Five Nights At Howell's

Stitches

A/N I want to say I love you all and I apologize for the last chapter. ❤️😂

Phil started pacing the second Dan was out of sight. He kept walking around each room, dragging his hand against the wall for support. He knew Dan wouldn't be ok. How could he be with Jason down there? What the hell kind of a father treats his son like that? Kidnaps them, puts them in a game that would probably kill him; and when the son gets angry, he lashes out and receives punishment for it.

He was glad his parents loved him, that they loved each other and were still alive. Phil was thankful that he hadn't offed himself and that he had found Dan, that he had a friend to share his life with. He was proud of the fact that he could keep Dan sane, keep himself sane.

Yet here he was, pacing in Dan's old bedroom while Dan was downstairs getting beaten up by his so called father.

Phil had just say down when he heard a loud scream. In a second, he was up on his feet and by the doorway. He told Dan he would try to have a bit of faith, but who can have faith when you're in Hell itself? Phil had a decision, he could stay and wait for his friend, his flatmate, his life- or, he could go downstairs and check on him.

The thought of not seeing if he was ok made Phil sick but the thought of going down to look made his mind race and see bad thing. Phil ran his hands through his hair, distressed on their delima.

"I'm going! Ok? You hear me? I'm going to look!"

Phil bounded down the steps and ran to the living room but there was no sight of Dan. No sight of any change, nothing. Phil didn't know about the trapdoor, why would he? He didn't live there. The person who happened to live here was currently M.I.A. Phil tried to listen for another scream, but it was like Dan was purposely trying not to yell. He didn't want Phil to know he was in pain.

"Where would he be... This whole house is one big mystery, not to mention the little 'Easter Eggs' placed around from his actual home. Why would his family had the need for that bag? They couldn't have been hiding from someone, unless, of course! It could be him. Although, they wouldn't have known."

He shoved many tables, counters, and chairs until only the sofa was left. Phil pushed on the sofa corner and was thrilled to find a metal door. He pulled the door up and looked down the pitch black hole. Pure adrenaline filled his blood and with the artificial bravery, he jumped down ignoring the ladder. He landed on his knees, they had smashed into the ground making a slight crack noise. Phil winced at the sound but full on whimpered when he saw the trail of blood on the floor.

Don't be Dan's. Don't be Dan's. Please, do not be Dan's.

Phil followed the trail up to the wall when he heard Jason come above the intercom.

"Phil, come get Daniel."
"I'm here already, where is he?"
"Follow the wall..."

Phil walked along the wall and screamed hen he saw Dan laying limp on the floor.

Dan was face down, hiding the worst of the bruises, but from what Phil could see he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. There were cuts all along his back and his arms. His shoulder wound was reopened from what looked like another cut. The blood pooled around Dan, most of it coming from the back of his head. Phil was sure that he had been shoved and knocked out, if not dead. He pushed the hair away to see the wound and that was when Phil flipped Dan over.

The first thing he noticed was the gaping slices in Dan's throat and chest. Those worried Phil, it whatever he thought was already bad got much worse. Phil looked at Dan's face and saw the sloppy black string sewed between his lips.

To say Phil was horrified would be an understatement, a nonchalant way to say, "hey mate. Your friend can't talk." Phil was speechless, his throat dried and he couldn't breathe. The sight of Dan was making him gag and want to put a blade through someone's back. He didn't even know how to react. Before he did anything, he needed to stitch up the deep cuts on his throat, chest and back. He would surely need a bandage for his head, but he would have to wait to ask Dan or look for one. Dan's mouth, that scared him. It needs to be cut, carefully and precisly so his lips weren't damaged. The thread needs to be pulled out the skin and removed from Dan's face.

" N- No. What kind of father- no, not father, this isn't parental in the slightest. I'm so sorry Dan, if I had a remote idea on what would happen... I shouldn't have let you down here. You're never leaving my sight again, I can guarantee that. At least you aren't awake for this..."

Phil slowly stitched up all of the wounds with a shaking hand. The threading was close together, like it should be, but it wasn't a clean stitch.

Bloody hell, Phil, none of this is clean. Not the floor. Not Dan. Not even the method Jason used to hurt Dan.

By the time Phil had stitched everything up, the only thing left was Dan's mouth. Phil managed to find the knife used to cut Dan, and after a few moments of realization, from holding an almost murder weapon, he finally had the courage to cut the string. Phil was focused so hard on not cutting Dan's lips, he didn't notice that Dan was awake and staring at Phil's face. When Phil saw Dan, he hugged him tightly, forgetting the cuts. Dan inhaled sharply and Phil let go.

"I'm s-so sorry Dan. N-never ag-again. Promise you won't ev-ever leave me like that a-again. Please?"

Dan tried to speak but couldn't make any noise, so Phil sufficed with a slight head nod. Dan was exhausted. He was nearly asleep and when Phil put Dan's head on his lap, he fell right asleep.

Phil knew Dan was in no shape to leave the cellar, he couldn't even lift his head, much less climb up a ladder many feet away. They would have to stay down here for a while.

Phil walked to the ladder and climbed up to see a red fox standing in the living room doorway. The anamatronic turned to look at him, just as Phil grabbed the lid and jumped down, slamming the lid above him.

Things were about to get so much worse...

August 2, 2017