Will woke early that morning. Not wanting to wake Ari or Paul, Will took his laptop into the bathroom. Will wanted to make sure he could upload the article about Clyde Weston right when the news broke. He was waiting on Rafe to let him know when they had Clyde in custody.
Will looked over his article one last time. Will did everything he could to downplay his involvement in the whole thing. As far as the police knew Rafe got the evidence from an anonymous source. Will didn't want to put any more attention on him.
'Clyde got away with killing EJ and stabbing Sonny for so long. He took on Stefano and Victor without any trouble. Who knows what he could do to me even from jail?'
Thinking about Sonny reminded Will that he needed to talk to him about Ari. 'With everything that happened I almost forgot.'
Will didn't want to think about what currently was happening. Instead he grabbed his phone and dialed an old familiar number. 'Who would have guessed calling my ex-husband would be an easier option?'
Will listened to it ring before he got Sonny's voicemail message.
'I must be really freaked out about everything,' Will thought. 'Hearing his voice doesn't affect me at all.'
"Hey, um, it's me," Will said after the beep. "There's something I really need to talk to you about. Well," Will amended. "A few somethings. Please call me back when you get this. It's important. Um, bye."
Will went back to looking over his article.
His phone started buzzing across the bathmat.
"Hello?" Will answered.
"Will," Rafe laughed. "Will, we got him."
Will fiddled with his laptop and hit submit. Within seconds the entire town would know everything about the real Clyde Weston.
"What happened?" Will questioned.
"We used the program you told us to find the burner phone," Rafe explained in disbelief. "And we busted him and his little buddies in the middle of a drug deal."
"Wow," Will sighed. "What's going to happen now?" Will wondered. 'At least that's one problem solved.'
"Weston's getting processed and booked. All his little counterparts as well," Rafe explained. "We'll move him over after we interrogate him."
"Hey," Will licked his lips. "I think I should tell you my suspicions abou-,"
"Oh, son of a bitch," Rafe moaned. "Will, I gotta go."
"Rafe, I really think I should tell you-," Will tried again.
"Where's my father?" Will heard in the background before Rafe hung up.
"About Ben," Will finished with a sigh. "Right."
"Who are you talking to?" Paul questioned, leaning against the door.
"Rafe," Will said. "They arrested Clyde."
Paul nodded. He sat down next to Will and put his arm around him.
"Ben was there," Will told Paul. "I heard him yelling in the background. I tried to tell Rafe I thought it was Ben but he hung up before I got the chance."
"If he was yelling that must mean he's angry," Paul realized. "And the last time we know he was angry…"
"Yeah," Will sighed. "But now I think I'm getting angry too."
Paul made a questioning noise.
"He tried to take my daughter," Will stated. "He destroyed my old home. I was scared last night. Now I'm pissed."
"Then you have to prove it was Ben," Paul urged Will. "That's the only way to stop this. Do your thing," Paul gestured to the laptop. "And finish this."
"But," Paul said. "I'm relieved Clyde was arrested. I don't like that he threatened you on the same day that his son tried to kidnap your daughter."
"I know," Will agreed. "There's no way Clyde knew I was investigating him. So why did he even talk to me?"
"I don't like anything about this," Paul decided. He reached down to lace Will's fingers with his.
"I'm going to need you to leave, Ben," Hope told him calmly. "Before you make things worse."
"My father didn't do this," Ben argued loudly. "I know he didn't."
"OK, Ben, relax," Hope got the attention of one of the uniformed officers. "Go home to Abby and clear your head," Hope continued. "I know you're upset."
"Can I talk to him?" Ben asked. He looked at Hope desperately. "Please?"
Hope hesitated. She knew she shouldn't but Ben looked so upset. She knows Ben. He's marrying Abigail.
'It must be so hard for him,' Hope thought. 'He just got his father back in his life after all.'
"OK," Hope said. "Just for a few minutes."
Ben sat down across from his father in the interrogation room.
"How did this even happen?" Clyde demanded. "How could they have found me? How could they know what I did?"
