The blade was stuck in his stomach all the way to the handle. He could feel the tip right against the skin on his back, and it scraped against him with every breath. It almost tickled, but if he thought about it for too long, he wanted to scream.
A body fell hard against him, and he jolted in pain, falling back onto his elbows. The knife jostled within him, making him groan and curl his toes. He blinked a few times before noticing it was the dead body of Charlie. Blood ran down his shirt, and he felt the uncomfortable warmth seep through the fabric and onto his skin.
The body was soon pried off him, a gross thump sounding as he fell to the ground beside him.
A smaller body slipped under him. It was probably Gabrielle, though he could barely see anything now. She stayed there and whispered things to him before raising her voice to talk to Ewan.
"We need to go to the hospital," she demanded. Her voice echoed and he licked his lips, as they were getting very... very dry.
Ben opened his mouth to tell her to calm down, but he was silenced by the overflow of a metallic taste in his mouth. That, and the feeling that doing anything but breathing was impossible. A common feeling at this point.
"A hospital?" Ewan hissed.
"Yes," replied Gabrielle, "a hospital. A place where people are healed of wounds like this."
"No, I meant, why would we bring him to a hospital? He's bleeding out from a knife wound - what the Hell are we going to tell them? He tripped?"
"We will tell him he got stabbed!"
"And then they'll wonder who stabbed him, Gabrielle," Ewan seethed.
"And then Charlie will go to jail! All of our problems are solved."
"Charlie's dead," Ewan growled. "We have to find a black market surgeon who'll do it for us for a lot of money."
"Where did that idea come from?"
"... Hell?"
They were both very angry and Ben didn't understand it. He didn't have the energy to open his eyes or even make noises with his mouth - it all just hurt too badly. His body felt submerged under water, and he was too weak to get to the surface. Any effort to talk resulted in a mouthful of blood. Or maybe it was salt water.
Maybe he really was under water.
"What about Charlie, then?" Gabrielle asked. "He- He's dead, o-over there."
"No shit," Ewan snapped. "We'll just have to get him over to - did you drive here? We could - can we use that?"
"For what?"
"Getting the Hell out of here," Ewan growled. "I'll take Ben, Elizabeth can get Charlie."
There was hesitance - a pause in which Ben thought perhaps this was what death felt like, in which Ben thought he was going to Hell then and there, in which he could feel nothing at all -
- and then there was a pair of lips on his own. His eyes flew open to find Gabrielle leaned over him, eyes shut tightly with tears brimming.
She was terrified. And she was kissing him. And Ewan was watching. And she was gone... and Ewan was holding him up, and Ben was closing his eyes because if he died now, it wouldn't matter...
"Ben," whispered Ewan. The other's shaky hand ran through his hair, pushing it back.
Weakly, Ben opened his eyes and glanced up to find the other.
"Ben, I need you to stay awake," he said firmly. "Just breathe. Or whatever you need to do. Alright? Stay with me. Stay awake."
And then Ben's body was lifted off the ground. He gasped, the knife scraping his skin as Ewan began walking, carrying him somewhere else. It didn't take long for him to be laid across the back seat of something very comfortable, yet Ben still groaned in pain.
Breathing hurt. He held his breath but it was no use. Pain surged through him regardless, and he considered giving up. He was going to Hell anyway... why not head on down there?
A smack woke him up, making him gasp in pain.
"Drive!" Ewan yelled to the front seat.
"I don't know how to drive, dumbass," snapped an American voice. Ben's eyes rolled to the side to find Gabrielle turned around in her seat, a much more confident look in her eyes. "We can do it here."
"Do what here? He's dying - I'm a demon, I can't help someone. My powers are specifically made for torture."
The girl rolled her eyes. Her attitude was a very big contrast from Ewan's, who was practically trembling under Ben. "I know that. But the new Enchantment - the one Ben has - it's got a healing factor. Just take the knife out-"
"The powers on the new Enchantment burned Charlie's hand, Elizabeth, I'm not sure it's got a good healing factor."
"Because he was going to Hell - just do what I said!"
There was a shift, and Ben opened his eyes to find Elizabeth sitting on the floor beside him, Ewan still holding him up from behind. Strong arms wrapped around him, reaching for the knife.
"This is going to hurt and I'm so sorry," warned Ewan.
He pulled the knife out, making Ben groan in pain. He panted heavily, blood gushing down his side. It still felt like the knife was in him but now it was colder and it hurt worse. He squeezed his eyes shut, gasping for breath.
"Okay," said Elizabeth, "Ben?"
Ben grit his teeth, feeling a lump in his throat. Everything just ached and he didn't know if he could pay attention.
She grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Ben, listen. Put your hand on your wound."
He couldn't. He really just couldn't. He couldn't even really understand what she was saying.
The girl seized his hand in a grip that drew his attention, slamming his hand on the wound. He wheezed, coughing out more blood. It spilled down his chin, dribbling down his neck.
