|Doppelgänger| Five Hargreeves

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟕

We had arrived at some random farm, which according to Reginald, was where Ben and Jennifer were last seen. The moment we got there, we could see the massacre that had happened, bodies all over the place, completely disfigured. It was hard to even tell which body parts belong to each person.

The sight made me feel nauseous, the recent memory I had just recovered was already taking its toll on my mind so I couldn't help but stay back. I sat by the porch of the farm house, trying my best to avoid looking at the scene while my family investigated. CIA agents were also working around, thankfully to Five who decided to call them as soon as he saw the situation.

Speaking of the devil, the boy started approaching me with his hands inside his pockets, a tense expression on his face.

_"Hey. Are you still feeling sick?"-He asked, towering over me. I let out a tired sigh.

_"Yeah. Seems to be a constant feeling these last few days."

_"How are you holding up about the retrieved memory?"-He continued with his questions, reaching a hand to brush my hair away from my forehead. He checked on the cut caused by the accident earlier. I winced.

_"Terribly. A small part of me was hoping that it wasn't actually my fault and dad just planted that thought in my head to make me feel bad for some reason. But I was wrong. It was my fault."-Five's hand that was previously touching my forehead, trailed down to hold my chin. He made me look up at him, noticing the way I avoided his gaze.

_"What did you see?"-He asked with furrowed brows. I gulped. It felt scary to tell him that. To me, there was a big possibility that he'd end up blaming me too. Who wouldn't, anyways?

_"...I was the one to help Ben in saving Jennifer. I told him there was someone in the container. I convinced him to open it. I encouraged him instead of stopping him."-I admitted, feeling anxiety growing in my core. Recalling that was painful.

_"And how could you possibly have known that trying to help someone would cause what happened?"

_"Dad told us not to open the container. We disobeyed. If we had done what he told, if I had ignored what I heard, Ben would be alive."

_"Ben would've done it anyways, even if you weren't even there."-Five moved to sit next to me, resting his elbows on his knees. I looked at him with certain confusion.

_"How would you know that?"

_"Because he was distressfully kind."-I noticed a small tight lipped smile on his lips as he looked to the distance. I looked down at my hands.

_"Yeah...He was way too nice for his own good."

_"That's hypocritical of you. You're the same. And no one ever blamed any of you for that."-His eyes reached mine as I looked up, my heart swelling with the look he gave me. He continued to speak.

_"Ben did represent the best of us. His excessive empathy was what made him so loved. It is also what makes them love you."-Five looked away towards our family, me following with my own eyes right after. They were all around the place, some talking to each other, some just doing their own thing. They had changed so much in those years, and I couldn't be more thankful to see it happen. The feeling of belonging fully hit me.

_"It is what makes me love you, too. Even if it makes you way too careless at times."-His tone sounded like a complaint, but it made me lightly smile anyway. Small tears formed in my eyes, not enough to fall, but still representing the warm feeling that suddenly appeared.

_"Thank you for saying that."-I said as a whisper. Five reached his arm behind my back, bringing me into a side hug and laying my head on his shoulder. I took a deep breath, his arms, as always, being the most comforting place I could be in.