A/N: Here we are almost at the end... The penultimate chapter of 'Feeling Something New', almost everything was leading up to this three-part event, so brace yourselves as Benny still has a few more obstacles to overcome. While I'm glad you get to see the story reach a decent conclusion I'm bummed you won't get to see the second half of what we had in store, which is both a blessing and a curse because the original ending was a roller coaster of emotions that my co-author did not prepare me for (and it would've been a doozy for those of you reading as well). If you want to know what would've happened send a PM and I'd be more than glad to show you the outline.
Also there might be some spoilers for the new 'secret chapters' of my co-author's story 'The Spellmaster's Mother'. Oh and on a second note this will also be my last story on this site. I'll explain more and save all my 'thank you's' for next update. I want you to enjoy the chapter!
Feeling Something New
By AnotherSideTheOtherStory
Chapter 9: Emotion Commotion Part II
"I do the wiggle man, yeah," sang Benny happily as he danced around in the shower. He felt great, excited, elated; anything that could be used to describe happy was applicable in this situation. He turned off the water and scrubbed away vigorously at his arms, legs, chest, and stomach. It suddenly occurred to him that something wasn't right. He looked around trying to figure out what was bothering him, when nothing out of the ordinary stood out he shrugged. He felt the cold chill of the morning air against his body. He shivered and quickly turned the shower back on.
The warm water poured down against him and he rinsed off the remaining soapy residue. He ran a hand through his hair and laughed out loud when he realized what had been bugging him. He was still wearing the ring he had been given a few weeks ago. After a moment of internal debate he decided against taking off, after all it kind of looked cool. He shut off the shower and wrapped the towel tightly around his waist. He looked at his reflection and smiled.
"Sexy and I know it!" cried Benny as he ran a hand down his flat stomach. It was going to be a good day.
"Where's Sarah?" asked Benny as he noticed Ethan standing alone on the sidewalk. The younger boy had his eyes cast downwards and a blush across his face. "What's the matter E?"
"Nothing," said Ethan as he looked up shyly and took Benny's hand in his. "I just can't get over the fact it's been a week since we stated dating, I just…. I've never been happier."
"Oh yeah," The days had gone by in a flash. He remembered his resolve, and his desire to tell Ethan his feelings. There was something else as well, something had always stopped him. It had happened that Thursday night, something so important that he needed to tell E how he felt, but wasn't it the same thing that had prevented him? He thought about it for a moment. When he couldn't put it together he chose to think about the day he revealed his real feelings instead, it had been right before Home Ec...
Benny nervously tugged on his satchel as he waited in front of the classroom for E. His ironclad resolve from the previous night was weakening, was he really ready to do this? Could he do it? There was no question in his mind that he needed to, but deep down he didn't know if he could. After all this wasn't just another simple crush, this was Ethan; this was the person who made him feel complete, the one he couldn't live without. The more he thought about it the more he felt his resolve crumbled, he wasn't ready for this, not yet.
"You ok?" asked Ethan as he approached him. "You look like you were doing some serious thinking."
"What? No!" said Benny trying his best to sound calm and collected. "I just… it's… never mind! It's nothing."
"Then let's get inside, if we're late then Ms. Maerd is bound to give us detention. She's been watching me like a hawk since the whole locker incident, and trust me I don't want to give her any reason to unleash her new vice principal status on me. Besides I wanted to ask you if you thought of any names for-"
"Earth to B," said Ethan as he snapped his fingers in front of Benny's face. "You zoned out there for a minute, thought I lost you to your imagination."
"Sorry," said Benny as he shook his head and smiled sheepishly. He looked down at the crack in the sidewalk and then back at his boyfriend. "I was just thinking about the day we started dating. I'm just happy we're finally together, and I can call you mine."
Before Ethan could respond Benny pulled him into a kiss. The younger boy moaned in pleasure before pulling away with a grin. "B, if you keep that we're going to be to class again."
