Chapter 4:

Chapter 3: New Scent

Heart </3 Breaker


CHAPTER 3: NEW SCENT

“I just have to say this. This last month I have been absolutely smitten by your beauty, and by your calm demeanor. I guess what I am saying is…. I love you.” Donovan said as Brea jumped into his arms.

The two embraced on top of a four story building. The night air reeked of the sewer, but despite that the city skyline could be seen. It was lit up like a 24 hour nightlight. As the two of them embraced a blue spark appeared from behind Donovan’s back. Adding to the light of the city. Though it wasn’t the only one. There were other lights too. Kyle, Abigail, Rock, and Tina. Synergy while apart.

Now that Ben/Brea had gotten back into the swing of things, the cogs in the machine were running again at maximum capacity. Though Ben/Brea may have been acting like too much of a Heart Breaker. He/she have been acting too distant. He/she had been trying so hard not to get too involved that the operations have been taking even longer than with Kelly. Ironic how that happened despite him trying to avoid that.

Brea pulled back from her hug, and went in for the kiss. All the while she reached her hand into his back, and just as easily dispatched of the Heart Swallow. And it goes without saying that Donovan was dispatched along with it. It felt weird to Ben/Brea afterwards. Every time that he/she dispatched of a man, he/she never felt that attached. Or at least the he in him didn’t. In fact the longer he went on as a Heart Breaker, the longer the she in him started to disappear with each job.

He/she often wondered if this had to with maybe him as a person. It sometimes kept him up at night as he thought about it. And he didn’t have to worry about wasting time due to his immortality. He would just lay there on his couch sometimes as he thought about it. He would often call Gail to talk about it too. He was a real mess lately. But being a confused mess at the very least kept his mind off of Kelly.

“Well another job done.” Brea said as she sparked the flame to change back to Ben, and she suddenly stopped. “I think I will just be Brea tonight. Besides my new apartment as Brea is very comfortable.” Brea said as she promptly went home, slipped off her shoes, and watched TV on the couch as Ben.

In the morning Ben slipped into the bathroom. He got ready for a shower as he noticed a bra sitting on the floor. It surprised him at first until he remembered that the bra was of course his while he is acting out the role of Brea. He looked at it and figured he must not have put it back on before changing into Ben. Since a Bra comes with the top every time a Heart Breaker changes from a male into a female with a shirt on.

He then switched to Brea for a moment as he picked the bra up. He went to put it on, intending to change back until he saw herself in the mirror. He paused for a second just to stare at the image displayed before him/her. She then started playing her two perky friends until the reality of what he was doing hit him. He then stopped due to weirding his own self out, switching back and creating a men’s T-shirt.

Later that morning Ben was sitting at his “favorite” coffee shop yet again. He sit at the table while he waited. Waiting to feel that strange feeling again. And every single time, right on time he felt it. It was that feeling that was followed by the ringing of a bell, steps on a tile floor treading to the counter, and a young woman ordering a latte. It was Sarah. On time every morning before work to chill with Ben. One of the coolest people she knew, at least she thought. Though she had no idea.

“Man, every day for the past eight months or so… if I hadn’t known any better, I would say we were honest to Allah friends.” Sarah said before taking her first sip.

“We aren’t friends?” Ben said a little worrisome as Sarah laughed.

“Well of course we are friends. I was just busting your balls as always… surprising that you are always so cool about it. Guess that’s why we are still friends after all these fifteen minute coffees. And it is all thanks to an idiot who poured coffee down his nostrils while doing a hand stand.” Sarah said as she giggled.

“Well what can I say…? I was a bit of a robot back then.”

“Well if you were a robot wouldn’t the liquid have fried your processor?”

“No, it just fried my circuit board. This last eight months, turns out I was just a defective model. Model… mo-del.” Ben said all robotic like as they both laughed.

“Man you are funny. How has the writing been?” Sarah then asked, Ben having told her that was what he does for a living.

A few months back she told him that she worked as someone who designed the art work for things along the lines of birthday and Valentine’s Day cards. She then asked him what he did for a living and he was able to conjure a story of having written birthday cards once. He said he then transitioned into being an author. He said his pen name was Joshua Lundquest. He did so choosing a fairly popular author who had no picture profile or social media account. Accept for one profile (who was in fact Joshua Lundquest) but Ben convinced her it wasn’t him.

“You know, the righting is going okay or err at least the sale of my previous works are. I am working on something right now but I’m not really feeling inspired at the moment sooo… who knows when it will be out.” Ben saying due to not knowing anything about what Joshua Lundquest is currently up to.

“Well that’s good “Joshua Lundquest.”” Sarah said using her fingers to create quotations. “Whoop, my BF’s texting my sweet self right now.” Sarah said after checking her phone which made her leg twitch from the vibration.

“BF? Your best friend?”

“No idiot, my other BF.”

“Oh…” Ben said not really disappointed, just surprised.

