TETHERED
I lost readers when I stopped updating this fic, due to my hectic life (I'm sorry), but if you thought the previous chapter was a doozy (I'm going to try to kick this story up a notch more if I can - without making it overdramatized (though it's about vampire rape), this chapter especially. Wait until you get to the end of this, I need to attract my readers back (It'd help if the show was on more in both the U.S. and Canada). But, the only way I can update, is if I get more awesome reviews from the current readers like I have.
Here you go, do please enjoy the powerful and lengthy 10th chapter! And Ethan's pain will begin to go away, little by little. Going to introduce a recurring OC in this fic soon, to help Ethan, a much needed additional voice.
Chapter 10: Cauchemar
"Ethan?!" Benny asked confused running over to the light switch, "What are you doing up this late?!"
Ethan answered to him frantically, "Trying not to get shot by magic!"
"That's what happens when you creep upstairs like a burglar!" Benny answered.
Ethan stuttered, "S-so you don't hear me fall when I trip over your shoes, but you can hear the faint squeak of a stair in your sleep?!"
"You fell?" Benny asked him, obviously unaware.
Ethan scoffed and walked upstairs, yelling down to Benny, "I'm going to the bathroom, I almost did a minute ago!"
"Fine, I'm going to the bedroom!" Benny yelled, grabbing up his shoes, hoodie, and short sleeve shirt. Grumbling, "Ethan scares me and he's the one upset." Benny then flashed a finger toward the light switch, using magic to turn it off. Benny said a "Ha!" of success, going upstairs.
Ethan was in the bathroom, waiting for the water to warm up to wash his hands, Ethan was staring in the mirror, thinking about Benny. "Why did Benny let me fall asleep on him? And when did I? I don't recall Benny being the first to fall asleep. And how come I seem to be okay falling asleep on him?" All kinds of questions invaded Ethan's thoughts, but he couldn't come up with a definitive answer to any of them. "I'm losing it." Ethan whispered, shaking his head.
Ethan was brought out of his thoughts when he heard Benny calling for him, "Ethan, are you okay in there?!"
"I'm okay." Ethan said walking into Benny's room to see Benny sitting up in the bed, Ethan walked around to the other side and sat next to him. "Just glad I fell on the floor and not the stairs."
Benny turned to him, "I don't mean about that..." Benny trailed, exchanging a look with Ethan.
"Oh," Ethan then knew what Benny was referring to, "I still think about it, Benny. As much as I try to keep it off my mind, I can't." Ethan said softly, looking at Benny, who had concern (and bags) in his eyes, "And now I've pulled you into my situation." Ethan then looked away from him.
Benny interjected, "Ethan, you haven't pulled me into anything, there's no need to be ashamed, if your hurt, I want to help! And it's not a situation, you were raped for God's sake, and raped by a blood-sucking, revenge-seeking vampire at that." Benny then put a hand on his shoulder, "You'll get through this Ethan."
"Right now Benny, I'm having a hard time getting through anything, and he's coming back for more Benny, he said as much." Ethan told him on the verge of tears.
Benny sternly reminded Ethan of his promises, "And what did I tell you Ethan? I swear, I'm going to protect you from that bloodsucking bastard!"
"Benny watch it!" Ethan yelled to him, shrinking from Benny's hand on his shoulder, "Your hands were starting to glow again."
Benny quickly looked down at his dimming hands, "Sorry E, guess tonight's not my night for magic." Benny said sheepishly, rubbing his hands together. "And too, I guess, I just want to get payback for you."
Ethan smiled at Benny, "Thanks, B." Ethan said to him calmly.
"Anytime, E, always. Now I think you should try to get some sleep, in a more comfortable position I'm sure." Benny suggested.
Ethan lightly groaned at the thought, "Benny, there's no way I'm going to be able to sleep."
"You had no problem drifting off downstairs." Benny joked, reminding Ethan, "... or last night." Ethan nervously chuckled, hoping the moon-lit and street-lit room hid his growing blush, Ethan knew that both times he woke, he was on Benny's person. "How about this, I'll stay awake until you fall asleep?"
