"Ben."

He shot awake with a gasp, his hand gripping a soft, silky... grass? 

Slowly, he sat up to find himself sitting in a field. A beautiful yet empty field, consisting of knee-high, gently swaying grass and a sky the color of blueberries and strawberries. He blinked in confusion, glancing around until his eyes fell on the loveliest woman he'd ever seen.

She stood with a carefree posture, a simple dress dangling off her trim figure. Blond hair was pushed up into a bun, hairs poking out and curling and dancing around her face. She pursed deep red lips that gave her the most wonderful aura of delicacy. 

He knew her. He knew her because he called for her every day when he got home and he saw her put cinnamon and vanilla scents in the house so it smelled like cookies. 

But it wasn't Tiana.

No, it was his mother.

"Mom," he breathed.

She smiled gently and it reached her eyes. Her eyes that were full of life and not robotic, programmed with false affection. "Ben," she said softly.

"What's happening?" he asked weakly, looking her over. And then he looked around but he could only see them and the endless expanse of sky and field. But he didn't feel lonely. He felt like he was finally where he should be.

"You died," she said, sitting down beside him with an elegance that was only true to her. As she looked him over, she clicked her tongue and tilted her head. Tears glistened in her eyes. "You haven't aged a second, plum-cake."

"I... why..." His mouth felt dry. Words came to his mind, things to say, things to do, but he couldn't do any of it. The sight of his actual mother only made him want to crumble into her arms. 

Was this what death was like? Was she even real?

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you," she continued. 

He watched as she reached out a hand and slowly... slowly caressed his cheek. Tears slipped down her cheek but she was smiling. Smiling like nothing else mattered.

He couldn't move, simply staring at her. He longed to stay here forever... wanted to forget about absolutely everything else. Wanted to just linger with her touch - her real touch - and just simmer in it forever. 

"I understand things are a bit strange for you right now... and I'm sorry," she said, breaking him from his yearning. "I wish I could explain things, but we don't really have time. I wish we did." She shifted, taking her hands off his face and sitting up straight.

"What's going on?" he asked, licking his lips. His head was spinning and he tried to focus his breathing but he didn't know what to think. What to do, what to say. Did he hug her? Did he ask what actually happened the day she died? Did he ask to go back?

"You're in Limbo, Ben." She drew her knees up to her chest, looking out into the expanse. "I... Oh, don't cry, plum-cake, please."

He couldn't help it. Hot tears ran down his cheeks and he clenched his jaw, hating it only because he wanted to see her. He could barely see her through the blur and he scraped them from his eyes and cheeks. 

All he wanted to do was see her. 

"Mom," he breathed. He shook his head. Words spilled from his lips. "I killed someone. M-Mom, I killed... I killed s-" His voice broke and she pulled him into an embrace. She smelled like sunflowers. She felt like cotton. 

She was perfect. Just like he remembered her.

"I know, baby," she soothed, running a hand through his curls. "I know all about it."

His mother soon sat back and took both of his hands in her own, holding them gently. But she was smiling and she had her lovely dimples that made him actually grin a little bit, the tears finally gone. 

"I've healed you," she said slowly, "so you're going to be fine. But only if you take care of yourself - you need to be strong, okay? Remember that you're so much stronger than you think..." She smiled sadly. "And remember that I love you. I love you so, so, so much and you are my world. Do you hear me? You are my world."

"Y-Yeah," he choked out. "Yes. I... I hear you." 

And then he shook his head because he didn't want to go back. He didn't want to leave her hands, didn't want to stop looking at her, didn't want to lose her again. 

But he had to.

"How do I... s..."

"Save everyone?" she asked, grinning a grin that didn't reach her eyes.

Her lips trembled as she spoke. "You're such a good boy, Ben... But everyone's going to be fine. I don't know the future and I don't... I don't know everything that's going on - I wish we had time to catch up. But I know that you're going to figure out what to do because you're brilliant. And you're strong... And you're brave... And I love you, Ben." Tears spilled from her eyes at this point but she sniffed and wiped them away quickly, brushing some of his curly hair behind his ears.

He took in a shaky breath, looking at her silently. Why did something like this have to happen? Why couldn't he just stay here with her forever? 

