Season Two: Episode Six (Homecoming)

Ericka turned over to the boy beside her. Ben was already awake, gazing at her. She smiled, "You were watching me sleep?"

The suns' rays seeped in through the windows blinds, making his eyes look brighter. In the two weeks that they had been at the hospital, he had always wakened up before her. Maybe it was because she spent the last two weeks on late night patrol, but then again, so had he. "Only for a while; you looked so peaceful sleeping." Ben replied with a grin. She leaned forward and kissed him, to which he kissed her back. The two of them lay there for a while, making out.

…

Ben and Ericka were walking down the hall, hand-in-hand. There was a commotion coming from outside. Both of them went to see what all the noise was about. Hal was carrying Karen, wrapped in his jean jacket. Other than the jacket, she appeared to be naked. Dirt covered her porcelain skin and her blonde hair was tangled in several large knots of hair. Ericka's eyes widened when she saw her. Karen didn't have her harness, but according to Hal she was barely breathing. She let go of Ben's hand as he went down a few more steps.

"Don't let her stay, we can't trust her. She's still attached to them." Ben spoke up, causing everyone to go silent. When he finished, people started to whisper. Tom surveyed Ben. "How do you know that, Ben?"

Though he asked the question, Tom seemed to be afraid of the answer. Ericka's eyes wandered over to Ben. She wanted to know as well. "I can…I can hear it." he answered. He decided to have Karen isolated, just in case she was a danger to the 2nd Mass. When the group passed, Hal glared at his brother. Instead of waiting there, Ericka decided to follow them. Even before Karen was captured, she didn't like her. She was really possessive over Hal and was seemed stuck up to Ericka.

…

When Karen stirred, all of them watched her careful. She quickly sat up and started to panic. Ben walked inside the room as Anne was comforting her, telling them not to trust her. Tom strolled inside the plain room behind him. Ericka was standing behind the glass with her arms folded. According to Ben, Karen couldn't be trusted. So if anything happened, Ericka wanted to be there to stop it. Not that the other fighters couldn't do it, it was just that a part of her really wanted too. Karen was always a bitch to her, but it wasn't like Ericka hadn't dealt with one before. She was giving some sob story about how awful her experience with her. Ericka suddenly felt sympathy for Karen. Guilt slowly crept through her for thinking about hurting her.

She waited until all of them left and Maggie held back to say anything. Maggie looked at her with a frown. Ericka turned to the window. She gave Karen a fake smile and a small wave before turning to Maggie. "I can literally smell the bullshit radiating off that story." she commented. Maggie nodded, "Me too. I think your boyfriend's right."

"But how could she still be attached to them without a harness? Unless she's willingly with the aliens…" Ericka trailed off. Maggie shook her head, observing Karen as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "That's a big accusation." she added. Hal and Ben headed over to them, ending their conversation. They were getting into an argument. Ericka wasn't worried about Ben watching Karen. He could take care of himself. He never got the chance to meet Karen before she was captured. She let the brothers hash it out. Their arguments usually ended in Hal walking off. Which he just did, Ericka thought watching Hal storm off. "God…you can be such a…" he started. Ben cut him off, "Freak?"

"I was gonna say tool, but if you like freak better let's go with that." Hal retorted. Maggie went after Hal to talk to him. Ericka's eyes kept trailing over to Karen. She wanted to talk to her. Ben probably wouldn't be ok with that. She moved over to the door and opened it. Slipping carefully inside, she shut the door behind her. "Ericka?" questioned Karen. Surely, she was the last person Karen expected to see. Or at least that's what Ericka thought. There was something in her voice that actually sound elated to see her. She took a seat near the previously harnessed girl; not too close, but not too far. Ericka gave her a small smile. "That experience must have been the worst. I can only imagine what you went through."

Karen bowed her head, fiddling with her hands in her lap. Ericka continued, "The not knowing, my friend says that's the hardest part. Not knowing what you did in the time they had you or what they did to you. Yet at the same time, it's a good thing; because you might not want to remember what they did."