"One more?" Ethan never got a chance to answer. Benny pulled him into another kiss and the next thing he knew was leading his boyfriend back into the house. So what if they were a little late to class?
Benny frowned when he found both Ethan and himself walking into school perfectly on time. Leave it to his boyfriend to end their make out session early for something boring as school. He smiled; there was something so perfect about the way Ethan and the word 'boyfriend' rolled around his mind. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the blonde kid with the coffee cup until it was too late. The next thing he knew both his shirt and pants were soaked with steaming hot coffee.
"I'm so sorry," said the blonde haired kid as he gave him a nervous look. "I wasn't paying attention, it's not until after I have my coffee that I wake up."
"It's fine," said Benny as examined the damage done to his shirt. "Geez."
"I'm really sorry it must've been so hot and-"
"Seriously I'm fine, I don't even feel it." The blonde kid blinked his blue eyes twice before nodding and darting down the hallway. There was something unnaturally familiar about him…. When Benny was sure it was just Ethan and him alone in the hallway he muttered a spell under his breath and clapped his hands together. The coffee stains vanished leaving him one hundred percent clean. "Ta-da!"
"You look great," said Ethan "But what's with the ring?"
"Ring?" Benny looked down at the small black ring on his finger and laughed. "Don't you remember? I told you about it… the day we started... dating."
"Since when do you wear rings?" asked Ethan as he set his backpack at the foot of their cooking station. "It looks nice, but it's not really your thing."
"It's supposed to help me remember my dreams," said Benny as he absent-mindedly turned it around his finger. "But it hasn't really helped that much, the only thing that comes to mind is… Eric."
"Eric? Oh… are you naming him-"
"That's right!" said Ethan suddenly as he leaned against him. Benny's smile quickly faded as he took in the mango scent of his boyfriend's hair. Was that there earlier? He felt his stomach twist and took a step back. Ethan gave him a hurt look. "What?"
"Your shampoo, it reeks."
"My shampoo?" E have him a puppy dog look. "You told me you loved my mango scented shampoo."
"I do, but my stomach is acting up right now…." He looked at Ethan and then past him at the lockers, they were swimming before his eyes. "I think I'm going to throw up."
He darted into the nearest bathroom and stopped when he caught sight of the blonde boy standing at the far end leaning against one of the stalls. Ignoring him he grabbed onto the sink for support and leaned forward trying to repress his urge to vomit. Then all at once the feeling was gone.
"Sorry about that," said the boy as he approached him. "But I needed to get you out of her little scripted performance."
"What?" Asked Benny as he turned on the faucet and steaming hot water came pouring out. He took a step back and watched from the corner of his eyes as the boy shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember waking up this morning?"
"No." He tried to shut off the faucet and found its handle was stuck. "So?"
"How about the walk to school?"
"I do that everyday." Steam was filling the bathroom. "Why would I remember it today?"
"Ok, do you recall anything from the last week? Any memories of the time spent with Ethan? Anything at all?"
"I-" Benny stopped and looked up his rapidly disappearing reflection in the mirror. There was a large crack down the middle. "We spent a lot of time together…."
"Think really hard about what happened today," said the boy as he neared him. "You met up with Ethan, and what was the first thing you asked him?"
"Where's Sarah?" whispered Benny trying to figure out what the blonde was hinting at. "Where you spying on us?"
"Why would you ask that? Isn't Ethan your boyfriend? Don't you want to spend time with him? So why would you ask a question like that?"
Benny said nothing and tried to remember the day's events. "Because she's… his…"
"Think back to the moment you asked Ethan out," whispered the boy as continued to pace through the mist. "Think about everything that's bothered you today, what's missing?"
"I was waiting for him in front of Ms. Maerd's class, and we went in because I couldn't tell him…."
"Tell him what? I can't help you unless you put it together."
"He asked something about names…. And then it became clear… it was right there in front of us the entire time…." He placed a finger against the fogged over mirror and slowly wrote a single name down.
