Thursday 5 November 2009

The Ultimate Solution - Part 1

Ben stood by the graveside, sweltering in his hideously expensive suit. He looked over as Kyle, who was stood on the other side, wearing a cheap suit from a supermarket. This annoyed him, this was the funeral of his parents, and Kyle hadn’t made an effort. Katie was stood over by Kyle, her hand very close his. Ben thought nothing of this, Katie was besotted with him, despite her recent distance. He looked at Craig, stood beside him. Ben had managed to get him a suit, and he had brushed up quite well. He stood there, saddened by trying to keep a brave face, his hand in the hand of Isobel, who was wearing a long black dress. Probably a bit too showy for an occasion like this, but Ben hadn’t objected.

He glanced at Anselm, who was standing near Katie and Kyle. He’d certainly put the effort in, wearing something nearly as expensive as Ben, and was sobbing.

The vicar had finished the eulogy, and it was time for Ben to throw soil on the coffin. His parents were dead, killed by a bomb that had been delivered one Monday morning. The police investigation had failed to find a suspect, and even Torchwood had been forced to declare the case closed, even after Ben had begged them to continue. This was why Ben hadn’t invited them to the funeral. Plus he’d be worried what the family would think of Jack...

He picked up a clump of soil, wincing as the dirt clung to his fingers, and threw it onto the coffin. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he sobbed. Craig came up beside him, and put a hand on his shoulder.

The wake was held in a nearby hotel, and it had cost a lot to hire, but Ben had insisted on the best, much to the annoyance of his Aunt Camilla, who had paid for it. Ben moved from room to room, looking at the mourners. He hadn’t seen many of them in years, and he was convinced that they were only here to see what they could get their hands on. Ben sneered, it was obvious that he, as the only child, would inherit everything. While he was upset that the country home had been destroyed, there was still the house in Clifton, not to mention the family fortune. The will wasn’t to be read until tomorrow though, but Ben was confident. He was looking for Kyle and Katie, but had failed to find them. Nobody had seen them since they got back, but Ben wasn’t concerned. Those two had recently kept disappearing, and had long since given up trying to work out why.

He went up to the bar, and ordered an absinthe. As he handed over the money (he had insisted it be a free bar, but Aunt Camilla was too stingy, apparently!) he heard a voice behind him.

“Hello Ben. I’m sorry for your loss.”

He turned, and was met by the sight of a young woman in a black suit, with cropped blonde hair and an impish face. “Log time no see!” she said sadly.

“Chiara?” Ben gasped. They’d had several adventures, and she’d saved his life on more than one occasion, but he hadn’t seen her in nearly a year. “Where’ve you been?”

Chiara smiled “Oh, it’s a long story. I saw the news about your parents in the paper, thought I’d come over and give my condolences.”

Ben smiled. “Thanks.”

Chiara looked around the room. “So, where’s the gang? Still hanging around with the delightful Katie?”

Ben nodded “Yeah, and Kyle. No idea where they’ve buggered off to though.”

Chiara grinned “Probably in a cupboard somewhere shagging.”

Ben laughed. As if...

“So, is there a man in your life these days?” Chara asked.

“Sort of.” Ben said. “His names Anselm, but things are a bit strained at the moment.”

“You never did have much luck with men, as I recall” Chiara said.

Ben glared. “It’s not my fault that I only seem to attract such undeserving idiots!”

Chiara rolled her eyes. Ben hadn’t changed...

“Undeserving?” came an outraged voice from behind them. Ben turned, and saw Anselm stood ther, his face filled with anger.

“Anselm, this isn’t the time!” Ben hissed.

But Anselm wasn’t having any of it. “I’ve put up with a lot from you. You treat me like crap, you demand sex whether I want to or not,” – This drew a fair number of disapproving glances – “and I’ve just heard about Nathaniel.”

Ben gaped. Nathaniel was a young man from the 16th century Ben had met recently. They’d had a whirlwind romance, but Nathaniel had turned Ben down, despite Ben’s offer of a better life. He’d sworn Kyle, Katie and Martha to secrecy, but clearly one of them had blabbed. Probably Katie, the jealous bitch.

“Well,” Ben said, clearly trying to regain the moral high ground, “You had an affair with that Simon Sherringham!”

“Who I never spoke to again!” Anselm countered. He knew Ben believed that he’d been in contact with him since, but he’d been loyal ever since. He told Ben this.

“How can I believe you!” Ben said, his eyes welling up. “You betrayed me!”

“Oh, for god’s sake, get over yourself!” Anselm shouted. “I’ve had it with you, I’m leaving.” He turned, and left, never to return.

“Anselm!” Ben shouted, but he got no reply.

Chiara gulped, and put a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” She asked.

He turned on her. “No I fucking well am not!” he shouted, then composed himself. “Sorry, as you can imagine, this isn’t the best time right now, I want to be alone.”

