Hiya! This should be just a one shot, but who knows? It might be a real story if you guys request it. Read on!


Ben was simply taking a walk alone. The new 'skitter deflector' over Charleston was fully functioning, so no worry there.

The day was beautiful, birds sang and the sun shone. Ben decided to lay down in the grass. It was just like the old days, before the invasion.

But all is not well.

Ben came unarmed, no real reason to bring a gun. He heard three pair of feet behind him, which he assumed was just a family taking a walk. But he was wrong. Those six feet belonged to a skitter. Ben screamed, but his mouth was covered. There was no escape.

Meanwhile, back at the base, young Matt rushed to his dad.

"Dad!" He cried, pushing people out of the way. "A skitter got Ben." The man's eyes widened at the thought.

"We have to talk to Anne." The two males hustled their way to the doctor. "Anne!" Her attention snapped from the creature she had locked up.

"W-what's that?" Matt pointed at the thing hissing at him. It's hands were open, and it's knees were bent, as if it were in some attack mode. It's face was green and scaly, and there was no flesh anywhere on it's face. It's hair had fallen out, even it's eyebrows had gone. It's spine was glowing orange.

"A harnessed child. We believe new Espheni technology has made it impossible the reverse the effects." Anne answered, swabbing a que-tip in its mouth. It's teeth we're so razor sharp that Anne had to wear an iron glove. Matt stuffed his face into his father's stomach, withholding tears. Tom uttered a 'thank you' before walking out. That's when they collapsed into tears.

It's been three months since Ben's capture, and no Mason has taken it easily. Tom's a drunk, barely sober enough to stand. Hal's become suicidal, cutting his wrists. And Matt? He's careless. He doesn't care if he's blown up. He just wants his brother back.

Tom chugged another bottle of beer. Anne was miserable, this wasn't her Tom, it's a stranger.

"Hey, babe." Tom slurred. He smirked as Anne walked into their room. "How about we have a little fun tonight?" Anne sighed.

"I have to work tonight." She lied. She hated lying to Tom, but, then again, this wasn't the man she loved. "I'd better go." Tom yanked her into a long, passionate kiss. The more she pulled away, the more he pulled her closer. His breath stank of alcohol, much to Anne's displeasure. She finally pushed him away, storming out.

Tears stained Maggie's face as she watched her boyfriend bring the piece of broken mirror to his perfect skin. She knew that one day he'd do it, that she'd find him with a knife in his heart.

"Please, Hal, stop!" She shouted. "You're hurting me as much as you're hurting yourself!" Hal didn't answer, he was lost in Ben World. A world where the price to enter was a cut. Hal's sobs could be heard anywhere. 'The Mason Cries' where what people called them. You made bets on who'd cry next. It's all Pope's idea, but the people bought it all the same. Maggie sighed. "I'm going, Hal. I can't deal with this anymore." She walked out, leaving a near-death Hal.

Matt was with his friends, messing around. They had made a massive bomb to blow up and entire house. Matt, not caring if he died, offered to set it up.

"You sure, Matt? This thing could kill you in a heartbeat." Matt smiled, as a devilish idea popped into mind. He nodded, and took the bomb inside. Sitting down, he placed the bomb in front of him. It was a makeshift bomb, composed of random stuff. He 'accidentally' set the timer for ten seconds, and got up he counted down the seconds.

"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1-" Boom. The blast burnt the boy all over, killing him instantly.

Anne walked into Tom's room, Maggie into Hal's. They both saw what they didn't want to see, yet they expected it. Tom had alcohol poisoning, and he sat dead in his chair. Hal had finally reached his breaking point, and stabbed himself in the chest. The two boys that accompanied Matt rushed to Captain Dan Weaver.

"What's wrong, kids?" Weaver asked, slightly annoyed.

"Matt...he...bomb...dead..." Was all the boy could make out as he tried to catch his breath. Weaver's eyes widened.

Every Mason was dead.

In a rescue attempt, the soldiers got Ben. Anne had discovered a way to remove the harness even if it's in the subject's body. It's been three months since the 'Mason Apocalypse' as it's referred to. Since then, the skitter deflector has come down. Ben stared at his face in the mirror. He thought he was ugly, everyone told him so. He was neglected, even by Denny. There was no one to go to. Everyone was dead. He'd even missed the funeral.

"You're such an ugly shit." Ben muttered to himself. "Your whole family committed suicide because of you." Anne was convinced Ben had schiznoperina, while other doctors in Charleston claim he's just going through trauma. Either way, he sees a psychologist everyday, the same one Lourdes sees. She goes to sessions because the whole worm thing has scarred her and left her with nightmares. Ben looked at the clock on the wall. Time for therapy.

Instead of therapy, the voice in his head began, why not run? The skitters will accept you.

So he did. Ben ran and ran until he reached the skitter center. A young harnessed girl and a skitter approached.

"Here to become our king?"


So I am a legit mess right now. This was a VERY hard thing to write, but it will get better! I promise! I've decided to write a few more chapters so I don't leave you in this state of feels.

Review?