Dan's POV
What an amazing night. What an amazing feeling. What an Amazing Phil...
I was proud of myself for working up the courage to put my arm around him. I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. I loved him.
I was suddenly overtaken with a feeing of tiredness I couldn't fight. I needed rest. So I smiled and closed my eyes.
I woke up to the sound of screaming. I threw back my covers and ran out to the living room to discover flames licking each of the four walls of our apartment. Fire spread over the curtains, the rugs, the furniture. Everything.
And in the middle of all this was Phil. Sitting on the couch. Staring down at his shoes with a look of anger.
"Phil!!!"
I choked.
"What are you doing??? Get out before we burn to death!!!"
He looked up at me. But said nothing. A single tear rolled down his pale cheek, now lit up with color by the orange flames surrounding him.
"I can't move."
He said finally.
"Are you mad?!? Get up and come on!!!!"
He shook his head and returned his gaze to the floor.
The smoke began to fill my lungs. It burned. I needed air.
"PHIL!!!!"
"I did this to myself. I told them. And they made me pay. I'm sorry Daniel."
"What?!??! Who's them?"
I had to shout across the room in order for him to hear me.
"WHO DID THIS??"
"I'm sorry."
I ran over to him. I narrowly missed several spots where fire had begun to spread across the carpet. My lungs ached. I couldn't breathe. My eyes watered. But I couldn't leave Phil. We needed to escape together.
"PHIL!!!! PLEASE!!!!"
"Be brave Daniel."
"NO PHIL GET UP!!!!"
"Be strong for me."
"NO!!!!"
I tried physically yanking him up from the couch. But it was as if he was made of cement. He didn't budge.
"Dan... I... Love you..."
"PHIL!!!!!!!!"
The flames spread from every area of the room to where we were sitting. They reached my clothes. They spread up my skin and to my hair, burning me, melting me... Killing me...
I woke up screaming. My covers were on the floor and my face was wet with swear and tears.
What just happened...?
It didn't matter. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. I couldn't function.
I tried to lift my legs to get out of bed but I was shaking uncontrollably.
Phil.
I need to get to Phil.
I threw my sheets to the floor and stumbled out of my room into the hallway.
I could hardly walk as my legs were trembling like crazy.
Finally I reached his door. I used my last bit of strength to knock loudly, hoping he would wake up and answer.
I heard a rustling. He was up. The door swung open.
"...Dan? What are you doing up at-"
"I had a nightmare..."
I said through choked sobs.
I couldn't control my shaking and crying any longer. I collapsed forward, but Phil caught me and took me in his arms.
"Shhhh... It's okay now... I've got you..."
He held me while I cried into his shoulder for a moment before walking me over to his bed.
We sat down. But he never let go.
"What happened? What'd you dream about?"
I tried to emit a response but my mouth refused to form the words. All I could do was cry.
"Do you want to just talk in the morning...?"
Phil asked, looking at me with worry.
I nodded.
"Okay... Well, come on, I don't want you to have to be alone tonight."
I nodded again.
He rolled back the covers and climbed into bed. Then he took my hand as I lied beside him. He noticed I was still shaking and scooted closer to me, rubbing my shoulders lightly and looking over at my face every once and a while to make sure I was okay. Eventually he put his hand down. And his breathing got more and more steady. I thought he must be drifting off to sleep. But then he lifted his head one last time and kissed the top of my nose.
"It's okay Daniel."
Then he drifted into sleep.
I was calmed by the sound of his steady breathing and his warm hand still on my shoulder.
Finally I was able to close my eyes and drift off into a light but restful sleep.