Ethan looked at him, trying his best not to look to anxious or hopeful that his friend would do that for him, "If you don't mind, Benny."
"Not at all Ethan, not at all." Benny assured him as Ethan scooted down in bed, Benny helping throw sheets and blankets on him.
Ethan yawned and turned over, "Good night, Benny."
"Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the vampires bite!" Benny joked, Ethan turned his head to give Benny a stern look, "Dude, I was kidding." Benny said flatly.
Ethan turned back over, with a smirk on his face, "I know you were Benny, I know. And that's what's been helping through this... you're what's helping me through this. I wish I could tell you these weird feelings I have around you now, but it'd just freak you out more... or worse, and I can't have that." Ethan thought, Ethan always did love Benny, but it was more of a sibling-I've-always-wanted type love, or was it? Thoughts like these flowed through Ethan's mind until he fell asleep in what seemed like minutes.
Meanwhile Benny was watching his best friend sleep, Benny thoughts focusing more on what he could do to ease Ethan's pains and get rid of his fears, and the shame Ethan seemed to walk around with now. "Ethan, my poor buddy, I'm going to make this right. Jesse's days are numbered, something I bet has never crossed his warped mind. I just wish a knew a way, without magic and spells, to make you feel better."
After a while, when Benny saw Ethan was sleeping peacefully, he decided to get some much needed shut-eye himself. But later in the morning, before daybreak, Ethan was dreaming.
BRIEF WARNING, NOTHING EXPLICIT OR GORY, BUT TORTURE IS INVOLVED, SKIP DOWN PAST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THIS PORTION - EVERYONE ELSE, HANG ON. Ethan/Sarah readers might like the first part of this. And for this portion of THIS CHAPTER, text in ITALICS is Ethan dreaming.
Ethan was in math class and the bell just rang to dismiss them, Ethan and Sarah were walking to her locker. She said to him, "Ethan, your mom called last night, said they were going dancing tonight..."
"I told dad it was a bad idea after last time with the square dancing, but he insists he's fine; probably as long as they don't do the Tango, Copa, or go Salsa dancing." Ethan joked to her.
Sarah lightly chuckled, "Anyway, I thought after Jane goes to bed and Benny crashes on the floor, maybe you and me could watch a scary movie... together... alone... on the couch?" Sarah asked unsure and was asking more so than stating, unsure of Ethan's response.
"Cool, I'm looking forward to it." Ethan said to her, looking to see Benny standing by a wall, looking at Erica, "There's Benny, I'll see you tonight."
Sarah smiled, "It's a date." They both exchanged a nervous glance, "Well, not that kind of date."
"Of course." Ethan chuckled nervously, smiling at her and walking to Benny. "Dude, me and Sarah are watching a movie tonight!"
Benny, paying more attention to Erica who was applying red lipstick in her locker, and wiping around her mouth with a tissue to make sure none was on her face, "Yeah yeah yeah dude what ever." Erica then walked past them, winking at Benny.
"Let's go." Ethan said walking off.
Benny then said to him, "Dude, you're on your own, I've got a date following Ms. Beautiful Vampire... check ya later!" Benny said running off after Erica.
Ethan looked after Benny, watching him follow Erica carefully, Ethan was heartbroken. "Boo!" Ethan heard and jumped, he looked behind him to see Rory smiling and laughing, "Ethan I so totally got you man!"
"Whatever Rory, jeez." Ethan said pushing past him to walk home on his own.
Rory stared at Ethan walking off, shaking his head, "He's just mad 'cause I got him, again!"
Ethan was stomping home, upset with Benny's decision to go chase after Erica, "Stupid Benny," Ethan grumbled, "Why doesn't he, just get down on his knees and confess his love for her? He'd get better results. Erica likes his blood anyway, she'd probably be glad to have Benny around to sample him like wine... vampire wine!" Ethan said then noticing that he was alone, it was getting darker in a matter of seconds, and it got cloudy. "What the- nobody said anything about rain today." Ethan looked up in the sky in surprise as a huge bolt of lighting flashed followed by a loud blast of thunder and rain.