"Do they know anything else?" Ben asked, face a mask of calm.
"No," Clyde sharply told Ben. "And they ain't gonna find out from me. Just keep your head low from now on."
"I can't," Ben said plainly almost rationally.
"Then you better find a way to finish this," Clyde caught his son's eyes. "For good."
A police officer entered the room, "Time to leave."
The police officer put his hand on Ben's arm and escorted him out.
"Fine," Ben pulled his arm angrily from the police officer.
'Calm down,' Ben ordered himself as he left the building. 'You can't lose control. Not here.'
Ben leaned against the side of the police station. He attempted to control his breathing. But all he wanted to do was wrap his hands around someone's neck. Feel that steady pulse weaken under his grip.
"Hard to believe," one police officer said. He was walking into the police station.
"Yeah," another one responded. "I can still see him sitting on his grandpa's desk with that little hat we made him."
"Now he's grown up and helping solve crimes," the first officer agreed.
"Never would have guessed little Will Horton would have figured everything out," Ben heard before they went inside.
'No, no we wouldn't,' Ben thought, fists clenched. 'Where's little Will Horton now? If you're not at your apartment where else could you be?'
"Anything yet?" Paul asked Will.
Paul and Ari were drawing pictures. Will was sitting on the bed, shoulders hunched towards his laptop.
"I think so," Will admitted. "I was right about his work schedule coinciding with the other girls. I'm working on placing him near the parking garage though. If I can get his face on screen that'll be it."
"Daddy," Ari started doing a familiar wiggle. "Potty."
Paul got up from the table. "I'll help," he grabbed Ari's hand and ran for the bathroom.
"Uh," Paul tried to figure out what to do next.
Will followed them with his eyes, amused.
"Everything OK in there?" Will asked.
"No," Paul and Ari answered together.
"I'm gonna run a bath," Paul told Will.
"Do you need help?" Will offered, amused.
"I got this," Paul insisted. "You work and save the day."
"Yell if you need me," Will told them, smile on his face.
Ben stormed through the town square when he saw a familiar face.
'Maybe this stupid bitch will give me some answers,' Ben thought.
"Morning, Dr. Evans," Ben greeted Marlena with a fixed smile.
'How easy would it be to wrap my hands around her neck and squeeze?' Ben wondered.
"Oh, good morning, Ben," Marlena smiled. "What are you doing here?"
'My father's been arrested and it's your grandson's fault. The grandson that ruined all my work with Chad. The grandson I'm going to take my time with. Hold him down and watch the light leave his eyes.'
"Oh, not much," Ben responded. "Just stopping off at the Pub to get Abby something to eat. She's been craving chowder lately."
Marlena laughed at the look on Ben's face. "Yeah, I remember those days. I think Sami was the worst when she was pregnant with Will. She only wanted mashed potatoes from KFC."
Ben chuckled. 'Maybe I'll pay Sami Brady a visit before Will. Maybe I'll just kill all three of you. Make sure he knows it's his fault.'
"What's that you've got?" Ben questioned. Marlena had several shopping bags in her arms.
"Oh, well," Marlena shrugged. "Paul just bought one of the condos at the Riverfront. These are just some housewarming gifts."
'Condo at the Riverfront?' Ben tried to hold in his grin. 'So that's where you're hiding, Will.'
"I heard that place is really nice," Ben said pleasantly. "Well, I better get going. I wouldn't want to upset Abby."
"We're all cleaned," Paul bragged to Will from the steamy bathroom. "Do you think you can get her something to wear?"
"Sure," Will smiled at Paul.
Will got off the bed and grabbed Ari's tiny little suitcase. He found a cute outfit for her to wear but no panties.
"I could have sworn I put some in here," Will said out loud.
"What's the problem?" Paul asked.
"I know I got out underwear for her," Will sighed. "I must have put them on her dresser and forgot to shove them in the bag."
"Well," Paul thought. "Why don't you give me the outfit for now and I can run back to your place and get them."
"Are you sure?" Will asked. "I can go."
