by PJ Hoover
They both stopped, and Heidi moved closer to Benjamin. He let go of her hand and put his arm around her.
“Come forward, Benjamin Holt.”
The voice in his mind commanded him, and Benjamin felt unable to resist it. Benjamin released his grip on Heidi, and against every bit of common sense he had, he stepped forward.
CHAPTER 7
Benjamin Can’t Remember If He Has Amnesia
Benjamin woke up to salty air and Jack slapping him across the face. For only being six inches tall, Jack delivered a slap that could have woken the dead.
The dead. There was something about the dead, but Benjamin couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Why was he thinking about the dead?
Jack slapped him again.
“That’s enough,” Iva said. “He’s waking up.”
“His eyes are still closed,” Jack replied.
Benjamin snapped them open, and with telegen-quick reflexes, reached out to slap Jack in return. But Jack’s reflexes were faster. The Nogical teleported to the other side of Benjamin’s face and held his hand inches away, poised for another slap.
“I’m awake.” Benjamin sat up.
“Too bad.” Jack put his arm down.
Benjamin looked around. He was outside on top of one of the Crags with his friends gathered around. Heidi sat across from him and looked pretty much like he felt. Crummy. Jack probably hadn’t slapped her to wake her up though.
“How did I get up here?” he asked.
“I teleported you,” Andy said.
Benjamin felt sure there was a hint of smugness in Andy’s voice, and even in his dazed state, it needled him.
“Why’d you do that?” Benjamin asked.
“Because we found you unconscious on the floor of the tunnels.” Iva knelt down beside him. “Are you okay?”
Benjamin rubbed his head which he was sure had too much blood pumping inside it. A bump the size of his Geodine seemed to be forming above his ear. “I don’t remember anything. I must’ve hit my head.”
“Heidi was out also,” Gary said. “And based on your body temperatures, I’m willing to bet you guys were unconscious for a good hour before we got to you.”
“An hour? What happened?” Heidi asked.
Andy laughed. “You tell us. We lost you guys in the tunnels.”
Heidi shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
“What’s the last thing you do remember?” Iva asked.
Heidi pursed her lips together. “The ghosts. They were everywhere.”
“And then there was just the one,” Benjamin said.
Heidi nodded. “You’re right. But then what happened?”
“I have no idea,” Benjamin replied. He searched through his mind, trying to remember, but it came up blank—as if someone had taken a giant mental eraser and wiped the last couple hours out of his brain.
But it wasn’t just his memories that got messed up. After the ghost and tunnel incident, nothing was right. Benjamin felt little bits of information slip from his mind, and always at the most inopportune times—like right before The Panther called on him in Telekinesis. Or right after Ryan Jordan insulted him—leaving Benjamin unable to think up any kind of witty retort. The retorts always came an hour later, and by then, the chance to insult Ryan with them was gone.
He could tell Heidi was equally bothered by what had happened. She forgot her thought cache every day and hadn’t changed her hair color once. Of course it didn’t stop her from talking to Josh in the hallway after class, though Benjamin did his best not to notice.
Okay, who was he fooling? He noticed. All the time. But he noticed the sparks that normally flew off her hair when she was with Josh had vanished.
Something had happened in the tunnels, and Benjamin had to find out what it was. They’d all talked it over, but nothing had turned up. Benjamin had even let Jack peek into his mind to see if the Nogical could figure out what had gone on, but Jack had come out empty. And if a Nogical couldn’t read your mind, then things were hopeless.
So given that he had trouble remembering his own name and he felt like a walking zombie, the week sucked. If he could just make it one more day, the weekend would finally arrive—not that it would make any difference.
Benjamin sat in Empathy class on Friday. Sci Omega droned on and on. Why had Benjamin signed up for this class in the first place? Talk about slow. Heidi had sworn up and down how great the class was, but Benjamin just didn’t get it. He never should’ve listened to her, but he had, and here he was, bored stiff.
“…leaving bonding threads between the two parties,” Sci said.
What was he talking about? Bonding threads?
