"How should this Work? Are you clones or what?"
The scene was quiet awkward, as Remi broke the silence. She was glad, that she finally found her strong voice again. Hershel only stood right next to her, still shocked by the statement:
His Logical Puzzle mind, couldn't get it... it wasn't possible, that two people were so alike. Not even Twins!
'This Mystery seems to have no answer...'
Hershel whispered passively to himself, when one of the 'Ben's spoke:
"We'd like to invite you to a delicious cup of tea..."
Remi raised an eyebrow and made a confused expression. Was this some kind of joke?
'I adore tea, but I couldn't think for a moment, in which it would more inappropriate than now!'
The other Ben interrupted his conversation with himself, with a simple add:
"... Only, if you don't mind, Professor."
Both chuckled synchronic, because of Hershel's title. This was just insane...
Then both men looked at each other, merely shrugging, after they've received no reaction from Remi and Layton.
"Okay, we've asked you politely. You had a choice to witness it harmless..."
"Witness it harmless? What do you m- Ahh."
Hershel was kicked down to the ground, since the Men knew what his vulnerability was. The injured Foot started to bleed massively... again!
"No! Hershel.."
She cried, when she saw him on the ground, screaming out of pain. The sound was just terrifying, full of pain and anxiety. Soon, a dirty rag was roughly plugged into his mouth, when one of the Ben's pulled him up on his feet.
Remi was also easy to defeat this time: Her back was open, still uncleaned, nor protected by bandages. So 'Ben' firmly pressed his large hand on her injury and pushed her down to the floor. Another rag was pulled out of the long black coat 'Ben' wore and also landed in Remi's mouth. Both couldn't speak anymore, neither walk independently. Their grip on each back was just too firm and strong. They couldn't rip themselves apart. Trapped...!
"We'll bring you to a familiar place, Layton. I'm sure you'll like it there..."
Laughing devilish, The men steered Hershel and Emmy away from the secondhand shop, to the direction of his own apartment!
'Claire! Luke, Flora!'
Professor's thoughts were now, only by them. When they would reach his apartment, the men probably would get Claire and the others, to extort himself. But why? What was the reason for all these injuries and the picture Hershel found once in the park? The whole thing had nothing to do with it! Even the evidences on the crime scene made no sense anymore, If a Ben would be the culprit...
"Here we are Lady and Gentleman!"
His presumption was right... They were now in his modest apartment, in which it was strangely silent. Every door was closed, all lights were off and the house was quiet clean... as if someone was expected from the holidays to return. But the appearance are deceitful, The Ben's knew that.
"Let's see, where Claire might be..."
The Ben, who held Remi's arms behind her back, left her and opened one door. He was pretty sure that this was the right one, when he saw Hershel's expression. It said something like:
"Don't you dare to touch the door handle."
Not in an aggressive way though, for that, he hadn't enough strength.
The man didn't cared at all and opened the entrance to Layton's bedchamber. The scene in his bedroom was rather peaceful: Claire laid in his bed, beneath his cozy covers and all snuggled up to his pillow, which naturally smelled like himself. With a fond smile on her lips, she fell asleep.
"How cheesy. Hey! Woman!"
Ben yelled into the chamber, what caused Claire to jump up and look at the men and at their hostages, they had in tow.
"Hershel!"
Sleepy, Claire tried to stand up and ignore her weakness she still felt from the hit.
Layton merely shook his head wildly in all ways, wanting the man to let go of him but it all didn't helped. Claire only got more excited and just wished for his freedom, and for Remi's as well. Then Ben grabbed Claire by her wrist and pulled her to himself closer, so that he could feel her heartbeat.
"Now, that we're all gathered together, we should take our teas, don't you think, Layton?"
No response. No surprise.. how could he even give one?
"Flora, did you heard that too?"
Luke was sure that a stranger's voice was talking in the gear in front of his room.
"Actually yes, but I thought that I merely imagined that."
She said to him, while she looked up into his eyes. They were still in their embrace, when the whistle of the up heating teapot, made him leery.
"Sorry, My... Dear. I need to check on the Professor. I know that it isn't him that makes tea right now..."
"Why do I feel so uncomfortable?"
Asking, she helped him with removing her arms around his back. Then Luke walked out of his chamber, but Flora didn't followed him. No, in contrary, she decided to read her book along...
"Professor? Is that you?"
Insecure, he held his hands before his body, to see with them. The darkness just wouldn't let him recognize the people, who were standing in front of him. But then suddenly the light went on.
"Luke, my boy...!"
A Ben spoke, adjusting his voice, to sound like Hershel. The other Ben laughed deeply as he grabbed Luke as well, which caused him to scream up.
"Luke?"
Flora threw her book down, on his bed, when she ran outside the chamber, to find her beloved 'family', in danger.
"What... Whats going on here?"
She was quiet out of breath as she saw the scene:
Hershel was paler than pale and sitting on the brown couch, held by Ben, so that he couldn't stand up or say anything. Claire was in front of him... sitting there voluntary, since she had no energy to make anything else. Remi sat next to Hershel, her head hanging lowly from the pain. It looked as if she lost consciousness but she hadn't.. You could tell from her blinking eyes. Luke was also at the mercy of a Ben... He was still healthy and punching the guy right behind him. Every time he kicked back, he missed the man. Was he invisible? Somehow it felt, or looked like it.
