Chapter 2: Strange Regrets

CHAPTER 2: STRANGE REGRETS

“I heard that the Chicken Alfredo here is the best in the city!” Kelly said to Ben.

“Is that right?” Ben said somewhat excitedly. “I’ll have to give that one a try then!”

The waiter came by asking for drink orders as the two laughed with excitement. As soon as they ordered they got back to being playful with each other. This was just the night right after Ben fought that Stage two Heart Swallow. Needless to say he felt pretty good about himself. It was never said out loud but it was very clear that Ben was the hero of the day. On top of that he was on another date with Kelly today.

“I can’t believe it! This Alfredo is really delicious!” Ben said as he chowed down.

“I told you!” Kelly said with a smile.

“No, you told what somebody else told you.” Ben said back with a smile.

Kelly laughed back. “True but if it weren’t for me being the current possessor of this info then you wouldn’t be eating such good chicken right now.” Kelly told him.

“So Ben?” Kelly said nervously.

“Yeah?” Ben asked.

“My parents are having an anniversary party soon for the day they got married, and I’d like you to go with me.”

“Okay.” Ben said with no objections.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh… Okay then.” Kelly said somewhat confused but still happy.

“You seem surprised.” Ben said as Kelly shook her head.

“Well yeah. Usually meeting the parents is a big step in a relationship and I was honestly scared to ask. I guess next will be your parents.” Kelly said laughing.

Ben paused right in the moment she said that too. Just as he was about to put another bite of Alfredo in his mouth. He looked back at her as she was looking back at him smiling. She then started talking happily about the future and the anniversary party. Ben then put the fork back into his dish. He then just stared at it as she talked.

“I wonder what your parents are like?! Probably cool yet strange just like you! And I am really excited to see where you got that white hair from! Granted it is now possible that their hair has greyed.” Kelly just kept going on and on.

Ben just sat there and was kind of panicking. He had no idea what to say almost. He has a cover story for his parents but he wasn’t comfortable with lying to Kelly. On top of that it tore apart a few of Ben’s stitches as a Heart Breaker. He never got to experience what it was like to have parents. He has never experienced what family is.

“Are you okay Ben? You’ve just been staring at your food.” Kelly asked while concerned.

“Don’t get too excited to meet my parents because… I don’t have any.” Ben said.

Kelly gasped as she then put her hand on his to comfort him. She held his hand tight as he accepted the comfort. That was all Ben said too. He wasn’t going to lie about this despite how vague the truth was even to him.

“So you’re an orphan?”

“I guess that’s right. I don’t have any parents after all.” Ben said sadly.

Kelly grabbed him by the arm. “Why don’t we go back to my place then?” She said.

Ben just looked at her surprised. He didn’t quite understand what she meant. And he had never done something like this before with anyone. Not with a clear head at the very least. But rarely with a woman, and on top of that, the feelings were never mutual until now. He looked back at her and shook his head yes with a smile.

Back in her apartment, they both got cozy. Kelly slipped into the bathroom as Ben laid back on the bed. He looked up at the ceiling fan. He then searched around her room. It was rather plain but it still had a few interesting items. A few forestry paintings. They were amateur at best but still nice looking. Though it did bring up the question of whether or not Kelly painted them.

As Ben sat there wondering about that Kelly emerged from the bathroom. Ben looked at her. His jaw dropped from her beauty. She wasn’t anywhere near as hot as the best that Ben has been with but that wasn’t the point. This was the first time he had seen someone he cared about like this. She wasn’t wearing anything fancy, just black panties and a bra. But she was still astonishingly gorgeous to Ben.

“How do I look? Hot right?” Kelly said laughing while trying to break the ice.

“The best ever.” Ben said seriously.

It was an odd thing to say and even Kelly thought it was an odd line but she was flattered nonetheless. She walked slowly over to Ben as he waited for her. He gulped while nervous. She climbed on the bed then on top of Ben. She went in for a slow kiss. It started incredibly slowly as her lips just pecked his. He then returned the favor just as slowly. The kissing then intensified between the two of them.

It was later in the evening. The moonlight was shining through the window as the two of them were still going at it. With nothing but a lone, thin white sheet covering their lower halves Kelly sat on top still thrusting slowly. The two of them naked as they were both getting ready to finish. The moment they did there was no yelling out in pleasure. Just heavy breathing between the two of them.

Kelly looked down at Ben with red cheeks as she sat on top of him. She was a little embarrassed and so was Ben. She then smiled at him as he smiled back up at her. He then stopped smiling. He looked down by her breast. It was her heart. He couldn’t believe it. Kelly was in love with him. The only way he knew was because the Heart Swallow was ripe for the picking. Ben then shut his eyes and wept very quietly.

“Oh my god are you okay? Is it about your parents sweetie?” Kelly asked.

“No it isn’t.” Ben said with tears flowing down his face. “I just don’t ever want this happiness to end.” Ben said.

