[quote=@t2wave]
Estella chuckled nervously, an actual audible chuckle. The sound surprised her and she stopped suddenly. "[u]That's new. I don't remember being able to do that.[/u] Coming back to school so far had been the most normal thing to happen. Actually maybe they could answer a few things that Jack didn't want to talk about. "[u]Can you tell me anything about Ben. Jack seems hesitant to talk about him.[/u]"
[/quote]

Kijani spoke softly, not even having the energy to wonder how Estella was speaking out loud, and laughing even. "Ben is smart. Quite skilled, and not afraid to ignore the rules when they're unsuitable. He will be something, someday." She paused, her mind suddenly on a different tack. "...I feel as if I haven't seen him in a while. Where could he have got to?" The last she'd heard of Ben was the night they had all assaulted Lexcorp, and- 

She tried to push the sudden wash of fear away, tried to banish the stink of bleach and blood from her nose. Still, she felt the cold sweat breaking onto her skin. 

Ben was dead, wasn't he? Otherwise there should have been something. Some word, some news... 

Another person she'd ruined with her weakness.

"He was... an ally." Her throat was closing up. "Excuse me. Bathroom." She got up, her face looking suddenly waxen, and she made her way toward the girl's locker rooms. It was close, and she barely made it to a stall before she started to vomit.