"All I remember seeing was Tom being tortured…" she whispered.

"But why would they show you that? I mean, you were under their control so it's not like they would bother to teach you obedience." Ericka kept talking. She was trying to figure out why Karen was here and she was messing with her. Karen glared up at her. "Can you leave?" Karen asked. Ericka nodded and left without another word.

…

Ericka had been helping the people pack up the vehicles and preparing to leave for Charleston. She was even sent out on a scout to help find gas, which was unsuccessful. As soon as she got back, she went looking for Ben. Instead she found Hal who told her he was still watching Karen. They headed to the psyche wing where Karen was.

When Hal opened the door, both of them were left shocked. "What the hell?" he questioned. Ben and Karen were kissing with their spikes lit up. She suddenly collapsed. Hal ran over to her, asking his brother what he did to her. He backed away in horror, whether it was from kissing Karen or the fact that she collapsed Ericka didn't know. Ben brushed past her, breaking into a run. Ericka was furious, but at the same time she was confused. Karen was manipulating him, which has to be the reason they kissed. She knew Ben would never intentionally hurt her. He wouldn't hurt her on purpose, that wasn't who he was. Ericka wondered if she should go after him or not. Deciding that she needed to cool down first, she went to the room she had been staying in. He was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. So much for cooling down, she thought.

"Explain." she ordered, folding her arms and leaning against the doorframe.

"I don't know. It was like I wasn't in control, like I was being drawn to her." Ben whispered, not looking up at her. She noticed his hands were shaking. Frowning, Ericka moved over to him. She sat on the bed beside him. Ericka took his hands in hers. He stared at his girlfriend as she held his hands firmly. He didn't know what she was thinking, if she was mad or upset with him. He did kiss another girl, though not willingly. She seemed to be scrutinizing his hands with her stormy irises. A warm smile spread across her face. When he peeked down at his hands, he realized that they weren't shaking anymore. "There."

…

Ericka had seen Hal rushing up the stairwell that led to the roof. She wondered why he went up there and decided to follow him. Just as she reached the top, she heard voices. She listened from where she was. "I'm sorry." Ben whispered. When she peeked up to see what was happening, she saw Ben choking Hal. Ericka wanted to pull out her hair. He tricked her, all this time. Ben and Karen were heading for the edge of the roof when she stepped out onto the gravel. Her gun was poised at them.

"Wow, Ben. I didn't see that one coming." she huffed. The frigid breeze didn't seem as cold as he was at the moment. They turned around. "You're going to come inside now. Karen is going back in the room where she was and I think we can find one for you too, Ben, since you obviously keep trying to go against the 2nd Mass."

She knew it was harsh, but she was hurt. Ericka knew he was going to leave eventually. What hurt was the fact that he lied to her, was leaving with Karen, and choked his brother. Her heart was breaking, how could he do this to her? Looking into her eyes, Ben saw rage. "Or what?" Karen asked.

"Or else I shoot. Don't believe me? I dare you to move, Karen." Ericka spat venomously. Her finger was on the trigger, ready to shoot Karen. No one moved. "You know, from the start I knew Karen was lying; but Ben, you surprised me." she continued. Ben started walking towards her and for a split second she lost focus. Then Karen attacked. She tackled Ericka, causing the gun to slide from her grip. She choked Ericka until she fell unconscious. He wanted to do something, but he didn't. "That's enough, we need to go." Ben hollered when Karen hadn't removed her hands. She released Ericka and stood.

They walked over to the rooftop, spikes glowing. Holding hands, they jumped from the building. The two of them landed on the ground like a cat.

…

Tom ran out on the rooftop to find Hal and Ericka unconscious. He knelt by his son, wondering what had happened. Both of them had matching red hand marks around their necks. Could Ben really have done this to his own brother and girlfriend?