he rubs his temples, tired of arguing with the boy.
’ how do i know you aren’t lying to me, ben ? you almost killed thomas.
you would’ve, if i wasn’t there. ’ he refuses to look up at the boy, the boy
who he had shared too many nights with, too many kisses with. he stands,
standing a little bit too close to be appropriate in their current conversation.
’ i don’t know if i should believe you or not. not any more. ’
his voice is too calm, too cool, as he brushes the words
away, brushes ben away. so he wouldn’t have to hurt
more than he already was.
it's almost something offensive, the way alby
basically accuses him of lying -- as if ben had ever done
it before. the fact was, ben had always played by the
rules, he'd always been eager to earn his keep, to prove
himself some kind of team player. he'd ruined his hands
building shelter and repairing roofs, and he'd run himself
into the ground trying to find an escape, and hell, look
where his efforts had gotten him?
he coughs, and it's more of a wheeze, and blood pools
behind closed lips as he collapses a hand over chapped
flesh, afraid that if he exhales, he'll spit crimson.
only after he swallows the liquid that makes his empty
stomach turn does he bother opening his mouth --
"i've never lied to you, or anyone else," he breathes, "how
are you gonna sit there and," he has to pauses to inhale,
and his lungs rattle with infection, "tell me you can't trust
me -- i told ya' i wasn't right in the head, alby." it's like
someone has gleefully jabbed a slew of knives right
between his shoulders, and every uttered phrase was
a twist to a blade.
"-- ain't like i've ever tried to hurt anyone before, you don't
remember what i do, and you're gonna execute me?"
banish was the word of choice that had been passed from
one mouth to another, but what was banishment in a place
like this, other than a death sentence? runner or not, there
was no way out, and he could barely speak without losing
his breath. pushing them beyond those walls would be the
last thing anyone would ever do to him.
and the worst part? they were willing to do it.
turnnoffyourmind
germansingergirl
andulkaphoto
yousharknotpass
dailybridgerton
dededos
areudirty
