Pisanthraphobia (H2OVanoss and Others)

Chapter 7

"You're serious?"

It was hard for Craig to believe that something other than him had put the light back in his boyfriends eyes. He had always had a bit of a protective streak, and maybe he was more upset than he let on about Tyler being called away, but suddenly it seemed like it was all too much.

He watched Tyler's eyes see right through him, knowing that he was in another place, another time. Perhaps he was in the past, believing that this plan would bring back all of what they had lost. Maybe he had spent too much time with Evan.

Craig had never asked Tyler what he'd been during all of his escapades; he hadn't believed that he needed to. He was thinking that he could trust, that it didn't really matter so they didn't have to linger around it. He was starting to think he was wrong.

Tyler was still staring between him and that notebook, trying to decipher how he felt about it. He sighed and uncrossed his arms, placing a small smile on his face.

"I trust you. It might be impossible, but I'll do what I can to help."

He laughed as Tyler's arms circled around him, relishing in the warmth of his arms and the soft vibration of his beating heart. His jealous mind took a step back, and he made a decision to do what he could to help; but only for Tyler. He would do anything for Tyler.

The next morning they got into Craig's sports car and went over to Evan's old apartment, untouched and left alone since his abrupt 'relocation'. They noticed none of the tenants that they walked by were familiar, and most of them didn't even share a greeting.

Back when they would meet up with Evan often, they would often be overwhelmed by the kind and outgoing neighbours he had, and each one was more unique than the last. These people dressed plainly, looking down as they walked with blank expressions. It was weird.

Tyler unlocked the door with a spare key he had found in his wallet, and let Craig walk in in front of him. The area in front, more of a welcoming room that only had a couch and a door, was exactly as it had always been. They both took off their shoes despite not needing to, and neither have it a second thought.

The apartment wasn't big, which was unusual considering Evan's previous houses, but it was less empty looking and cold. The furniture was mostly a reddish brown and the floors and walls were painted in smooth, earthy tones.

They found Evan's bedroom down a smaller hallway, only to realize that there was a lock on the door. It was almost as if it had been locked from the inside, but no one was in there. Or, at least, no one should've been.

Sharing a look, they both got into position to knock the door down. Surely the landlord wouldn't mind (or at least they hoped).

"On three."

They shared a glance before repositioning themselves and bracing.

One.

Two.

"Three!"

They ran and hit the door in sync, the momentum knocking them into a pile on the floor. Tyler groaned before checking to make sure Craig was okay, and then stared at the unmoved door.

He pulled on the handle to drag himself up, and as he shifted to help Craig the handle suddenly turned, making him lose his balance. By pure luck he managed to keep them both standing as the door swung open, soft light casting shadows into the hall.

They stepped inside the freezing room. When he stepped closer Tyler wrapped an arm around Craig, conserving heat with their sides pressed together. The room was simple, a twin bed next to a dresser in the corner and a small desk with his gaming supplies set up.

The only thing seemingly out of place was the lack of Evan's laptop. If Tyler remembered correctly, he usually kept it either on the desk or somewhere on the bed. They searched the sheets and stripped the bed (*insert lewd meme*), but it wasn't there.

As a last resort, hoping that this wasn't a plot and that their friend still there with them, they checked the walls. The incident and their own lives had taught them many things, along with the fact that nothing was necessarily impossible.

Tyler took the left side, and Craig took the right, the both of them knocking and tapping, messing with the walls. Craig tried to lighten the mood by beatboxing with the thuds, but Tyler shot him a look.

When he turned back around, however, his foot made an uncanny sound that was different then the rest. He crouched down and noticed a slight anomaly within the planks of the wooden floor.

Taking out his keys, he used one to gently pry the floorboard loose, Craig coming to crouch next to him. Putting it off to the side, they discovered a silver lockbox, barely bigger than a shoebox.

He pulled it out and opened it slowly as the hinges shook. Inside, there were a few things that they weren't expecting.

It's been a while :P
Since this chapter took so long to get out, I'll be doing a double update so the next one will be later tonight. Thanks for all the support you guys, keep soldiering on <3