“Aww, don’t worry sweetie, it won’t okay? It’s going to be fine.” Kelly said as she hugged him and ran her fingers through his hair.

Ben hugged her back while he continued weep. He slowly started to reach his hand around her back. He then had it there hovering and shaking over her backside. He ignited the blue flames within his hands as it continued to hover over her back. He then swallowed nervously as he extinguished the flame. He then started to rub her back. He then closed his eyes, and drifted to sleep.

His dreams were running wild. He found himself once again laying poolside. He was drinking an exotic yet delicious alcoholic beverage. There was a beautiful lady sitting next to him. The same beautiful woman in a bikini from his last dream. Ben didn’t understand where he was but it was a very soothing and familiar setting. He toasted as they lay there kissing with the alcoholic beverages now empty and sitting next to him. All of a sudden Ben woke up back in Kelly’s apartment.

“What the hell?” Ben said with a whisper. “What was that?” Ben asked himself while remembering the dream.

“Was that guy… me?”

Later Ben was sitting in the passenger seat of Gail’s car. The drive started out relatively quiet. Gail looked over at Ben as he stared out the window. Ben saw all the sights near Kelly’s apartment building. There were pizza places with vibrant red lights and designs on passive white backgrounds. The streets were clean with little to no litter. He was falling in love with the area because of her. Gail looked back at the road, not willing to look Ben in the eye as he says what he needs to say.

“So you slept with her didn’t you?” Gail said with a blank expression but a weird feeling of pity.

“Yeah. What do I do now?” Ben asks, feeling like Gail always knows the answers. The problem was Ben knows the answer.

“You follow through with it. You haven’t failed yet, believe me I know.”

“I assume you have gone through the exact same situation already?”

“Most definitely. And it wasn’t easy trust me. And I hate to say it but it will be even harder for you than it was for me.”

“So I really have to kill her? I don’t know if I can.”

“Well you have to! I know it’s hard but you can’t skip out on this. No matter what you do it will be a tragedy. But it will be less devastating for you later, among other people sooner if you can’t follow through with your job as a Heart Breaker. People will die and Cromwell will have you exterminated anyway.”

“I just wish I could fight the Heart Fiend. Let it evolve and emerge from Kelly then I kill it!” Ben said with a hint of angry sadness.

“That would probably be suicide Ben. You know that.”

“Would it really though? You saw me help dispatch of that Heart Swallow didn’t you? I dominated. That was proof that Heart Breakers can become stronger. Maybe even strong enough to take on a Heart Fiend one on one!” Ben started saying as Gail sighed.

“I’ll admit that what you did was very impressive but you have something right now that the humans call wishful thinking. We aren’t optimists Ben, we are a preemptive strike okay? We prevent Heart Fiends from being created, not battle them.” Gail explained as Ben shrunk in his seat.

“But I am in love with her.”

“I know buddy, I know.” Gail said as his blank stare changed to a sorrowful one.

“Let me share something with you Ben. Twenty-five years ago we got a new recruit Heart Breaker. After this recruit showed up I started feeling weird. Or more like it was weird that I was feeling anything. It was a slow start and took a couple of years but I started changing. When I became aware of the changes it happened so fast. It was drastic.”

“I am the Heart Breaker aren’t I?” Ben asked as Gail ignored him and continued.

“I ran into a girl who had a Heart Swallow. It started out business as usual mostly with the only difference being was I was aware of that need. That feeling where I knew that I had to kill that Heart Swallow along with the girl. But as I started going out with her I retained everything. Her likes and dislikes and her history. I no longer listened because of our duty but because I wanted to know. Then when the time came I couldn’t do it. The moment was perfect but I couldn’t go through with it. Not until deadline. Then when that deadline came, do you know what I did?”

“You killed her.”

“Of course. Because if I didn’t then she would have probably died anyway. Then the Heart Fiend would go on to kill hundreds before the Heart Breakers finally get a handle on things. And even if I somehow survived, the Heart Breakers would inevitably take my life too. So I did what I had to do and killed her.”

Ben could hear Gail’s voice starting to crack throughout that entire story. Despite how vague Gail was it was real. Ben felt bad for Gail at first. But Ben finally realized that Gail actually feels bad for him. Because Ben will soon be forced to make the same decision. Ben lowered his head as he looked at his hand. The same hand that he couldn’t finish Kelly off with.

Gail finally dropped Ben off at the restaurant he was at with Kelly the night before. He had left his car there because he rode with Kelly to her place. He had so much on his mind. The dream from last night, how he was going to handle Kelly, and lastly how he was going to continue being a Heart Breaker. He walked up to his car then looked at the restraint.

“That Alfredo was really good” He thought. “Thanks for the meal Kelly.” Ben said to himself as he got into the car crying.

