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Chapter Two. Desolation

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He doesn't know his brother. Right now he wishes he did. With dad gone he longs to share his fears with someone, even if the reality hasn't sunk in yet.

He's never felt so alone.

When his mom had died, his dad had been there to comfort him.

Then Ben went missing and it was the worse week ever.

He kept busy, riding bikes and being a scout. Always moving, don't think - just don't think about it. He had lived in blind hope that they would get Ben back and they had.

Just, he didn't expect him to be so different.

"Talk to me, son," spoke Captain Weaver.

Hal isn't one for expressing emotions, he's sporty and tough. Ben was the girl in the family.

Not anymore.

Now he's a stranger.

"I just wish my dad was here," he mutters. His dad is his lifeline, the voice of reason.

"I've lost both of my parents, Ben's losing the plot and Matt …" His voice breaks off there, he runs a hand through his hair, fighting back the tears. How the hell does he tell his kid brother what has happened to their dad … he doesn't even know where to start with that.

"What's there to say?"

His hand drops to his side. He doesn't want to talk right now, it hurt. He doesn't want to admit his fears, not to Captain Weaver. He's suppose to be a man now, not the frightened 17-year-old he sometimes secretly is. All he wants is his dad back and Ben to be normal again.

He has neither.

Captain Weaver's hand rests on his shoulder. Hal averts his gaze from the sympathy he clearly sees in his eyes.

"If I know one thing about your dad, son. He's a fighter."

Hal nods. He knows this, but it still doesn't reassure him.

"Now get some sleep."

Hal's glad to leave, longing for some solitude to process everything that has happened. A sudden exhaustion takes hold as he walks to the bedroom he's been sharing with his dad and two brothers.

Nothing feels right anymore. His dad is gone and Ben … just about bowls him over as he exits from the bathroom. Stopping, their eyes meet for a moment. Hal notices Ben's hair, he raises an eyebrow. Okay, so his younger brother has found the time to give himself a buzz cut. What is with that? Is there even any point in asking?

The eyes that stare back at him, he can no longer read. It unnerves and saddens him at the same time.

He used to tease Ben mercilessly before. His brother's feeble attempts to hit back generally ended up with him being wrestled to the ground. It was all in good fun, so he had told himself. Ben had his own way of hitting back, being the smart arse he was, always talking in a way that Hal often didn't understand. Showing off his straight 'A' grades in every subject. Sometimes he felt inferior. He would notice the way his dad would affectionately squeeze Ben's shoulder. Ben had inherited his intellect from him, and Hal knew this did please his dad.

But none of that matters now. There are no more schools, probably not even much of a future. Ben no longer brags about school grades.

He doesn't read books anymore either. As each day passes, he begins to become unrecognisable to Hal. Even more so with his recently shorn hair.

"I'm serious about the fighting part." Ben speaks, breaking the strained silence.

Hal doesn't doubt it, he can see the determination in his younger brother's eyes. It disturbs him.

"I don't know. You're only 14."

"15 next month," he shoots back. "Jimmy is only 13, he's allowed to fight."

What Ben says is true, but still … what would his dad say and do?

Dark shadows flicker in Ben's eyes. "It's because of these isn't it," he mutters, gesturing to the spikes on the back of his neck, now clearly visible without the hair to cover them. "You think I'm a freak too?"

Hal shakes his head. "No."

"But you don't trust me." It was more of a statement than a question.

Hal doesn't know how to answer, because Ben is right. He doesn't know if he trusts him anymore. It doesn't help that he's acting so out of character.

He doesn't miss the bitterness evident in Ben's eyes. And that's what's changing. His brother is becoming too bitter, too angry and who can blame him.

Hal hates seeing it.

"I'm trying to do what I think dad would want," he slowly returns.

"Dad's not here," Ben states for the second time that day. "And I'm not a kid anymore."

Hal watches him turn around and walk back to the room. Sighing, he follows. Once in the room, Ben moves to his cot that's now in the far corner. He lies down, pulling a blanket over himself. No words are spoken.

Hal sits heavily on his own cot, his eyes resting on the empty cot his dad sleeps on. His heart is heavy. Alone in the dark, he feels his loss more acutely than ever. Lying on his side, he pulls the blanket up and screws his eyes shut. The tears still leak out. Not that it matters, not like anyone can see.

In the cold light of the morning, Hal awakes to Matt's scared voice. "Where is dad?"

