Chapter 7
Matt's POV
"Whoa… we scored. Looks like our team is winning," I shouted to my team mates. Billie and Rob gave me a high-five each. It's after school and as usual, we played soccer in the compound of our camp. A few months earlier, Hal brought back an old soccer ball he found when he went out for patrol. The kids were delighted and it has become one of our regular activities.
Hal, Maggie, Ben, Denni, Anthony and Pope had gone to scout the new place and should be back anytime.
"Matt!" I turned around and saw Colonel Weaver. He motioned for me to come over.
"Guys, I'll be back," I shouted to my friends and ran over to Colonel Weaver.
"Hi Colonel Weaver." I said, breathless. He put one arm on my shoulder and looked down at me. He hesitated a moment before he spoke.
"Its Ben. He's injured while they were out scouting the new area. He is now in the hospital," Colonel Weaver's voice was calm but filled with concern. My eyes bulged and I sped off. After losing mom and having to go through so many times at almost losing dad, I can't lose Ben too. I can't! My head was screaming and I ran at full speed towards the hospital building.
When I reached, I saw Anne, Lourdes and some other nurses hovering over a bed in a room. That must be Ben. Anne was shouting orders to Lourdes and the nurses. Dad, Hal and Maggie were at the side. They looked ghastly. Panic was felt rising from within and I dashed in.
"Dad, what happened?" I shouted and made my way towards the bed. Dad held me back.
"Ben got hurt," he said calmly and trying to stop me from advancing further to where Ben was lying. He was trying to block Ben's sight from me. It was no use because I saw everything. There was blood, lots of it. It was on Anne's hands, Ben's clothes, his face and on the bed.
"Hal, take your brother out," dad instructed. Hal came over to us.
"No! I want to be here, with Ben," I struggled to break free from dad's grip and later, Hal's, when he led me out of the room. As we turned, we saw Kym standing not far from us. She looked stunned and fear covered her eyes. Hal motioned for Maggie to take over while Hal walked up to Kym.
"Come on now Matt. Let's go. Ben's gonna be ok," Maggie's soothing voice had a calming effect on me and I stopped struggling. I followed her out.
We sat on one of the benches outside of the room. Maggie had her arms around me and pulled me close. I buried my head on her shoulder and tears trickled down my cheeks. A moment later Hal and Kym came out. Kym walked away without a word. Maggie got up and went after her while Hal came over and sat with me.
Hal's POV
Matt hung his head low and couldn't stop the tears. Immediately my arms went around his shoulder.
"Shhh!" I tried to soothe him. He kept his head low and continued sobbing. Then he looked up with tears running down his cheeks. "When Ben left us to join the skitters' rebels, I was so afraid he will never come back. It was one of the most difficult times I had since mom died, just like the time dad was gone for three months. Though I knew it was for the best, I still missed him. There's this fear that I'll never see him again," Matt said in between sobs. I never thought it was that difficult for him during Ben's absent. He might not admit it but he looked up to Ben in many ways.
"It's not enough that they put spikes behind his back. Now they hurt him too," he cried out. I just let him vent out all of his anger and frustrations. At the same time I was holding him close. Dad, Ben and I have been trying to shield him from the cruelty of this world but looks like we can't do that anymore. He is almost thirteen now, old enough to know what's happening.
"Ben is strong. He will overcome this hurdle," I assured him.
Anne, Lourdes and the nurses were in the room for hours. Matt fell asleep on dad's lap while Kym was pacing anxiously outside of the room. Maggie came to check on us a few times, bringing us water and some food but none of us had any appetite.
The door finally opened. Anne emerged. Dad woke Matt up and we rushed to her.
"How's Ben?" Matt asked.
'Because of his spikes, he is still holding on. They are helping him to regenerate. He is now out from danger but he is still unconscious. It will take a while before he wakes up,' Anne explained. We heaved a sigh of relief.
We went in to look at Ben after Anne allowed us. She went off to grab a bite with Lourdes. It has been a long day for both of them too. Kym followed close by. She has not spoken a single word the entire time we were waiting outside.
"I am needed in the cafeteria. I gotta run now." Kym said softly before she left. I knew it was just an excuse. Julie had told her earlier that today was her off day since she has just been released from lock-up this morning. I guessed she wanted to give us some privacy with Ben.
Ben was lying motionless on the bed. His head was in bandage and so were his right arm and his left abdomen. Dad walked up and pulled the covers up. He was worried, I could tell.
"Dad…. Matt and I will be here. Why not you go join Anne?" I suggested. Dad needs a break too.
"I'll stay a while."
This reminds me of the time when Ben was rescued and has his harness removed. Dad, Matt and me stayed with him the entire night until he woke up.
"He's gonna be ok, right dad?" Matt asked. There was pain in his voice.
"Anne said his spikes are helping him to regenerate. He should be ok. Don't you worry." Dad gave Matt a faint smile.
"I'm so glad that he decided to keep them, I mean his spikes. He was quite conflicted on what others might say if he keeps them. I don't care if Pope called him 'Razorback' or 'Spiky kid', I am so glad for his spikes." Dad pulled Matt into a tight hug. Matt was right, I was glad for the spikes too. If it was not for them, we would have lost Ben by now.