"Hey," Paul shook his head. "I want you safe. Besides, I left that gun and the safe at your apartment."
"Paul," Will frowned. 'I thought he forgot about that.'
"I'll feel better if we had it," Paul told Will.
A few minutes later, Paul was putting on his jacket.
"I go," Ari insisted. She shoved her feet into her pink boots.
"Baby, you need to stay here," Will said. "You're hair's all wet and you aren't wearing any undies."
"Bored here," Ari complained. "I wanna go Paul. Please, Daddy, please?"
Will closed his eyes. He knew he couldn't resist the pout.
"Hey, I've got her," Paul promised. "We'll be back in twenty minutes tops."
"Make her put a scarf over her head," Will ordered. "And hold her hand. And-,"
Paul grabbed Will's jaw and kissed him.
"I'm not gonna let anything happen to her. I promise," Paul held Will's gaze.
"I know," Will nodded. "I trust you."
Paul helped Ari get into her coat. Before they walked out the door, Paul reminded Will.
"Why don't you call and see if someone can clean up the bathroom?" Paul asked.
"I make a mess," Ari grinned.
"Are you interested in buying, sir?" a friendly woman asked from the front desk at the Riverfront.
"Actually," Ben smiled charmingly. "I have a friend that's supposed to be moving in. This is kind of embarrassing but we have this prank war. And I was hoping to leave him a little present."
The woman sat up straight, blushing under the handsome man's grin.
"I'm sorry," the woman said. "But no one's moved in the building yet. If you give me a name though," the woman glanced at Ben through her eyelashes. "Maybe I could call you when he moves in."
"Maybe," Ben put his elbow on the counter. He leaned in closer and grinned.
'If you aren't here,' Ben thought. 'Where the fuck are you, Will?'
'Wait,' Ben chuckled. 'Where else would Will be? He's just like Abigail. Can't keep his legs closed.'
Once Will got off the phone with the front desk, he turned back to his laptop. He was still sifting through every bit of footage he could find near the garage. Unfortunately, he couldn't get a clear picture of the killer's face.
Getting a hunch, Will went about everything in another direction.
'If I want to find Ben I need to find Abigail,' Will thought.
Will brought up a security camera from the store across the street from the parking garage. Abigail didn't drive to the garage because Will couldn't find her on camera at the toll. So, Will assumed she must have walked and used a side entrance.
A few minutes later, Will saw Abigail waddling past the entrance to the parking garage. She went into a side door several seconds later. Waiting for a few beats, Will found what he needed.
Ben, looking at his phone, followed the same route as Abigail.
'He's wearing the same outfit as the killer,' Will realized sadly.
Working quickly, Will switched to the shoddy view inside of the first level of the parking garage. Now that he knew where to look it was almost easy.
Will followed both Abigail and Ben up the stairwell until they got to the fourth floor. Abigail hurried towards Chad. Ben watched from the shadows.
Will frowned when Abby yanked Chad into a kiss. The look on Ben's face said everything.
'I guess I know what made him so angry,' Will thought. 'I need to call Rafe.'
Before he got the opportunity Will's phone buzzed.
'Why does this always happen?' Will wondered.
"Hey, Grandma," Will greeted. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Marlena explained. "Just wondering if you knew when Paul was moving into his condo."
"Not for a few days," Will said. "He's waiting on the furniture he ordered. Plus, I think he has some of his old stuff from San Fran coming."
"Why do you ask?" Will questioned.
"I picked up some things for him," Marlena said. "I just wanted to know when to bring them over."
"Oh," Marlena laughed. "You'll never guess what Abigail's pregnancy craving is."
Will didn't have time for this.
"What?" Will dryly asked.
"Chowder," Marlena chuckled.
"Gross," Will frowned. "Did she tell you that?"
"No, Ben did this morning," Marlena said.
Will stopped. "You talked to Ben this morning?"
"Yeah, I ran into him while I was shopping. He told me," Marlena elaborated.
"Did he seem interested in you?" Will demanded.
