Every day since Marcus... left... had been the same.  I slept, or at least layed down, during the day and wandered the halls at night.

The next corner, I knew, would lead me to the hallway in which my brother breathed his las breath.  My foot hovered, frozen in place as a war broke out in my head.  I knew that my brother's body would've been removed and the blood scrubbed out, but I just couldn't bring myself to walk through the corridor that had taken the person closest to me.  I turned and went another way that lead to the cafeteria, my destination.  I was a much longer route and went past the leader's quarters, but it brought me no unpleasant memories.

"Again?" A voice called from the shadows.  I spun on my heel and brandished my daggers, ready to fight, but when they came into the light I recognized Sara, the troupe leader.  Is heated my daggers and looked down, ashamed as she continued, "you need to get over your brother.  This... this sleeplessness is unsafe... for everyone when we get attacked again and for your own good.  I know it's sad, we've all lost people we love, but we're all still alive."  Her words were kind, so were her eyes, but her voice was strict.  But in a comforting way.  "Find someone.  Someone to care for you, someone to numb the pain, someone to lift your spirits.  Everyone needs someone like that, especially you at this time."

She disappeared into the shadows and, as I made my way back to my sleeping quarters, I thought of what she had said.

I stopped in front of the boys' quarters and knocked on the door.  A sleepy looking boy with pale skin and jet black hair answered and I told him, "I'd like to speak to Benjamin please.  Tell him it's Zoey."

After a few moments, Ben opened the door and I smiled up at him. "Ben..." I started, "promise me you won't die."

Ben put his hand on my shoulder, looked into my eyes, and said to me in his deep, rumbly voice, "I'm sorry Zoey... but you know I can't promise that."

"I can't lose you too," I told him, tears springing to my eyes, "you and Mary are all the people left that I love with Marcus... gone."  Ben looked at me with sadness in his eyes that I knew matched my own and I said to him, "I love you Ben, I'm scared of losing you... I don't know what would happen if you died...  I don't know what I might do... with no one else to help me hold back my anger."

"Stop," Ben said, cupping my head in his hands, "you're going to be okay."

And then he kissed me.

Sorry I haven't updated in ten million years!  Anyway, I absolutely love this chapter!  It is so cute!