“What, jealous?!” Sarah said, just being playful and smiling.

“As if!” Ben said as he laughed along with her.

And Ben really meant that when he said it. You see, in most stories around this part Ben would be feeling sad at the news and hurt by the idea of our main woman Sarah being with another man. Well get your head out of your ass reader because this isn’t that kind of story… that part happens to come later. However in this moment Ben likes having a normal friend, and relationships remind him of his duty.

“Well I have to go to work. It may surprise you but it’s a busy office place.” Sarah said.

“Yeah I bet. Smell you later.”

“Oh haha. Bye.” Sarah said taking that lame joke she has heard a million times, though with Sarah it made more sense since her last name had to do with scents, or smells. Her last name was Scent, Sarah Scent.

As Sarah walked out of the coffee shop Ben laid back in his chair. He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. He was having a tough time lately. He couldn’t help but think of all the people he had been killing for the so called greater good. Though a normal human being would have been broken by now it is just an ongoing headache for Ben. Because he wasn’t a normal person… he was a Heart Breaker. And despite him becoming more humanlike in nature it was still a transition that was made from a practically soulless former self. He was soon interrupted by a tap on the glass next to him.

Standing outside looking in was Kyle, though at the moment he was presented as Kayla. Kayla then pointed at the door, insinuating that she/he was coming in. As the door opened and that bell rang, Ben just tried to avoid eye contact until Kayla got to him. She loomed over him until Ben’s new social side forced him to look back up.

“Avoiding eye contact, talking flirtatiously… what are you, human?” Kayla asked, having seen his interaction with Sarah.

“Not flirting… just talking.” Ben said trying to stay stoic.

“Well did she have a Heart Swallow?” Kayla asked.

“No… but I certainly thought she did.” Referring to the way he senses Sarah’s presence.

“Well I am on my way to a date right now.” Kayla said as she prepped to leave. “But don’t think I haven’t noticed your strange behavior.” Kayla said while back stepping.

Ben started waving with a half-smile till Kayla was out of his sight. Ben gave out a gargantuan sigh of relief as he stood up. He left some money for his coffee as he walked out the door. As he left and started walking down the street he saw Gail. Gail was leaning up against a building while looking at Ben, as if he was waiting there for Ben. Because he was.

“I noticed your little run in with Kayla/Kyle. It was a bit tense.” Gail said.

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad.”

“Not this time maybe. But think of if you are just constantly seen by Kyle, or Revy or maybe even Timmy, talking to this girl day in and day out. It will be like the plague my friend. Cromwell may be banging on your door sooner than you’d hoped.”

“Sooner than I would have hoped? Are you saying I am going to get found out regardless? You’ve managed to last, why not me?” Ben asked a bit upset.

“I don’t want to sound sour. But you aren’t exactly performing admirably as far as retaining your cover goes. I have been covering for you. Timmy/Tina has been covering for both of us. Who knows when he will get to that point when his hands are tied?” Gail told him.

“Timmy has been covering for us! How long has this been going on?!” Ben questioned.

“Quite a while. Hell he’s apparently had suspicions of me for the past twenty-one years but since I was still a good Heart Breaker, he hasn’t said a peep.”

“You think he just doesn’t care?” Ben inquired.

“I sure hope so… I just don’t plan on letting him take me down. I’m not going to die!”

Ben stayed quiet after that sentence. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to go on anymore. He had thought about what he has to offer with his life. He keeps coming back to only one thing, being a Heart Breaker. And it may be important but Ben also knows that he can be replaced… somehow. He doesn’t really know the origins of Heart Breakers.

Only Cromwell has access to that info. Not to mention there isn’t any joy in his life. He hates himself due to his only purpose. Well he does find a little of joy in one thing. His morning talks with Sarah. But eventually even those may end. So he found himself wondering what the point of going on even is.

“I don’t know any more Gail…”

“What are you saying?” Gail asked as the wind picked up, and Gail’s hair and red highlight as well as Ben’s shaggy hair blew about in the wind.

“Why do we even go on… when all there is may be misery? Why do we go on being Heart Breakers?” Ben asked.

“Well it isn’t all misery I think. Besides… I don’t simply do this simply because it’s my very existence anymore. I do it to simply exist. To survive.”

“But why?”

“Well… that I don’t really have answer to. But surely you still understand. Even if you can’t structure that understanding into a sentence. I feel we all instinctually know.”

Ben looked at Gail after he said that. Although Gail just continued to keep his eye on the sidewalk. Ben kind of knew what Gail meant. It was the very reason he even asked in the first place. He didn’t have the ability to make sense of this excessive need for survival. Because there was no making sense of it. He just knew that he had to. Had to keep going until the end. And not knowing when that end was was part of the charm.