Ben parked his car and got out, making his way towards his apartment building. He walked up to it as he pressed the buzzer to get let in. As he was buzzed in he grabbed the rusty handle and opened the door. He walked his way to his room has he heard arguing. It was once again coming from 03. He swallowed as he just kept walking and as he got right up to the door he flinched as he heard the girl scream and get smacked. He gritted his teeth as he kept walking.

Watching the stained floors of the apartment building he kept counting all the chips in the wood and stains just to keep his mind off of room 03. He got to his room, and waiting for him inside was his couch. Jumped on the couch deep in thought. And all he wanted to do was relax. He sat there wondering how he could just not think. He then glanced over at his TV. The TV was just there for looks but it still worked and was hooked up to a cable box. He just turned it on. What was on was an old sitcom.

The humor was really basic now but was perfect for Ben who just wanted an escape. He laughed at all the various corny jokes and loved the banter between the married couple that was in it. He had never really absorbed TV before. He had gone on dates to movie theaters but never really paid any attention to the story or the acting, or even any aspect of it. He had a hard time discussing the movies with his dates too.

Then it cut to a commercial and Ben’s smile sort of just vanished he then found himself flipping through channels and as he did he just didn’t know where to stop. Sometimes he would stop on something interesting and would turn out to be just a movie trailer or yet another commercial. He finally flipped all the way through back to the sitcom he was already watching. He stopped there and continued watching now that the commercials had ended.

When the commercials came back on he just let them roll. Soon his eyes grew weary. He found himself falling asleep. Once he did he could hear shouting and screaming. He instinctively though it was room 03 as he jumped out of bed. He wobbled over to the door as he reached up to grab the handle with his right hand. This shocked as he noticed the teddy bear nestled in his left arm and the fuzzy one piece pajamas he was wearing.

He was dreaming. The only weird thing was he was very aware that he was. It was his first 100% lucid dream. He could feel the draft, the stuffed animal in his arm and the door knob too. He twisted the door knob as he walked outside his room and into the hall. He stumbled into the living room as he saw two looming figures, a man and a woman fighting. The man who was rather handsome and looked very familiar was screaming at the woman as the woman was screaming back. Finally enraged the woman said that it was over between them and the man hit the woman. He punched her brutally in the eye. Ben had reverted to a childlike state where he could do nothing but watch.

The man then hit her again, and again, and again. Her face was bloody and teeth were missing. He then pulled back for another lunge until he saw little Ben standing there, though his name wasn’t Ben in the dream. It was actually Michael. The man who was holding the woman by her shirt dropped as a loud thud was made.

“Michael…” The man called out as Ben felt his control loosen and he backed up.

“Michael daddy didn’t mean to…” He said as the woman screamed at him.

“You get away from my little boy! You get out of this house and never come back!” The woman screamed at him.

Though Ben’s little body was doing something else he actually wanted to stay and look at the man who called himself Ben (or Michael’s) father. The father looked very, very familiar and had similar features to someone he felt he may know. The man felt that he was not only no longer wanted, but also no longer welcome. He left his home that day. He left Michael and his mother behind and never looked back It wasn’t soon after that the man from the dream died in real life.

Ben watched as the bloody mess of a mother crawled across the floor to comfort him. As she crawled blood gushed from her mouth and nose, hitting the floor. The further she scraped along the more blood that was smeared along the floor. Ben just watched in shock until he finally woke up. He lay gasping on the couch. He looked over at the TV and that sitcom was still playing though that didn’t surprise him. He flipped off the TV and grabbed his black jacket.

“What was that!? What the fuck was that!?” Ben thought as he stood in the hall, hand shaking as he locked the door.

It affected him so much that he found himself holding his chest. He himself didn’t realize that that was where his heart was located. He kept walking down the hall as approached the room with the abusive boyfriend. He felt his heart pound as his face grew very red. As he approached the room he got very pissed incredibly fast. He stomped his way in front of the door as he knocked very violently with both hands.

“CUT IT THE FUCK OUT!!!” Ben screamed as he bust the doors.

He only decided to stop once he saw the scratch marks he had left on the door earlier. He heard the man screaming at him from inside the room but he didn’t really care about that. What scared him was how he was acting. He backed away slowly from the door with his hands shaking. The man across the hall opened his door and was shocked to see that the yelling came from Ben. The usually quiet tenant.

Ben saw the man’s reaction to himself and he ran away. He ran down the halls afraid of himself. He was afraid of what he might do if the abusive boyfriend opened the door. Most of all he was afraid of that dream he had. He needed to go somewhere comfortable but he couldn’t think of anywhere. Kelly’s was the first place he thought of but that would be too painful, plus he needed to be alone. He then found himself sitting in his signature coffee shop.

He hadn’t been there in a while and as he predicted he was right. The girl who usually brings him coffee came by as she handed his expresso to him. He looked at it with relief. Almost as if had missed it. He picked up the cup slowly as he blew on the beverage to cool it down a bit. He started drinking it with a smile and he had his eyes closed as he really took in the flavor and relaxed. He then noticed the girl was staring at him.

