// sorry it's been a while, I was actually having a social life *gasp* and my friend and I became obsessed with free! and watched the whole 2 seasons in two days oops. The picture attached is my drawing of my senpai's from free! Mako and Haru //

phil

Phil freezes.

"I-Shane-I-" Phil stammers, his eyes wide and mind unable to think of the right words to say.

"I killed you Lester," Shane snarls, "I left you bleeding out in an abandoned alleyway."

"Well, there's only one explanation for this Shane, I mean, it's quite obvious," Phil says, regaining his confidence.

The trick, Phil has learnt, is to act like you're on top of everything, act like you know what's going on, like you planned this all along, like you have a trick up your sleeve.

"And what is that Lester?" Shane snarls.

"I'm a ghost," Phil says simply, a smirk playing on his lips even though he feels so scared he wants to scream.

"I'm so sick of your games Lester," Shane snaps, grabbing onto Phil's collar and slamming him against the front wall of a house nearby.

Phil winces in pain as his head makes contact with the brick, but masks the pain with a smirk.

"Getting a bit intimate are we?" Phil asks smoothly, raising an eyebrow at him.

"You are fucking (not ducking :/) annoying, you know that Lester?" Shane says, smirking back, "it's going to be so good to finally get rid of you and your boy toy."

That's when Phil's smile slips, that's when he looses it, grabbing a fistful of the front of Shane's shirt and flipping them around, slamming him against the wall.

"Do. Not. Hurt. Dan," Phil breathes, anger radiating off him.

"Or else what? You're not really in a position to be making threats are you Lester?" Shane says, smirking.

"What are you-"

Phil hears the click of a gun and freezes, looking left straight into the barrel of a shotgun, and he's more surprised when he sees who's holding it.

"Jim! But you're supposed to be-" Phil stammers.

"Jail, I know," he says smugly, "but I managed to get out."

"You're coming with us Lester," Shane says, forcefully pushing Phil off him.

Phil staggers, tripping over his own feet. His breathing is heavy and his heart is thudding against his chest.

"Or what?" Phil asks challengingly.

"Or we'll make sure to put a bullet through Dan's head followed by your own," Shane says with a smirk.

And that's when Phil gives up, slumping his shoulders forward and sighing deeply.

"Why can't you just leave us alone?" Phil asks almost pleadingly, a hint of annoyance also in his tone.

"Oh Phil, I really would but you're dangerous," Shane says, "and I enjoy watching you suffer."

"You're a dick you know," Phil snarls and he walks with them through the maze of alleys, the top of the gun digging uncomfortably and menacingly into his back.

"I know," Shane laughs, "everyone powerful is."

"What do you want from me Shane?" Phil asks with a sigh once they reach the dead ended alley where Shane always is.

"I want you to pay for what you did Lester," Shane spits.

"Haven't I already? I mean, you stabbed me and-"

"No! You don't get it do you Lester? I may have made a mistake once, but this time, you are not walking out of this alley alive," Shane says sharply.

The colour drains from Phil's face, but Shane's next four (not three ugh) words make his heart stop beating and his world shatter.

"And neither is Dan."

***

dan

Dan taps his pen on the desk.

Despite his greatest efforts, he cannot seem to push Phil Lester out of his mind. And he cannot bring himself to hate him either.

Maybe it was his eyes, so blue and deep, maybe it was the way he looks at Dan, like he's the only thing that matters, or maybe it was the way Phil held him last night, whispering in his ear until he fell asleep.

Dan closes his eyes and sighs. He's not sure what he feels right now. He's happy Phil's still alive, mad at Phil for making him think he was dead, worried if Shane returns...

Basically, Dan is feeling every emotion possible to mankind, all thanks to a certain Phillip Michael Lester.

"Dan, are you okay?" Pj asks, nudging Dan's arm with his elbow gently, "you seem kind of distracted and off."

"Yeah I'm fine," Dan lies, casting his gaze to the floor, "I'm just tired."

Tired of being hurt, confused and everything in between...

"Okay, if you're sure..." Pj says, not buying it, "I'm just looking out for you."

"Well stop! I don't need anyone looking out for me!" Dan snaps, clenching his fists and breathing heavily, "okay? I'm. Fine."

"Jesus Dan, you don't have to snap," Pj mutters before turning back to his notebook, "I was just trying to be a good friend. I'm worried, you've been distant lately."

"Well I've had a lot on my mind," Dan replies, "it's okay."

Pj sighs heavily, but remains silent. Dan is glad, he doesn't feel like talking. In fact, he doesn't feel like doing anything.

After school finally finishes, Dan decides to call Phil on his walk home. He figures that rebuilding a friendship with Phil is the first step.

He finds Phil's contact and clicks call.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Then there's silence - followers by a scuffle of footsteps and a muffled yelp. Dan's heart stops completely and his eyes widen, his grip fastening around his phone.