He missed knowing her. He missed having a mom that was always there and didn't die over and over and over again... And he missed having a mom at all, really.

"Why can't you come back?" he whispered. 

She sighed through her nose, shaking her head, still smiling gently. "I made decisions that I can't take back, Ben." She went quiet, just looking him over. Then she squeezed his hand again. "You have to go, though. Alright?"

"No," he begged, "no, please don't..."

"Ewan needs you," she said firmly, gripping his hands tighter. "Everything's going to be fine. You're stronger than you think."

"Mom, please-" His voice cracked, but before he could say anything else, he opened his eyes again.

He was laying on his bed, staring at the rotating fan through blurred vision. The sight of his mother continued to flash across his vision. The sweet, gentle touch she gave him, the motherly grin, even the smell of her was everything he'd remembered.

And although he felt like curling up and sobbing, he knew he had a job.

His eyes flicked around after he sat up, vaguely recalling his father had been there previously. He didn't remember much, though. He only remembered pain. Not only in him but on Ewan's face.

Energy was coursing through him. An overwhelming power to just do good, to help Ewan, to save everyone.

He quickly got off the bed, putting a black corduroy jacket over a white shirt and changing into clean, not blood-soaked jeans. Things were going to be different this time - different than it had been with Nathaniel. Ben was going to fight, he was going to save Ezra, and he was going to make everything work out. Just as it was supposed to.

Approaching the drawer that held his gun, he paused.

What the Hell was he doing? Going to grab a gun? This was Ezra. His best friend since forever.

And he was grabbing a gun?

He was possessed... It would be a good idea to have it. If only for himself.

Slowly, he pulled the drawer out.

And there was no gun.

Letting out a breath of relief and disappointment, he headed down the stairs to the kitchen, where he went to grab a bottle of Advil from the cabinet. His body ached but he had to get out there soon.

"Thought I'd find you here," said a soft voice.

Ben bit his lip. He remembered the voice vaguely but couldn't pinpoint it. Gradually, he turned to find Jamie. Stirling's brother. He was standing there, clad in a red windbreaker and jeans. He looked almost uncomfortable, but at the same time, angry. Somehow it all amounted to determination.

"I don't have time to hear about how much you hate me," Ben muttered, opening the bottle and taking two pills out. Through a mouthful, he continued, "Maybe another time."

"I'm not here for that," Jamie said firmly. There was a moment of hesitation, then he cleared his throat. "I know something's different with Stir. And I know my 'fever dream'... Well, it wasn't a fever dream. It was real."

Ben raised an eyebrow, swallowing the pills. He wasn't surprised Jamie had figured it out - right now he couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing, though. Instead, he said, "Where are they?"

"The Grayville Greenhouse. I can take you if you'd-"

"Why'd you come here?" Ben asked, putting the bottle away. He turned to face the other again. "Just to tell me you figured it out? You hate me. Why tell me?"

"I do hate you," admitted Jamie, opening the door again. As the two headed out, he continued, "I think you're... damaged. But Stirling... he's a good kid. He followed Charlie around like a dog for the past six years of his life, he didn't know who he was... but you're here now and he's... he's different. Confident. He has life."

Ben clenched his jaw before stopping. He turned to face the other. "Jamie, your brother is dead. You know that. The kid in Stirling's body? That isn't him."

"It is," Jamie said, pulling the keys to Gabrielle's car out of his pocket. "I know my brother, Ben. And he's... he's in there. I told you, I don't know what's going on. But I know that's my brother."

Ben swallowed weakly, wanting to continue talking but there were more important things they had to take care of. So he got in the car and waited for the other to do the same. Once the car started, he let out a breath and counted the seconds before he got there.

"I have something for you," Jamie said once they'd pulled up to the greenhouse.

Ben glanced to the other curiously, tense.

Before he could react, the other pulled out a gun, and Ben grabbed the door handle.

"Hey," said Jamie. "Wait, no, I'm not... Jesus, Ben, I'm not going to shoot you." He held the gun out for the other, holding the barrel. "... Take it."

