Nos Ascendemus

19

"Baby?! Baby?!"

Inside Benjamin's mind was an absolute warzone, his unconscious body would flinch as if he was seeing things that terrified him. Sat by his side for the past few hours were his wife and his best friend, one of them had a possible idea of what caused this.

They worriedly watched over him, feeling absolutely helpless and all they could do is hope that he would wake up soon. Every few seconds, his body would jerk and it would cause the two (2) of them to jump as well.

They thought that he would wake up with all the jerking movements he was making, but it seemed to them that he was somewhere else.

Back the blonde man's mind, he was being transported back into his childhood days where his mental trauma began. He never saw this day coming and when he did, it flew past him like a freight train.

It was too late when he fully was able to grasp an understanding of it, his childlike mind had already succumbed to the madness.

In his memories, he could see her face so clearly, a person who he had not thought about in over thirteen (13) years. Her name was still fresh in his mind, Harper Lin and she was his childhood crush, but also his close friend.

Her parents had moved in across the street from his home when he was seven (7) years old and the two (2) kids hit it off perfectly. Back then Benjamin was not aware of her parent's occupation and the dangers that came with it till that faithful day.

They used to hang out every single day with Elias and it became a routine like clockwork. Then one day, she was just gone. Her parents were still there, but Harper or 'Harp' was nowhere to be seen and when he asked his mum, they had to sit him down for it.

"Sweetheart, this is going to be hard for your father and me to say, but Harper was reported missing yesterday night. One of the neighbours heard her screaming and saw a glimpse of what may have happened. The police believe she may have been kidnapped because of her parents, as there was a note left at where she was taken."

He could still remember how his heart dropped and shattered into a million pieces all over the floor. His mind could not process what his mother had said, all he could do was start to scream, "NO! NO NO!"

His parents grabbed him, embraced his small body, whispering that they were so sorry and that they will contact the club to see what they could do. The three (3) of them sat there at the kitchen table for a couple (2) of hours.

Young Benjamin's body was still shaking slightly, but he remembered pulling away from his parents and looked up at them. He asked them what else did they know about her disappearance.

Sighing, his dad ran his large hands over his face and held his son's small hands. Looking into his eyes, he searched for any hints of wanting to back out and not know anymore. However, all he could see was determination and sadness in the young boy's blue eyes.

"Son, the note demanded that her parents paid over five hundred thousand (500,000) dollars in cash for her safe return. The horrible thing is though, the Lin's have refused to pay them and they only have four (4) days left. The kidnappers gave them a deadline."

"Why can't we pay them!?"

"We've tried, but whoever it is, they refuse to let anyone else but her parents pay the ransom, sweetheart."

Benjamin could remember his face scrunched up in anger and he remembers slamming his little chubby hands on the table. He screamed so loudly, as he let out all of his frustration and pain.

After that night, the whole neighbourhood was on edge beside Harper's parents, who did not seem to care at all about their missing daughter. Then the fourth (4th) day came and everyone was in shock.

The body of a young Asian female was reportedly found in the middle of the street, right in front of the Lin's household. It would quickly be identified as their missing daughter, but what was the most upsetting part was that Benjamin and his parents saw her body before the cops arrived.

The image would forever be etched into his mind for the rest of his life. Her normally bright green eyes were now dull and lifeless, her once lightly tanned skin was now a greyish colour.

Her body was marred with several deep and shallow lacerations all over. There was not one part of her that was not marked with a bloody or scarring wound. The thing that ultimately shattered Benjamin was her throat was slashed so deeply, it was almost completely severed.

The icing on the cake was that her parents took one look at her body and walked away without a care in the world. That same day, they packed their bags and moved out of the neighbourhood, never to be seen again.

After that, the young blonde spiralled into a long hole of depression and post-traumatic stress (PSTD). He was constantly lost in his mind and would not answer when anyone tried to call him to get his attention.

He refused to eat, drink or shower unless they forced him too. Then one day, Elias had come over to the Nilsson's house to check on his best friend and when he entered the older boy's room, he screamed.

Benjamin was standing on the ledge of his window and was starting to lean forward to fall. He was attempting to commit suicide. However, with quick thinking, the brunette launched himself forward and pulled him back.

As he felt his little body being pulled back, his eyes flew open and he straight up out of the hospital bed. This quick movement startled Serah and Elias, who soon shook themselves out of their stupor.

They were so happy that he was awake, as the two (2) went to hug him, Benjamin slid out of the bed and walked out of the room without a word. This confused and saddened the pair.

The blonde man quickly weaved his way out of the club's medical centre and back into the large castle. He went into the elevator and straight to his wing that he shared with his wife. Entering, he immediately made his way up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Grabbing a duffle bag, he threw in a few sets of clothing as well as some cash. Going back down the stairs, he tore a piece of paper from a notepad and scribbled down a quick note. Slapping it onto the counter, he walked out of the home.

Serah and Elias had just gotten up to their shared floor, hoping to find the blonde man and ask him what was going on. Sadly, however, they were met by a quiet and empty home. As they were about to run out, a piece of paper caught the strawberry blonde's eye.

Picking it up, she and Elias both read it.

It read, 'Serah, I will be back, but I needed to leave. I love you and the twins. I am sorry.'