"Eric? Oh… are you naming him after Erica?" asked Ethan looking more depressed than before. "It's a cool name I just didn't think you'd pick something so close to hers."
"N-no," said Benny as he put on the pink apron and thought about it. "I wasn't going to name him after Erica... it's just…" He looked at his reflection in the classroom mirror. He thought about the way he felt yesterday when he caught sight of his baby bump, that sudden want to stop hiding everything. Here with his clothes and apron on it would be impossible to see unless you actually touched it. When no one was looking he pulled shirt and apron tight against his body and puffed out his stomach as far as possible. He smiled, the bump was there, but it could easily be confused for a wrinkle or something. He thought about his son, and nodded to himself.
"What are you doing B?" asked Ethan before his eyes fell to his friend's stomach. A huge grin broke out across his face. "Hey you're-"
"Would you two stop talking and take your seats?" demanded Ms. Maerd as she tapped her foot impatiently. "I'm trying to get class started here."
Benny rolled his eyes, caught sight of the board in the reflection and stopped. No… it didn't mean anything…. It couldn't mean anything…. It had to be some coincidence….
"There are no coincidences in Whitechapel Dad," said the boy as he crossed his arms. "You figured it out, but by then it was too late."
Benny walked as calmly as he could to his seat. He looked over at Ethan, quickly scribbled a note down and when he was sure the teacher wasn't look slid it over to his friend. The brunette picked it up and stopped when Ms. Maerd suddenly appeared over their shoulders.
"I'll take this," she took the note and strode to the front of the class. She turned to face the students, honed in on both Benny and Ethan, cleared her throat and began to read aloud.
"'Maerd's name spelled backwards is DREAM. Remember Rory's nightmare and the sudden sleepiness? I think she might be something supernatural'."
Mummers and whispers went through the class as the students turned to one another trying to make sense of note. Ms. Meard clapped her hands together and tilted her head to the side.
"I had hoped to feed here a little longer," Her skin turned white. "After all what better place to feed on souls, then in a high school?" Her teeth turned into sharp yellow fangs, and when she looked at them her eyes were glowing purple. "Innocent minds that still believe the world can be theirs if they try hard enough. It's nothing short of a buffet. It makes my tongue tingle with excitement."
Before anyone could react the monster exhaled filling the room with a light purple gas. Benny felt his body get heavy, collapsed back into his chair and fell against the desk. The last thing he saw before falling asleep was Maerd as she floated above him.
"Sweet dreams Spellmaster."
"Meard... Dream," said Benny as it read the reflection of the name aloud. "This is a dream, I'm trapped inside a dream."
"Yes!" screamed Eric as he jumped up. He placed a kiss on Benny's forehead and spun around. "Thank you Dad! Since you came to the conclusion this world isn't real then her illusions won't work on you anymore and I can finally help instead of just placing hints all over the place!"
"Hints?"
"Walking into you, spilling hot coffee to make you realize you can't feel anything, saying 'wake up', the cracks, the mango scented shampoo, yeah that was all me."
"Your supposed to be a fetus, how do you know all this?"
"Being spread across the whole of space and time tends to enlighten a person whether they want it or not. Sorry about the nightmares these past few months, they were the only way to protect you from her." He darted down into the hall and motioned for him to follow. "Come on!"
"Who or what is Meard?"
"Maeard's a Dream Wraith's which means she feeds off a person's soul through their dreams. She's been feeding off of other students since she started here but recently she's turned her attention to you. I guess something about being a Spellmaster makes you tastier. The only way to protect the soul is with nightmares, it sort of poisons the food supply. I was hoping to starve her out but it didn't work that way. So sorry about pushing your insecurities into your dreams, on the up side you seem to have come to terms with your feelings for Uncle Ethan, or is it Papa Ethan now? Keeping track of these things is almost impossible, you're welcome by the way."
"I didn't follow any of that," said Benny as he ran after the blonde boy. "Who are you really?"