“What?” He asked with curiosity.

“Nothing I just… you just enjoyed that coffee.” The server said to him.

“Yeah. What are you trying to say?”

“It’s just you’ve been coming here for years and you never once enjoyed your coffee. And or even smiled. So you just caught me off guard is all.” The server said as she then left.

Ben looked at his coffee. He couldn’t believe that a simple cup of bitter liquid was bringing him so much relief. On top of that he couldn’t believe that he actually missed coffee. And missed this building. He looked around at the black & white checkered tile and the simple glass chandeliers. There was plenty of people there in the morning. Enough people for it to not feel lonesome but they were spread far enough apart so it didn’t feel cramped.

“I actually miss this place.” Ben said as the old man behind him turned around to speak to him.

“Yeah… where have you been? You usually come here every day.” The old man said, surprising Ben.

Ben was so shocked at this old man talking to him and he didn’t know why. It was almost as if the old man had never spoken to him until now. But that wasn’t true. And he felt as if he’d never even seen the old man before but Ben knew that wasn’t true either. So Ben just responded in a way that would help him get out of the conversation. Something vague but informative.

“I’ve been busy.” Ben said, and though Ben thought it was a stroke of genius it was actually a very common expression. One he soon realized he’s heard before.

It was just a minute later that he felt this feeling. The same one he got the last time he was here. He felt as though a Heart Swallow was nearby. Not only nearby but also about to walk through the door to the coffee shop. He swallowed. He wasn’t ready to start on another “prey” so soon. Especially since he didn’t even know how to deal with Kelly yet.

The low and behold he could feel it from right outside the door. He swallowed and gripped his coffee cup tightly as paranoia set in. The door opened and the bell rang, and as the first step was taken into the coffee shop and that converse hit the floor, Ben could feel his heart start to hurt. Then with the next step he saw her.

It was Sarah, the girl from the other day. He was surprised, relieved, and happy all at the same time. Surprised because it was one of the first times since his drastically changed self that he saw a familiar face that wasn’t a Heart Breaker. Relieved that she still didn’t have a Heart Swallow inside of her. And happy that he had the opportunity to see her again. Then a small bit of anger and embarrassment from what she made him do with the coffee during their prior and also first meeting. He was then surprised again when she started waving at him with a smile as he waved back confused. She then pointed at Ben telling them to bring her coffee to that table.

“Hey Ben! What is up my homey?!” Sarah said while trying to sound hip.

“What?” Ben said not understanding the lingo.

“Oh… I just thought you were a wangster due to your hoody. That was my bad. So how have you been since we last saw each other? In a city so big I never thought that would happen.” Sarah said.

“I uh… I am not really… sure.” Ben said being ill prepared for small talk.

“Well that’s weird. I for one remember what’s going on in my life. Wait!” Sarah then yelled, startling Ben. “Maybe you’re ridden with a bad case of amnesia! That’s why you don’t remember slang, and or what has been going on in your life! And you come to this coffee shop every single day out of habitual instinct. Longing to remember who you are. You sit down look out the window and whisper… “Who am I?” to yourself.” Sarah said as if she were telling a story, being really over the top as she did it.

Ben just stared at Sarah as she held the ridiculous pose she had from all the hand gestures she made form telling the story. Not even ten seconds later Ben burst out laughing to the point where he could barely breathe. His face was getting red too as she laughed with him. He stopped after a while as he looked back at her. He smiled too.

He was still chuckling even as he went to go take a sip of coffee. And Sarah was then preoccupied as her coffee was delivered. It was funny though. Ben laughed at how ridiculous it was at first until he then realized that in that crazy, humorous story there was truth to be found. He wasn’t really sure of his existence anymore, and he didn’t know what he was. He had those vivid dreams two nights in a row. And on top of that it was possible that there was a him that he didn’t remember.

Plus he only came to this coffee shop just now because of how familiar it was to him. Though in a sense that he may have been here before like he had with those dreams. It was weird how this girl’s joke scenario was somewhat true. The girl then took a sip of coffee as she reverted her attention back to Ben.

“So I came here twice before right before work and I was told that this was your usual hangout but you were nowhere to be found. Kind of weird if you ask me.” Sarah said with her eyes squinted as she took another sip.

“Why is it weird?” Ben asked.

“Hell if I know. I just like acting suspicious of people. Like I am some sort of private investigator. I have always wanted to be a cop.” Sarah said as she looked at her coffee strangely. “Damn! I should have gotten a donut. It would have made for good role playing!” She said as she put her finger over her upper lip like it was a mustache and Ben chuckled again.

“Okay officer McMann!” Ben said laughing, referencing the sitcom he saw last night.

“Hey I get that reference! McMann’s the airheaded cop from that old sitcom Love Me Till You Don’t am I right?” Sarah said still chuckling a little.