Screaming for her Luke yelled:
"Flora.. go away!"
Shocked she refused his order and ran upon Ben, who was trying to quiet Luke down.
"Get off him!"
Now two teens were fighting against him, whit an audience:
"Luke... Stop it. He's stronger than you."
Claire whispered wisely. She was so right, but should he just give up and leave the men, doing what they wanted to? No! Flora didn't stopped as well...
"Luke! Stop it now!"
Hershel yelled with all the strength he had over. A few seconds ago he finally got the dirty rag out of his mouth, with blowing against it really hard... Ben, who was behind him, didn't checked his mouth, while he was doing so. The 'fight' was distracting him! To Hershel's joy..
Luke, of course, stopped it. Flora was now also standing on the ground, awaiting what Ben was going to do with them.
"Thank you, Layton!"
He said, cheeky and folded Luke's arms behind his back, adding:
"I think, this won't quiet you down... what if I..."
Ben formed his hand to a fist.. and bashed it right into Luke's face.
"AHH!"
Landing on the hard floor, he wiped blood away, which came from his nose... The men laughed once again, as Flora bowed down to him:
"Luke, are you okay?"
She said, but then... a sudden feeling of sickness over came her: After all, she couldn't see or smell blood. Her face was getting paler, her arms were now, only hanging down next to her body and her torso strangely felt heavier...
It hauled her down, as if magnet was pulling her by her thin arms.
Luke came back to reality, when he heard the sound of her, crashing down and quickly hovered over her, saying:
"Hey! Stay with me! Wake up! Nooo!"
Shacking her, he knew that it was too late. She was already unconsciousness.. and his injury ached even more now.
"You Bastards! Why don't you just leave us alone!"
Luke was so angry and ready to kill anyone, who would hurt his beloved 'family'! The only thing that hampered him, was his head.
"Professor.. My head.. it.. it's spinning...!"
Placing his hand on his temples, Luke tried to massage It away, but it didn't helped. Then... he saw a movement in the corner of his eye, which was coming from Remi.
Everyone has already forgotten her! Her Hand firstly pointed at himself, then it made a calm move, which looked like a wavy movement that said to him:
'Lay down... and everything will be fine.',
What he also did: Luke sat down, right next to Flora with closed eyes, to concentrate on his pain. It worked!
"I guess my hit was set on the right place then..."
One Ben said, smiling cocky. Then the other man added:
"Since the kids don't disturb us, we can sip our teas, don't you think?"
With a grin on his lips, Ben disappeared in the kitchen and filled the five cups with hot, delicious tea for the adults.
With a tablet, he slowly walked into the living room and glided the underlayment on the low table.
"Here we go! Take one, Layton."
Strangely enough Ben placed the cup caring in his hand and continued this with Claire and Remi as well.
"Ben?"
The other Ben said...
"I don't like the atmosphere in here! As if we aren't welcome, thereby we're indulge them!"
Claire didn't took a sip from the brew, nor did Hershel and Remi. It could of be poisoned, although the men sipped it up, to the last drop.
The group only raised their eyebrows and listened to their own conversation in disbelieve...
"Same here! For what could they even ask? They've got it all..."
"Maybe for freedom?"
Remi rudely added into the conversation... but hey, the men provoked it! The situation wasn't the right one to provoke them though. No-one had any nerves left for such games!
"Oh, you'll get your freedom, but not yet. Would you mind if we go walk a bit?"!
Was he completely nuts now? Taking a walk was far from inappropriate.. no, it was closer to madness! Everyone was injured now, unconsciousness or extremely weak, so why should they go for a stroll?
"Sounds good, mate! I think we all could use a bit of fresh air..."
Ben number two said, when he pushed Hershel up on his bleeding feet again. He cried out, when he nearly didn't felt his foot.
"Calm down, Hershel. I'll get us out of here..."
Claire returned his shout and focused on her strength she had over, to reach for the phone in her proximity. Walking slowly, she grabbed the white phone and tipped the number of the police in.
"Hey! What are you doing there?"
Ben number one let go off Layton and grabbed Claire by her wrist, causing her to drop the phone.
"Don't you ever do that again, or I'll..."
"What? Do you want to harm her?"
Hershel spoke in between. Ben number two's grip began to get tighter around his arms, as he stepped forward to say:
"Now, now. Gentlemen always have their manners! You should know that, Layton!"
He started to get angry, when Ben number one forced Claire out of the door...
"Ben? Haaa...Jaaa!"
Remi was always unattended and took her chance to knock Ben number one out: She stood up, quiet silent, but leaving a blood mark from her back on the couch. Then she sneaked up, right behind his back and swung her right leg up to his occiput. With an hard crashing sound, he landed on the floor, not moving anymore. Claire looked puzzled around. But then Remi tended to fall down as well, what Luke noticed at first. He ran over and caught the rather light woman from behind. She merely moaned:
"Ouch... my back."
Carefully, Luke placed Remi to the wall right behind them and ran to Ben number one. When he arrived the man on the ground, tried to slap him awake.. and also out of anger but then.. suddenly... his nose..
It just flew away...
"No!"
Author's Note: Soo.. the story's going to an end.. two more chapters to go... I'm actually working on the last one, so please R&R and then I'll upload the sequel in which the story behind Ben will be... soo stay tuned and thanks for reading again :)