02. Dark
02. Dark.
When Clyde got a phone call at two in the morning, he was ready to murder whoever it was on the other end. That was until he heard Luke’s voice on the other end, sounding very scared and childlike. “Clyde, I’m scared.” Clyde rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes, not speaking for the moment. “Clyde? Are- are you still there?” Luke asked,
“Yeah, yeah I am Luke.” Clyde said, slightly annoyed. The crabby part of his brain wanted to ask why he was calling him instead of speaking to Sarah Jane or even Mr. Smith instead of him, whilst other parts were very pleased that Luke had called him and felt more comfortable talking to him that his mom. “Give me a few minutes to throw on some clothes and I’ll be right over.” He said, already pulling on his clothes as he spoke to Luke. “Will you be alright for a few minutes?”
“I... I think so,” Luke said, and Clyde could have sworn Luke sniffled. Luke never cried, except for when Maria left. “Clyde... I feel really scared.”
Clyde frowned, quietly climbing down the stairs and out of the front door. “I’ll be a few minutes Luke, just turn the lights on and I’ll be right there.” He listened as Luke shuffled out of bed, flicked the light switch, and climbed back into bed.
Five minutes later, Clyde was quietly letting himself into the house, and locking the door behind him. He missed all the creaky spots on the floor and stairs, and made his way to Luke’s bedroom. He waited and gently knocked on the door. He heard a little gasp, and after a few seconds the handle turned and Luke peered out into the hallway. His hair was ruffled and he looked really tired. “Come in” Luke said, practically dragging Clyde into the room.
As soon as Clyde was inside, Luke locked the door, and climbed into bed again, curling into a ball under the covers. With a sigh, Clyde sat down on the side of the bed, and gently started stroking Luke’s hair. “It wasn’t your fault Luke. You couldn’t have done anything.” He said in a soothing voice, and Luke moved closer to him.
“Can... Can you stay here tonight? Or... I mean, sleep in here with me.” Luke said looking up at Clyde with eyes that would make anyone putty in his hands. Clyde nodded and pulled of his shirt and jeans and crawled into the bed. “Clyde...” Luke said, moving closer to Clyde and wrapping his arm around him. “I’m scared.”
Clyde nodded, and snuggled into Luke a bit more, wrapping an arm around him. “I know... I am too. But we’ll find her.” He said, looking at the dark around them. “You didn’t know that he could collapse the tunnel around you.”
“It... It was so cold and dark Clyde. I could barely breathe, and I could hear her screaming my name and...”
“I know Luke, I know”
“Don’t leave me alone... Not in the dark.”