“Yes! You’ve seen it!?” Ben asked with a lot of excitement.

Sarah then laughed even more. “Well duh, that was kind of rhetorical when I asked that. Everybody has seen that show. It was massive only fifteen years ago.” Sarah informed him while still chuckling as Ben felt embarrassed and stupid.

“Come on, don’t get sad. I didn’t know you loved that show that much. Pleas cheer up, it was a good show.” Sarah said feeling sorry she outed him, even if by accident. Ben then smiled.

“It’s okay. I should’ve known. I just really like that show is all.” Ben said.

“I’m glad you’ve forgiven me.” Sarah said as she looked at her phone.

“Oh shoot! I have to go to work! What’s your number real quick!?” Sarah said in a hurry.

Ben and her exchanged numbers as she walked out with a smile. Ben sat back in his chair with nothing left to do. Now just doing what he usually did when he came here. Just sit, be quiet, and stare out the window. Which even with his new and growing personality is okay since he now can use the time to just sit and think. Luckily for him (thanks to Sarah) he has now gotten his mind off that lucid dream he had.

Elsewhere the cruel reality was taking place. Elsewhere it was sunny, and a boy sit on a playground as he played rock, paper, and scissors with another boy. He then saw a girl out of the corner of his eye. He looked over at her as the girl smiled and waved back at him. He waved at her with a huge smile spread across his face. He ran over to the girl as he handed her freshly picked yellow dandelions.

“Thank you Mattie!” The girl said to Matt.

“No problem… I just picked them from by the fence.” The boy said embarrassed.

The two of them started holding hands as they walked back to the playground to join the rest of the kids at recess. The boy that Mattie was playing rock, paper, and scissors with was by the monkey bars as he waved at Mattie and Mattie waved back. The boy then gave Mattie a thumbs up as if he understood why he should be. All he knew is he saw it on TV when another teenage boy is hanging out with another teenage girl.

The two of them walked along the mulchy playground together exchanging smiles and stories of games they were playing with others. They had fun as they picked up new dandelions along the way. At first Mattie was afraid of the girl. He had always said girls had cooties. But now he uses that as a funny pet name. He calls her his “cootie” instead of cutie. They had fun running and chasing after each other.

“Let’s go over there Mattie!” The girl said to Mattie.

“Okay! Let’s go!” Mattie vigorously responded.

That walked over to the shady spot of the playground. A spot where none of the other kids tend to venture, and due to that none of the teachers usually go over there. And it was over there, beneath a tree the two of them nestled. Mattie grabbed his cootie real close as they embraced. He had his arm around her as she had her arm behind his back.

“I always used to think that girls were gross and nasty. But you are really fun to be near and you smell really pretty.” Mattie told her with a smile. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever changed schools… I think I’d would just beg my mom and dad to let me stay… Do you know what I mean?” Mattie asked with his smile gone.

Right now Mattie was living the very definition of puppy love. But despite it being a very primitive form of love it was still love. Mattie grabbed his girl even more. Hugging ever so tightly and not planning to let go. Holding her as he awaited a response to the question that he had asked her just a second ago.

“Yeah, I get it.” She had said all cutesy.

Mattie smiled as they were embracing. Mattie kissed her cheek and admired her sunny, yellow dress. The girl then reached behind him, rubbing his back as he closed his eyes. She pulled her hand back as she faced her palm up. A small blue ember formed as it consumed her hand. She reached her hand through his back as he hugged her. She reach for his tiny heart that was beating ever so fast. She positioned her fingers around it as she then pulled real hard. Mattie fell to the ground with his arm stretched out in front of him. Laying lifeless in the grass.

“Biel, oh Biel. Remove myself as you once did thyself.”

The girl then walked up to a prefect and pulled on her leg. “Mattie is laying over by that tree and he hasn’t moved in a while. I’m worried.” The girl said somewhat sadly.

“Oh no, not again! Stay right here Tina!” The teacher said as she ran over there, calling for help as she went to go get Mattie.

Tina changed from looking sad to being completely expressionless. Mattie was her third this month. Timmy on the other hand has only had one this month. Timmy is “homeschooled” and hangs out in the park during the day and wonders around the various neighborhoods (as does Tina concerning the ladder) to find his prey as a Heart Breaker. As a child Heart Breaker it is much harder to find and take out their prey due to the preys’ lack of freedom and curfew. But this is balanced by the fact that kids are rarely targeted by Heart Swallows and on top of that a kids’ small heart makes it harder for a Heart Swallow to mature.

Elsewhere the same thing was happening. Kyle did the same to a girl as they sat at the top of the stands at a football game. Revy did the same out behind a bar in the shade next to the garbage to a bald man with tattoos. And lastly Gail did the same, sighing as he squished the Heart Swallow of the girl he was seeing while naked in her apartment. He looked out the window with concern for Ben, knowing that Ben would soon have to do the very same to Kelly. Very, very soon too. He got out of her bed and put on some pants. Feeling bad he had to do that the morning after sex.