Ben slowly glanced the gun over. It was a handgun - beyond that, he didn't know anything about it. So he just licked his lips and slowly, hesitantly, took it. 

"Thanks," he whispered.

"I just figured you could-"

Jamie began, but Ben was already out of the car. He couldn't tell what was going on inside, but he knew he needed to be in there. Without really thinking, he jogged inside. 

He could feel his heart in his throat and it made his limbs numb.

But he was ready. He was stronger than he knew - his mother had told him that. So he had to believe it.

The door was locked, but after a few good kicks to the handle, it broke off and he stepped in.

There was a scream at the same time that the door slammed shut behind him, locking. He flinched back and listened as the scream silenced itself and, in turn, everyone else began to scream. It was a gruesome domino effect that sent everyone into a frenzy and out of the roughly thirty people there, fifteen of them looked absolutely malicious.

One was Ezra. Standing there with bright green eyes.

The other nine were strangely calm people that... had Enchantments. Of course. Demons.

Ben bit his lip, looking around until his eyes fell on the mildly angry-looking figure that was Charlie. He had a gun in his hand along with a knife on his belt and he held the gun as if he was going to be able to save everyone.

Him against fifteen demons.

And then he saw Ewan. Or Stirling. He was standing beside Ezra, who looked peacefully confident. Ewan was looking around anxiously and then the two locked eyes and for a split second, Ben felt like everything was alright. 

A gentle smile came to his lips just before a loud, high-pitched shriek was heard.

Ben grimaced, putting his hands to his ears. The sound felt like it was splitting his head in half. Vision practically vibrating, he watched as Ewan lifted a trembling hand and clenched his fists.

The noise was cut off but there was still screaming. The screaming of people who were locked in the greenhouse that couldn't get out and the sound of people who were being attacked by things they couldn't even understand. Attacked by fire and air and things that shouldn't even be possible.

And among it was Ezra, who looked slyly at Ben. "I'm surprised you're alive," he said loudly. "But then again, nothing should surprise me from the son of Daniel."

Ben didn't even feel like he could ask how he knew his father. So he just clenched his fists. "I'm going to send you back to Hell, Gregory."

"Not if you want this host to live," he replied. Spreading his arms as if to emphasize the entirety of the situation, he added, "Not if you want everyone in here to live, actually, including the angel's host and the mortal boy with the hopeless hero facade. If you want them to live, Ben, you'll put yourself in Hell."

He didn't have a reply to that. It did seem like the only option. If Ben just died, Ezra could live and so could... everyone else.

Come on, hissed a voice, there has to be another wa-

"He's busy," spoke an Irish voice, "sorry."

Ben glanced over to find Ewan with his hands around a woman's neck. He almost went to stop him, but the dangling of a chain around the woman's neck made him halt.

He tensed up, watching him crush the Enchantment with a clench of his free fist. She collapsed to the ground, lifeless, and Ben turned to Ezra. He was gone, though.

"What's the plan?" Ben asked. Elizabeth and Charlie seemed to be doing a good job of protecting the people, but it wouldn't last for long.

He was met with a long, solid, comforting embrace from the other, and he chuckled weakly, burying his face in the other's hair. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of dirt, sweat, and panic. Then he pulled away and raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

"I thought I lost you," Ewan said. His face was split with a smile. "Great Hell, I thought..."

"Not this time," Ben said through a giddy chuckle. Seeing the pure relief on the other's face made him want to just hug him forever, but they didn' have time. "We need a plan, though."

"Just..." The other let out a slow breath, clearing his throat and composing himself. "Just keep everyone alive, right?"

Ben widened his eyes briefly to express disbelief. "Wish I'd thought of that." He checked the gun Jamie gave him, finding it fully loaded. He took the safety off and grit his teeth.

Ewan went quiet before sighing through his nose. "I did think of something, but it's risky."

"It isn't worth it, then," Ben replied, glancing back to the people who were running to the windows, trying to break them to get out. But they were thick - chances were a bullet wouldn't even break them. 

A man ran towards him, eyes beginning to turn red. Before he could even get a foot closer to Ben, he burned his own eyes out. Ben watched in disbelief as the man screamed in pain and collapsed, smoke billowing from his eyes. 