The boy turned to him. "I'm your son, the Impossible Child, Eric Alec Weir, and I'm here to save your life."
"That doesn't really answer my question."
"Doesn't need to, what matters is that we've trapped her in this Dreamscape. Once a person becomes aware it prevents a Wraith from moving onto another dream. They can't feed and they're forced to wait until the person wakes up, it's like a temporary prison."
"Wait let me make sure I'm following you," said Benny as he slowed down. "You've trapped her inside my mind with us until I wake up from the magically induced sleep she put me in?"
Eric stopped. "When you say it like that..." He smiled. "Yeah not my best plan."
"You're definitely my son..." He followed the boy around the corner. "Wait... is that how I act around E? No wonder he get's frustrated when we're fighting monsters."
"Now's not the time for an epiphany Dad, we have bigger things to worry about."
"Yeah well excuse me for trying to better myself," said Benny as he absently touched his stomach. His eyes winded and he grinned. The small bump was there. "You're back, I mean he's back..." Eric looked at him funny. "Shut up I'm pregnant again."
"If mom could see you now," said Eric with a laugh as he turned another corner. "This has got to be the most entering place I've ever-"
"YOU!" They both turned and caught sight of Maerd hovering at the end of the hall. "You may have escaped my control, but I will have your soul!"
The hallway twisted around them. Arms made of shadows began to reach out as lockers came crashing down from all directions. Reacting on instincts Benny grabbed Eric by the arm and pulled him into one of the classroom doors. One of the arms latched onto Benny's hand and began to pull him back into the distorted hall.
"Close your eyes," yelled Eric as he grabbed the arm. Benny turned away and sure enough the arm suddenly let go before vanishing into the shadows. The door swung shut before vanishing. Maerd's reflection suddenly appeared on the board.
"I will find you, I will kill you, and then when I'm done I'm going after your precious friends. Especially the boy you care so much about."
Benny clenched his fists and stopped when he felt Eric's hand on his shoulder. The boy shook his head and Benny noticed that his blue eyes had turned purple and blonde hair, brown. "She's trying to get you angry Dad."
"If she thinks I'm going to let her hurt Ethan-"
"She can't get to him while she's trapped in here." Benny nodded in agreement and let out a pent up breath. His right hand began to go numb. "She's in control of the Dreamscape right now, but I think we can change that."
"How?"
"We need to crash it. A Wraith's body enters the Dreamscape when it feeds so if we break it while you're aware of the dream it should not only trap her but kill her as well... Ok I have a plan."
Benny nodded and stopped when he felt a strange tingling on his right hand. He looked down and paled, he was bleeding. "Is this... normal? I'm not hurt right?"
"Damn," whispered Eric as he examined the cut. "She's linked your mind and body, if you get hurt in here then your real body does too."
Benny's right arm swung lazily above the ground, as it did a small drop of blood fell to the floor.
"We need to hurry then," said Benny as he stood up and looked around. "What's your plan for stopping her?"
"Uh... It's a plan," said Eric evasively as he walked over the window and kicked it open. His eyes were blue again. "Not one you'll like, but it'll do for now. Follow me."
They jumped out the window and found themselves standing in the cafeteria. All around them students stood with their eyes glowing green chanting the same thing over and over. "Get the boys. Get the boys. Get the boys."
Behind the counter Stephanie cackled and in the air and next to her Sarah floated her eyes the same green as everyone else's. The vampire charged towards them and the next thing Benny knew he was flying through the air before crashing against the wall. The students closed in on Eric, and Benny struggled to stand. Sarah placed a foot on his stomach and gave him a sick and twisted grin.
"When the bow breaks the cradle will fall," sang Sarah as her fangs appeared. "And down will baby, cradle and all."
A hand appeared on the vampires neck and she let out a scream before collapsing to the ground. Eric stood behind him panting and his eyes glowing dark purple.