He walked to the window and closed his eyes while shirtless. At the same time Revy walked out from behind the bar alleyway with a cigarette lit up in her mouth and the sun glistening off her nose ring. Lastly Kyle put his letterman jacket he just bought to appear to be a fan of football over her shoulders as she lay dead. Then like clockwork they all gained distance from their dead prey before saying “Biel, oh Biel. Remove myself as you once did thyself.”

Ben was simply walking around the city, enjoying the sunlight. He could see the light from the sun glisten in his white bangs. He saw the city in an all new way. He saw couples on tandem bicycles, and kids kicking the can as it were. He saw street hockey, and people enjoying their lunch in the local diner. He saw light in every nook and cranny. It was then with a smile that Ben just took a huge breath of fresh air.

Ben finally stopped at the park nearest his apartment building. He sat down on the swing as all the kids before him remained at play. He started swinging slowly. Like a pendulum he went back and forth. It was a very simple procedure, yet Ben found it very addictive. He started going faster as his simple smirk widened. He started going even faster as he felt the wind start hitting his face. There was a new rush for Ben in gaining that momentum, He tuned out his surroundings as he laughed.

“Having fun Ben?” Gail asked, shocking Ben in the process.

Ben flew back in surprise. In mid-swing Ben started falling and flying all over the place. He was flailing his arms all over the place as Gail put his hand out behind Ben’s back. Gail’s hand stopped Ben in his place and kept him on his seat. Ben calmed down and took a huge breathe as he relieved himself.

“Thanks Gail, I shouldn’t have gotten so freaked.”

“What’s the big deal? It isn’t like falling off a swing would harm a Heart Breaker.”

Ben was then hit with that reality. For the brief moment he was on that swing, he hadn’t thought of himself as a Heart Breaker. It wasn’t like he thought of himself as a human necessarily. It was just that he reverted back to instinct and falling meant bad things. He got out of the swing to face Gail.

“So what brings you here? Are you checking up on me?”

“Well that is one of my current objectives after all. Plus I am here to ask you a question but judging by the looks of things I think I already know the answer to the question.” Gail told him.

“Well what is the question Gail?” Ben asked.

“I was going to asked if you’ve disposed of this girl yet, but I know for a fact that you haven’t done so yet.” Gail said.

“Well how could I yet!? It has only been two days since the incident!”

“That’s exactly the problem! It has been two days since you’ve earned her heart! Two!” Gail shouted that number while holding up the corresponding amount of fingers as he then continued to talk. “Us Heart Breakers finish the job at that precise opportunity that you had two damn days ago. Why are you procrastinating so much?!” Gail then asked.

“You know why! Don’t pretend you don’t know!”

“What, why?! Because you lover her!? Get your head out of your ass Ben! We have a very important job to do! No other Heart Breaker would ever be able to explain this to you the way that I am about to, so listen up! If we don’t prevent the birth of the Heart Fiends then we are basically throwing away lives. Flocks of humans and several Heart Breakers can be eradicated by a single Heart Fiend! You have yet to experience one but I have experienced two in my fifty years as a Heart Breaker! And let me tell you something. Even then as an emotionless drone I was stricken with fear. And for that to carry on to my current personality is even more terrifying.” Gail said lastly with a hint of genuine fear in his voice.

Ben stood there looking at Gail with a bit of conviction. He stepped up to Gail as Gail looked him in the eyes. Ben could see the fear in his eyes. Almost as if the very mention of a Heart Fiend instills fear. At first it was a bit of pity that Ben looked Gail with. But it soon turned to envy. For Gail had already killed the love of his life. Now it is Ben’s turn to do the same.

“I’ll do it tomorrow. I know this is something I have to do. I just couldn’t do it then but I now know that I must, or else.” Ben said to Gail as Gail felt a wave of relief.

Off in the distance, Timmy sat on the opposite end of a tree. He gained a small smirk as he got up and walked off. Timmy had been listening to them the whole time. He was fairly close but he is one of the best Heart Breakers at concealing his presence. On top of that, both Ben and Gail were very emotional. So it would have been hard for them to sense him regardless.

“I know you will Ben. Because if you didn’t then it would be bad for everyone… even the one that say you love.” Timmy said as he exited the park. He then quickly contacted Cromwell via telepathic communication.

“Cromwell, its Timmy here. I am calling to report Ben.”

“Well? How far corrupted is he?”

“It all appears to be green. He is displaying minor emotion but overall he is still an incredibly efficient Heart Breaker. As for Gail, his report may be more in depth. I couldn’t get that close after all but Gail is doing his job appropriately also.”

“Phew… That is very good. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

“Of course. It is my duty.” Timmy said as he signed off.

