Season Four: Episode Two (The Eye)

Ben sat on the mattress, staring down at the floorboards with a hardened expression. As soon as he had awakened from his coma, he thought of Ericka. Where was she? Was she safe? He pestered Maggie with all sorts of questions until she had given him his answer. One he didn't want to hear. She was dead.

To him, it didn't feel like she was dead at all. He remembered the grief from when he was told about his mother, but he couldn't feel that grief when Maggie told him about Ericka. Could there be a chance Ericka was alive? Maggie words reverberated off his head, 'She's dead, Ben, they're all dead. And they will never being coming back.' When she said it, her voice cracked. She too lost people she cared about that day.

There was a knock on the door. Ben glanced up and forced a smile. Lexie stood in his doorway, frowning. "What's wrong, brother?" she questions, stepping further into the room.

"Ericka. It just…doesn't feel like she's gone. I don't know, maybe I'm in denial." He sighed, lying back on the mattress. Lexie took a seat beside him on the bed. She carefully folded her hands in her lap. "You really loved her, didn't you?" Her voice was quiet, sad even. Lexie hadn't known Ericka well. She only had a few fond memories of times she shared with the older girl. Ben nodded solemnly and before he knew it, he was in tears, mourning for his lost love.

Lexie combed his hair as he cried into the mattress. She began to hum a song she remembered Ericka sang to her when she was little. She knew she shouldn't be able to remember something from when she was an infant, but she could.

Lexie's lips curled up into a smile as Ben's tears started to end. He just wanted everything to be normal. He wanted this war to finally be over. He wanted Ericka and his family back. Lexie stood, heading for the door. Now that she knew her brother would be ok, she could leave. She paused and gave Ben a long stare. "Love is strong, Ben, sometimes even stronger than death," she added cryptically and left him to his thoughts.

Ben hoped with every fiber of his being she was alive. He wanted to be able to kiss her again. To hold her hand or tell her he loves her. He wanted to be able to just talk to her, about everything and nothing. She's dead, Ben, they're all dead.

But those were things he would never be able to do.

He wouldn't ever see her smile or hear her laugh. He would never see her again, period. Ericka Preston was dead.

…

"Max."

Ericka breathed out his name like she had been holding her breath. Max looked exactly the same as he had the last day they saw him, minus his circle glasses. And if it weren't for the zombie-look in his dark blue irises, or the glowing harness secured to his back, there would have been no doubt he was Zeke's brother.

But Ericka knew better. She knew that as long as that thing was strapped to his back, he wasn't the same Max.

Her eyes filled with tears when he launched himself at her. She couldn't move. She couldn't fight back. Not against Max, who always reminded her of Matt. Her instincts screamed at her to kill him, but her hands couldn't lift the gun. She shrieked, Max clawed at her face with his overgrown nails.

Ericka shielded her head with her arms. Max growled furiously clawing at the wet clothing.

She knew it wouldn't be her fault if she killed him. It's kill or be killed in this world now. Actually, it might even be considered an act of mercy for her to kill him. With no way to remove the harness, Max would be trapped in his own body, being used as a pawn by the Skitters and Eshpeni. That's no way to live.

Ericka managed to throw Max off of her. Even with the strength from the harness, he was still small and easy to push. Clutching her knife, she waited. Max came running at her again. His face morphed into Matt's, causing her to freeze up again. The knife clattered as it hit the pavement.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Max's tiny body crumpled next to the knife, his lifeless limbs unmoving. She stared at his face, long and hard.

Max. The brilliant little boy, who aspired to be 'as awesome as Zeke'. The Skitters corrupted him. They took a kid so innocent, and morphed him into a mindless monster left to do their bidding.

The sound of the pelting rain against the pavement seemed distant compared to the four gunshots still rattling in her ears. Her eyes moved upwards to Max's killer. It was the same person who acted as his protector for so many years, even before the invasion.

It was Zeke.

"We should keep going. That haven you heard about on the radio can't be too far," Zeke said.

Ericka was stunned. Seeing Max was one thing, but then seeing his own brother shoot him in cold blood. How had Zeke even done it? She had left him on the ground in a fit of sobs. Zeke, who was just rolling on the ground in tears, stood over his brother with the smoking gun.