He abruptly sits up, blinking heavily to clear his vision. Hal's been dreading this morning, sleeping fitfully throughout the night. His eyes meet with Ben's. For once he sees the same concern reflected in his eyes. It offers some small comfort. There are dark rings under Ben's eyes. Hal briefly wonders if he slept at all.

"Matt," Ben begins, gesturing to him to sit down next to him on the cot.

Matt is beyond reasoning. He steps back, his eyes widening with fear. He then bolts out the room calling for their dad.

"Shit," Hal mutters.

Ben is already out the door, racing after Matt. Hal still swearing, follows him. Ben is fast, he hates to admit it. It's the spikes, they are changing him physically. It scares him, what his brother might become.

Ben used to be so uncoordinated. He was horrible at running. Always pulling out his puffer after just a few minutes. It used to bug Hal to no end.

"Toughen up, Princess," he'd tease.

They fought a lot, just too different, but it was familiar. He remembered the time they had gone camping and Ben had had an asthma attack. He had lost his puffer. Hal had been terrified, so sure his brother was going to die as his parents drove to the nearest hospital.

It had been the worst hour he could remember. His mom tried to keep Ben calm as he struggled to breathe. Hal had never felt so powerless. He'd made a thousand promises on how much better he would treat his brother if only God would let him live. It was the same feeling he'd felt when the Skitters took Ben … when they had killed his mom … feeling useless. Couldn't save either his mom or Ben. Now - he no longer made promises to God.

People are shuffling along the corridors, carrying what little belongings they have, and he's lost his brother. Hal frantically searches all of the rooms till he hears and recognises Matt's voice.

Stopping near a doorway, the one that's set up as the medical centre, Hal peers into the room. Ben is with Matt. Crouching down to his level, hands resting on Matt's shoulders.

"He'll come back," Ben speaks, "he's smart, and he will find his way back to us. I know dad."

"You promise?"

Matt asks that a lot these days. The kid still clings onto hope. So does Hal, just right now it is a struggle. His eyes rest on his two younger brothers.

"I promise," Ben replies.

He is himself for a change, he always is around Matt. But then Matt still has that childhood innocence and Ben always did have a way with Matt. And Matt related better to him. By the time Matt had come along, Hal was eight years old. He had always let Ben deal with Matt, because he was younger and closer in age to Matt. He was too busy playing sports, too busy hanging out with his friends and then, once he turned 15, too busy with girls.

He didn't expect to end up parentless at just 17. Neither did he ever expect that his two younger brothers would become his responsibility.

Quite suddenly, he feels so much older. Like he's aged ten years in just three months. The life he had planned, is never going to happen. Tears burn at the back of his eyes. 'Suck it up, Hal,' he silently chides.

Sighing, he steps into the room. Ben looks up. A silent message is sent between the two of them. For now Matt is okay, Ben will see to that. At least that much hasn't changed.

Hal is thankful. He ruffles Matt's hair. "Let's go eat before we have to move out."

They are brothers. They will stick together despite their differences. They have too, if they stand any chance of surviving. Hal doesn't want to die, the thought secretly terrifies him. Not that he'd ever admit it.

He glances sideways at Ben as they walk to the dining hall. "Thanks for that."

Ben nods. "Just don't treat me like a kid anymore. I will fight alongside you."

Hal inwardly sighs, knowing he won't be able to stop Ben. He longs for the old days, to return to the life they once had.

Matt whining as mom attempts to comb the knots out of his hair. Ben's nose buried in a book as usual. Dad talking about some history war stuff, that he's become adept at tuning out. Every now and again, his mom glances his way and smiles at him. He feels loved and protected.

How he wishes it so, but the warm past image blurs before his eyes, only to be replaced with reality. People sitting at tables, looking tired and sad. No one knowing what will happen to them next, who will die and who will live.

At least he still has his brothers.

A lump lodges in his throat. 'Dad,' he inwardly murmurs. 'You better find us.'

He glances at Ben's stony expression, and somehow he gets the feeling his once happy-go-lucky brother will never smile again.

'And dad … make it soon … please.'

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A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are loved and appreciated, so please send one if you can. Unfortunately my holidays ended two weeks ago and as I'm a teacher, I basically don't have a life till the next lot of holidays come around! I will try to update as often as I can. I'm working on the next chapter for my other story as well, it might just take me a week or two.

Cheers!

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