TEN

I just assumed that Benjamin left because he wanted to. 

I had already decided to not get Hunter involved, but I needed to get Carolyn.  She could probably help me get rid of Benjamin. 

I had been told that she was trapped, but I hoped I could help her get released or whatever it was that she needed.

I tried doing what I had done before.  I closed my bedroom door and locked it.  I sat on the floor, closed my eyes and focused on Carolyn.  Focusing on what I wanted was a lot easier to do without Benjamin around and I really, really hoped he wouldn’t just show up again.

Summoning Carolyn didn’t work.  At least not in the way I wanted it to.  All I got was the sound of a faint whisper ‘get Hunter’.

I had no other options.

I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I will just call Hunter and ask him what I need to do to un-trap Carolyn.  Just one call and then I will leave him alone’.  I also kept searching around for any signs of Benjamin appearing.

I grabbed the piece of paper that Hunter had given me with his phone number and the message that I could trust him.  I laughed.  Right!

I took a deep breath, knowing that was really my only option. 

Just as I grabbed the phone, Benjamin materialized in front of me and he looked furious.

“You don’t listen, do you?”  He shook his head.  “Like father – like daughter.”

I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but no words came out.  I looked at the door and thought about making a run for it, but what was the point?  I stared at him and mentally tried to send him away… wishful thinking.

“That won’t work again, little girl.  And here is a clear message of what will happen to your little guy friend if you get him involved in this…”

With both hands, he grabbed a snow globe that I had gotten for Christmas and smashed it, leaving nothing left but shattered glass.

I felt terrified and I was sure I looked the way I felt.

“Good!”  He said.  “That is exactly the reaction that I wanted.  Now don’t be stupid.  I will be around.  Even if you don’t see me, make no mistake… I will be around!”  And he disappeared.

I couldn’t sleep that night.  Not because I was afraid, but because I could literally feel that he was there…. watching.

I kept wondering if I was wrong about what he was.  He was just so different from Carolyn… and one thing that I could not keep my mind off of was the fact that he could touch things and Carolyn couldn’t…. The way he shattered that snow globe, without so much as looking like he was struggling with it…he was strong.

‘He is different.’  Carolyn had said.  ‘He is no good.’  Well, that was an understatement.              

I didn’t even think there was a way to do anything behind his back.  I also wondered what he meant about me being like my dad and just the thought of him being around Kelly or Andrew, made me shiver.

That night, he didn’t appear again.

***

From a sleepless night, I got up and got ready for school.  Grabbing my books, I went straight to the nearest coffee shop to the house.  I needed caffeine or I wouldn’t make it through the day.

Hunter was waiting for me in the parking lot when I got to school.  I was exhausted, cranky, and just the sight of Hunter made me think of how badly Benjamin would be able to physically hurt him.  And did I mention I was exhausted?  My brain was definitely not working the way it should have been.

I got out of the car and Hunter said we needed to talk.

“No, you need to leave me alone,” I said.

“You don’t mean that.”

“Uh, yes.  I do mean it.”

I walked away and he just stood there for a couple of seconds before he started to follow me.

I turned around and snapped.  “What do you want from me?”

“I want to help you.”

“I don’t need your help!”

At that moment, Justin walked by and put his arm around my shoulder.  He locked his gaze on Hunter’s and said.  “Is he bugging you, Kay?”

Like I said, I was sort of almost brain-dead at that point.  I didn’t know what was Justin’s deal, but I played his little game.  That was a good way to get Hunter to stay away from my problems.

I put my arm around Justin’s waist.  “Nah, he was just leaving.  Right, Hunter?”

Hunter just shook his head and walked away.  He seemed frustrated, but definitely not as frustrated as I was.  For one thing I didn’t like feeling the way I was feeling; I hated the way I felt as he walked away…. helpless… alone…  All I really wanted was to tell Justin to get his hands off me, and to go after Hunter.