Benevolence

Chapter 13

He stared at her mournfully as she lay with her head tilted towards him. He had been sitting by her side for almost the entire day and when he was being ushered out, he'd growled at the nurses who decided to just let him be. So that's how he found himself staying overnight by Olivia's side, clasping her ice cold hand firmly in his just for the assurance of the faint thump of blood he felt at her wrist.

Her breaths were barely audible and came out in irregular patterns but he was just grateful that she was still here with them. Will had left with the others at 7 pm to go research and find out whatever he could about this ‘parasite’ inside him. He let out a growl and found himself gripping the gurney with his other hand; his knuckles a fierce white against his tanned skin.

This was all because of his sheer idiocy. The fact that he never told him about this thing living inside him brings up a hot searing rage he haven't felt since Sara left him.

Funny, that too was because of him. Now whatever entity was lying dormant in his body was the reason for his sister fighting for her life in hospital.

He looked up at her innocent youthful face and bit back a sob. She didn't deserve this. She was nothing more than an innocent victim to Will's wishes. He shuddered to think what on earth he'd been wishing for these past few weeks and decided to never even think of whatever he wanted to wish for.

It wasn't worth all the suffering and ruin it brought. He brought his face close to Olivia's and coughed to clear his clogged throat before saying in as confident a voice as he could, ‘Livia you can do it. You can fight against the coma you're in and you have to. You have to come back to me and mum and dad and Lou and Will. We're all waiting for you. As soon as you're up we can jump right back into the car and head on straight to Brighton for our savvy picnic. You'd like that right? Will and I need your help cracking a paranormal case and I know how much you love supernatural stuff but you can't be a part of it if you don't wake up. Wouldn't you like to sock whatever did this to you in the nose?’

He took a deep breath summoning his strength to continue because his speech was beginning to sound a lot like a funeral talk.

He watched the monitor beside her bed as the low beeps continued to fill the brutal silence of the room. It was exactly how it was the last time he'd checked.

Which had been eight hours ago. Pinching his nose he let out a yawn and felt exhaustion blanket him yet he knew sleep wasn't an option.

He could feel its presence in his head and shivered at the chills he got all over. Sometimes they would be at his side and sometimes at his foot but he mostly felt it at his chest and head. It felt as though he had gotten a severe brain freeze and chest burn, both making him feel distraught.

How could anyone sleep with a distant laugh at the back of their head or the whoosh of ice in their arm? Will must have felt all this too yet he slept well. Never did a look of discomfort frequent his eyes from physical pain but maybe it was because he hid it so well.

With a sigh he tilted his head back on the crappy plastic chair provided to him and decided to try to sleep. The thing was in his head anyway so he didn't need to keep watch for it. He would just have to make sure he didn't let it control him and to not make any wishes.

It was going to be a long night but at least he had Olivia by his side and you could be damn sure he would fight for her!

Closing his eyes he whispered prayers to a god he had long abandoned and left. With so little hope he turned his energy to him to save him and give him his life back.

The laughter got louder becoming more raucous as he concentrated his will on the prayer. At some point he must have fallen asleep with the prayers from his young church going days pressed to his limp lips as his hand lay slack against Olivia's own.

A pleasant sensation gripped his head into a soothing massage and he sighed, body worn out ready to sleep. He felt silk float over his brain and lay there encasing it. An easy smile worked its way onto his strained lips as his mind was caressed into dough.

He forgot about the day that had just gone by and his sister's fragile condition as he was lulled into peaceful nothingness.

He stood on the sea at the edge of the horizon. Blinking in surprise he confirmed that he was actually standing on the water and he was. The bright mellow sun pierced his eyes with its glare as the water rippled under his feet. Astounded, he reached out to touch the rings of fire in front of him only to feel a chill echo through his body.

Gasping he took his hand off only to hear a raucous cackling from the darkness devouring the sun. His eyes burning from the sight, he stumbled back before spinning into a sprint over the never ending ocean waves lapping at his feet.

He just kept running though he was feeling immense dread at the rising volume of the laugh. It sounded sinister and full of malice promises that he didn't ever want to confront whatever was causing them even though he knew in his heart what it was.

Pain burst at his knee knocking him into a white bed upon which he was immediately strapped. Confused he looked around to notice a shadow leaning on the bedpost and that he wasn't the slightest bit wet. Gulping slightly he feigned an arrogant expression as he realised he'd been caught.

He watched him in the metallic silence never breaking eye contact from the luminous green flames licking till the tips of the shadows eyes.

‘My dear sweet boy you are an absolute darling of an earthling aren't you,?’ It crooned mockingly as he tipped James's head towards its own face, ‘Your brother was quite easy if I am going to be completely honest with you. The typical wish maker but you, oh boy, you are something else and I thank you for making this so hard for me because it'll be all the more fun to break you down. You can resist me all you want but I'm afraid you're not going to be able to as your brother William has ensured that I'm staying.

James strained against the hand clenched around his chin only to be yanked forward with his eyes a few millimetres from the shadows.

‘Listen carefully and well James. I am a part of you and I am here to stay. I will make you listen to me and you will because otherwise I will hurt you. I am what you can call your nesting conscious and I control you pretty boy you got that?’

James could only nod as he felt panic rise within him. He was trapped with this shadow ghoul threatening him and felt ready to piss himself because he was scared to death of everything the ghoul was saying.

With a pleased look on its face the shadow softened his grip and KISSED him gently as tender as a lover's first chaste kiss before pulling away and leaving.

James woke up, drenched in cold sweat and blinked haphazardly at the dullness of his surroundings only calming at the sight of Olivia and the hum of the machine telling him she was stable.