“To initiate the joining of minds, it is best to choose a quiet location,” Sci went on.
Mind melds. That’s what Sci was talking about. Benjamin smiled as he remembered joining minds with Iva last year. Iva was pretty—no, scratch that—Iva was beautiful, but Benjamin never thought of her as anything more than a friend—except when they’d done the mind meld. Then he’d wanted to marry her. Of course the feeling had passed, but still. It had been sweet while it lasted.
Benjamin tried to listen a little bit better. The whole mind meld phenomenon seemed pretty interesting. Maybe, just maybe, if he really learned what he was doing, he could join minds with Heidi some day.
Benjamin groaned inwardly. What was he thinking? Join minds with Heidi?
And then it dawned on him. Maybe by actually joining minds with her, they could figure out what had happened in the tunnels at the Crags. But even as he thought it, he knew he could never suggest it to Heidi. She’d think he was just trying to come up with some excuse. It would sound so pathetic. Still, he focused all his attention on Sci Omega until class ended.
Fate seemed to be on Benjamin’s side Saturday morning. No sooner had Benjamin gotten his oatmeal and sat down at breakfast, Heidi brought up the mind meld thing herself.
“I think we should join minds.”
Benjamin looked at her and didn’t say anything. In fact he tried not to even breathe. He didn’t want to give away the fact that he’d dreamed all last night about doing just that. He looked down at his bowl of gloppy mush but couldn’t bring himself to actually eat it.
“Do what?” he asked.
“Join minds,” she repeated.
He spooned out a bite of oatmeal and almost brought it to his mouth. Couldn’t they at least flavor it? “Oh, you mean like Iva and I did last year?” That sounded pretty casual. Benjamin noticed Iva glanced over at him, but she didn’t change the expression on her face.
“Right,” Heidi said.
“Will you know how?” Benjamin asked, almost dreading the answer.
And for good reason.
“Oh, yeah,” Heidi replied. “I’ve done it loads of times with Josh. It’ll be no problem.”
Benjamin opened his mouth and took the bite, forcing himself to swallow. It gave him something else to focus on. “Great,” he said. “Sounds like you’re a real expert.”
Heidi actually blushed.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Iva said. “Let’s finish up eating, and we can get started.”
With each step he took, Benjamin’s feet felt more and more like boat anchors. Yesterday he’d dreamed of joining minds with Heidi. Now he dreaded it. Numbly, he followed Iva as she led them down the stairs to the telegnosis floor. He hardly even glanced up as they walked into an empty classroom and sat down. All except Heidi that is.
“Maybe Benjamin and I should be alone for this,” she said. “The bond seems to be stronger that way.”
How much experimenting had she done?
“Good idea,” Iva said. “There’s a teacher’s lounge across the hall. Why don’t you guys go in there?”
Benjamin’s stomach flip-flopped around like a fish. Alone for the mind meld? He couldn’t open his mouth to comment because he was pretty sure if he did, he’d throw up the single bite of cursed oatmeal. So instead he just nodded his head and fo
llowed Heidi across the hall to the teacher’s lounge. Andy winked at him on the way out; he’d have to remember to punch him the next time he got a chance.
Heidi sat cross-legged on the floor and patted the spot in front of her. “You sit here. If we sit in chairs, we’ll be too far apart.”
Benjamin nodded his head and managed to squeak out a reply. He couldn’t believe how pathetic he was acting. He would’ve thought with telegen reflexes, skills, and brains he wouldn’t be acting like some love-sick puppy dog, but that’s exactly how he felt. Why did the mind meld have to be so personal anyway?
Benjamin took a deep breath, partially managing to calm himself, and sat down. He took another deep breath. Okay, things were getting better. He could do this and get through it. No problem.
Heidi smiled at him; if she’d read his mind or sensed his emotions, she wasn’t letting on. There was something to be said for friendship. “Just take my hands and close your eyes,” she said.
As soon as Benjamin held her hands in his, every bit of his nervousness dropped away. He could feel Heidi’s friendship warming him from the inside. Maybe it was the Alliance bond, or maybe it was her skill in empathy, but she exuded good feelings. He relaxed and waited for their minds to join.
