Fate's Vinculum

Chapter 4.

Hakan ran the rest of the way to his apartment complex. He found Vincent walking around, a confused expression etched onto his face. Hakan stopped in his tracks, utter relief washing over him. For a moment he simply stood, unnoticed, basking in the fact Vince was here safe and sound. He really thought he was never going to see his husband again.

"Vincent!"

Vincent turned, the wind blowing his blond hair. He ran to Hakan and the two embraced. Vincent held out Hakan at arms length, looking him up and down.

"What is going on?" Vincent asked. "There was this loud boom, and the apartment shook, and I thought it was an earthquake but it didn't really seem like one, so I ran outside. But now I can't find anyone, you're the first person I've seen—"

Hakan cut him off with a desperate kiss. He then cupped Vincent's face in his hands. "I don't know what's going on exactly. There was some sort of attack, or a bomb, or something—"

Vincent rose his hand to his lips, looking sick.

"The same thing happened to me," continued Hakan. "You're the first person I've found."

Hakan, shaking, took his husband's hands within his own. Biting his lip, he looked into Vincent's green eyes. "Vince...Has anything...strange, happened to you?"

Vince almost laughed. "You mean besides a bomb going off and the building almost falling down around me, and everyone except you disappearing?"

Hakan narrowed his eyes. "Love, this is no time for sarcasm."

"Sorry," Vince replied, "I'm just freaked out. Why do you ask?"

Hakan took in a deep breath. "Look. This is going to sound crazy, and I think it's crazy, but..."

Vince rose his eyebrows. "But...?"

"I think—I think we're dead."

Vince blinked and didn't say anything.

"Come here," Hakan said, pulling Vince over to the steps of their apartment building. He let go of Vincent's hand. "Look. Just watch."

Hakan stuck his foot out, tapping it against the first step, concentrating. He then looked at Vince and did it again, and his foot passed through the step as though it weren't even there.

Vincent looked terrified and stumbled backwards, gawking. "What the fuck! How did you—what did you—"

"I wish I knew," Hakan replied plainly, surprising even himself with how calm he sounded against his own ears. "I made it all the way from the highway to town, and when I tried finding people, I accidentally fell into someone's basement."

Vincent gave a nervous laugh, looking at his husband as though he were crazy.

"You know–passed through it, just like I passed through the step just now."

"Okay, wait," Vincent said now, putting his hands on his hips, brow furrowed in concentration. "If we're really dead–where is everyone else? Shouldn't there be more dead people walking around?"

Hakan merely shrugged.

"And if I'm dead, why am I still physical and not passing through stuff?"

"I don't know," Hakan said truthfully.

Vincent began to pace back and forth. "Okay, well, maybe...Maybe we're dreaming!"

Hakan crossed his arms, looking slightly annoyed. "And sharing the same dream?"

"Dream you would say that. I think I'm dreaming. Pinch me."

Hakan sighed. "You know that doesn't actually work, love."

"Well try it, because I'm freaking the fuck out and I don't know what else to do!"

Hakan went over and pinched Vincent's bicep. However, Vincent didn't really feel much of anything at all. Hakan, noticing his lack of response, pinched harder. When that still didn't rise Vincent, he grabbed a great hunk of skin and gave it a forceful twist.

"Okay," Vincent said, looking just as scared as Hakan now looked, "what the actual fuck is going on?"

"Here," Hakan said, holding out his arm. "Do me."

Vincent pinched him harshly on the forearm, and then twisted his skin. He even went as far as to grab a clump of Hakan's hair and gave a yank. When Hakan didn't feel any of it, he promptly burst into tears. Vincent pulled him into his arms, fighting back tears of his own.

"I'd like to wake up now," Hakan whimpered against Vincent's chest.

"Yeah–me too, love. Me too."