His eyes found hers. She blinked and he was in front of her, he was holding her so tight. It was as if he feared she would slip away. Ericka listened to his heartbeat, pulsing in his chest. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

He was shaking. Or maybe she was. Ericka couldn't tell anymore.

"We should go," he suggested. He was right. They should go. But she didn't want to.

She untangled herself from him. "I don't want to go," Ericka started. Tears streamed down her face, like twin waterfalls.

"Ericka," he warned. The rain began to ease up, turning into a light drizzle.

"No!" Her shout echoed through the streets. All the fury and anger she had held in since the invasion had suddenly poured out of her.

She threw down her weapons and backpack. She peeled off her jacket like shredding a second skin and added that to the pile too. Zeke gripped her shoulders, shaking her lightly and attempting to stop her. Or at least shake her back to sanity.

"Ericka, stop!"

The sound of clanking metal drew their attention. Mechs. Zeke's face was stricken in horror. He picked up her things, thrusting them into her arms in a rush. "Come on, we have to go."

She allowed him to pull her along, but she didn't make any effort to run. She remained blank, unwilling to run to save her life. He guided her to the side of a building for cover. It was an old diner, with ruby booths and white and black floors. The windows out front of the store were broken, though, and the place was ransacked. Zeke moved behind a navy dumpster for more cover. Ericka stood out in the open, resistant to move.

"Ericka, they're right behind us, we need to hide."

She shook her head persistently. Her arms released all of her stuff she had been holding.

"What are you…"

Ericka turned back around, heading in the direction of the Mechs. What did she have to live for? If everyone she ever cared about is dead, than what was left? Why does she keep fighting when all she does is lose?

Her family, her friends, the 2nd Mass… dead. They were all dead. Without them, what is the point to going on? What is the point to living?

"There is none," she whispered to herself. All this time, she was fighting for a future with her new family. A future with Ben. Now fighting just seemed pointless.

Zeke stared at her strangely, wondering if she had lost her mind. He was barely keeping it together after having to shoot Max, but he managed to focus on getting out alive.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Ericka rounded the corner. She smiled, shoving her hands in the front pockets of her skinny jeans. She strolled down the sidewalk as if it were a normal day. As if she weren't just about to walk straight into the enemy and get herself killed. She was reminded of her family. She would be with them again.

Tom Mason. He was the father she lost. He and his wife took her in when she was alone, when she had no one. They easily could have left her, but they didn't. He comforted her when Ben left to find the Rebel Skitters. He treated her like family.

Colonel Weaver. He respected her. He valued her opinion and genuinely cared for her. He looked out for her whenever they fought together. They were friends, family like all of the 2nd Mass.

Hal and Matt Mason. They were her brothers. Hal always had her back and Matt would always tell her jokes. They looked after her, even though Matt was younger.

Hanna Jackson. She was Ericka's best friend since the invasion. Hanna was kind and gentle. She was too soft for the violence of war. She enjoyed helping people. She always helped Ericka feel…normal. She helped her feel like the world wasn't being taking over by the Eshpeni.

Maggie. She looked up to Maggie. She admired how strong and brave she was. How she never gave up when things got tough. In the past four months, Ericka aspired to be like her, to never give up, to never stop fighting.

But she was so tired. She was tired of fighting, tired of running, tired of losing everyone and everything she's ever loved. She could never be like Maggie.

John Pope. He was a thorn in her side. Hell, he was a thorn in everyone's side. But he was one hell of a fighter and she couldn't deny that. She knew he had her back, even if he occasionally had beef with the Masons.

Ben Mason. He was her soul mate, the love of her life. Anyone would say she was insane. They would say she was too young to know what love was. But Ericka knew. She could feel the heat between them when they kissed. She could feel the sadness when he left her. It was like he'd taken a piece of her with them and she was never whole. Like she never could be whole without him. He was the one person who no matter what he did, she could never bring herself to hate him. And he was gone.

They were all gone.

