Alternate (Phan)

29*Yours truly

Dan

I rested in the bush for a few minutes, deciding that the best thing to do - while hidden from a passerby's sight - was to regain everything about me and actually feel like a living person. During this time, I made a plan to reach out to Phil using my connector, knowing this was the only efficient way of finding him.

I sighed, fiddling with the loose fabric from my torn-away shirt, my mind not truly knowing where it wanted to begin sorting itself out with. Despite being free, it was that knowledge that I could be with Phil, now that I was out, that was harder to accept than when I was tied up. I knew that with different circumstances, he could have met me right here.

But don't wish for everything.

I heard a thump, echoing through the field. Hurriedly, my eyes darted towards it, finding a distant man sliding carefully into the ditch, the noise from when he chucked the metal trap-door backwards. I gasped, my heart clenching in my chest as I noticed the infant in his arms. The figure, the hair, the child, the uncomfortable-vibe beaming across his body that he didn't want to go in; this was Phil. My Phil.

He was half a second from pushing himself fully in, so I allowed my voice to spread itself across the field in a desperate cry. I saw his eyes dart towards me, knowledge spreading across his face as well as the expression of relief and fear. I ran over as fast I physically could with two damaged legs, which in this instance, didn't hold me back much. I collided with his body, arms wrapping around him as his lips met mine, both desperate to be forever attached together - never to be parted again.

That's when we heard shouting from inside the pit, their suspicions arrived at our cries from above. I pulled him up, only to see in the corner of my eye the face of one of my abusers.

'HE'S HERE!'

'Shit, Phil, I love you, I really, really love you- please, follow.' I pushed the words through my lips between breaths. I supported him upwards as he stood as much as possible, us both darting through the field, rushing over the uneven grounds beneath us.

A shot flew past us, my fear became apparent as my body clenched at the sound. Phil's concerned eyes darted towards me, trying to place a soothing hand on my shoulder as we ran. Another shot, Phil slipped to the ground and cursed as he did so. I scrambled to help him upwards, noticing the shots weren't fired from many metres behind us. The original man stood feet away, my body's instincts threw me into fight to protect Phil. He held the gun to me, my fist took not hesitation in knocking out his arm, the gun skidding across the path. I noticed Phil wriggling his ankle, hoping it was no more than a sprain. I threw myself at the man again, him grunting as I knocked him to the floor, but as I did so another hastily approached our position. The knocked-down man seemed to receive courage from this, lifting himself onto his feet. Myself and this new person combined into a chorus of beatings against each other.

'Just leave 'em.' the original man sighed, my eyes focused on the man. I felt a jab to my chest as I was knocked backwards with a punch. Phil grunted, the other man took him in the chest. I noticed Ev in the man's arms, my body overrode with fury as I dived towards the spot, but he'd backed up and made a run for it, with Ev in his arms.

'Fuck, no! BASTARDS!' I screamed outwards in emotional pain, the farther Ev got, the increase of pain in my chest fought against my energy. Phil was backwards on the floor, recovering from the violent throw of a punch. I huddled myself up to him, cradling his body as he whimpered into me, tears falling down his face.

'They-they have E-Ev, Dan. I-I can't- I couldn't, D-Dan...' he burst out into tears, his body violently shaking in my clasp. I ran my fingers through his air, my own tears silently making their way down my face.

'I'll get Ev, Phil. I promise you that.'

'He's so so small, Dan, he can't-' Phil's voice was strained from crying.

'Hey, Phil, look how long I survived, I'm alright.' his head was shaking, his face scrunched up as he let out another cry. I held my body against his, wrapping myself around his body like a coat. His fists gripped the material of my torn shirt on my chest.

As much as I loathed the place I was tied up and tortured, as you'd imagine, I was going to go back for Ev. I knew there was no harm in waiting for a minute or so, which would do more good than harm in the fact that I could regain myself and remotely think rationally.

'You-you're here.' Phil muttered, turning his face to glance up at me. I smiled, nodding my head as tears continued to trickle down my cheeks in streams.

'As long as the stars are.' I mumbled as he smiled back, pushing his head into my chest. I gently pressed my lips against his forehead, combing back the strands of hair that laid uneven on his head.

'I hate this, Dan.' he muttered, sighing backwards and becoming lax in my arms.

'Hate what?'

'Everything. I can't help but think, in an alternate universe we could be lying on a sofa, Ev in our arms as we indulge on seemingly endless food.'

'You can't just wish for an alternate universe, Phil-'

'I know and that's what's shit.'

'We might never have met in an alternate universe.'

'Something about our story tells me we do. We always do, Bear.'

'I might be a drug-addict in another.'

'Then I'd heal you.'

'I might be a murderer.'

'I'd let you reason yourself and if you were a danger, also I'd never hesitate to visit you in prison.'

'I might be a hardcore stalker.'

'That's kinky, I'd sign up for that one.' we chuckled, and as inappropriate in our situation it seemed - we were smiling, truly smiling.

'We might have never have had Ev.' he sighed, looking in the distance the men ran, a final tear raced down his beautiful face.

'Then that's no universe I'd trade for.' I kissed his forehead again, beginning to stand up, but his arms wrapped round my waist, causing a weight on my hips.

'Where are you going?' he asked, his voice strained, as I looked at him, despite him knowing what I was going to say, I pressed a kiss to his lips, our noses resting on the other's as we stared into our eyes.

'To get Ev.'