Finding Purpose

Chapter XII

-Ann-

I couldn't do anything as I was staring at the Message in front of me. I looked at Ayme, watching her face crumble, trying to hold it together for the sake of her brother, but I could see it was killing her on the inside. I hadn't known. I knew Percy was dying, but I had no idea it was his son that was suffering too.
"How are you doing, Bennie?" Ayme asked him.
"I'm... fine. A little... tired, but still... good. Dad says... training... with uncle... Luke is wa... waring me... out."

She nodded. "I see. How's mom?"

"Great,.. I think. She wants... to... take me... to a... a doctor," Benjamin's nose scrunched up. "But... I,... I don't... want to."

 Ayme wiped a tear away from her cheeks that came down. "I'm sure you'll feel better once you've had a good night sleep Bennie."

"Yeah," my nephew smiled.
"You better go to bed Bennie. I'll see you soon, all right?"
Benjamin nodded. "I'll see you soon."
He made a motion to step out of the Message.
"Benjamin?" Ayme called frantically. He stopped for a moment.
"Yes?"
"You know I love you, right?"
"I... know. L-Love you... too, sis."
Ayme waved at him, watching him disappear from her view.

"Do you... see now, Ayme?" Percy asked, reappearing into the Message. Ayme swallowed.

"I don't want to believe it. Are you sure it isn't the same illness he had four years ago? Maybe it came back," Ayme said. "And then we.."
"Ayme," Percy said softly.
"can save him, because we have a cure. And if it doesn't work, we.."
"Sweetheart," Percy tried again.
"can ask Apollo, because he knows how to.."
"Ayme, please!"
"fix it," Ayme finished softly, not daring to look her father in the eyes.
"I know you... want to... believe it's someth... something else,... and that we... we can cure... him, but it's.. not. The disease that I... I've been having... for the.. past ten years is the... the same as the one.. now flowing throu... through Benjamin's.. body. What happened.. four years ago.. was the first... first sign that Benjamin... was getting sick. I've tried every... possible thing, but even the... the cure from four.. years ago is not.. working, and I fear... I fear that... nothing will help... anymore."
"That's bullshit and you know it," Ayme bristled.

Percy narrows his eyes. "Watch your... tongue with me,... young lady. I mi... might not be... as strong as I... used to... be, but that doesn't... mean you're a...allowed to speak to... me that way."
Ayme lowered her eyes to the ground. "Anything else that could help with it?"
Percy shook his head. "Nothing. But we have to be... careful around... your mother. She's already get... getting suspicious... and you know what...what will happen if she... if she finds out."
Ayme opened her mouth to ask another question, when suddenly another voice sounded close.
"Percy? Who are you talking to?"
Ayme's eyes widened, and Percy seemed troubled. "I have to... go now, Ayme. Take ca...care of yourselves..., all right?"
Ayme swallowed. "Yeah, you too, Dad."
Percy gave her a small smile, before sweeping through the Message.

After Percy had disappeared Ayme sank down against de walls covering her face with her hands. Her shoulders shocked, and I could imagine the tears streaming from her eyes. I sat down next to her.
"It's going to be okay," I tried half-heartedly.
"No it's not," Ayme whispered. "And it never will be. This will just be the same as four years ago, but this time everybody I care for dies."
I looked at Eve, who was watching Ayme with an unknown expression.
"What happened four years ago?"
"Her brother got so immensely sick, he was on the edge of dying. It took him eight months before being allowed to move back to his own house, but even then he had to be under supervision from the best healers of the Apollo cabin. It took him another year to finally leave his bed," Eve explained.