With that they said their goodbyes as they then parted. Ben walked home with Gail’s words on his mind. And those words stuck with him. While he walked passed room 03. As he watched TV. And even when he was ready to go to sleep, those words still stuck with him. Though there is one place those words didn’t follow him in. And that place was his dreams.

There he sat, aware this time poolside with a beautiful, busty girl in a bikini tanning right next to him. He noticed he was wearing sunglasses which he promptly lifted up passed his eyes. He observed the beauty with curiosity. His gaze quickly transitioned to the pool. He then turned around, earning sight of the huge house behind him. He took the glasses off entirely with his jaw dropped to the ground.

“Is this house mine?” Ben whispered to himself.

“Hard to believe huh? That we’d be doing so well Michael.” The girl said.

“What…? Michael?” Ben said confused as the girl gave out a snorted laugh.

“What’d you forget your name? Ha ha. Did you forget that I am your girlfriend Trisha, or that this big ass house belongs to you?” Trisha said laughing.

“Am I in another lucid dream? Michael’s dream?” Ben said.

“What!? Are you high baby? Whatever, just go check the mail will you?” Trisha said.

“Uh… okay I will.”

Ben stood up and stopped when he saw himself in the pool. He looked almost exactly like he did as a Heart Breaker. Only he had a beard, and his hair was brown instead of white. He looked at it as if he was seeing a ghost in the reflection. He then stammered off into the house. While passing through the kitchen he caught a glimpse of an old blender that was sitting on the kitchen counter. It itself wasn’t old but it was an old model.

“The hell? These haven’t been around for twenty years.” Ben said as he then made his way outside to the mailbox.

“Why am I doing this again?” Ben asked himself as he went through the various bills and congratulations letters. “Man I paid a lot for this house, and my car, and my boat… Jesus.” Ben said as he happened upon another letter.

When he opened it he was shocked. As he read he still wasn’t quite sure if he had read that correctly. So just to be sure he read through it again. He looked up noticing the nice neighborhood that he was in filled with luxurious houses and setups. Then in the blink of an eye he was awake. He sat up with a blank expression. Or more of a shocked expression.

“Was I the head of a firm or some kind of company?” Ben asked not expecting anyone to actually answer him as he just sat there.

“Because… I think was fired.” Ben thought.

And fired is exactly what he was. The letter he read detailed how his board of directors tried to call him for an important business meeting but he never picked up. It then detailed due to Michael’s (Ben’s) young age that he may not be suited to run the company after all, especially due to his usual absence. And that the board had removed him from his current position.

“So does this mean that…? I’m a human after all?” Ben thought. “With all those expenses piled on top of me losing my high paying job there is just no way I was able to pay for all that shit. So does this mean I became a Heart Breaker by selling my soul to the devil or some shit? Doing it so I could pay off a massive debt?” Ben asked himself that and many other questions until he finally gave up, and it was time to call Gail over.

“It sounds like my situation as far as the dreams go. You said you were having financial trouble?” Gail asked.

“Well I think so. Though it isn’t me, it is Michael.”

“Michael!?” Gail yelled startling Ben.

“Yes… Michael.” Ben said confused. “Why?”

“N-no reason. None…”

“Okay…. Well anyway my “other self” if you wish to call him that was having some financial troubles. The strangest thing is despite it being a lucid dream, I don’t always have full control over what I do in it. Like it’s trying to play out some sort of story.” Ben said.

“I know what you mean. It one I had just gotten an eviction notice. I got in a huge fight with my wife… girlfriend… I am not entirely sure. Anyways we got in a huge fight but I almost had no control in it. Like I was a passenger in my own skin. Then… things got really heated. I beat her, very severely.” Gail said with a look of pain as Ben stared at him with a look of shock.

“If that was me… I can’t believe that I would beat someone so harshly. It was a mess. I just had to suck it up as I did it. I guess if it was me it’s a “what’s done is done” situation.”

Ben didn’t mention his dream as a youngling. Some of the similarities were too uncanny. Although Ben also just saw no need to mention it. Same goes for Gail. He couldn’t remember why but the name Michael was relevant somehow. Once again uncanny but not likely relevant. Gail finally decided it was time to wrap things up and maybe come up with a game plan.

“We don’t have to report to each other when we both have dreams but I am glad you brought this to my attention. If this ever becomes relevant then at the very least we now know that this is happening to both of us.” Gail said then continued. “Give me another call if you need anything okay?”

“Alright I will.” Ben said as he showed Gail out.

As ben shut the door he turned around only to lean back against it. He felt his eyes drifting shut till his phone buzzed the glass of the coffee table, and he was startled. Something which has been happening to him a lot since his sudden personality shift. He picks up the phone as it msg from Sarah. Ben opened the message and read it.

“I really need a friend right now. Can I come over???” Sarah said in her message as Ben typed a reply. Ben didn’t know why but he felt something was wrong from a mere text.

“Of course.” Ben typed back along with his address.

