* Lost Boys ~ Dan/Howell • Phil/Lester *

negotiation

Dan seeing Leo and Jack beaten up and in bad shape

He gazed upon the display

Chris standing in between two battered people tied to chairs. Dan could see every wound. The barn was surprisingly well lit. This was intentional. Clearly they wanted Dan to see the bruises they left. Jack and Leo's heads were down. The two looked like they had clawed their way through the valley of death, battling their demons as they went. They were covered in bruises and deep, painful looking cuts. The injuries made Dan wince looking at them.He felt like he had put them there himself. Guilt washed over him. The two appeared to be unconscious. Chris snapped his fingers, causing them both to shoot up at the same time. The two stood rigid, with blank expressions, clearly trying to process what was occurring. Leo began to cry, but held the blank expression. Jack simply stayed frozen. Chris saw Leo's tears sparkling down his delicate skin. He stalked over and got in the boys face. He stayed there for a moment, holding a terrifying kind of eye contact. The tears stopped. Chris turned to Dan, who stood like he was in rigour mortis. His chest felt like it was full of lead. His elbows felt weak. his knees felt like they would fall out from underneath him. Chris spoke. Dan nearly jumped.

"So Danny. You want these pieces of shit back huh?"

Dan felt a pang of anger, which fuelled him to get out his sentences

"Listen. I am here to get them and leave that's what i was told to do, so I'm here. I am in no mood for games or bullshit so just cut the crap and give them to me."

" awww calm down. did you really think we would just hand them over? oh no no no hunny"

"what the fuck do you want from me"

"Lead us"

"are you fucking serious Chris? This again?"

"whats wrong?" He pouted

"I'll tell you what's wrong! My feet hurt, it's cold, and I just want my friends back!"

"oh sweet Daniel. you are just so silly sometimes"

"what are you talking about you psychopath?"

Chris's face grew that notorious smirk that he made when he had won at something

"Don't you get it? Even if you get them back you won't have ALL your friends!"

pangs of panic pricked Dan's chest

"what do you mean?"

"Dan. Sweetie. Do you really think we brought you out here just to get them back? What the hell could we want with these two failures? Sometimes Dan... Sometimes"

"JUST TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK YOU DID"

"honey bunch, we got Philly!"

Dan had never once in his entire life felt such terror