The Lockdown Effect

Tay to Lee

5 Years Later

All Tay could see was hazy. He ran through a forest, panting, trying to escape whatever that was chasing him. The deeper Tay went into the woods the darker the forest became.

He couldn't remember that there was any forest where he lived.

Tay was sure that any second now, the darkness would catch up with him. He could feel something grabbing his leg, a root had found its way around his leg and Tay fell face down on the muddy ground.

Thunder could be heard coming in over him with a lightning hitting the tree in front on him and being smashed in to the ground.

Tay did his best scrabbling back at his feet and getting away from the fallen tree, the branches was hitting him in his face. Like sharp teeth piercing his skin.

Tay tried to scream, no sound came out. He couldn't even speak. His voice was gone. The ground under Tay stared breaking up. One of his feet went under the ground. His body soon followed.

Falling.

Farther.

Faster.

Deeper.

***

Tay rolled over in the sheets in to Lees arms, that held Tay tight. Lees head resting on Tays back. Tay relaxed and allowed Lee to hold him tight.

Lees sweet smell found Tays nose.

"I've missed you." Tay said. Letting his head fall on Lees shoulder.

"Bad dream?"

"Something like that. It was dark and I was alone. I don't like it. Good thing it was just a dream."

Lee kissed Tay one the forehead.

Tay grinned.

"Did I say something in my sleep?"

Lee raised his eyebrows.

"No" he said innocently.

"Great, that did I say? Something bad? Or something..." Tay let his words get drowned out by the thunderstorm that he now realized was in full peak outside.

"It's pretty bad outside now. It's a typhoon that hit us." Lee said letting his fingers run through Tays hair.

Tay sat up.

"What's going on Tay?"

Tay got up and looked out the window. Nudging the curtains trying to close them. But they didn't what to budge.

"It's nothing," Tay said. "I'm just trying to close the curtains for the fun of it. Can't you see that." Tay said his tone more frustrating then he had plan.

"Tay. What are you talking about?"

"Come here Lee, please!" he begged.

Lee got up from the bed.

"What's with you Tay. Just pull them shut." Lee closed them In a swift motion. Before putting his arms around Tay saying, "You want to stay up for a little while or go back to bed?" Tays ears turned red. He could feel his face staring to gently burn. "Let's stay up for a little while."

Lee planted a kiss on Tays cheek, "I'll make some tea." Lee let go of Tay heading to the kitchen that was downstairs.

Tay followed him. Walking over to the center of the room. Looking at Lee boiling up water.

The feeling of being a guest in his own house dawned upon Tay.

Just something in the moment that had hit him.

An irrational feeling that had no base in reality.

"Lee" Tay didn't need to say more.

Lee put one hand on each side of Tays face.

"You still are so silly, after all these years."

Tay looked at Lee there was something he couldn't read in Lees expression.

Like this was related to him somehow.

Lee gulped.

"Tay, what's going on? You have been having nightmares for a while now and every time it's like there is more distance between us."

"It's not like that. I just don't know what to do, and it's hard to tell you. It's just a dream. It's always the same. I am running thru a forest and then I fall in to the ground and the ground swallows me up and I wake up here. What scares me is I can never remember falling asleep."

Tay stopped looking at Lee.

"I'm still sleeping." Tay busted out to Lee who was handing him a cup of, "Milktea" Lee said ignoring Tays words.

"Lee"

"Yes, Tay"

"This is not happening is it. We are still in bed. This is all a dream."

"Yes Tay. It is. This is all in your head." Holding out his had with the tea.

Tay grabbed on to the cup and went back to the bedroom. There on the bed, he could see himself wrapped up in Lees arms.

Lee gently hugged Tay from behind there they were standing in the door looking at themselves sleeping in the bed.

"I want to wake up. I'm tired of having this nightmare."

Lee kissed Tay on the cheek. "Then wake up Tay." Lee was smiling so sweetly. "See you when you wake up."

**

Tay stretched out on the bed. The sun was shining it was a small opening in the curtains that let the sun beams inn to the room.

The storm had finally passed. The streets that had been flooded would finally dry up. Lee had already gotten up it seemed, the space next to Tay was already cold. He could hear rattling from the kitchen. Ah Tay thought Lee hadn't gone to work yet. He was still home. Tay sat up in bed. Stretching his body, head to tow.

Tay remembered the strangest dream. A dream where he remember feeling so alone. He placed his feet on the could floor finding his indoor slippers after searching with his feet. His shirt still on the floor from last night. His pants hanging on a chair.

Tay smiled. Grabbing them and pulling them up while walking and almost falling over trying to leave the bedroom jumping on one foot. The shirt he pulled on when walking downstairs, and seeing Lee sitting down at the table looking at his camera. His computer on the floor charging.

"Good morning." Lee said looking up at Tay. "I tried to wake you nut you slept so heavy. It's a good thing we are off today. So you could sleep inn."

Tay grinned. "You really are good to me." Tay walked over to Lee, this time, he kissed Lees forehead and placed a kiss on his lips. "Let go out later."

Tay made himself a cup of tea.

Looking at Lee.

They made it.

"Lee?"

"Tay..?"

"I love you."

Tay looked at Lee still holding his camera. Lee smiled putting the camera down.

"You are silly Tay."

Lee got up from the chair and hugged Tay. "I Love you to silly"

Tay looked at Lee holding the cup of tea on an arm's length so it wouldn't spill.

"I feel like this has happened before."

*