Ben was surprised when only twenty minutes there was a buzz for someone to be let in. Then a knock on his door. He knew that it was Sarah from the get go. He knew whenever she was around. If they were to ever play hide and go seek then Sarah would most definitely lose. He opened the door and there she stood. Her eyes were red and moist yet she still had that smile. She held up a six pack and a bottle of liquor.

It wasn’t but forty-five minutes later when Sarah was sitting on his couch with a near empty box of tissues. She had drank three beers already, and that wasn’t including the two from the six pack she cracked open before she had even arrived. She sat there going on and on about how her boyfriend cheated on her. How the girl her boyfriend had done it with was stacked and with silky smooth skin.

The whole time Ben didn’t know how to comfort her when he didn’t realize that simply being there was good enough. Soon she was dipping into the hard liquor that she brought while looking for shot glasses and laughing at Ben as Ben just smiled while she found out he didn’t have shot glasses. And lastly she settled for just a coffee cup while she poured the liquor in it.

“Ha… ha. Drinking out of a mug. It’s like we are at the coffee shop!” Sarah yelled while snorting and laughing. But then crying.

“Jeff always used to laugh at my snorting!” She said crying with Jeff being her ex.

“It’s okay… okay?” Ben said as she cried.

Sarah kind of ignored him. She then slammed the liquor bottle into his chest. “How rude! Nobody wants to drink alone!” She said as Ben shook his head.

“Okay, okay, okay.” Ben said as he poured liquor into a glass.

“Whoa! That… that is a much bit.” Sarah said drunken than before. “It is, it is, full proof!” Sarah said with slurs.

“You mean 100 proof?” Ben said as he read the bottle, not knowing what that meant.

“Exactly!” Sarah said poking him in the chest. “And don’t think you’re getting any just because you get super trashed!” Sarah yelled at him.

Ben didn’t know what that meant but he did know she didn’t want to “drink” alone. A concept he thought was weird because he was drinking a glass of water already. Ben picked the glass full of hard liquor up and started drinking it like it was a glass of water. Sarah’s drunk self dropped her jaw at an angle from the sight. And just like that Ben was almost finished with it.

Ben felt as though it was supposed to taste strange. He gathered this from Sarah’s reaction. And almost from the taste. Though since he didn’t have a good concept of what should and should not be consumed as if it were water and he was already used to the flavor over the years of being a Heart Breaker. When he did finish, Sarah was clapping hardcore, and Ben took a bow not really understanding what he did. And since Heart Breakers are susceptible alcohol he won’t get the chance to understand.

“W… wow man, just… wow. Are you a super hero?” Sarah said laughing.

“No.”

“Because you can really. Really! REALLY! Hold your alcohol.” Sarah said as she poured a little bit more in her cup.

Sarah sat there with a drunken smile for a second. She went to go take a sip and as she pulled the cup away from her face she no longer held that smile. In fact now she looked sad. And though Ben was dense due to only recently gaining emotion, he wasn’t that dense. He sat next to her and put his arm around her for a half-hug of sorts.

“Do I suck?” Sarah asked as she took another sip.

“Suck? I don’t know…” Ben said not sure if she meant it as a description word, noun, or even a verb.

“Ha… thanks.” Sarah said as she took another sip. “Jeff was my third boyfriend this year. And the fourth since we’ve met. And they keep leaving me for these other, more attractive women. Why is that?” Sarah asked as she looked over at Ben.

“Although I like you…” Sarah said.

“You do?” Ben asked calmly not taking it the wrong way.

“Yeah… I mean though we don’t have that kind of relationship but it was nice to have a guy who seemingly only saw me when we were together. We weren’t even together and your eyes never wandered. Well… sort of. I did see them wander sometimes but some of them were men so I dismissed those. Plus they were the briefest of glances.” Sarah unknowingly referring to people Ben saw with Heart Swallows.

“Wish I could say the same for my other boyfriends.” Sarah said softly.

“Is that really that important to you?” Ben said.

“Well duh! It is a sign of how faithful to you someone is. And not did your eyes never wander but also that stupid handstand coffee trick the first time we met along with other shenanigans like that glass of liquor you drank always made you so fun to be around, along with your hilarious density, if you know what I mean?” Sarah said laughing while talking of how dense Ben is… he didn’t know what she meant.

“Oh well… I guess I am just not fit to date. I am boring. Boring brown hair. Boring figure. Boring career.” Sarah said with a sigh.

“You aren’t boring!” Ben yelled as she jumped.

“You are hilarious! An inspiration… to me that is. To keep going in life. You are always so cheerful. And as far as your figure goes, you may only be a five or six to most…” Ben said.

“Oh thanks.” Sarah said sarcastically as she sipped liquor while holding up two fingers.

“But to me you’re a ten.” Ben said calmly, not realizing that he said something embarrassing.