"Well, he asked about my bags," Marlena replied. "And I told him they were for Paul's new place."
'Oh. Oh no,' Will thought.
"Did you tell him where it was?" Will asked lowly.
"Yeah," Marlena confirmed. "Why?"
"Nothing," Will shook his head. "Nothing. I have to go. I'll call you back later."
Will hung up before hearing his grandma's response.
'Ben's the killer and he knows about Paul's new place. When he finds out we're not there who knows what he'll do.'
Will dialed Rafe again. 'Please pick up,' Will thought. 'Please.'
A knock at the door made Will jump.
'Should I answer that?' Will thought.
"Room service," came a muffled voice through the door.
'Right,' Will relaxed. 'You called them, Horton. Don't get paranoid now.'
"Coming," Will called.
'Get a grip,' Will ordered.
He went to the door and sighed in relief when he saw a cleaning lady.
"Right," Will smiled weakly. "Um, sorry, can you clean the floor in the bathroom? My daughter's potty training and well, yeah."
"Of course, sir," the woman told him. She pushed her cart with cleaning supplies into the room.
While she set up, Will tried calling his grandpa next. When he didn't answer Will went to Hope.
'I can't get ahold of anyone and I know who the killer is,' Will tossed his phone onto the bed and started pacing. 'What do I do?'
Turning to his laptop, Will opened up a video recording program.
'If I'm as good at this computer stuff as I think,' Will told himself. 'I can hack the computers at the police station, record a message, and let everyone know the truth.'
Will stared at the laptop in disbelief. It took less than a minute to take over the SPD's website and access to all their computers.
'I really need to talk to Abe about this,' Will realized. His finger hovered over the button he needed to relay his message.
The cleaning lady moved out of the bathroom.
Will noticed her struggling with her cart. He crawled off the bed and went to hold the door open for her, wanting to be nice.
"Thanks for that," Will told the woman.
"It's OK, sir," the woman laughed. "I've cleaned worse."
Will nodded and smiled slightly. He waited until she was safely out the door before letting it go. Will turned back towards the bed. Will needed everyone to know the truth.
Will went to sit down on the bed when he realized he never heard the door snap shut.
Turning around, Will froze. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.'
"Do you think we should pick up some lunch on our way back?" Paul asked Ari.
Paul easily found the stack of panties with Disney princesses on them. He packed them in Ari's little suitcase. Ari insisted that she would carry her own bag.
"Yes," Ari jumped up and down.
"OK, let me call and see what Daddy wants," Paul smiled.
Paul held his phone to his ear. As Will's phone rang and rang, the smile slipped from Paul's lips. He tried one more time.
Attempting to stay calm for Ari's sake, Paul flashed her another smile.
'OK, check that stupid tracking device,' Paul ordered. 'Boy am I glad I made Will put that on when we got to the hotel last night.'
Paul pulled up the app and paled.
'Why isn't he answering if he's still in the room?' Paul calmly dialed the number for the hotel.
"Salem Inn, how can I help you?" a peppy voice answered.
"This is Paul Narita," Paul said. "Can you call my room for me? My guest isn't answering his phone."
"One moment please, Mr. Narita," the woman said. After a few seconds, "I'm sorry, sir. The phone must be off the hook. I can't complete the call."
"Thanks," Paul mumbled and hung up.
'Oh god,' Paul decided it was time to panic.
'I have to get back to the hotel,' Paul knew. But looking at Ari, Paul also knew he couldn't bring her. He couldn't put Ari in harm's way.
Paul knew Will wouldn't like this but it was an emergency. Paul got the gun from the safe.
"Paul?" Ari asked eyes wide. "Where's Daddy?"
"I-," Paul started before he was interrupted.
Pound Pound Pound
Paul put his large hand on Ari's shoulder and pulled her behind him.
'Did I lock the door?' Paul thought frantically.
"Ari," Paul whispered. "I want you to run to your room and close the door."
The doorknob turned.
"Now," Paul ordered, unlocking the safety on his gun. His hands were shaking.