The mind joining experience with Iva had been brief—a quick trip to gather DNA information. With Heidi, as soon as it began, Benjamin knew it was far more. Yet it wasn’t the wonderful experience he’d remembered from before.
Benjamin and Heidi walked together, back in the tunnels, holding hands. And then, Benjamin heard the voice.
“Come forward, Benjamin Holt.”
It commanded him, and he stepped forward, letting go of Heidi’s hand and putting his arm around her. She moved close to him, and he felt her shivering.
“Come forward, Benjamin Holt.”
The voice in his mind commanded him, and Benjamin felt unable to resist it. Benjamin released his grip on Heidi, and against every bit of common sense he had, he stepped forward.
In the background, Benjamin could still hear the other ghosts. They taunted him now, called his name. Called Heidi’s name. Told him to run. Told him to jump. But it was one voice which commanded him and no other.
Benjamin remembered why they were here. “We’ve come to find the answer to the riddle.”
“The riddle has just begun,” the ghost replied.
At first, Benjamin could see nothing, but an apparition began to materialize in front of them. Hideous and scarred, it hung in the air, its empty eye sockets looking deep into Benjamin’s soul.
“The riddle told us to come here,” Benjamin said. “It said the ghosts would tell the tale. You know our names; you were expecting us.”
“Yes,” the ghost replied. “We have been expecting you. And we have something for you.”
“Then give it to us so we can leave.” Heidi took a step forward.
The ghost leapt forward and seized Heidi by the shoulders, its bony fingers pressing into her skin. She screamed, and Benjamin tried to move forward to save her, but something blocked his way.
“Help me, Benjamin!” Heidi cried.
“I can’t move!” Benjamin struggled against the invisible bonds. He looked at the ghost. “Let her go!”
The ghost, still holding Heidi with two hands, pulled a third arm out from below its tattered robe and waggled the bony finger at Benjamin. Benjamin drew back; sure, he’d seen extra arms on telegens before, but never on disembodied ones.
“I will let Heidi Dylan go and give you what you want if you solve my riddle,” the ghost said.
“And if I don’t?” Benjamin asked, struggling again.
“Then I’ll kill her,” the ghost replied.
“No,” Benjamin said. “You’ll let her go now. Then I’ll solve your stupid riddle.”
The ghost let out a laugh which chilled every drop of blood in Benjamin’s veins. “Perhaps I should kill her first. It doesn’t matter to me either way. You will never solve my riddle. Nobody ever has.”
In the background, the chorus of ghosts began to wail. Benjamin could see them now, out of the corners of his eyes. This was no bluff. Benjamin knew it as soon as the ghost had said it. Heidi’s life depended on Benjamin. This ghost would snuff the life out of Heidi without even blinking an empty eye socket.
Benjamin ceased his struggling. “Fine. But what guarantee do I have that you’ll let us go and give us what we need if I solve the riddle?”
“Guarantee? You want a guarantee?” The ghost laughed again. “Do you want to shake on it?” the ghost asked, putting its third hand out for Benjamin to shake.
Benjamin reached out to grab the hand, but as soon as he touched it, the hand evaporated and the ghost howled with laughter. “There’s your guarantee. Now, let’s get on with it.”
CHAPTER 8
Benjamin Creates Chaos
Benjamin watched as Heidi shivered. The ghost grasped her shoulders. She looked so small compared to the apparition, so helpless. The ghost had clenched its third hand over her mouth, but her eyes implored Benjamin. He couldn’t fail her.
“What’s your stupid riddle?” Benjamin demanded. Even through his anger, he knew he didn’t have time to waste.
The ghost looked into the air, and the chorus grew in intensity. And then it began.
“Father of shadow, mother of Earth,
Lover of none, to Hell it gave birth,
Emptiness vast,
Forever to last.”
The ghost lowered its head and looked at Benjamin. Benjamin met his gaze directly, though he had no idea what the ghost was talking about.
