All real fantasy is serious. Only faked fantasy is not serious. That is why it is so wrong to impose faked fantasy on children... ~ Robertson Davies

          Bennett always told himself in his mind that he wanted to meet a crooked person like in story books but he wasn't so sure he still wanted to. He imagined it be like him and Douglas a super-duo of disabled kids fighting the bad guy and learning that they are strong together and nothing can stop them. He was realizing fantasy wasn't all it cut out to be.

          At the moment he was feeling terrified. If what the file he held in his hand read was true then he was dying and killing everyone around him too. It also meant there was a doctor or doctors who were trying to dispose of this information which probably meant they wanted him dead or something.

          He unfolded the papers and held them out. He couldn't seem to stop reading and re-reading the information, it was like an addiction, he had to look it over every few minutes. He moved from his place in the bed and didn't plan to. If anyone was going to check on him he'd already be in a position to hide what he was looking at, he just prayed they were respectful enough to not pull his body apart to check for anything.

          I wonder if they realized it was missing. Bennett thought to himself.

          Donella was sitting in Algebra class. She hadn't seen Bennett all day and his seat was empty. She was holding out hope that he'd show up to at least one class. She hadn't seen him since early in the day before. When she watched him it was as if he was always struggling or glitching. 

          She wasn't sure why she kept thinking about him. It wasn't her problem if he attended school or not and she wasn't really his friend, she had just met him. It was just that he always had an unexplained sadness in his eyes that drained out when he say his wheelchair friend or when he was speaking with her and she enjoyed those moments where his smile was truthful.

          "Class dismissed."

          She hadn't learned an inch of what was taught in that class. I'm boy crazy! She said to herself. No I'm not. She denied. She was literally going through unnecessary conflict with her own self.

          She went out with the rest of the class and did her usual proceedings until school was over. She literally went through the motions without submitting them into her memory.

          "Definitely boy crazy." She whispered aloud.

          "What?"

          She almost fell as her body jerked her weight onto her weak hip. Bennett was behind her in all of his metal glory. Bennett helped her off her bad leg and she found herself appreciating that her dark skin didn't allow her pink flush to show.

          "Where've you been?" She asked.

          Bennett's face was distorted in all sorts of confusion, "I need to speak with you. Have you seen Douglas?" He paused for a moment, remembering Douglas didn't stay in their building, "Nevermind, I need to show you something."

          Bennett led her to a quiet corner in the hall, at best someone passing would think they were a couple, hanging out or helping each other with homework. 

          "Are you OK?" She asked.

          "No." He snapped.

          He was fiddling with a piece of his arm until it popped open. She scrunched her nose up as she could see metal muscles along with natural veins. The other thing that stood out was a folded bundle of papers. The looked as if they belong in a manilla folder but taken out. 

          "What are those?" Donella asked as he began unfolding them.

          "Files. My files."

          "You stole them?"

          "N--Maybe." He admitted.

          "Why?"

          He opened his mouth and a whirring sound came out before his voice, "Because of what they say." He held them out to her, "Read it."

          The paper he handed her was a conclusion file and it had a sticky note attached to it.

     Mr. Wenmore's status is clearly elevating the virus. In order to live in our environment Bennet's minimally exposed organs and other components releases Particle 2 which react to Particle 1 (Dormant Stroke Virus) and doubles it causing a reaction. The serum (Revamp) we gave him has two functions, stop him from giving off these particles and keep him alive. He can only go so long on the Revamp.     The only cautions we can go to at the time is to keep him completely isolated from the other children. Until we can get more insight on the virus and it's specific cause and full effect, all proceedings are to stay constant.
     Signed: Dr. Henry Abbott                              Dr. Morgan Greene

The sticky note read:

Get me the Wenmore kid's file. Return the note so I can get rid of it. ~ A

          Donella took a long stare at the paper before turning back to Ben. "Your dying and killing us along with you?" She asked.

          Ben sighed. He was hoping she'd ignore the "king us along with you" part. She had taken a step back and honestly looked worry for her life.

          "I knew I should've found Doug." Ben said under his breath, "Can we focus on the crooked doctor that is trying to get rid of my file?"

          "Maybe there is something wrong with it." She said.

          Ben took the paper back from Donella and put them back where he stored them in this body. He was a little angry with her reaction and she knew so. She stepped back from him as he closed his arm harshly.

          "Why sticky notes, why inside and not somewhere easily seen?" He was ranting.

          "Calm down, why are you so jumpy?"

          "Because I'm killing people and dying!" He began emitting a horrid mechanical cough.

          "Calm down." Donella said.

          Bennett's body started glitching and malfunctioning. Donella began freaking out as his metal body shifted in unimaginable ways.

          "Are you OK?" She started taking steps back, "Stay there, I'm going to get help."

          Donella ran off and his body shut down and toppled to the floor. The last thing his mechanical eyes saw was Donella's shoes running away.