Sarah was blushing a bit from what he said. Then without thinking about it too much, Sarah drunkenly leaned in towards Ben’s face with her eyes closed. He didn’t know what to do at first. He didn’t know if he should, or if that’s what Sarah would really want. He finally swallowed his fear of getting attached and leaned in too. And in the blink of an eye, they kissed. Their soft lips pressed together in embrace. Sarah’s soft due to being numb from the alcohol, and Ben’s because Heart Breakers had flawless features.

It was then after a few brief seconds that Sarah pulled Ben’s face in even further somehow for a “stronger” smooch. Due to it Sarah’s eyes squinted and closed even further as Ben’s eyes popped wide open. WIDE open. Then Sarah pulled his face away just as fast while still holding and smooshing his cheeks. She still retained some of her blushing.

“I… I can’t believe I did that.” Sarah said blushing slightly. “I can’t believe that we did that. Does this mean that we are going out?” Sarah said.

“Does it?” Ben asked, still confused about it all. Sarah then teared up as she locked eye contact with Ben for this next part.

“If we are! If we are then I have to ask you a favor!”

“What is it?”

“You have to promise not to hurt me! I have been hurt enough. Besides it may be me being rash jumping into this so promise me! Please.” Sarah said still holding Ben’s cheeks as Ben just grabbed her hands off his cheeks and held them in his hands, establishing deep eye contact as Sarah blushed even harder.

“I promise you! I will never hurt you! Not ever, I will protect you from pain, whether mental or physical. This is a promise!” Ben said with conviction and he made it.

Sarah didn’t know how to react to Ben’s very genuine sounding promise. And Ben meant it, he would never hurt her. She was his dearest friend and he hated seeing her in pain, and though he wasn’t in love with her like a lover would be at least he could save her from emotional pain this way. She finally smiled then jumped forward to hug Ben as she fell on him on the couch. At first he thought that she was trying to get with him in the sheets too until he realized that she had fallen asleep.

“Don’t worry Sarah. I will never hurt you. I promise I won’t.” Ben said as he laid her down on his bed. He then went back to the couch and drifted to sleep himself, happy.

In the morning Ben felt his eyes were crusted shut. He sat up and wiped his arm across his face, wiping the crust away as sight returned to his eyes. They were fuzzy but working fine. He could still feel Sarah back in his room and he felt it odd that her presence was a bit stronger than usual. He stood and was going to go check on her.

Suddenly there was a knock on his door. At first he thought maybe it was too early until he realized that it was a Heart Breaker. He felt worried now, because he shouldn’t have a normal human girl in his apartment. He looked through the peep hole on his door to see that it was Gail. He took a breath of relief as he opened the door.

“Hey Gail.” Ben said.

“What are you doing Ben? I came by to check on you as usual but I didn’t realize that you would bring her here.”

“How did you know it was a her…? Wait, how’d you know there was someone?! Can you sense her too!?” Ben asked all three of these questions almost all at once.

“Allow me to answer. A: You are at your male counterpart’s apartment so, girl. And B will answer two at once, she has a Heart Swallow so of course I can sense her.” Gail said nonchalantly as Ben stared at him blankly for a second before laughing and putting his behind his head to scratch it.

“Ha! No, no, no. Look, that isn’t the case… ever since I have known her I could sense her you see? Just a really strange coincidence.” Ben said laughing.

“No it isn’t. I can see her. She is a victim of a Heart Breaker.” Gail said pointing at her with a visual to the bedroom.

Ben stood there staring at Gail for a second after him saying that. Ben refused at first to turn around until his curiosity got the better of him. He veered his head and as he gained sight of Sarah there she was. Laying in Ben’s bed with a shiny or that was as clear as day and as bright as the sun. Sarah was the victim of a Heart Swallow. Which now meant Ben had to dispose of her. Ben just stood there as he started shaking.

“We’re going!” Ben said harshly as he grabbed Gail by the sleeve.

“Where! Hey let go!” Gail said as Ben carried him off.

“We just went to the roof.” Gail said confused.

“You have to help me Gail!” Ben said as he grabbed Gail by the shirt.

“Whoa, whoa bro. Calm down, what do you need? Does it have anything to do with that girl?!” Gail asked hoping that wasn’t the case.

“Listen Gail… last night that girl didn’t have a Heart Swallow, and now she does! I made a promise to her last night, a promise that I would never hurt her!” Ben said trying to convince Gail to help out, maybe pull an emotional string.

“So break it!” Gail said.

“No I can’t! I promised I would protect her!”

“Well then I will take care of her then!”

“Well the problem is… I can’t let you do that. I promised her that I would protect so that includes even you…” Ben said not knowing what to say next.

“Oh my god Ben! Do you realize how petty you sound!? Don’t you understand that you have to kill that Heart Swallow!? Or at the very least let me take care of it somehow.”

