2+2=5

Part Two: The Love There That's Sleeping.

Chapter 13

Ed O'Brien sat in his small, dingy hotel room, staring at his phone. He had called and texted Thom every day for the past month, but there had been no answer. He had contacted their other bandmates, but they had no idea where Thom was either.

Ed was starting to become desperate. He couldn't imagine what could have happened to Thom. Had he been abducted? Was he hurt somewhere, unable to contact anyone? Or had he simply disappeared voluntarily?

Just as Ed was about to give up hope, a strange sensation overtook him. The floor under him gave way, and he fell through a swirling vortex of colors and light.

When he landed, Ed found himself in a dark alley in the middle of a rundown city. Everything looked wrong. The buildings were dilapidated, and the streets were littered with trash. People in drab gray uniforms shuffled past him without a glance.

But Ed didn't have time to be shocked. He knew where he was. This was the dystopia that Thom had been talking about. The world of "1984."

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ed began to search for Thom. He knew it wouldn't be easy. He had to avoid drawing attention to himself and stay away from the ever-present Thought Police.

But Ed was determined. He had to find Thom, no matter what it took.

As he walked through the dismal city, Ed couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Thom in this world. Was he still alive? Did he remember his old life, his old friends?

Ed didn't know the answers, but he couldn't let himself think about that now. He had to stay focused on finding Thom, at any cost.

Chapter 14

Ed's heart was pounding as he made his way through the lifeless streets, looking for any sign of Thom. He kept repeating his friend's name like a prayer, hoping that somehow, he would hear him and come running. As he turned a corner, he felt a surge of recognition - the street sign read "Cardiff Road," the same street where Thom lived in his own universe.

But this was not the Cardiff Road he remembered. The buildings were all uniform, gray, and devoid of any soul. There were no people on the street, no music, no laughter. Ed's heart sank as he realized that this was indeed the world of the Party, where creativity and individuality were crushed under the weight of conformity and obedience.

He walked slowly down the street, his eyes scanning the numbers on the doors. And then he saw it - number 17, Thom's address. His heart leapt with hope and fear as he knocked on the door.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, and Ed peered inside. What he saw on the other side was not the Thom Yorke he knew. This was a shell of a person, a husk that once held the essence of his friend.

"Thom?" Ed whispered, hoping to see even a flicker of recognition in the other man's eyes. But there was nothing there - just a blank stare, a mindless obedience to the Party's ideals.

"Who are you?" Thom asked, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"It's me, Ed. Ed O'Brien. Your bandmate."

Thom's eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't remember you."

Ed felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. This was not the Thom he knew, the vibrant, creative, unstoppable force that was the frontman of Radiohead. This was a victim of the Party's brainwashing, a drone with nothing inside of it except the ideology of the Party.

"Thom, you have to remember. We played music together. We wrote songs. We were friends."

Thom shook his head slowly. "I don't remember any of that. All I remember is my love for Big Brother."