Nine

He seemed nice enough. He sighed, took out a bottle of water and two tablets. “Take some painkillers, they’ll help.”

I was about to protest when he gave me a firm look. “Don’t offer resistance.”

This time I held out my hand. He made sure not to touch me as he gave me the pills and then handed me some water. “Thanks.” I said.

He frowned. “Get better, no?”

I didn’t know what to say. He was making an effort to be nice as though it was something he had to do against his free will. I watched him disappear behind the door. My head felt better already and the pills I’d just swallowed had nothing to do with it.

I gathered my things and walked to the gates. Benjamin was leaning against the passenger door of a navy Volvo, waiting for me with a smile. I tried to smile back but failed.

“I’ll drop you off.”

“I’m more comfortable walking.” I didn’t trust him.

“You look distracted,” He observed. “Tell me... you can trust me with your life.”

“You’re the last guy I’d voucher with my life, let alone trust.” I forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

“Are you ready to sign?”

“I still need to wrap my head around this,” Suddenly my headache was coming back. I tried not to panic as I focused on breathing, my heartbeat kicked to overdrive. He nodded. I had to wonder why he was so patient, if this wasn’t some sort of a nightmare.

When I arrived home, mom was in the shower, I started on dinner. I was slicing the onion when Janice came out of the bathroom.

“I made some more money today”

“We don’t need the money,” She reminded me, “Your brother is back home.”

“How is he?”

She sighed in despair; her eyes glistened with a thick layer of unshed tears. “He complained about a headache just before you came home and then fainted.” My mother never knew how to show emotion. As I looked at her I couldn't tell whether she was worried or just merely confused.

“No no.” I cried as I ran up the stairs into the bedroom.

Zack smiled the second he saw me. His blue eyes pale.

“Hey buddy.” I enveloped him in a tight hug.

“It hurts.” He flinched. “My head,”

“I’ll bring you some soup, okay?” his eyes were swollen.

“No,” he began to cry. “I don’t want to go back to the hospital.” He begged. “Don’t let mommy take me back, please.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise?” His big eyes watery.

“I promise buddy,” I assured him. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Don’t leave me.” He mumbled when I got up.

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

“No I want to go play outside.”

“But your head...”

“It’s gone now.”

I frowned. “Buddy, you can be honest with me.”

He closed his eyes tightly together and leaned further against the pillow.

"I'm scared." He admitted sheepishly. “I can’t feel my legs.” His voice dropped a tone and his eyes immediately became red.

“What?” I was confused. What was wrong with him?

“Spiders!” he screamed, as he crawled backwards towards the headboard. His blue eyes diluted as a thunder of fear crossed past them. His body was shaking and he kept staring at something that seemed to really spook him. I followed his gaze to the wall but couldn’t see anything.

“Zack, baby, there’s nothing there.” I cooed. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“Kill them,” He bellowed tearfully. “They’re crawling all over the bed.” He was in a ball now. His hands were desperately waving side to side as though he was trying to scare the spiders away.

“But...”

“Blood! Blood... there’s so much blood on the floor.” His voice sounded alien now as though he had been singing the whole night. He jumped to his feet and as I stared in shock I saw very clearly as a shiver of terror rocked his body and it took only a second for the tears to fall. I couldn't help but feel helpless. I didn't know what to do as I continued to watch my younger brother have a panic attack. He was so horrified and his trembling body robbed off on me. I was frightened too by the unknown.

“What?” I was about to reassure him that he was safe when I saw Benjamin. The room suddenly charged with a sense of anger, malice and danger. It felt as if a volcano was brewing to explode in the small of my bedroom. The air was suddenly hot and a dagger of chill stabbed through my body. Grey shadows seemed to be dancing around Benjamin. As I stepped forward to launch myself at my brother, the air around Benjamin flickered with dark red sparks. His eyes were gleaming black and as he lifted up his unusually long arms towards my brother. I crawled back in fear and a noise so horrifyingly scary that I jumped in surprise and then froze in shock filled the room. It took me a second to realise that it was me. I was screaming. And then he was gone. And a deafening silence sounded across the suddenly too big room.

This was a warning I realised. I needed to find Benjamin. He was doing this – controlling me, forcing me to sign his contract. I had to do it. For Zack. I wished I could take the pain away. He was too young.

It was hours before I could calm Zack long enough for sleep to take him over. He fell asleep in my arms and I went back downstairs to finish making dinner.

“Can I help with anything?” Mom asked.

I shook my head. I had to wonder why she didn't go to my bedroom. Didn't she hear our screams? Didn't we mean anything to her?

I finished cutting the onions and heat some oil.

“Your brother started bleeding, there was so much blood, I thought I was going to lose him, but the second we got to the hospital the bleeding stopped, the doctors said there was nothing wrong with him.” She shook her head, her features twisting with pain, her eyes abnormally large, frightened, and horrified as she pulled a chair and dropped heavily onto it. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Her voice shook nervously. She seemed scared and her hands trembled.

“Was he sick?” I was confused.

“Yes…no,” she looked tired. “I don’t know.”

“Will he be alright?”

“I thought...” She shuddered.

“Don’t do that to yourself mom. He’s a fighter. We’ll get through this”

She shook her head. “No, that’s not it. Don’t you find this all strange? He was very sick a week ago and now he’s suddenly fine.”

“Mm,"

“So you don’t think the doctors have lost hope and they don’t want to tell us that Zack’s dying much sooner than originally assumed?”

I shook my head my chest tightening at the painful thought of losing Zack. I swallowed my uncertainty. I had to put on a brave face for mom’s benefit. We had to be strong for Zack. My fear would have to wait. For the moment I had to believe he was going to pull through. My faith could save him.

"Can we talk about something else... Please." I asked Janice.

It was very quiet for over an hour as we both entertained our own thoughts. Both lost in worlds far from the one we know. We'd steal glances at each other and look away guiltily. It was an awkward moment but we both had nothing to say to each other and then I walked towards her and suddenly blew my breath on her face.

She moved back and frowned looking at me like I'd grown a third eye.

"Does my breath stink?"

She shook her head, her frown deepening. "What? No. Why would you ask?"

I hesitated for a second and finally mumbled a horrible lie. "Some kid at school... Eer ... Um smells so bad we have to cover our nose when he speaks. So, yeah. Kid at school. Um... That's it."

Janice rolled her eyes. Of course she knew I was lying. “Mrs. Boyle says his son can’t stop talking about you.” She forced a smile, changing the subject “she walks the dogs from across the road each morning.”

“Benjamin.”

“Yes, yes, that’s her adopted son,” She massaged her temples. “I think he’s going to ask you out on a date soon.”