"Ben," hissed Ewan, grabbing his attention. "We're going to keep everyone alive. But someone might get hurt."

"I don't want someone to get hurt because I wasn't willing to die," Ben scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "I don't want anyone to get hurt because I wasn't willing to just take one for the team."

Ewan went quiet, looking like he had something to say. His eyebrows drew together and he spread out his palms. Then he shook his head, perhaps deciding to bite his tongue. "Listen. Just listen. Gregory's Enchantment, right? We take it and put it on someone else. And we keep Ezra alive with Gregory's Enchantment long enough to heal him with your Enchantment."

Ben narrowed his eyes. It sounded like a solid plan, but... "Who would take on Gregory?"

Another man approached him, knocking him upside the head with some sort of invisible force, and Ben collapsed to the ground, grunting in pain. He shoved himself to his feet and whirled, planting a bullet into the man's chest. It shattered the Enchantment and Ben was briefly shocked that it wasn't bulletproof.

And the man fell to the ground, lifeless again.

Ewan helped Ben to his feet. "I... I don't know."

"Me," Ben said slowly. "You wanted me to do it, didn't you... I'll do it."

"No, Ben," Ewan said, narrowing his eyes. "I was actually thinking you were the only one who shouldn't do it." He looked the other over before glancing to the side. "Plus you look too good in that jacket-"

But Ben didn't listen. Before Ewan could finish, he took the gun from his side and began running for the group of people and demons. This was the time he could show how serious he was about fixing things. How serious he was about helping people, about saving people, about making things better.

He just had to get Gregory's Enchantment. And that involved actually finding Ezra... who didn't look like he was in there. Everyone was running around, wild, with no idea what was really going on, so maybe Ben didn't see him, but-

An explosion rocked the ground beneath them. He grunted, collapsing to the floor before prying himself to his feet again. Shaking, he took in a sharp breath and let his eyes flit around the greenhouse. Searching for Ezra. Searching for somewhere that didn't have dead bodies.

But there was blood all over the greenhouse - the walls and the ground - and Ben felt a heaviness in his heart.

It disappeared the second he felt a nail run against his cheek. It sunk deep, and he stumbled back, disoriented. Quickly, he was able to focus again, and he looked up to find a brunette with an Enchantment. She looked angry and in no way human, making Ben tense, but he didn't hesitate.

He pulled his hand back and punched her right in the face. She flew back far further than he'd expected, and he watched as she gradually pulled herself up. Her face was bleeding but she didn't look like she was in pain - she just looked angry.

The woman stormed towards him, clenching her fist. When she was about three feet away, she drew her hands back and pushed on the air. Ben was catapulted back and he hit the ground with a thump that sounded awful. The breath was knocked out of him and his head felt like he'd just been submerged in water. In a haze, he pulled himself to his feet and gradually, he was able to stand.

But the woman was there again and without any sort of warning, as if he should've expected one, she grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air. The breath was getting sucked out of him. Flailing, he tried to get out of her grip - kicking, punching, whatever he could. 

It had no effect. She just grinned, continuing to choke him, and Ben continued to see stars until he shakily put his finger on the trigger of the gun. With bad aim, he shot her in the chest. An inhumane crunch was heard that certainly wasn't bone.

He hadn't quite been sure of what he was doing, but the woman gasped and collapsed, making Ben fall to his knees. Blood pooled out of her clothing but, upon blurry inspection, he found he'd gotten her Enchantment. 

Rubbing his face, he stood up and glanced around. There were still plenty of demons. Elizabeth and Charlie were protecting the people - too busy doing that, really, to try to actually kill any demons. Ewan was searching for Ezra too, it seemed, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

Another demon came at him, this one a businessman with a suit and tie. He looked eager as he lifted a hand. At first, the motion was harmless and Ben was relieved to have not been hurled across the room. But soon it was evident it wasn't that harmless as Ben not only felt a stabbing pain in his chest but he also felt a crushing pain in his head.