Ethan pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and buttoned his outer denim jacket, it seemed the more Ethan walked, the worse the weather got; harsh rains and winds, eardrum bursting thunder and deadly lighting flashes. Then before Ethan knew it, a huge flash of lighting blinded him and when he blinked his eyes to see his surroundings, he was surprised at who was standing in front of him, "Jesse?!"
"I'm back, seer!" The vampire said crazed followed by wicked maniacal laughter. Jesse then stopped abruptly, "Let's go." He said grabbing Ethan, who tried to fight him off but couldn't, Jesse took to the skies with him in a flash.
Everything was blurry to Ethan, but he felt everything that was happening to him, just like the times Jesse actually abducted him, to brutally assault him, physically sexually, and even mentally. Like he did before, he begged of Jesse not to harm him that way and Jesse ignored him and used him like a toy, to play with and dispose of as he so chose. Like on that first night Ethan was on a floor, naked, and sobbing, Jesse's taunting voice standing over him echoed, "Ethan, you're nothing but a weak and pathetic seer, I know it, you know it, Sarah knows it, your friends and family know it! Don't feel bad your ancestors were the same. You have no true magical powers, you're no supernatural creature, you're nothing but dinner!" Jesse then snatched Ethan up off the floor, "C'mon."
Ethan blinked and tried to move but couldn't, he was strapped to a table and saw needles and tubes in his arms, in the side of his neck, he looked down to see one on his left leg and watched Jesse stick him in his right. "Jesse you bastard, let me go! You won't get away with this!" Ethan then felt himself weaken in a matter of seconds.
"Yes I will, you and I both will be gone before anyone has a chance to figure it out. Your family and Sarah think you're hanging out with that stupid spell caster, he thinks you're with Sarah." Jesse said gripping Ethan's face. "You'll make a good smoothie for a few friends of mine. This is what you're meant for Ethan, serving the dietary needs of the vampire community."
"Shut. Up." Ethan said softly, slipping into unconsciousness, in his sleep. Ethan was trying to yell for help but found he couldn't. He just heard Jesse's evil laughter.
WE'RE BACK IN NORMAL POINT OF VIEW NOW.
In actuality, Ethan was moaning loudly in his sleep, with a feeling of suffocation over him. Benny groaned when he heard the noises, "Not again." Benny whispered turning over to see Ethan in a deep sweat, shallow breathing, and murmuring and mumbling in pain in his sleep. "Geez, E, wake up." Benny shook Ethan with concern, Ethan was stuck in his nightmare, he yelped, or tried to, he heard Benny, but couldn't wake up. Benny grabbed Ethan, triggering a reversed vision, pulling Benny into his nightmare.
Benny blinked and he saw he was in Ethan's nightmare, he saw the horrible predicament Ethan was in, bound to a table, blood being drained out of him at a quick pace. "Ethan!" Benny yelled to him, running over to his side. Benny lighted shook Ethan, "Ethan, wake up."
Ethan weakly looked to his concerned friend and could only whisper, "I am Benny. Leave. Jesse, coming back."
"No, you're not awake E, it's a dream... well nightmare in this case. And a really freaky one at that. Maybe you should stop watching horror movies to much huh?" Benny joked. Ethan deeply stared at Benny. Benny's look then quickly jumped back to a serious look, "Right. Ethan, what the heck happened anyway?"
Ethan shrugged and weakly replied, "Don't know. You triggered vision."
"But this isn't one of your normal ones E, this is just bête noire because of what happened to you with Jesse." Benny said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Dude, all you gotta do is wake up. Focus on waking up."
Ethan did as Benny told him and focus his energy out of the hell that was going on in his head.
Ethan's eyes shot open and he jumped up, screaming and hyperventilating and unknowingly to him in Benny's arms, Benny consoling him. "E, it's okay man, it was just - a night... mare." Benny trailed looking at Ethan's face in shock, not only did Ethan look like someone had put him through the wringer, there was blood under the tip of his nose.
