You're Never Alone

Chapter 27

Word Count: 1130

It's at least a few days later before Jack texts Dan again. Dan wakes up in his bed across from Phil to his phone buzzing multiple times repeatedly. As Dan realizes what's happening, he yawns and unlocks his phone, noticing briefly that it's four in the morning. His heart starts to pound in his chest as he reads the words on his screen shining in his eyes.

    Jack: Dan I need your help now

    Jack: Please wake up! It's important

    Jack: Dan if you don't wake up, I could die

    Jack: Your father is going to kill me

    Jack: If you could wake up now, that'd really be helpful!!

    Jack: Please wake up

    Jack: Please please please I need your help

    Dan looks over at Phil before quickly getting up and going into the bathroom to call Jack. As his phone rings, anticipation and nervous course through his body. Jack finally picks up on the fourth ring and Dan sighs in slight relief.

    "Jack, what's happening?" he demands as he hears Jack panting on the other side.

    "Oh thank god you answered your phone. I'm running out of time," Jack begins, trying to catch his breath enough to speak. "I was almost caught. Dan, they're going to kill me soon and I have nowhere to go. Your father is out to get me and he is determined to find me."

    Dan breathes out trying to think of a plan quickly. "Where are you?" he asks and Jack stutters presumably trying to figure out where he is. Dan quietly peeks back into the door to see if he might've woken up Phil but Phil is still asleep.

    "Main Street and Montague. I'm near the cafe that we used to go to." Dan sighs as he frustratedly runs his fingers through his hair.

    "For now I know a place you can hide until I can help you," Dan begins before telling Jack where one of the old rebel warehouses is, making sure it's one on the edge of the city. "You're going to have to stay there for a couple days or maybe a couple of weeks until I can find a way to help you out."

    Jack chuckles. "Thank you so much, Dan."

    They say goodbye and Dan immediately gets clothes on before quietly going out of his shared room. He goes down to PJ's room and knocks softly. PJ opens the door and Dan looks at him with desperate eyes.

    "I need your help," Dan whispers.

***

    The next day PJ, Adrian, Louise, and Joe all are sitting in PJ's room looking at Dan like he's crazy.

    "Are you fucking insane?!" PJ yells and Dan pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh.

    "Look I know that this sounds crazy but there is no other way that I can do this," Dan tries to reason but Adrian cuts in.

    "You could get killed. Not just hurt or injured but fucking killed, Dan!" Adrian scolds as he stands and begins to pace. "I could lose you and I'm not about to just let you go."

    Louise is looking at Dan in disbelief. "Phil, would never approve of you going back to your father to save us or your friend." Dan pulls his lips into his mouth and looks away.

    "You weren't going to tell him," Joe says quietly and Dan looks over lost for words. "No, no! You can't do that to him. He's been through so much and this is going to rip him to shreds!!"

    "I KNOW!" Dan yells and Joe's eyes go wide at Dan's loudness. "I know, okay?"

    PJ sighs, putting a hand to his forehead. "Dan, what you're doing will hurt him more than you know. You're also going to hurt your brother as well," he says and Dan nods.

    "This whole plan is crazy! You're not going," Adrian says, crossing his arms as he looks down at Dan.

    Joe finally speaks up again. "I don't know if we've left ourselves with much of a choice anymore," Joe concludes softly and Dan looks over at him in shock.

    "You still have a choice," Louise butts in but Dan shakes his head. "Yes you do. Find another way to do this without hurting Phil."

    As Louise gets up to leave, Dan springs up and catches her by the wrist. "I would never hurt him unless I have to. I need you to let me save all of you," Dan says, looking into her eyes that begin to fill with tears. Louise quickly hugs Dan and cries into his shoulder. "I have to do this. I'm sorry."

    "I know," she says, pulling away as she wipes her eyes. "I've known you for the past couple of years when you would walk into my cafe at midnight and rant to me. I know you would never truly hurt someone you care about unless you really need to which is why I promise to let you do this."

    Dan places a hand on her cheek and brushes away a stray tear. "Thank you."

    Louise leaves the room and Dan turns and looks at his brother. "Don't leave me," Adrian whispers as his lip trembles and Dan quickly walks over to him, wrapping his arms around his brother's shoulders.

    "I will never leave you." Adrian nods as he tightly hugs Dan's torso. Dan pulls away after a few moments and kisses Adrian on the top of his head. "I will always come back to you and together, we rise to one day overthrow our dreadful father. I love you, little brother."

    "I love you too, Dan," Adrian says. "I promise to cover for you until you return and I will keep an eye on him."

    "I promise I will come back," Dan declares and Adrian leaves the room too.

    Joe looks at Dan with a glare as Dan turns back around and PJ just looks at him in complete shock. "Are you sure you want to do this?" PJ asks and Dan nods.

    "It's the only way to save Phil." But his voice cracks on Phil's name as tears begin to fall down his cheeks. Joe's eyes soften as Dan leans against the wall with his shoulders shaking.

    "I know. Which is why, even though I'm totally against you going because it will hurt Phil, I'm going to help you," PJ says and Dan sniffs, wiping his cheeks with the palm of his hands before looking up at PJ.

    Joe sighs as he runs his hands through his hair. "I guess I can help you too but just so you know," he pauses and Dan looks at him with wide eyes. "I will never forgive you if you die."

    Dan nods quickly as the three of them get to planning.

I know that this chapter seems just a little bit short but something big is about to change everything