There was no blood, though. That much was clear as he gripped his gut and groaned in pain. It was a mental sort of pain that crushed his airway and made him forget the idea of breathing. Collapsing to the ground, he tried his hardest to get air but nothing came to him. His body felt like it was on fire. His mind was shutting down, the pain exploding in his body to the point where even existing felt impossible. What was going on? How did someone survive this? Could he?

Just as he was accepting the idea that he wouldn't make it out of it, the pain stopped. It took him a moment to gather himself. To breathe again, to remember that living was a good idea. Weakly, he lifted his gaze to find a blood-splattered Charlie.

"C'mon," the boy said. A gloved hand was offered to him. "Get up."

Ben gazed at the hand. This was Charlie. The man who'd stabbed him and beat his friends up in front of him. He'd just killed a demon to save him? It shouldn't have been surprising, considering he was, in fact, out here saving people. But for some reason, it came as a shock.

"Thanks for killing that demon," Ben breathed, unsure of how else to word his thanks. "I... you saved me." He panted shakily, rubbing his throat.

"Yeah," Charlie grinned. It looked like he was proud of himself in a humble way. "I've... been saving a few people today."

Ben glanced around before clearing his throat. "Didn't know you had it in you."

He went to take his hand away from the other, but Charlie gripped his hand tighter, forcing Ben to look up at him. The two made an intense sort of eye contact that made Ben tense up. "I'm sorry, Ben. I'm really... really sorry for stabbing you and punching Gabrielle and Ewan. And I'm sorry for lying to everyone about Rain." He licked his lips, hesitating before continuing. "I know I sucked - as a person, a son, even as a friend... And I'll never get to tell Stirling I'm sorry, but I am. I'm sorry for the person I was. But I'm changing. And if I do get to see Stirling again, I'll know I'm a better person."

"Because he went to Heaven? How would you know?" Ben mumbled. This was probably a bad time to be asking questions and apologizing for life choices, but this felt important.

"He was the best person I've ever known," Charlie said. He shrugged, looking at the fight going on behind them. "You may have taken him out of this world, but he went somewhere better. Somewhere away from me."

A weight fell in Ben's chest. Somehow he'd evaded the memory of murdering Stirling for a few minutes, but now it was resurfacing. At least it was for a good reason.

"He'd be lucky to know you now." Ben cleared his throat awkwardly. "And I'm, uh... sorry for blinding you."

"Water under the bridge," Charlie grinned.

"Oh," Ben added. He shifted, taking his hand away from Charlie. "I... why didn't you tell anyone about Tiana? Nathaniel... he said you knew."

The other sighed. "I was a shitty person, Ben, but... not that shitty. I'm glad, now, that I didn't. You deserved that... secret."

The two shared a look again. This one was far more natural and it didn't make Ben squirm. It was more of a brotherly look. A look of change. A look of progress.

"So," Charlie said, grinning awkwardly, "what's the plan?"

Drawn away from the moment, Ben cleared his throat and said, "I'm going to get the Enchantment from Gregory and keep Ezra alive long enough to heal him."

Charlie hesitated. "Will you be able to survive that?"

An approaching demon was quickly shot down by Charlie's gun, but when Ben looked it over, he realized it wasn't Charlie's gun at all.

"Is that mine?"

Charlie shrugged. "Didn't think you'd need it. It had dust on it when I found it."

"Guess we didn't think we'd be here today," Ben muttered.

Charlie let out a humorless snort. "It was in the back of my mind." He glanced back over at Ben, raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, like I said, would you be able to survive that?"

"Doesn't really matter," Ben mumbled. "We just need to find Ezra fir-"

He was cut off by the sound of a gross, bone-chilling scream that Ben's heart broke at the sound of. His gaze whipped to the side and he found Ewan lighting his arm on fire, a pained look in his eyes as he stared at the demon in front of him.

Ben didn't think. He ran. He pushed himself forward and ran until he was close enough to punch the demon right in the chest. It sent it flying back, landing against the greenhouse wall with an unnerving thump. Quickly, he turned to the other, kneeling in front of him.

"Ewan," Ben said firmly. He looked at the other, making sure he was okay. When the other gave a tired, dazed sigh in return, Ben bit his lip nervously. "Ewan, get up. Come on-"

Before he could finish, everything shattered around him.