The serenity of their days felt like a fragile glass, delicate yet beautiful. Skyler and Ocean were wrapped in their little cocoon, safe and removed from the world's chaos. While their classmates were off on the camping trip, they chose to remain in the quiet solace of Ocean's home.
Mornings were the same as always, Skyler's sweet smile greeting Ocean as he walked into the kitchen. There was something magical in the simplicity of it all—Skyler dressed in one of Ocean's uniforms, making breakfast as sunlight streamed through the windows. Ocean felt his heart swell with warmth every time he caught Skyler's eyes, filled with affection and patience, never pushing, never asking for more than Ocean was ready to give.
They shared moments of quiet intimacy—pinky fingers intertwined under desks in class, lunch breaks spent in their usual spot at the café, and nights curled up on the couch, watching movies in a comfortable silence. Ocean was starting to feel that they were truly together, even if his fears still lingered in the back of his mind. Skyler's love for him was a constant presence, unwavering, and Ocean knew deep down that he loved Skyler too, even if he couldn't yet bring himself to say it aloud.
But everything was about to change.
It was a quiet evening when the message came without warning.
Ocean sat at the dining table, the remnants of dinner still between them. Skyler was washing the dishes, humming softly under his breath, the melody almost lulling Ocean into a sense of tranquility. Everything felt normal, calm—just as it had been for weeks. But that calm shattered the moment Ocean's phone buzzed on the table.
He glanced at it absentmindedly, expecting it to be something mundane. A message from a classmate, maybe, or a notification from an app. But the moment his eyes landed on the screen, he froze.
An unknown number. A message.
A simple message: "Come to the exact alley."
The blood drained from his face, his hands trembling as he stared at the words. It was as though a dark cloud had swallowed him whole, leaving him paralyzed with fear. His chest tightened, and a familiar terror gripped his heart. He knew what this was about. He knew.
"Ocean?" Skyler's voice broke through the fog of dread, soft but filled with concern. He walked over, drying his hands on a towel, his brow furrowed. "You're pale... What's wrong?"
Ocean's heart raced, the urge to confess everything bubbling at the back of his throat. But no. He couldn't tell Skyler. Not this. "It's... nothing," Ocean whispered, his voice thin and strained. He quickly shut his phone, shoving it into his pocket, trying to steady his breathing. "I'm fine. Really."
Skyler's eyes lingered on him, filled with quiet suspicion. He knew Ocean far too well to believe the lie. He could see the tremor in Ocean's hands, the way his shoulders had tensed, but he didn't push. He never did. Instead, he smiled, though his eyes still held worry. "Alright," Skyler said softly, "but if something's bothering you, you can tell me."
Ocean forced a weak smile and nodded, though inside, the storm was brewing.
The next day, the message came again.
It was late afternoon, and Ocean was sitting in the university courtyard, lost in thought, when his phone vibrated once more. He hesitated before pulling it out, already knowing what he would see.
"Come to the exact alley."
A wave of cold washed over him, as though his body had been plunged into ice water. The fear clawed at his insides, and his breath came shallow. It was happening again. His thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of panic. He had to go. He didn't have a choice.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. His anxiety weighed heavy, the tension building with every passing minute. Skyler, always attentive, noticed the shift in Ocean's behavior. He watched Ocean carefully throughout the day, the way his gaze flickered nervously, the silence that now stretched between them where there had once been quiet comfort.
By evening, as they were about to head home, Ocean felt the weight of the secret threatening to crush him. He couldn't let Skyler follow him. He had to go alone.
"I'll be right back," Ocean said, his voice too calm, too measured. "I just need to use the restroom."
Skyler nodded, though his eyes flickered with concern. "Okay. I'll wait here."
Ocean turned, walking towards the building, but the moment he was out of sight, he broke into a run. His heart pounded in his chest, matching the rhythm of his feet against the ground. He had to get to that alley. He had to know what was waiting for him.
Skyler stood by the entrance of the university, leaning against the wall, waiting. Minutes passed, but Ocean didn't return. Something felt off.
It had been ten minutes.
Skyler's brow furrowed as unease crept into his chest. Ocean had been acting strange since last night, and today... today he had seemed even more distant. Skyler's heart began to race. His mind spun with worry. Something wasn't right.
Without wasting another moment, Skyler hurried towards the restroom, hoping to find Ocean there. But when he arrived, the restroom was empty. His stomach dropped, his heart lurching painfully in his chest. He stood frozen for a moment, his mind screaming in a hundred different directions. Ocean was gone.
Panic surged through him, and his hands trembled as he pulled out his phone. He dialed Ocean's number, but there was no answer.
"No... no, no, no," Skyler muttered under his breath, his fingers shaking as he tried again. His pulse thundered in his ears, his vision narrowing with fear. "Where are you, Ocean?"
His breath came faster, his eyes wide with growing dread. Ocean had never done something like this before. He wasn't the type to just disappear. Something was terribly wrong.
Without another thought, Skyler called his brother.
The phone barely rang before his brother picked up. "Sky? What's going on?"
"Day," Skyler's voice cracked with urgency, his throat tightening. "Ocean's missing. He said he was going to the restroom, but he's gone. He's not answering his phone. I don't know what's happening, but I need you here. Please."
There was a beat of silence before Day responded, his voice steady but filled with concern. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in twenty-five minutes. Stay calm, Skyler. We'll find him."
Skyler hung up, but the panic didn't leave him. His mind raced with a thousand possibilities, none of them good. His blood ran cold as his heart pounded against his ribcage, each beat echoing the growing fear inside him.
He stood there, feeling utterly helpless, his hands clenching into fists as dread gnawed at his insides. Ocean was out there somewhere, alone, and Skyler didn't know how to save him.
And so, as the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus, Skyler waited, his heart heavy with fear. The calm before the storm had passed, and now, the storm was coming.
TBC. 🩵