Ben stood there silent for a while as he waited to think of a plan. He just couldn’t. It wasn’t part of his personality to come up with any illogical plans. Gail stood there until he walked over to the edge. He looked out at the city as Ben sat down. Gail felt a massive headache coming on from this whole situation.

“I wasn’t expecting my morning to go this way. Listen man… this is bigger than us. Bigger than you and that fantasy future of yours where she doesn’t end up dying somehow. I mean how important to you is this girl anyway?!” Gail asked with a snarl.

“She… is my only friend.” Ben said softly.

Gail looked at Ben sadly. Gail’s arms fell to his sides and just dangled there for a few seconds. Gail looked at Ben with a small amount of pity, confusion and most of all sadness. Thanks to this past year Gail hadn’t felt so alone. Ben was his first friend. He would never admit it but what Ben said really hurt him. Gail gritted his teeth as he suggest something stupid on purpose just to mess with Ben.

“What are you going to do huh? Tell Sarah about us and take her across the country. Then when that Heart Fiend hatches you are going to fight all by yourself?!?!” Gail said as a half joke and half angry response.

“Yes… that is perfect.”

“… What!?” Gail asked angrily.

“If I do that then… at the very least Sarah can live on!” Ben said with excitement.

“Well how are you going to do that!? Cromwell would be on you so fast and then BOOM! Dead that easily, Sarah would be killed too.” Gail said but Ben wouldn’t have it.

“Not if I take this to Cromwell! If I could explain to him the situation then it would be okay then wouldn’t it!?” Ben said not really asking.

“Are you drunk!? Are you no longer a Heart Breaker, and did you just get real smashed!? Or maybe high off your ass!” Gail said as he felt his headache growing.

“I am going to do it. But I can’t just leave without informing Timmy and the others. They’ll need to know that I am gone so they can pick up the stragglers until my replacement.”

“Huh… fine I will assemble them. Now you find out how you are going to get that girl of yours on board with this whole thing.” Gail said whilst rolling his eyes.

“Thank you so much Gail!”

“Not like I have a choice. You were going to do something stupid like this anyways. Just why is she so important Ben? This important I mean?” asked Gail as Ben stopped to look at him.

“Well its coffee.”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah… every time I look at her, I am reminded of the best coffee I have ever had. And if she dies… then I will never be able to enjoy that coffee ever again.” Ben told him as Gail smirked at that statement.

“Coffee huh? What a weird word for love.” Gail said laughing as Ben smirked and left.

Ben walked his way back to the apartment. He walked his way through those nasty hallways with a bit of sweat beating down his face. He was nervous, and for good reason. He knew full well that Sarah was going to freak out. And when he got there he saw her. She had a hangover from hell and she found herself wobbling to the couch with a glass of water.

“Good, you’re up.” Ben said.

“Of course… it took a while but I am here among the living once again. And now you’re back. Did the god of hard liquor decide to descend from his throne to walk amongst us mortals?” Sarah said as Ben laughed just a bit from the irony.

“Um… we need to talk…” Ben told her as they both just stared silently for a second.

“Oh no… oh no, oh no. You’re breaking up with me already aren’t you?!”

“What?”

“Aw I knew this would happen! I was super drunk, and sad. I probably made you super uncomfortable, and then we kissed and it was all just a mistake.”

“That isn’t what we need to talk about.” Ben said as Sarah had a pleasantly surprised sort of look that was plastered so obviously on her face.

Ben then sat her down. He explained almost everything there was to explain about the Heart Breakers, and the Heart Swallows. He explained how the Heart Swallows would become Heart Fiends if left unchecked. She looked very intently as Ben spoke and Ben was starting to get the feeling that Sarah wasn’t freaked out. Even when he said that she had a Heart Swallow within her, and he was going to need her to go across the country with her, and or stay and wait it out as Ben and the others prepared for the Heart Fiend.

“Yes…” Sarah said.

“Yes? Yes!? You are on board.”

“Yes! I think it is great!” Sarah said as she started clapping. I think it is an excellent premise for your next book “Joshua Lundquest” wink wink nudge nudge.” Sarah said while actually winking and nudging Ben.

“No! This is for real!”

“Haha! Yeah, sure it is… Brea.” Sarah told him using his girl name that he told her about as she continued to laugh at him.

Ben sat there quiet as his eyes stared directly at the floor. He has never experienced what it was like for somebody to think he was lying or to not take him seriously before. And after he told her all that she thinks it is for some stupid book or something. It really pissed him off, and to make matters worse she was still laughing.

Enraged Ben just up and decided he was going to do things the hard way, and possibly heart attack inducing way. He stood up to grab her attention and it worked. He looked her dead in the eye as he threw his hands up in the air. In an instant he was consumed by blue fire. She screamed and jumped over the couch to get away from the fire. As she looked back out at it she saw a woman with long, white hair, and a drop dead figure.

“Holy shit! You turned into a fucking woman!”

“I wasn’t lying to you! Or making up some story! If you don’t listen to me then you will die!” Brea said to her.