She was blinded by the light from the Mechs. Ericka hadn't even noticed the day had turned to night. Now, that blinding light was the only thing to light up the dark. Ericka closed her eyes, remembering both of her families. A smile pulled up at her lips. She knew she would be with them soon.

She could hear the machines ready their guns. Was she ready? Was she really ready to give up so easily?

Two hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her away. Her eyes popped open.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Zeke cursed at her.

Tears were falling down her face. She was there. She was ready to give up. But Zeke wasn't ready to let her give up. It was ironic how quickly the rolls had revered.

Ericka remained limp and useless. She allowed him to drag her away. Thanks to the Skitters and Mechs, they had to turn around and head in another direction; away from the haven. Further and further away from sanctuary with every step.

…

The glow of the fire danced in her eyes. She felt a jacket drape over her shoulders, but her mind was somewhere else. Zeke hadn't said anything since he saved her. She should be worried about him. It's been a long day for Zeke. He went from a complete broken, crying mess to killing his own brother to saving her when she was gone insane.

"You can't give up."

His voice startled her. She tore her eyes away from the burning flames. His eyes were occupied on his hands as he twiddled his thumbs.

In the past few months, Ericka learned a lot about Zeke. He had been on his own with his little brother from the start of the invasion. It was just 'the two of them against the world', as Zeke would say. Before the invasion, him and his brother were real close. He told her that it was just the two of them and their mom. But with their mom was always working, trying to make end's meet, that he practically raised Max. He too had a dad that was never around, but for a different reason. While Ericka's dad often spent time serving the country, Zeke and Max's father abandoned them after Max was born.

"Why not?" Ericka questioned. She was too tired. She didn't want to live in this cruel world alone. "I'm alone," she voiced. Her tone was shaky as if she were on the verge of tears. Ericka felt like it wasn't possible to even cry anymore. Her eyes went back to the fire, watching the flames lick the sticks and slowly burn them down to nothing.

"I saw him. I saw Matt's face when your brother came after me and I couldn't…I couldn't move," she confessed.

Ericka blinked, her eyes finding his. She wondered if it were easy for him to shoot Max. She knew if it were Matt, she couldn't do it.

"It reminded me that I am completely and utterly alone."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "So am I, Rickie. We can be alone together."

She turned away when she noticed a tear fall from his dark blue eyes.

…

There weren't very many people in the park that day, which was sad, because it felt great outside. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and a gentle breeze blew through the air. Ericka was there to meet Ben, so they could hang out.

Ericka smiled, spotting Ben sitting down at a bench in the park. He was reading To Kill a Mockingbird. He crinkled his nose and pushed his glasses up further on his nose. She leaned against the try, opting to just watch him. He was so immersed in the story. His brown eyes skimmed the words on the page, darting left and right. Ben flipped the page. He paused for a brief second, glancing up. He still didn't notice her watching him. She snuck around behind him, creeping up on him.

Ericka pounced, wrapping her arms around him. "Hey, best friend!" she shouted in his ear. He laughed, folding the corner of the page to mark his place. Ben looked back at her and squinted. "I thought Angie was your best friend."

She shook her head, ringlets of brown tossing back and forth. "Nonsense! You're my bestest friend, Bennnnnn."

He laughed and patted a spot on the bench beside him. Ericka accepted his offer, joining him on the bench.

"So, where's your boyfriend, Jett?" He sounded bitter. Ericka grinned, leaning back. She pressed her sweaty palms to the wooden bench. Ericka was nervous, which was strange, because Ericka Preston never got nervous. "I broke up with him," she told him.

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why?" He scooted closer so he wouldn't miss her answer.

Ericka slide next to him, so they're sides were touching. She whispered, "I realized I was into my best friend."

A blush formed on Ben's face, and Ericka's. He leaned forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear very slowly. "What are you doing?" she asked, grinning from ear to ear. "What the guy in the movie does before he kisses the beautiful girl," Ben replied in a heartbeat. Her grin fell. They drew closer and closer until Ben's lips captured hers. The kiss was slow and awkward at first, but then it became tender and beautiful.

There was no one else except her and Ben on that sunny day in the park. The two of them had forever.