"Now focus on living, dumbass," she commanded. Her voice was tinged with panic and frustration. "Just - all you need to think about is living right now. About your wound fixing itself. About your body fixing itself."
Soon it felt like there was a cold plate against his wound. He opened his eyes weakly to find the shield from before, but now it was white. And rather than burning his skin, he felt his skin begin to mend itself. Somehow it was coming together like someone was... un-cutting paper.
And it hurt like a bitch. He could feel every cell, every molecule reforming and it felt like his skin was stretching and it itched like all Hell.
Soon, then, it was healed, leaving Ben utterly exhausted and light-headed. A headache was in the back of his skull, pounding and relentless, making him feel like his head was going to explode.
"How did that work?" Ewan asked though he sounded like he was underwater.
"... mortals going to Hell... Ben... not sure..."
All the sounds faded. Ben drifted into a deep, harmless sleep.
"He's waking up! Hey, get over here!"
Ben pried his eyes open to find three people standing around him, hovering like hawks - vultures, better yet. But once his vision focused, he realized they were more like concerned parrots.
Bad analogy...
Ezra, Gabrielle, and Ewan all stood around his bed. They all took on a look of relief when Ben sat himself up, a little cold but relatively fine for having just been stabbed. And his head hurt and his tongue felt like sandpaper.
As his eyes darted around, he found a balloon in Ezra's hand. It read 'Get better soon dummy' with an elbow wrapped in bandages. Probably a balloon for children with broken arms.
"How do you feel?" asked Gabrielle, putting a hand to his forehead. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him with her big black eyes and concern.
Weakly, Ben's head fell back when Gabrielle applied gentle pressure.
"I'm alright," muttered Ben, staring at the ceiling.
"You're alive," stated Ezra. Ben could hear the smile on his lips. "What's wrong?"
Ben couldn't bring himself to answer. He swallowed weakly, looking to the side.
"You feel gross," mumbled Ewan.
This caused Ben to lift his head, looking at him. The demon seemed... disturbed. Uncomfortable. Sad. Something that wasn't relieved, which Ben wasn't surprised, he was just concerned.
"What?" Ben breathed.
"You..." Ewan glanced between Ezra and Gabrielle. They were glaring at him, telling him with their eyes to shut up. He looked back to Ben, putting his hands in his pockets. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter."
"I do feel gross," clarified Ben. "I got drunk and I let Charlie get the better of me. He would have killed me last night."
"That was two days ago," Ezra noted. "It's Sunday. You've been out since Friday night."
The news wasn't that shocking. Ben was just glad to be alive.
"What about Charlie?" Ben inquired. "I-Is he... where is he?"
"He's sitting in your closet," replied Ezra, "dead. We got, uh... some blankets... and we just..." He imitated wrapping something up with his hands. Then a grin lit up his face. "It was my idea."
"I-It's okay, though!" said Gabrielle. "You're alive and we are all just... so happy."
She took his hand in her own. "I... I was so worried, Ben... You were asleep for so long. But we never gave up hope. None of us. Not once. We knew you'd wake up."
Ben gazed at her quietly before looking back up at Ewan, who was deep in thought.
A slow sigh escaped him. He didn't know what to say, but he knew Ewan felt uncomfortable. It seemed Ezra could sense it, too, because he cleared his throat and clapped his hands.
"How about we go, uh... Ewan!" He turned in the general direction of the demon, unsure of quite where he was so he was turned a little to the left. "Let's go get snacks. Ben is probably hungry after almost dying. And thirsty. Probably very thirsty."
Before the demon could respond, Ezra linked their arms and began strolling out. The door shut with a bang behind them.
Ben's gaze drifted back to the purple-haired girl, who looked at him and bit the inside of her cheek in contemplation.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly. Her French accent rendered him speechless.
She was as beautiful as he had originally thought she was, but somehow knowing an angel resided in her head made her... less of her. This wasn't Gabrielle. This was Gabrielle and Elizabeth.
"Ben," she whispered. "What's wrong?"
He didn't know what to say. What was he supposed to say? You're possessed by an angel. That's the only reason I'm not kissing you. Or maybe, There's someone else, actually... but I don't know if he's worth it.
"Is this about the kiss?" she asked.
Ben didn't reply, just looked at her quietly, studying her.
"I... I'm sorry. I was scared for your life, Ben. I did not know if I would get another chance with you." She put her hands in her lap, looking to the side. "I'm sorry I'm possessed, too."
"That isn't your fault," Ben asserted.
"You're acting like it is," she replied, quickly sucking in a sharp breath as if frightened by her retort. "I-I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
He shifted, sitting up straighter, looking her right in the eyes and putting a hand on her arm. Her skin was warm under his cold palm. But he knew she had something important to say, and he was here to listen.
"What is it?" he whispered.
