you up, which took longer than expected,"  they explain.

I take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. When I'm finally calm, I get up and steady myself. Benji follows me to the kitchen and I check the time while filling up a glass of water. It's seven thirty in the morning. Perfect timing. Maddy and Talan will be here soon to pick us up for work. I go to get Al up as Benji starts making breakfast. 

When I get to Al's room I hear him shuffling around, so I knock on the door.

"Al?"

"Yeah?"

"You should start getting ready. Benji started on breakfast, so it'll be ready soon. Be quick, okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Ow!"

"Ah! What was that?"

"I stubbed my toe on my dresser."

"Jeez, that hurt. Please be more careful, you klutz."

"Yeah, sure. I'll be out soon."

"Okay," I walk back into the kitchen.

"Fuck! That hurt, what did they do?" Benji exclaims in pain.

"Stubbed his toe. It was painful."

I was kind of shocked to hear Benji swear. 

"Well, this has been an eventful morning nonetheless."

"I can't say I disagree."

I smell the bacon and eggs as I sit down on the couch. The plates on the counter are filled with bacon, eggs, and a plate with a waffle and bacon on it. When did Benji find out that I didn't like eggs?

Al comes downstairs and sits down on the recliner. She seems to be in a bad mood this morning, and has bags under their eyes.

"You good? You look tired."

"I couldn't sleep, and felt sad, so I was trying to figure out the reason this time."

"Ah, sorry about that. I had a pretty bad dream, and had a mild panic attack from it."

"Oh? I forgot about that little fact of the link existence."

"Too tired to?"

"Exactly."

Benji brings over the food and sits down beside me.

"So, we have ten minutes to eat before Talan and Maddy get here. Maddy is never late, most of time. Despite having a messy room, she's a stickler for the rules."

Al starts stuffing their face, and I do the same. We finish in the nick of time. We have enough time to put our dishes in the sink before hearing the doorbell ring. 

We rush to the door with our uniforms and M.Is and open it. It's not Talan or Maddy. Instead, it's some sketchy dude in a suit. 

"Um, hello? Who are you?"Benji asks cautiously.

"Are you Benjamin Alenea?"

"No? You must be at the wrong house."

Who is this? How do they know my old name? They think. This is going to take some getting used to.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I am at the correct address. I should introduce myself. My name is Erin, I was sent here by the god Hectie. You three are to come with me to meet their highness in the Underworld. And no, you do not have a choice. Your mentors and boss have already been informed."

"I see. I guess since we don't have a choice, we may as well." Al states, walking up to the limo that's parked behind Erin.

"Please, go in. I will be you chauffeur."

We enter the vehicle and Benji and Al look around in amazement.

"Did you ever ride in one of these?" Al asks me.

"Yes, every time I went out. This and the bodyguards didn't make me look any less discreet. According to my parents, it was the most discreet thing they did."

"You're so lucky!" Benji exclaimed.

"Not really. Imagine having to be surrounded by people every time you step outside. If I ever wanted to take a walk, Julie had to accompany me."

"Oh, him."

"He's the dude that tried killing you, right Benji?"

"Mhm."

"He's also the dude that Alex absolutely annihilated."

"Yep."

"Well, the point is, it's as nice as everybody thinks. The fame was nice for a little, and then I got tired of creeps trying to take my pictures and having to be guarded everywhere I went. Some people might like it, but I was not one of them."

"So how did you kill Julie?"

"Al! Don't ask him that!"

"No, it's fine Benji. Al deserves to know."

I tell them about all the stalking and killing that he had done. I told them about me confronting him. I told them about me killing him and then go to the dream dream a few nights ago.

"That's about it. You two were there when I knocked him out."

"I am deeply sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we have arrived."

Erin opens the door and we step out in front of the castle. It's a beautiful dark marble. I look up the stairs and see a figure walking towards us.

"Hello Alex, Benji, and Alegra. My name is Hectie. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

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