That was... well, better than what Ben had expected. He laid his left arm across his thighs and moved his head, so his forehead rested in his right hand. "I... I guess", he said in a shaky voice. Maxim's reply hadn't exactly been reassuring, but, truth be told, it was probably better that ...

Ben was sure he wanted to speak with Maxim now, but he hesitated. Not out of embarrassment for his feelings or flaws - no, he'd never had a problem being open with those -, but rather because he couldn't think how to describe them. "I freaked out over a flashlight." wouldn't exactly convey...

[Skipping with permission] As luck would have it, Maxim was still speaking. He was suggesting to give Lili some privacy and go to a different room. Ben pushed his distracting thoughts down. He needed to think clearly, to pay attention. He could think on his worries later. "Later", he murm...

"No, no weapon", said Ben, and started walking to the room that Lili had entered. "Unless you count an etch-a-sketch as a weapon", he said offhandedly. He was still a bit detached from the conversation, because of hunger and creeping self-doubt and whatnot. However, after a momen...

"No", said Ben, just after Lili replied to Maxim. He waited until Lili got up and saw her stumble a bit, but she caught herself before Ben could even think of doing so. Yeah, she needed sleep. Her turned, bent, and rummaged through his duffel bag until he found his flashlight. The same fla...

They had flashlights? Boy, he really needed to have another look through his bag, Ben thought. In that case... well, exploring this place now might not be a bad idea. That way they would have everything they needed in the morning, in case they needed to leave in a hurry. Might also be a good idea to...

Ben frowned slightly in confusion when Maxim said he'd met another "kind" of his, then got the joke when he mentioned "Ben" Fields. The other Ben. He didn't laugh, though, and his look of confusion just increased. He crossed his arms over his knees, which were drawn up towards, t...

"Where there are friends, there is hope everlasting." Ben grinned, both at the cheesy line, remembered from "Yonder in the Midnight Grove", and at how it was true. So completely true. He looked at the three of them, awash in orange glow, and felt certain that they would make it. ...

There was quite a bit more in the duffel bag than he thought. Moving quickly from item to item, he counted three bottles of water, at least eight high-energy survival ration food bars, two loaves of bread, that one green metal box, which was a first aid kit  apparently, a flashlight, a compass, a......

Ben waited a few more moments for an answer. Nothing. He frowned, the lump in his throat swelling in size. Someone should have heard that, if there was somebody inside. Perhaps someone did, and simply decided not to answer. Or couldn't. Ben shivered, and took an involuntary step backwards. "Ok,...

(Ben Lichter continues from Exhausted ) Ben was looking for people. He knew it was a bad idea, looking for the one thing that could reasonably be expected to kill him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he really needed to talk to someone. Besides, he thought, most people know it's wrong to kil...

Ben opened his eyes. (Benjamin Lichter continues from Local Man Convicted Of Suicide ) He was lying on a bed in a rather nice room. The sun was starting to come up, but it was still quite dark. And the quiet, the quiet could make him believe there was nothing to worry about. No wind, no waves, no pe...

(Benjamin Lichter continues from Song For A Warrior) Ben sneaked past the side of a wooden building. He had moved slowly since leaving the dormitories and was trying to keep out of sight. So far, it seemed to have worked. He had seen no one and no one had seen him. He hoped. He stopped to survey hi...

And just like that, she walked away. He didn't even need to run. Ben stood there, stunned, unable to answer when she said goodbye. When she wished him good luck. ... Fuck. He really didn't understand people. One moment she was threatening him, the next... she was gone. Why? Had she got what she want...

... Well, shit. Ben's jaw dropped and his shoulders sagged. She hadn't been lying. She hadn't been. She might have left and and betrayed him, but she handn't-- wait, betrayed? Had she really? He didn't know. He thought he knew, but he didn't know that she hadn't been lying, either.  A small sigh esc...