Ari turned and tried to run but she stumbled. She crashed to her knees and began to cry.
Paul crouched down in front of Ari, blocking her from sight.
The door pushed open.
"I told you-," Sami Brady started to tell her brother before pausing in shock. "What the hell?!"
Paul slumped in relief. He put the safety back on the gun and shoved it in the back of his pants.
Sami rushed into the apartment and shoved Paul aside. She scooped up Ari into her arms.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sami shouted at Paul. "Where the hell is my son?"
Eric closed the door behind him.
"He's at my hotel," Paul replied, snapping out of his relief. 'He still could be in danger.'
"There's no time to explain," Paul told an irate Sami and Eric Brady. "But the killer has been targeting Will. I'm afraid he found him."
Sami, shushing Ari and wiping her tears, froze.
"We have to get to the hotel," Paul insisted, heading for the door. He tossed the keys to the apartment at Sami.
"Call the police," Eric shouted over his shoulder, chasing after Paul. "And John!"
Sami bounced Ari up and down and found her phone.
"911, what's your emergency?" a first responder asked.
Sami rattled off the information before hanging up and dialing John Black.
"It's OK, princess," Sami smiled at Ari's frightened, tear streaked face. "They're gonna save daddy, OK?"
"Hey," Will shakily greeted. "Ben, what are you doing here?"
"I realized something," Ben said. He entered the hotel room and closed the door, leaning against it.
Will backed up until he was standing at the foot of the bed. He brushed against his laptop. His fingers purposely jabbing where he needed them to. A quick sound indicated he was recording.
"I was thinking," Ben told Will. "I don't have a best man."
"If you wanted Sonny's number it's still the same," Will responded.
"It's not Sonny I was thinking of," Ben smiled at Will.
Now that Will knew who Ben was he couldn't miss the threat behind that grin.
"Me?" Will asked. "Th-thank you. Um, the last time I was someone's best man…"
Will trailed off. 'Idiot, don't bring that up.'
Ben moved further into Paul's hotel room. "I've known you for a long time. We're pretty close."
"You know all my deep, dark secrets," Ben stated, voice silky and smooth.
Will blinked a few times. "Secrets?" he smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you do," Ben pressed even closer. "Just like you know all about my father's."
Will glanced towards the bed. 'Why did I leave my phone over there?'
"Ben," Will laughed. "I really don't know what you mean."
"You know," Ben put his hand in his pocket. "I think I enjoyed Zoe the most."
Will stood completely still.
"All the other times," Ben stopped to think. "They were missing something. Now, I think I know what I like."
"What are you saying?" Will whispered. "I don't understand."
"You might look it but I know you aren't stupid," Ben said. "I saw the articles you wrote. I was at the police station. I know it was you. Just like I know you cleared Chad's name. And I know you already figured me out."
"Who knows" Ben pulled a red necktie out of his pocket. "Maybe we'll both like this."
"Ben," Will quickly looked over his shoulder. The hotel room phone was just a few short steps away. He could make it.
"It would be only fitting it's in this room, right?" Ben leered. "This is where you had your first roll in the hay. Isn't it? What was it like, huh? Cheating on your husband?"
"Ben," Will whispered.
"Exciting? Hmm? Did you get off knowing he was at home waiting for you, loving you?" Ben's face twisted. "Doing everything he could to support you? Defending you after what you did? What was it?"
'He's not talking about me,' Will realized. 'He's talking about Abigail.'
"You know?" Ben smiled. "I'm really beginning to hate cheaters. What's the point? Why not just walk away? Why not tell the truth? You should know, Will. You tell me."
Will put his hand out behind him. He could feel the side table. Just another step backwards and he could get the phone.
"Although I guess now," Ben chuckled like it was funny. "I cheated too."
"Is it true what they say?" Ben wondered conversationally. "The first one is the hardest. That all the others after are easier. You'd know, wouldn't you Will?"
Will shook his head.
"You only talk behind your computer now? Behind your precious articles?" Ben mused. "I knew, all those months ago after what you did to Abby, you would fuck everything up for me. That's the kind of person you are."