“Your time begins,” the ghost said.
“Time!” Benjamin said. “You never mentioned there was a time limit.”
“Your time begins,” the ghost repeated. “In one minute, Heidi Dylan will die. Then, you will die.”
Heidi struggled against his arms, and Benjamin’s mind flew into thought. One minute. He had to solve it. Keywords. Benjamin knew solving riddles was all about keywords. What had the riddle said? Earth. Hell. Shadow. Emptiness.
Thinking of Earth immediately brought to mind Gaea, the wife of Benjamin’s biological father, Caelus. As soon as Benjamin had told Gary what Nathan had said, Gary had gone right to the library to research everything he could about Gaea and Caelus. Gaea was known throughout history as Earth. Goddess of the Earth.
“Thirty seconds left,” the ghost said.
“Hurry, Benjamin. It’s so cold.” Heidi shivered and her lips were blue.
Cold? It was burning up in the tunnel. Was Heidi dying already? Benjamin felt sweat drip down his forehead. Who was the mother of Earth? Gary’d told him. He’d even downloaded some family tree of all the gods and goddesses to Benjamin’s heads-up display, but it wasn’t working in this stupid cave. Benjamin clenched his fists together and put them to his forehead. Who was Earth’s mother?
Almost too late, Benjamin realized he’d forgotten about the rest of the riddle. Keywords. Emptiness. Gave birth to Hell. It was also the mother of Hell. Emptiness. And then Benjamin knew it. He didn’t hesitate.
“Chaos,” he blurted out.
All at once, the ghost flew into a rage, swooping around the room with Heidi in tow. “You’ve cheated! No one can solve my riddle.”
“I just did, so let Heidi go and give us what we came for,” Benjamin demanded. He heard the chorus of ghosts howling in the background. It sounded almost as though they applauded Benjamin.
“I will give you what you came for because I promised to,” the ghost said. “And then I will kill you.”
One step at a time. Benjamin knew he had to take this one step at a time.
“Give it to me now,” Benjamin said, and then he saw it.
The ghost teleported an image into his mind. The image. That’s what they’d come for. It was a picture of some sort with ancient symbols scrawled all over it. He’d take the time to decipher it later. For now, he had to save Heidi.
Taking the only opportunity
he knew he’d have, he lunged against the bonds which had restrained him. The ghost hadn’t been expecting it, because the bonds snapped, and Benjamin grabbed Heidi, pulling her from the spiny, skeletal fingers. Together, they fell to the floor.
But the ghost wasn’t even close to giving up. He flew into the air and hovered above them. “Your souls are mine, as are all the souls in here. I am the master, and no one can escape from me.”
Coldness enveloped Benjamin as the ghost descended on them. There was nowhere to run. No way to escape. Teleportation was out—the telejammers were too strong. They couldn’t run—ghosts were everywhere. But then the other ghosts did something Benjamin never would have expected. They huddled and flew at the large ghost, pulling it away from Benjamin and Heidi. At their touch, it began to burn, to disintegrate right there before Benjamin’s eyes.
Benjamin shielded his face to protect himself from the howling ghost and the burning fire. It was dying—again—and its essence rained across the floor. Vapor settled upon Benjamin’s face, and all went black.
Benjamin opened his eyes and found himself in the teacher’s lounge with Heidi. He didn’t move but felt Heidi shaking in his arms. He remembered everything that had happened in the tunnels at the Crags. Every last detail of it.
Heidi pulled away from him. “You saved my life.” She started to cry.
And even though words wouldn’t form in Benjamin’s head, he just sat there holding her. And it was perfect. Without even thinking about it, he leaned forward and kissed her. And she kissed him back. And it was even more perfect. And then he messed it all up by thinking about her loser boyfriend Josh. What would happen now?
Sometimes telepathy sucked. The thought of Josh must’ve pushed itself to Heidi’s mind, because she immediately broke off from the kiss and jumped up from the ground.
“This is wrong.”
“No it’s not,” he said.
“Yes, it is.” Heidi shook her head. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
