Thank you for the masses of support from everyone, I really appreciate it. I probably won't be able to post for a week, I have tons of exams next week but I will start again as soon as possible, so try to be patient xxx I'll do my best to at least get maybe one chapter on this story up but I can't make promises. Keep reviewing, I love reading all of them.
Matt couldn't understand any of the mumbled words but the sweet, calming melody was enough and soon his eyelids grew heavy and he fell into a satisfying, exhausted sleep.
BEN POV
Ben was in a room.
It was dark and he could barely make out the outlines of objects. His head was filled with an intense throbbing and the spikes on his back felt hot and itchy, though not painfully so. The language of the Skitters echoed around him but he couldn't find any sense in it, no matter how hard they listened. There was something else though, like grunting and laboured breathing amongst the cool, quiet darkness.
All of a sudden the lights flashed in around him and Ben was temporarily blinded. Rubbing his eyes quickly, he pried them cautiously open, his heart leaping as he came face to face with Karen. Ben cried out in surprise and put his hands out to defend himself; however the action proved unnecessary as she passed straight through him like a ghost. Two Overlords flanked her, a Skitter behind them carrying a strange bug like creature. It took Ben to realise it was a harness; but one like he'd never seen before, smaller and pulsating with energy.
"Glad to see you're awake, Hal. Now you'll get to fully experience the wonder of the joining."
Karen's voice seemed distant, a little disembodied and it took a few seconds for Ben to register what she was saying.
"Wait Hal?" Ben cried out, his voice going unnoticed as the conversation continued.
Karen moved beside a harnessing bed to reveal Hal, restrained on his stomach. Ben ran forward, stopping on the opposite side of Karen and tried to undo the restraints on his wrists. Karen's hand glided down Hal's back and he lashed around, struggling in futile to get free. The restraints were just as non-existent as Karen had been and Ben's fingers phased straight through like they were made of air. Ben almost sobbed in despair as Karen pressed down on Hal again, harder this time, so he stopped fighting.
"You don't realise how incredibly special you are Hal. The Head of the Overlord's had chosen you because of your prowess. You're the right age, perfect build, strong, determined, intelligent, and skilled-you're the ideal candidate in every aspect of your being despite being just a human. You should be honoured."
Karen's face was calm as she spoke and Ben found that his screams were trapped in his throat. He made a strangled whimper but the strange noise continued to be unheard by those around him.
"Lucky me…" Hal's snarl was barely audible, the exhaustion and terror evident in his voice making it sound weak and pathetic ""Please Karen, don't do this!"
Ben reached for Hal's shoulder when he begged, trying to offer some kind of ghostly comfort but again Ben's hand just slipped through like he wasn't real. But that was it, he wasn't real.
This must be a dream.
Karen took the harness from the Skitter and dropped it gently onto Hal's back and Ben almost reached out to stop it before recognising it was a useless exercise and stepping back in defeat, drowning in the sense of hopelessness that had overcome him.
"Don't worry Hal, it'll all be over soon. No more pain, no more emotion, you'll feel clarity and understanding. I was scared when I was chosen too, but it soon passes; a waste of energy to fight, just relax and accept the Overlord's mind into yours."
Ben watched in horror as the harness climbed up his brother's tense back and fixed itself into his neck, sinking down below the skin so that it almost disappeared completely, only living slight bumps across his exposed skin.
"You'll be more powerful than the Skitters, Hal. More important than an entire army of mechs. They'll die to keep you, Hal. Human royalty, ordering all those below you for your King. No one we'll be able to stop us. And best of all…"
There was a sickening, gut wrenching pain in Ben's gut as Karen leaned close to Hal's face, her lips almost brushing against his ear and he saw Hal shift slightly.
"We'll do it together."
Ben's heart froze in his chest and tears welled in his eyes as he finally found his voice again. The edges of his vision blurred and tinged a deep crimson colour and the pounding in his head intensified.
"Hal!" Ben screamed as he sat bolt upright in bed, reaching into empty space as the sheets slipped off the bed.
His father rushed to his side bending down to his level as tears tumbled down Ben's cheeks and he clutched his father desperately, sobbing uncontrollably into his chest like he was a little kid again. Tom's shirt was already moist with Matty's tears and now Matty had climbed onto Ben's bed, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and the whole family cried together. All the while Ben telling himself…
It was just a dream.
It was just a dream.