"It's, I'm not," Will tried to say.
"You are," Ben replied. "You know you are. Always getting involved in something you shouldn't."
Will held onto the nightstand behind him, shaking.
"Come on, Will," Ben pulled the tie tightly between his hands. "You're good at figuring everything out. How are you going to get out of this one?"
Will reached out for the phone at the same time Ben lurched forward.
Will didn't have time to push any buttons. Instead, he bashed Ben over the head with the phone as hard as he could and moved away.
Ben growled, head throbbing. He reached out for the back of Will's shirt and tossed him onto the bed.
Will thrashed and bucked when Ben moved on top of him. His laptop stuttered to the ground. He could hear his phone buzzing, vibrating just out of his reach.
Ben held Will down. He pressed himself against Will's backside. "If you stopped struggling you'd probably like it," Ben hissed into Will's ear. "Just like Zoe did."
Will gave up on reaching the phone. Instead, he used all his strength to throw Ben off of him. The two started struggling, wrestling the other for control.
Will only wanted to escape. Ben wanted something much worse.
"Did you close your eyes and think every one of them was Abigail?" Will asked Ben, shoving Ben off and almost getting off the bed.
"Shut the fuck up," Ben ordered, outraged. He grabbed at Will's shoulder and threw him back to the bed, facedown.
"Do you fantasize about choking her too?" Will continued wanting to make Ben angry.
With Ben distracted, Will lifted up his elbow and slammed it into Ben's face.
Ben howled in pain, blood gushing from his nose.
Will struggled his way out from under Ben and headed for the door.
Despite the searing pain, Ben felt the familiar swell of pure adrenaline pumping through his veins. None of his other victims fought this hard.
'I'm going to enjoy this one,' Ben knew.
With a savage grin, Ben rose from the bed and tackled Will to the floor.
Will's head banged off the door with a loud crack. He landed facedown.
Ben held the tie in his hand, slowly wrapping it around Will's throat.
Will whimpered in pain. His vision was blurry and his head stung.
"Shh," Ben whispered blood dripping into his mouth. His voice was nasally from the broken nose. "This is my favorite part."
Will shook his head. He tried to push himself up from the floor but Ben was too heavy. He could feel Ben pulling the tie around his neck.
"No," Will said, voice weak.
"Yes," Ben countered. "Do you want to know what I did after I finished up with Zoe?"
Will shakily grabbed the tie, holding on.
Ben smacked Will's hand away and yanked on the tie.
"I went home," Ben revealed. "After I tossed her fingers and the knife in the river, of course. And I spent the rest of the day taking Abby over and over again."
"Something about this just," Ben inhaled deeply near Will's neck, wheezing slightly. He left a trail of blood on Will's skin. "Gets me going."
"Of course," Ben continued. He pulled tighter on the tie. The little gasp Will gave hit him in all the right spots. "Zoe was special. I couldn't wait to get home."
Ben moved one hand under Will's stomach. He found the button of his jeans.
"Just like I'm not going to wait now," Ben promised. Yanking Will's pants open.
It wasn't Will that turned Ben on in that moment. Just like it wasn't Zoe that turned him on the other day. It was the thrill of the experience, the fear radiating off of Will, knowing he had Will's life in his hands. That he was in control.
Will tried to focus. His airway was restricted and his head throbbed but he was not letting this happen.
Will struggled weakly. That's when he felt it: something small and plastic digging into his thigh. Something he promised his grandfather he would take with him everywhere.
Will gave up on struggling. Instead, he put his hand into his pocket before Ben could pull his pants down.
Fingers wrapped around the tiny bottle his grandpa gave him, Will waited.
Ben struggled with Will's jeans, the tie loosening.
"Stupid slut," Ben whispered in Will's ear. "Did you wear these around your daughter? Pants that fit like this?"
Will held still until his pants were pushed down over the swell of his ass. The mention of Arianna reminded him of his anger from that morning.
