How to Help Howell?

Part 28

Phil

I've come to the conclusion that Dan has cried enough tears for a couple decades in the matter of 3 days. That being said, he obviously needed to get out of the house and do something fun to get his mind off things. Only one thing came to my mind that was his favorite when we were kids.

Laser Tag.

"Dan, could you come into the lounge for a second?" I called, hiding behind his bedroom door.

"Yeah, sure," he answered as I heard the slight creak of his bed as he stood up. He walked slowly to the door as I played with the old t shirt I stretched out in my hands. I prepared to strike as the floorboard squeaks became closer and closer to the door.

Finally, Dan emerged from the doorway as I jumped out in front of him and wrapped the t shirt around his face, sufficing as a blindfold.

"ARRGGG! GET OFF ME!" He screamed, struggling against my grasp. This wasn't to end well for him as I was much stronger than he was. I forced him to his knees and sat on his shoulders, holding his hands back.

"You're coming with me, you handsome devil." I announced in a strong and commanding voice as a smile broke out on Dan's face.

"Oh, yeah? And where to, my charming captor?"he asked jokingly, going along with my game.

"That's for me to know..." I got off his back and helped him stand up, keeping his hands in mine.

"...and for you to find out," I whispered uber close to his ear, making him cringe instinctively from his highly sensitive neck.

I led him outside and into the car, only letting him bump into a few walls, and we were off to his surprise.

"Beeeeckkk are we there yet?" he whined after only 5 minutes, growing more and more impatient by the second.

"Hold your horses, you eager man child," I teased with a slight smile growing on my face.

After an eternity in the car, we finally arrived at our destination. I led him through the door and made him sit down on a bench in the vestibule while I went inside and payed the man for our stay. After everything was all set, I looked back through the clear glass into the waiting area where Dan was still sat on the bench, swinging his legs absentmindedly while looking up at the ceiling, blindfold still tied tightly around his face.

How could one who was so close to death just hours ago seem so upbeat and happy? He looked so peaceful despite what was probably happening in his head. This poor boy was being constantly abused mentally for no good reason. He's so strong, to be able to continue on after such an experience with voices in his head threatening and convincing him to do such self-destructive things. Just the sight of my brave little soldier made me tear up and want to give him a big hug. Only one thought came to mind as I anxiously walked over to the boy on the waiting bench.

I love him so much.

"Okay, Dan, are you ready for your surprise?" I asked as I helped him stand up and walk through the door into the main complex in front of the laser tag vests.

"Yes, yes, yes, what is it?!" he asked with excitement, jumping up and down. I gave a small chuckle at his childish behavior.

"Alright, Dan, take off the blindfold," I announced and he ripped off the old t shirt within a second and a half. Looking at the wall of vests and slowly realizing where we were, he let out a big gasp. He turned around to wrap his arms around me in a big bear hug.

"Thank you," he said sincerely, touched by the trip to the home of our childhood memories.

We both grabbed our vest and finally head into the room. Hiding behind a wall, waiting for the countdown, I caught my breath and developed a strategy. Well, not much of a strategy as much as deciding to ambush him mercilessly. I start to hear the automated voice come over the speaker announcing the rules of the game, although we knew the whole beginning-of-game speech by heart. As the numbers flashed bright red on the screen, I adjusted my grip on the laser gun, intent on catching my prey.

5

4

3

2

1

The buzzer sounds.

Dan's going down.

I run out behind my hiding space, relentlessly shooting my laser in the direction where I had guessed he was located. I knew I had been right after the repeated loud buzzer sounds coming from the direction I had been shooting. Dan's screams of protest echoed throughout the vicinity as I cackled at him while running in the opposite direction, avoiding the stream of lasers headed my way.

Dan was getting closer and closer as I struggled to move forward and dodge the oncoming reign of bright lights headed towards my vest while trying not to run into any walls or other people at the same time.

I turned down a passageway, stopping to catch my breath. After a couple seconds, I walked briskly down the little hallway, waiting to find a turn or something, anything that would take me somewhere to hide. Hearing footsteps behind me, I ran even faster. Slowly realizing that this passage was a trap and that it was a dead end, I came to a stop at the wall standing between me and my freedom.

"Stop right there," I hear Dan's voice behind me. I sigh and turn to face him, holding my hands up in defeat. He pressed the laser gun right up against my vest, trapping me between the gun and the wall. His face moved closer and closer to mine, making the most menacing face he could.

"N-never," I stuttered, frazzled by how close to me Dan was getting.

"Your hands are tied here, Myers," he whispered in my ear, smiling as he could tell that I was shocked by this new way of approaching me.

"There's nothing you can do," he stared me straight in the eye.

"What about this?" I closed the gap between our faces and devour his lips into mine. Feeling his lips against mine was amazing. Sharing a breathe. His rich smooth  lips moving against mine. I was in pure bliss until Dan pulled the trigger of the laser gun pressed to my vest.

"You little-" I began to chase him back down the alleyway, gaining confidence with each step. Dan was only a few feet in front of me, so I sped up.

I ran faster, now only inches away from Dan. I reached out my arm in hopes of getting him to turn around. Before I had the chance to tap him on the shoulder, I felt a strong cold hand grab my arm and pull me to the side. But I had made the mistake of running too fast.

The arm only redirected my body and caused me to smash into one of the wall obstacles head first. I let out a loud scream of pain and felt myself sink to the ground. Feeling my consciousness slipping, I was only able to get a fuzzy image of a pair of brown work boots with legs dressed in old, faded blue jeans.

And I knew exactly who they belonged to.

My eyes drifted shut and everything turned to black.