"Ah, Howell, it seems that Lester isn't dead. And you must've known, why else would you be calling him?"

Dan feels cold all over. It's Shane. He has Phil's phone, so where's Phil?

"I-w-where's Phil?" Dan asks timidly, shutting his eyes and grimacing at how weak he sounds, "what have you done?"

"Done? I haven't done anything to Lester," Shane says, "in fact, I'd like for the two of you to see each other. So how about that Dan, want to come say goodbye to little Philly?"

"How do I- but- I-" Dan stutters, his voice shaking.

"He's waiting for you Dan," Shane says smugly.

"No Dan! Don't come! Just- stay- hidden," Dan hears Phil's voice shout weakly, "please Dan! Stay awa-"

Phil is cut off by a cry of pain and Dan freezes again. His blood runs completely cold and his hear wretches in pure, utter fear.

"I-P-Phil!" Is all Dan can manage to stammer out.

"You know where to find us Dan," Shane says.

Then the line goes dead, just like how Dan feels - dead but frightened.

Dan shoves his phone back in his pocket. He really did think this was over, Phil was right when he said it never ends. Dan stands there for a moment, thinking things over.

Was he going to go? Of course. Phil is in trouble, but what's the point of he's just going to get them both killed? How can he make this end once and for all?

Dan sighs, closing his eyes. There's only one thing he can do, and even that may still get both he and Phil killed.

But it's worth a shot.

***

The police are surrounding the alley, but Dan is going to go in alone.

The police are going to sneak up, assessing the situation from above and on the ground. After all, Shane is armed and probably not alone with only Phil.

Dan takes a deep breath, swallowing the lump in his throat before he opens his eyes and steps into the shadows. Dan's pale skin instantly feels cold, how can't feel the tips of his fingers and all he can hear is his heart thudding in his chest and his heavy, ragged breathing.

Only one thing keeps Dan moving forward; Phil.

Dan takes a larger step, one foot after the other. His footsteps echo around the empty alley, despite his best efforts to keep them quiet. Finally, he rounds the corner where Shane is.

He sees Phil, slumped in the dim corner, a bruise forming on his left cheek and the light faded from his eyes. He looks almost angry when he sees Dan. But anger comes no where near the amount of sadness in his gaze.

Phil just looks defeated.

"Ah Daniel, the fun begins," Shane says when he catches sight of him, "you should join Phil."

Dan doesn't wait, he just runs over, attacking Phil in a hug, sobbing loudly into his shoulder.

"You shouldn't have come Dan," Phil whispers quietly into Dan's ear, "they're going to kill us."

"Maybe," Dan whispers back quietly, "but the police are here."

And with that, Phil squeezes Dan tightly before letting go. They turn to face Shane, who to Dan, is just another blurry face. Dan looks at the ground instead, partially glad he can't see Shane's face.

"You two keep getting in my way," Shane says, "Phil you were great until he came along. He changed you - and not for the better."

"He did change me for the better," Phil argues, "if you kill me Shane, I'll have no regrets."

"No regrets?" Shane sniggers, "we're not twelve year old girls Phil. What if I shoot Dan in front of you, will you have any regrets then?"

Dan stops as Shane pulls out his own gun and points it at Dan this time. Dan bites his lip, tears forming in his eyes. He's so scared right now, all he can do is pray for a miracle, for the police hidden around the corner to stop this.

"You know what? I'll let you pick. Ten seconds, who gets shot first?" Shane asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Me!" Dan yells automatically.

"No," Phil says calmly, "not you Dan."

"Five..." Shane says with a smirk.

"Please Phil I can't lose you - not again," Dan stammers, tears falling down his cheeks.

"I can't lose you Dan," Phil stammers.

"Three..." Shane says, and there's the click of his gun, signalling that the safety is no longer on.

"Please Phil-" Dan starts.

"Trust me," Phil whispers, pulling Dan close.

"One," Shane says, his voice hauntingly cheerful, "times up. Looks like it's Lester, seeing as he's hugging onto you Howell."

"No!" Dan yells, struggling in Phil's grasp.

Phil refuses to let go, and whispers in Dan's ear.

"I love you blurry face."

And then there's a gunshot, ear splitting and echoing around the alley walls, and Dan's heart freezes.

***

an// I'm v sorry for the cliffhanger... or am I? Idk.

310 votes and 250 comments for a new chapter!

My updates won't be as frequent from next week because school goes back (ew help me) and I'll probably be busier with that.

But Dan and Phil's new gaming video ONE HOUR OF PHAN AKDJEIN. And Dan and Phil crafts got a Sugg award lol.

Thanks so so much for over 100K reads and 10K votes, that's honestly incredible guys!!! THANK YOUUUUU!!!! You guys mean the world to me! ^_^

Added note: I have a new book called 'moods' up! Pls check it out x