"W-what did you do?" asked Benny as he looked at his son and then at the students lying on the ground. "What was that?"
"A parting gift from the Ringmasters experiments on me, it's part of my plan," mumbled Eric as she struggled to catch his breath. "I was supernatural bomb in a past life, we need to hurry."
"Keep fighting all you want, you cannot escape the inevitable. Once I have your soul I'll take your body and use it hurt your friend. Can you imagine the look in his eyes when he realizes the person he thought he could trust was killed and he didn't even know it? My mouth waters at the idea."
They darted out the cafeteria and into the library. Benny cursed and looked back at the boy, whose eyes were now green instead of blue. "Where are we going?"
"We need to find Maerd's classroom, and then..." He looked down sadly, only to look back up with a smile. "Don't worry we'll stop Maerd and save Ethan."
"You keep telling me your my son but how is that possible? My son hasn't been born yet, and every time I ask you about it you give me some strange answer."
"It's... complicated."
Benny raised his eyebrows and motioned to the world around them. "We're trapped in a never ending dream high school chasing after the vice-principal whose trying to eat my soul. I don't think it gets more complicated than that."
Eric sighed. "You created me like you created him," he motioned to Benny's stomach. "A potion gone wrong, and ta-da a bouncing baby boy was born. It took you a while to admit who the mother was, just so you know it's Erica, and once you did something bad happened."
"What?"
"I got seriously sick and I sort of... died."
"You died?" asked Benny as the continued to walk past the endless shelves of books. "Wait your dead?"
"No I'm not dead, not technically at least. You brought me back, and then they arrived, the Faceless Men, and through some rather impossible events I scattered myself all over space and time. I'm not the son you're pregnant with, but I am your son from a different dimension, or a piece of him at last. It's always happens the same way though. I'm found, I live, I..."
"I'm supposed to believe my son from a different dimension is in my mind talking to me and has some strange purple power?"
"First of all it's not a purple power it's called the 'Touch of the Ringmaster', and I have it because like said earlier I was a supernatural bomb in a past life, and it allowed me to absorb it from Ethan after he was trapped in Pandora's Box. You don't have to believe me, but I need you to trust me."
"What does any of that have to do with me?"
"I always find you Dad," said Eric with a smile as he opened another door and they found themselves in the auditorium. "No matter who I am, or where I am I always find you and I do everything I can to make sure your ok."
"Isn't a parent supposed to protect their kids?" asked Benny as he placed a hand on his stomach. "If what you say is true then why did I let you do any of that? I would never let my son do anything like that."
"Really? Then why are you putting him up for adoption? Once he's out of your hands you may never see him again, and sure he'll go to a loving home, but what happens next? You hope things will go back to being normal? Wait until the birth to tell Ethan he's the other dad? Hope against everything Ethan doesn't hate you for giving up his son without actually talking to him about it?"
"I was going to tell him... I just can't be a parent and I don't think E would understand that."
Eric shook his head in disappointment and climbed onto the stage. "Don't lie to yourself, you're giving away your son because you can't accept your feelings and admit you love Ethan."
"That's not the reason why! I don't want a baby!"
"Really? Then tell me why every chance you get, you touch that small little bump you have? Like now, you may not realize it, but your touching it."
Benny looked down and turned red. Sure enough he had a hand resting on his stomach. "So what?"
"I just want you to be happy Dad." He placed a hand on the stage door and turned to look at Benny. He no longer bared any resemblance to Erica, instead he looked almost like Ethan except for the eyes, they were green. "Maerd's classroom is beyond this door. You ready?" Benny nodded. "Before we go in I need to tell you something. The only way to escape the Dreamscape is to shock the person whose sleeping awake. The best way to do that is to tell them something important, remember that ok?"
"Doctor G mentioned something like that," whispered Benny. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because Ethan's a Seer, his power is connected with the baby's which gives Maerd a chance to escape. You need to be ready to follow after her if something goes wrong."
