Author's Note: This is a bit darker than how I normally write.
Chapter Two: Ancient Gwendolyn
Gwen looked at Ben in worry, unable to rouse him form the nightmare. "What's happening, Ben?" She asked him in fear. Ben's eyes opened to show Charmcaster's magenta energy covered his eyes. "Gwen, don't marry that psycho! You're mine!" The brown-haired boy pleaded. The plea wasn't angrily possessive; the pain in Ben's voice made that obvious. It was the plea of a forgotten lover. Ben suddenly screamed loud enough to wake Max. The old man ran to the back of the Rustbucket and looked at Gwen. "Charmcaster placed a spell on Ben to show him painful futures and play with his mind." Max looked at Gwen. "Can you do something?" Max asked calmly. Gwen glared at the man as if he slapped her. Then, her look softened. "Sorry, Grandpa. I'll do everything I can." She vowed as Gwen put her hands on Ben's temples and mentally recited a special spell. Gwen's entire body developed a blue halo. Then, she appeared to vanish.
When Gwen opened her eyes, she saw Ben staring at a picture on a shelf in a decent house. The house was well furnished but messy. Gwen instantly picked up on the fact that there were two conflicting personalities trying to live under the same roof. From the looks of things, the stronger person was slowly erasing the other. When Gwen turned back to Ben, she saw the normally strong and stoic boy crying bitter tears. "Gwen, no. You can't marry that psycho." Ben whispered softly in a heartbroken tone. Gwen was almost too scared of what she might see to look at the photo. When she finally did, the redhead gasped and tried to throw the picture only to find her hand passed right through it. There was an older Gwen approximately twenty years old in a beautiful white dress. Gwen smiled gently as she touched that side of the picture. When she felt Ben's hand under hers, Gwen squeezed it. Ben looked up. "Gwen?! Where are you?!" Gwen shouted, "I'm right here, Doofus!" More accurately, Gwen tried to shout, but no sound was heard by Ben. Gwen glared at the picture for holding that twenty year old Gwen's hands was a very deceptive, clean cut, and handsome HUMAN Kevin 11 in a freshly pressed tux. "I'm married to…" Gwen shivered violently. Then, the girl's fear and sadness instantly turned to rage. "Charmcaster, I know you're listening, you bitch!" Gwen focused and slammed her hand into the framed photo. Gwen looked with a pleasantly surprised smile when the picture went flying seemingly of its own volition and crashed hard into the wall on her left. Ben smiled, "I agree, Gwen." He said as he grinned wider at the broken frame and picture now lying next to the couch on the floor that probably hadn't been cleaned in years.
The grin suddenly fell when Ben heard slow steps enter the living room. A woman walked in and looked around the room. This woman looked horrible. Her face was drawn tight to her bones, and she had wrinkles and liver spots in abundance. That, coupled with her white hair and an emaciated frame, made Ben think of a dying grandmother. The ancient-looking woman spotted the frame and moved to pick it up. As she stooped down, Ben caught a glimpse of familiar green eyes. They were duller but still had a slight unmistakable shine. "G-Gwen…" He choked out. "What has that bastard done to you?!" As if to answer the boy's question, a built and powerful version of Kevin jumped out of the doorway and tackled his "wife". "Kevin, please, I can't do this…not now." Kevin grinned sickly at her. "I didn't give you a choice, Bitch!" Kevin growled. Kevin tightened his grip until Gwendolyn cried out in pain. "Benjamin, help me!" Kevin began to drain her again. Ben somehow knew that Gwendolyn would not survive this time. "I killed Benji years ago, Lovely Gwendolyn. He was sniffing around too much. I had to protect my FOOD." Gwendolyn was momentarily heartbroken. Then, she surprised Ben by smiling. "Years of mistakes are almost over. Then, I can be with my Benjamin forever." Gwendolyn said weakly. Finally, Gwendolyn groaned and breathed her last. When Kevin felt the energy stop, he growled in frustration and threw Gwendolyn's husk of a body aside like an eaten apple core.
Ben stared in horror at what he just saw. "Gwen," he whispered. "Please, get us back." He pleaded, unable to see her but knowing she was there. Gwen walked over to Ben and squeezed his right hand. "I'll do my best, Ben. I promise." Gwen was surprised when Ben smiled after she spoke. Did he hear me?! She thought in shock. "Evigilare!" Ben and Gwen both jolted awake at the sound of Gwen's command. Ben looked at Gwen. "How could you?!" He said in tears. Gwen gently put a hand on his shoulder. "That wasn't me, Doofus." She said softly without malice. "It was you! I'd know those eyes anywhere and at any time!" Ben protested as he fought to keep back the pain he felt. Gwen was touched that he could recognize her with just a short look into her eyes. "Ben," Gwen said as she made him look at her. "That was an Alternate, a very dim and shallow Alternate." Ben looked at her in confusion. "Like Back to the Future Part II when Doc Brown talks to his other self about the 'weather experiment'?" Gwen nodded. "That was another VERSION of me with different experiences and an entirely different life. That was NOT me." She said softly. She then closed the gap between their lips and met his in a warm, chaste kiss. "This is me." Gwen said with a smile when they pulled away.
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