The Cycle of Friends to Strangers

Chapter 21 - In a Pool of Sweat

*A few weeks later*

Anthony was sitting next to Ian on the bench where they first kissed. It was just them, laughing and talking about the funniest stories they remembered from when they were younger.

Anthony turned his head to look into the distance for a few seconds, he turned his head back to look at Ian, but Ian wasn't there.

"Ian, where are you?" Anthony stood up and began to run down the road, he could hear a voice... It wasn't Ian.

"He'll be fine, don't worry," it was Kalel, "you have me now".

"No! I need Ian!" Anthony shouted back into the void.

Anthony was still runnning, he had passed a lot of stuff from his past, Ians car crash, where he and Ian first met, so many memories which included Ian.

Then he saw Kalel.

"It's fine Anthony," she said as Anth onystopped running and began walking slowly towards her, "Ian's fine," she smiled a sinister smile and pointed towards Ian, who was curled up in a ball. It looked like he was crying, but Anthony couldn't hear him.

"Ian!" Anthony ran to Ian, but Kalel got there first and lifted her hand as if she was about to hit Ian.

"Ian will be fine," she said.

Anthony tried jumping in front of her to stop her from hitting Ian, to put her hand down, to protect Ian, but he was stopped by some forcefield. Anthony tried shouting, but words were not coming out, his mouth was moving, but no noise.

Kalel looked at Anthony and repeated while smirking evilly, "Ian will be fine," then her hand went down, as soon as it touched Ian he disappeared into dust.

Anthony woke up in a pool of sweat and looked around, he was in his new apartment. He pushed his fringe back as it was stuck with sweat to his forehead.

"Anthony, are you okay?" Kalel mumbled, still half asleep.

"Yeah" he replied, a little breathless.

Anthony waited until Kalel was fully asleep again before picking up his phone and dialling Ians number. The phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Ian said in his tired voice, Anthony always found it adorable.

"Hello" Anthony whispered.

"Anthony? Why are you calling me at this time?"

"Because I was worried"

"About what?"

"You"

Ian chuckled, "Aww Anthony, thanks for worrying about me"

********************************

"I know, it's stupid" Anthony laughed a little, "I just had a nightmare"

"Anthony it's not stupid, sometimes nightmares seem real, what was it about?"

"Well I was with you, then I couldn't find you," he paused.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but that was probably the most scariest part"

"I'd be scared if I couldn't find you either. Was there more?"

"Yeah, I found you! But you was crying, then Kalel made you... disappear"

'That's not just a nightmare' Ian thought.

"Oh Anthony, nothing can make me disappear from you, I wouldn't let it"

"Okay good, thanks"

"No problem, now get some sleep, you have to catch a plane back here soon for the videos"

"Oh yeah, alright - night"

"Night"

Anthony hung up first, Ian listened to the long droning sound of the hang up noise, then put his phone down on his bedside table, 'Even his sub-conscience knows that Kalel is up to no good... everyone knows but Anthony,' Ian Thought, then he slowly drifted off back to sleep.