chapter 9

The surprise

Stacey made her way towards the study room, her hair was tied back into a neat ponytail and she was wearing a purple top and short blue jeans, as she made her way down the stairs towards the room she couldn't stop thinking about what Mist had told her about Ben, "when did he suffer with some low self-esteem?" She began to ask herself as she drew closer to the study, she looked inside gazing in wonder at what she saw, the room was in a mess old newspapers had been throw on the room books were piled on tables and siting on a leather chair asleep was Ben next to him on a table was a half drunk glass on what looked like whiskey.

Next to that was an ashtray filled with ash, "God what I mess? What the hell has Ben been doing?" She asked herself out loud as her green hand began reaching for the door handle, to her surprise and shock the door stung off, as she entered the room the smell of tobacco hit her noise nearly knocking off her feet, as rushed to the nearest window on the other side of the room pushing it open to get rid of the smell, she then turned her head to see Ben awake at last, "hi Stacey, what time is it babe?" Stacey looked at him her face looked like that of a worried mother, "what's wrong, babe?" She asked as she sat beside him put one of her green hands on his lap, "don't you want me anymore?" She asked as she laid her head on his chest, Ben turned his head to her, "what makes you say that babe?" He asked her in a low voice, "because since we both got back from London you have done nothing but bar yourself in this room!" She snapped in an angry voice at him, "why is that?" He looked at her back, "I been busy if you must know? Planning, trying to figure out where Craig and his Outcast will strike next," Stacey gave him a sharp look, "it doesn't look like you have got very far with that?!"

She snapped again, Ben turned to her and smiled, " that is where you are wrong my dear," he said as he sat up and walked over to a large container that stood on a table, there he pulled out a cigar and put in to his mouth, "you see I have been in touch with Peter who knows about the attack in London," he stopped for a moment as he lit the cigar turning his head back towards her, "both he and myself think that Washington with be the Outcast's next target?" Stacey mouth dropped open in surprise, "why Ben? Why are the Outcast planning these attacks?"

Ben turned his head towards her as he blew a ring of smoke, "I don't really know maybe it's revenge? Maybe Craig wants to draw me out?" Stacey walked slowly towards him, "please, tell me that you are nothing thinking of confronting him babe?" Ben looked at her as he put the cigar out in an ash tray, "no, babe I am not, however, I cannot allow him or his followers to undo our work," Stacey looked at him as she threw her arms around him, "so what are you going to do then?" She asked him to expect him to give her a straight answer, Ben looked into her dark green eyes, "I don't know Stacey?" He said in a low voice, "I wish that-"he stopped before he could finish the sentence, "wish that you could what babe?" Stacey asked as she gently touched his face with her hand.

Ben looked at her fire was in his eyes, "I know that this is risky but what if I joined the Outcasts?" "Join up with them? With those murders?" Stacey looked at her boyfriend in disgust, "why Ben?" She asked in shock, "because I could use my powers to control Craig make him see what he is doing is wrong, that is why Stacey?" He said in an icy tone, "but what of the other members?" She asked in a frighten tone, "with you controlling their leader won't they turn on you?" Ben walked towards her smiling, "isn't this better than open war?" He asked as he grabbed hold of her hand, "Stacey I might have failed others in the past, but I will not fail for our future." He then grabbed both of her hands, "tomorrow I will leave for Washington DC," he said smiling, Stacey was in shock as she heard him saying this so much so that she walked out of the study leaving Ben on his own.