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homerfreak2011

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Later that night, the two were lying in Ben’s bed. Ben had his arms around Julia, holding her against him, and she had her head on his shoulder. He looked down at her. “Baby, you’ve been acting weird all day… what’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Nothing, Ben. Nothing.”

“Honey…” He rolled over on top of her playfully and looked into her eyes. “Talk to me.”

“How do you know so much about Quarantine if you’re not making it up?” She spat the words out in a hurry, trying to keep him from interrupting.

He sighed and hugged her. “Cause… I’m an apprentice to one of the Powers.”

“Apprentice… Like, you’re gonna be one?”

Ben nodded silently. “They sent me a letter three years ago, asking if I would be willing to become a Power. Every few days they call me and give me orders… Soon, I’ll be one of them. A Power.”

“What is a Power exactly?”

“A sorter, basically. They control who goes to Quarantine and who stays in this world. They’re like… well, like the ‘God’ you’re raised to believe in.”

“How many are there?”

“Different numbers at different times. There’s a whole counsel of them. They make and enforce the laws of this world and of Quarantine.”

“Would you be… sending people away?”

He nodded, his expression unchanging. “If I’m a Power, yes.”

Her heart dropped. “Would you send me away…?”

He suddenly snapped back into focus and looked her in the eye. “Baby… baby, no, that’s not what I mean.”

“Ben, if they told you to, would you send me away?”

“Honey--”

“Ben! Answer me!”

“We’re never gonna have to face that, so fucking drop it!”

She sat up, pulling back a little. She saw the fear in his eyes, indicating that he was just as afraid of the situation as she was, but it didn’t change the fact that he had just snapped at her. “I’m… I’m gonna go get some coffee…” She threw the covers off of her and stormed out of the bedroom.

Ben was hot on her heels. “Baby! Baby, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry.” He pushed her against the counter and twisted her around, kissing her tenderly. “I’m sorry… I just… Let’s not worry about that, okay? It’ll never happen… and I just… I don’t wanna think about that, okay?” He nuzzled his nose against hers.

She hesitated, but leaned up to kiss him. “How long would you be a Power?”

He shrugged. “I… I don’t really know. If I take advantage of my position, I go to Quarantine. If I’m too lenient with the rules, I go to Quarantine. If I finish my ‘term’ fairly, I… I get life again. That’s what the Power I’m replacing is doing. He gets life again. But he’s been a Power for as long as… well, as long as I’ve been dead. And there’s no clue how long he was a Power before that. So, I really don’t know, baby.”

“Would I get to be with you?”

He looked down into her eyes. “What?”

“Would I get to be with you? I mean, surely the Powers don’t live in this… place.”

“Well, they don’t. They have another world. One just for them.”

“So that’s a no…” She looked down.

He tilted her chin up to make her face him. “If I get the position, I’ll see what I can do, alright?” He kissed her. “But there’s no guarantee that I’ll even get the job. I mean, why would they want ME as a power?”

She wrapped her arms around his abdomen. “Because you’re sweet… and you’re smart… and you’re a good person.” She kissed his collarbone. “And you deserve that kind of position more than anybody.” She smiled up at him. “I hope you get it.” She paused. “And I hope you get to live again.” The words choked their way out, but she meant them. She envied him. If he followed a few simple rules, he’d get to live again. She was dead forever.

He swallowed hard, putting his hands on her hips. “I don’t wanna live again… or even be a Power… if it means leaving you.” He lifted her up and sat her on the counter. “Now come on… let’s change the subject, hmm?” He kissed her.

She giggled and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Fine by me.” She kissed him again, hugging him tight against her…

* * * * * * * * * *

When Julia awoke the next morning, she was still lying on the counter. She yawned, looking around for Ben. Instead, there was a note by her ankle. She picked it up and opened it.

Honey, I got called into work. I should be home around noon-ish. I woulda woke you, but you looked… comfortable lol. I’ll call you if I get held up. I love you.

Julia smiled. “Comfortable, eh?” She rolled her eyes, laughing a little. She got up and headed for the bedroom, searching for something to put on. The first thing she saw was Ben’s shirt on the edge of the bed. She picked it up and slipped it on, sitting down. Her eyes searched the room, looking for something to occupy herself with.

Looking around and seeing nothing, she laid back on the bed. “Oh, Benny… Wow, I love you.” She smiled at the ceiling. “I hope you get the position… You deserve to be a power.” She sighed. “I love you.”

“Cause we all just wanna be big rock stars--” Her cell vibrated on the nightstand.

Without thinking, Julia flipped open her phone and answered it. “Hello?”

“Hello?” Julia’s heart wrenched. It was her mom’s tender voice.

“Momma…?”

“Hello?” The voice was getting frustrated.

“Momma! I missed--”

“Who the hell is this?! Why the hell do you have my daughter’s phone?!”

“What? Mom--”

“Answer me, damn it!”

“What?” Julia sat there in confusion.

“The police are tracing this call… they will find you… You’ll pay for what you did to my daughter…”

“What? Mom--!” The phone clicked as her mother hung up. Police? Was she breaking the rules by answering her living mother’s call? Apparently, her mother couldn’t hear her, but she still answered. Ben. She had to call Ben.

She jumped off the bed and ran to the kitchen, immediately flipping the phonebook open and searching for Ben’s work. Work… where did he work?

Construction! Peterson’s… Paulson’s… She violently flipped through the pages. Price’s Construction Company! She jerked the phone off the base and quickly dialed the number.

Two rings, then a dull answer. “Price’s Construct--”

“Ben Lane, please.” She heard a ‘beep’ as she was placed on hold. A few seconds later, a sigh and an answer.

“Hello?”

“Ben!”

“Julie?” His voice was startled. “Julie, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?”

“I think… I think I screwed up…” By now, she was crying.

“Baby, what’d you do?”

She sighed, crying harder. “Ben, I just… I…”

“Honey, I’m coming home. I’ll be there in just a few minutes, okay? Stay calm, okay?”

“I need you…”

“Baby, I’m coming. I love you and I’ll see you in a bit.” There was a click as he hung up.

“What the hell is with people hanging up on me today?” She turned the phone off and put it back on the base. She shook her head, making her way to the couch, and sat down, pulling her knees up to her chest and flipping on the TV.

“We’re standing here, in New York, outside the rundown apartment building that the accused murder of Julia Barclay is hiding in. Local police are on the scene and ready to enter the building.” Julia ran to the window. Police and news crew had surrounded her building. On the TV, however, the cameras weren’t focused on Ben’s building, but an old, run down, building that looked like something off an episode of “Scariest Places On Earth”. Julia’s heart was racing. She could hear the police on the outside of the apartment door, beating on it. On TV, the cameras were pointing at a door that looked like it was about to fall off the hinges. It wasn’t Ben’s door… yet they were right outside. Why didn’t this make sense?

Julia went back to the couch, pulling her knees back up to her chest, burying her face against her knees. The door snapped open and police flooded the apartment. All had their guns drawn.

“PUT YOUR HANDS UP!”