Chiara pulled a card from her pocket and gave it to Ben. “If you want to talk, just give me a call.”

“Thanks” Ben said pocketing the card. Chiara left, leaving Ben alone...


The next day Ben felt terrible. He’d had a few more absinthes after Chiara had left, and by the time Kyle and Katie reappeared, he’d run out of money and was sat in a corridor shovelling glacier mints into his mouth. He vaguely remembered Kyle and Katie carrying him up to his room, and after that the next thing he could remember was waking up in his clothes feeling like he’d been kicked in the head and force-fed dog turds.

He’d woken up an hour before he was due to see the solicitor, so he’d had to forgo most of his morning routine and wasn’t feeling his best.

He sat in a leather chair alongside several of the people who had been at the funeral, Craig by his side. He, in turn, had Isobel with him, who was looking around the solicitor’s office, all wooden bookcases and leather-bound law books. The solicitor, Mr Loydell sat behind a desk, peering through thick glasses, exactly as you’d expect a solicitor to do.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, standing. “We are all here for the reading of the will of James and Davina Chatham. If you are all ready, I shall begin.” There were a series of nods from around the room.

He pulled out a letter, and unfolded it.

“We, James Alfred Chatham and Davina Margaret Chatham, being of sound mind, hereby leave all our financial and physical assets to our grandson, Craig James Chatham”

Ben was outraged. “What?” he cried. “Craig? But he’s only a kid!”

“Indeed,” Mr Loydell said “Which is why, until he reaches the age of 18, his inheritance will be held in Trust by the guardian appointed by Mr and Mrs Chatham...”

Ben smiled. This was clearly him.

“... myself.” Loydell finished. “They also asked me to give these letters to Benjamin and Craig Chatham on the event of their death.” He pulled two enveloped from the case on his desk, and handed them to Ben and Craig.

Ben tore the envelope open, and read the letter within...

“Ben.

If you are reading this, then you will know that Craig now owns everything we owned. We changed the will when you told us about him. We are sure you agree that Craig didn’t have the best start in life, and we should have been more supportive of your sister, so we wanted to make sure that he would have the best chance in life if he had the fortune. As you know, we did offer to care for him, give him a comfortable life, but you decided that he would be better off with you. As you know, we didn’t agree with you on this, but at least now he is guaranteed a financially safe future.

We felt that he needed the money more than you, as you are highly qualified, and should have the pick of jobs in your chosen field. We hope you are successful with your career, and will make us proud with your achievements.

Mother and Father.”

Ben was stunned. His parents had left him nothing, and expected him to be pleased with it. He got up, and stormed out of the room.

He sat on a shair in the corridor, and pulled out his hip-flask. It was empty. He put it away, and saw Craig stood in front of him. Isobel was wandering down the corridor, looking at the paintings, a far-away look in her eyes.

“What do you want?” Ben asked.

“Did they really offer to look after me.”

“Yes.” Ben replied “but I thought I could offer you a better life.”

“You thought you could give me a better life?” Craig was stunned. “Since living with you, how many times have I nearly been killed? Living with you has been a nightmare!”

Ben stared at Craig. He’d never thought Craig was that unhappy. Sure, he’d self harmed, and was constantly going on about darkness, but he’d assumed it was part of a teenage phase, and nothing to do with him.

“But you’ve seen so many things...” Ben started. “Alien worlds, the past, I’ve taken you on digs and to lectures, trying to educate you about the world...”

“I didn’t want alien worlds or time travel!” Craig shouted. “I wanted a quiet life, a chance to come to terms with losing mum. Nan and Grandad could have let me do that, and you didn’t let them, cos you felt guilty about treating mum like shit!”

“Don’t talk to me like that!” Ben shouted, causing Isobel to look back at them. “I’ve had to give up a lot for you.”

“Like what?” Craig said. “You still drink, you still bring strange men back to the flat...”

“Shut up!” Ben shouted. “You owe me! You need me!”

“Not any more!” Craig shouted back. He held up the letter. “I own my own house now! I can live there, without you!”

“No you don’t!” Ben said. “You’re underage, you can’t live on your own!”

“I think you’ll find he can” Isobel said. She’d somehow managed to travel the length of the corridor without either Ben or Craig noticing. “Torchwood needed to legally change my age so they could hold me overnight. As far as the law is concerned, if I live with Craig, it’s legal.”

Ben turned on her. “Don’t try to be clever Isobel. I’ll fight this, and get what’s rightfully mine.”

Isobel moved closer to Ben. “You can’t win this. The law is on Craig’s side.”

Ben lashed out, pushing Isobel over. Craig flew at Ben, but was pushed back as well. Isobel rose, her eyes glowing. Ben realised he’d made a terrible mistake...

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” Isobel screamed, and the corridor filled with light. Ben fell backwards, and found himself lying in a pond in the hotel grounds. A duck was quacking furiously at him. He splashed angrily at the duck, and made his way back to the hotel.

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