“Sorry to twist the truth a bit but these are my Heart Breakers… I am the general here. You are just an out of touch king who sits in his castle. I will dictate these Heart Breakers’ futures.” Timmy said calmly yet sincerely.

The next morning Kelly had just gotten out of the shower. She was drying her hair with her towel as she got ready for work. She sat on her bed and flipped on the channel. As she did various things the news reported on the spike of recent heart attack related deaths. Especially how there was three in the same in the same school, and four in the same district. Kelly turned the volume up.

“Aw… That is really sad. Those kids were so young.” Kelly said.

“I hope that never happens to my Ben.” Kelly said as she looked at the photo booth picture they had taken one of their dates. “I can’t believe it’s been a little over two months since we’ve been going out. To think he just stopped me spontaneously on the street to walk me home.” Kelly said then laughing about that.

“He is so kind, sweet, and handsome you have to admit that he is such an oddball.” Kelly said while laughing at the thought of their meeting.

She got dressed and ready for work when her cell phone beeped. She walked over to it and gained a massive wave of excitement. She had received a message from Ben. The message detailed how she was to prepare herself for the best dinner of her life after work today. She smiled as she read it. Though on the other end… Ben cried as he sent it. He then flipped his phone closed, and sat on the couch. He decided to just wait in silence as the hours passed until he would go get Kelly.

“I am going to tell him today.” Kelly said while holding her phone to her chest with a smile. “I am going to tell him how I feel.”

Ben was being killed by the silence after only an hour. He tossed and turned on the couch. He found himself feeling sad, and nervous. He kept tossing until he turned and sitting on his coffee table was his phone. He thought of Gail, and how he let Ben have his reservation at one of the cities fanciest restaurants.

Ben reached forward for his phone, and then he found himself reaching for the TV remote. He turned it over to the same channel that the sitcom was being showed on. The sitcom wasn’t on at first. He sat through CSI based shows, and even these TV dramas about betrayal and revenge. They kept him entertained enough and more importantly, kept his mind off Kelly. Finally Love Me Till You Don’t came on.

Ben sat up feeling a bit happier. He was childlike in nature. All he needed was a good distraction to pull his mind away from Kelly. But even if the distraction had worked then that time for him to go would still come. Unfortunately for Ben, it did not. Or at least not for long enough it didn’t.

“I don’t want you to worry Matilda… I was just hanging out with Debby from the office but we were just doing bro stuff. I should have told you rather than keep it from you. I see now that it made something that was nothing into something that became everything. I would never do anything to hurt you, and I will always be here for you.” The husband from the sitcom told his wife Matilda as Ben sat there with a smile.

Ben’s smile however would soon disappear though. He finally held his situation up next to his own. Thinking how the husband from Love Me Till You Don’t cared for his wife in such a way really hurt Ben. Ben can’t even fathom his own situation at this point. He picked up the remote and turned the TV off.

“Am I doing something wrong here?” Ben said as he shook his head. “No! I don’t want to admit it but I have to do this.” Ben said as he counted down the minutes, until it was finally time.

“Wow!” Kelly said as she held Ben’s hand. “You got us booked at the Bell Blue, the fanciest restaurant in the city!” Kelly said in excitement.

“I did say the best dinner in my message didn’t I?” Ben said with a smile, though the smile was a façade.

“You sly dog, this must have been weeks of preparation!” Kelly said with excitement.

Kelly and Ben were escorted by waiters dressed in extravagant clothing and brilliant little bow ties. They were seated in a very comfortable spot. The spot that Gail was originally going to use on one of his prey this very same day. They were handed the menus and Kelly couldn’t help but feel the material of the menu. It was polished and all black. It had a beautiful design, much like the rest of the restaurant.

The carpet was bride red and thin. Almost as if it were intended for celebrities to walk across. The lighting was warm but didn’t hurt the eyes. Leaving customers comfy and more importantly relaxed. It was basically the perfect setting. That was what Ben wanted. What he wanted for their last date. For her last day.

“I think I am going to get this Crab Rangoon. Not to be racist but since I am part Asian I am very akin to seafood.” Kelly said. “What is the budget honey?”

“There is no budget. Order whatever you like.” Ben said with a faint smile and some very subtle sadness that echoed in his voice.

“Oh hell yeah!” Kelly shouted as she brought the menu closer to her face.

Ben sat there thinking of what he was going to order. He didn’t really have an appetite but it would be suspicious if he didn’t order anything. He thought about just ordering what Kelly was going to get but decided that that would also be suspicious. He finally settled on Chicken Alfredo, purely because he was grasping for straws.

“Whoa okay. Chicken Alfredo again? That’s what you get everywhere!” Kelly said cheerfully with Ben worrying whether or not that the Alfredo was a suspicious order.

“You wonder if this Alfredo is better than the “best” Alfredo that you tried on our last date!?” Kelly wondered while laughing.

“I do not really know.” Ben said as he drank some of the water they had set out for them.