Pinching his nose he worked on his breathing bringing it to a safe level before thinking of his strange dream.

It freaked him out and made him really nervous about the shadow controlling him. The way the shadow had moved was just so commandeering and oozed charisma that made him stiffen up. The voice was on another level as it made him want to give up everything for this shadow but it was the eyes that ripped through him.

The eyes were enticing and alluring in a hypnotising way. They made you want to do whatever it wanted with no exception. It scared him so much just to think he had been ready to kill himself at the slightest command or gesture to do so.

Gripping his head between his legs he started singing as that had always calmed him down. He stopped after he realised it wasn't helping.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head at the time on the clock above Olivia's bed.

It wasn't even 3 am yet. There was another 4 hours till anyone came into the building. Rubbing his face with his hand in annoyance he got up from the back breaking chair and stretched to get some feeling into his bones.

Sighing with relief he dragged himself out of the room and made his way to the vending machine. It was so weird to be walking around the hospital with no one around. It was like a horror movie venue where the lights would flicker and a phantom would appear.

Shaking his head he dug around his pockets for a pound or two, finding one and got a coke. He winced at the clang it made as it hit the bottom and laughed lightly at his jumpiness that night.

Sipping the chilled soda in his hand he made his way back to the ward trying his hardest to ignore the sadistic thrumming in his head. Sitting back down beside Olivia he held her hand again and pressed it to his lips in silent prayer.

Feeling it hold back onto his he looked up wide eyed to the sight of his sister looking back at him. Turning to the monitor he saw no change but she was back. Technology can have bloopers it wasn't a biggie. He grinned for the first time that night and stared at her wonderstruck.

Finally something....something had gone right tonight and he wasn't dreaming. His grin sagged at that and he pinched himself to ensure he wasn't in a dream. To his relief he wasn't and gave his undivided attention to his baby sister.

Seeing her sitting there due to her strength tugged at him and sobering he knew he had to tell her. He had promised after all.

‘Olivia how are you feeling?’ he whispered quietly, as if not to break the spell, ‘You've been so brave and strong I knew you would get out. You’d never give up without a fight and I'm so glad you won it. I know you must be confused and scared because it felt weird right? How you fell like you were pulled down. I....I can explain that and everything if you want me to.’

She looked at him with eyes far beyond her years holding a maturity of someone who had seen and been through a lot. It saddened him to see those wise eyes on her.

‘Jamsie I'm not scared anymore. I love you and I came back for you because you need me. It's not my time yet and I want to be with you tell me everything.’

Her sweet voice brought tears to his eyes because he thought he would never hear it again. Taking a deep breath and gripping her hand he ignored the thrumming getting louder and croaked, ‘I...It was Will who....who did this to you but not Will either at the same time. He had a thing in him with green eyes that could give....give him whatever he wanted when he wished it. That's why weird stuff has been happening but I...but now it's no longer inside him but me and I don't know what to do. I can feel it in my head and my heart and it hurts.....this hurts so bad but anyway this isn't a....about me. I don't know exactly what he wished for but you're fine now so it's okay. I just won't make any wishes and then it can't do anything. Will is trying to find out about it and we need you to.....’

He stopped at the forlorn and resigned look on her face, his stomach churning with dread. She took his face and gazed into his eyes. His own stared back stunned at hers. Her normally bright hazel eyes were alit with a serene glow around them like someone had put a shimmery fairy light under her pupils. They shone with a radiating beauty and he couldn't help but feel both tranquil and afraid of it.

Her lips moved to form words in her voice yet they sounded too mature for his gabby sister, ‘I wish it weren't you in this much pain rather it was me because seeing you like this breaks my heart. I love you so much big brother and can't bear this turmoil you're feeling. But telling you this won't help you at all so listen carefully.’

She stopped speaking and put her arms around his neck pulling him close. He hugged her back fiercely as though daring anyone to take her from him. It was the hug of a desperate man who had just got a sliver of hope and wished never to part from it.

‘I want you to tell Will that I forgive him for what he has done and that he shouldn't focus on his errs but his redemption. As for you James, I forgive you a thousand times for the act you will commit yet I know this won't stop you torturing yourself over it. I wish it would however I know you.’

James was confused and even more so at the tear drops wetting his neck. He pulled back to see Olivia staring at him with a monsoon of sorrow echoing through her eyes. She stroked his cheek slowly as if cherishing each touch. He didn't understand how she knew of what he would do. The thrumming vibrated in his head and he gnashed his teeth to dull the pain.

Keeping her hands on his cheeks she continued with visible effort, ‘You have a long way to go and the road you will venture upon will not be an easy one. You will have to bear immense burdens and suffering but you won't be alone. You will be with the best of people and I will also be there. With you, always, never forget that. Don't despair though brother you will find happiness and joy on your journey though it will seem impossible,’ her voice wobbled slightly as she said it, ‘You can do this though James. You aren't the normal host for this entity. You are smart, kind, brave and loving. If there's anyone who can get rid of this evil genie it's you but you can't give up. You hear me James no giving up.’

James felt a chill run down his spine. ‘I won't because you're gonna be with me Olivia. You're gonna help me through this and we're gonna end all this together with Will. That's the plan.’

Olivia gave him a tear stained smile that looked more like a grimace and kissed him on his cheeks before lying back down on the bed.

‘I'm sorry James. I am so sorry I can't help you anymore than I just did. In fact I shouldn't even be here but dying wishes really do happen and I couldn't leave without saying bye. You can't do anything to change what's going to happen J so please remember that. I love you so much but I haave to go now. It's my time. Just say hi to Will for me and......’

James strained to hear more but the vibrations in his head got erratic and all he felt was a tight grip on his hand as the world went black.