We are the ghouls of London // PHAN

•CHAPTER ONE•

Dan's hospital bed was cold. It was white and stank of chemicals and medicines.

The mark on Dan's shoulder was permanent as well as other scars and wounds that littered his torso. There was no getting rid of them. Not now, not ever.

They were a permanent reminder that Dan had been a victim and had been bitten by her.

Deep down, Dan knew he would never be the same person he use to be before the attack. Doctors told Dan he was very close to death, but there was no point telling Dan.

He already knew that.

Those shaky breathes Dan had taken, he thought they would be his last. At that point, he was ready for death to absorb him. He had felt like death at the time too. The fact he was alive now made Dan even more angry. He didn't deserve this! Dan saw his life pass in front of his eyes at that moment! Why was he even here right now?

Despite all this all, no one came to visit him other than his mom and brother. Dan knew deep down why. No one wanted to visit someone who had just got attacked. Someone who should be dead for god sake.

And he was right.

People at school had heard of Dan's attack and wondered how he had not been made dead. He was the hot topic, and everyone now knew his name.

But with everyone wondering and beginning to spread rumours about the attack on Dan, there was one person who made everyone smile still with his presence.

Phil Lester was also in year 10. It was as if he was born with a gift. He could make everyone smile and everyone could be happy around him. Phil could feel down but as soon as he saw someone smile, even if he didn't know that person, he would smile too.

Phil was also a bubby character. He spent most of his time hanging out with the 10 people who were in his friendship group; himself, Connor, Tyler, Joe, Caspar, Joey, Zoe, Louise, Pj and Chris. He also had a great relationship with the 'populars' too, consisting of Felix, Alfie, Troye, Marcus and Oli.

Rumours about Dan's attack spread around the school like wild fire. There was no escaping them. And Phil had heard them all, from Dan becoming some sort of skeleton with just bones to being dead now after the attacker came back to finish him off in hospital and snapped Dan's spine in half. Gruesome pictures of Dan had been shared over the internet and even memes had been made out of it.

It was sad. It was depressing. But Phil somehow always managed to keep his group smiling.

•••

FOUR MONTHS LATER
"Have you heard the latest news on Dan Howell?" Caspar asks as he puts his lunch tray down on the table Phil and his friends were sitting at.

"Oh god, not all this about 'Dan Howell' shit again," Joe rolls his eyes as he takes a bite of his sandwich, "It's only just left us alone with all the rumours. Don't bring it up again Caspar."

"Well, listen," Caspar instructs, causing the attention of the rest of the table, "Alfie told me in english that his mom told him that Dan is suppose to come back here on Monday," Caspar said, taking a large bite out of the greasy pizza he had on his tray.

"I thought he was going to be homeschooled?" Pj asked cautiously.

"Rumours, duh," Tyler says, looking at Pj and slapping him playfully around the head, "Honestly, your so gullible."

"Ow!" Pj moaned as he held his head, "That hurt!"

Phil smiled, "I wonder how he'll be."

"According to Alfie, he still doesn't eat a proper diet," Caspar adds, "But the hospital have had 'enough of him'."

"Rude," Zoe says as she takes the hair bobble she had had in her hair out and stroking her hair out with her fingers.

"Well he has been in there for almost 4 months, maybe even 5," Joey points out with a shrug, "I imagine its pretty boring there."

Phil looked around the hall, "I wonder who he'll hang around with."

To be honest, there was no groups where Phil could see Dan fitting in with them. Everyone wore colours, unlike Dan who wore black and grey all the time. It was odd. How did he not overheat in the summer?

"Earth to Phil!" Zoe's hand began waving in front of Phil's face, making him jump back.

"Hm? What?"

"You need to stop being so... how do I put it... thoughtful to people who we hardly know," Connor says, "We don't know Dan. We dont have to worry who he hangs out with, if he does anyway. As long as we are all ok, we don't have to worry."

Phil sighed, "I know - I just dont want him to be upset and lonely when he comes back."

"Hey, its not for us to worry about." Chris reassured.