You're Never Alone

Chapter 11

Word Count: 865

The next day is filled with people going up and down every hall in the warehouse trying to get everything sorted out and prepared for the event that night. Dan sits around the table in a room with the map of palace in front of him. Surrounding him and talking about plans in the co-leaders and Phil, trying to figure out everything for tonight. Dan only pitches in when he's asked anything but other than that he sits quietly, observing and listening to the noise around him.

"Well this entrance is too open and there are too many guards surrounding it..." PJ says as Dan absentmindedly listens.

Phil noticed that Dan was quiet immediately when they had all come in earlier. He wanted to say something to him, anything that could fix what he did, but he knew that he couldn't say anything without his position as the leader being questioned.

Phil doesn't realize he's off in his own world until Cat is waving her hand in front of his face, snapping him back into reality.

"Hmm, what?" he asks and PJ chuckles slightly. Phil only rolls his eyes in response before asking, "I'm sorry, what were we talking about?"

"I asked you if the plan was set and stone," Louise says and Phil nods with a small smile.

Phil looks over at Dan but Dan isn't paying attention and Phil looks away in guilt. "I'll see you guys later, okay?" and he doesn't wait for an answer before he's out the door and down the hall. He goes to his room and shuts the door before leaning his back against it, sinking to the floor. Why did he have to be such an asshole to the one person they need?

***

Everyone meets that night in the common room big enough to fit them all. They hold their masks and look up at Phil in their nice clothes as he stands on a chair in the room. It's a cozy room with couches and a soft carpet. Dan stands with Louise, Cat, and PJ in the corner near Phil and all of them are also looking at Phil except Dan who stares down at the mask in his fingertips.

"Thank you all for joining me on this mission," Phil starts with a small smile of gratitude on his face. "As you know, for years, the king has beaten us with his lies and thrown us out of society. And one day we will change that but tonight we are going into the palace to get back our companions, our friends, our family." He scans the faces in front of him, determination coursing through his veins. "The plan is to get in, get them back, and get out. Your leaders will be telling you your role in the mission and you're expected to not get of track of your priority. Cat's team will stay here to unlock doors from the outside and get any information they might have stored in their computer system. Louise's group will keep watch in the three rooms where everyone else will be. PJ's group and mine will go to the dungeons and get our friends back," Phil says and the crowd in the room cheers besides Dan who walks out of the room. "We leave in the next hour."

Dan walks down hallway after hallway to get to the window holding the sunset above a piano. He discovered this small room a couple days back when he was bored and wandering aimlessly around. Looking at the brick wall in from of him, Dan climbs carefully to the top to a small metal rectangle that hangs off the side of the building with a slanted window that shines the sun on Dan's face. He sits beneath the window and pulls his knees up to his chest with a sigh, staring at the city before him.

Phil climbs up a couple moments later having followed him like Dan knew he would. He sits next to Dan and looks to his side instead of forwards so that he doesn't have to see Dan.

"You can't even look at me," Dan mutters softly and Phil's eyes fill with tears of guilt as a small shuddering breath escapes his lips. Dan looks over and places his hand on Phil's shoulder. "I'm sorry." Phil looks over at Dan's hand and then up to his face. "I'm sorry about your mother."

Phil sighs as the tears dare to fall down his cheeks. "I know. What I said to you... that was unfair. You were young and just wanted to live. I know I would've done the same thing as you."

"Okay," Dan replies quietly, pulling his hand away. Phil wipes his eyes before sniffing and composing himself.

"That's not what I came here to talk about though," he starts before fully turning himself towards Dan. "You're in my group, alright? And tonight we're going to get your brother back." Phil looks at the sun and smiles. "I'll meet you in a little bit, okay?"

And with that Phil jumps off the high wall, hitting the ground and rolling before getting up and walking out of the room. 

It's so short! Sorry but just wait for what's to come next...