She clicked her tongue. Blush tinted her cheeks. "I understand that it might be difficult to... accept me because I'm possessed, but once this all is over and Elizabeth and Ewan have left, I want to start over." She looked him right in the eyes. "Is that okay?"
This was new. Ben sucked in a sharp breath, unable to understand the idea of someone wanting to just... exist with him. Someone who knew about his reputation and knew what it would do to their reputation and stayed.
She'd been right. They were in this together.
"Yes," he breathed.
The door opened for Ezra and Ewan. They were carrying food and bottles of beer. As they entered the room, Ewan's eyes fell upon Ben and Gabrielle. How close they were. His eyes turned colder and he simply plopped the food down on the bed and went to sit at Ben's desk.
Ben withdrew his hand from Gabrielle, and she stood up.
"I called my dad to pick me up," Ezra said quietly. "For church."
"Since when do you go to church?" mumbled Ben.
The other boy clicked his tongue. "I convinced my dad it might be time."
Ben sighed quietly. After what they'd been through so far, it made sense. "Alright. I'll see you."
Ezra hesitated before nodding and bringing out his cane. Then he left, leaving Ben with the irritated demon and innocent possessed girl.
"What's the plan?" grumbled Ewan. He sat in the chair with one arm draped across the back, looking irritated. It was a stark contrast to the way he'd looked at Ewan before the game.
The girl broadened her shoulders, eyes narrowing in confidence. "The Enchantment is filled by indirect, selfless acts of Virtues," said Gabrielle, her voice taking on that of Elizabeth's. There was a sense of confidence. "That's the plan."
"So why are you here?" snapped Ewan. "We can do this on our own."
Elizabeth shifted, crossing her arms as well. "You killed someone two days ago, Ewan. He's sitting in Ben's closet rotting. And Ben," she said, turning to him, "you killed someone five days ago. You've assaulted three kids since then." The group was silent, and the angel continued, "Not to mention you got stabbed and almost died."
"I was drunk," said Ben.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, silencing him.
"My point is," said Elizabeth, "you both do need help. If not by me, then by Gabrielle. I don't think you guys will be able to complete the Enchantment without... someone good."
"We did fine with the first one," retorted Ewan.
"After which you had to ask what had even happened," argued Elizabeth. "And let's not forget that I'm the one that knew what your new ability could do. If it wasn't for me, Ben would be dead."
This rendered the boys silent. They shared a hesitant glance but it was clear neither of them was convinced.
"Why are we even debating this?" growled Elizabeth. "I'm here until the Enchantment is filled. That's final."
Ben sighed, rubbing his face. "Alright, fine. How do you even intend on helping?"
"Well, it seems like the first problem is keeping either of you alive."
"It doesn't matter if I die," Ewan snapped. "I'll just come back."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me. The first problem is keeping Ben alive."
"There's no one like Charlie," mumbled Ben. "I'll be fine."
"Right, what are we going to do about the corpse in your closet," Ewan whispered, not exactly phrasing it as a question.
Ben shrugged in reply, averting his gaze from Ewan and simply looking down at the food on his bed. He leaned forward and got an apple, biting into it. It tasted far better than it usually did, but that was probably only because he hadn't eaten in two days.
His eyes flicked up to Elizabeth curiously.
"We have two options," she said, looking reluctant to offer them up. "One option is getting rid of the body. Another is... getting Charlie's soul from Hell and putting him back in his body. As an angel, I'm... biased towards giving him another chance. But he isn't my problem."
"How is this not your problem? You've basically forced your way into all of Ben and I's problems."
The angel sighed, not replying. Rather, she directed her gaze to Ben, who cleared his throat.
"It isn't my decision," he said.
He and Elizabeth both looked at Ewan.
Soon, the demon lifted his gaze from his nails and sighed when he found both of them looking at him. He muttered, "Right. Because I'm the one that killed him." He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess... How do you even intend on getting him from Hell?"
"Astral projection," replied Elizabeth. "I can go to Hell and ask The Devil for Charlie's soul to return to his body."
"Right," Ewan muttered, "and you think He'll just give up a soul?"
"I'm..." Elizabeth sighed. "I'm not sure. I hope so."
"Awesome," Ben deadpanned.
"What'll it be, Ewan?" growled Elizabeth. She crossed her arms, shifting her weight.
The demon hesitated, glancing between the two. Then he sighed melodramatically, rolling his eyes. "The good thing to do would be to bring him back. He deserves another shot at life, I suppose."
The angel nodded, almost looking proud. "Right. Good choice."
Goodbyes were awkward, as neither Ben nor Ewan felt like they were going to be sad at the absence of Elizabeth. She'd decided it would be best for her to conduct the astral projection at Gabrielle's house, so she left, saying only a small goodbye with a promise that she'd be back in a day. Neither of them was looking forward to it.
Once it was just the two of them, Ben glanced to Ewan. "You did that just to get rid of Elizabeth, didn't you?" asked Ben, grinning gently.
"Maybe," said the demon, shrugging.