Chapter Text
His head was throbbing, there was a rough loose texture beneath him. He didn’t know if he had the strength to open his eyes. He had to be brave, he had to know if Benny and Sarah were okay.
Everything was blurry but Ethan could see a lump a few feet away. Crawling on his hands and knees, everything burned. The lump went to a striped lump to his Benny.
“Benny?” His throat was dry and scratchy, the oncoming sob wasn’t helping. He nudged Benny’s shoulder. His jacket was soft, Ethan wished they were home. Wished he was nudging a sleepy Benny, not a possibly dead Benny.
Ethan lowered his sore body to Benny’s chest, he heard a heartbeat. Thank god. Holy shit. He was alive. He looked up to Benny’s face, his head was bleeding. Ethan himself knew he had some open wounds, he would deal with it later. Right now he needed to wake Benny up and find Sarah.
He pressed his hand gently to his temple and lifted his head. “Hey. Benny.” He was panicking. “Benny please.” Where was Sarah? Where was Rory and Erica? Was there even anyone close enough to help. Maybe Ethan should just give up. Lay down next to Benny until they both bleed out and die. Wouldn’t be so bad if they did it together.
Ethan hoped Stern paid for this. If the Lucifractor did this to them it should’ve completely killed the guy. If the thing actually killed Sarah he didn’t know what he’d do. Sarah was one of his best friends who should’ve outlived him for hundreds of years.
Ethan was now laying on Benny’s chest. He listened to his heartbeat and begged every god he could think of to let his best friend to be okay. He didn’t care if he had to lay like this for a week. He just wanted Benny back with him. Maybe when he wakes up he can heal them with magic. Ethan wouldn’t even be mad if he said the spell wrong and started a new problem. He just wanted to hear his stupid remarks again.
He fell asleep with his hands in Benny’s blood soaked hair and his head on his chest. He slept for hours, the sun rose eventually. Good to know the sun is still alive after all of that.
The sun warmed him with hope. He didn’t need to crawl anymore. His vision was getting much better, he tried to watch for any trace of Sarah. Maybe she got out. Part of him wished she’d come back for them.
Hours passed. Ethan tried to look for any sign of Sarah, or anyone.
Benny woke up and groaned. He tried to make sentences but could only get out weird murmurs. “Benny! Take it easy ‘been out for a bit.” Ethan was immediately at his side again. Helped him sit up and tried his best to examine his wounds. He didn’t really know what he was doing but it didn’t matter, Benny was here. Benny dropped his head onto Ethan’s shoulder and groaned again. Ethan smiled, everything might actually turn out okay.
After a good 30 minutes of sitting like that Benny finally looked up at Ethan. “E, yer bleedin... bad.” Ethan didn’t like the genuine concern in his eyes. Whenever Benny is worried there is something to actually worry about. “You’re also bleeding, we need to go home. Do you think you can walk?” Ethan stood up and grabbed Benny’s arm, pulling him up. He stumbled, turned and puked, then gave a thumbs up. God he missed him so bad.
The town just looked empty more than nuked by a purple orb. Ethan and Benny walked hand in hand. They were terrified at the possibility of losing each other. Benny kept slurring his words and trying to make jokes the whole walk. Ethan kept telling him to shut up and save his energy. In reality, if the walk was silent Ethan thought he’d fall into the grips of death.
They took a break at one point and knocked on the nearest house’s door. No response. Fuck. Ethan didn’t even think about his own family. Jane was only nine, she can’t die just yet. Ethan had to get back home. Breaking and entering was the least of his worries.
Ethan found an open window. He got Benny on his shoulders and the boy crawled through. He landed with a thud and an elongated “Fuuuckkkkk.” He did however get up and find them a first aid kit. He threw supplies he found out the window. Then crawled back out with Ethan’s help.
They cleaned each other’s dried blood off each other. Ethan patched Benny up first. Trying his best to clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide and water. Benny whined like a bitch. Squeezing the hell out of Ethan’s hand whenever it stung bad. Ethan laughed at him. Just like old times huh.
Unlike Benny, Ethan was relaxed the whole time. Sure it stung but he could handle it. Something about wounds being soothed by Neosporin and then bandaged, it was peaceful. The most peace they’ve had in a bit to be honest. Maybe it was nice not being dead and having your best friend right beside you.
They continued their walk, more hopeful than before. They were fed and covered in shittily put on bandages. Breathing didn’t feel like suffocating the way it did a day ago. Benny asked if he wanted to go looking for Sarah, he didn’t. Not yet. Had to get home first. Sarah might be there waiting for them anyway. Hopefully.
There it was. Benny’s house, and right next to it was his. They split up so Benny could find something magical to help them. Ethan entered his house and everything was the same. His parents car was gone, them and Jane must be somewhere. Maybe they’ll come home soon, they have to.
Grandma was on the couch, she seemed drained. She was staring off into the distance. With a creak of a floorboard she noticed Ethan. She noticed one Ethan and no Benny. She rose in a panic, “Where is Benny? Please is he okay?” Ethan nodded, “He’s okay, might have a concussion. Me too probably. We’re fine. Have you seen Sarah?” Grandma shook her head. Shit.