Chapter 8: A Brother's Sacrifice

Time began to fly quickly. With every passing day Lucas looked forward to being visited by Naomi. Every time she came he learned something new about his growing power. He was getting a handle on it, honing it and perfecting it. He also learned more about spirits in general, including the kind Hector was.

It seemed the lessons were helpful in his recovery. It kept him busy and away from doing anything reckless.

Gabe was happy to see his condition improve to the point the boy didn't need to be locked up in his room anymore. He was still off limits from pranks, but Lucas didn't really care.

He had taken to exploring the hospital, going through the wards when he was able to sneak out of the pediatric ward. Finding a few things to claim in the lost and found box. Hector also tried to keep him out of trouble, but even so sometimes it was just inevitable.

Including when heading back to his room he always stopped to look into one. There had been a new girl and she was around his age... He had to admit she was really cute, longish brown hair and hazel eyes. And she seemed nice.

Alas... It was rumored she never spoke to anyone. "You like her." Hector smirked nudging him as he broke out of his stupor.

"No I don't!" He hissed taking a glance back seeing the mysterious girl in question looking at him with an eyebrow raised. "... Uh…" He raised a hand. "... Hi?"

She waved back and gave a silent giggle.

He grinned and walked off quickly.

"I know that look…"

"Okay she's cute… Really cute…"

"Ha! Knew it!"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, not like I'm gonna marry 'er."

"Yeah, but still, your first crush, it's so... unlike you. You get all sensitive and gentlemanly."

He laughed. "Me, gentlemanly, suuuure… I do not count giving her my jello cup yesterday as gentlemanly."

Hector rolled his eyes. "Alright, whatever lover boy. So, you wanted to explore another part of the hospital today?"

Lucas nodded grinning. "Yep, was thinking we could check out the basement, who knows what old stuff they store down there."

"Ooooo, sounds like it should be fun and promising."

"I know right? What if we find something really cool like a brain in a jar? We could totally use that to mess with the nurses for WEEKS!" Lucas grinned rubbing his hands together at the thought. "... Let's go now I'm getting really excited."

Hector grinned. "Lead the way."

Lucas nodded hurrying down the stairwell, until he reached the basement level. Opening the door he stepped through. "Yeesh…"

It was dark, but he couldn't see any cobwebs. "Figures, hospital basements would be clean even… though I guess no dust means no getting caught easily."

"Yep, no chance of leaving tracks." Hector said, flying around the room, looking at different objects.

"But would it kill them to get better lights on down here?"

Lucas shrugged looking around peering at what was on the shelves near him. "Apparently. It would also apparently kill them to get decent food but I haven't heard any news on that changing either."

"Point taken."

"Thank you." He said as he went further in. "Geeze though… Darker than I expected… and not really anything worth taking off the shelves, no guts in jars not interested." But...Why is it so cold down here…?

Hector shivered a bit.

"... Wait… I'm COLD?"

"You're WHAT!? I thought ghosts don't get cold!" Lucas yelped in surprise. He thought ghosts didn't feel things like cold or pain.

"We don't! I usually don't feel anything save what I touch but this-" Hector stopped short. "...This…"

"This…?" Lucas looked around rubbing his arm. Something's wrong...

Hector's eyes were wide. "... No… This… This is…"

"So, you're familiar with our kind, aren't you ghost child?"

"What the..?" Lucas moved closer to Hector. "Where's that coming from?"

"After all...You are cursed."

Hector brought his arms around Lucas.

"Stay close to me…" Hector looked around before shouting. "No use hiding, show yourself you monster!"

Right before them appeared a man like creature. It was completely black with red outlines to make up features of it's face and body. It had on crimson clothes with a hood over it's head. It's mouth appeared deformed but it was obvious it had fangs. It gave a crooked grin as it locked it's eyes on the two boys. Hector knew very well what it was.

A Phantom...

"Never thought I'd meet a damned… this is very special."

"Special isn't what I'd call it… Stay away from us." Hector growled at the creature.

The Phantom laughed.

"Trying to be brave now. I've heard of a boy who let one of my brethren free, you must be the one they were talking about, now you're trying to be a good little boy and protecting a mortal."

The Phantom got closer and right next to Lucas' face.

"Aww… a cute little boy…. how petty."

Lucas gulped trying to get closer to Hector who tightened his arm around the younger boy. "Stay. Away. From. Him. What do you want from us?"

"Oh it's simple… His life… He isn't worth anything… He would make a fine meal however."

Hector growled. "So much as harm a hair on him I'll kill you!"

The Phantom let out a howling laughter.

"Listen to yourself! You know for fact you and I are both already dead!"

Hector mentally scolded himself. Smooth Hector. "Yeah… But I know you can feel pain, I'll put you through the worst pain you'll ever feel! Just like that Phantom did to me!"

"You think you can make a Phantom feel pain. You? A damned with no powers? You must be joking."

Hector narrowed his eyes. "I'm not…"

"Pathetic, if you're so sure of yourself… Try me… Though I won't play fair boy. After all… You stand between me and a meal… Why bother protecting the human? He's no different than you were… In fact, he might wind up just like you… A damned with no chance in Heaven or Hell…"

I'm going to hate myself for the rest of my life for this… "If you have a shred of dignity left, I have something I need to say to the boy before I take you on."

"Very well… You have three minutes."

Lucas looked up at him fear in his eyes. "What's wrong? What are you gonna do…?"

Hector knelt down a little so he and Lucas could have full on eye contact. "Lucas… I can't allow you to get hurt… Even if you ran now that Phantom would kill you with ease… I have to fight this thing… even if it means I give up my humanity."

