Lukas awoke in a cold sweat.
He tried to sit up but recoiled in pain as twisted his feet in his attempt. He quickly stopped and looked across the room.
Faint moonlight fell like dust through the window. It cast an aura upon the unmoving Bene, who sat against the wall quietly observing Lukas. His tan skin seemed almost pale in the moonlight. It was like he was a ghost looking over him.
"Don't move your feet so much. Did you have a bad dream?"
Lukas tried to recall what caused such a stir within him. Yet, whatever it was that forced him awake, was gone like a gust of wind. His mind was unable to recall his nightmare. Or perhaps it refused to.
"I don't know."
His heart was racing, and he could barely control his breathing. But slowly, as he looked at himself, those feelings subsided. But, troublingly so did his exhaustion.
He couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. However, morning was not far, and soon the sun beamed down on him. Bene said he had to check on something for a few minutes and left.
Lukas was drained, nauseous, and just wanted to go back. He wanted to go back and change things. He wanted all his pain to end, he fruitlessly hoped to be given a chance to prevent it. But it was already over, it already happened.
It was all so sudden, he didn't get to say goodbye, and he didn't take his time. If he was honest... he would much rather have died with his family, if it meant he could be with them.
At least then, he could still be happy and content once again.
***
Over the next few days, Bene would constantly watch over Lukas. Tending to his wounds, feeding him, and always listening to anything that troubled him. Lukas never saw him sleep, or even relax.
Over time, Lukas began to feel a sense of comfort, that he was safe. But whenever he would try to tell Bene about what happened that night, he would tense up. Only able to say a few words before he either froze in shock or devolved into incoherent mumbling.
He got across that he couldn't go back, and that he didn't understand what he saw in the town. Bene never pushed him for answers, he never said a word. He just looked at Lukas, sometimes he would nod or focus on whatever task he was doing.
Bene merely acted like a wall that Lukas could vent to. He simply let Lukas speak, and that was all he did. All that he needed to do.
Eventually, though, Lukas had recovered enough to walk. It was painful, and he may only have been able to make a few steps at a time, but Lukas was still happy to be able to walk.
However, the following night, Bene said something rather serious.
"I may not have all of the details. But I think I may have a grasp on what happened. Tell me to stop if I say too much or say something wrong."
He cleared his throat before continuing.
"You weren't at your home for one reason or another. When you returned, you were too late, and your family were gone. You tried to go find someone else and saw a monster or otherwise indescribable creature. Then you ran for as long, and as far, as you could. Then I found you. Is that correct?"
Lukas stayed silent for a while, before giving such a small and weak nod that he thought Bene didn't notice. But he did.
"Okay. Well, in that case. I got what I came here for."
"W-what are you talking about?"
Bene did not look at Lukas, he simply sighed.
"I said I would stay here until you recovered enough to walk, and when I know what happened. However, I know what you may be thinking. No, I won't leave. Unless you want me to."
Bene started walking to the door of the cabin. Lukas' heart filled with panic, he wasn't sure what he would do without Bene here. And now, he was leaving. Lukas sat up, despite the pain it caused.
"Wait! But... What should I do? Even if you stayed, I don't know what to do... I don't have anywhere to go..."
Bene smiled faintly, the first time Lukas had seen him show any emotion.
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving. In fact, I'll answer your question when I return."