Time unknown

Location unknown

Hyde's P.O.V.

I was surrounded by darkness. I sat with my knees to my chest in the center of it, panting. There was nothing. My eyes were wide and my sunglasses were missing. My jeans were torn and faded, like the pair I used to wear when I was ten. The air was thick and wet, choking me slowly. Moisture dripped from my eyes to my cheeks, and soon I identified it as tears. I became aware of the sound of my own sobbing as I shook. I had always been afraid of the dark, and even at the Foreman's house I kept a small nightlight in my dresser drawer that I dutifully plugged in by my bed each night. As I grew more accustomed to the house, I simply left my door open and allowed the night sky to filter in through the basement window. It was dark then but I could handle it. This was different. The darkness around me was absolute; it seemed to reside in my very mind, threatening to blind me eternally.

I was shaking hard and felt like I was going to throw up. My nostrils flared as I retched, bringing me a headache, which my crying intensified. I gasped for air, but hardly any came. My lungs burned from the lack of oxygen and I felt my eyes roll back into my head.

And then I heard him.

An angel's voice spoke through my nightmare. I searched the darkness for him, forcing my pupils back to their proper position and calling for him.

"Hello?" I yelled. It came out as only a whisper. "Is anyone there?"

"Hyde?" he asked, and I knew he had been sent to me. His voice sounded so familiar.

"Yes it's me. I'm here. Help me please." I said as loud as I could. I would be impressed if a dog could hear me. Apparently, the angel could hear better than a dog.

"Hyde please, stay with me," he said. I nodded and looked for him, struggling to keep my eyes open.

"Where are you? I asked, frantically looking around.

"Hyde, don't leave. I love you," he whispered.

Light broke in and the room came into focus. I was still in the school bathroom, and Kelso was kneeling beside me, holding my head in his hands.

"You heard me!" he breathed, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my eyes. He grinned at me sweetly with tears in his eyes. The light hit him in an odd way that illuminated his face and made his eyes shine and glimmer. And then I realized something; he was shirtless. Had I any blood left in my face I probably would have blushed.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered, letting a few trapped tears fall.

"Never," I replied hoarsely. I knew one thing; I'd never be the one to make him cry again.

The EMS crew burst through the bathroom door with a stretcher. I did not want to ride through the school on that thing, but I was pretty sure I didn't have much of a choice. Kelso helped them lift me on and walked quickly beside them as they took me to the elevator. Then the EMS guy put up a hand to stop him.

"We'll take him from here," they said. I must have looked scared because Kelso put on a new brave face.

"No, I'm going with you," he said, and shunted his way into the elevator. The EMS guy started up again, but Kelso cut him off.

"Are you gonna stand here arguing or are we gonna go?" he asked dryly, glaring straight into the eye of EMS guy. He hit the down button and the door shut. The EMS guys checked me out.

"I got to hand it to you kid," he said to Kelso "if you hadn't tied this shirt around him, he'd be a goner." Again I was reminded of Kelso's topless situation and smirked, directing my eyes up and down his torso. EMS guy noticed and scowled. I looked away. What the hell is wrong with me?

I thought I liked girls.

My thoughts were drawn away from this when the elevator door opened and we headed outside. I shut my eyes to avoid seeing the shocked faces of my classmates. Maybe they'd be nicer to me after this.

Maybe I'd be a millionaire one day.

"Hyde!" screamed a frightened voice from the mass. My eyes snapped open and I saw Donna gaping at me. The EMS guys hurried me on, with Kelso jogging dutifully at my side. We got to the ambulance and they loaded me on to two more EMS guys and EMS guy driver, esquire. EMS guys one gave Kelso a warning look, but he jumped into the ambulance anyway.

"Kelso man, don't get yourself into trouble. He shook his head and took my hand.

"You go I go," he replied, directing the response at EMS guy. The ambulance doors closed and we drove off. I fell asleep, still holding Kelso's hand.