“Bu… but how could you expect me to believe you!?”

“To be honest I didn’t… I just expected you would have a different reaction, but for some reason the one you had just really pissed me off!” Brea said as she put her foot down.

Sarah sat there for a second, just trying to digest everything she was just told. And now hearing that her life was in danger she wasn’t as brave as usual, though to Ben’s surprise she was taking it really well. Or Brea at the moment. Brea felt maybe it was because he/she was already making true on her promise not to hurt Sarah, and since Sarah having a Heart Swallow wasn’t anybody’s fault that she had it and that Ben (Brea) was going against his very own existence was very flattering to Sarah.

“Okay… I think I am comprehending this now. During your speech you said that you needed to inform the rest of your sector before we set off to see this Cromwell guy so… let’s get to it then.” Sarah said still confused.

“Great! Let’s got then.”

Ben called and asked Gail where he got the gang together. As Ben drove there it was mostly a silent drive between him and Sarah. On top of their new relationship together that was kind of pushed to the wayside in her mind after finding out that she may die, and that Ben (Brea) was supposed to kill her. So she wasn’t exactly thrilled.

“Listen… I know this must be weird but just try and speak to me like you always do okay?” Brea asked Sarah as Sarah gave her a funny look.

“Well that may take a while. From what you told me I just found out that you killed a bunch of people… for a long time too. Of course I won’t be irrational about this. It was to protect the greater populace after all.” Sarah said as she looked out the window.

“I am sorry to hear that. You know we didn’t choose this life… at least I think. I am one of the few Heart Breakers to have developed emotions. I am sorry you can’t talk to me easily now.” Brea said as she kept driving.

“Well that isn’t the only reason I am having a hard time talking to you.” Sarah said less depressed this time.

“Why’s that.”

“Uh why do you think!? I can’t get over the fact that my boyfriend has nicer boobs and a nicer figure than me! It is creepy.” Sarah said as she got the jitters just looking at Brea.

“Sorry…” Brea said as she switched back to Ben a bit embarrassed as Sarah giggled.

It wasn’t long after that they had arrived at one of the nearest parks where they all decided to meet up. As Ben drove in there he saw everyone gathered. Everyone except for Kyle/Kayla who hadn’t shown up yet. But other than him/her everyone was there. Gail/Abigail was there. Timmy/Tina, and of course Revy/Rock or more just Revy according to “her”.

“Oh my god!” Sarah said as she looked at Timmy/Tina while she was in Tina form.

“Don’t tell me this little girl does what you guys do too?!” Sarah asked in disgust.

“Well of course.” Tina said. “You wouldn’t expect an adult to romance a child with a Heart Swallow would you? So you leave that to me. And if helps you feel any better I am hundreds of years old.” And in turn it didn’t help Sarah feel any better. Not at all.

“Hmph! I can’t believe you would do something so stupid Ben. When Gail told us what you were about to do and the fact that you were developing human feelings I almost gagged.” Revy said as Sarah retorted.

“Well what’s wrong with that?”

“If Ben develops human feelings, it could affect his job as a Heart Breaker. I don’t know how well Ben explained to you what his job was but it is kind of a big deal that he stays effective at it.” Tina said.

“Listen, I didn’t have Gail bring you guys here to discuss that! I am just here to tell you what I am doing.” Ben said as he grabbed Sarah’s hand. “I promised this girl I would protect her. This is before she acquired a Heart Swallow! And I am going to do just that!” Ben said as the group just stared at him for a second, Gail though refused to make eye contact.

“I don’t care.” Tina said.

“What!? How could there be nothing wrong with this!?” Revy asked, lashing out.

“Well that isn’t up to me… it is up to Cromwell. Why should I care? Besides, you aren’t one to talk. You only switch over to your male form when it is completely needed. With your logic that could be seen as insubordinate. And on that note, why are you getting so angry? Are you developing emotions as well?” Tina said simultaneously shutting Revy up.

“Well I am glad we are on the same page then. I will come back with Cromwell’s response soon.” Ben said before he was interrupted by Kyle.

“The hell you will.” Kyle said walking up to Ben as Ben held Sarah’s hand tighter.

“What, are you going to stop me Kayla?” Ben said using his female alter ego as an insult.

“Exactly… if you leave then me, the Heart Breaker closest to your age group will have to pick up all the slack from the bounties you leave behind.” Kyle said using logic. “It will be a while before Cromwell sends a replacement.”

“Are you forgetting that Revy is also in the thirty year old age group like yourself? And that’s only if I leave. If Cromwell assigns a force to help us deal with the Heart Fiend then it will be a whole different story!”

“Don’t be so dumb Ben. You know that won’t fly with Cromwell! He sees us as tools because that is what we are! You are just a broken tool. He won’t listen to you!” Kyle yelled.

“Well too bad. I am leaving regardless.” Ben said as Kyle burst forth after him.