"What?" Ethan asked Benny fearfully, wondering why Benny froze.
Benny reach behind Ethan and showed him small spots of blood on his pillow, "You had a nosebleed E, this is just not your night."
"It hasn't been my week Benny." Ethan said to him trying to look down at his nose.
Benny got up and grabbed a few tissues out of a box on his dresser and walked back over to Ethan, gently placing them on his nose. "Hold them there okay?"
"Yeah, because it's obviously not my first nosebleed Benny." Ethan said sarcastically, sounding stuffy as if he had a cold.
Benny then said to him walking out of his room, "And don't talk either. I'll be back," Benny went downstairs, to call his grandmother. Benny found he left his cell phone downstairs on a coffee table, he scrolled through his phone to find his grandmother's number.
His grandmother groggily answered, "Hello?"
"Gram, it's me, I've got a problem!" Benny said frantically.
Ms. Weir sighed, "Benny, it's 4:30 A.M., my house better not be burning down... if it is, you're on your own and I'll deal with you accordingly."
"Gram-ma, I didn't do anything! Yet anyway." Benny snapped to her, "It's Ethan, there's something wrong with him."
"Ethan?" Ms. Weir asked, raising up out of her hotel bed, more concern in her voice.
Benny wryly chuckled, "So if I'm about to burn the house down you don't care, but if Ethan's in trouble you start?"
"Benjamin, what is wrong with Ethan?!" She snapped at him to get him to finish telling her.
Benny began to explain to her, "Well Gram, he just had this freaky nightmare which he pulled me into when I tried to wake him, and now he has another nosebleed."
"Hmm..." Grandma Weir pondered, "Sound as if you triggered one of Ethan's visions, were you touching him?"
Benny recalled, "Yeah, when I was trying to wake him up... that's what he thought."
"I'm coming home tomorrow Benny if that's any comfort." She told him before asking, "Has he told you what happened?"
Benny sighed and sat on the arm of the couch, "Don't tell Ethan I told you, but Jesse happened grandma, he brutalized Ethan all last weej as part of a revenge scheme and none of us ever figured it."
"Sounds like you're blaming yourself Benny, there is no blame to placed on anyone in this except Jesse, remember that." His grandma told him.
Benny replied to her, "I told Ethan that."
"Good. Is Ethan getting any rest?" She asked him curiously.
Benny wryly chuckled again, "That's the weird thing Gram, he only seems to when I'm in contact with him. Last night I had to hold him in my arms to get him to calm down and sleep, he fell asleep earlier tonight on me watching a movie... it's weird."
His grandmother chuckled then, "It's not weird Benny, it's because Ethan probably feels safe near you... although how that is, I do wonder."
"Ha ha Gram, real funny." Benny replied dryly.
His grandma continued, "As for Ethan's nosebleeds, he should probably seek medical attention if this keeps occuring. Is anything else wrong with him?"
"Ethan's physical scars will probably heal up soon... the mental ones are the ones I'm worried about grandma. It's like Ethan comes unhinged at every little thing now. He's like the opposite of himself." Benny explained to her.
He heard her deeply sigh on the other end, "The poor dear."
Ethan yelled from upstairs, "Benny, can I have some water?!"
"I'll be back up with some in a sec, E!" Benny yelled upstairs, taking his phone from his mouth.
Ms. Weir said to him, "Sounds like he needs you now."
"He wants water Gram, not me." Benny said to her sternly.
She redirected, "True, but he wants you to get it for him. His nose is bleeding, not his feet." She then added, "Like I said Benny, I'll be home tomorrow, probably before you get back from school."
"Okay Gram-ma, I'll call you tomorrow with an update." Benny told her.
Grandma Weir said to him sternly, "Please do Benny."
"Of course grandma, goodnight." He said about to end his call with her.
She corrected him, "No good morning Benny, you boys try to get some sleep."
"Try being the operative word there, gram." Benny told her thinking about if Ethan would even consider sleeping after what he dreamed about.
