𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔, chainshipping

𝒔𝒊𝒙, place your trust in him

drip drop went the leaking faucet. taunting him while his leg was bound by these restraints. he didn't understand why he was placed in these shackles every time he dreamt of this place, all he knew was that they were always there. after a while in the insufferable darkness, the buzzing fluorescent light flicked on, blinding him with a bright blue light.

the figure he found himself talking to night after night was nowhere to be found. he began to worry, the figure was the only bit of peace he got in these nightmares. talking with this dream character did more good than anything. it made adam worry less and made the dream less of a recurring nightmare. and though he could never see his face, there was something strangely familiar about the masked figure.

it was comforting.

just knowing the figure would always be there was a comfort to adam. but tonight was different, the creature never showed. he waited and waited for the figure to appear, but it never came. he began to worry when the sounds of blood-curdling screams came from right outside the wall.

he quickly stood up and tried shouting back at the voice only to receive no response. he quickly patted himself down, looking for a key to unlock his restraints. but what he found made his blood run cold. a wound no bigger than a bullet that oozed the crimson liquid from the source. who shot him?

he wondered trying to cover up the gushing bullet hole. he began to panic as he dropped to his knees, feeling the stinging pain in his left arm. it all felt so real. "adam.."

***
adam shot up from his dream, panting heavily as beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. after realizing it was only a dream he relaxed back into the mattress. his arm covered his eyes, trying not to think anymore about the nightmare. usually, around this time a nurse would come in and reassure him that his dream meant nothing. but this time he was alone.

lawrence had the same predicament when it came to falling asleep. so he stayed awake, watching some random channel while he tried to make himself tired. just then he heard a soft knock on his bedroom door followed by a mutter of his name.

lawrence flipped around only to see adam standing in his doorway. he looked like he had just seen a ghost as he stood there with his arms folded across his chest.

"adam, do you need something? i can grab you some more blankets if you would like." adam shook his head. "no no, i'm alright it's just... the nightmares keep me awake sometimes, its nothing to worry about.." he said, knowing full well the real reason he came to lawrence's room.

he didn't want to be alone right now.

he didn't want to think about the bathroom or the strange man, he just needed to be near someone to make his worries go away.

"couldn't sleep either huh?" lawrence asked. he then softly patted a spot next to him on the bed which honestly surprised adam. "well you're welcome to sit if you'd like." it was like lawrence was able to read his mind. adam was hesitant about accepting his offer, but figured anything was better than going back to that room.

"don't try anything weird alright?" the surgeon agreed and adam climbed into the king-sized bed. he wrapped himself in the cozy covers before facing towards the surgeon. "you don't mind if i stay the night in here, do you?" he felt weird asking to spend the night in another man's bed, but lawrence acted as if it wasn't weird at all.

he shook his head, "i don't mind at all." he answered which brought a small smile to adam's lips. this way he wouldn't have to be alone. the television light was enough to keep the darkness away, and lawrence's presence reassured him that everything would be okay. maybe this was alright..

***
the next morning lawrence had woken up on time. his mind is still fuzzy from last night. this was the first time in a long time that he felt well-rested. the nightmare had stopped its relentless pursuit of making him remember leaving adam.

his eyes fluttered open, finally recalling what happened before he fell asleep. adam asked to sleep with him which explained this weight pressed against his shoulder. the doctor blinked a couple times as he looked at the boy who was wrapped around his arm.

soundlessly sleeping with that peaceful expression still on his face. adam tightly clung to the surgeon's arm like if he let go he would be lost for good. he ran his opposite hand through the dark locks of hair causing adam's grip to tighten.

lawrence looked over at the clock which read 7:15 a.m. reminding him of his work with john. he couldn't afford to be late. but then again, he didn't want to risk waking adam. he wiggled his arm trying to loosen the grip that only seemed to constrict around him. he pulled as slowly and carefully as he could manage.

adam stirred in his sleep causing lawrence to stop in his tracks. once seeing that adam was still fast asleep he yanked the rest of his arm out. he maneuvered his hand around trying to break free from the clasp holding it.

only then did his numb arm realize that adam was holding his hand. he gradually pried himself from the younger boy's hand, figuring he was in the clear, but then the grip suddenly tightened. he was almost free however adam didn't seem to want him to leave.

the conflicted doctor stood there for a second unsure of what to do in this situation. does he lay back down or does he wake adam?

he tried once more to get adam to let go which made him shuffle in his sleep. his breathing picked up as he mumbled something under his breath. lawrence listened closely as he repeated himself.

"please.. don't leave me.."