The day carried on for a while. They joked (mostly Kelly) the whole night and Ben eventually came out of his shell. His little turtle shell that he was using as an emotional shield. He decided he needed to let his guard down if he really wanted to give Kelly the best dinner she has ever had. They went on and on and Kelly played with Ben’s luscious white hair.

“I am so glad you had this spontaneous dinner planned for us. I didn’t think you would do something like this after that bomb I dropped on you about my parents’ anniversary dinner and all. Thank you so much just for being there Ben.”

It was that that finally pushed Ben over the edge. He forgot about the dinner. He felt so sad that he wouldn’t be able to follow through with his promise to go. He looked at Kelly’s bright and beautiful smile. He couldn’t help but smile despite being in complete pain. He just swallowed that pain as he kept on eating.

“No problem. I would do anything for you.” Ben said with a smile.

Later that night Kelly and Ben went back to her apartment. He rented her favorite movie Seabiscuit and they sat on the couch watching it together. Even if it didn’t end up being the best dinner she had ever had. It was definitely the best dinner and a movie she ever had.

She snuggled up next to him as he wrapped his arms around ever so tightly saying to her “I never want to let go of you Kelly” as Kelly hugged tighter.

“I love you so much.” Kelly.

Kelly had a smile that made Ben quiver. He trembled as he put his hand on her back.

She buried her head in his armpit. He started to tear up. He pulled his hand away from her back. His fingers twitched as his hand shook. Finally he sparked a blue flame. The blue light from it was very pretty and illuminated the room from the outside. Kelly was asleep in his arms. Ben cried as the flame shook.

“Goodbye Kelly. I will miss you so much. I just want you to know… to know that this is something that I have to do. I didn’t do this to pick on you. It is just the luck of the draw I guess.” Ben said as he sniveled.

“You were there for me in the beginning. You didn’t know it and I didn’t understand that. But that is the truth. Ever since I became somebody.” Ben said as he started reaching his hand through her back and into her heart.

He embraced her for a minute as he searched for the Heart Swallow. He reached around in there while holding his breath. He was searching for that little metaphysical organism know as a Heart Swallow. He finally found it as he took a breath. He grabbed it real tight as it tried squirming out of his grip. It was fighting its way out as Ben sat there scared. Scared knowing that his time with Kelly was done. He then squeezed it real tight. Kelly’s eyes popped open as she grabbed her heart choking and coughing up blood.

“Nooooo!!!!!!!! Not Kelly!” Ben cried in absolute terror.

Kelly fell to the floor in pain as she slowly died. This sort of thing rarely happens when a Heart Breaker takes out its prey. Ben never imagined that it would ever happen to Kelly. He cried as she reached for his hand. Ben stood and remember how he coldly ignored Kevin. Ben grabbed her hand held her up by her head. He cried as his tears fell onto her eye and rolled down her cheek. She choked as they embraced. Her coughs were growing weaker as she died. It got to the point where they sounded like continuous little hiccups. Then in that instance she died.

Ben just held her there in his arms. Those tiny, weak little sounds she made as she died just tore at Ben. They just weren’t he thought. He remembered being bombastic and full of so much energy. He just sat there crying. He didn’t want to get up. And more importantly he didn’t want to perform the Biel chant.

“Biel, oh Bi… fuck! I c… I just can’t. Biel oh Biel… Damn it!” Ben said as he held her.

“I should’ve waited! Now your parents are going to miss you at their anniversary!” Ben said to her as she lay there dead.

Crying Ben finally sucked it up. He breathed very deeply. He picked her up and laid her on the couch. Looking back at the TV the credits to the movie had started. He took the case of the movie and put it with her as a gesture. He knew she was Christian so he prayed over her as she lay peacefully.

“I bet the old me would never have thought of praying over prey.” Ben said crying.

“Biel, oh Biel. Remove myself as you once did thyself.” Ben chanted.

Back at his home only a few hours later, there was a knock on his door. Ben just lay there for a while but the knocking persisted. He got up then stumbled over to the door tired. He opened the door and there stood Gail. Ben just stared at him blankly for a second. Gail stared back at him and for a brief period there were no words exchanged. Not right away.

“Why are you acting like this Ben?” Gail asked as Ben continued his emotionless stare.

“This isn’t the type of Heart Breaker you are anymore.” Gail said softly.

Ben’s began to shine and sparkle the moment that Gail said that. But it was true, and Gail knew it. He grabbed Ben in for a hug. Ben just let it happen at first but he eventually embraced it. Clenching on to Gail’s back in pain. He cried, and cried while hugging Gail. Gail teared up just a little as if old wounds have been torn open.

“What happens now Gail? Do I just simply forget about her and tomorrow we go back to the status quo!?”

“I hate to tell you this… but that is exactly what happens!”

The next day Ben woke up and looked outside. All the while holding in his sadness.