He heard Ethan snap from upstairs, "Benny, are you okay down there?! Where's my water?!"
"Okay, Ethan!" Benny snapped back upstairs, ending his phone call with his grandma. "He's yelling at me now," Benny grumbled walking into the kitchen, turning on the facet and grabbing a glass, "He wasn't yelling at me not five minutes ago when he was being terrorized in his dreams." Benny then went upstairs with a half-full glass of water for Ethan, who was still holding his nose. "I brought your water your highness." Benny said mockingly handing him the glass.
Ethan took the tissues away from his nose, which had a spot of dried blood under it, "Thank you, squire." Ethan shot back, taking a few sips before sitting it on Benny's nightstand.
"Good news, somewhat... grandma's coming back tomorrow." Benny said sitting down next to Ethan on the bed.
Ethan looked at him, "Why somewhat?"
"Dude, c'mon, I rarely have this house and the magic potions in it to myself. If it weren't for the fact you're down, someone turning into a goat and grandma finding out, I'd throw a party!"
Ethan scoffed, "Benny, you throwing a party? Bad idea. I'd rather go to a vampire party hosted by Erica."
"Dude, I would so wanna crash that." Benny said to him excitedly.
Ethan shook his head, "Good night Benny." Then getting back down into the bed.
"So E, you have a raging nosebleed and a freaky nightmare and now you want to go back to sleep?" Benny asked him confused.
Ethan turned over and answered him, "No..."
End of what I bet to you guys was the shocking 10th chapter of the new Tethered. Poor Ethan, still. It's still going to get worse for him, before it gets better. I want the next chapter to take place at school, see how (and if) Ethan can keep it together knowing Benny's around, but it's Benny, he's got tricks up his sleeves.
I know I promised everyone I'd have this up like 2 weeks ago, but busy, busy busy, it's getting closer to the end of the school year. (And why hasn't MBAV been renewed a 3rd season yet anybody know? I'd be more inspired to come back to the fics if the show was still on, reruns don't even air much anymore.) Clueless I'm still working on it guys, I just got a writers block from last update and I'm trying to flesh it out, don't worry, It'll be updated soon, because it's about to wrap up (to think it took me two years for Clueless).
If you want the powerful 11th chapter of this story though (which is ready for posting), you HAVE to hit me up in the reviews (which are awesome BTW, thank you ALL)!
However, I'll tease you guys into reviewing for Ch. 11 with some quick previews below:
It's Monday morning and Benny and Ethan were eating breakfast at Benny's house, "Keep number 2 pencils in your pocket at all times and a bottle of Holy water in your jacket pocket and you'll be fine. You so much as get a hint Jesse's around you, don't be afraid to strike!" Benny said to him slamming his hand on the table with a loud thud and his hand sparking, causing Ethan to jump.
Ethan quietly chuckled before fearfully asking Benny, "You okay, Benny? Lately you've been backfiring magic sparks."
Later at school, Sarah is at Benny's locker, asking about Ethan. "Sarah, threatening E is only going to make it worse. All I can say is Ethan's had a hard time lately and he's trying to deal with it as best he can." Benny told her.
Sarah angirly scoffed, "Really? I talked to Rory yesterday, he told me Ethan was a wreck! What is going on?!" Sarah snapped. Benny growled inwardly at Sarah's mention of Rory. Worry and concern then came back into Sarah's voice in a meek whisper, "What is going on Benny?"
"I'm sorry Sarah, you're just going to have to ask Ethan." Benny said giving her a soft rub on her shoulder before walking off.
Sarah had a sad and worried expression on her face.
Erica (and half the school) watches as Benny looses his cool with Rory, Benny slamming Rory into a locker, "Benny, let go, that hurts!" Rory yelled.
"Good." Benny said letting him go, but shoving him into the locker one more time for good measure.
"I'm sorry, I didn't tell Benny I swear!" Rory was then on his knees, holding his hands, basically begging Benny for mercy.
Review for chapter 11!