This was a man Will at one point trusted. A man that viciously killed five women. A man that wanted to do the same to Will. A man that tried to kidnap Will's daughter.
Ben moved to undo his own pants.
With Ben distracted, Will rolled onto his back. Holding out the bottle, Will closed his eyes and sprayed.
Ben was blasted with a red liquid that burned his eyes. He let go of the tie and covered his face.
"Fuck," Ben screamed in pain. Eyes watering, broken nose steadily dripping blood.
Will crawled away. His eyes were stinging too. He tried to pull the tie off of him but Ben had it twisted.
Ben bayed in pain and anger. He let go of his face and blindly reached for Will.
Will clawed at Ben when his hands wrapped around his throat. His legs kicked out, trying to dislodge Ben.
"This is your fault," Ben insisted, blinded. He ignored the scrapes and cuts Will inflicted, ignored the pain in his nose and his eyes. "Your fault. Why did you have to sleep with Chad? What did I do? Why wasn't I enough?"
Will's vision started swimming again. He could barely hold on to Ben's arms anymore.
"It doesn't matter what you do or where you go," Ben threatened. Only it wasn't Will he was thinking about. "I'll always find you. It'll always be me."
Ben's face was red from blood and the spray. He concentrated so hard on choking Will he didn't notice the door opening.
Paul, gun in hand, screamed in outrage and horror. He ran the entire way from Will's apartment to the hotel. He knew something was wrong. He knew it.
Paul's eyes swept over the scene and zeroed in on Ben. Ben with his hands wrapped around Will's throat. Ben straddling Will's waist. Will's pants pushed past his pelvis.
Paul didn't have time to aim or even flick off the safety on his gun. Instead, Paul pulled back the gun and bashed Ben over the side of the head.
John rushed into the room shortly after. He had his own gun pointed straight at Ben Weston.
Eric trailed after them. He had a hard time convincing Sami and Marlena to stay safe in the hotel's security office with Arianna.
Eric took one look at his nephew and rushed to him. He immediately began pulling the tangled tie away from Will's neck, hands shaking.
Paul dropped the gun in favor of his fists. He threw himself on top of Ben and began wildly swinging.
"Paul," John shouted. He tried to pull Paul away. "Paul, Will!"
Paul smashed his fist into Ben's battered face one last time before rushing to Will.
Will's eyes were closed, body limp.
"Will," Paul shouted. He put his bloodied hands on Will's face.
"Is he breathing?" John asked. His gun was still aimed at Ben Weston's collapsed body.
"I don't know," Paul gasped. "I-I don't know."
Eric moved one hand to Will's throat and felt a tiny, weak pulse.
"CPR," John suggested.
Eric nodded and began chest compressions.
"Breathe, Will," Eric begged.
"Come on, Will," Paul continued. "Come on. Open those blue eyes, baby," Paul ordered.
Will whimpered, moving slightly.
"Oh, god. Oh, fuck," Paul cried. "Will."
Eric stopped giving CPR and leaned back.
Will opened his eyes and cried out. He tried to sit up when he started coughing.
"Don't move," Paul ordered. His hands kept touching Will's face and hovering over his reddened throat.
"Ambulance is on its way," John reminded Paul.
Ben groaned in pain. John kicked him in the ribs.
"So are the police," Eric added, letting out a shaky breath.
Will tried to speak but his throat was too raw. He kept pointing to his laptop though.
John, gun still trained on Ben's prone figure, nodded.
Eric got up to grab the laptop. Despite being knocked to the ground it seemed OK. Eric smiled grimly when he realized Will recorded the whole thing.
"I've got you," Paul pulled Will against him. "It's OK now." Paul kissed the top of Will's head. "I'm not letting go."
Will weakly held onto one of Paul's arms.
"You're OK," Paul repeated. "I'm not letting go."
Author's note:
One thing that angered me about Will's death on the show was how he didn't get to fight back. But I couldn't deny Paul the opportunity to beat on Ben either.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
Updates might taper off a bit now. I can't promise one every day but every few days.