His eyes widened as he started to shake a little. "You promised… You promised you wouldn't leave me! Why do you have to get hurt? I-I-I'm sure there's another way... Please…" He begged. He didn't want to be alone again. "Hector…"

Hector pulled him close into a tight hug. "Lucas… I gotta do my job as being your big brother… I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise… but I can't let you end up like me… you don't want this…"

Lucas sniffled as he hugged him back. "I'll find a way to fix this… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" This is all my fault… If I didn't want to come down here this wouldn't be happening…

"I know you will… Future Corpse Whisperer… you'll know how to find me, look for the collar." Hector held Lucas closer. "Lucas… promise me something… be strong…"

Lucas curled up a little, looking his brother in the eyes. "I promise... Even if it gets hard... Even if things hurt... I'll be strong... You taught me how… Hector... I'm gonna miss you.."

"I'll miss you too…" Hector pulled away gently. "Lucas… look away, you don't want to see this."

Lucas gulped but did as told turning away closing his eyes. "Big Brother… I love you…" He murmured.

Hector choked on his words. "I… I love you to… see you… in the future."

Hector stood before the Phantom. "Be very afraid." he taunted.

The Phantom sneered. "A little ghost and his human pet, yes very frightening." It mocked him.

Hector smirked raising his right arm pulling back the sleeve on his shirt to show the mark. "Not if I change."

The mark glowed red as did his eyes. Energy came around Hector. It changed him from his human form to something very similar to the Phantom before but still bared resemblance to who he once was.

"Let's play by your rules now." Hector grinned summoning a scythe.

The Phantom growled summoning it's own before charging. "He won't escape!"

"Yes he will!"

Hector clashed blades with the Phantom. Growling and kicking it hard in the chest.

"Let's play tag!" he screeched flying out of the basement to get the Phantom away from Lucas.

The Phantom snarled, chasing after him letting out a screech of anger. "YOU BRAT!"

Hector kept flying away. He took one last look at the hospital, a bit of remorse in his eyes. Take care… Lucas… Without another thought, he charged off with the Phantom right behind him.

It was dead quiet in the basement letting Lucas know that Hector and the Phantom were now gone.

He slowly opened his eyes and stood up. He felt a range of things, from fear to sadness... to anger. He didn't make a sound until he had made it out of the basement before the tears started to fall.

Why me..? Why did he have to take interest in me? I'm worthless… I wasn't worth protecting… I couldn't even protect him!

"This is my fault…" He punched the wall in his room as hard as he could. "ALL MY FAULT!"

"Lucas?"

The boy jumped a little, whirling around at the sound of his name. "What!?"

At the door was Naomi. She had concern in her eyes as she looked at him.

"... He's gone isn't he?"

Lucas looked down ashamed he was caught in a moment of weakness. "... Yeah… And it's my fault... my stupid idea…"

Naomi walked over to him, kneeling down to his level. "Lucas… Hector wouldn't want to hear you say that… you can't be mad at yourself for something you didn't see."

He sniffled, rubbing at one of his eyes. "Yeah… you're right… I just… I wish I could've stopped the whole thing from happening..."

Naomi tipped his chin up. "He was looking out for you… He actually spoke to me during one of my visits when you had to rest."

"He... He did..? What did he say?" He asked curiosity temporarily overtaking the rest of his emotions.

Naomi smiled gently. "He told me, "Corpse Whisperer, if anything ever happens to me, or if Lucas finally gets out of this place… please take care of him… you're the only person who'd be good for him, you know how his gift works, you could take care of him… please… I ask this as his older brother… please consider." … I guess making plans for the future in case anything happened."

"It sounds like Hector… He really cared about me… Always watched over me ever since I've been here…" Lucas thought over what was said as it clicked. "Wait… Then that means… He wanted you to...To be well… My mom?" He asked tilting his head to the side a little.

"Well… that is what he asked, and I took a lot of it into thought… even spoke to my daughter about it… She loves the idea of having an older brother and well, if you don't mind me being on work a lot… I could be… Corpse Whisperers have to stick together after all."

Lucas was quiet for a second, before he threw his arms around her.

"I'd really love that… I'd love that… I'll be a good boy… I won't do anything bad...I'd be a good big brother..." He couldn't believe his luck.

Hector...You really did think of everything didn't ya..?

Naomi slowly brought her arms around the boy, stroking his hair. "You are almost ready to leave Resurgam so I should be able to talk about filling out forms for adopting you… Oh you poor thing… You've been through a lot today…."

He nuzzled her hand a little, tears still fell but they weren't out of sorrow this time… It was relief. "It's been a really long day… A really freaking long day… He didn't want me to see what he was gonna do… I just don't wanna be alone…"

"Shhh…" Naomi picked up the boy sitting on his bed, cradling him a little into her. "You're not going to be alone Lucas… not if I can help it…"

He smiled a little laying his head on her shoulder. "Thanks… Mother…"

Naomi's eyes softened. "Lucas…"

Lucas closed his eyes letting out a sigh. "I'm really happy right now… I guess Hector doesn't have to worry about me anymore…"

"No he doesn't…" Naomi said stroking his back. "You're safe now."

He relaxed, curling up a little. "Safe...And never alone..." I got a mom now… A mom who's gonna take care of me… Not one who'd hurt me…

"That's right… for now… rest… I'm not going anywhere."

"Kay… Night…" He soon drifted off, for the first time in a long time his sleep was nightmare free.

Just as Hector would've wanted.