"Won't you be there?"
"I exist in your mind, I won't be able to follow you if something happens and she escapes into Ethan's" Eric looked down sadly. "Ready Dad?"
Benny nodded and together they threw open the door. Floating in the middle of the Home Ec class was Maerd. Her white hair moved of its own accord, her hands and arms were long and distorted, and her face void of any emotion. The monster leaned towards them.
"How did you escape my control?"
"You don't everything about me," said Benny as he thought of his unborn son. "You forgot the most important thing in this perfect world."
"And what's that?"
"Me," yelled Eric as he grabbed a pot off the counter and swung it. It went through the Wraith, and both boys shared a worried look. Maerd began to laugh.
"You do not belong here, you are an anomaly in this world. Allow me to end your existence."
The creature flew towards them, Benny ducked and rolled to the side avoiding its wide swing. He casted a spell only to watch as it fizzled out. Eric went flying through the air and crashed against one of the cabinets. He caught sight of his son's purple eyes and frowned. The Wraith turned to face him and as she did a blurry image of Ethan appeared behind her.
"Benny!" screamed Ethan as he flickered in and out of existence. "Get out of here!"
"How unique, a Seer with the gift to enter another's mind. Even in the depths of sleep you fight to protect him."
"You have to protect the baby!" Benny and Eric turned to face one another unsure of what to do. "She can't hurt me here! I can hold her off with my powers, but-"
Maerd swung her arm leaving a long slash across Ethan's chest. He suddenly vanished in a flash of blue light
"NOW!" screamed Benny as he darted for the creature. He placed his right hand against her, and as he did the ring began to glow. Meard reared back in pain only to run into Eric, whose eyes were glowing purple. She screamed out loud and knocked the boy to the side. She turned to Benny and swung. He felt a burning sensation in his arm and stumbled backwards with blood pouring from his new wound.
"You're with child? How... unique. Forget your simple soul, I want the one of the unborn life within you. Imagine the limitless power a child born between a Spellmaster and Seer could have. Imagine what I could. The mind races at races at such thoughts."
Time suddenly slowed. He watched as Maerd's raised her arm high, and from the corner of his eye caught Eric's mischievous smile. He closed his eyes as he did a sickening wet sound filled the air. Unable to stop himself Benny looked up.
Eric was standing in front of him with Maerd's arm running through his chest. The sight alone was more than Benny could handle, he felt his breath catch in his throat and stifled a cry. All around them cracks began to appear tearing the world apart. As the spread the Wraith screamed in pain. She pulled her arm free and floated away from them screaming. Benny slowly crawled over to his son and felt tears well up in his eyes. The brown hair and green eyes, why hadn't he seen it before? He wasn't Erica's son anymore, no... he was Ethan's.
"Don't cry," whispered Eric as the cracks began to expand. "I told you... I had... a plan."
"But if you die then..." He placed a hand on his stomach. "No..."
"He's fine... I don't belong here. I'm found... I live... I die... This was the only way... to wake you... She's gonna try... to get Ethan... Follow her... protect him... And one... last thing..." He leaned forward and whispered into his ear. Benny nodded.
"I promise."
"Good... be... careful... Dad..." He closed his eyes. "She's... coming... The Fortune Teller..." His head fell to the side and Benny felt anger well up within him. He stood up and looked at Maerd, who in turned glared back at him. A large black hole appeared in the floor between them.
"There are more ways than one to acquire the soul I so desire. I will have that power, even if I must use another to get to it."
She smiled and flew into the strange abyss. Benny looked at gash across his arm and then at Eric's body, time was of the essence. He dove into the darkness and far ahead caught sight of the ghostly creature. There was something oddly comforting about the shadows, and then all at once it dawned on him. They were heading into Ethan' mind.
"Don't worry E," said Benny as ran as fast as he could. "I'm coming."
Benny moaned, and turned his head. As he did another drop of blood fell from his right arm into the small pool forming underneath him.
