Chapter 06


Joel had hit an artery. He knew it just as he cut. Blood spurted from his wrist and he realised that he was in deep trouble. He grabbed a towel and tied it around his wrist, tight. Random thoughts flitted around his brain as he headed for the front door... where he was going, he didn't know.

Joel never made the front door. He collapsed a metre in front of it, his makeshift tourniquet growing rosy red with arterial blood.

Joel looked up at Benji. His life had started with Benji's life. Joel... Benji... Benji... Joel... the twins had a lifebond...

"Save me, Benj," Joel whispered helplessly.

Benji didn't bother dialling 911. It would be quicker to drive to hospital. He tightened Joel's tourniquet before lifting his twin up in his strong capable arms. Benji walked out and pushed the front door shut with his foot. He noticed Joel's head drooping.

"Joel, dude, Joel, stay with me," he whispered urgently. Joel tried to focus.

Billy hopped out of the van, his innocent blue eyes widening.

"What... what's going on?"

"OK, Billy, I found Joel, he's bleeding from the wrist and we're gonna take him to hospital, OK?"

Benji slid Joel into the front seat of the van and looked at Billy again.

"I need you to sit next to him and look after him until we get there, OK?"

Billy nodded, got into the van and put his arm around Joel's waist to keep him safe, as there was no seatbelt for the middle person. Benji started the van and off they went.

By the time they reached the hospital Joel really had no clue as to what was going on. Blurry images swam around him. He was put into a wheelchair... when he saw a familiar face... "Serrie!" he cried weakly, pointing his finger.

Benji turned around. What was she doing here?

Joel saw her face clearly in the surrounding haze. It was covered in blood. He screamed.

Oh, shit, thought Benji. He stood between his twin and the shocking sight, and Joel tried to attack him.

The doctor with Serrie turned to Benji. "Does he know her?"

"Uh, yeah, she's his... girlfriend."

The doctor leant in close to whisper in Benji's ear. "As soon as he's stitched up, he should come see her... might give her more will to live." The doctor shook his head. "Car accident on Minniedale Road. She just ran out, we don't know if it was on purpose or not. Well, if he's here bleeding from his wrist... Did they have a fight?"

"I don't know," said Benji, suddenly realising that Serrie was the 'probable car accident' he had passed with Billy on the way down. If he'd stopped, he would have known about Serrie. Oh God.

Benji turned around to reclaim his twin, but Joel had gone. A nurse said to Benji, "Cubicle 5. I'll take you."

When Benji walked into Cubicle 5 he saw Joel- bandaged up now, thank God- on a drip, fighting with Billy.

"I wanna see her!"

"The doctor says to go along," said Benji wearily. The kindly nurse took hold of the wheelchair, Billy wheeled the drip and the four of them went along to see Serrie.