A large explosion interrupted their movie-style kiss.

Frightened, Ericka stood. Her eyes were frantic and wild, searching for the cause of the explosion. Two Beamers flew overhead, blasting at anything that looked important. People screamed and panicked, running in all sorts of directions. "Oh God, Ben we have to go," she said, turning around.

Ben was gone. She did a full 360 in search for him, but the entire park was empty and everything was silent.

"Hello?" she called out.

Ericka took a few steps forward, but stopped when her foot hit something. Looking down, she screamed and jumped back. It was her father. His body was a mangled mess of tangled limbs. There was blood all over, making it impossible to tell where it originated from. That's when she noticed the other bodies. Her mom. Her brothers. The Masons. Everywhere she looked, she'd see a body of someone she knew. Anne. Maggie. Pope. Tector. Weaver. Hanna. Kathleen.

She made her way back over to the bench. Ericka pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging herself. She was ready to give up. She was ready for all of this to be over.

"Never thought you'd be the one to give up," chided a young voice.

The voice was familiar, though she hadn't heard it in a long time. She turned her head to see who was seated beside her. Her jaw dropped. "J-Jimmy?"

He smiled, rubbing his palms down his pants. "The one and only." It was meant to sound confident and cocky, but when Jimmy said it he sounded melancholy.

"I can't do it. They're all dead, Jimmy." Her lip quivered as she stared at Ben's face. Trails of blood flowed from the corners of his eyes down his cheeks, and from his lip down his chin.

"You don't know that. You never actually saw any of them die," he reasoned.

She shook her head defiantly, "No, I know."

"No you don't! And even if they are, you still have to fight. Ericka, you're strong. You inspire people. I mean, look at Zeke. He was balling on the cement before he saved you. Besides, if you give up and everyone is dead, who's gonna kill those bastards?"

Ericka opened her eyes to find Zeke staring at a map. It was an actual map, not like the rough one they'd drawn months prior. He gave her a grim smile and nodded to a can of peaches nearby. Ericka peeled back the already open top and devoured the processed fruit using her fingers. She hadn't eaten anything last night and was starving.

She sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The dream hadn't made a whole lot of sense to her. It did, however, show her one important thing.

She studied Zeke as his dark blue irises focused on the map. "Thank you." Her voice drew his attention, causing him to look up at her. "You didn't have to do what you did yesterday. Any of it. So…thanks."

He shrugged, "Next time, just don't take a stroll into Skittersville."

Ericka laughed, "No, I don't think I will. I'm not going to get myself killed, but I'm not going to fight to live either."

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Zeke wondered what had changed her. In four months, Zeke had known this mysterious girl, who was tough and strong, but was mourning over her past on the inside. A past she never truly shared. Even then, nothing seemed to faze her. Butl yesterday, when his little brother attacked her, she was frozen stiff. He remembered hearing Ericka scream. When he saw Max attacking her, he thought of the promise he made. 'If they change me, kill me. I don't want you to remember me like that,' Max had said one day after witnessing a harnessed kid assault someone.

He decided to voice his thoughts. "What changed," he asked.

"A friend told me to kill them all."

If he wasn't confused before, he definitely was now. She laughed, seeing the confusion on his face. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes, one that frightened him.

"Come on, Z. Let's go hunt some Skitters." Ericka smirked.

AN: It's done, it's done! I had absolutely no inspiration to write this, at all. Ok, don't forget to review and tell me what you think. Or feel free to talk about the most recent episode if you like. P.S. if there's like a hate club for Lexie, I'd love to join!

To the reviewers-

Guest- Actually, Ericka won't be found until like the seventh episode. I want to put more development into my character and show who she is more. I doubt I'm the best, but thank you anyways. :)

FreedomIsn'tFree - Sorry it took so long and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I completely agree with you and I'm not just saying that because my OC is paired with them. Like if him and Denny got together, I would've been ok. But come on. She's in her twenties and technically he would be in his sophomore year (I think) of high school. It's just crazy. Plus, I've had enough of love triangles.

Big thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, reviewed. You guys helped me get inspired to write this chapter tonight. :)