Out of shock Ben pushed Sarah aside as gently as possible as Kyle just decked Ben and Ben fell to the ground. Kyle then looked over at Sarah and smiled as he cracked his knuckles. He charged angrily toward Sarah as Ben tackled him to the ground. Ben then started punching Kyle in the face leaving bruises.

But soon Kyle head-butted Ben as Ben’s nose started to bleed. Kyle then got underneath the stunned Ben and pulled back his hind legs. Kyle then thrust his feet forward with great force. The kick sent Ben flying forward. Ben knew that if he didn’t move that Kyle would try to dispatch of Sarah again but Kyle was already moving on her and Ben was just gaining traction with the ground.

As Kyle almost made it back to Sarah he was then knocked down as his leg was swept. He then received three swift jabs to his throat. When he got back up he saw a petite figure bouncing back in forth. Ben had switched to Brea to gain the speed advantage since Kyle obviously had the strength advantage from being built like a jock.

“I see… clever bitch! I can see I will just have to pound you into the ground before plucking out the real problem over there!” Kyle said.

“Don’t bet on it!” Brea said as she charged forth.

Brea moved in and out like lightning. Kyle would lumber forward with his swings and punches. That on top of the fact that he was trying to keep up with Brea’s speed left him wide open sometimes. And at those moments Brea would swoop in for a few more jabs to the gut. Kyle would just keep swinging. Using the blood on Brea’s face from the first time Kyle hit her as Ben as a target.

“You might as well give up, you’re too slow!” Brea said while still dodging Kyle’s strikes.

“Then I’ll fight fire with fire!” Kyle said as he switched to Kayla.

“Here goes!” Kayla said as she started swing and despite her minor speed boost she still could not keep up with Brea.

Try as she might she just couldn’t keep up with Brea. All the swings she made were futile. On top of that Kayla was getting worn out from trying to get a hit in. Before Kayla knew it Brea started using her blue fire. The embers blinded Kayla for a split second. But it was just long enough for Brea to hide in the shadows. And as Kayla searched she had forgotten all about Sarah who was sitting by Gail’s foot.

“I don’t get it. I can tell that Ben got a speed boost when he became a girl but as a boy the other guy was faster than Ben… so how as a girl was Ben able to go that much faster even when Kyle got a speed boost?” Sarah asked Gail.

“Well it isn’t that simple. As a man a Heart Breaker has an increase in overall body strength. Kyle had the strength portion in spades too. So strong that despite Ben being smaller than Kyle, Kyle was still faster due to the strength in his legs. But when a Heart Breaker switches genders then their particular strengths are enhanced by the extreme. As a girl Ben or Brea now gains a massive speed boost from male to female. Thinking of it like that you would think the same would happen to Kyle when he becomes Kayla but that isn’t the case. Kyle was faster than Ben due to the extra strong legs but Kayla, while still faster than Kyle could never compete with the speed of Brea. And now that Kayla lost her strength I fear she has lost!” Gail explained at length.

As Kayla strafed her line of site back and forth it was no use. Brea was nowhere to be found and she couldn’t do anything about. She then heard the lighting of a flame behind her. Kayla turned to face Brea but all she got was a face full of blue flame, falling for the same trick twice. Before she knew it Brea was behind her. Brea then jumped and grabbed Kayla’s head as Brea’s feet flew up in the air. Brea whispered “It’s over” then last second Brea switched back to Ben using all his weight to have Kayla’s face smash right into the ground.

“It looks like I will be going to Cromwell’s after all.” Ben said to a tired and beaten Kayla.

Ben said his goodbyes to the rest as he jumped into the car and headed off to Cromwell’s Victorian styled castle. Kayla lay wheezing on the ground as Tina walked over and helped her up. Gail and Revy stood off to the side as Tina and Kayla stayed closer to the road. Watching as Ben and Sarah drove off in the distance.

“You know that Cromwell isn’t going to tolerate Ben when he gets there.” Kayla said.

“I know, I know. But it doesn’t hurt to be optimistic for him. Besides, I pity Ben for what he is turning into. He isn’t handling his situation near as well as other Heart Breakers I know either.” Tina said as she glanced at Gail.

“Optimism huh? Heart Breakers aren’t supposed to have that Tina.” Kayla told her.

“Heart Breakers also aren’t supposed to try and kill other Heart Breakers prey just so they don’t do something stupid but you did that.”

“Shut up!” Kayla said as Gail and Revy walked up to them.

“What and idiot.” Revy said.

“He has turned into a grade-A dumbass with emotions. I never figured that’d happen.” Gail said knowing he has little room to talk yet still room to talk nonetheless.

“Yeah… but you have to admit. The way he handled that Heart Swallow two, and the way he fought Kyle… Cromwell is in for a fight if he tries anything shady. Which he will.” Tina said with a confident look and a firm foot forward.