"I bet. I'm Benjamin Lewis, Bonnie is my twin sister."
"Oh!"
I can't believe I didn't realize earlier! This guy is the male version of Bonnie, with red hair, big blue eyes, and even her little nose... I feel a bit relieved. Somehow, this guy being Bonnie's twin tells me I can trust him. That doesn't really explain why he defended me against the harpies from earlier, but he does have the attitude of a laid-back guy. He's wearing jeans and a simple shirt too, that actually shows a little bit of a tattoo he's got on his torso. Is that a white circle? Benjamin takes out another cigarette with a little smile. Meanwhile, I'm just in this stupid hospital gown... I wish I had real, proper clothes on, for once. It looks like I'm wearing oversized pajamas like a child.
I suddenly remembered his earlier comment.
"Wait, you said... I should remember you?" I say.
"Yeah, the fire. I was one of the guys who took you out of there. Not that we helped a lot, but–"
"You mean when I was in... that fire?"
He nods.
"Yep. The whole barbecue... To be honest, when we heard there was still someone alive inside, I didn't believe it. We fought the fire like crazy to find you and get you out of there. You're lucky, little witch, because anyone else would be dead."
I feel a bit embarrassed. I never met anyone who was actually on the site of the accident itself. I've only heard a few things from the doctors, my sister, and whatever the nurses would whisper in the corridors. This guy could have died because of me... Is he a firefighter, then? He's tall, and with his broad shoulders and thin musculature, he probably could be one. However, right now, he just has a simple ambulance staff jacket.
"Thank you," I mumble.
"Don't thank me, as I said, I really didn't get to do much... You were half-conscious, we dragged you out and sent you here as soon as possible. ...So, want to tell me why you just made those two poor ladies run? You looked a bit lost earlier."
I sigh and look around again. I'm feeling like an idiot now. I ran after something that wasn't there, as evidence shows. If they knew that I'm starting to hear voices, I'd never leave this place. What can I say so he won't think I'm completely nuts?
"I just... needed some fresh air," I lie.
"That must have been quite the emergency," he chuckles.
"Well, I don't get much at all."
Benjamin's eyes get a bit more serious all of a sudden, and he nods.
"I know. Everyone is wary of you... The new witch. I heard your family is keeping you locked here."
"I feel like everyone knows this kind of stuff but me. They are all walking on eggshells, keeping me behind closed doors, and no one is telling me a thing..."
"Yeah... Well, you can't blame them. Silver City has a dark history with witches...."
What dark history? I thought I was the only witch in the city, that's what everyone's been telling me for days!
"There were other witches before me?" I ask.
He looks surprised, raising an eyebrow.
"No one told you a thing?"
"Well, I don't talk to that many people, the staff freak out just by being in the same room... but I'm sure Bonnie never mentioned another witch," I state.
"Ah... It's... Bonnie doesn't really like talking about those things."
"Why?"
Benjamin sighs, looking a bit unsure and annoyed this time. His eyes wander elsewhere while he answers as if he couldn't bring himself to look me in the eye.
"A witch killed our older brother. She's still... not over it."
Oh, shit... Why? What happened? Bonnie never mentioned anything like that! I didn't think there was another witch here before me, let alone one who would commit murder! Their older brother was definitely a werewolf as well, right? Do witches and werewolves usually fight like this? I bite my lower lip.
